Conquering the “Why This School” essay may feel like writing a love letter to the Admissions Committee. It's tough, particularly because it is easy to become bogged down as you craft and adjust the essay for each school.
Be Brief. Most schools ask that you limit this response to about 200 words, and they’re serious. Keep yourself to two paragraphs. The first should focus on ONE (and only one) aspect of the school that makes it a good fit for you. You can tastefully tie in other points, but be judicious. The second paragraph is for special circumstances, discussed below.
Focus on You. Do not be fooled into thinking this is an essay about how fabulous the school is or how much you want to go there. Admissions Committees already know their school is terrific; do not waste words telling them (see “Be Brief”). At heart, this is an essay about you!
Don’t be a Broken Record. Secondaries are a place to tell Admissions Committee things they do not already know about you after having read your AMCAS. Try not to reiterate too many things you have already driven home elsewhere.
Demonstrate Commitment. Often, applications make applicants appear a little lost – a bit of community service here, some laboratory research there, a brief tutoring experience, etc. This essay is a place to demonstrate commitment, an attribute schools seek in applicants. For example, if you wrote for the school paper, you might explain, “During undergrad, I demonstrated my interest in journalism by taking relevant coursework, serving as a writer on the university paper, and ultimately being selected as Chief Editor. I look forward to attending ___ because of the unique opportunity to write for and help publish the medical student literary journal.” You get the point.
Be Brief. Most schools ask that you limit this response to about 200 words, and they’re serious. Keep yourself to two paragraphs. The first should focus on ONE (and only one) aspect of the school that makes it a good fit for you. You can tastefully tie in other points, but be judicious. The second paragraph is for special circumstances, discussed below.
Focus on You. Do not be fooled into thinking this is an essay about how fabulous the school is or how much you want to go there. Admissions Committees already know their school is terrific; do not waste words telling them (see “Be Brief”). At heart, this is an essay about you!
Don’t be a Broken Record. Secondaries are a place to tell Admissions Committee things they do not already know about you after having read your AMCAS. Try not to reiterate too many things you have already driven home elsewhere.
Demonstrate Commitment. Often, applications make applicants appear a little lost – a bit of community service here, some laboratory research there, a brief tutoring experience, etc. This essay is a place to demonstrate commitment, an attribute schools seek in applicants. For example, if you wrote for the school paper, you might explain, “During undergrad, I demonstrated my interest in journalism by taking relevant coursework, serving as a writer on the university paper, and ultimately being selected as Chief Editor. I look forward to attending ___ because of the unique opportunity to write for and help publish the medical student literary journal.” You get the point.
Special Circumstances. The second paragraph is where you can mention that every person in your family has attended this medical school since before DaVinci, and you cannot imagine the shame of coming home for Thanksgiving if you do not get it. Not all special circumstances need to be “special.” You might mention your interest in practicing rural or urban medicine and thus wanting to train in that type of environment. My caution is to be careful about geography. Schools do not want to hear that you are interested in their program because you want to be in New York City, for example. Admissions Committees prefer to think that their curriculum and facilities are so wonderful that you would apply even if they were in Antarctica.
Say my Name. Everyone likes to hear his or her own name. Include each school's name in the essay. But, be sure to proofread and change the name before sending the "Harvard" essay to "Yale." I hear that's bad for business.
Say my Name. Everyone likes to hear his or her own name. Include each school's name in the essay. But, be sure to proofread and change the name before sending the "Harvard" essay to "Yale." I hear that's bad for business.
