“Why Us” essays

[DoctorOrdinary]

I know its getting late in the cycle but I have 3 secondaries left that have “why us” essays. The thing Is, I do all the research I can from the schools website to learn about their clinical training sites, curriculum, etc but I just can’t find a way to make my reasons feel compelling. Sure, I may want to serve underserved populations and the location of X hospital makes it great ,...... literally I can say the same thing for almost every school. What are some pointers you guys would give to craft a really genuine why us essay that can make my app shine brighter? nothing seems extraordinarily different between schools, which makes it very hard for me to write these. one school for ex is right by my home and has amazing clinical training sites as well as opportunity to be more hands on. i Also feel like a lot of information about these schools is very limited, as I’ve looked through their websites, forums, and even YouTube, ultimately making my essay seem basic. What separates a good and a bad why us essay?

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[DNAJB6]

Have you visited any of the campuses? That might be a start. One of my favorite things to do would be to go up to the medical students there and ask "Why did you pick XYZ medical school?" 😛

 

[Moko]

I know its getting late in the cycle but I have 3 secondaries left that have “why us” essays. The thing Is, I do all the research I can from the schools website to learn about their clinical training sites, curriculum, etc but I just can’t find a way to make my reasons feel compelling. Sure, I may want to serve underserved populations and the location of X hospital makes it great ,...... literally I can say the same thing for almost every school. What are some pointers you guys would give to craft a really genuine why us essay that can make my app shine brighter? nothing seems extraordinarily different between schools, which makes it very hard for me to write these. one school for ex is right by my home and has amazing clinical training sites as well as opportunity to be more hands on. i Also feel like a lot of information about these schools is very limited, as I’ve looked through their websites, forums, and even YouTube, ultimately making my essay seem basic. What separates a good and a bad why us essay?

Schools want to interview applicants who have researched the school and will actually consider matriculating if accepted. They also want applicants who will be happy there as students. So show schools what you value in a program and how they fit into that picture. This essay is an opportunity to reveal more about yourself, your priorities, and values. For some, reasons to attend a particular school may include proximity to family, being limited geographically due to significant others, etc (these should definitely be mentioned if applicable). For others, it may be an emphasis on a personal or professional interest. Your essay does not need to be unique; in fact, most essays are not and simply rehash the same themes.

 

[diasterdream]

I would try to link your previous experiences and explain why you want to continue pursuing it at med school. Try to determine if there are unique things about your major that you could apply to the school. For example, I discussed why I like interdisciplinary learning and how it influenced my choose of honors program and major. Then I went on to discuss how various components of the school would match my interests.

 

[710118]

The way I see it, these essays just weed out people who didn’t research the school. As long as you say something reasonable about the school your good

 

[Cornfed101]

It is always a good idea to link back to your experiences for any secondary essay. I really looked for service opportunities that matched my skills and experiences. For example, I have a lot of teaching experience, especially teaching ESL classes, so I tried to highlight opportunities that matched my experience and stated that I wanted to continue this service. I noticed that many schools have similar curriculums, but no two schools have the same programs for getting involved in the community.

Also, if you have any family ties, location, etc. make sure to mention that.