Why do schools Ask secondary questions that they know the answer to?

[Zosa]

Honest and random question:

I've done a few secondaries so far and I can't help but wonder why medical schools ask questions that can be easily found on my primary application?

Im not complaining, it makes secondaries slightly less grueling, but I am curious?
Is it a way of screening somehow?

For example: Why ask my what my extracurriculars are when I have a whole work/activities page filled out with descriptions?

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[LizzyM]

It could be that the school wants to provide your secondary to some reviewers/interviewers without providing your grades and scores and other "personal" information that could bias their assessments.

 

[efle]

Can you give an example? I don't remember any secondaries asking "why medicine" which is all that most people's PS addresses

 

[TheBiologist]

Can you give an example? I don't remember any secondaries asking "why medicine" which is all that most people's PS addresses

I've had questions asking about felony/misdemeanor convictions, and one's that ask to put your BCPM classes and the school you took them at. some also ask whether you are applying to the "Regular M.D." program or another program, even though it asks that when you add a school on AMCAS.

 

[efle]

I've had questions asking about felony/misdemeanor convictions, and one's that ask to put your BCPM classes and the school you took them at. some also ask whether you are applying to the "Regular M.D." program or another program, even though it asks that when you add a school on AMCAS. I'm sure there are more examples

Ah gotcha, I thought he meant essay prompts that were about the same things as his personal statement. For things like re-selecting the program or re-entering classes, it must just be easier on their end to have you re-enter it rather than try to import from AMCAS into their software.

 

[Zosa]

Ah gotcha, I thought he meant essay prompts that were about the same things as his personal statement. For things like re-selecting the program or re-entering classes, it must just be easier on their end to have you re-enter it rather than try to import from AMCAS into their software.

Oh ok yeah I didnt mean questions asking the same thing as the personal statement. But more so, the stuff that is directly answered on primaries

 

[DBC03]

Honest and random question:

I've done a few secondaries so far and I can't help but wonder why medical schools ask questions that can be easily found on my primary application?

Im not complaining, it makes secondaries slightly less grueling, but I am curious?
Is it a way of screening somehow?

For example: Why ask my what my extracurriculars are when I have a whole work/activities page filled out with descriptions?

I've been wondering why/complaining about the same thing all day. But @LizzyM has a satisfactory answer. Does that mean we need to fill it out similarly to the AMCAS or completely differently?

 

[hellowalnut]

lookin' at you uc davis

 

[MCATISEZ]

Can you give an example? I don't remember any secondaries asking "why medicine" which is all that most people's PS addresses

Miami Miller asks for chronological lists and brief descriptions of each of your clinical experiences, volunteering, employment etc.


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