The challenges of writing secondary essays

I am often struck by the stark differences in the answers to questions on the medical school application, and I don’t think most people realize how hard it might be for some of the applicants to write them.

It starts with the residency question asking applicants to list all the places they had lived. For a person of privilege, it is an easy answer. But if you are estranged from your parents or ever lived with friends or family, it is impossible to answer with utmost certainty. Students worry if they list something incorrect, their application will be thrown out before it is even read.

A typical secondary question is “tell us how you developed resiliency” For some that answer is easy. They talk about being on a team and after a few rough drafts, they are ready to submit. For others, the question is extremely personal and opens old wounds. When I taught a class on writing secondaries, it often felt like more of a therapy session than a class on understanding the questions.  Their answers were extremely personal, and the students often relived the experience they wrote about, making them feel exposed and vulnerable.   They could write about something less personal, but to them, it wouldn’t be answering the question. Do they give an answer, or their best answer? My only rule of thumb is if they ask you about it in the interview, it can’t make you cry.

We have data that shows students who apply early have a higher chance of getting in. Which is another barrier to students with a long road traveled. The problem- if you have a story that is difficult to write, you tend to turn it in late. And while it is great that AAMC gives fee assistance to students who are low income to apply to 20 schools for free, it means you now have 80 separate secondary essays which can be extremely overwhelming.

Typically, students who are diverse tend to finish their prerequisites, take the MCAT and write their personal statements all while working full time.  Rejection is hard but when it comes when you are emotionally spent, exhausted and after baring your soul to people of privilege, it makes it even harder.  After great reflection and lots of input from my students, I think I have created ways applicants can write their secondaries with a faster turnaround.

I was on an admissions committee, so I understand the competition is fierce, but who do we want in medical school and beyond? Me? I want people who have stories that are difficult to write.