Chances are really high that most medical schools will send you this secondary application prompt:
"Describe a challenging situation you have had to overcome in your life or during your college academic experience. What skills did you use in dealing with it, did you turn to anybody for support and/or advice, and how was it ultimately resolved? What did you learn about yourself from that experience and how do you feel this will prepare you for a career in medicine."
The best response to this prompt discusses a truly challenging situation and shows medical schools that you're capable of introspection and personal critique.
A bad response to this essay describes a common or overblown challenging situation, like "One time I got a bad grade on a test and I had to study hard for the next test," or "My mom was sick with the flu for a week and I had to give her medicine every day." Those aren't challenging situations.
To answer this prompt persuasively you need to dig deep down and remember a truly challenging situation from your life that defines you as a person. The situation doesn't have to be melodramatic and it may have occurred entirely inside your head. It should be a personal struggle that defines you as a person.
Once you find your challenging situation, be honest in your evaluation of yourself and medical schools will pay attention.
The Other Trick: Pre-Write Your Medical School Secondary Application
You're guaranteed to see this essay prompt from at least one medical school secondary application, so the best thing you can do right now is to pre-write your answer in advance.
I've written more about pre-writing your medical school secondary application, so click that link now to make the whole secondary application process easier.
"Describe a challenging situation you have had to overcome in your life or during your college academic experience. What skills did you use in dealing with it, did you turn to anybody for support and/or advice, and how was it ultimately resolved? What did you learn about yourself from that experience and how do you feel this will prepare you for a career in medicine."
The best response to this prompt discusses a truly challenging situation and shows medical schools that you're capable of introspection and personal critique.
A bad response to this essay describes a common or overblown challenging situation, like "One time I got a bad grade on a test and I had to study hard for the next test," or "My mom was sick with the flu for a week and I had to give her medicine every day." Those aren't challenging situations.
To answer this prompt persuasively you need to dig deep down and remember a truly challenging situation from your life that defines you as a person. The situation doesn't have to be melodramatic and it may have occurred entirely inside your head. It should be a personal struggle that defines you as a person.
Once you find your challenging situation, be honest in your evaluation of yourself and medical schools will pay attention.
The Other Trick: Pre-Write Your Medical School Secondary Application
You're guaranteed to see this essay prompt from at least one medical school secondary application, so the best thing you can do right now is to pre-write your answer in advance.
I've written more about pre-writing your medical school secondary application, so click that link now to make the whole secondary application process easier.
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