"What have you done in your gap year?" question.

[Jaigantic]

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Other than the typical post-bac program/work/continuing with volunteering explanations, would it be appropriate or beneficial to write about preparing for an application and interview for a prestigious scholarship on par with Rhodes/Gates-Cambridge/Fulbright, etc. Even though I got to the late stages of selection, I didn't win it but I spent a great deal of time preparing for it. It also allowed me to pursue and reflect on an area of passionate non-science related interest. Given that I didn't receive the scholarship, I don't want it to come across as though I am trying too hard to show off whatever achievements I can.

 

[Pre-med path]

I'll offer a somewhat vague answer in that sometimes it matters more what you take away from an experience vs the title of an experience. If preparing for a scholarship was meaningful and led to concrete growth, then including it may be a discussion point.

 

[Jaigantic]

I'll offer a somewhat vague answer in that sometimes it matters more what you take away from an experience vs the title of an experience. If preparing for a scholarship was meaningful and led to concrete growth, then including it may be a discussion point.

It was meaningful and for that, I did write about it in my primary. But I'm not sure if mentioning it as gap year activity would be perceived the wrong way. Even if it did take up a lot of my time.

 

[Phoebus Apollo]

It was meaningful and for that, I did write about it in my primary. But I'm not sure if mentioning it as gap year activity would be perceived the wrong way. Even if it did take up a lot of my time.

I would say no, especially if you mention it elsewhere in your primary.

 

[Jaigantic]

I would say no, especially if you mention it elsewhere in your primary.

I talked about my gap year work experience in my primary, as well. By that logic, I shouldn't mention that either.

 

[Phoebus Apollo]

Let me clarify. You can include it multiple times if you want. I personally suspect that reviewers won’t be that interested in a scholarship you didn’t win— and that including it once is more than enough.

But only you can determine how important it was to you and your trajectory. Who cares what a random poster on SDN thinks.