Here’s another secondary essay example, this time from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Again, this is from a couple of years ago.
I unfortunately didn’t end up getting an interview at Mount Sinai. If I could go back in time, I think I would explain more about what I learned from the experience. Regardless, I still think this might be a helpful essay to look at for those applying.
Please tell us about a situation in which working with others has been challenging. (200 words)
On the first day of physiology lab, our class was divided into lab groups of three people each. The first lab consisted of isolating a sciatic nerve from a frog and later performing experiments on the nerve to obtain information about action potentials.
During the lab, one group member, Emma, insisted on carrying out the dissection and experiments herself despite my other group member’s and my repeated offers to help. After the lab, I asked my other group member, Jessica, if she similarly noticed Emma’s reluctance to let others participate in the experiment. When Jessica acknowledged the problem as well, I decided to speak with Emma about the issue.
The following week at lab, I explained to Emma our predicament. Because Jessica and I had not been able to participate fully in lab, I explained, we struggled to learn the dissection techniques and grasp important physiology concepts. I emphasized that equal contribution of group members would increase efficiency and allow all group members to learn.
Emma apologized, explaining she had simply been unaware of the situation. From this day forward, our group equally divided up laboratory responsibilities. This allowed for increased efficiency and a collaborative working environment.