Secondary applications to medical school often involve essays that ask you to answer the question, “Why me?” This, of course, is different from primary essays, which pose the question, “Why medicine?”
Secondary essays are specific to individual programs, and they vary in both scope and number. You may be asked to write several short essays, for example, or one long one. As you complete your secondary applications, keep the following guidelines in mind.
— Emphasize fit: Certain secondary essay prompts — like “Why does this program interest you?” — can seem simple to answer. They may provide you with specific directions, such as discussing the desirability of the school’s location.
The difficult version of this question is the open-ended or broad prompt. It can be easy to err here if you cut and paste answers among multiple programs. You do not want to tell Harvard University that you wish to go to Yale University.
You should also avoid reciting the school’s website, though you can use the program’s mission or desired student characteristics as a means of proving that you are a good fit. Remember that fit on secondary essays is between you and the school, not you and medicine.
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— Discuss the experiences that shaped you: As previously mentioned, secondary essays can cover a variety of topics.
Maximize each of these opportunities by explaining how the topic shaped the parts of your personality that make you a strong candidate for the program: your altruism, collaborative ability, ethics and so on. Such essays often lead with a prompt that asks you about your community service experience, familiarity with clinical medicine, family background or research activities.
— Highlight resilience: Resilience is a very common secondary essay topic. Medical school is difficult — about a quarter of medical students suffer from depression. How you deal with crushing stress — that is how you cope and bounce back — can be a predictor of how you meet future challenges. Some schools will specifically ask you to explain how you overcame a hardship.
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Most will ask you to explain any interruptions to your education, or any low grades. Doing so can be gut-wrenching if you view it as being asked to bare your scars.
Instead, view it as an opportunity to explain how you survived and grew stronger. While a primary essay might show why your resilience drew you to medicine, the secondary essay should address how it will see you through your medical training.
Secondary essays do share some commonalities with the essays submitted as part of the primary application. Secondary essays should be submitted as soon as possible after receipt — most guidelines recommend within two weeks. They should be written well and reviewed by multiple people.
Secondary essays differ in the argument that you are trying to advance. By submitting a primary application, you have made it clear that you would like to become a physician. Now it is time to explain to your top-choice schools why you are a great selection for them.
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Shine on Secondary Medical School Application Essays originally appeared on usnews.com
