Using 9/11 on App

[Doodl3s]

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[nick_carraway]

How would you incorporate it? PS? Intro of PS? Experiences? Secondary prompts?

Obviously the only way for it to not sound like you want pity points is to incorporate the info as part of a larger story.

I hope time has helped, BTW. Feels so recent despite having been almost a decade ago.

 

[clifftacopter]

I think it would perhaps be appropriate under two circumstances:

1) essays that ask about personal hardship (a number of secondaries ask about this)

2) if you can somehow tie it into a larger theme of why medicine

I'm really sorry for your loss. Don't write it if you're not comfortable doing so. For one particular secondary, I wrote about the death of my best friend, and while I really liked the way the essay ended up, I honestly felt a bit exploitative when I first started it.

 

[kac714]

Hey, I'm really sorry for your loss, that sucks. My advice would be, if you want to write about it in your secondary, as others have said, do, but please make sure you are able to talk about it in interviews and that it won't throw you off too much if you get asked. I wrote about my best friend's death in my essays for the hardship questions, got asked about it in an interview, and choked up a bit... (was waitlisted)... so just make sure you're okay talking about it. good luck!

 

[Food]

I do think that it says something about society when a prospective med student who actually lost somebody on 9-11 (Like the OP), is worried about using 9-11 on his apps, while many politicians shamelessy exploit 9-11 for political goals.

 

[MaryLennox]

I do think that it says something about society when a prospective med student who actually lost somebody on 9-11 (Like the OP), is worried about using 9-11 on his apps, while many politicians shamelessy exploit 9-11 for political goals.

i was just thinking kind of the same thing . . . it's a shame that so many people have exploited it, that now someone who actually has something real to say about it feels scared of being judged for it. OP, if i were you i'd feel the exact same way. and it's BS that it's like that.

i agree with the general sentiment that if you tie it in well and don't make it, like, your main focus, you should mention it. it even kind of reminds me of the 'should i talk about being gay' issue. it may very well be a huge part of who you are, but so many other people may use it for shock value and/or attention that it cheapens it for other people who really do want to talk about it in a significant way. which might turn off adcoms, fair or not.

 

[Dr Wake N Bake]

I don't think that speaking sincerely about the death of a parent as a result of 9/11 can ever come across as being exploitative or "whiny." I'm sorry for your loss. This is a significant event in your life that I think is appropriate as a subject for med school essays or any other essays that focus on who you are and your life experiences. As long as you feel comfortable talking about this, there is no need to worry about how others perceive you.

 

[osumc2014]

Yes, many secondary essays during the cycle asks for personal challenges that you have overcome or hardships you have been through that has shaped you. This would be very appropriate here. I am very sorry for your loss...best of luck

 

[osumc2014]

Yes, many secondary essays during the cycle asks for personal challenges that you have overcome or hardships you have been through that has shaped you. This would be very appropriate here. I am very sorry for your loss...best of luck

 

[Mattabet]

👍 Agree with a lot of the above points. I think the number one rule with essays like this are to make sure that you're actually answering the question. Often, when people end up looking like they're going for pity is when they stretch these sorts of experiences into prompts where they don't really belong.

So for a prompt about a personal hardship, I think you absolutely can (and should) talk about your experience and the loss of your parent - that's about as hard as life gets.

But if someone were trying to toss it into a "why medicine" essay in a stray paragraph that doesn't really fit the overall theme, just to get it out there; that's when it comes off as somewhat exploitative.

Bottom line: if it's really the best way to answer the question, I'd definitely write about it. If it feels ancillary or superfluous, leave it out.

 

[Doodl3s]

Wow, I put this up overnight, and quite glad to find such responses as I awake. So, I noticed a lot of you at least see where I'm coming from. (i enjoyed Food's post; so true and very personally annoying)

I'm definitely confident about speaking about it, as I have before in many instances. I consider myself a strong individual when it comes to this, I dont think i'll crack up when asked. But you guys did actually help me answer my question. I'm starting the app process this coming semester and wasn't sure. You guys make a lot of sense. I should put it down wherever appropriate. And this wasn't the reason why I wanna do medicine so I'll leave it out. But if a personal hardship essay comes up, it makes sense that I tell my story without it being exploitative.

EDIT:add: Just re-read MaryLennox post "it may very well be a huge part of who you are, but so many other people may use it for shock value and/or attention that it cheapens it for other people who really do want to talk about it in a significant way. which might turn off adcoms, fair or not."
-Yea, this really gets me fking pissed!! I really do feel like when I say 9/11, people go "been there, done that, heard it already", and I find its because someone lost a cousin's friend's uncle's buddy there... or its on the TV alot... EVERYONE is connect to SOMEBODY who lost SOMEONE that day. And milked it for all it was worth, meanwhile I just lived my life modestly like nothing happened, cause I would HATE HATE HATE any pity points people would give me. ugghgh makes me shutter.

thank you again

 

[Doodledog]

I concur with the advice you've been given. Do not make your essay be about 9/11, but do not hesitate to discuss it within the context of your life's pathway. Remember that if it's in your essay(s) you will be asked to talk about your experiences and how you have been "treated" as a 9/11 kid, but it sounds like you're pretty comfortable with this.

good luck

 

[Food]

Apparently Tildy is always interested in me. I'm sure I've exploited the description line before this.