Why this school? Secondary essay

[box8psych]

Just wanted to get some opinions on this prompt. I've already gotten this question on a couple of secondaries and I'm not sure what tact to take. I don't have any specific reason for picking this school beyond the fact it's in a big city, great school and in my range. Should I just state that (obviously a tad more eloquently)? Or are they looking for a description of their programs I would be interested in? Thanks!

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[Goobs]

Look into their mission and specifics about their program.


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[Pacna]

Look into their mission and specifics about their program.


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Yep. Do NOT make convenient geography the main reason you want to go there. Think of it like you made a club and someone is applying to join. If they said "because I live across the street" that would actually be a negative in your eyes.

 

[AdrianVeidt]

Yep. Do NOT make convenient geography the main reason you want to go there. Think of it like you made a club and someone is applying to join. If they said "because I live across the street" that would actually be a negative in your eyes.

Location should be a major factor for going to a school seeing as you will be there for 4 straight years.

 

[Pacna]

Location should be a major factor for going to a school seeing as you will be there for 4 straight years.

I agree that it should be a major factor for your decision, but you want to tell THEM that your decision is due to the wonderfulness of their programs, staff, etc. Make location a side issue.

 

[AdrianVeidt]

I agree that it should be a major factor for your decision, but you want to tell THEM that your decision is due to the wonderfulness of their programs, staff, etc. Make location a side issue.

Ah, good idea/point. I see where you're coming from.

 

[LizzyM]

Location should be a major factor for going to a school seeing as you will be there for 4 straight years.

But why this school over the school across town, or in the next town, or in a big city on the other coast, or another school in a small city, etc?

What attracts you to that school? If you had to choose between that school and another on your list, what would be the pluses for this school?

Curriculum, extra-curriculars, unusual electives, research opportunities, service opportuities would be some things you could mention. If you really want that school despite being a good fit with "better schools" then specify why this school is your first choice so that someone seeing your great stats and experiences won't say, "oh, he's going to go to Harvard (or Hopkins or Stanford) so why bother with him?".

This is your chance to write a love letter to the school. Would you write a letter to your mad crush and say, "I like you because you live near by." ?

 

[jeghaber]

I agree that it should be a major factor for your decision, but you want to tell THEM that your decision is due to the wonderfulness of their programs, staff, etc. Make location a side issue.

At the same time, I can see the location being a large factor in the draw of some schools. For example, Emory's proximity to and relationship with the CDC provides opportunities not available elsewhere. Many schools are also in large cities like NYC where the patient population will be more diverse than a school in, say, Nebraska. Since half of medical school will be spent in training at the adjoining medical facilities, I'd argue that location is in fact important for many schools and an integral aspect of their programs.

 

[Pacna]

At the same time, I can see the location being a large factor in the draw of many schools. For example, Emory's proximity to and relationship with the CDC provides opportunities not available elsewhere. Many schools are also in large cities like NYC where the patient population will be more diverse than a school in, say, Nebraska. Since half of medical school will be spent in training at the adjoining medical facilities, I'd argue that location is in fact important for many schools and an integral aspect of their programs.

I think I should have been more clear. I agree with everything you said. For instance, telling UoMN that their proximity to 3 trauma 1's is a positive for you because you want to work in the ER is a great thing to say.

Telling UoMN that it's handy they're so close to your mom's house so you won't have to move very far is NOT a positive.

This is your chance to write a love letter to the school. Would you write a letter to your mad crush and say, "I like you because you live near by." ?

^ Perfect. That's what I was trying to say. 😛

 

[487806]

This is your chance to write a love letter to the school. Would you write a letter to your mad crush and say, "I like you because you live near by." ?

Well, it definitely makes it a lot easier to get the ball rolling

 

[AdrianVeidt]

But why this school over the school across town, or in the next town, or in a big city on the other coast, or another school in a small city, etc?

What attracts you to that school? If you had to choose between that school and another on your list, what would be the pluses for this school?

Curriculum, extra-curriculars, unusual electives, research opportunities, service opportuities would be some things you could mention. If you really want that school despite being a good fit with "better schools" then specify why this school is your first choice so that someone seeing your great stats and experiences won't say, "oh, he's going to go to Harvard (or Hopkins or Stanford) so why bother with him?".

This is your chance to write a love letter to the school. Would you write a letter to your mad crush and say, "I like you because you live near by." ?

I was thinking more along the lines of 'my family lives in this city so i'm applying to the school in said city' rather than 'hey big city with lots of attractions'.

 

[VictorAlpha]

I really did not like this prompt. I mean most of my answers to this prompt were not great.

I just spoke highly about the school in what were, for the most part, generalities. A few schools got better answers from me because I genuinely had a much higher interest in the school and knew more about it, so I talked about those special aspects.

What are you supposed to say when the honest answer is only four words: "because you teach medicine" lol

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

Yep. Do NOT make convenient geography the main reason you want to go there. Think of it like you made a club and someone is applying to join. If they said "because I live across the street" that would actually be a negative in your eyes.

I completely disagree. You're more likely to a) matriculate and b) thrive in a location that you like and where you have a nearby support system.

Schools know that people apply based on acceptance averages and location, but location probably shouldn't be the only reason.

 

[Mt Kilimanjaro]

This is your chance to write a love letter to the school. Would you write a letter to your mad crush and say, "I like you because you live near by." ?

So if an applicant lives in San Antonio and her husband has a stable career in San Antonio and her family lives in San Antonio, you're saying it's a mistake to list staying in San Antonio to be near family as a reason on the "Why UT San Antonio?" question?

 

[SunsFun]

Speaking about location it makes sense to discount it as serious reasons if there other schools nearby. But what if this is the only school within hundreds of miles or even in the state? Say you come from a family, community, culture that is very tight knit, possibly immigrant, where moving far away creates hardship not only for a student but also for his family? We all know that having support system is often crucial to someone's success. In this case would location be a more legitimate reason?

I don't think it should ever be a sole reason for choosing one school over another but can it at least be one of them?

Not everyone lives in a family where you can just go live wherever you want for 4 years and maybe longer. Does that mean those people should forget about medicine altogether?

 

[Tots]

I think I should have been more clear. I agree with everything you said. For instance, telling UoMN that their proximity to 3 trauma 1's is a positive for you because you want to work in the ER is a great thing to say.

Telling UoMN that it's handy they're so close to your mom's house so you won't have to move very far is NOT a positive.



^ Perfect. That's what I was trying to say. 😛

Uh I think telling them that family is near by can absolutely be a positive if you do it right. Some people have compelling reasons to be close to their family and even if you don't have a compelling reason, having family around could an important form of support. For one OOS school I was accepted at I wrote: "My brother is currently attending XXXXX in XXXXXXX and I imagine having family close by during medical school would be a comforting experience." It probably shouldn't be the only thing you mention but it if it is important don't leave it out.

Speaking about location it makes sense to discount it as serious reasons if there other schools nearby. But what if this is the only school within hundreds of miles or even in the state? Say you come from a family, community, culture that is very tight knit, possibly immigrant, where moving far away creates hardship not only for a student but also for his family? We all know that having support system is often crucial to someone's success. In this case would location be a more legitimate reason?

I don't think it should ever be a sole reason for choosing one school over another but can it at least be one of them?

Not everyone lives in a family where you can just go live wherever you want for 4 years and maybe longer. Does that mean those people should forget about medicine altogether?

Location was an absolutely legitimate reason from my experience.

With these questions my response was usually 50% why I thought the schools programs matched my interests and 50% location. Medical schools are so similar that the first half of my response looks very similar for almost every medical school that asked "Why do you want to attend XXXX school of medicine."

In retrospect, I said some pretty ridiculous things with regards to location that were surprisingly well received. For example at Yale and Cornell I said: "Since I identify as a gay male, I seek to attend medical school in a community that is accepting of individuals who identify as LGBT. XXXXX is appealing in this regard since it is one of only a few states where same-sex couples can get married and adopt children." I was accepted at both.

 

[box8psych]

VictorAlpha - you summed up the way I feel exactly!

Honestly my answer for almost every school is that they are a great SOM that will give me the opportunities to become an effective physician. I feel borderline disingenuous to just cherry-pick programs and aspects of the school I can glean from websites and searches. I guess this is when the "BSing" everyone keeps referring to comes into play.

 

[dkpremed]

I've been finding it helpful to go back to old specific school threads and read what the medical students have to say about their school. I feel like I've gotten a better idea of the schools aside from what the website says.

 

[premed2000]

If say I love research, and I've had lots of experiences in research and would love to continue pursuing a career in academic medicine, can I just state that a school's a good fit because of their reputation in research and the high NIH fundings? Or is that too general?

 

[LizzyM]

If say I love research, and I've had lots of experiences in research and would love to continue pursuing a career in academic medicine, can I just state that a school's a good fit because of their reputation in research and the high NIH fundings? Or is that too general?

It sounds honest and sincere and it is something that schools like to hear.

 

[Goobs]

VictorAlpha - you summed up the way I feel exactly!

Honestly my answer for almost every school is that they are a great SOM that will give me the opportunities to become an effective physician. I feel borderline disingenuous to just cherry-pick programs and aspects of the school I can glean from websites and searches. I guess this is when the "BSing" everyone keeps referring to comes into play.

Just do it. You're going to be doing it again when you prepare for your interview anyhow.

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

VictorAlpha - you summed up the way I feel exactly!

Honestly my answer for almost every school is that they are a great SOM that will give me the opportunities to become an effective physician. I feel borderline disingenuous to just cherry-pick programs and aspects of the school I can glean from websites and searches. I guess this is when the "BSing" everyone keeps referring to comes into play.

What makes those schools great? What opportunities are you referring to, and how are they going to make you a better physician? What do those schools have that others don't?

The "Why this school?" questions may suck in that they require a lot of research, but they're probably the most important secondary questions. If it helps, think of them as something that forces you to actually learn about the schools you're applying to.

 

[LizzyM]

I was thinking more along the lines of 'my family lives in this city so i'm applying to the school in said city' rather than 'hey big city with lots of attractions'.

That works if the school is the only one in that city. It doesn't work in Boston, New Haven, NYC, Philadelphia, DC, Chicago, St. Louis, etc.

 

[Palam]

I will admit I've yet to receive a secondary, but I would imagine tact is the name of the game. If you use location to embellish on something unique and interesting about you then that's great. The one individual who mentioned they identified as LBGT is an example of that, but I also hope they went into certain qualities of the school that were favorable when compared to schools in similar regions/cities.

Here's an idea off the top of my head. Take the school you're applying to and compare them to another school (preferable not the best medical school ever). Highlight the positives, negatives, and then just harp on the positives. Imagine you were forced to go to X medical school (god forbid)- how would you take advantage of their resources?

I will definitely use location as a section of my essay, because I like to do a lot of stuff in my free time. I play music, rock climb, play hockey, paintball, etc. How can a certain location cater to those hobbies and how can I write about them so that it's expressed that I'm interesting, active, and driven to make my new school my home away from home?

While their top priorities are grades and ultimately money, a school wants its students to be part of a community. They want involvement, diversity, and eventually loyal alumni. Will you mold with the community that already exists? How can you enhance that community or evolve it?

 

[KindofBlue]

..........

Here's an idea off the top of my head. Take the school you're applying to and compare them to another school (preferable not the best medical school ever). Highlight the positives, negatives, and then just harp on the positives. Imagine you were forced to go to X medical school (god forbid)- how would you take advantage of their resources?
?

In case someone is thinking of doing this, that's a definite NO.
Never compare or complain about schools to an Adcom,
I believe this was one of LizzyM's nuggets, or some other Adcom on SDN.

 

[Palam]

In case someone is thinking of doing this, that's a definite NO.
Never compare or complain about schools to an Adcom,
I believe this was one of LizzyM's nuggets, or some other Adcom on SDN.

I forgot how painfully explicit I have to be on the internet, but that's my fault. I wasn't suggesting you write about the comparison, it was a tip on how to brainstorm. I was giving suggestions on how you can write positively and effectively on a school that would otherwise seem pretty bleak. Find the school's strengths by comparing it to other schools, then harp on those positives when you write your essay.

 

[Pacna]

I forgot how painfully explicit I have to be on the internet, but that's my fault. I wasn't suggesting you write about the comparison, it was a tip on how to brainstorm. I was giving suggestions on how you can write positively and effectively on a school that would otherwise seem pretty bleak. Find the school's strengths by comparing it to other schools, then harp on those positives when you write your essay.

I feel your pain.

But I agree 100%. Great idea.