Prewrite your secondary essay responses in June!

NOW IS THE TIME! 

Start Prewriting Your Medical School Secondaries in June: Tailoring Your Applications for Success

Applying to medical school is a marathon, not a sprint. With the AMCAS application opening in early May and the first wave of secondary applications hitting inboxes in late June, aspiring medical students are thrust into a whirlwind of essays, deadlines, and intense competition. 

One of the most underestimated, yet crucial strategies in the medical school application process is prewriting your secondary application essays. Starting this task in June offers significant advantages, particularly when each essay must be tailored to the specific medical school.

Beating the Time Crunch. Any time on or after June 28th, once your primary application is submitted and verified, secondary applications from various schools will start to pour in, often with short deadlines. These secondary applications typically consist of multiple essay prompts, each requiring thoughtful and unique responses. By prewriting these essays in June, you can manage your time more effectively, thoroughly investigate each school, and avoid the stress that comes with short turnaround times. This proactive approach ensures that you have ample time to refine your essays, resulting in higher-quality submissions.

Demonstrating Genuine Interest & Showcasing your “Fit”. Medical schools seek candidates who are genuinely interested in their programs. Generic essays fail to convey this enthusiasm. By researching each medical school and crafting essays that highlight specific aspects of their programs, clubs/activities, and community, you demonstrate a sincere interest in their particular medical school. Mentioning particular faculty members, unique programs, or specific opportunities that align with your goals shows admissions committees that you have done your homework and are genuinely excited about the prospect of joining their institution. Each medical school has its own mission, values, vision for the future, and culture. Tailoring your essays to reflect these aspects helps admissions committees see how well you fit within their environment. For example, if a medical school emphasizes community service and you have extensive volunteer experience, highlighting this alignment can strengthen your application. A personalized essay makes it clear that you are not just applying to medical school in general, but to their school specifically because you see a meaningful connection between their offerings and your future aspirations.

Standing Out from the Crowd. Medical schools receive thousands of applications, many of which are from highly qualified candidates. Specific, well-researched essays stand out more than generic responses. By tailoring your secondary essays, you can differentiate yourself from other applicants. This attention to detail and effort to personalize your application can make a memorable impression on the admissions committee, increasing your chances of advancing to the interview stage.

Reflecting on Your Personal Growth and Intentions. Prewriting essays provides you with more time to reflect deeply on your motivations, experiences, and future goals. This reflection is crucial in creating compelling narratives that not only answer the prompts but also weave a story of your journey toward medicine. When these narratives are aligned with the values and strengths of the medical schools, they resonate more strongly with the readers. It shows that you have a clear sense of direction and that their institution is an integral part of your career path.

Tips for Effective Prewriting. 

Research Thoroughly - Spend time on each school’s website, read their mission statement, explore their programs, and understand what makes them truly unique. 

Make Connections - Link your experiences, values, and goals to what each school offers. 

Highlight - Explore how their specific programs or values align with your interest in medicine. 

Be Specific - Avoid vague statements. Instead of saying "I am impressed by your research opportunities," specify which research program or faculty member interests you and why.

Proofread and Edit - Quality matters. Proofread your essays multiple times and consider feedback from mentors or peers to ensure clarity, coherence, and impact (and also that you have answered ALL of the questions you were asked in the prompt).

Some schools actually publish their secondary questions ahead of time and others can be found on various websites or through a simple Google search. There is certainly no guarantee, that the questions will be the same, but in most cases, medical schools will attempt to get at the same things - specific traits or qualities that they are looking for in their applicants.

Most medical schools will have some version of the following prompts:

• Why are you interested in attending our school for your undergraduate medical education?

• Is there anything that you want the admissions committee to know about you that is not already addressed in your primary application?

• Tell us about a time when you had to overcome a challenge in your life - how did you handle it, what did you learn about yourself, and how you will manage similar situations in the future?

• How will you add to the diversity of our student body?

Prewriting medical school secondary essays in June is not merely about getting a head start; it’s about strategically positioning yourself for success. By crafting specific, tailored essays for each medical school, you demonstrate genuine interest, showcase your fit, and stand out in a highly competitive field. This thoughtful approach not only enhances your application but also prepares you mentally and emotionally for the rigorous journey ahead. Remember that each tailored essay is a step closer to realizing your dream of becoming a physician.