new member Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Should we focus on why we want to study med or what we learned from non-academic activities? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
future_doc Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Assuming i t is similar to U/T essay, you want to create a theme and then show how you activities, your development thru your experiences have brought you to a place where medicine is for you. You need to capture the interest of the reader so the reader wants to meet you and explore more of what you wrote. You don't want to use a laundry list of adjectives of how great you are, these should jump of the pages from the stories. You want to go into depth with important stories even if this means leaving out others. The threads of your life, volunteering, work, ECs, academics all come together for a powerful story, like a delicious meal where you create the secret recipe, ending with a summary and powerful conclusion. Your essay should be organized and flow so as to be good and interesting reading. This is our one opportunity to separate ourselves from the crowd. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terryann Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 Future Doc...that is a helpful post..thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new member Posted August 25, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 thank you for the detailed explanation, future_doc! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
future_doc Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 My essay took me 30 drafts and about 100 hours. In my last 2 drafts, I was encouraged by a mentor on this forum to include a story about my role model, which I never intended, b/c by understanding the experiences of my role model, a close family member, it gave deep insight into who I am, why I am who I am...I had an experience helping someone who was wheelchair bound, who ultimately died in middle age, too young, whose dignity, courage, strength, optimism affect me to this day, and this was my first funeral, This person's wisdom, life and death inspired and motivated me and changed me to be the best person I can be to compassionately help others, to improve myself, to heal and care for those needing medical and psychsocial assistance that improves their quality of life. You need to instinctively know what to flesh out, what to leave out, what is dry and routine, what is compelling. What is truly important to you and why? What is the constant thread in your life? Why? How have you developed as a result? Have there been any life changing moments in your life? Have these been built upon? How would you sum up your life? What has been your most important contributiion in life? Why? How did it happen? What is th efirst thing you think about each day as you start your daily routine? How do your academics fit in? Have you tested yourself with medicine in some way, how do you truly know you can cope? What are your special gifts or experiences if any that uniquely show who you are that make you so different from me? What have your ECs given you in terms of personal growth and development? Remember, you are telling a compelling story - about you - sort of like being in love, why should I even look at you, what do you really have to offer me, there are o thers out there who also claim to be in love, why will we make such a good match that I should consider choosing you? With the disclaimer that I too am a premed applying to med school, altho not to UBC, and therefore you risk the dangers of plagerism, I would be willing to look at some essays - however, you really are well advised to let others who have been accepted already into a med school, for sure, you want feedback from someone knowledgeable other than a parent. It needs to read well and ideally, be compelling or at least show who you are on the inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaM Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 I agree with future_doc. Your essay is where the adcom gets to know who you are. I spent half of June and most of July writing mine and had two different people critique it for me. Your EC's tell them what you have done, your essay tells them who you are. I focussed a lot on things that aren't in the EC's at all, because they already had that info. For me I talked about how my youngest's child's hospitalization when she was two days old really affected me and gave me an understanding of the many roles in a health care team. That wasn't the only thing in my essay, but it was a major part of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neisseria Posted August 25, 2009 Report Share Posted August 25, 2009 I think there are different styles of essay, that's why they are interesting to read. I spent about 80% of my essay focusing on two stories in my life. You definitely need to tell them why you want to study medicine (there's nowhere else to do that), but it should be told in the context of your real life experience (and it should be a profound experience). ps. I had about 6 drafts and three reviewers, reviewers can help tremendously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
new member Posted August 26, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 Should we indent each paragraph? I did it on Words but when I copied and pasted the essay, it disappeared... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndreaM Posted August 26, 2009 Report Share Posted August 26, 2009 I didn't. It just takes up some of your precious characters and since I only had 3 characters to spare at the end it wasn't worth cutting more out of my essay. I think you would have to manually do it with spaces too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEDLIL Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 I am wondering if there are any UBC med students here that might be willing to take a look at my essay? English is my second language, and I am worried that I might have made small word use/grammar mistakes here and there. I remember there were a few posts with such offers but I cannot find them. Thanks for reading my post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
future_doc Posted August 27, 2009 Report Share Posted August 27, 2009 I am just a premed back Esat, not applying to UBC, and willing to look but need to know the rules. Why not try mei mei girl who got in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruij Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 I am just a premed back Esat, not applying to UBC, and willing to look but need to know the rules. Why not try mei mei girl who got in there. Future doc! Do you know if we could use similar essays for U of T and UBC? I mean both essay requirements are essentially the same right? I am just worried because UofT check essays for plagiarism....and I might end up plagiarising myself.....AHHHHHHHHHH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
future_doc Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 You cannot plagiarize yourself. If you are happy with the end product and do not not have changes to make go for it. And if you are able to improve it, use it as the base for U/T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hiebs13 Posted September 21, 2009 Report Share Posted September 21, 2009 Not true you absolutely can plagiarize yourself. But the chances of UofT knowing what your wrote in your UBC essay and vice versa is slim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destiny Gundam Posted September 22, 2009 Report Share Posted September 22, 2009 your essay should be your story. dont let others tell you how to write yours. I've read about 10 after i got in, i'd say you gotta be different to stand out. everyone talks about oh why i am interested in science/ research, and that one or two life changing EC experience that made me pursue med and that i have what it takes... it's easy to be boring. i've told ppl in the past that the essay is the bridge between your application and the interview. it should make them interested in you enough so they want to meet you in person. if you want pm me i'll be happy to have a read at your essay and give you my 2 cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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