The infamous White Space Questions (WSQs)
They appear simple and straightforward but infact are far from it with many capable students dropping unnecessary marks in this section. With a extremely small word count stopping medical students from adequately being able to explain their views and achievements it is certainly an art form to answer these.
This year the number of questions has been reduced. Most candidates will just answer career goals, team working and then the SFP track specific question. This gives you just 600 words to adequately sell yourself to whomever is marking these questions. I like to think of the WSQ as one long answer, meaning that in my 600 words I won't repeat myself, be that an achievement, a specific point about the SFP or a goal of mine.
With all of these questions it is about adequately spinning them so that you can illustrate an impressive achievement and then link it back to the SFP. If you do this whilst reflecting on them and having an interesting point to take you will stand yourself with a great chance.
Last week, I hosted a WSQ webinar and went through these questions in detail. Next month I will repeat this webinar for anyone who wasn't able to go to the first. For now, I am offering WSQ marking where I will go through your answers, make comments on them, followed a 1 hour zoom call with myself where we begin editing the answers. Finally, you will then have access to email me throughout the SFP application process with any more queries!
Here are the 23/24 WSQ which have been reduced from 10 questions to 5.
The word count for each is 200 words. The challenge with these is adequately 'selling yourself' in so few words.
We at SFP Excellence have developed a formula for these And its easy to remember: SPUD 🥔
WSQ checklist when editing your answers
Have you remembered to link back to the SFP and in each of the answers mentioned something different about that SFP that is useful to you?
Have you used a different achievement for each question?
Have you reflected on those achievements?
Have you mentioned a clinical rotation in one of your answers?
Have you picked a specific SFP you are 'writing for' and answered as if you applying to just that one?
SPUD is SFP Excellence first bit of WSQ wisdom delivered to you. Subscribe to this newsletter as they'll be lots more tips and tricks in the coming weeks.
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