UNECOM Essay Question

[RLU1223]

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Hi everyone, can someone clarify this essay question on the UNECOM secondary?

2) Please explain any gaps in education or employment. Indicate any changes or additions in your education or employment, experiences, research, etc. since submitting your AACOMAS

Does this refer to my years between undergraduate and entering DO school? Or does it just mean if I dropped out of school for a year then continued?

Thankies!

 

[baxt1412]

I don't know for certain, but I'm counting any time that you were not in school or work for the past few years. I'd include gap years.... i mean they ARE called "gap" years.

 

[RLU1223]

Well, I graduated and then went to work right away. So is that considered a gap year in education? haha

 

[baxt1412]

It is a gap in education. But it can be easily explained by needing to make money to be able to afford medical school. Nothing wrong with taking a gap year to work. However, if you take a gap year and don't work, volunteer, shadow, etc then you will start drawing attention (not in a good way).

 

[RLU1223]

Okay okay, I'll take the safe route and just write about my gap years. I was hoping to not have to write another paragraph! thanks

 

[RLU1223]

But hold on a minute, isn't a bit redundant to write about my gap year when everything is clearly written in my primary application? That's why I'm confused about this prompt...

 

[baxt1412]

A lot of secondaries are redundant. Just another hoop to jump through. Some will ask for you to list more information on the ECs that you previously listed... as if shadowing needed more of a description, etc. Wait for more opinions from people who are more experienced here, but I'm thinking they just want to know what you've been doing.

 

[doreegon]

Use it as a chance to make the information on your primary clear. If you can, use the essay to demostrate how you grew and what you learned in that year.

Good luck.

 

[osteohack10]

I put something to the effect of "there are no gaps in my education or employment and there have been no changes since my primary" (a little more eloquent.. i think?)

 

[RLU1223]

Hi, so I went ahead and just explained my years after undergraduate and entering medical school. It was a bit repetitive but I added a more personal look at my experiences. I think I'd rather play it safe than not write about it and finding out they wanted it!