How do I Navigate Secondaries as a NP?

Session 245

The applicant, who is currently a nurse practitioner, is getting conflicting advice from physicians about whether to highlight or downplay their experience as an NP in their medical school secondary applications. How should she address her experience as an NP in secondaries?

Ask Dr. Gray: Premed Q&A is brought to you by Blueprint MCAT. Listen to this podcast episode with the player above, or keep reading for the highlights and takeaway points.

The episodes in this podcast are recordings of our Facebook Live that we do at 3 pm Eastern on most weekdays. Check out our Facebook page and like the page to be notified. Also, listen to our other podcasts on MedEd Media. If you have any questions, call me at 617-410-6747.

Question of the Day:

“I am currently working on my secondary applications, and as a nurse practitioner, I’m receiving varied feedback from the physicians I work with. Some suggest highlighting my NP and RN experience, while others advise against it, emphasizing the need to focus solely on stepping up to the next level. I am concerned that if I solely focus on my NP experience, my application may end up repeating the same information and get lost among other applicants.”

Embracing Your Nursing and NP Background in Secondary Applications

Embrace Your Authenticity

When it comes to discussing your nursing and nurse practitioner (NP) background, it’s important to be true to yourself. You shouldn’t hide the fact that you hold these roles because they are a part of who you are. However, this doesn’t mean you have to constantly emphasize these credentials at every opportunity.

“Always be authentic.”

Tailor Your Response to the Prompt

Specifically for secondary applications, a simple rule to follow is to answer the prompt directly – no more, no less. If the prompt calls for you to highlight your NP experience and it aligns with your authentic response, then go ahead and share your experiences genuinely. On the other hand, if the prompt doesn’t require or relate to your NP background, there’s no need to mention it.

“Answer the prompt – no more, no less.”

Moving Up is a Valid Motivation

It’s important to remember that pursuing a medical degree as an NP doesn’t mean you’re trying to escape or devalue your current role. Many NPs and PAs aspire to go to medical school to gain additional knowledge, experience, and privileges in order to serve their patients better. There’s nothing wrong with acknowledging this motivation and mentioning it in your application.

“Your job right now is to prove that you want to be a doctor.”

Disregard Negative Opinions

If you encounter individuals who discourage you from discussing your NP background, it’s essential to remember that their opinions may not align with yours. Ultimately, you should trust your own judgment and prioritize authenticity in your application. Your genuine desire to expand your capabilities and positively impact more patients is a valid reason to pursue a medical career.

Embracing Your Unique Path: Highlighting Your Advanced Practitioner Experience in Medical School Applications

When applying to medical school as an advanced practitioner, it’s important to recognize that the questions and angles posed by medical schools often cater to traditional college students. However, you have a valuable opportunity to address these questions from the perspective of someone with real-world experience in patient care.

By acknowledging the potential mismatch and then delving into how your past education has influenced your role as an NP, you can provide a more nuanced and insightful response.

Leveraging Your Practical Knowledge to Stand Out

Unlike students who are solely approaching the questions in a theoretical manner, you possess the advantage of having concrete experience in the field. Use this to your advantage when answering prompts and share how your previous coursework or training has directly impacted your work as an NP.

Additionally, you can delve into the ways in which your unique background informs your aspirations for medical school and your vision for practicing as a physician. Emphasizing these practical insights can set you apart from other applicants and demonstrate your readiness for the challenges ahead.

Embrace Your Experience and Path

Don’t underestimate the power of your experience and the path you have taken as an advanced practitioner. It’s essential to lean on your journey and highlight how it has shaped your perspective and prepared you for the transition to medical school.

“Lean on your experience, lean on your unique path.”

Be proud of your accomplishments and show how your unique background enhances your ability to contribute to the medical profession. Remember, authenticity and embracing your experiences are key factors that can make your application stand out among the rest.

Avoiding Repetition and Overemphasizing Clinical Experiences

When navigating medical school applications, it is natural to worry about repeating oneself. To address this concern, it is crucial to prioritize authenticity and provide honest responses that showcase your best ability to answer each question. However, for secondary applications and interviews, it is generally advisable to veer away from relying solely on clinical and academic examples, unless explicitly requested. By diversifying your examples and exploring other aspects of your personal journey, you can avoid redundancy and bring a fresh perspective to your application.

Aligning Your Answers with the Prompt’s Scope

While clinical experiences are undoubtedly important, it is essential to align your examples with the prompt’s scope. Many applicants tend to overuse clinical experiences as a means to showcase their readiness for a medical role. However, it is vital to remember that not every prompt necessitates illustrating your clinical environment involvement.

By resisting the urge to force clinical examples into unrelated prompts, you can present a more well-rounded application that demonstrates your adaptability and multifaceted nature as an applicant. Embrace the opportunity to showcase a diverse range of experiences that highlight your growth, values, and unique qualifications, ensuring that your responses remain relevant and purposeful.

Balancing Authenticity and Sensitivity in Your Personal Narrative

Being authentic is paramount when sharing your personal narrative, but it’s important to consider the impact of vulnerability on different individuals. While vulnerability can create connections, it may also be a turn-off or triggering for some.

Finding the right balance requires judgment and tact. Consider offering a teaser, using alternative language that resonates with those who understand, without delving into excessive detail. This approach provides the necessary context while respecting the boundaries and sensitivities of your audience.

Embracing Your Unique Journey

“Everything about your journey is authentic to you and how you view your patients and this whole process – the lens that you look through life – it’s your story.”

This student also mentions the challenges she faces with having Type 1 diabetes, which also contributes to the authenticity of herstory as a future healthcare provider. Having your own condition also shapes your perspective and the lens through which you view patient care and the medical field.

Remember that your experiences are unique to you, and they add depth to your narrative. While not everyone may resonate with your specific circumstances, it is essential to embrace your individuality and recognize that connecting with every person is not necessary. Your diverse background and personal perspective will undoubtedly resonate with the majority, allowing you to craft a compelling and genuine application.

Simplifying the Secondary Application Process

The best advice you can follow is to stick to the fundamentals. Answer each prompt to the best of your ability, without overthinking or reading into hidden meanings. While the volume of secondary applications may feel overwhelming, the actual writing process is straightforward and manageable.

“The secondaries are the easiest part of this process. There’s just a lot of them – and so from a volume standpoint, it gets overwhelming.”

Approach each prompt with a focused mindset, allowing yourself to simply write and provide a clear, concise response. Remember, the key is to stay true to the prompt and avoid unnecessary elaboration. By adhering to this approach, you can navigate the secondary application process with ease and efficiency.