Watch me analyze every Drexel College of Medicine secondary essay prompt

[@lauraeager373]

Great video! Hope to see more :)

[@Shemmassian]

@@lauraeager373 Thanks! We have an entire playlist of these prompts analysis videos: kzbin.info/aero/PLn5ULvUylIip4Vlp3bvaVvZG0P4POYhPW&feature=shared

[@DreAugustus]

Thank you for the helpful video! How do you know that the last essay prompt is optional? Usually it will say (optional) on the prompt and this one doesn't.

[@Shemmassian]

Good question! In most cases, we only recommend considering a prompt optional if the prompt explicitly states that it’s optional. This Drexel prompt is unique, though. If you haven’t experienced “extenuating circumstances,” you might not need to respond. Also, from what we’ve seen on Drexel’s secondary application for this year (2024-25), it looks like you can save and submit with the third (final) prompt unanswered, but you get an “incomplete” message if you try to save or submit with either of the first two prompts unanswered. If you prefer, you can also simply write something like, “I have not experienced any extenuating circumstances.” in response to the third prompt. You raise a great point, though. In most cases, you should never leave a non-optional prompt blank. And for optional prompts (or unclear ones, like this one from Drexel), you should strongly consider responding before skipping past it. For example, applicants often ask us whether they should respond to prompts about community, because they don’t feel particularly connected to any community. Or they ask whether they can skip over Adversity prompts because they think they haven't faced any challenges that are significant enough to write about. In these cases, our Essential Prewriting Strategies video and the other videos in our Secondaries Series will help get the wheels turning when you’re having trouble coming up with material.

[@thefairyhunter]

hello! thanks for all the helpful videos :) for the last prompt, could the covid essay be used?

[@Shemmassian]

You're welcome! Because Drexel doesn't have a separate COVID prompt, you could absolutely discuss associated challenges in response to Prompt 3.

[@D1A_Ng]

Since everyone went through covid, should i still write about it if it didnt impact me in any special way

[@Shemmassian]

@@D1A_Ng Good question! Because Drexel's Prompt 3 for the 24-25 cycle is not specifically a COVID question, it might not be the right topic to cover if it didn't impact you in a meaningful way.

[@TheLuciomaia]

Very good job

[@Shemmassian]

Much appreciated!