Vague Secondary Essay Questions

[sc71football]

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I just wanted to find out what all of you think about the vague secondary questions. For example on Dartmouth's secondary, they state:

"Please share with us something about yourself that is not addressed elsewhere in your application and which could be helpful to the Admissions Committee as we review your file."

What are some things that you are writing? Do they want an personal anecdote or just a list of stuff you couldn't fit in the primary application. I am just having a difficult time deciding what to write for questions like this. Any help and insight would be very much appreciated.

 

[MassTransport]

I wrote about my interests outside of medicine and how they related to my potential as a physician, plus I updated them a little on stuff that happened after I submitted the AMCAS. Think about it as a way to set yourself apart from everybody else. What makes you interesting? It doesn't matter if it's not unique (it most likely won't be) as long as you make it personally relevant.

 

[scrubs386]

This was my personal favorite.

.If applicable, describe a situation where you were not in the majority.

..I would love to meet the person who in their entire life has remained in the majority of everything.
.

 

[HailMary]

I wrote about a unique situation in my family and how it has shaped my values. One doc I talked to said to just make sure that it's interesting and personal, and that it definitely does not have to be medically related.

 

[jochi1543]

This was my personal favorite.

.If applicable, describe a situation where you were not in the majority. .

.I would love to meet the person who in their entire life has remained in the majority of everything..

How about, "Well, I was DEFINITELY the only person in my Japanese major who was planning on going to medical school, and here I am."

 

[MassTransport]

That majority prompt would anger me greatly.

 

[entranced]

would it be ridiculous to say something like i come from a family of all lawyers and i decided to pursue medicine as my essay for hopkins?

 

[WildcatMD2]

i'm also curious about the hopkins essay. does anyone think it would be inappropriate if i mentioned that i went to a mostly black high school? i think that's experience i've learned the most from where i haven't been in the majority, but talking about race/ethnicity is such a touchy topic and i don't know if that's the type of thing they really are looking for.

 

[RandomBlackManX]

If you could put a positive spin on it, why not? Maybe you could include how you were culturally enlightened or something of the like.

 

[futuremd1517]

i'm really stumped on Dartmouth's as well...i just can't figure out what to say that would be relevant and different from what I've already discussed. i was hoping i'd write an essay for another school that i could then just use for Dartmouth but so far nothing seems to work well - it'd be obvious i was answering a specific question for another school. ugh!

 

[variablistic]

I think I'm going to write about something a little random which will set me apart (and maybe get me tested in an interview). It's not going to be medically related, but I'll link it to a strong work ethic and perseverance.

 

[iwanttobedoc43]

do we have to wait to be invited to do the dartmouth secondary? or can we just fill it out and send it in?

 

[Surf Rx]

do we have to wait to be invited to do the dartmouth secondary? or can we just fill it out and send it in?

fill it out and send it in.