Strategies for Success
SECONDARY APPLICATIONS
The most important aspect of a secondary is Returning It Promptly.
This is a crucial document and signals the schools that you are
interested in their specific program. Therefore - do some homework
i.e., look up the schools Web page and try, when possible to match
your interests with their goals if and when appropriate. Certainly
list relatives and or friends who live in the area signaling the
schools of your build in support system. Note that some secondaries
ask you to address specific questions about their school while others
may simply ask for general information. However most offer a space
for any additional information you may want to add.
Many professional schools (almost all medical schools) require a
secondary application that the school sends directly to you after
their receipt of your primary application or they receive a list
with your contact information provided by AMCAS. In other words,
it may or may not mean that you have passed preliminary screening.
Nonetheless, if you do not return the secondary, schools will assume
you are not interested in them. Schools charge a fee for this secondary,
so if you get many of them you may want to put a priority on which
you will send back immediately and which you will place on hold.
TYPES OF QUESTIONS ASKED
The essay questions posed on supplemental applications vary from
school to school. Some schools give you the opportunity to “use
this space to address anything else you feel the admissions committee
should consider in reviewing your application.”
Other schools want you to be much more specific and ask you to address
something like “Discuss a problem you encountered in your
undergraduate education and describe how you dealt with it.”
There is one question common to many supplementals: “Why have
you chosen our medical school?” A good answer to this question
necessitates some investigation. The more specifically you can refer
to the school the better.
PREPARING YOUR ANSWERS
In my experience, the greatest difficulty that students have in
answering questions on supplemental applications is not answering
the question which was asked. These students have an agenda of their
own which they seem to be determined to address. Thus, they manipulate
the question to be able to make the points they’re intent
on making. This often takes the form of making reference to health-related
matters when, in reality, a direct answer to the question does not
necessitate any reference to medicine.
For example, the school asks you to “describe your most significant
accomplishments and experiences and how you achieved them.”
It is not necessary for these accomplishments and experiences to
have anything to do with medicine. You should feel comfortable talking
about whatever you consider “your most significant accomplishments
and experiences.”
After you have drafted your essays, let someone you consider knowledgeable
and trustworthy read them. Your reader’s responsibility is
to give you feedback about the clarity and appropriateness of your
statements.
CONCLUSION
Preparing a professional school application is a challenge. You
will have a greater chance of meeting the challenge if you are well
informed and if you permit yourself enough time to develop your
written comments and carefully attend to all the details involved
in the process.
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