Many students are familiar with writing their personal statements for medical school. But more important are their applications’ secondary essays.
These school-specific essays are typically shorter than a standard personal statement, but provide more detailed information on why you’re interested in a particular medical school. Secondary essays allow admissions officers to gain a better idea of why students are interested in a program, and how they’d fit in if admitted.
The following advice can help you when writing these important essays.
1. Be forthright: Although secondary essays may be shorter than primary essays, they are the ones used to differentiate applicants. Primary essays generally follow a pattern. The applicant usually first introduces a person of influence, describes experiences and ends again with the person of influence.
The first essays focus on what you want to tell the schools. The secondary essays, however, focus on what the schools want to know about you.
[Learn about six medical school personal statement do’s and don’ts.]
2. Give precise answers to the questions: The school’s mission and values are tucked away in the questions they ask. If you really want to attend a particular medical school, spend the extra time to explain why your mission matches theirs, rather than using a boilerplate essay.
For example, if the school is invested in research and they ask you to provide specific details, such as your hypothesis or how you might develop another research project, make certain to address exactly what is being requested.
3. Think through your answers: Schools that have students work together a significant amount of time may allow them to present an essay tackling how they’d deal with working in a small group.
It might ask how you would handle someone who was domineering or did not allow others to speak. It could be that one member isn’t showing up for sessions, or that someone is very shy, or any number of scenarios.
The applicant must create a plan to handle this within the group structure. The temptation may be to come up with an expedient solution without considering all the consequences.
This is analogous to a physician prescribing a drug for a particular indication without reflecting on possible side effects or contraindications. Before you begin writing, think through the possible scenarios.
4. Don’t use essays from past courses: These essays are frequently identifiable and lead the reader to believe you don’t really care about your application. Some examples I’ve seen include perspectives on philosophical writings, novels or movies. Be sure your essay is an appropriate fit for the school to which you’re applying.
[Avoid four common mistakes that lead to medical school rejections.]
5. Scrutinize your setbacks: Resilience is a hot topic for medical educators, and many schools are asking applicants to describe a failure or setback. They want to know that you can make a comeback.
Consider your setbacks and choose one of some significance — not a low score or poor grade. Medical school is demanding and puts most students under more stress than they have ever experienced. History predicts the future if we do not learn from it.
Think about a time you stumbled and what you learned from it. Did it change you? Do you think or act differently now?
6. Be prepared for ambiguity: Double-blind essays are not uncommon and might ask you about a decision you would make and why. If you receive one of these, you might suspect that the questions don’t have just one correct answer, and you would be right.
An example might be whether you would rather help an elderly couple who was lost, or be on time to present to the chair of surgery. It could have to do with covering for a friend who ask you to sign him in to a mandatory session because he was out to late the night before. Sometimes it might entail siding with a colleague who had questionable behavior.
These essays are all set up so that you will likely disappoint someone. Who will it be, and why did you decide that was the path you would take? Admissions officers are looking for critical reasoning in addition to individual values.
In these hypothetical essays, there is something to lose in any solution. So you should weigh the options, use integrity and take the high road ethically.
In my hospital, that way of thinking drives our “patients first” philosophy. Real-life decisions often are not black and white, but rather gray. Take the time to reflect and you will be able to navigate these conundrums, make tough decisions and explain your thinking.
[Learn to write an artful, standout medical school application essay.]
7. Don’t be discouraged by a larger number of essay requests: Secondary essays are usually shorter and give the application screeners opportunities to know you better. They want to know if you are a good fit for their medical school program. The more they know about you, the better the decision will be regarding fit.
8. Show humility: You have every right to be proud of what you have accomplished, but remember to give credit to others where you can. Demonstrate your appreciation to those who helped pave the way for you.
A healthy dose of respect and humility shows that you know you haven’t won the Nobel Prize yet. Humility is also connected with the ability to follow orders, which is essential. Show medical school officers that you are coachable. After all, you’re entering medical school to learn.
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Follow 8 Tips to Write Secondary Medical School Essays originally appeared on usnews.com