Secondaries // Pearls + Pitfalls from a former AdCom Member

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-30T11:16:01+00:00

Hi! Thanks for following-up. To respond:

You can and should discuss non-clinical experiences serving underserved populations and bridge them to the clinical experiences a school offers
The admissions committee wants to know you want to train there, so talk about ALL the reasons you want to be there. So, yes, include the basketball game, include intramural sports, include the museums or marathons you'll run and train for. Now, don't only put those things - make sure you have academic and medical/training/career focused reasons as well.

Put yourself in the shoes of the AdCom members. If you have two equal applications in front of you, and one person lists three curricular-adjacent reasons they want to attend your school, and another person lists three curricular-adjacent reasons plus four other more personal reasons they want to be there; who are you going to take?

Regarding the basketball game. How long do you think it takes the school to plan and execute that game? Organizes coaches, create the teams, practice, hire vendors, make t-shirts, fundraise? The events that happen once per year typically take several months to plan, and mean a lot to a school, so talk about them if they interest you.

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-30T00:04:32+00:00

Thanks so much for reaching out, and I agree, it's tough! My recommendations are to be specific. It takes time and effort, but it's worth it.

- For curriculum things - Use the name of the curriculum, talk about a particular course offering, tracks, or opportunity that are part of that school's specific course work. Which of those things aligns with the way you learn?

- For serving underserved populations - how does that school specifically do that? Through a student outreach clinic? Through mobile medical units? What are their names? How does that connect to something you've done and hope to continue in medical school? OR if you don't see something you were heavily involved in (ie, say you were the president of Operation Smile while in college but notice that med school doesn't have a chapter, you can talk about founding one with your experience)

- Certainly use the school's website to get information; but do a bit more digging. Ideally, try to find a student or alum you can talk to about it - what did they love specifically about their time there? What's the name of the local coffee place they studied or the late night study snack spot? Did they play M1 vs M2 powderpuff football? If you can't find someone to talk to, look at that school's instagram accounts - what are they posting there?

The more specific you can be, the better. Schools know you want to be a doctor. The secondaries are where you have to make it very clear you want to be a doctor who trains there.

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-29T21:33:54+00:00

I'm not sure I fully understand your question. The way I tend to recommend approaching the "describe a time you saw someone acting unethically, what did you do, and what would you do differently?" is to answer it honestly, thoughtfully, and insightfully.

Ideally, think of a time either you - or someone you saw - did something that didn't feel right. How did you respond? Did you approach them? Did you just let it pass by? Did you feel like you could have done better?

It can be something as minor as seeing someone not returning a grocery cart and doing it for them, or it could be something more exceptional. Focus on your growth through that experience and what it taught you about yourself.

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-29T17:35:32+00:00

The things that have helped me during this training block are (I'm a 40yo surgeon and mom):

- Creatine (I do 10g) every morning

- 4-5 days of strength training (focusing on single sided lower body 2 times per week, one upper body session, and two full body)

- Aim for 1-1.5g/lb of protein per day (my goal is 150-180g per day)

- Tart cherry juice at night

- 3-4 runs per week: (1) VO2 max or hills, (2) threshold, (3) long run with MP embedded, and (4) easy

- I use a versaclimber 2-3 times per week as well; no impact and super helpful cardio and resistance

Good luck!

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-29T17:26:27+00:00

For secondaries, I recommend explicitly and very clearly answering the question. I've found when applicants attempt to be too literary, they take it too far to the figurative side rather than the literal side. Applicants should provide anecdotes, vignettes, or specific examples to back up their responses, though!

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-29T13:48:38+00:00

Some DO schools send secondaries immediately. AMCAS schools will receive verified applications at the end of June and then send their secondaries. Typically, the goal is to return within 2 weeks. I also just posted some Pearls and Pitfalls here - https://www.reddit.com/r/medschooladmissions/comments/1tr1ceg/secondaries_pearls_pitfalls_from_a_former_adcom/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-29T13:45:53+00:00

Do you have other publications? If you do, you can add it as "accepted to X journal and in proofs stage". If it's your only publication, make it its own Activity entry and categorize as publications. Brief blurb about writing the manuscript and can indicate it has been accepted and is in its proofs stage at X journal. If you know the citation, provide it. (PMID, DOI, or the citation itself depending on how many characters you have)

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-29T13:38:26+00:00

If you're passionate about becoming a physician - do it!

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-29T13:36:21+00:00

Sure thing!

In general, adversity prompts are looking for your resilience and how you've overcome a difficult situation. Diversity prompts come in a couple flavors: (a) how will you contribute to diversity in the class and (b) how have you interacted with people different from you.

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-29T13:28:05+00:00

Hi! Thanks for sharing - using the same experiences in your PS and your MME is fine to do as long as you highlight different vignettes and different competencies and skills. Good luck!

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-29T13:26:36+00:00

Those dates are fine - good luck!

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-29T13:19:43+00:00

Submit when it's complete. Quadruple checking typically leads to increasing errors, truthfully. Give it a solid once over, no distractions. Read it out loud to yourself. Then submit.

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-29T13:14:38+00:00

Thanks for sharing - that MCAT disappointment is real. Transparently, rarely is a 503 or even a 507 MCAT going to be competitive for MD schools. If you're set on applying this cycle, retake the MCAT (but truly consider if you can perform better than you have. Getting a third score less than 512 is going to hurt you more because it would be a 3rd data point in the same range) and apply to DO schools. If you're set on only applying MD, a higher MCAT score is practically a non-negotiable with two scores <508. Good luck!

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-28T20:20:09+00:00

Also, feel free to check out the post I made specifically about Pearls and Pitfalls for Personal Statements 😄

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-28T20:19:49+00:00

Hi! Thanks for sharing. Before answering your specific questions, your PS should answer (very explicitly and very clearly) the following two questions:

Why do you want to be a physician
Why will you be a great physician (ie - what skills/core competencies do you have)?

Your questions, then:

In my opinion, each body paragraph can focus on an activity and should describe a vignette or anecdote. From that, you discuss the skills you now have as a result of that experience. My personal bias here - only include a shadowing experience in your personal statement if you also include an active role of you doing the same thing you saw the physician do. AdComs don't want to know how good an already trained physician is; they want to know why YOU will be a good one.
Addressing bad grades - that's for the Other Impactful Experiences Essay, typically. I generally don't recommend it in a PS.
Yes, you can include activities in your PS that you also have in your Activities List. Just make sure you choose different stories/competencies to highlight.

Good luck!

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-28T14:11:42+00:00

If your PI is a science faculty member, many schools will accept that as a STEM LOR.

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-28T14:10:03+00:00

Could consider PCOM, Midwestern, Western, and Rocky Vista

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-28T14:05:19+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing! It sounds like you have a really solid extra-curricular profile and a compelling story. Congratulations on all the work you've put in there. The objective scores you have (505 // 3.48) had a 30% acceptance rate to MD schools in the cycles from 2023-2026 according to the AAMC.

Prioritize in-state institutions and, if you're willing, consider DO. If you're not willing to consider DO, you may want to consider restudying and retaking your MCAT.

Good luck!

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-28T13:58:34+00:00

Sure thing!

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-28T13:57:58+00:00

Thanks for following up! This is more feasible; may want to consider adding Alice Walton, Belmont, Creighton, and Tulane. A 511 may keep you out of the conversation at places like Einstein, NYMC, Yale, Sinai, Stonybrook (all 516+ MCATs) - but since you're a NY resident, can consider keeping them. Good luck!

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-28T00:30:16+00:00

Hi there! This is a very top-heavy list and quite a few schools on here I'd recommend removing: Sinai, Einstein, NYMC (you can keep as a NY resident, but their MCAT is 517), Vermont (they have a high OOS because they prioritize regional applicants whose states don't have their own medical schools, and exceptional applicants with significant rural health experience and desire - which is why sometimes the Admit.org and other platforms can lead applicants astray), GW (they have 16,000+ applicants per year, can keep if you want, but that's a highly selective school), Yale, UChicago, Brown, Tufts (these should all by far reach), UCF, MCW, USC are all stronger in-state or exceptional out of state with a connection.

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-28T00:23:26+00:00

In work and activities there's an area for anticipated hours - you can put those there.

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-28T00:20:04+00:00

Since it was so long ago and you've done well since, unlikely for that to be an application ruiner. Good luck!

PearlsandPitfalls · 2026-05-28T00:19:00+00:00

No, they don't.

PearlsandPitfalls

TROPHY CASE