The Medical School Secondary Applications

The “I” Word: Secondaries

Verified. The race begins again. The same day I was verified, I received five secondaries. Every day, two more usually arrive in my inbox. The clock begins. To organize the incoming, outgoing, and progress made, I have made a pretty nifty spreadsheet, including the school, the website, username, and password. Staying organized will alleviate stress and help me keep track of all 21 schools as this process continues. 

The unstated rule regarding secondaries is that you want to have a two week turnaround at the latest. In the beginning, this seems manageable; however, I can see the burn-out rate will be fast. I say this because; I’m already tired of talking about myself. It will become a battle to regurgitate erudite, well written blurbs about myself. Many of the themes have been very similar, so I have compiled all my responses thus far on a Word doc. Using Word, I can refer to past essays and check for spelling and grammar errors. Some common themes you may want to begin percolating on are reflecting on events where you were faced with an academic challenge, instances where you have interacted with a diverse group of people, a person/event that has influenced you greatly, how you will influence a school’s community, and why you chose to apply to that institution. 

Secondaries will be a time and money sink hole. Be prepared to set aside many hours and a lot of money to this portion of the application process. Each school asks for a range of $70-100 for their secondary application. Prioritization will be crucial as well. Again, there’s that time aspect. Preview the secondaries you receive and finish the ones that just ask for a photo of you first, and then tackle the schools that have accepted students from your institution in the past. Lately, finish the dream and/or reach schools.

For the next two to four weeks, I will be spending the majority of my time off work writing, reflecting, editing, and spending money on the secondaries I have received. Once all the secondaries are in, another waiting game begins. Interview offers…

Further reading:

·       Q&A with Admissions Advisor: http://studentdoctor.net/2011/07/medical-school-application-secondary-essays/

·       Advice/ examples from UC Davis: http://advisingservices.ucdavis.edu/advising/hsa/handouts/secondary_application_for_med_school.html

·       Advice on how to respond to question stem: http://www.medschoolcoach.com/tips-and-examples-of-medical-school-secondary-applications-secondaries/

·       Aspirin preventing cancer? http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=1709803

·       Women and CAD: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264076.php

Chelsea Travers is a biology major and chemistry minor at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA. Originally from Las Vegas, she has traveled from the desert to the rain in hopes to get closer to her dream of becoming a doctor.

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