oh boy, delurking twice today to answer questions!
i've heard it said that the primary essay isn't taken as seriously. whether or not this is true is beside the point. my biggest piece of advice: use every bit of BOTH applications to sell yourself. now, obviously, you can't really do much about your numbers. they speak for themselves. but many of the questions on either application can be used to paint yourself in the best light possible. (i know this sounds goofy and self-promoting and that's because IT IS. your application can be seen as one big act of self-promotion.) take the "honors" questions for example. they give you 2 square inches to list your honors, awards, etc. obviously, you can't put everything in there (premeds tend to rack up stuff like that) so you put in the best stuff. the essays should be the same way. ok enough of that.
here's something that may help. it's an assignment. (forgive me for being pedantic, it's midnight.) i want you to write ONE essay. the first part of it should address why you're interested in medicine. this section of your essay will address philosophy, motivation, life experience, etc. but don't go tell me about your interest in medicine right off the bat. instead, tell me why you're interested in science. what life events did you go through to give you that interest - or was it innate? what motivates you to read about electron transport on a saturday night. (you see my point.) next, tell me why you're interested in health. what life events...what motivation... finally, tell me why medicine. (same questions). don't be afraid to be forthright even if you think it sounds corny. if you're going into medicine because your beloved uncle billy died of brain cancer when you were six, say so. if you have a particular incident in your life that started you down the road to becoming a doc, share it here.
the second part of your essay should address ACTION. so you decided you wanted to be a doc. what did you do about it? did you volunteer someplace? did you engage in research? did you shadow docs? what have you done to educate yourself about your chosen profession? what have you learned? do you know what kind of medicine you're interested in? why? be compelling. if there's something you experienced while you were out educating yourself about health and medicine that convinced you more than ever you want to be a doc, share it here.
when you're done with all that, you should have the basis for a good primary and good generic secondary essay. you'll obviously have to tailor things a bit on the secondary... why this school, etc. but the core of it will be there.
it's 12:15 and i've written an essay of my own! good luck with your app. i've been there, several times and i appreciate how you feel. i'm sleepy, it's time for bed.
