What makes me unique?

"We have 500 plus applicants in this pile and only 80 seats. Why should you be admitted to our school?"

From Ben Heine

This question is one of the most frequently asked questions as I interview with medical schools. In other words, if you are currently applying, or will apply to medical school, know the answer to this important question...WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE?
As I think about this question, I am reminded of the emergence of uniqueness in America. Many of the topics discussed in Honors Civ 202 have been essential to the development of this attitude.




Beginning with the early semester topics of "New Worlds", we see the difficult and viscous emergence of new/unique ideas. The heliocentric hypothesis, dating early as the third century by Archimedes, was rejected "out of hand by virtually all..." (The Galileo Project) One reason was, "heliocentric cosmology [being] absurd from a common-sensical and a physical point of view. Thinkers had grown up on the Aristotelian division between the heavens and the earthly region, between perfection and corruption." It was hard to give up an old, common way of thinking.

From Jimi the Kewl

Fast forward a few years to Sir Francis Bacon (1521-1626), the champion of modern science. His live was dedicated to, "wholesale revaluation and re-structuring of traditional learning." (Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy) He proposed a new system based on empirical value, inductive principals, and the active development of new arts and inventions. "The use and benefit of men" and the relief of human condition were his goals. New inventions, creative/individual thinking, and unique attitudes sprung from this influence.

We now jump into the 18th and 19th century with the industrial revolution, where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transport, and technology greatly influenced the culture. One great example was that "Americans offered a significant reward to anyone who could build a cotton-spinning machine..." (thinkquest.org) The man or woman who had unique skills make more money, could provide better for his or her family, and was desired by many companies and societies.

As I sit at the medical school, being interviewed by renown physicians and professors, I search my brain deeply and quickly for the thing that makes me unique. I am searching for the attribute or skill that puts me above 500 other pre-screened applicants to this top school. Other than my fingerprints or the spiral of my DNA, what can I say?

I'm a biochemistry major? I play the violin? I'm on scholarship? I have a family quartet? I speak Mandarin and Cantonese? I play soccer? I swim? I research? I volunteer? I start clubs? So? Sooo many people do these things AND more...so what?

Through the medical school interview process, I have learned more about being unique. It's a paradox really. We merge with society, blend in, and are united by our gifts, talents, dreams, and activities. BUT, we are also unique because of our gifts, talents, dreams, and activities. Just take a look around, and look at the things you excel at, your talents. If you can play the piano, run 5 miles everyday, speak two languages, make cute baby-dinosaur noises, do calculus and o-chem, and keep a happier attitude than 100 random people in college, your specific gifts put you right up in the top 1% of the population...1% of 500 is 5, and that is definitely in the top 80. This means you have a seat in medical school, based on uniqueness (and traits they look for).

You are unique. You are one of the billions. In order to win this race in life, you have to make your own race, because you are the only one that can run it. If University of Pennsylvania doesn't want me, it doesn't mean I'm not unique. I'm just not the applicant they are looking for. Maybe University of Utah or Rochester will want me. I dunno...but back the the theme of class.

We see the desire for uniqueness throughout history. Now, we have other mediums to express our uniqueness (internet, blogging, forums, art...). This adds richness to our lives. If you are having a hard time discovering how unique you are, start a blog, begin a club, find something that requires you to apply yourself and stretch so you will know if you really are good in accounting, serving others, or writing books. Run your own race.