Will I be doomed by this prompt?

[longhorn09]

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So, there are many schools having the following prompt: Tell me what's your plan for the upcoming 2009-2010 academic year.

After this summer, I will have only one more class (a one credit chemistry lab) to take before I earn my degree. I will be taking it in the fall. I also plan to have a job in the fall, most likely working as a waiter or the like. I don't want to work as something that requires me to think too much. After the interview seasion is over, I plan to go back to my home country and do A LOT OF travels before the med school start.

The problem is, I don't think the above plan is good and justified in the eyes of the adcoms. What should I do/write down in the secondaries? Thanks for taking a look.

 

[NickNaylor]

You should write down what you're actually going to do. If you feel uneasy about it, change your plans. I would agree that this is probably not what adcoms are looking for. I don't think they're expecting you to be superman, but at the same time I don't think relaxation is quite what they're looking for either.

 

[longhorn09]

You should write down what you're actually going to do. If you feel uneasy about it, change your plans. I would agree that this is probably not what adcoms are looking for. I don't think they're expecting you to be superman, but at the same time I don't think relaxation is quite what they're looking for either.

Although I want to stay in the states and really do something, my parents want me to go back home after studying in US for years.🙁🙁🙁
Do you think it's a good excuse to the adcoms?

 

[apumic]

Although I want to stay in the states and really do something, my parents want me to go back home after studying in US for years.🙁🙁🙁
Do you think it's a good excuse to the adcoms?

Sure, they'll understand that it's an issue for you but excuses are never "good enough." Given the option of 2 otherwise equal candidates, do you take the one who has a plan for that time or the one who is saying "I plan on wasting that time because of...."? The answer is obvious, sorry, but while it may not be quite a kiss of death, I don't expect the excuse will put you on equal footing with someone who actually has a strong plan. Making excuses only tends to raise questions about commitment and so forth. ("If s/he were more committed, s/he wouldn't need an excuse because s/he would have found a way to make things happen.")

 

[redlight]

the only potential problem i see is waiting tables. if you claim you want a career with research or have some role in academia, you would fare better with a job consistent with those aspirations. traveling and such is fine( try and put a spin on it.. dont just say you will go on vacation for 8 months), but while you are here you should do something clinical or related to career plans.

 

[richse]

So, there are many schools having the following prompt: Tell me what's your plan for the upcoming 2009-2010 academic year.

After this summer, I will have only one more class (a one credit chemistry lab) to take before I earn my degree. I will be taking it in the fall. I also plan to have a job in the fall, most likely working as a waiter or the like. I don't want to work as something that requires me to think too much. After the interview seasion is over, I plan to go back to my home country and do A LOT OF travels before the med school start.

The problem is, I don't think the above plan is good and justified in the eyes of the adcoms. What should I do/write down in the secondaries? Thanks for taking a look.

Lets see:

40R MCAT... check
4.0 gpa... check
good ECs...check

I think you could write something about sitting at home watching TV for a year and still have a shot at some good schools. Relax and just tell them what you will or might be doing over the next year. It didn't even come up at any of my interviews what I wrote in that section. BTW, all I wrote was I would continue some of my volunteering and working at my job, which is what I did.

 

[hewmanoid]

You just have to write what you'll be doing during the next year. But, it would be good to stay in touch with medicine by getting involved in some kind of clinically-oriented activities. Just because you've already submitted your AMCAS app, that doesn't mean that all of a sudden you can quit your volunteer position or forget about all your EC's. But, do it only if you truly want to do it, not for the sake of looking good on the paper.

 

[Omni]

Well, just because you write it down on the paper, doesn't mean that you HAVE to do. Sure, include a few things of what you are actually doing, but fill in a few things that you think would look good and you can talk to the interviewer for hours about it. But make sure its not something like being a test pilot for NASA, or being the pace car driver for F1 or of the like.

 

[longhorn09]

Thank you guys, your answers really inspire me a lot.

How about this: on top of the things that I listed, I will write I'm also gonna go to another oversea volunteer mission trip ( I have been to one before so I know what to talk about this kind of experience), and that I will keep volunteering in the hospital? I hope all these together will look good 😛

 

[longhorn09]

Well, just because you write it down on the paper, doesn't mean that you HAVE to do. Sure, include a few things of what you are actually doing, but fill in a few things that you think would look good and you can talk to the interviewer for hours about it. But make sure its not something like being a test pilot for NASA, or being the pace car driver for F1 or of the like.

😍Dude I love this idea! I will def. go for being a racecar driver instead of a doc if I got that talent! I enjoy watching racing and driving!