What is TOO personal for secondary apps?

[llore_lie]

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[ChillDawg]

I think it's risky...

 

[mehc012]

In general, I'd shy away from delving into anything that would cause intense awkward silences if you were to bring it up at a Thanksgiving dinner table in front of your Grandma. Mental health issues, toxic relationship issues, any sort of victimization which is generally susceptible to victim blaming (e.g. domestic violence, emotional abuse, rape)...these are all examples of adversity which can easily cross the line into 'too personal' in an essay or interview. Though I agree that they can show a lot about your character, they're either too charged for easy discussion or, in the worst case scenario, can cause the adcom to form doubts about your strength of character or ability to handle things moving forward (this is honestly a huge cultural issue, imo, and hopefully one that will change someday). Some exceptional writers are able to pull this off, but it's a gamble - and if you're that exceptional of a writer, you can probably spin gold out of a less risky 'insignificant' subject anyway.

Just my $0.02. I avoided all mention of such things in my app, though I did feel somewhat dishonest when the questions were phrased as extremes, e.g. "biggest obstacle/challenge".

 

[mcatjelly]

For what it's worth, I personally know two people who talked about mental illness in their app and were accepted to medical school.

 

[NotASerialKiller]

For what it's worth, I personally know two people who talked about mental illness in their app and were accepted to medical school.

Agreed, I think mental health depending on how you approach it is a lot safer than the other topics mehc mentioned. It can also potentially directly relate to medical care.

 

[ChrisMack390]

Youre supposed to talk about something you did X, Y, Z to overcome, not something that in your own words you are "still not over".

 

[mehc012]

Agreed, I think mental health depending on how you approach it is a lot safer than the other topics mehc mentioned. It can also potentially directly relate to medical care.

Ahahahhaha absolutely disagree. I will never discuss my mental health history with anyone I work with in the medical field, period, despite being extremely open about it in the rest of my life. Though I would never say that all healthcare professionals are closeminded on the subject (far from it), it seems like those that are...really really really are. The worst of the ridiculously biased, judgemental statements I have ever heard about mental health all came from medical personnel.

*Note* I'm not laughing at you, I just find it funny that I would rank things in the complete opposite direction. Also, the fact that this is (in my experience) true makes me irritable and I tend to laugh ironically a lot when I'm exasperated.

 

[NotASerialKiller]

Ahahahhaha absolutely disagree. I will never discuss my mental health history with anyone I work with in the medical field, period, despite being extremely open about it in the rest of my life. Though I would never say that all healthcare professionals are closeminded on the subject (far from it), it seems like those that are...really really really are. The worst of the ridiculously biased, judgemental statements I have ever heard about mental health all came from medical personnel.

*Note* I'm not laughing at you, I just find it funny that I would rank things in the complete opposite direction. Also, the fact that this is (in my experience) true makes me irritable and I tend to laugh ironically a lot when I'm exasperated.

If that would bias someone during an interview that would be really sad, but I believe you that it might happen. I was also including mental health issues with family members/loved ones though (although I now see that was unclear). You can definitely face personal adversity because of that.

 

[mehc012]

If that would bias someone during an interview that would be really sad, but I believe you that it might happen. I was also including mental health issues with family members/loved ones though (although I now see that was unclear). You can definitely face personal adversity because of that.

Ah, yes...someone else's mental illness is a different ballgame. It's not as easy to view as a personal failing of the applicant (nor as likely to raise concerns about their ability to withstand the pressure of medical education.)

 

[mehc012]

For what it's worth, I personally know two people who talked about mental illness in their app and were accepted to medical school.

Oh totally...it can be done, it just has to be done really well or it can be risky.

I happen to personally feel that someone with the talent to pull off a well-done essay on a risky subject like that could probably manage to pull off a well-done essay on something safer, too, even if it's more boring or inspires them less, but each person is different. Maybe this topic just comes naturally to them, and another wouldn't Or maybe they just have more cojones than I do!

 

[LizzyM]

For the most part my life has been pretty fortunate, supportive parents, little to no economic struggles, etc etc.
However in highschool I was in a very manipulative relationship ....
Overcoming the negative lessons I have learned from this relationship has been a difficult process that I am still not over.

Do not use this in an essay. You could come off as fragile, damaged and high risk in the med school pressure cooker. Choose anything that can show that you can bounce back from a problem and are in a state of emotional good health.

 

[Syns]

As the product of a decade of adolescent physical and sexual abuse, I have overcome my hurdles and become stronger for it. That being said, most people are so uncomfortable about this topic that I have never, nor will ever, bring it up in my applications. This isn't just true for applications however. Consider the following.

What would you tell someone on a first, second or third date? If your topic isn't on that list, don't mention it. Experiences that make you interesting and different are fair game -- in fact if you don't you may never hear back from your beloved medical school again. *offering this as a rule of thumb, there are of course exceptions*

 

[FutureOncologist]

Don't know why premeds think that "experiencing adversity" should stop with anything related to mental health. 1 out of 5 people go through some sort of mental illness in his or her life.

It depends on how you spin it OP. Take two situations:

1. In the summer of 2012, I was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder which rendered me shell-shocked in the most calm and otherwise-inert social situations. Situations where I had to vocalize my opinion to a professor, colleague, classmate, or friend made me internalize my own irrational fears and created a generalize anxiety problem that grew day-by-day. Luckily, with the help of friends, I was encouraged to seek psychological help and for a period of 6 months, I learned how to cope with these feelings and qualm my fears. By the start of the next year, I was able to speak in a group setting and even take charge of every aspect of my life--from becoming a group leader in every-day situations to having the confidence to be an integral part of the community. The support that I gained from my friends, colleagues, peers, and support groups that I regularly attended, has given me a strong desire to do the same to others in need. This, compounded with my extracurricular activities in a clinical setting, has encouraged me to become a physician that gives back to my community
   
2. Since the beginning of my freshman year, I have been plagued with anxious feelings in a group setting. When confronted even by the most-calming situations in a social environment, I would panic and try to escape the situation by any means. Through the years in college, I have made extensive contributions to helping others in need with what I experience, day-to-day. My passion for people who have social anxiety, such as myself, has pushed me to becoming a physician to hopefully help those in need so that they will never go through the struggles that I face when assaulted by the slightest of social pressure.

The first one shows that you got help and learned from your mistakes. It shows that you are human and have gone through adversity. Part of answering this question must show that you have learned from the experience and rose above it.

The second situation shows that, even though you have a passion for people that have gone through your struggles/adversity, you haven't learned yourself. Yes, it shows that you've "experienced adversity," but it also doesn't show how you rose above it.

 

[llore_lie]

Do not use this in an essay. You could come off as fragile, damaged and high risk in the med school pressure cooker. Choose anything that can show that you can bounce back from a problem and are in a state of emotional good health.

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[llore_lie]

Don't know why premeds think that "experiencing adversity" should stop with anything related to mental health. 1 out of 5 people go through some sort of mental illness in his or her life.

It depends on how you spin it OP. Take two situations:

1. In the summer of 2012, I was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder which rendered me shell-shocked in the most calm and otherwise-inert social situations. Situations where I had to vocalize my opinion to a professor, colleague, classmate, or friend made me internalize my own irrational fears and created a generalize anxiety problem that grew day-by-day. Luckily, with the help of friends, I was encouraged to seek psychological help and for a period of 6 months, I learned how to cope with these feelings and qualm my fears. By the start of the next year, I was able to speak in a group setting and even take charge of every aspect of my life--from becoming a group leader in every-day situations to having the confidence to be an integral part of the community. The support that I gained from my friends, colleagues, peers, and support groups that I regularly attended, has given me a strong desire to do the same to others in need. This, compounded with my extracurricular activities in a clinical setting, has encouraged me to become a physician that gives back to my community
   
2. Since the beginning of my freshman year, I have been plagued with anxious feelings in a group setting. When confronted even by the most-calming situations in a social environment, I would panic and try to escape the situation by any means. Through the years in college, I have made extensive contributions to helping others in need with what I experience, day-to-day. My passion for people who have social anxiety, such as myself, has pushed me to becoming a physician to hopefully help those in need so that they will never go through the struggles that I face when assaulted by the slightest of social pressure.

The first one shows that you got help and learned from your mistakes. It shows that you are human and have gone through adversity. Part of answering this question must show that you have learned from the experience and rose above it.

The second situation shows that, even though you have a passion for people that have gone through your struggles/adversity, you haven't learned yourself. Yes, it shows that you've "experienced adversity," but it also doesn't show how you rose above it.

This is actually a great example in general of how to tackle secondary applications, thank you.

 

[Spector1]

Don't go anywhere where the topic is negative. it turns people off

 

[Stagg737]

Ahahahhaha absolutely disagree. I will never discuss my mental health history with anyone I work with in the medical field, period, despite being extremely open about it in the rest of my life. Though I would never say that all healthcare professionals are closeminded on the subject (far from it), it seems like those that are...really really really are. The worst of the ridiculously biased, judgemental statements I have ever heard about mental health all came from medical personnel.

*Note* I'm not laughing at you, I just find it funny that I would rank things in the complete opposite direction. Also, the fact that this is (in my experience) true makes me irritable and I tend to laugh ironically a lot when I'm exasperated.

Discussing mental health with the general public is different than using it in a private adversity statement though. If it's the biggest form adversity a person encountered and they can easily show that they overcame it, I think it's a great topic. I've actually seen multiple people use it very, very successfully. The key is that you have to leave no doubt in the interviewers mind that you've beaten it though and that you are in control/able to deal with it under excessive stress.

As for the bolded, you can replace 'mental health' with race, gender, physical appearance (weight), attractiveness, religion, and a slough of other descriptors and it would still hold true. It's a pretty sad commentary on the types of people that can easily be found in the healthcare fields.

I'll also say to everyone though, that if an interviewer starts questioning you to the point that it becomes an attack or an interrogation, you shouldn't hesitate to contact the school when the day is done and inform them of it. I know of one or two people that were asked to re-interview because they were either asked inappropriate questions or the interviewer crossed a line in their methods. That being said, this should only be done if you really feel you were treated unfairly, as you're essentially accusing your interviewer which may not always go over well. This is even more true if you end up blowing the re-interview.

What would you tell someone on a first, second or third date? If your topic isn't on that list, don't mention it. Experiences that make you interesting and different are fair game -- in fact if you don't you may never hear back from your beloved medical school again. *offering this as a rule of thumb, there are of course exceptions*

Idk if that's the best advice for everyone though. I have no problems talking about stuff like exes, politics, or religion on a first date along with many other hard-hitting topics. I actually appreciate it sometimes as it let's me know if we're even remotely compatible. On the other hand, any one of those topics would probably make the date awkward for most people and would end the relationship right there. Instead, I might say to 'avoid topics in which your opinion could easily polarize the person you're talking to based on their beliefs'.

 

[mehc012]

Discussing mental health with the general public is different than using it in a private adversity statement though. If it's the biggest form adversity a person encountered and they can easily show that they overcame it, I think it's a great topic. I've actually seen multiple people use it very, very successfully. The key is that you have to leave no doubt in the interviewers mind that you've beaten it though and that you are in control/able to deal with it under excessive stress.

As for the bolded, you can replace 'mental health' with race, gender, physical appearance (weight), attractiveness, religion, and a slough of other descriptors and it would still hold true. It's a pretty sad commentary on the types of people that can easily be found in the healthcare fields.

I'll also say to everyone though, that if an interviewer starts questioning you to the point that it becomes an attack or an interrogation, you shouldn't hesitate to contact the school when the day is done and inform them of it. I know of one or two people that were asked to re-interview because they were either asked inappropriate questions or the interviewer crossed a line in their methods. That being said, this should only be done if you really feel you were treated unfairly, as you're essentially accusing your interviewer which may not always go over well. This is even more true if you end up blowing the re-interview.



Idk if that's the best advice for everyone though. I have no problems talking about stuff like exes, politics, or religion on a first date along with many other hard-hitting topics. I actually appreciate it sometimes as it let's me know if we're even remotely compatible. On the other hand, any one of those topics would probably make the date awkward for most people and would end the relationship right there. Instead, I might say to 'avoid topics in which your opinion could easily polarize the person you're talking to based on their beliefs'.

Too easy for them to just not interview you in the first place, with no way of knowing if it was the controversial topic that was the issue. I'd bring it up in an interview, where I could read the room, waaaaayyy before I'd bring it up in an application that will be read by *someone*.