Essays that Worked for Medical Schools

Discover why admissions officers from the nation’s top medical schools selected these essays of worthy applicants

With only a limited number of spaces available every year to the thousands of
qualified applicants to the nation’s top medical schools, a serious candidate must find
a way to set himself or herself apart from the crowd. The essay is your one chance to
highlight the personal qualities and achievements that the application and MCAT
scores do not reveal.

As Essays That Worked for Medical Schools demonstrates, there is no such thing as
the perfect submission. The winning essays cover a wide range of interesting topics. If there is any similarity, it is that they are written from the heart. One applicant writes about his work as a counselor for mentally ill adults and teens. Another tells about the life-changing experience of delivering much needed supplies to a leprosy village in West Africa. And a third applicant talks about time spent volunteering at a local senior center. From the thousands submitted each year, the essays in this book were considered some of the best by admissions officers at the nation’s top medical schools.

With creativity and effort, you can turn almost any topic into an effective, successful essay for your medical school application!

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs