I think that there is always a slight edge the earlier you do just about anything in the admissions process, and I think that is true for all the schools. Whether or not you have more of an edge is so hard for me to say. I don't even understand what it was that made some schools accept me, and others turn me down. I really think that all academic statistics being equal, a lot of times it comes down to the right person reading your application, and having something catch his or her eye. I can't tell you the number of times I went on an interview and it was amazing to me how many times my personal essays were quoted and commented on by the person interviewing me. I DO think that what you write in the secondary is important, but I'm not sure you should be concerned that yours is too 'research heavy'. If I recall correctly, the secondary I received from Wayne had several options on what to write about, and I had to write three separate essays for them. You should write about what you have done, but you you should also write about what interests you. These people have read thousands of applications every year and they can spot someone who is trying to tell them what they want to hear. The only thing I can tell you about what Wayne is looking for is what some on the committee call the 'butt-wipe factor'. That is, they ask themselves, 'Is this the type of person who has at some point in his/her life, demonstrated a willingness and a readiness to handle the sometimes unsavory, messy and emotionally difficult things that go along with patient care?' Wayne has an outstanding clinical curriculum, and I think they are very concerned about admitting people who will fit in and be accepting of a very diverse patient population. When I was interviewed, I was questioned very carefully about this, as I was a non-medical, non-traditional, small town WASP-y woman with a husband and two kids.
Just be honest, don't worry about having an edge because you will NEVER figure it out, I guarantee. 🙂
