writing sample... so confused!

[ridinfly]

Hi- i am writing my mcat in three weeks, and i have started doing FLs recently. I find it so hard to do the writing sample, i was least worried about this part and put it on hold, assuming it would come to me, im really good at english and dont have a problem writing. BUT now that i am doing them, i find it almost impossible to remember good examples, i can write it fine with vague examples, that dont mention names or dates or highly SPECIFIC examples. but i know that isnt good enough, especially comparing it to the perfect writing samples given as examples.

 

How do you guys remember all the facts for teh examples, i have been reading the newspaper everyday, staying ontop of whats going on in the world, but i feel like it isnt helping at all. any advice? there is a lot of help out there on teh other sections, but i cant seem to find any really good writing sample pointers, and reading the samples given by companies just makes me feel so stupid. I feel like i have to know every historical event that ever took place in american history (which i know nothing about), i still have three weeks, what should i do?

 

any pointers?

 

ps. first post

[Veni Vidi Vici]

I think it may help to know a few recent events inside and out. You don't have to keep up with every little thing. Also, by focusing, and doing research on a couple of topics, you may find that different aspects of the same event can work for multiple prompts.

 

Also, when you come across a prompt where you have no idea what to write, just do some general research to try and find situations that can work. That way, if a similar prompt shows up, you'll be well prepared.

 

Good Luck!

[atesme]

Also, don't go around thinking you need to know American history! If everybody writes about the Civil War, the thing you'd want to do most of all is to NOT write about it - you want to stand out. This is where being Canadian is a good thing - Harper sounds cool and international stacked next to about a thousand essays detailing Obama's recent moves.

 

I wrote about Louis Riel and Toronto Hydro on my MCAT and ended up doing really well.