How do you answer “Describe yourself” secondary question : r/premed


This is bad intel! And this is a common mistake students make. You are applying to medical school to be an engaged medical student who is studying to be an excellent physician. Typically, interviewers will NOT ask you “” or “ if you answer the questions in your “tell me about yourself” response.
Now that you have a solid “Tell me about yourself” answer, you have laid a strong foundation for the rest of your medical school interview. It’s time to prepare for other common medical school questions. You will certainly come across some version of this question on your secondary applications. Adcoms want to know how serious and enthusiastic you are about joining their program. While it may seem like this is a generic or easy-to-answer question—after all, you know why you applied to the medical school—adcoms are looking for details. How much research have you done on the program? What do you specifically have to offer the program? This post will go over medical school secondary essay examples from students who were accepted, and tips for writing strong essays that application committees will love. When answering this question, it’s important to come up with something different than what you have already shared in your personal statement. Secondaries are a chance to expand on what you have already expressed. Schools want to get to know more about you, and repeating yourself benefits no one. “Tell me about yourself” is often the first question asked in medical school interviews. This is a question we spend a lot of time honing with our students during our medical school . When answering, it is important to keep in mind that the interviewer is trying to get to know you as a person, including your background outside of medicine. We want to emphasize that the structure of your response as a clear, strong framework can provide a roadmap for your interviewer to follow as you lead them through the details. The framework and questions below are to help guide you brainstorm your response to this open-ended question. You do not need to answer every single question in the framework below. Now that you know how to approach answering the “Tell me about yourself,” medical school interview questions, you are prepared to lay a strong foundation for your interview and impress your interviewer. With a clear understanding of who you are and what motivates you, your interviewer is free to delve into particular areas they find interesting or move on to other questions they may have. With the frameworks we have provided, you can confidently construct your narrative to convey your unique perspectives on how you will make an excellent future physician.

Albanys describe yourself prompt - Student Doctor Network

As with any other interview process, it’s important to be prepared to answer questions thoughtfully and honestly. Keep in mind that the medical school interviewers are trying to get to know you and assess your fit for the program, so be yourself and try to relax.

SECONDARY ESSAY STRATEGY 1 - DESCRIBE YOURSELF THROUGH AN EXAMPLE

Don’t be afraid of this question! You should be to answer it. It’s an opportunity for the interviewers to for pursuing a career in medicine and how you see yourself fitting in.

11 Common Medical School Secondary Questions and How to Answer

Sample answer #1: What sets me apart is my personal journey and how it has shaped my passion for medicine. Growing up, I had the unique opportunity to volunteer at free clinics in underserved areas, where I witnessed firsthand how meaningful healthcare can be to those who have limited access. This experience didn’t just give me technical skills; it helped me understand the social determinants of health, which I believe are crucial in today’s healthcare landscape. I know your medical school emphasizes healthcare access and providing care for the underserved, so I’m excited to continue my work here.

How would you describe yourself? What are some examples? - Quora

You don't want to give a one-line response, but you also don't want to be rambling on about where you grew up, how many siblings you have, and that you enjoy long walks on the beach. As with answering most medical school interview questions, the quality of your response is much more important than the quantity. As a general rule of thumb, a response between 1-3 minutes would be suitable, but too much longer than that and you risk losing your audience's attention.

Describe Yourself Secondary Med School - TikTok

As you begin drafting your essay, you might find yourself perusing countless medical school personal statement examples online, at your college’s premed counseling office, or from friends who applied to med school a year or two ago. But remember that the sample personal statements you find on Student Doctor Network, , premed blogs, or at your college’s pre-health advising center are the same ones that everyone else is looking at and attempting to imitate!

Medical School Secondary Essays Examples | Why Are You Unique?

And if you’re left with lingering questions about how to write a personal statement for medical school, just submit them in the comments section at the end of the guide so we can answer them, usually within 24 hours.