Writer's Block--CWRU secondary

I don't think they mean school subject- I would try to get as far away from science/medicine as possible: write about how you make art, fix motorcycles, play flamenco guitar.
Or, if you want to talk about service, hopefully you have something like a soup kitchen, not a hospital. I think they want to hear that you have other interests besides a slavish devotion to being an MD.

 

You can write about anything that you've been interested in (read involved) over the years. Some example topics include:
-Cricket (my essay).
-Coppernicus and his view of the world (a friend)
-Classical music (a friend)
-Fishing (an SDNer)

If you need a copy of my essay, pm me.

Good luck

 

I almost wrote about my bonzai tree. The only problem was that I don't know what kind of plant it is!

I ended up writing about this club I started a few years ago called the Junto. It's really cool, and totally unrelated to school or medicine. If anyone in the Cleveland area would like to come to one of our meetings go ahead and PM me.

 

I just told mountain biking stories.

 

I just told of my r/c glider hobby, and then tied it in to my life in general. One of the greatest essay's I feel I have written!

 

When I interviewed last year, I was one of the first non-early decision people to interview at Case. Hence, I was interviewed by Dr. Kirby, the assoc. dean of admissions. My essay was simply an anti-capitol punishment essay that dealt with the ills of the system. He made the point that my essay would be liked by the committee because it showed that I took a stance about something that I really cared about, and didn't really care about what others thought. Just pick a topic that really interests you and this will show the committee that you have some tremendous depth. If that means something controversial, go for it. Or on the other hand, write about a favorite passtime. Whatever you do, do it with sincerity and honesty and the adcom will see that in you, the applicant.

 

for such an essay, are u trying to tie it in w/ medicine?

 

I really need some advice for this secondary question as well...

Which one of the following should I write about:

-- My military adventures (training) - I talked a little about this in my personal statement and its in my experience descriptions

-- Public Education & At-Risk - I'm an Education minor and am very passionate about this stuff

-- Growing up in Korea (second grade to my senior year in HS) - I'm thinking this can validate my ESL and my diverse experiences


What do you guys think!

Thanks!

UCLA Paratrooper

 

I'm writing about soccer, something I have played and enjoyed my entire life. Is it valid? Who cares...it's something I like to talk and write about, its part of who I am.

Tweetie, you can write about anything you want as long as it reveals a part of you. Validity is something you confer on what you write when it is written with sincerity and honesty. If they feel that what you have written about yourself or one of your interests isn't valid, then perhaps they aren't the right medical school for you. No big deal, and move on.

My suggestion? Write about your writing and poetry. Remeber that the question has to be an interest so writing about yourself and your immigrant experience probably wouldn't qualify since it isn't an interest per se. Do you have a favorite writer or poet? Perhaps you can talk about the way you go about writing your poetry? Why do you write it? How does it make you feel? I think you have a great topic right there.

 

I wrote that essay last year and when they mean subject, i think they mean a topic outside of medicine, any topic, that you are interested in talking about.
It seems to me this essay is there to help them learn more about you as a person and see how your personality or interests ouside of medicine are like.

Paratrooper:

All those topics sound interesting, but I would like to hear more about

Public Education & At-Risk - I'm an Education minor and am very passionate about this stuff

if you are passionate about that topic you could probably make your essay very engaging b/c you are so interested in talking about it.

 

Tweetie,
I love the cookbook idea! Did you ever see/read Like Water For Chocolate?

 

don't mean to barge in on tweetie's thread, but while it's kicking, I have a similar question. Bodybuilding is a big part of my life (I'll be a doing a bodybuilding competition next spring actually), and if I got the chance to write about it on applications or secondaries I would (I'm applying next year, not this). However, it have a feeling it might come off as a bit extravagant... bodybuilding seems to carry a negative connotation, most people assume we are just "freaks on steroids", or whatever the typical slur may be. What do you guys think, is it a valid topic for me to write about when I get the chance, or should I just avoid it altogether? Or perhaps knock it down to maybe a "hobby of working out" or something of that sort?

many thanks.

 

Tweetie, i sent you a pm

UCLA Paratrooper, Id write about the public education one.

limit , i dont see anything wrong with the bodybuilding idea. You could even explain and counter negative connotations about steroids etc in your essay.

 

My sense is that Case isn't looking for an essay that restates your acheivements or your qualifications as a future doctor. They want something that reveals your personality and your passions. These make the best essays anyway.

Tweetie: I'm with you on the cooking idea. Why do you "absolutely love" it? Why do you consider it an art form? What are some of your favorite things to cook? Do you like to follow recipes, or do you prefer to wing it?

And about the recipes you collect: why does the idea of compiling a book of recipes appeal to you? Does it give you a sense of connectedness across generations of your family? How does it influence your sense of the culture you come from?

I think this is a wonderfully rich topic, and it sounds like one you'd be able to turn into a delicious essay.

 

The book is a love story/cookbook. Every chapter has a recipe handed down through the author's family. Both the book and the film are of the genre known as Magical Realism. I would just watch the movie first. It's wonderful. Then, if you have time, read the book and learn how to make quail in rose petal sauce.

 

I think it would make a great essay. It's obviously something you're committed to, that gets you going, and those kinds of activities are the ones that show your uniqueness to the admissions committee. I wouldn't dilute it to merely working out. So many people already do that -- it sounds like you do a lot more -- plus I don't know how passionate you would sound about it. Go with bodybuilding!