When it comes to the medical school application process, secondary essays are a critical step. These essays provide an opportunity to showcase your personality, values, and suitability for a career in medicine. However, many applicants fall into common traps that can hurt their chances of getting an interview.
In this guide, we’ll explore five common secondary essay mistakes in-depth and provide strategies for writing effective secondary essays that will help you stand out.
Secondary Essay Common Mistakes and Tips to Avoid
1. Waiting Too Long to Start Writing
One of the most significant secondary essay mistakes is waiting until you receive requests to start writing. Medical schools operate on a rolling admissions process, meaning that earlier applicants have a better chance of securing interviews and admissions offers. Delaying your responses could send the wrong signal about your interest and preparedness.
Why This Happens:
Applicants often underestimate how quickly they’ll need to respond after receiving requests. With multiple applications coming in, it can quickly feel overwhelming.
Real-Life Example:
Consider an applicant who receives 10 secondary essay requests in one week. Each school expects responses within 1-2 weeks. Without prepared drafts, they may rush their essays, resulting in superficial or poorly written submissions.
How to Avoid It:
- Start Early: Begin drafting responses to common secondary essay prompts as soon as you submit your primary application.
- Identify Common Themes: Focus on broad topics such as “Why this school?”, “How will you contribute to diversity?”, and “What are your career goals?”.
- Create Reusable Templates: Having pre-written responses allows you to customize and submit essays quickly.
2. Failing to Answer the Question Directly
Admissions committees are looking for clear and direct answers to their questions. Sharing an inspiring personal anecdote or detailed story is great, but if it doesn’t address the secondary essay question, your application may be dismissed.
Why This Happens:
Applicants sometimes repurpose essays from other schools without fully understanding the prompt, leading to irrelevant responses.
Real-Life Example:
An applicant might write about their passion for global health in response to a question about their plans to contribute to the school’s community. While their essay might be well-written, it misses the mark and doesn’t align with the prompt.
How to Avoid It:
- Break Down the Question: Divide the prompt into smaller components to ensure you cover all aspects.
- Use Specific Examples: For instance, if asked why you chose a particular school, mention specific programs, professors, or unique opportunities the school offers.
- Get Feedback: Share your essay with mentors or professionals who are familiar with secondary application strategies to ensure you’re addressing the prompt effectively.
3. Repeating the Same Experiences
Another mistake applicants make is using the same experience or activity in multiple responses across a single application. This redundancy limits the depth and breadth of your application, making it less compelling.
Why This Happens:
Applicants may focus heavily on one or two standout achievements, neglecting to highlight their other experiences.
Real-Life Example:
An applicant might repeatedly mention their work as a research assistant, ignoring other equally valuable experiences like volunteering at a clinic or leading a student organization.
How to Avoid It:
- Categorize Your Experiences: Group your experiences into themes such as clinical, research, leadership, service, and personal growth.
- Assign Themes Strategically: Use different themes for different essay prompts to showcase a well-rounded profile.
- Ask Yourself: “What new aspect of my journey does this reveal?” This ensures each essay adds a unique perspective.
4. Copying and Pasting Without Care
In an attempt to save time, many applicants copy and paste responses from one school’s application to another. This can lead to embarrassing errors, such as mentioning the wrong school name or referencing programs that don’t exist at the target institution.
Why This Happens:
With dozens of secondary applications to complete, the temptation to recycle essays is strong.
Real-Life Example:
An applicant submits an essay praising the community-focused curriculum of School A while referencing School B’s name. This mistake demonstrates a lack of attention to detail and genuine interest.
How to Avoid It:
- Tailor Each Essay: Research each school’s mission, values, and unique opportunities to ensure your essay aligns with their priorities.
- Proofread Carefully: Always review your essays for school-specific details before submission.
- Use Tools and Services: Utilize grammar checkers or professional secondary essay editing services to catch errors.
5. Overemphasizing High School Experiences
While your high school achievements may have been significant, medical schools are more interested in your recent growth and experiences. Overemphasizing high school can make your application appear less mature or focused.
Why This Happens:
Some applicants struggle to find relevant college-level experiences or feel their high school achievements were more impressive.
Real-Life Example:
An applicant discusses their leadership role in a high school club without connecting it to how that experience shaped their college-level pursuits.
How to Avoid It:
- Focus on Recent Achievements: Highlight college and post-college experiences that demonstrate your commitment to medicine, such as clinical work, research, or volunteer service.
- Frame High School Achievements: If you mention high school, frame it as a starting point that led to more significant accomplishments in college.
Additional Strategies for Success
To further strengthen your secondary essays:
- Be Authentic: Admissions committees value honesty and sincerity. Avoid exaggerations or writing what you think they want to hear.
- Practice Conciseness: While detailed responses are essential, aim for clarity and avoid unnecessary fluff.
- Seek Diverse Feedback: Share your essays with peers, mentors, and advisors to gain multiple perspectives.
Final Thoughts on Writing Effective Secondary Essays
Secondary essays play a critical role in your medical school application. By avoiding these common mistakes and following the strategies outlined above, you can create strong, thoughtful responses that resonate with admissions committees. Remember, your essays are an opportunity to showcase not only your achievements but also your values and aspirations. Start early, stay focused, and let your passion for medicine shine through.
FAQs About Secondary Essays
1. How long should secondary essays be?
Secondary essays typically range from 250 to 500 words. Always adhere to the word limit specified by the school.
2. What is the ideal turnaround time for secondary essays?
Aim to submit your responses within 1-2 weeks of receiving the request to demonstrate interest and efficiency.
3. How personal should my responses be?
Your essays should reflect your unique journey and motivations. Share personal anecdotes that align with the prompt and reveal your values.
4. Can I reuse essays across applications?
Yes, but with caution. Always customize each essay to align with the specific school’s mission and values.