Trouble with Supplemental Essays

[MartialArtDPT]

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I need your help. I'm usually good with essays, but I'm hoping to hear your thoughts on some of these and maybe it'll help me think of applicable things. I can't think of things that apply to any of these, even though I know I have lots of experiences like them... it's like, as soon as you ask me a question like this, all of my experiences just kind of swirl away, if that makes sense.

-Describe a situation where you were forced to overcome a poor decision that you made. Discuss how you overcame this challenge and what you learned from the process.

-Describe a team you have been on. Provide specifics about what you liked and disliked about this team?

-What would you like the Admissions Committee to know about your undergraduate and/or graduate academic experience?

-Prioritize, list, and define activities, leadership roles, or responsibilities you have had that demonstrate your potential to become an engaged and committed practitioner who embodies high standards of professionalism. Examples may include times as an influential leader, advocate, and/or change-agent for patients, citizens, organizations, the community, and the profession.

I really appreciate any and all thoughts and responses, even if they're just questions or little thought blurbs. Thanks, guys.

 

[CareerSwitcheroo]

I need your help. I'm usually good with essays, but I'm hoping to hear your thoughts on some of these and maybe it'll help me think of applicable things. I can't think of things that apply to any of these, even though I know I have lots of experiences like them... it's like, as soon as you ask me a question like this, all of my experiences just kind of swirl away, if that makes sense.

-Describe a situation where you were forced to overcome a poor decision that you made. Discuss how you overcame this challenge and what you learned from the process.

-Describe a team you have been on. Provide specifics about what you liked and disliked about this team?

-What would you like the Admissions Committee to know about your undergraduate and/or graduate academic experience?

-Prioritize, list, and define activities, leadership roles, or responsibilities you have had that demonstrate your potential to become an engaged and committed practitioner who embodies high standards of professionalism. Examples may include times as an influential leader, advocate, and/or change-agent for patients, citizens, organizations, the community, and the profession.

I really appreciate any and all thoughts and responses, even if they're just questions or little thought blurbs. Thanks, guys.

I'll just throw some random thoughts/words out there that popped up for me... Maybe it'll get your mind jogging a bit, if anything.

1. Procrastination, struggles with classes/grades, trouble with balancing personal life/school/work, taking on too much, teams & projects, personal finances, relationships (friends/family), trustworthiness, personal challenges at any jobs you might've had

2. Work teams, sports teams, project teams at school - communication, collaboration, loyalty, empathy, separation of roles, effective leaders/followers, camaraderie, understanding of succeeding/failing together rather than competing with one another

3. Good opportunity to highlight successes/achievements (awards, noteworthy projects, leadership roles, internships); things about your school/program that helped you grow and prepared you for grad school/PT school; maybe this is also a space to explain any bouts of poor academic performance and ways you improved

4. Did you participate in scouts, clubs, sports, volunteer orgs throughout your life? Maybe church, if applicable? In school or work, did you lead any projects, and if so, what traits did you exhibit as a leader? Have you worked with clients/customers? How have you served others? How do you prevent your personal biases or emotions from interfering with your ability to serve/care? Where did you get your sense of morals and ethics? Were you taught by your parents, family, community, faith, culture, etc.? Do you have any special experiences that prepared you for your future endeavors?

 

[MartialArtDPT]

I'll just throw some random thoughts/words out there that popped up for me... Maybe it'll get your mind jogging a bit, if anything.

1. Procrastination, struggles with classes/grades, trouble with balancing personal life/school/work, taking on too much, teams & projects, personal finances, relationships (friends/family), trustworthiness, personal challenges at any jobs you might've had

2. Work teams, sports teams, project teams at school - communication, collaboration, loyalty, empathy, separation of roles, effective leaders/followers, camaraderie, understanding of succeeding/failing together rather than competing with one another

3. Good opportunity to highlight successes/achievements (awards, noteworthy projects, leadership roles, internships); things about your school/program that helped you grow and prepared you for grad school/PT school; maybe this is also a space to explain any bouts of poor academic performance and ways you improved

4. Did you participate in scouts, clubs, sports, volunteer orgs throughout your life? Maybe church, if applicable? In school or work, did you lead any projects, and if so, what traits did you exhibit as a leader? Have you worked with clients/customers? How have you served others? How do you prevent your personal biases or emotions from interfering with your ability to serve/care? Where did you get your sense of morals and ethics? Were you taught by your parents, family, community, faith, culture, etc.? Do you have any special experiences that prepared you for your future endeavors?

Thank you, CareerSwitcheroo! That's very helpful! Are there any of those that you'd stay away from? Like, I know I should not use the team one to badmouth a boss, no matter how poorly they led, although I do have a boss who taught me a lot by teaching me how not to lead.

With the poor decision one, there are lots of things that come to mind that might be *too* personal or too much of a mistake... I'm trying to find that line between a meaningful mistake (not "oh I'm just too perfect- it's my only mistake!") but not a mistake so significant that it makes someone think twice! haha

On the third, I feel like it's too much as though I'm rehashing what's in my application; my achievements and experiences are there, and I answered the prompt in the main app on why my academic record is less than perfect, so I want to answer in a way that's not just rephrasing my app... any thoughts on that specifically?

That last one gives me a lot of ideas to ponder- I really appreciate you helping with the jump start. I'm a little older than some applicants, so I've got more to remember and a few less cells to do it with! You rock, mate.

 

[CareerSwitcheroo]

I'm a non-trad as well (in my 30s) so I know the struggle!

In general, I would avoid any topics that bring into question your morals, ethics, or demonstration of an inability to do the things that are required of you in PT school or the field. If you had any blunders that you're willing to shed light on, talk about your lessons learned and who/what caused you to realize any shortcomings. Maybe talk about how you have applied this new knowledge to more recent situations.

For the poor decision question, I personally think a situation where you might've taken on too much (causing each thing in your life to suffer, like work, friendships, grades, not calling your mom enough, etc.) shows that you were eager to do it all but had something to learn about prioritizing and multitasking. This shows enough vulnerability but not to the point where they might second guess your character. For me, I had a situation like this when I applied for PT school the first cycle. I worked a demanding full time job while trying to take prereqs (probably too many at once) and volunteer. Ultimately, I ended up with a mediocre GPA and barely enough hours to apply. I wasn't able to get to form any good connections along the way so my references were probably subpar as well. I ended up being rejected and having to take more time to improve anyway. (But I just found out I was accepted to a program so it all paid off!)

For the third question maybe do a quick summary of what you've listed in your achievements and how they reflect you as a candidate. A narrative tells a better story than a list. Talk how your academic experiences prepared you for the rigorous graduate level program that you're applying for.

Anyway, that's all I can help with without knowing anything about you. In general, PT programs want applicants who stand out, not ones who regurgitate the same cliche essays they've seen thousands of times before. Good luck!!!

 

[MartialArtDPT]

Thank you! You give great advice. I'm glad you got into a program- congrats! I'm ecstatic for my first interview with Mayo next month, and I'm getting ready to apply to 3 or 4 more. I was in foreign military sales for 5 years, so getting out and doing something to help people with my own two hands is so exciting. I taught martial arts to kids for years and years, so I'm hoping the love of movement and teaching will come through to the people I write and interview with. I am so fascinated with ideas about not only researching better and better techniques, but also the teaching side- how to get people to follow through with exercises, for example. It's all so exciting and I can't wait, and I bet you can't, either!

 

[CareerSwitcheroo]

Thank you! You give great advice. I'm glad you got into a program- congrats! I'm ecstatic for my first interview with Mayo next month, and I'm getting ready to apply to 3 or 4 more. I was in foreign military sales for 5 years, so getting out and doing something to help people with my own two hands is so exciting. I taught martial arts to kids for years and years, so I'm hoping the love of movement and teaching will come through to the people I write and interview with. I am so fascinated with ideas about not only researching better and better techniques, but also the teaching side- how to get people to follow through with exercises, for example. It's all so exciting and I can't wait, and I bet you can't, either!

You certainly have unique experiences to help you stand out! Use them to your advantage! Wishing you all the best!

 

[ya1]

I'll just throw examples that come to my mind :

-Describe a situation where you were forced to overcome a poor decision that you made. Discuss how you overcame this challenge and what you learned from the process.
Working at the font desk in PT clinic. Patient called to make an appointment. I was not very familiar with the scheduling so was slow at looking up days/time available, but pt was on a hurry and got upset because I was too slow. I felt rushed and scheduled her for the earliest time I thought was available. When patient showed up in the clinic that day, it turned out that that time slot had been booked and PT was not able to see the patient. Now patient was even more upset. I had to apologize for my mistake and reschedule making sure that the next time slot was indeed available. What was learned: double check; it would have been better if I had double checked if the time slot was available. I could have found my mistake and called patient instead of finding my mistake after patient had already come to the office.

-Describe a team you have been on. Provide specifics about what you liked and disliked about this team?
Chemistry lab. Likes: students can find each other's mistake and correct them; work can be split between people so the project can be finished faster than if 1 person were to finish it. Dislikes: some people are faster than others, so it was challenging to adjust to team-mates speed (too fast or too slow, depending on your preferences).

-What would you like the Admissions Committee to know about your undergraduate and/or graduate academic experience?
I learned how to organize my schedule and follow it which helps me to keep up with my course loads and complete assignments on time. I am planning to do that in PT school.

-Prioritize, list, and define activities, leadership roles, or responsibilities you have had that demonstrate your potential to become an engaged and committed practitioner who embodies high standards of professionalism. Examples may include times as an influential leader, advocate, and/or change-agent for patients, citizens, organizations, the community, and the profession.
During observation hours: I was checking on patients if they are doing ok during or after therapy and let their therapists know patients' response;, answer call lights in the hallway (inpatient setting) by making the stuff aware of patients' needs. Church activities: prepare food for homeless people, teaching children WHATEVER (sing, paint, games, knitting, play music... whatever you know how to do). Tutoring for free in college (like tutoring a couple of classmates who were falling behind) - it is very encouraging to see that students got better after I spent only 1-2 hours with them.

Remember, you can make things up 🙂.