#3: Application Letter Critique

Lau Pui Kheng Priscilla

5 Faber Drive

Singapore 123421

Contact Number: 9xxxxxxx

Email: priscilla_lau88@hotmail.com

9^th February 2012

Dr Craig Stenberg, Associate Dean (Student Affairs & Admissions)

Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore

Admissions Department

8 College Road

Singapore 169857

Dear Dr Stenberg,

I am writing to apply for the MD program at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School. I believe that my strong interest in biology, passion and desire to serve the community and determination makes me a suitable candidate for your graduate program.

I am currently enrolled at the National University of Singapore as a Life Sciences major specialising in Biomedical Sciences.  I have a strong interest in human biology and for my specialisation I studied topics like Pharmacology and Immunology, related to the medical aspect of biology.  My keenness for continual learning has been demonstrated by seeking out research opportunities.  I was attached for eight months to the Drosophila fly lab at Duke-NUS.  I applied knowledge and techniques learnt in school and was exposed to the research process in a laboratory. My Final Year Project in NUS will hone my research and analytical skills further.  The year of individual research, part of the MD program curriculum will give me even more opportunities to pursue my research interests.

In addition to my interest in biology, I am convicted and passionate in serving the community, giving back to the community in any way that I am able to.  I volunteer consistently at Melrose Home where I tutor the children on a weekly basis. I see this as a small act of offering my skills and knowledge back to the community so that they may benefit. Similarly, being trained as a clinician-scientist at Duke-NUS will train me a new set of skills and expertise to give back and serve the society.

I understand that I will face many challenges in being a clinician but I am optimistic of overcoming them. I have displayed my resilience in adjusting back to the rigours of the Singapore education system after studying in an international one. I have also exhibited determination during my student exchange to Paris where I faced great difficulty in taking lessons in my third language, French.  I believe that Duke-NUS will train me to tackle the rigours of working in the medical industry as your institution is dedicated to nurturing competent clinician-scientists, having an edge being trained in both research and being a clinician.

Thank you very much for your time.  I look forward to hear from you regarding my enrolment.  Attached is my resume for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Priscilla Lau

#2: Resolving Interpersonal Conflict

I was on exchange in Paris last semester and I stayed in an apartment with three friends: A, B and C. A and B are girls, while C is a guy. We first met in June 2010, during a one month language immersion program. We got along well and made plans to stay together during our exchange as we all applied to go to Paris.

The first two months were extremely enjoyable. However, it all changed in early November.  A and C travelled together to Amsterdam as they had recess week before B and I joined them for the weekend.  They stayed with A’s friend, while B and I stayed with B’s friend. From what I know, A and C had a taste of spacecakes on the first night but only A had it the next night (Friday). While A was feeling vulnerable as a side effect, C did not make her feel safe but provoked and taunted her repeatedly to tears.  C was unapologetic and even found it amusing. The same night, A told us what had happened and that she did not want to spend any more time with C.

When B and I arrived on Saturday afternoon, we were supposed to meet A and C but chose to meet A first to see how she was.  We were not taking sides as we were planning to meet C on Sunday to find out his side of the story.

C was angry and sent me a text saying that it was natural that we sided with A as we are girls. He took this as a hint that we did not want to meet him, changed his train timing and left Amsterdam on Sunday afternoon. When we reached home on Monday, he did not speak to B and I when we greeted him. We decided to let him cool down for a few days, before asking for his side of the story. But this did not happen as it was clear he did not want to speak with us anymore. B and I did not apologise for meeting A first as we did not think that we were in the wrong, and C did not apologise for behaving that way to A. Days turned into weeks and months, and we did not speak to each other for the remainder of our time on exchange and even till now.

Do you think things could have turned out differently? What could I have done differently to have prevented this awkward living arrangement?  If you were ever in a situation like this, what would you have done and why?