Why a HAND-WRITTEN Essay?

[praying mantis]

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Does anyone know why VCU would request a hand-written essay for their supplemental application? Why wouldn't they allow you to type it? It seems rather strange...

 

[Maple]

I was told that its tradition! 🙄

 

[Snuffleuffagus]

Because they think there is predictive value towards understanding you via the way you write. I'm with you! It's rediculous and they should be ashamed of themselves. It's "anything goes" with these schools, for they feel no need to justify their actions. It's an outrage and invasion of confidential information (that is, the details of your hand-writing style). One school asked me (in their sec.) to provide the circumference of my rectum during a defacatory episode. Now I'm sorry, but that is highly personal, and I'm not gonna release that to just anyone!!

 

[lady in red]

Two possibilities:
1) they want to see whether you have bad hand-writing and therefore were meant to be a doctor
2) they want to compare it to your MCAT writing sample make sure you are the same person

 

[Sonya]

If it's an essay, you'll no doubt take the time to write it neat... whatever your typical handwriting is.
People think they can tell stuff about person from hand writing//... perhaps? 😕 😕

The physician i shadowed said my having bad handwriting made me half way there. 😀

 

[Dr. Kermit]

At one of my interviews, I was told that prior to matriculating to their school, they requested the photo ID card from MCAT. (Remember that photo card with your finger imprint?) The school requests that card or a copy of that card with your handwriting, photo, and finger print so that they can verify that the applicant who took the test is also the same as the one that they've interviewed and accepted.

 

[C U in MD school]

i had a interview at vcu. i asked this question and they said it is a tradition... their school is one of the oldest in the nation and although the times are changing, they want to honor the past, and this is their way.

 

[Rumit]

Originally posted by C U in MD school:
•i had a interview at vcu. i asked this question and they said it is a tradition... their school is one of the oldest in the nation and although the times are changing, they want to honor the past, and this is their way.•••

Do they do the same thing during the medical education? Do they teach the use of leaches because it's tradition? 🙂 How ridiculous. 😀

Adam

 

[lady in red]

Virginia is in the South, and South is very slow to change; they are very prudent about their traditions and history and it can be either good or bad (good--that they have their own unique identity and are proud of it, bad--that some states were still flying the confederate flag in the 20th century). I think the essay thing is a quite innocent tradition, nothing to rally about. Rumit, i don't think they still use leeches, since they have (a 21 century feature!) an online status check!!