The Professor, my second son, was working on his applications to medical school.
He was still shell-shocked from taking the MCATs, now the dreaded application process.
He had to write an essay for each application.
The Professor sat with me in our backyard.
He mainly spent this time with me to organize his thoughts. Nothing was required of me but to sit and listen.
He had written a brilliant technical paper highlighting the research he had done with a doctor who he interned with. Everyone who read the paper felt it showcased my son’s strong intelligence and understanding of difficult concepts.
It was really good.
But….
The Professor had written a second essay.
It was a story.
The story of how the Professor helped a friend, we’ll call Jon.
Jon had dropped out of high school. His sister had taken her own life as Jon’s spiraled out of control. He became addicted to drugs and lived on the streets. Somehow the Professor met and befriended him. Through their friendship the boy regained a sense of self-worth. The Professor began teaching him all the material he would need to know to get his GED. Jon eventually took the test and called my son to thank him when he passed.
“In my whole entire life this experience with Jon has had the greatest impact on me. It’s why I want to help people.”
“The way you helped Jon was great, but is this the kind of material that medical schools expect to see on the application?” I asked.
“I don’t know.” He moaned “I don’t know what they want!”
I advised him to keep the “Jon” story for his personal use and send the other essay out to the schools.
The Professor sent out all the applications and the waiting began.
To make this long story short, the Professor was asked to interview at a prestigious school before final admittance.
He told me about this interview. The dean of the university was there as were the heads of the medical school and research department. The Professor said they asked him various questions about his academic career.
The dean stood up, the interview was over.
As the dean shook the Professor’s hand he said to him,
“We think you would be very happy here.
But tell me, how is Jon doing?”
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This is a true account of the Professor’s application and interview before medical school.
He has almost completed his first year of medical school.
(From what I hear Jon continues to do well)
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This is gmom,
peace out.
New Mind Snack 
Comments on: "Medical School Essay/Application" (12)
This is a beautiful story, and it really gives hope to other people applying to medical school (like I hope to). It is so refreshing to see that the interviewers can see things from a real life point of view, and realize that the medical field should really be filled with compassionate people like “the professor” instead of the rumored high grades, great summer jobs type applicants.
I wish him continued success, and Jon too!
Good luck in your persuit. It is a lot of very hard work but like anything else it is doable. Keep in touch.Thanks for commenting.
Sounds like your son is a wonderful, kind, intelligent, and compassionate person! I hope his applications go well and he gets into medical school. Sounds like he is exactly the type of person they need in a field like that.
Thanks Brit.
wow, what a great encouraging story. I hope all goes well with the application process.
Thanks for stopping by.
Awesome post! You know how to weave a tale my friend.
I couldn’t believe it myself when the Professor told me he sent the second essay out with his applications. But in the end it was what made him stand out in the sifting process of candidates. Thanks for all your kind and honest remarks.
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To all you folks out there filling out your applications and keeping your fingers crossed.
To everyone studying like maniacs for the MCAT. Hang in there and be sure to take as many practice tests as you can.
The Professor came into the process with steller grades from college but his MCAT scores were average.
On the strength of an essay that caught the attention of the admissions personnel he won an interview that sealed an admission to one of the best medical schools in the country. If he hadn’t been admitted he would have either taken the MCATs again or gone for another degree because he wasn’t willing to settle for a second best school.
Today he is working harder than he imagined he could but that’s life. You don’t know what you are capable of until you are tested. Dream big. Go with your gut but lead with your heart. This is gmom. Peace out.
It is important to be true to our hearts and do what we think is best. Sometimes we spend too much time worrying about what other people think or want.
so true!