UCSF supplement essay similar to PTCAS?

[debimags]

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Not exactly sure how to go about this and was hoping someone could offer some advice. The PTCAS essay and UCSF supp essay seem extremely similar to me... so much so, that I am a bit lost on how to respond to the UCSF supp question. I don't want to sound redundant but alot of what i would say in the UCSF essay is already in the PTCAS essay. How much crossover do you suggest they have? Should I repeat my story/reasons again but in different words? I understand I will have to touch upon some different aspects for UCSF, but I don't think I will have enough for a whole essay without having to repeat myself. I included the two essay questions below, to compare.

PTCAS essay question: Describe your decision making process in choosing physical therapy as a career choice versus other health care careers.

UCSF essay question: Discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include any educational, cultural, economic, family or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey.

Thanks for any advice.

 

[akry6]

Not exactly sure how to go about this and was hoping someone could offer some advice. The PTCAS essay and UCSF supp essay seem extremely similar to me... so much so, that I am a bit lost on how to respond to the UCSF supp question. I don't want to sound redundant but alot of what i would say in the UCSF essay is already in the PTCAS essay. How much crossover do you suggest they have? Should I repeat my story/reasons again but in different words? I understand I will have to touch upon some different aspects for UCSF, but I don't think I will have enough for a whole essay without having to repeat myself. I included the two essay questions below, to compare.

PTCAS essay question: Describe your decision making process in choosing physical therapy as a career choice versus other health care careers.

UCSF essay question: Discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include any educational, cultural, economic, family or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey.

Thanks for any advice.

I'm currently a UCSF first year student and I can understand the confusion you're feeling!

I'm not sure if this is contained in the question this year, but last year the prompt for that supplemental essay included a spiel about diversity in experiences and perspectives. I kept that theme in mind while elaborating on certain experiences that I only touched upon in my PTCAS essay so I don't think there was significant overlap in the two essays. Obviously you're going to have the same experiences to talk about in both essays, but I think the UCSF essay gives you some room to elaborate and show what you've taken away from those experiences aside from PT-related lessons. Hope this makes some sense/helps a little!

 

[debimags]

That is great advice, thanks so much. I will try to keep that in mind too... they did actually give a schpeel about diversity.

Curious if your supp essay was as long as your PTCAS?

 

[akry6]

That is great advice, thanks so much. I will try to keep that in mind too... they did actually give a schpeel about diversity.

Curious if your supp essay was as long as your PTCAS?

That one essay was almost as long as my PTCAS one. 😛 Good luck! Are there multiple questions again this year as well?