Premed Applicants Stressing Secondary Essays
13 posts across 2 communities in the last 90 days; 92% from r/premed.
“hey everyone, im sure we're all concerned about submitting secondaries on time. im getting verified this week so im getting queasy. i heard some people here on reddit say some schools have an "early cycle" and that those who submit secondaries after july are basically done. is…”
“Basically what the title says. I know we all hate secondary season but I’d like to shed some positivity. I personally enjoyed writing for Creighton, Loyola, Albany, Loma Linda and JABSOM because some of their questions aligned with my personal statement and the reflections just…”
“"Why Us" makes sense as annoying as it is to write because at least it shows you know what program and resources you are applying to, but I can't really fathom a reason 1 why can't all these school put their heads together to design some extra standard prompts for the primary if…”
Applicants are feeling overwhelmed and frustrated with the secondary essay process for medical school admissions. They express difficulty crafting authentic responses, struggling to articulate 'why us' narratives, and questioning the perceived narcissism of some prompts.
SOURCES (28)
“Basically the title... can they please stop spamming these stupid ahh emails. Like is it not proof enough that I am interested in your school given I ALREADY APPLIED. No, I do not care about MD/PhD or MD/MS or MD/MPH and I already expressed that…”
“My application just got verified and I received a bunch of secondaries. Idk if they just want everyone's money, or if they're really considering your application... just don't want to get my hopes up too high... submitted by /u/cherry_BLK [link] [comments]”
“Do yourself a favor and hop off Reddit from the moment you submit your secondaries. The interviews will come. The thanksgiving rule still stands. All the work is done for now. Don’t stress yourself out by hanging out here. Everybody has a different cycle and no one has a crystal ball for what can and will happen. Make yourself a nice meal, watch a good movie, call your family and friends. Everything is going to be okay :) submitted by /u/misshavisham115 [link] [comments]”
“hey everyone, im sure we're all concerned about submitting secondaries on time. im getting verified this week so im getting queasy. i heard some people here on reddit say some schools have an "early cycle" and that those who submit secondaries after july are basically done. is that neuroticism or fr?? im just confused bc how can that be true if schools literally cant send acceptances until oct 15? they make all decisions in the summer and just chill for 3 months? it just feels real”
“Basically I looked in my email TODAY and saw the tufts medical school sent a secondary on July 1. I spent all of today writing 3/5 essay prompts and my friend just told me there is a 2 week deadline. Be honest 😭am I screwed?? Is it worth submitting at all. Also is there a way you guys keep track of everything that’s coming in? A spreadsheet of anything bc I feel like I’m losing it submitted by /u/snowy-llama [link] [comments]”
“Seeing interviews being sent out for schools who’s secondaries I submitted early is making me second guess all of my writing. Maybe my secondaries are ass 😭 submitted by /u/Existing_Ad7163 [link] [comments]”
“hello! i wanted to know what is considered early for secondaries now? i wanted to get all my essays done by this week but its taking longer than anticipated. is early august still early for secondary submissions? submitted by /u/calculatorgirlhaha [link] [comments]”
“I'm looking at you, UCSF. Do yall be doing these? If the question were worded differently, I would add in a why us type essay, but I don't want to do that if that's not what they are asking for. My activities are unchanged from my primary, so IDK what to do. What have other previous or current applicants done? submitted by /u/Responsible-Mix4804 [link] [comments]”
“I feel like most have said they will start sending out invites in August or September, but just curious! submitted by /u/Equivalent_Tennis844 [link] [comments]”
“I submitted my SUNY Downstate secondary and it was completed July 14 and I know they already sent Interview invites out. I saw someone who submitted their secondary before me get an II and I haven’t received one yet. Does that mean I was passed over for an interview, or maybe they haven’t gotten to review my secondary. My stats are competitive for that school. I’m a registered nurse with a 515 and 3.82 GPA. I have a very strong PS and Secondaries (as determined by an admissions coach). AGAIN: I’”
“Wish I asked this earlier into writing/submitting but too late now. Should we be phrasing in essays like as if we are going to get accepted (ie: “I will do x”, “I will contribute by x”, “I look forward to x”)? Or should we be like we’re just hoping to (ie: “I would do x”, “I would like to contribute by x”, “I would look forward to x”) submitted by /u/2kelhadj [link] [comments]”
“I haven’t been doing this, but I’ve heard people saying they been mentioning school specific stuff like initiatives or programs in these types of essays. Am I cooked for not doing this? My why us essays are all very school specific but not these ones. submitted by /u/Existing_Ad7163 [link] [comments]”
“Assuming u submit everything as early as possible when is the earliest interviews invites typically come out? I’ve heard mixed things so I’d like to hear anyone’s thoughts or if anyone has gotten any so far submitted by /u/Mal2k4 [link] [comments]”
“If I could submit a "Why us" essay as just: I want to go to [School Name] because of their wonderful [program name] and incredible [resources]. [Program] cultivates [attribute] that helps their students become great physicians. In addition, [resources] provide support to help students reach their potential. my life would be sm easier submitted by /u/Few-Potato279 [link] [comments]”
“Some schools ask both a „how has your application improved since last time“ and a „what will you be doing for the next year“ (VCU). How am I supposed to make them not repetitive? I‘m just gonna be continuing the same activities pretty much. submitted by /u/Lotradaos [link] [comments]”
“If a school already has a specific "Why Us" secondary prompt, then what are you guys putting for these anything else essays? If they are optional, is it okay to leave it blank? submitted by /u/Any_Professor8167 [link] [comments]”
“Basically what the title says. I know we all hate secondary season but I’d like to shed some positivity. I personally enjoyed writing for Creighton, Loyola, Albany, Loma Linda and JABSOM because some of their questions aligned with my personal statement and the reflections just came naturally to me. I kinda had to force a narrative for the other schools I applied to. submitted by /u/ashleylou1234 [link] [comments]”
“Wake up, check AAMC to see if you have been verified. No, they are still on the same day since a week. Open Reddit, everyone has submitted their secondaries. Everyone else is complaining just like you. Open your email. A TX school you begged for a secondary waiver said no. Contemplate if you really do want to spend 4 years in an obscure rural area. Of course you do. You complete the secondary and proclaim that you knew you wanted to do family medicine since you were 13 months. Open SDN. spend 5”
“I recognize the normal adversity prompts, but if a med school specifically asks "share something unique about your PATHWAY to medical school, including obstacle," is it looking for something more recent (college) or is something from childhood still applicable submitted by /u/cinnamongg [link] [comments]”
“"Why Us" makes sense as annoying as it is to write because at least it shows you know what program and resources you are applying to, but I can't really fathom a reason 1 why can't all these school put their heads together to design some extra standard prompts for the primary if knowing about the last time I had an argument with my friend was that important. 1 actually I can its money, bullshit, and ego submitted by /u/Gray_________ [link] [comments]”
“I grew up visiting and have family in a city that has 4 different med schools and I am applying to all of them. None of them have a specific essay where you can mention ties to the state/area. Is it okay to just drop this in secondaries? What's the best way to do this nonchalantly and without it coming across as super out of place? I would appreciate any advice if anyone's been in a similar position. Thanks in advance! :) submitted by /u/localprestigewhore [link] [comme”
“I know the consensus is that submitting a secondary as early as possibly gives you a better chance, but for schools that send secondaries in waves do that account for when you received one. Like say one applicant submitted earlier but they also received their secondary earlier too. Do they account for that? submitted by /u/Existing_Ad7163 [link] [comments]”
“These "why us" and "mission fit" essays are almost narcissistic and showcase how disconnected adcoms are. Almost every school has the same bland, generic mission. You all have the same bland desire to "give back to the community" through student run free clinics. There is nothing special over you versus another school. Please just change the question to "please write what programs and faculty you found on our website so we know we wasted your time". Thank”
“Submitted primary 5/28, received invites from 12/40 schools so far -- thought there would be more by now submitted by /u/Smartypants8899 [link] [comments]”
“even though i prewrote for some of my schools as I sit back down to write again I’m like wow this is so cringe no way I’m submitting this. Sometimes I feel like I’m making so huge of a stretch about why I want to attend a certain school. And to be entirely honest I’ve found it so hard to flesh out SUPER meaningful patient or volunteering stories that haven’t already appeared in my personal or work and activities. Like I’m literally an MA, I’m not having any “transformative” experiences with 90%”
“Title, lol If I have no connection/ties (personal, familial, etc.) to a Med School, what am I meant to answer? Especially if the school already has it's own separate "Why Us?" prompt? Thanks in advance submitted by /u/Anonymosity1766 [link] [comments]”
“So there are obviously a lot of secondaries that have the optional "tell us what we should know about your application" prompt. I have a 3.5 sgpa, and 3.65 cgpa, and one withdrawal early in college. I have my reasons for bad grades but I am just curious if this is worth explaining or if it would just be drawing attention to them. got a strong upward trend and solid mcat score. Appreciate any advice. submitted by /u/Ok-Bed4293 [link] [comments]”