Workshop: Writing essays for health profession school applications
Sunday, January 28, 2024, 1:00-4:00 p.m. ET, in CDC 111 and on Zoom
This is an interactive workshop and is geared towards those who will submit their applications within the next year. It is open to any MHC student or graduate, of any class year, who would like to learn more about preparing essays for applications to health profession schools. Seniors who are not applying for fall 2025 entry are nevertheless encouraged to attend, since you may not be able to attend in a future year.
Questions? Contact Katie Lipp (klipp@mtholyoke.edu)
Recording: Application essay workshop
January 28, 2024
January 28, 2024
Life map prompts (part 1 of exercise)
Life Map Exercise
This is an exercise from the workshop. It is also explained in the video starting at 1:07:00. It can be a useful strategy for organizing experiences thematically. Once you can see the connections and themes, it can be easier to decide what you want to highlight in a primary application essay versus in other areas of the application.
Advice for Reapplicants
From Write for Success: Preparing a Successful Essay for Your Application to Health Professions School, published by the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions
"If you are reapplying to health professions school, you may be curious whether or not you should change your personal statement. The simple answer is 'yes.' It has been our experience that it is difficult for students to rewrite an old essay. It is going to be easier to start with a blank page. You are not the same person you were when you applied previously. Permit yourself to speak as the person you are today.
Place yourself in a position of hiring someone and reviewing that person's credentials. How would it make you feel about the candidate for the position if the letters of reference were a year old? Similarly, admissions committees will want to know who you are at present and what you have done since your last application.
Should you say anything about your unsuccessful application? We suggest that you could consider the following:
• Your initial reaction to the letter of non-acceptance
• Your subsequent reaction after the 'shock' of the letter
• Whether or not you asked for a post interview with the admissions officer
• Your reaction to the interview and behavior subsequent to the interview
• What you have done since the post interview
• Progress made during the time between applications
• Significant changes in your grades, orientation to classes, work experiences
• Reasons you are now a better candidate than you were twelve months ago
Significant attention should now be on the last item mentioned above. Why are you now a much better applicant than you were previously?"
More resources
MHC pre-health website - parts of the application
A strategy for beginning your writing
Q&A on application essays -- Questions we have been asked over the years, with their answers. A great compilation of information about writing application essays, based on the applicants' own questions!
Online workshop from University of Minnesota pre-health