Why do secondaries ask for you to repeat information that is clearly indicated on your primary?

[Albucasis]

For example; UCSD: "On your AMCAS Application, you were asked to identify your three "most meaningful" experiences. In addition to the information you provided on the AMCAS application, we would like to know the TOTAL number of hours you have spent in this activity."

I've also been asked about hours spent on extracurriculars by several other schools. The information is all there, clearly stated in my primary. It feels unprofessional, but maybe I don't understand how the admissions process works. Can someone explain?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Ace-Co-A]

For example; UCSD: "On your AMCAS Application, you were asked to identify your three "most meaningful" experiences. In addition to the information you provided on the AMCAS application, we would like to know the TOTAL number of hours you have spent in this activity."

I've also been asked about hours spent on extracurriculars by several other schools. The information is all there, clearly stated in my primary. It feels unprofessional, but maybe I don't understand how the admissions process works. Can someone explain?

Some of it might just be wanting to make you jump through hoops. Also, though, maybe the school would rather have certain information laid out in a different way than the way it is given on AMCAS.

Good luck slogging through it.

 

[Salt Salt]

Preparing us for a life of unnecessary documentation?

 

[Gene Parmesan]

I stumbled upon AAMC's Standard Operation Procedure (suggested for all medical schools)

1. Everybody gets our secondary, even the people we will reject instantly
2. Charge $100 to "process" each secondary. 100 is a nice, round number.
3. Ask the same three essay questions: what diversity will you bring, why our school, and what kind of doctor will you be?
4. Realize $100 is a comically high price to answer three essay questions
5. Ask applicants to recycle info from primary, e.g. "list all your science classes here" to give illusion of a difficult-to-process secondary
6. PROFIT?!?!?!
7. S***, somehow we're losing money! Raise tuition for 50th consecutive year.

 

[Fargofargo]

Kaa-Chinn!!!

 

[LizzyM]

Keep in mind that until the 2013-2014 application cycle, the application asked start & end dates and average hours per week. One had to guess if June 2010-August 2010 was 6 weeks or 12 weeks. July-August 2012 could have been July 1-Aug 31 with an average of x hours per week or July 31-August 1 with an average of x hours per week and we couldn't tell the difference. That "total number of hours" may be a hold over.

Also, some schools want to give interviewers access to specific information (courses taken) but blind them to other information (ethnicity, MCAT scores, or whatever). That could be an other reason to have applicants repeat information on both applications.

Should medical schools fund their admissions offices (staff, telephones & technology, office space, etc) on the backs of current students (increasing your tuition) or through fees paid by applicants. So many responses here go back to "call the school" but who do you think is paying those salaries? Your $100 application fees.

 

[Albucasis]

Keep in mind that until the 2013-2014 application cycle, the application asked start & end dates and average hours per week. One had to guess if June 2010-August 2010 was 6 weeks or 12 weeks. July-August 2012 could have been July 1-Aug 31 with an average of x hours per week or July 31-August 1 with an average of x hours per week and we couldn't tell the difference. That "total number of hours" may be a hold over.

Also, some schools want to give interviewers access to specific information (courses taken) but blind them to other information (ethnicity, MCAT scores, or whatever). That could be an other reason to have applicants repeat information on both applications.

Should medical schools fund their admissions offices (staff, telephones & technology, office space, etc) on the backs of current students (increasing your tuition) or through fees paid by applicants. So many responses here go back to "call the school" but who do you think is paying those salaries? Your $100 application fees.

Interesting and informative. Thank you.