how important are secondary essays medical school reddit

The Art of Writing Medical School Secondaries

Last Updated on June 26, 2022 by Laura Turner

I always think of secondaries as the real meat of the med school application process. For many schools, the AMCAS , AACOMAS , and TMDSAS merely function as a screening process, allowing them to weed out candidates who are clearly unqualified or do not meet their admissions criteria. Thus, your secondary applications will often serve as the critical factor in determining whether you are offered an interview, and ultimately, whether you will be admitted.

While some schools only send secondary applications to applicants who meet certain admissions criteria—such as minimum GPA or MCAT scores—other schools automatically generate a secondary upon receipt of your primary application . These secondaries vary tremendously in content. Some require nothing more than your name and payment, while others include up to ten essays and are extremely time-consuming.

When to submit

Similarly, the deadlines for these essays vary, with some schools giving you only one week from the time the application is sent. Generally speaking, you want to submit your secondary applications as quickly as possible—there is no benefit to delaying unless you are really struggling with your writing. Try your best to submit all secondary applications within two weeks of receiving them . Schools use the promptness of your submission (among other factors) to gauge your interest in their program.

Most schools’ admissions sites will post some sort of timeline of when and how they review applicants. Here is UCSF’s timeline , which clearly shows that applicants are reviewed on a rolling basis—meaning, that it is in your interest to send in secondaries earlier rather than later at this school.

Getting organized

Most essays are between 250-500 words. We generally recommend that students write out at least a brief outline for each of the types of questions (see below) before they have received the secondary application. It will save you a lot of time, and get you in the right mindset.

In order to make this process easier, I would suggest creating some sort of tracking system to organize all of your prompts. Something as simple as a spreadsheet will work:

The most common themes

You must be prepared to answer questions in these 12 general categories.

Most schools change their secondary essay prompts from year to year. However, there is some good news: despite these ever-changing topics, secondary essays tend to fall into about 12 general categories. Thus, it is possible, with some creative editing, to recycle certain “core essays” by making effective modifications.

**Please note, however, that one of the most common mistakes made on secondary essays is a failure to respond directly to the prompt—typically as a result of copy/pasting or hurried revisions to a recycled essay. In short, don’t be lazy, and read the prompts carefully!  

The general essay categories are as follows (note: the first three topics are generally considered the most common or frequently asked):

• Diversity/Uniqueness – What diverse or unique element will you bring to their medical school community?
• Why School – Explain why you wish to attend this particular medical school.
• Personal Challenge or Moral Dilemma – Describe a challenge you overcame or a time when you faced an ethical dilemma, and how you learned and grew from that experience.
• Additional Information – Is there any other information you would like to share with the admissions committee?
• Post-College Activities – If you graduated before you applied, summarize your activities since you graduated.
• Most Important Relationship – Who is the most influential person in your life and why?
• Academic Awards – List any honors or awards you received while in college or beyond.
• Research – What research or independent academic work have you completed, and what did you accomplish or learn?
• Long-Term Goals – What do you want to practice after medical school?
• Personal Insight – Write an essay that gives us insight into your personality and character.
• Qualities/Characteristics – Describe the characteristics that make you who you are. How will they impact your success as a medical student and physician?
• Most Important Activity – From the list of activities and experiences listed in your AMCAS application, please select one that has most impacted your decision to enter medicine.

Five tips to implement on your secondaries

There are tons of articles explaining the generic to-do’s and not-to-do’s for secondaries, so I won’t spend a ton of time on them. There are, however, a few not-so-basic points that everyone should follow.

Think like an admissions committee

Many adcoms are made up of professors and students. You must write to please that particular audience. If you suspect that one of your would-be peers would read your application and say, “I would hate to be with this person in the class,” you’re in trouble. No amount of qualification or credentialing can save you if your prospective peers and professors think you would be a pain in the butt in class.

Moreover, these people have to read hundreds of essays, so keep your vocabulary simple and your sentences short. As you may have heard, medical students and doctors are not always known for their reading comprehension skills. Try to keep sentences under 15 words, where possible. Don’t use big words if a smaller word will suffice.

Finally, these are humans reading your essays, and as such, they will get insanely bored reading applications, 75% of which sound identical. Their eyes will inevitably glaze over. Thus, you need to grab their attention, particularly with your opening sentences.

The best medical school essay I ever read began with: “Nobody cares when someone dies in Cape Town.” That is a sentence that grabs the reader. While not every essay can begin with a mic-dropping opener, you should still remember that part of your job is to keep your audience engaged.

Do not repeat yourself!

The adcom already has your AMCAS application. Repetition will not help you at all. You need to be providing new information. That doesn’t mean that you cannot talk about the same activities or experiences—you certainly can. It means that you need to discuss another angle of that particular experience.

For instance, if you previously discussed the ways your humanitarian work changed your priorities, perhaps you could now discuss the ways your humanitarian work influenced your interest in a particular practice area, such as epidemiology or plastic surgery.

There are two themes- yours and the school’s- and you must maintain both

Theme #1: The first theme is yours. We call it the Application Persona, some people call it a “hook,” or a “personal narrative,” but ultimately it is the catchphrase that the adcom will use to remember and describe your application. That persona should be woven into your secondary essays in the same way it was woven into your AMCAS application.

Theme #2: Complicating matters is our second theme: the theme of the institution. Every institution has a “thing” it is known for. Oftentimes, it’s on their “About This School” page on their website. Sometimes, they will go the extra mile and build it right into the application, such as Johns Hopkins, which opened their secondary application with this paragraph:

“Ranked at the top for research, Johns Hopkins Medical School provides a medical education with an emphasis on integrating scientific innovation in patient care. The school’s mission statement shares a comprehensive and long-term perspective on medical education, touching on The Science and Practice of Medicine, Clinical Competence, The Social Context of Medicine, Communication, Professionalism, and Lifelong Learning. Given these tenets, describe how your background and experience has prepared you to excel in these areas as you write your secondary essays.”

Thus, Hopkins has announced its theme. Before you start writing, you need to think carefully about how your theme interacts with the school—basically, the common area on the Venn diagram of medical practice and research, where your uniqueness and their uniqueness combine to produce something more than their constituent parts.

Answer the prompt directly

Too many people get caught up in what they want to say, and completely fail to answer the question. Make sure your answer is directly responsive to the question and doesn’t take any significant detours.

Be consistent with your primary application

I don’t just mean your theme. I mean don’t write anything that contradicts or otherwise calls into question something you wrote on your AMCAS/AACOMAS/TMDSAS. And off of that point, don’t write about anything you can’t speak about in-depth during your interviews. Be consistent.

Updated July 6, 2021. The article was updated to correct minor grammatical errors and to update information.

Joel Butterly is the Co-Founder and CEO of InGenius Prep , an admissions consulting company that helps students with their applications to medical school.

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February 12, 2024

Harvard Medical School Secondary Application Essay Tips and Deadlines [2023-2024]

The website of Harvard Medical School (HMS) is a treasure trove of information for applicants. Is HMS right for you? It could be if you are, as the school says , “self-motivated, visionary in …[your] ambition, and compassionate in …[your] approach to the art of healing.” HMS highlights the importance of diversity in its Mission Statement, as a critical component of campus culture, and as a factor in promoting excellence in medicine. As you approach your secondary application, aligning your answers with HMS’s community values will offer you the opportunity to highlight work you have done in global outreach, community engagement, social justice, teamwork, and academic discovery.  

Harvard Medical School 2023-2024 Secondary Application Essay Questions

Harvard secondary essay #1.

If you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation.  (4000 characters maximum)

This essay is strictly for students who have already graduated from an undergraduate institution. Explain any work you have done in the interim, as well as any volunteer activities and MCAT plans, in whatever order you choose. Provide details about the level of your responsibilities, what you are learning, the impact you’re having on the community you are working with, and/or how the experience is influencing your life goals as a future physician. Provide clear and succinct summaries that  demonstrate HMS’s core commitments , as presented on the school’s website. If you are a reapplicant, highlight activities that might rectify any weakness in your earlier AMCAS application. Your answers should convey your engagement with the work that you’re doing, revealing what’s rich in opportunity, growth, and learning. Think about and convey why the work is, or has been, a wise way to use your time during the gap year.

Harvard Secondary Essay #2

If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity not addressed elsewhere in the application that may illuminate how you could contribute to the medical school and that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, or other aspects of your personal or family background to place your prior academic achievements in context or provide further information about your motivation for a career in medicine or the perspectives you might bring to the medical school community. Many applicants will not need to answer this question. (4000 characters)

This prompt is open-ended on purpose. As you write, keep the part of the prompt that says, “how you could contribute to the medical school” at the forefront of your mind. The admissions committee is providing you with an opportunity to share something unique about yourself. For example, were you raised by a relative? Were you raised by a single mom? Does someone in your family have a disability? Are you a person of color? Did your race or ethnicity influence what opportunities you had access to? Were you raised in a non-English-speaking household? Did you attend a diverse public school? Did any of these circumstances affect your educational opportunities or progress? Take care to ensure that the story you tell is not already shared in a different part of your application.

The words “important” and “significant” are key here. As the prompt itself notes, “Many applicants will not need to answer this question.” If you do not have an aspect of your background or identity you feel could genuinely be deemed “important” or “significant,” do not respond to this prompt. 

Harvard Secondary Essay #3 (Optional)

The Committee on Admissions understands that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted applicants in various ways. If you wish to inform the Committee as to how these events have affected you and have not already done so elsewhere in your application, please use this space to do so. (This is an optional essay; the Committee on Admissions will make no judgment based on your decision to provide a statement or not.)

If you were personally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, describe your – and, if relevant, your family’s — experience here. If you or a family member contracted the virus, this prompt gives you an opportunity to explain, as a future doctor, how you learned something from the experience of being a patient or related to a patient. (Generally, when someone becomes seriously sick, their whole family — and sometimes, their entire community — is afflicted.) Chances are, you had an experience that has helped you understand compassion, empathy, or sympathy on a deeper level. How was that a valuable experience for you as a future doctor?

If you were affected professionally or educationally, you might have chronicled this in your activities. What might not be evident on the activities list, though, is that even though COVID-19 might have curtailed your scribe work or delayed your taking of the MCAT, the disruption engendered other volunteer opportunities. If so, how did you help? And by helping, what did you learn about or from a vulnerable community (or those in need) by seeking and doing a selfless act to be of assistance to others during this time?

Harvard Secondary Essay #4

The interview season for the 2023-2024 cycle will be held virtually and is anticipated to run from mid-September through January 2024. Please indicate any significant (three or more weeks) restriction on your availability for interviews during this period. If none, please leave this section blank. (1000 characters)

Simply answer this question by providing the information requested.

Hopefully, the next step in the med school application process for you will be your HMS interview. And the best way to prepare for your interview is to practice, practice, practice with a med school admissions expert who understands the system and who will give you feedback and guidance throughout the process. Schedule a 30-minute free consultation with an Accepted consultant today.

Harvard Secondary Essay #5

ESSAY FOR APPLICATIONS TO THE HARVARD-MIT DIVISION OF HEALTH SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY (HST) Instructions: The HST MD program draws on the combined resources of Harvard and MIT to provide a distinct preclinical education tailored to preparing students for careers as transformative physicians who will shape the future practice of medicine. Our students come from the full spectrum of disciplines including biological, physical, engineering and social sciences. HST classes are small, commonly include graduate students and have an emphasis on quantitative and analytic approaches. The unique HST pre-clinical curriculum prepares students well for the HMS clinical education while also emphasizing disease mechanisms and preparing students to solve critical unmet needs in medicine and healthcare (ranging from novel diagnostics and therapeutics to applications of ‘big data’ and systems engineering). Please focus on how your interests, experiences and aspirations have prepared you for HST (rather than identifying specific HST faculty or research opportunities).  (4000 characters)

Innovations in medicine abound across academic disciplines. In particular, Harvard is interested in sophisticated medical technology and data application systems that solve unmet health care needs. What experience or education in technology or engineering have you had? How does this tie into medical innovation? How has your experience with or education in technology or engineering prepared you to “fit” this hybrid program? What is the intersection of technology (or engineering or social sciences) and medicine for which you are a good fit? What research or experience do you have with this interdisciplinary intersection? Tell Harvard about that research/experience and its potential influence on health care in the future.

Take particular notice of the second parenthetical comment in the prompt: “rather than identifying specific HST faculty or research opportunities.” Avoid, at all costs, writing what the program can do for you . Rather,  how are you a good fit  for the HST MD track? How are you uniquely suited to thrive and succeed with this hybrid opportunity? Your answer should convey your knowledge of the program’s mission and a thorough understanding of the relevance of your hybrid expertise to healthcare innovation and improving healthcare outcomes.

Applying to Harvard Medical School? Here are some stats :

Harvard Medical School average MCAT score: 520.59

Harvard Medical School average GPA: 3.9

Harvard Medical School applications for the Class of 2027: 6,986

Harvard Medical School class size, Class of 2027: 164

Has this blog post helped you feel more confident about approaching your Harvard Medical School application? We hope so. It’s our mission to help smart, talented applicants like you gain acceptance to your dream school. With so much at stake, why not hire a consultant whose expertise and personalized guidance can help you take the next step on your journey to becoming a doctor? We have several flexible consulting options — click here to get started today !

Harvard Medical School application timeline 2023-2024

Source: HMS website

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with Harvard Medical School directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

As the former assistant dean of student affairs and career development at the William Beaumont School of Medicine, Dr. Valerie Wherely worked directly with the dean of the School of Medicine, the associate dean of student affairs, the associate dean of clinical curriculum, and the assistant dean of admissions, as well as with Year 4 students on both residency application reviews/critiques and mock interview preparation.

Dr. Mary Mahoney, PhD, is the medical humanities director at Elmira College and has more than 20 years of experience as an advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. She is a tenured English professor with an MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College and a PhD in literature and writing from the University of Houston. For the past 20 years, Mary has served as a grad school advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. Want Mary to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• Make the Most of Your Experiences for ERAS
• Do’s and Don’ts of Medical School Recommendation Letters
• Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for Med School Applicants

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11 Common Medical School Secondary Questions and How to Answer

• By Med School Insiders
• June 6, 2023
• Secondary Application

Submitting your primary application is extremely time-consuming and takes a huge amount of work. Such a monumental undertaking is no small feat, and while you certainly deserve a break, you won’t get one. Secondary applications arrive fast and furious just a few weeks after you submit your primary application—and they’re every bit as important as your primary. You need to submit your secondaries quickly for your best chance at securing an interview, which is why it’s imperative that you prepare answers to common medical school secondary questions in advance.

In this post, we’ll discuss 11 of the most common medical school secondary questions and how to best answer them to impress admissions committees. We’ll also show you how to create a plan for completing your secondaries as quickly—and effectively—as possible.

Completing Secondaries Quickly and Effectively

The AMCAS application opens around the first week of May for the following year’s medical school class. Submissions open around the end of May to early June, which means you have a month to complete your primary application. If you plan on starting medical school in the fall of 2023, you need to apply in the spring of 2022.

Your secondary applications will take about two to four weeks to arrive after you submit your primary application. It is imperative that you submit secondaries as soon as possible—within 7-14 days—without compromising the quality of your answers.

Understandably, this is a very short time frame in which to work. At Med School Insiders, we recommend you submit your primary application to around 20 schools. This means you could receive up to 20 secondary applications—all around the same time.

Learn more in our guide: How Many Medical Schools Should I Apply to?

This is why it’s vital to prepare for your secondaries in advance by crafting answers to common questions you are likely to find in many of your secondary applications. This way, you have a good basis of content to work with as secondaries come through. If you wait until the rush of secondaries begins, the quality of your answers will suffer and you’ll be more prone to making mistakes.

For a full overview of the secondary application process, including secondary deadlines, costs, and important FAQs, read our Medical School Secondary Application Guide .

Common Medical School Secondary Questions

Admissions committees want to learn more about you beyond your primary application, and they want to better understand whether or not you will make a good fit at their specific school. Each program has a different set of secondary questions. Some schools will ask several questions and some only a few. But while the wording and number of questions will vary, the gist of them will generally be the same. This means you can repurpose your answers, making changes to tailor them to each specific school.

Below are 11 common questions you will likely find in your secondaries, as well as what schools are looking for from your answers.

1. Describe yourself…

While this is certainly a broad question, programs aren’t looking for a broad answer. Programs ask this question to learn more about your personality and how you see yourself. What skills, traits, or experiences will you choose to highlight?

How you choose to answer this question speaks volumes about your values, and adcoms want to ensure they’re selecting the applicant whose values most align with those of the program. Keep in mind that adcoms aren’t simply looking for the best candidate; they’re looking for the candidate who is the best fit for their specific program.

Be careful not to repeat yourself. Programs already have your primary application, so anything you included in your primary they are already familiar with. They know your qualifications. Now they want to know who the person is behind your scholastic achievements. How do you want the program to perceive you? What notable experience or important element of your personality were you not able to include in your primary application?

Remember to show and not tell. Illustrate your personality traits with proof from your past. How have you exemplified the skills you’re most proud of? Do you have a hobby that’s central to your personality or one you feel has prepared you for the rigors of medical school? What experience from your past shows you at your very best?

We covered this question in more detail in our full guide: Medical School Secondary — How to Describe Yourself .

2. Why did you choose to apply to our program? / Why are you a great fit for our school?

You will certainly come across some version of this question on your secondary applications. Adcoms want to know how serious and enthusiastic you are about joining their program. While it may seem like this is a generic or easy-to-answer question—after all, you know why you applied to the medical school—adcoms are looking for details. How much research have you done on the program? What do you specifically have to offer the program?

This question is a chance to prove to admissions committees that you know their program inside and out. You’re excited not only because you know the program has so much to offer you but because you have so much to offer the program as well. If you give a surface-level answer or regurgitate the program’s mission statement, adcoms won’t take you seriously.

Do ample research. Dig deeper than the school’s website. Check message boards and reach out to current students. Get to know everything you can about the program.

We covered this question in more detail in our full guide: How to Answer the Medical School Secondary “Why Us?” Question .

3. The mission of our school is X. How would you help us fulfill this mission?

This question is similar to the question about what makes you a great fit for the program, but it focuses more on ensuring you have a deep understanding of the school’s mission statement and values.

Be sure not to repeat the mission statement. Adcoms are already well aware of it. Dig deeper. Why specifically do your values align with theirs? Why do you identify with them? Has standing by these values cost you relationships or opportunities? What paths have they inspired you to take? How do you plan on continuing to hold true to these values?

Saying you share the same values and want to uphold them is not enough—prove it. Choose a moment from your past that shows how you have actually lived the mission statement and values of the school.

4. Where do you see your medical career X years from now?

The “where do you see yourself” question could be referencing 10, 15, or 20 years from now.

Schools understand that your direction may likely change along the way, but they want to see that you’ve thought about your future and have envisioned what your future as a doctor may look like.

Do your best to answer this question thoughtfully, and be careful not to be too ambitious. Keep in mind that after four years of medical school, depending on your specialty, you will still have three to seven years of residency. So, if you are planning on becoming a neurosurgeon, you may still be in residency in ten years. But if this is truly your dream, don’t shy away from saying so!

Don’t worry about having to commit to something. If you’re unsure about your specialty, focus on where you’d like to work, the people you want to work with, and who you want to help. What type of doctor will you be once you begin practicing?

5. Discuss a time in your life in which you failed. What did you learn?

Everyone fails from time to time. While admitting a past failure can be intimidating, especially when you’re trying to sell yourself as the ideal applicant, it’s important to focus on what that failure has taught you. Adcoms do not expect you to be perfect; they expect you to be a mature adult who is honest about their mistakes, learns from them, and always resolves to do better next time.

Describe the failure and how you have sought to address it moving forward. What did you learn? How has it affected your medical journey? How did you persevere and find the strength to keep going?

Maturity is an extremely attractive quality in a candidate, and this question is an opportunity for you to showcase how mature you are.

6. Describe a specific challenge you have faced in your life. What did you learn from the experience?

When answering this question, it’s important to come up with something different than what you have already shared in your personal statement. Secondaries are a chance to expand on what you have already expressed. Schools want to get to know more about you, and repeating yourself benefits no one.

You could describe an academic challenge, a workplace challenge, or a personal challenge. The question is quite broad, so you can determine what you want to include. But whatever you choose, make sure it’s a challenge that authentically demonstrates your personal and professional strengths. Ensure that the experience was impactful but not so impactful that you will feel uncomfortable discussing it during interviews. Anything you include in your applications is fair game to be asked about by an interviewer.

As with discussing a time in your life you failed, focus this response on what you have learned from the experience. How did it change you, whether it be the way you carry yourself, your work ethic, or how you deal with people. How has the challenge shaped your journey moving forward?

7. Describe a moral or ethical dilemma you faced. What did you learn from the experience?

The AAMC has a strict code of medical ethics that all practicing physicians in the US must adhere to at all times. When have you been faced with a moral or ethical dilemma in your past? How did you respond to it? Did you do the right thing, or has your past mistake shown you the error of your ways and inspired you to recommit to a strict code of ethics ?

If you’re struggling to answer this question, consider the kinds of questions that are asked on the Casper test . Have you encountered any similar scenarios? Have you ever been pressured to do something you knew to be wrong? What did you do? Have you ever witnessed someone cheating on a test or breaking the law? Did you confront them privately, or did you report them to the proper authorities? What did you learn from the experience? What did you learn about yourself?

Ethics are of the utmost importance to doctors, and breaching the code of ethics carries severe punishments. Pick an event from your past that illustrates your commitment to making the moral or ethical choice, even, and especially, when it’s tough.

8. What areas of medicine are you primarily interested in at this current time?

Schools understand that your specific medical interest may change the more you further your education. In fact, some questions may expressly say, “We understand that your direction may change…” So, don’t think that you have to commit to anything you’re not ready to yet.

Schools simply want to see that you’ve put thought into this. There are many, many different types of medical specialties out there , and if an applicant has absolutely no idea about the direction they want their career to take, it sends a clear sign to adcoms that the applicant hasn’t put enough thought into their career path beyond, “well, a doctor makes a lot of money, right ?”

Are you interested in internal medicine, family medicine, neurosurgery, or psychiatry, to name a few? Do you want to be a hands-on physician working in the ER, or would you prefer to focus your career on research and developing life-saving medications?

Do your research and answer thoughtfully. If you’re very interested in attending a specific medical school, tailor your answer to what the program has to offer.

9. How do you think you might contribute to our school’s diversity?

Medical schools believe their college community, culture, and campus learning experience are enriched by including a wide range of different backgrounds, perspectives, identities, and beliefs, which is why the diversity essay exists. It’s an opportunity for applicants with minority backgrounds, an unconventional education, unique family histories, or otherwise atypical upbringings to explain how their uniqueness will add to the college community.

When answering this question, it’s vital to understand diversity comes in many forms—it’s not just limited to your religious background or the color of your skin. Did you have a non-traditional upbringing, such as being raised by a single parent or growing up with a sibling with a disability? Have you experienced a personal health scare? What’s your family’s education level or economic status? Were you ever made fun of or ridiculed for your personal identity?

Anyone can contribute diversity to the campus. Get personal. Don’t hold back or give a surface-level answer. What is unique about your upbringing or your personality? What’s always made you feel different? How can you use this to add diversity to the college community?

For more insight, read our detailed guide on How to Write the Medical School Secondary Diversity Essay .

10. If you took time off after undergrad, what have you achieved in this time?

A question like this might be expressly asking about a possible gap year , or it may be referring to what you did with your months between undergrad and the beginning of medical school.

This is a chance to expand on extracurriculars , speak about your passion projects, or share what you learned while working, volunteering, or traveling.

If you took time to explore the world, why did you make this decision , and what did you learn about yourself and the world? Taking time to pursue a passion or to travel abroad won’t be looked down upon, especially if you are able to explain how the experience contributed to your growth.

Adcoms are looking for passionate students who have compassion for all the peoples of the world and are infinitely curious. What projects or activities did you pursue in your downtime? What did you learn about the world, and how will you apply what you learned to your medical education and future career?

11. Is there anything else you would like us to know?

If you’re asked if you’d like to add anything or if there’s anything else you’d like admissions committees to know, don’t waste this opportunity. While this is another open-ended question, be sure to answer it directly, with specifics.

This is a chance to elaborate on any special experiences, unusual factors, or other information you feel would be helpful in evaluating you. What have you not been able to include in the rest of your application that you want the admissions committee to know about you? Outside of interviews, this is your last chance to express anything you feel will help you stand out from the competition.

Completing Secondaries—You Need a Plan

It’s important to create a strategy for how you will complete your secondaries. Don’t simply tackle them one by one as they come in, as you will quickly become overwhelmed. Keep in mind that you will very likely receive your secondaries in rapid succession, if not all at once. Create a strategy for completing them to avoid burnout and optimize your chances of success.

There are a few different ways to go about completing your secondaries, and your strategy may include a combination of them.

Top Choice First: Complete your top choice or best fit schools first to optimize interview chances. Rolling admissions mean medical schools review applications as they are submitted on a continuous (rolling) basis. Invitations to interview are only made while spots are available. The longer you take to respond, the worse your chances of acceptance are. If you have your heart set on a specific school, be sure to prioritize its secondary application.

Most Competitive First: Complete the most competitive schools first to optimize interview chances. Again, due to rolling admissions, the longer you take to submit your secondary application, the worse your chances of securing an interview are. All of the interview spots will be taken by the applicants who successfully submitted their secondary before you, and if you can’t secure an interview early enough in the process, you will not be accepted.

Lower Rank First: Complete lower ranked/lower preference schools first for practice. If you want a bit of practice before moving on to secondaries from your higher choice schools, complete a couple of secondaries from lower ranked schools to get yourself started. Once you find a groove, switch to higher priority schools.

Most Questions First: Completing secondaries with a lot of questions first will give you a lot of content to work with. You’ll get the bulk of the work out of the way and can then focus on repurposing and tailoring your questions to each school.

Learn more: This is the Ideal Order Secondary Applications .

Looking for more strategies? Read our 9 Steps to Writing Stellar Medical School Secondary Applications .

Craft Secondary Answers That Stand Out

Applying to medical school is a long journey that doesn’t end after you submit your primary application. Secondary applications are time-consuming, and they arrive right when students are ready for a break. While we understand the struggle, it is vital that you focus and don’t give up during this critical time.

Med School Insiders can help. Our Medical School Secondary Application Editing services will help you craft stand out secondary applications that will get you noticed by your desired medical schools. Our doctor advisors have served on medical school admissions committees and have read hundreds of secondary essays. We know what it takes to succeed, and we’ll help you craft stellar secondary applications tailored to each school you apply to.

Med School Insiders

2024 TMDSAS Secondary Application Guide

Learn how to create a stand out TMDSAS secondary application, including secondary deadlines, costs, the types of questions asked, and critical strategies.

2024 AACOMAS Secondary Application Guide

Learn how to create a stand out AACOMAS secondary application, including secondary deadlines, costs, the types of questions asked, and critical strategies.

2024-2025 Medical School Application Timeline and Monthly Schedule

This is the medical school application timeline you should follow, including key dates and an ideal month-by-month preparation schedule.

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A Guide to Medical School Secondaries

• June 25, 2024
• MCAT Blog , Med School Admissions
• Reviewed By: Liz Flagge

So you submitted your primary applications—cue major feelings of relief! But wait, you’re not done yet! Medical school secondaries will soon hit your inbox after they receive your completed primary applications. Secondaries are a chance for you to showcase your unique qualities, experiences, and dedication to the field of medicine.

In this guide, we’re diving into the world of med school secondaries with tips on how to best complete them and sample prompts from top medical schools .

What Are Secondary Essays?

Medical school secondaries are follow-up questions issued by medical schools after you submit your primary application . These prompts dive deeper, asking about specific interests, experiences, and personal reflections.

They’re a school’s way of getting to know you beyond your medical school personal statement , GPA, and MCAT score , seeking insights into how you align with their values and mission.

Who Gets Med School Secondaries?

After submitting your primary application, nearly every medical school will send you secondary essay prompts. Some schools specifically state they will only send secondaries to screened applicants. The key is to be ready; these essays can arrive anytime from days to weeks after your primary submission. The application fee to submit your medical school secondaries can be as high as $200.

When Are Medical School Secondaries Due?

Deadlines can vary, ranging between 15 days from the day you received them to much later in the admissions cycle. However, the rule of thumb is to submit your secondaries as soon as you can. With rolling admissions, seats in a medical school’s incoming class can go quickly. Anything that can delay your application/interview invite might hurt your chances of admission.

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Tips for completing medical school secondaries, 1. prewrite as much as you can.

Medical schools will often recycle their secondary essay prompts, allowing you to plan out your responses. At a minimum, you can brainstorm what your response will be and how you might be able to change it for another similar prompt from another school.

The goal is to plan ahead so you at least have possible topics and answers you can easily call upon when writing your responses.

2. Don’t Just Copy and Paste

We know….we know. We just said schools will often have similar prompts. You might also be tempted to copy and paste a section from your personal statement.

However, you still need to take the time to answer each prompt from every school thoughtfully and authentically. Tailor your responses to each school as much as you can. The last thing you want to do is write a wonderful response about the wrong school!

This is your opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and experiences that make you a strong candidate for their program. It’s important to demonstrate your passion, motivation, and dedication towards pursuing higher education in the specific field of study.

3. Answer the Prompt

When writing your responses, always be sure to answer the prompt. It sounds obvious, but it’s easy to get carried away with your thoughts and ideas and forget to actually address the question at hand. Make sure you understand what is being asked of you before diving into your response. Another important aspect of writing is organization. A well-structured piece of writing will make it easier for readers to follow along and understand your points. Try to avoid clichés and generic statements. Admissions committees read through hundreds of applications, so it’s crucial to stand out from the crowd and show your individuality.

Sample Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts

Let’s have a look at secondary essay prompts from medical schools across America, so you can understand what to expect and start preparing your responses to highlight your best qualities and fit for each program.

( Note: This list is continually updated. If you notice that a certain school’s prompts need to be updated, please send us an email !)

Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Describe how specific attributes of ACOM’s mission and core values align with your professional goals and personal attributes? (250 words)
• The Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine promotes values and equity from various cultural, social, and economic backgrounds. Discuss the role that diversity played in your decision to become an osteopathic medical school applicant. (250 words)
• What are your personal attributes that demonstrate the osteopathic philosophy? (500 words or less)

University of Alabama School of Medicine

State of residence section:.

• Non-Alabama Resident with Ties to Alabama: Describe any ties or meaningful experiences you have had related to the state of Alabama or UAB Medical Center (1500 characters)
• (All Applicants) If the area you spent most of your life before college differs from where you currently consider your permanent address, please explain (1500 characters)

Essay Section: 

• Where do you see yourself in your medical career fifteen to twenty years from now? (750 characters)
• Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics or experiences that would add to the learning environment for your classmates. (750 characters)
• Describe a patient interaction with the healthcare system. This could be a direct patient observation (in person or virtual) during a shadowing/clinical experience or a personal experience within the healthcare system. What did you learn from this experience? (750 characters)
• Describe a fulfilling or challenging community service experience and how you grew personally from the experience. (750 characters)
• UAB Medicine provides quality health care and compassionate service to every patient, every time, regardless of their individual differences or circumstances. Our academic medical center attracts patients from across the world who represent many cultures, religions, lifestyles, and economic backgrounds. Why are you specifically interested in beginning your medical education in this environment, and how do you feel that your previous experiences will prepare you for this unique learning environment? (750 characters)
• (OPTIONAL): Describe your identity and how it has impacted the development of your values and attitudes toward individuals different from yourself and how this will impact your interactions with future colleagues and patients. (750 characters)
• (OPTIONAL): Please share any information you want us to know about you that is not included in your AMCAS application or in this secondary application. (750 characters)

Additional Experiences Section:

You have a separate page to add any experiences that you did not have listed on your AMCAS application.

University of South Alabama College of Medicine

• Although interests may change, what areas of medicine are you primarily interested in at the current time? (200 characters)
• Out-of-State Applicants: Although our primary obligation is to residents of the State of Alabama, we do consider competitive applicants from neighboring states and applicants with strong ties to the State of Alabama. Please write a brief essay explaining your ties to the State of Alabama. (2000 characters) (optional)
• (OPTIONAL): The learning community at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine benefits from the inclusion of students with broad life experiences, as well as students from diverse backgrounds. The Admissions Committee encourages you to share life experiences that you may have had and/or important factors in your background that illustrate your readiness for practicing medicine in a multicultural society. (3500 characters) (optional)

A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine

• ATSU-SOMA’s osteopathic medical education model includes training at one of our partner Community Health Center (CHC) sites. 1) Describe any previous CHC or free clinic experience that you have had. 2) Describe how learning at a CHC will enhance your osteopathic medical school experience. (500 words)
• Describe any gaps that lasted longer than three months that may have occurred during or following undergraduate/postgraduate educational programs. (500 words)
• ATSU-SOMA emphasizes self-directed learning in small group sessions. What experiences have you had that will help you be successful in this educational model? (500 words)
• Describe any hrs/week of employment that may have coincided/impacted your academic work during each semester. (500 words)
• Which field of osteopathic medicine are you interested in pursuing? Explain why you chose this field. (500 words)
• Describe what you have learned from your experiences with osteopathic physicians. If you do not have any of the above, please explain why you are applying to an osteopathic medical school. (500 words)
• Describe your understanding of SOMA by answering ONE of the following questions: (500 words)
• What unique feature of SOMA appeals to you? What specific feature of SOMA concerns you?
• What would be your strongest attribute as a SOMA student? What would be your weakest?
• How do you plan to be involved with medically underserved populations in your medical career? How have your past volunteer experiences influenced your plans?

Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Why do you believe AZCOM would provide you with the type of osteopathic medical education you are seeking? (1500 characters)
• Why should AZCOM accept you into this year’s class? (1500 characters)
• Upload a copy of your resume or curriculum vitae, which will include, but not be limited to the following information
• Optional: List any relative who is an osteopathic physician (1500 characters)

University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix

Time-sensitive considerations: “30 days after invitation or December 1st”

• I previously applied to any medical school yes/no (select yes if you submitted a primary or secondary application). 
• If yes, please provide specific examples that illustrate how you are a stronger applicant this cycle. (1000 characters)
• What achievement are you most proud of in your life? What aspect(s) of this achievement will you bring to our medical school? (1000 characters)
• The UA College of Medicine – Phoenix practices Inclusive Excellence, which celebrates the differences, talents, and unique qualities of all individuals. Please describe how you will pursue Inclusive Excellence in your studies while contributing to the collaborative environment at the College of Medicine – Phoenix. (1000 characters)
• Servant Leadership is a Core Value and Attribute we deem essential for our students to possess. To us, it is service to others where one possesses personal humility along with a strong professional will. Describe a time where you have practiced this skill or have seen this in another. What traits were exemplified, and how will you apply these traits to your career in medicine? (1000 characters)
• Throughout your application you have given us a sense of how you intend to contribute to the UA College of Medicine – Phoenix. We would now like to know about how you anticipate the UA College of Medicine – Phoenix will contribute to your goals and passion for medicine. What aspects of our program and community appeals most to you, and how do you plan to make use of specific resources and opportunities here? (1000 characters)
• Please reflect on your entire application, is there anything you would like to further share with the Admissions Committee? Items to consider: connection(s) to Phoenix and/or our medical community, your plan during this application season, gap(s) in your education, personal, academic, or COVID-related challenges. Do not repeat any information already mentioned in the primary or secondary applications. (1000 characters)

University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson

Time-sensitive considerations: “Submit your secondary application and fee to UA COM-Tucson within 21 days from the date it was originally sent by 11:59pm AZ time, or December 15, 2023 – whichever day comes FIRST.”

• Please share a meaningful experience you have had working or volunteering in the health professional field or a time in your past in which you were responsible for the care and well-being of someone else. What did you learn from this as it relates to becoming a physician? (350 words)
• Discuss a time in your life in which you have failed at something other than an academic experience. How did you confront the failure and what did you learn from it? Please describe how you typically approach challenges that you face in your life. (350 words)
• “The mission of the University of Arizona College of Medicine Office of Admissions is to select a diverse cohort of students who will become the future leaders in advancing health care to the distinct communities that comprise Arizona and the United States. Consistent with the mission of The University of Arizona College of Medicine, selection of individuals with a demonstrated commitment to serve as care providers, physician scientists, clinical leaders, medical educators and/or public health experts, including advocates for rural and urban underserved populations, is highly valued. Applicants seeking admission should exhibit qualities of altruism, academic excellence, leadership and dedication to becoming lifelong learners through research endeavors and academic development.” Please describe the role(s) you can play in helping the College of Medicine to achieve its mission. (350 words)
• Describe the effect that your experiences with engaging diversity have had on your own growth and development. Provide an example and describe how it will impact your career in the medical profession. (350 words)
• Share any disruptions in your academic/volunteer/work/personal life related to COVID-19 that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (no limit)

Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine

• List any significant volunteer, community service and/or mission experiences you have had that is not listed on your AACOMAS application. Provide the organization name, hours/week, duration of experience, as well as a brief description of your duties.
• Please tell us about any healthcare experiences you have had that are not listed on your AACOMAS application. Provide organization name, hours/week, duration of experience, and a brief description of your duties.
• How do you plan to fulfill the ARCOM Mission in your practice as a physician?
• What challenges do you expect to personally face most in the next 10 years as a healthcare professional?
• How do you expect to overcome these challenges?
• Describe an experience where you interacted with a person or people from a different background than you (ability, religion, gender, race, age, socioeconomic status, citizenship/ nationality, sexual orientation).
• How did that interaction impact your mindset of the role of a physician?
• If you are in a difficult basic science class and feel you are not fully grasping the information given in lecture, how would you alter your study habits or techniques to better understand the material and complete the course successfully?
• What is a recent book you read that impacted the way you think about today’s world?
• Please explain how this book impacted the way you think about today’s world.
• How did you hear about ARCOM? (No limit)

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine

• Non-Arkansas residents who have strong ties to Arkansas are given preference over non-residents without strong ties to the state. Therefore, if you have strong ties to Arkansas (you have lived in Arkansas, you have a parent or close relative who resides in Arkansas, you attend(ed) an Arkansas college, etc.), you must describe your ties to Arkansas in a letter to be uploaded using the Upload Documents section of this application.

California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine

• CHSU-COM values a diverse student body that reflects our region and our world. Please explain how you personally would contribute to diversity at CHSU-COM. (250 words)
• Describe some common healthcare disparities that may be found in a resource-limited area, such as the California Central Valley. How might the presence of CHSU-COM help to alleviate those disparities? (250 words)

California Northstate University College of Medicine

• Why have you chosen to apply to CNUCOM? (250 words maximum)
• In the medical profession, you will be exposed to students, faculty, colleagues, and patients of various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. How has your involvement with diverse populations prepared you for potentially four years in Elk Grove, the greater Sacramento area, and the rest of the Central Valley? (250 words maximum)
• Did you have a Pre-Health Advisor at your undergraduate institution? If so, please tell us about your experience. How did it help you in your journey to to apply to medical school? If not, please let us know how you worked independently to find out more about applying to medical school and the path of your journey to apply? (250 words maximum)
• In which direction would you like to see healthcare progress over the next decade? (250 words maximum)
• If your education has not been continuous since high school, please explain why. Examples of discontinuities include time taken off while obtaining your undergraduate degree, in addition to gap years. (250 words maximum)
• If you have previously applied to medical school, what have you accomplished since that time that would warrant your admission now? (250 words maximum)
• Is there anything you would like the Admissions Committee to know that is not reflected elsewhere in your application? (250 words maximum)
• How do you feel about standardized tests? How did you prepare for the MCAT? What tools or preparatory courses/material did you use and how did you study? Do you feel like your score reflects how you will perform in medical school? From what you have learned, do you think it will help you in the way you will study or prepare for USMLE exams? (1000 characters)

California University of Science and Medicine School of Medicine

• Describe a time when you were faced with problems or stresses that tested your coping skills. What did you do? (1500 characters)
• Provide us with a specific example of something you did which helped build enthusiasm in others. (1500 characters)
• How would you describe yourself in terms of your ability to work as a member of a team? (1500 characters)
• Describe the last time you were criticized by a peer or supervisor. How did you handle it? (1500 characters)
• What does it mean to be emotionally intelligent? How have you effectively used your skills in emotional intelligence in the past? (1500 characters)
• Give an example of when you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. Why was this person difficult? How did you handle that person? (1500 characters)
• What would be the best example that shows you are a person of integrity? (1500 characters)
• If given the opportunity to attend medical school, where would you see yourself in ten years? (1500 characters)
• Diversity comes in many forms. How do you think you might contribute to the diversity of the class? (1500 characters)
• [Optional] If you were enrolled in fewer than 12 units/credits for more than 1 semester/2 quarters during your undergraduate education, please provide a brief explanation below. (500 characters)

Drew/UCLA Joint Medical Program Drew University of Medicine and Science

Time-sensitive considerations: “28 days after receipt of the supplemental application invitation”

• The university’s vision statement is “Excellent health and wellness for all in a world without health disparities”. Describe how you envision yourself contributing to the CDU vision statement. (1200 characters)
• Describe your commitment to transforming the health of diverse and underserved communities. (800 characters)
• Detail the key motivational factors in your decision to apply to the CDU MD Program. (1200 characters)
• Please describe a personal experience in which you have encountered discrimination. (800 characters)
• How will you utilize your medical knowledge and skills to contribute positively to your community after completing medical school? (800 characters)

Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine

• During your career as a physician, you will potentially encounter obstacles, and be required to overcome challenges. Please describe your experience with a situation that had an unfavorable outcome, including your reaction, how you might have responded differently, and what you learned about yourself. (250 words)
• Kaiser Permanente is committed to advancing equity, inclusion, and diversity for all. How will you contribute to the diversity of the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine? (250 words)
• Lifelong learning is an essential process for continued professional development. This includes reflection and being open and responsive to constructive feedback. Please tell us about an area of intellectual exploration you’re passionate about, and your approach to exploring this area. (250 words)
• (OPTIONAL): Please describe how you have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. (No limit.)

Loma Linda University School of Medicine

• What makes LLUSM particularly attractive to you? (275 word limit)
• Our medical curriculum integrates spiritual, ethical, and relational issues from the Christian perspective into the practice of medicine. Religion courses and weekly chapel services are part of this program. Please respond to the preceding statements as they relate to your personal educational and career goals. (275 word limit)
• What personal attributes make you a desirable candidate for admission to LLUSM? (275 word limit)
• Identify experiences in your life that illustrate your service to others. (275 word limit)
• Discuss how your spiritual origins, development, and experiences have influenced and been integrated into your daily life. (275 word limit)
• Please describe your current involvement (or reason for not being involved) with a church or religious group. (275 word limit)
• If you have already graduated, briefly describe your activities since graduation and your planned activities prior to matriculation into medical school. (275 word limit)
• Behavioral Expectations. LLU has expectations which include respect for all persons and high standards of personal and professional conduct. This includes abstinence from alcohol, nicotine, cannabinoids, and illicit drugs/substances in all forms. Please describe any use of the above substances within the past year. (No word limit)

Stanford University School of Medicine

• Are there any current or pending disputes concerning your academic status? If yes, please explain. (300 character limit)
• Was your enrollment status ever interrupted during your undergraduate or graduate program, not including summer term (e.g. medical, personal, or academic reasons, military service, other)? If yes, please explain. (150 character limit)
• PRACTICE SETTING: What do you see as the most likely practice scenario for your future medical career? Choose the single answer that best describes your career goals and clinical practice setting:
• Academic Medicine (Clinical)
• Academic Medicine (Physician Scientist)
• Non-Academic Clinical Practice
• Health Policy
• Health Administration
• Primary Care
• Public Health/Community Health
• Global Health
• Please describe your motivation for this practice scenario. Why do you feel you are particularly suited for this practice scenario? What knowledge, skills and attitudes have you developed that have prepared you for this career path? (1000 characters)
• CURRICULAR INTERESTS: How will you take advantage of the Stanford Medicine Discovery Curriculum and scholarly concentration requirement to achieve your personal career goals? (1000 characters)
• BACKGROUND: Describe in a short paragraph your educational and family background. (For example) I grew up in New York City, as the 3rd child of a supermarket cashier and a high school principal. I attended Mann High School where my major interests were boxing and drama. (600 characters)
• CONTRIBUTION TO LEARNING ENVIRONMENT: Please describe which aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you to make a distinctive contribution to Stanford Medicine. (2000 characters)
• Please describe how you have uniquely contributed to a community with which you identify. (1000 characters)
• ADVOCACY: Please describe an experience/ situation when you advocated for someone else. (1000 characters)
• ANYTHING ELSE?: Please include anything else that will help us understand better how you may uniquely contribute to Stanford Medicine? (OPTIONAL) (1000 characters)
• There is also a Health Belief and Attitude Survey (15 questions) where you will select your response (from Strongly Disagree to Strongly Agree). 

Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Are you a TUCOM re-applicant who has previously interviewed? If yes, what was the result of that interview and what changes, if any, have you made which should affect a different outcome? (3000 characters)
• Have you attended any TUCOM information sessions on campus, at another location, or virtually? If yes, please list the event(s) in which you participated. (3000 characters)
• Please describe your understanding of osteopathic medicine including osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). Please include your personal exposure to osteopathic medicine (if any) and demonstrate your understanding of the osteopathic principles and history of the profession. (3000 characters)
• Please describe your hobbies (or non-academic pursuits) and how they will influence your success as an Osteopathic medical student and/or Osteopathic physician in the future. (3000 characters)
• Please discuss how your life experiences and personal characteristics will contribute to your future success as an outstanding osteopathic physician. (3000 characters)
• When considering medical schools, what criteria are important to you and how does TUCOM align with those criteria? (3000 characters)
• Have you graduated or do you plan to graduate from a High School or equivalent (e.g. GED, ATB, etc.) – OR – College whose primary method of instruction is English? (3000 characters)
• Have you ever had a criminal conviction (this includes a judge or jury verdict, guilty plea, a plea of no contest or nolo contendere, and/or juvenile offenses), or any criminal conviction that you are currently appealing? (3000 characters)

University of California – Davis School of Medicine

• (OPTIONAL): Discuss any elements of your application that you feel might be concerning to the Admissions Committee. (This could include explanation of metric trends, institutional actions, legal violations, etc.) Please enter N/A if no concerns to report. (500 characters)
• (OPTIONAL): Do you have a connection to Northern or Central California? (Yes/No) Please explain. (500 characters)
• Activities: Please list the activities you would like to be considered in your application to UC Davis. The secondary activities may be used to highlight your experiences specifically relevant for UC Davis. You may use your most meaningful experiences listed in your initial AMCAS application or select/add others that may be relevant to UC Davis. Please only list three. The admissions committee will review all AMCAS application activities as well; this an opportunity to highlight your most meaningful and/or relevant to UC Davis School of Medicine.
• Prompt for activities: Briefly describe this activity and its significance. How did it prepare you for a medical career? Include any supporting information (e.g. your contribution to the project or accomplishment as well as links to any publication, etc) (500 characters each activity)

Scholarly Pathways questions: 

• Rural-PRIME: Are you interested in applying to the Rural-PRIME program? [yes/no] Please describe how your experiences with rural communities make you a good fit for the Rural-PRIME program.
• Rural-PRIME: Describe your future plans to serve a rural underserved community.
• TEACH-MS: Are you interested in applying to the TEACH-MS program? [yes/no] Please tell us what experiences have shaped your desire to be a primary care physician in urban underserved communities.
• ACE-PC: Are you interested in applying to the ACE-PC? [yes/no] Please tell us what attributes or experiences would make you a good fit for an accelerated program in primary care.
• REACH: Are you interested in applying to the REACH program? [yes/no] Please tell us about your ties to Central California and what you have done, or plan to do, to make a positive change in Central California.
• Tribal Health PRIME: Are you interested in applying to the Tribal Health PRIME? [yes/no] What experiences have you had with rural and/or underserved communities/populations? More specifically, what involvement have you had with tribal communities/populations?
• ARC-MD: Are you interested in applying to ARC-MD? [yes/no] Academic Research Careers for Medical Doctors (ARC-MD) is a five (5) year honors pathway that mentors students who envision a career as research faculty in a medical school or who want to use research and quality improvement methods to improve health in their community. These students are drawn from diverse backgrounds and committed to research as a foundational aspect of their career. That research may include basic-translational research, clinical-translational research, community engaged research, or policy and advocacy. Prior research experience or related activity as an undergraduate is preferred. Tell us about how you could see yourself as a faculty of the future and how biomedical research will play a role in your career as currently envisioned.”

University of California – Irvine School of Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations: “Applicants have one month from the date of the invitation email to complete the secondary application.”

• What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1500 characters)
• Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1500 characters)
• (Optional) Do you identify as being part of a marginalized group socioeconomically or in terms of access to quality education or healthcare? If so, please describe how this inequity has impacted you and your community. (1500 characters)
• This essay is only for applicants that have already received their baccalaureate degree. Please clarify for the Admissions Committee your activities (school, work, and/or volunteer, travel, etc.) since receiving your undergraduate degree. You may list them in chronological order or you may incorporate them into an essay, stating why you chose particular activities. If you have just received or will receive your undergraduate degree this year, please discuss your plans for current year. (1500 characters)

MSTP prompts 

• What research accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1500 characters)
• Please describe to the Admissions Committee a research challenge you have overcome and what you learned from that experience. (1500 characters)
• What does it mean, to you, to be an MD/PhD? (1500 characters)
• Please list all posters, manuscripts (published or planned) you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (1500 characters)

University of California – Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations: “2 weeks from the date and time of invitation”

• At the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, students are provided with curriculum and experiences enabling them to become an “Outstanding Physician, AND…,” dedicating themselves to important societal missions. What missions do you want to embrace? What have you done toward your missions? (800 characters)
• Respond to the following and indicate how these areas of experience have impacted your progress toward your future career goals in relation to becoming an “Outstanding Physician, AND…”.

A. Describe your most unique leadership, entrepreneurial, or creative activity. (800 characters)

B. Describe your most important volunteer work and why it was meaningful. (800 characters)

C. Describe your most scholarly project (thesis, research or field of study in basic or clinical science or in the humanities) and provide the total number of hours, dates and advisor. (800 characters)

• Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial or professional barriers, as well as other relevant information. (800 characters)
• Did you experience or are you anticipating time between graduating from college and matriculating into medical school? (Yes/No)
• If yes: Describe the activities in which you participated or are planning to participate. Examples include additional schooling, employment, or caring for a loved one. (800 characters)
• Do you identify as being part of a group that has been marginalized (examples include, but are not limited to, LGBTQIA, disabilities, federally recognized tribe) in terms of access to education or healthcare? (Yes/No)
• If yes: Describe how this inequity has impacted you or your community and how educational disparity, health disparity and/or marginalization has impacted you and your community. (800 characters)

University of California – Riverside School of Medicine

• The mission of the UCR School of Medicine is to improve the health of the people of California and, especially, to serve Inland Southern California by training a diverse workforce of physicians and by developing innovative research and health care delivery programs that will improve the health of the medically underserved in the region and become models to be emulated throughout the state and nation. What experiences, skills, and abilities will you bring to the class to fulfill this mission? (250 words)
• The values of the UCR SOM are integrity, innovation, inclusion, excellence, accountability and respect. Please choose one of the values and tell us how you have personally experienced it or have seen it emulated in a clinical setting. (250 words)
• In what type of healthcare setting do you see yourself practicing medicine? (250 words)
• Tell us about a personal challenge you have faced in your life thus far and how you demonstrated resilience and grit to overcome it. [Please do not write about studying for or taking the MCAT.] (250 words)
• (Optional) If there is anything you would like the committee to consider about your candidacy that is not explained elsewhere in your application, please use this space to tell us. (250 words)
• (Only if you are non-California resident) If you answered Yes, please explain your connection to Inland Southern California and the mission of the UC Riverside School of Medicine (100 words)

University of California – San Diego School of Medicine 

• This should be a true autobiographical statement. Topics to be included are family, childhood, primary and secondary school years, undergraduate years, and, if applicable, what you’ve done since completing your bachelor’s degree. You should also discuss the motivational factors which led you to a career in medicine, including any disadvantages or obstacles which might put your accomplishments into context. A repeat of your AMCAS statement will not be acceptable. Please note: if you are applying to the MD/PhD program, please include why you are specifically interested in seeking MD/PhD training at UCSD. (6000 characters)
• (OPTIONAL): Please describe how educational disparity, health disparity and/or marginalization has impacted you and your community? (4800 characters)
• On your AMCAS Application, you were asked to identify your three “most meaningful” experiences. These activities have been auto-filled in your secondary application. In addition to the information you provided on the AMCAS application, we would like to know if there are any additional activities you would consider among your most meaningful. This may include activities that you’ve already completed but couldn’t include as you were limited to three selections on the AMCAS application, or it may include a new activity that began after your initial AMCAS application was submitted. Use the “Add” button below to enter a new activity. We would also like to know if a letter of recommendation has been submitted on your behalf by somebody you worked with through this experience. If you do not have a letter from this experience, simply type N/A. This information allows Admissions Committee members reviewing your application to more readily match your letters to your experiences and thus facilitates the review of your application. DO NOT LIST ANY ACTIVITY MORE THAN ONCE. (For each activity you add, there is a 100-character limit.)
• Some medical school applicants are already focused on pursuing a particular career pathway in medicine. While many students will change from this pathway during medical school, knowing of your potential interests does help us to assign interviewers. Your choice below does not influence how the Admissions Committee selects students to interview. Please select from one of career pathways listed below. In addition to this selection, please provide a brief description of your future career goals. (400 characters)
• Academic Medicine (Working as a faculty member at a School of Medicine either as a clinician, a clinician-educator, or a clinician investigator. This could be in any field of medicine)
• Primary Care and/or work in underserved communities (Working as a general internist, a pediatrician, or a family medicine physician and/or spending the majority of your time working in a community currently underserved by the medical profession)
• Public Health, administrative leadership in medicine (Pursuing an MPH and/or working for a public health department or organization; working in health care policy; working as a hospital administrator)
• Specialist in private practice (Working in a private practice or managed care setting as a subspecialist. Examples include cardiologist, infectious disease specialist, obstetrician, orthopedic surgeon, general surgeon, anaesthesiologist, radiologist)
• Other/undecided

For special programs:

PRIME – HEq

The goals of PRIME – HEq are: To increase the number of clinicians, research scientists, and advocates addressing minority health and health disparities; to create a diverse community of scholars that develop, transmit, and apply new knowledge in minority health and health disparities; and to promote a multidisciplinary community/university partnership to eliminate health disparities. The program utilizes existing opportunities to allow enrollees to obtain a master’s degree emphasizing minority health and health disparities, tailored to student’s interest (MPH, MBA, MAS, MS) Applicants indicating an interest in PRIME are required to write an additional essay detailing their qualifications and reasons for interest in the program. 

Please describe your interest in the PRIME-HEq program. Topics to include are longitudinal experiences that you’ve had with underserved communities, including the type of community that you’ve worked with and your level of involvement. Additionally, you should discuss the length of time that you’ve spent working in these communities. (4800 characters)

Applicants to the UCSD School of Medicine may apply for admission to the GHAC. This track is available to five medical students per class per year, and will provide mentored research and clinical experiences in Global Health. The GHAC has four goals: 1) to prepare young physicians to engage with the global community to address health disparities; 2) to provide experiences and training in academic Global Health research; 3) to provide field experiences in Global Health delivery; and 4) to facilitate education about structural and social factors that create and propagate health disparities. Students in this concentration will undertake an additional curriculum that exposes them to Global Health topics throughout all four years of medical school. This track is appropriate for applicants hoping to pursue an academic medical career in Global Health. Students accepted into the GHAC will be provided with financial support for two international rotations (up to $5000 for both). Applicants interested in applying for the GHAC are required to write an additional essay detailing their qualifications and reasons for interest in this program. 

Please describe your interest in Global Health. The term Global Health can have many meanings; for our purposes, we find the definition provided by Koplan et. al. in their 2009 Lancet publication useful: “the area of study, research and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide”. In your essay, be sure to describe any personal or professional experiences that have shaped your interests, and how Global Health issues have influenced your decision to pursue a career in medicine. (4800 characters)

Applicants to the UCSD School of Medicine may apply for admission to the Program in Medicine – Transforming Indigenous Doctor Education (PRIME-TIDE), which is available to six medical students per class per year. The educational objectives of the PRIME-TIDE are to: 1) teach medical students the appropriate management and treatment of diseases common in AI/AN communities with a focus on culturally sensitive care via a mentored clinical experience in local, regional or national tribally-operated Indian Health Service (IHS) ambulatory clinics; 2) understand the opportunities for community-based research with AI/AN communities through the California Native American Research Center for Health (CA-NARCH); 3) engage in preventive medicine and public health in a tribal healthcare setting; and 4) understand the social, environmental, economic and political issues related to providing healthcare to tribal communities, as well as the limitations/adaptations to the delivery of IHS care. These objectives will be met by completing didactic coursework, as well as mentored research and clinical experiences. (4800 characters)

University of California – San Francisco School of Medicine

• If you wish to update or expand upon your activities, you may provide additional information below. (500 words)
• If you are 2023 or earlier college graduate, please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree. (350 words)
• Do you identify as being part of a marginalized group socioeconomically or in terms of access to quality education or healthcare? Please describe how this inequity has impacted you and your community. (350 words)

University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine

• What is the most fun you’ve had lately? (65-word limit)
• If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be? (65-word limit)
• What are three things you don’t care about at all? (65-word limit)
• Describe a situation in which you didn’t get something you felt you deserved. (65-word limit)
• Are you a member of a group that is under-represented in medicine? (Yes/No)
• If yes: Which Group? How does underrepresentation affect your community? (200-word limit)
• Have you previously applied to medical school (M.D., D.O., international)? (Yes/No)
• If yes: Upon reflection, what do you think went wrong? (200-word limit)
• (Optional): Is there anything else you would like us to know? If yes, please answer the question in 200 words or less.

Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

Questions are the same for the Pomona and Northwest campuses.

• What experience observing a DO solidified your desire/ambition to become an osteopathic physician? (This could be a formal shadowing experience (one-on-one with a physician), scribing, observing your own physician, friend, or family member who is a DO). (500 words)
• If you have not had the opportunity to shadow/observe a DO why is it important to you to become an osteopathic physician? (500 words)
• What was your most memorable community service activity and how did your activity benefit the community? (500 words)
• How does the COMP Mission statement align with your values? (500 words)
• Why do you want to attend COMP? (500 words)
• What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you and why are they important? (500 words)
• Have you participated in research? (Yes/No)
• If yes, briefly describe your role and what skills you gained from participation in the research. (500 words)
• Please provide us with the link to the publication or abstract if possible.
• Did you contribute to the published work as an author/coauthor? (Yes/No)
• Briefly discuss any extenuating circumstances which you feel are pertinent to your application (poor grades, course withdrawals, lapse in your education, etc.). (500 words)
• If you have not taken any coursework for over 3 years, please explain why and what you have been doing during that period of time. (500 words)
• Are you a transfer applicant? (Yes/No)

Dalhousie University Faculty of Medicine

250 words each:

• Describe your personal experience in community service, volunteer work or service/help to another. What did you learn from this experience?
• Describe your strongest quality and provide a specific example of this quality. How does this quality relate to the study and practice of medicine?
• The Dalhousie Medicine curriculum uses case-based small group learning. Describe one or more examples of your experiences with small group learning or teams and what you have learned from it.
• What does being a physician mean to you? How did you come to this understanding?
• Health care professionals work with people from diverse and broad populations and experiences. Cultural competence and sensitivity are important skills to develop. How would you describe your own level of cultural competence/sensitivity? What steps could you take to further build cultural competence/sensitivity?
• Out-of-province applicants: In 250 words or less, please describe your knowledge of any connections to and past experiences with the Maritime Provinces and how these have contributed to your selection of Dalhousie University as your preferred choice of medical schools. 

Northern Ontario School of Medicine

Autobiographical Sketch questions:

• Considering NOSM University’s self-directed, small group, distributed learning environment, select ONE (1) entry from your autobiographical sketch and describe how it has specifically prepared you for being a medical student at NOSM University.
• Select ONE (1) entry from your autobiographical sketch that has had a significant impact on your personal growth and describe how this experience has influenced your development and prepared you to be a medical student at NOSM University.
• Considering NOSM University’s social accountability mandate, select ONE (1) entry from your autobiographical sketch and describe how this experience has prepared you to learn and work in Northern Ontario and/or rural/remote settings.

Supplementary questions:

• Describe how you have developed resilience and coping mechanisms. How will you utilize these skills to support yourself during your medical training in making informed and rational decisions when faced with difficult circumstances?
• Describe an experience you have had interacting with individuals from backgrounds different from yours. How would this experience translate to working within a healthcare environment and/or with patients?
• Provide a specific example of when your work or performance was criticized. Explain how you responded to the criticism and how this experience contributed to your personal development/growth.
• NOSM University’s Social Accountability mandate is to improve the health of the people and the communities of Northern Ontario. Describe how you plan to embody this mandate as a medical student and future physician, and how this has factored into your decision to apply to NOSM University.

University of Alberta Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry

• List and describe your top two personal achievements/experiences. (750 characters per)
• Share a life experience where you encountered challenges and describe how you addressed the situation(s). You may include a different experience that you have not previously addressed in your application which will further serve the goal of learning more about you as an applicant. (2000 characters)
• Please share an experience that you have had which was significant enough, potentially even life altering, that helped you become a better person. (1500 characters)

University of Toronto School of Medicine

• Detailed Autobiographical Sketch: Write about an impactful experience from your Autobiographical Sketch that demonstrates your personal growth, character, and values. How did this experience prepare you for medical school?  (500 words)
• The COVID-19 pandemic imposed obligatory changes in all our lives. What have you learned and how has this changed you as a person? Are there ways that you adapted that you would keep going forward? (250 words)
• What is the purpose of a mentoring relationship? What are the 3 most important elements of a mentoring relationship? Discuss a mentoring situation that you experienced in relation to these qualities. (250 words)

Western University Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry

Abbreviated Autobiographical Sketch 

( Note: These questions allow you to expand on activities described in your OMSAS Autobiographical Sketch; however, you may include up to two activities that are not in your Autobiographical Sketch.) 

• Teamwork and Leadership: We are interested in extracurricular activities or experiences (employment, volunteering and/or other extracurricular activities) that demonstrate your teamwork and leadership skills. Please highlight a minimum of 1 activity and a maximum of 2 activities that highlight your teamwork and leadership skills. 

Note: Leadership does not mean being the boss or having a formal title. Instead, it refers to someone who is engaged and takes the initiative to contribute in a collaborative way toward sustainable and positive change. Please ensure that in whatever activity you choose, you demonstrate a clear link to these skills. Maximum points are allocated if you can link to both skills of teamwork and leadership, as defined above.

• Please provide a brief description of how this activity demonstrates your teamwork and leadership skills, outline concretely what you have learned (3 items) and how this will be helpful to your career in medicine. (Max. 2,400 characters/activity)
• Respect for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Please list your top 1 to 2 activities (employment, volunteering, or other extracurricular activity) that demonstrate your respect for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As an example, this core value can be demonstrated through interactions and exposure to those who may have perspectives different from our own (e.g. different age, skill level, educational background, gender identity, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, etc.). 
• These activities and experiences do not necessarily have to be international/global and the definition of diversity is broad. The activities can be local or regional, and do not necessarily have to be volunteer-related. In whatever activity you choose, you must clearly articulate the link between the activity and diversity.
• Please provide a brief description of how this activity demonstrates your respect for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Please also outline concretely what you have learned (3 items) and how this will be helpful to your career in medicine. (Max. 2,400 characters.)
• Self-directed Learning, Problem-solving, and Critical Inquiry: Please list your top 1 to 2 activities (employment, volunteering, research or other extracurricular activity) that demonstrate your capacity for self-directed learning, problem-solving, and critical inquiry. 

Note: You may choose any activity as above, so long as you can articulate well where you demonstrated these higher learning skills in that activity If you have done research in any capacity (undergraduate, Master’s and/or PhD), one of your activities must be related to your research experience. If your research led to any notable awards and/or publications, please provide enough information so that it may be corroborated. The verifier you choose must be able to confirm any publications and/or awards. 

• If you do not have any research experience, that is acceptable so long as you can clearly link your activity to how you problem-solved, demonstrated intellectual curiosity and how you worked towards improving your performance in that activity. 
• Please provide a description and examples of how this activity concretely demonstrates your problem-solving, critical inquiry, and self-directed learning skills and how they will be helpful to your career in medicine. (Max. 2,400 characters.)
• Social Accountability and Responsibility: Please list your top 1 to 2 activities (employment, volunteering, other extracurricular activity) that highlight your commitment to serving other individuals or your community and that speak to your ability to advocate for others. 

Please note: No preference will be given for formal volunteering compared to other activities, so long as the activity demonstrates a commitment to your community and advocacy of others. For example, this could include helping a neighbor as long as you can. Clearly articulate the connection between the activity and the commitment to helping and advocating for others and have someone who can verify this activity.

• Please provide a brief description of how this activity concretely demonstrates your commitment to helping others, advocating for others and serving your community’s needs. Please comment on what you have learned (3 items) and how this will be helpful to your career in medicine (Max. 2,400 characters.)

Optional Questions

• Please tell us about a unique (non-academic/non-research) personal life experience(s) and/or challenges that are relevant to your application to medical school. Please also outline how you overcame those challenges, if applicable. If none, please state “none”. (Max 2,400 characters.)
• Please outline whether there are any gaps and/or unusual circumstances to your file/application. If none, please state “none”. (Max. 2,400 characters)

Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

• What unique characteristics, abilities, or skills will you bring to help advance the mission and vision of RVUCOM? (No limit)

University of Colorado School of Medicine

• Please do not repeat content from your AMCAS personal statement in these essays. To the extent that there is overlap in the personal statement to what you want to write here, please choose a different approach to discussing the issue(s), such as influence on your values and beliefs, changes you made in your life, reflections that are from a different perspective. The committee utilizes this important information in the selection process. 
• The pillars of our curriculum are Leadership, Curiosity, and Commitment. Tell us about how you have embodied one or more of these attributes in your path to medicine thus far. In which of these areas do you see the most opportunity for personal growth and why? Limit this response to 500 words.
• Please describe how your background and/or your unique lived experiences contribute to our culture of inclusive excellence. Limit the response to 300 words.
• (For reapplicants): Please explain how you and your application has changed since your previous submission. Limit this response to 1500 Characters.
• Fort Collins Track: Please tell us why you are interested in being a part of the 4-year CUSOM at CSU (Fort Collins Branch campus)? With the background that FCB’s smaller class sizes and unique structure lead to a highly interactive curriculum, please tell us how this campus matches your learning style and personal philosophy. Limit your statement to 1500 characters, including spaces (approximately 300 words).
• Rural Track: Describe your personal and professional goals in becoming a rural physician. In particular, describe your interest and ability to spend your clinical year in a rural community. You may also include how past experiences living and/or working in a rural area and your ties to or interest in rural Colorado communities aligns with your goals. Limit your statement to 1500 characters, including spaces (approximately 300 words).

Colorado Springs Branch: 

• Please submit a short statement regarding your interest in the Colorado Springs Branch. You may address characteristics of the Branch that would be a fit for your strengths, experiences, and/or career plans. You may also note your ties to or interest in Colorado Springs or other similar communities. Limit the essay to 1500 characters, including spaces (approximately 300 words).
• In the Colorado Springs Branch LIC, students work in multiple health systems across Southern Colorado (e.g. Colorado Springs, Cañon City, Pueblo) to understand the interface between academic and community medicine and participate in a curriculum focused on how physician leadership in quality improvement and community engagement can impact health equity. Please describe how participation in the Colorado Springs Branch LIC would advance your career goals, and how your life experiences have led you to an interest in our program. You may also note any ties to Colorado Springs or the Southern Colorado community, if applicable. Please limit your statement to 300 words.

Connecticut

Quinnipiac university frank h. netter md school of medicine.

• If you will not be enrolled as a full-time student, how will you be spending/intend to spend your time during your application year? If you are a re-applicant, please address steps taken to improve your application for medical school. (200 words)
• Why is it important to you to go into medicine and become a physician? (200 words)
• What quality or attribute do you think is most important in being a physician? Please explain. (200 words)
• As a medical student and future physician, you will be faced with many uncertain situations. Please describe a situation when you were asked to do something that was beyond your capabilities. How did you handle the situation? Please provide a specific example. (400 words)
• Netter SOM is a diverse and inclusive community, and we believe that each person brings their own unique experiences and attributes. How have your experiences, personal/family background or personal identity impacted your values and attitudes in working with others who will be both similar and different from you? (400 words)
• If applicable, please address any withdrawals, repeated courses, leaves of absence or breaks in your undergraduate education that are not explained in your application. (250 words)

University of Connecticut School of Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations: “Regardless of when the secondary is received, applicants should aim to complete their secondary applications within two weeks.”

• Highlight your experiences in the healthcare field. What insights have you gained about potential problems you will face as a physician? (1800 characters)
• How will the University of Connecticut School of Medicine best serve your needs of becoming a physician or physician scientist? (1800 characters)
• The University of Connecticut School Of Medicine realizes that each applicant brings a unique perspective from a broad range of experiences that have been influential in leading to a career in medicine. How will your own life experiences and unique identity enhance the UConn SoM classroom and community? (1800 characters)

Yale School of Medicine

• If you are not currently in college, what are your plans for this year?
• Yale School of Medicine values diversity in all its forms. How will your background and experiences contribute to this important focus of our institution and inform your future role as a physician? (500 words limit)
• Please select one of the following questions. 

MD applicants: Please answer either one of the following questions. 

MD/PhD applicants: Please answer question 2 as it pertains to your proposed PhD research.

• While there is great emphasis on the physician-patient relationship, Yale School of Medicine also emphasizes the importance of training future physicians to care for communities and populations. Describe how your experiences would contribute to this aspect of the mission of the Yale School of Medicine. (500 words)
• Research is essential to patient care, and all students at Yale School of Medicine complete a research thesis. Tell us how your research interests, skills and experiences would contribute to scholarship at Yale School of Medicine. (500 words)
• Optional Section: This section is optional. It should be used to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee any important information (personal, academic, or professional) not discussed in other sections of your Yale Secondary Application. Please limit your response to 500 words.

District of Columbia

George washington university school of medicine and health sciences.

Character limits do not include spaces. 

• Have you ever registered at an institution under a different name? (Y/N) If Yes, please enter the name and institution.
• Select the campus you prefer (main campus preferred, regional medical campus preferred, main campus only, regional medical campus only).
• If you selected regional medical campus preferred or regional medical campus only, please explain in detail your interest in regional medical campus and how it will be a good fit for your clinical education? (1750 characters)
• Please provide the Admissions Committee with a brief summary of your activities, academics, employment, or other occupations to account for full-time activity (approx. 30-40 hours/week) from the point of application through matriculation in 2024. (750 characters)
• The MD Program includes substantial content in Clinical Public Health (population health, health systems science, health policy, and community health) to prepare GW graduates for an expanded scope of practice required to be successful 21st-century physicians. What are your specific interests and experiences related to that aspect of the MD Program? (350 characters)
• What makes you a unique individual? What challenges have you faced? What have you learned from your experiences? (750 characters)
• What is your specific interest in the MD Program at GW? What opportunities would you take advantage of as a student here? Why? (1750 characters)
• Have you previously interacted directly with the MD Admissions Office through events, tours, fairs, webinars, or interviews? (Y/N) If Yes, please explain (250 characters)

Georgetown University School of Medicine

• Are you/will you be enrolled in any program during the 2023-2024 academic year?
• Have you ever completed one of the following Georgetown Programs? (check all that apply):
• The Georgetown University Academy for Research, Clinical, and Health Equity Scholarship (ARCHES)
• Pedro Arrupe S.J. Scholarship for Peace (ARRUPE)
• Gateway Exploration Program (GEP)
• Georgetown Scholars Program (GSP)
• Georgetown University School of Medicine Summer Immersion Program (GUSOM SCS)
• Cultivating Opportunity & Realizing Excellence (CORE) Leadership Program
• Graduated from Georgetown Experimental Medical Studies Program (GEMS)
• Graduated from Special Master’s Program (SMP)
• The Georgetown University School of Medicine (GUSOM) strives to ensure that its students become respectful physicians, with cultural humility, who embrace all dimensions of caring for the whole person. With our Jesuit values of Cura Personalis, People for Others, and Community in Diversity, we are steadfast in our commitment to racial justice and to addressing the health inequities exacerbated by the recent pandemic. Please describe how your values, life experiences, and your identity will contribute to these GUSOM priorities. (1000 Characters)
• Is there any further information that you would like the Committee on Admissions to be aware of when reviewing your file that you were not able to notate in another section of this or the AMCAS Application? (1000 characters)
• Why have you chosen to apply to the Georgetown University School of Medicine and how do you think your education at Georgetown will prepare you to become a physician for the future? (3000 characters)

Howard University College of Medicine

•  Was your childhood home located in a rural, urban or suburban area? (Choose one.)
•  Have you lived in communities which are medically underserved, or where the majority of the population is economically and/or educationally disadvantaged? (Please indicate, Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less) (3000 characters, max)
• Have you worked (volunteer or paid employment) with medically underserved, economically disadvantaged and/or educationally disadvantaged populations? (Please indicate, Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less) (3000 characters, max)
•  After residency, do you plan to practice medicine in an underserved or disadvantaged community? (Please indicate, Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less) (3000 characters, max)
•  Please provide below any additional information you believe is important in evaluating your application (e.g. additional coursework, problems with academic record; disadvantaged, etc.) (Please indicate, Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less)
•  Did COVID-19 impact you preparing your AMCAS application for fall 2024? (i.e. volunteer/work experience, financially, course registration, MCAT testing, etc.) [Please respond Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less, indicate N/A if not applicable]
•  Why Howard University College of Medicine? (2500 characters, max)

Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

Prerequisites: (1600 character limit including spaces)

• Use this area to justify and/or explain any academic hardships on your transcripts (any failed and/or repeated courses due to any reason)
• Use this area to explain exceptions to these prerequisites at your institution.

About Self:

• Whether or not you will be a full-time student, please provide details of your activities/employment for the application year. (1200 character limit including spaces)
• Describe why you would like to attend the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at FAU. What values, skills, talents, and life experiences would you contribute to our community? (1600 character limit including spaces)

Experience (1600 character limit including spaces):

• Describe your most meaningful community service experience that is unrelated to direct patient care. Why did you select this particular experience? In what way did you grow and learn from this experience? What did you enjoy most?
• What traits do you feel you have developed through your experiences thus far (such as paid or unpaid work experiences) that will help prepare you to be successful in medical school and a future physician. Experience does not need to be related to patient care.
• Leadership can be defined in many ways. One way of defining leadership is as a set of behaviors used to help people align their collective direction, or lead a group or an organization. Tell us about a time you executed your leadership skills.
• Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped shape you as a person. Focus on what you learned about yourself and how it will help you during challenges you may face during medical school and as a future physician. Describe any support system and/or resources you had available and how you utilized them.

Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Primary Activity/Employment

• Whether or not you will be a full-time student, please explain what you will be doing prior to your planned matriculation into medical school. (600 characters)
• If you have taken a gap year(s), please explain what you have been, or will be doing since graduating from your undergrad institution. 

Supplemental Essays

• Miami is a vibrant and multicultural, multilingual city. You will be exposed to cultures and languages different than your own while living and studying in this city. Please explain in detail an experience in which you collaborated, worked, or were exposed to diverse backgrounds. Please describe the impact the experience had on you. (1200 characters)
• Why did you choose to apply to FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine? (1200 characters)
• Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Focus on what you learned about yourself and how it will help you during the challenges you might face in medical school. Describe any support system you had at your disposal and how you utilized these resources. (1200 characters)
• If you are accepted into medical school, how do you envision your lifestyle will change, and what challenges may await? Similarly, what do you think will be the most rewarding and difficult part of practicing medicine in the future? (1200 characters)
• (OPTIONAL): Use this area to explain any exception to the prerequisites at your institution. (1000 characters)
• (OPTIONAL): Is there any additional information about your academic record that you would like the Admissions Committee to know? Please include any academic difficulties or course withdrawals. (1000 characters)
• Please share any disruptions and/or challenges you have experienced this application year as a direct result of COVID-19 that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider in conjunction with your application. The following are some examples of topics for consideration, but are not limited to: academic preparations; extracurricular activities and/or experiences; personal and/or professional opportunities; or lessons and insights gained as a result of COVID-19. (1000 characters)

For those who are not Florida residents, the following prompt will appear:

• Please describe any connection to FIU, FIU HWCOM, or South Florida.

Florida State University College of Medicine

“Please complete this application with as much specificity and detail as you can. Though many questions are optional the Admissions Committee STRONGLY ENCOURAGES applicants to submit detailed answers to each question”

A. Personal Background (500 words)​

• Please provide a description of your family. (Optional)
• Please provide a description of where you grew up (i.e. rural area, large city, etc.) (Optional)
• Indicate what you do for fun and diversion (hobbies, special interests, etc.). (Optional)
• What is a unique trait, experience, or interest that we would not normally learn about you? (Optional)
• If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you are comfortable voluntarily sharing with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Many applicants will not need to answer this question. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, identification with a minority culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. (Optional)

B. Self Critical Analysis (500 words)

• Why are you choosing to apply to the FSU College of Medicine? Please be specific describing what is particularly attractive about FSU COM.
• What do you feel are your personal and scholastic qualifications for the study of medicine? (Optional)
• If you have previously interviewed or applied to the College of Medicine, what steps have you taken to improve your application? (Optional)

C. Additional Questions (500 words)​

• In what field/specialty of medicine do you envision yourself working ten years from now? Please list no more than three (3) specialties. 
• Write a short statement describing how you envision using the specialty/ies you listed above to advance our mission.
• The Admissions Committee understands that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted applicants in various ways. If you wish to inform the committee as to how these events have affected you and have not already done so elsewhere in your application, please use this space to do so. (Optional)

D. Florida Resident (200 characters)​

• The Florida State University College of Medicine accepts very few out-of-state applicants. Except under rare circumstances, out-of-state applicants are considered for admission only if their county of residence is geographically contiguous with the State of Florida, or if they can demonstrate significant ties to the State of Florida.
• Is Florida currently your legal State of residence? (Yes/No)
• Has it ever been your legal state of residence? (Yes/No)
• If “yes,” please briefly explain: (Optional) (200 characters)
• If you have never been a Florida resident or are not currently residing in Florida (answered “no” to both questions above), please briefly describe any significant ties that you have to the State of Florida (Examples of significant ties include- but are not limited to- attending college within Florida; having strong family ties to Florida, owning property in Florida, etc.) (Optional) (200 characters)

E. Disclosures (500 characters)​

• Have you ever been charged with a violation of the law which resulted in, or is still pending could result in, probation, community service, a jail sentence, or the revocation or suspension of your driver’s license (including traffic violations which resulted in a fine of $200 or more)? If “yes”, please explain. (Optional)
• Have you ever been or are you now under investigation for any academic or legal/conduct problems at any undergraduate or graduate institution? If “yes”, please explain. (Optional)

Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine

• Please provide an example that indicates your ability to function effectively as a productive member of a team working toward a common objective. Elaborate on leadership roles you held in this capacity and how you solved problems that arose. Indicate highlights learned from this experience. (4000 characters)
• Please share some personal examples of problem-solving in a team environment and/or leadership experience that would lead to your success in a Problem Based Learning environment. (4000 characters)
• At NSU M.D., we value the unique perspective that each applicant brings. Identify any traits, life experiences, or interests that a professor or advisor would not normally know about you. (4000 characters)
• How has your academic work beyond the “traditional” pre-medical school requirements (i.e., introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and introductory physics) prepared you for medical school and for a career in medicine? Please highlight any service learning activities that align with humanism in medicine. (4000 characters)
• Is there a time gap between earning your last degree (baccalaureate or other) and the expected time of your medical school matriculation? If yes, please explain. (4000 characters)
• Were you employed full-time (or part-time) during your undergraduate or graduate years? If yes, please explain. (Maximum 4000 characters)
• Do you believe that you are a member of a group that is under-represented in medicine? If yes, please explain. (Maximum 4000 characters)
• Please explain any gaps or inconsistencies in either academic or standardized test performances throughout your undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate career. 

Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

• How did you learn about osteopathic medicine? (1000 characters)
• List and briefly describe your significant healthcare-related volunteer activities since graduation from high school. (2000 characters)
•  If you have ever matriculated into an M.D. or a D.O. program, please explain the reason(s) for leaving. Please use the following format: date, institution, status. If non applicable, please type “none” (1000 character limit)
• If you were employed during the regular school year (excluding summers) while in undergraduate or graduate school, please list dates of employment beginning with your current position along with title or job description, level of responsibility, and number of hours per week. (2000 character )

University of Central Florida College of Medicine

• (5) If you are NOT a Florida resident, please describe any connection to UCF COM, UCF, or Florida. (500 characters)
• (7) If you do not expect to spend the academic year enrolled in an academic program, please explain how you will use this time. (500 characters)
• (8.1) In this space, provide brief details regarding academic difficulties, grades below “B minus,” or course withdrawals. (500 characters)
• (13) What breakthrough in clinical or research medicine would you like to see occur within the span of your career in medicine? Why? (750 characters)
• (14) The complexity of healthcare delivery increasingly requires interdisciplinary teamwork. What lessons have you learned from sports, music, business or other experiences have prepared you to succeed in this environment? (750 characters)
• (15) We often hear that students want to pursue medicine to help people. Why did you choose medicine and not some other field where you can help others, such as nursing, physical therapy, pharmacology, psychology, education, or social work? (750 characters)
• (16) Please share with the Admissions Committee why you are specifically interested in UCF COM. (750 characters)
• (18) Please provide a short essay to help us understand who you are. This essay should be different from your AMCAS Personal Statement. UCF COM places great value on the broad diversity of our students within the classroom. We believe the diverse characteristics of each individual in the class are important factors in serving the educational missions of this school and of our community. Please discuss any unique, personally important and/or challenging experiences in your background that have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine and service to others. These may include experiences such as the quality of your early educational environment, socioeconomic status, cultural background, or other significant events or circumstances that you feel have shaped your character and defined you as an individual. We are also interested on your thoughts about what you can contribute to your class and the medical profession in general. (Up to 4,000 characters)

University of Florida College of Medicine

• If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between August 2023 and July 2024, please detail your current and planned activities below. (250-500 words)
• The medical profession is frequently described as being both a science and an art. One could summarize this by saying that patients must “be well cared for” (science) but they must also “feel well cared for” (art). We work to teach our students not only the scientific principles of medicine, but also the core values of medicine, often called “professionalism”. Toward this end we keep patients at the center of our education and often reflect on their stories with our students.

The exciting advances in our understanding of the biological basis for disease have led to the emergence of a host of targeted therapies and amazing technologies improving the duration and quality of our patients’ lives. The better a physician knows his/her patient, the better decisions they will make together as they approach important healthcare related questions. This so-called shared decision-making model is one key feature of patient centered care. Practicing the art of medicine in this way yields a physician patient relationship (PPR) that is both therapeutic and mutually enriching. However, many of these same technologies have the unintended consequence of separating us from our patients, both literally and figuratively. In addition, the industrialization of medicine and use of electronic health records have led to a decrease in the time physicians spend with their patients further eroding the strength of the PPR.

At the UFCOM, we have many strategies to equip our students to preserve their own humanity and that of their patients. One of the most important is the ability to make connections with and get to know their patients. Frequently such connections become the student’s first taste of the joy of medical practice. In fact, the UFCOM version of the Hippocratic Oath includes the following affirmation. “I will remember with gratitude and humility those whose illness or injury provided examples from which I learned, and, in their honor, I will continue the pursuit of knowledge.”

In our polarized society, the importance of such virtues as humility and gratitude have perhaps never been greater. Over the last two decades, the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California Berkeley has offered strong scientific support for the importance of such virtues as gratitude and humility in human well-being. But it should also be remembered that philosophers and theologians have cherished these virtues for centuries. For example, when mounting a legal defense for a friend, Cicero observed, “while I wish to be adorned with every virtue, yet there is nothing which I can esteem more highly than the being and appearing grateful. For this one virtue is not only the greatest, but is also the parent of all the other virtues.” Offering a similar endorsement for the virtue of humility, Augustine of Hippo observed, “Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.”

Students at UFCOM regularly write about and discuss encounters with patients that shape their professional identity in important ways. In so doing, we all learn to become better physicians and human beings.

Here are two such reflections, by our students, one a poem and the other an essay. Read and reflect on both and then choose one and describe how the writer grew from the experience. Consider the affirmation from the Hippocratic Oath in your response. (250-500 words)

• The profession of medicine has always had an explicit contract with society about our expertise and competence but it also includes an important affirmation. Namely, that we will subordinate self-interest to patient interest when the needs of our patients require us to do so. This does not mean we do not take care of ourselves and one another, but it does mean we willingly take on risks to ourselves that many others would not. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought this commitment to light as many medical professionals labored on the front lines caring for the sick despite the potential dangers.

When we consider medical practice and hence, medical education, one could ask what sorts of virtues or character traits equip young medical professionals for such a noble calling. Many come to mind including courage, compassion, intellectual honesty and integrity. But recently attention has been given to the ability to stay with a task or course even when one is tired, discouraged and the work is daunting and laborious. Terms such as “resilience”, “endurance”, “perseverance”, “determination” or “grit” describe this character trait. Dr. Angela Duckworth has explored this in detail in her book “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” (Angela Duckworth). Cultivating this virtue, in ourselves and one another, offers a tangible means to lean against the depersonalizing and emotionally exhausting forces at work in healthcare.

As physicians, we have the privilege of caring for people who are in the most difficult places of their lives. Being present during these times can be both a source of joy as we help our patients, but can also challenge our own emotional health and resilience. Struggling to make sense of suffering induced by disease, social forces and human agency has brought an occasion for growth among many of us who work in healthcare.

As you grow into your new identity as a physician, you will come face to face with the suffering of other human beings. In fact, we will all have to face our own losses as we go through medical training and practice. Put simply, none of us is exempt from suffering. As the Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe (1930-2013) once observed, “When suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool.”

Holocaust survivor and renowned psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, (1905-1997) wrote an account of his time in the concentration camp called, “Man’s Search for Meaning”. It has sold more than 10 million copies in 24 languages and offers profound insights into how finding meaning in suffering sustains us during our darkest times.

Below are several quotes from Dr. Frankl that deal with finding purpose and meaning in suffering. After reading and thinking about his insights, choose one or two and tell us about experiences where you have seen these principles at work either in your own life, or in the lives of others. (500 words)

• “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
• “If there is a meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffering. Suffering is an ineradicable part of life, even as fate and death. Without suffering and death, human life cannot be complete.”
• “A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the ‘why’ for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any ‘how.’”
• “Being human always points, and is directed, to something or someone, other than oneself – be it a meaning to fulfill or another human being to encounter. “
• (Optional) If you think there is any additional information that would help the admissions committee in its review of your application, including any disruptions in your academic/volunteer/work/personal life related to COVID-19, please use the space below. (4000 characters max)

Additional questions:

• *REQUIRED If you are not a legal resident of Florida according to your AMCAS application, write a statement describing your association with the State of Florida below. This statement is required even if you have no ties to the State of Florida. 
• (OPTIONAL): Reflect upon your life experiences, values and/or personal background. Do any or all of these help frame how you envision your future contributions to the health and well-being of others as a physician and if so, how? (500 words max)
• There is a page for selecting introversion and extroversion traits/statements but no essay associated with it.

University of Miami Miller School of Medicine*

Time-sensitive considerations: “We ask that you submit your secondary within two weeks after you are invited to complete the application.”

500 words each​:

• What have you done during the recent COVID-19 pandemic that will better prepare you to be a medical student and future physician?
• Why have you selected the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine for your medical education? Please be as specific as possible.
• Please provide a chronological list with dates AND a brief description of your clinical experiences/shadowing.
• Please provide a chronological list with dates of your community service/volunteering.
• Please discuss a situation where you had to use your leadership skills.
• Please briefly discuss your research experience.
• Please provide a chronological list with dates of your employment.
• What have you done to help identify, address and correct an issue of systemic discrimination?
• Choose one of the following prompts (you can’t do both):
• Provide a description of any activities involving the FINE ARTS (dance, drama, music, art, photography, etc. OR 
• Provide a description of any activities involving SPORTS (organized team sports, recreational activities that you play, watch or follow)
• [OPTIONAL]: Describe your most meaningful involvement in STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS.
• [OPTIONAL]: Provide a description of your most memorable TRAVEL experience.
• [OPTIONAL]: Provide a description of your HOBBIES and what you do for fun and relaxation.

University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine

• Do you believe the competitiveness (i.e. course requirements, experiences, academic performance, etc.) of your application for medical school has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic? (1500 character max)
• What do you see as the most likely practice scenario for your future medical career (Private Practice, Academic Medicine, Public Health, Health Care Administration, Health Policy, or Other)? Describe the knowledge, skills, and attributes you have developed in preparation for the career path you have chosen in the previous question. (1500 character max)
• (OPTIONAL): The USF Morsani College of Medicine’s Scholarly Concentrations program aims to support the educational development of medical students by providing opportunities for academic endeavors in areas of special interest. This program facilitates self-directed learning, enhances interactions between students and fosters relationships between students and faculty. Scholarly concentrations provide a forum where diversity of ideas and perspectives are valued. Each concentration includes elements of course work, practical application and scholarly presentation. Please review our Scholarly Concentrations website to determine which concentration would be of interest to you and answer the following question: (Scholarly Concentrations Program | USF Health) a. How would the USF Morsani College of Medicine’s Scholarly Concentrations Program help your personal career goals? (1500 characters)
• The USF Morsani College of Medicine strives to educate a very diverse set of students who bring a variety of strengths and interests to the field of medicine. The definition of diversity is broad and includes (but is not limited to) lifestyle, race/ethnicity, geography, socioeconomic status and distance traveled through life. The definition of strength is also broad and includes (but is not limited to) humanism, scholarship, intellectual curiosity, research, and leadership. How do you feel your particular experiences, interests, and passions will add to the strength and diversity of the USF class and ultimately to the field of medicine? (2000 characters)
• If you have experienced academic difficulties, please explain the situation and how it was resolved. (Please explain all grades less than a “B”, including B-, or any “withdrawal” on your transcripts). (2000 characters)
• If you have chosen the SELECT program or BOTH, please explain how your experiences and career goals match with the mission of the SELECT program. (MD SELECT Program | USF Health) (1500 characters)

Emory University School of Medicine

• List your entire curriculum plan for the 2023-2024 academic year. If you are not currently in school, please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. (200 words)
• Briefly describe your health-related experiences. Be sure to include important experiences that are in your AMCAS application, as well as any recent experiences. (200 words)
• Briefly describe your interest in Emory and the Emory degree program you have selected. (200 words)
• Emory School of Medicine is committed to recruiting and educating medical students who will help deliver quality health care and will promote the health of our patients. In our community, this includes learning about and addressing the health care needs of our most under-served populations. Please describe any of your activities that have been in service to under-served communities. (200 words)
• If you have any updates or new information to report since you have submitted your AMCAS primary application, please briefly describe below. (200 words)

Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University*

Time-sensitive considerations: “You should submit your Secondary Application within two weeks of receiving it from the Admissions Office.”

The goal of the MCG Admissions Committee is to admit a diverse medical school class of well-rounded and academically qualified individuals who will best contribute to our institutional mission and ultimately meet the healthcare needs of Georgians. This section captures additional information not readily available in AMCAS. Please adhere to the word limit in each section. Please do not use special characters in your responses ( no #, % , &, etcetera).

• Please discuss your primary interest in attending the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. (300 words)
• Please describe your motivation for becoming a physician. What contributions do you feel that you could make to the medical profession in the future? (300 words)
• Please list any additional clinical experiences that are not included on your AMCAS application. Please include the physician’s name OR type of experience (i.e., Nursing, PA, EMT, E.R. Scribe, etc.) in the description column below along with the location, dates and total number of hours. If no additional experiences have occurred, please select “N/A.”
• The Admissions Committee regards the diversity of an entering class as an important factor in serving the educational mission of MCG and meeting the healthcare needs of a diverse patient population. Please describe how your own personal attributes, background, or life experiences, would contribute to the diversity of the class. (300 words)
• The art of medicine requires resilience on the part of its practitioners. There can be perceived failure even when the medical team has done everything right. Please describe a time when you part of something that failed. What did you learn from this experience? (300 words)
• Please describe the geographical area in which you would most likely practice medicine and why. Please include the country, region, state, city and/or town in your response. (300 words)
• Please explain any inconsistencies in your academic record. This may include below-average course performance, grade trends, MCAT scores, etc. Please enter N/A if not applicable. (300 words)
• If applicable, indicate any special experiences, unusual factors, or other information you have not already addressed in your application. Please enter N/A if not applicable. (300 words)
• Please discuss any disruptions to your medical school application as a result of COVID-19. This may include but is not limited to academic performance, clinical, volunteer, research and extracurricular activities. (300 words)

Mercer University School of Medicine 

• Please provide below an alternate e-mail address (different from the one listed on the Primary AMCAS Application) to which we can send you correspondence related to your application. (Required)
• Please provide a cell phone number at which you can be contacted in reference to your application. (Required)
• Please address any institutional action, including honor code or conduct code violations, from your time as an undergraduate and graduate student. (Required) (230 words)
• If you wish to discuss your perceptions of your academic readiness for the rigors of a medical school curriculum or explain poor grades in college coursework or MCAT scores to the Admissions Committee, please do so below. (230 words)
• What is your understanding of the practice of rural medicine? (230 words)
• Do you consider yourself to have been raised or to be residing in an area that is medically underserved or in a county that consists of medically underserved populations? By medically underserved we mean populations vulnerable to poor health due to difficulties accessing adequate health care services. This may be due to factors including but not limited to: education level; poverty; being uninsured or underinsured; lack of a usual source of care other than the emergency department; belonging to a socially marginalized group with poorer health outcomes; cultural or language barriers to receiving quality medical care; distance or lack of transportation to needed medical care. Please explain. (230 words)
• The mission of Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) is to educate physicians and health professionals to meet the health care needs of medically underserved and rural areas of Georgia. Summarize your work and learning experiences that you believe reflect congruence with this mission. Based on your understanding of our mission, where and what do you envision yourself doing after completion of medical school and residency? (230 words)
• If you wish to, please briefly explain to the Admissions Committee experiences, attributes, or qualifications you believe are unique to you that will strengthen the educational environment at MUSM. (230 words)
• Please explain to the Admissions Committee factors that you could not highlight above that would help the Admissions Committee better understand your unique circumstances. If you would like to briefly highlight any substantial updates with regard to your application (example, volunteer experiences) that have occurred after you submitted the Primary AMCAS Application, please summarize them below. (230 words)
• Describe your experiences in service to others and your community and how they have helped prepare you to be a physician. (230 words)

Morehouse School of Medicine

• Briefly explain the reasons for your selections in the Perceptions of Your Medical Career Section. 
• Type a brief statement setting forth the key motivational factors in your decision to apply to Morehouse School of Medicine and any information about yourself you feel would be of interest to the Committee of Admissions in the consideration of your application. 

University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine

Please provide responses to essays A, B, and C. If you are a re-applicant, also respond to essay D. Please limit responses to 600 words per essay.

A) Resilience is “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.” Consider a challenge you have experienced. How are your attitudes and actions regarding your challenge a reflection of resilience? (600 word limit)

B) Describe your most important volunteer work and why it was meaningful. (600 word limit)

C) Describe any personal connection to JABSOM and/or Hawaii and the Pacific that you may have. If you do not have a personal connection to JABSOM and/or Hawaii, please describe your interest in attending JABSOM. (600 word limit)

D) If you are a re-applicant to JABSOM, please complete the following additional essay. Describe what efforts you have made to further improve your application to the MD Program. (600 word limit)

Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine

• What characteristics of ICOM will help you become a successful osteopathic physician? (Unlimited characters)
• If this is not your first time applying to medical school, how have you improved your application? (Please type N/A if not applicable) (Unlimited characters)
• What does Osteopathic Principles and Practices mean to you and how will you integrate these into your future practice? (Unlimited characters)

Carle Illinois College of Medicine

Note: Carle uses a unique format for its secondary. Please read the instructions carefully. There is a video response that you have to do in addition to the below.

Carle Illinois is looking for everything most other medical schools are looking for – and something more. If you are completing our secondary application, you have already passed the threshold for our competency checklist. Well done. Now we want to find out more about you.

Our secondary application is unique. We are looking for physician-innovators. Does that describe you? Our secondary application is your chance to demonstrate that you have the compassion, curiosity and creativity we believe a physician-innovator needs. We are asking you to complete a portfolio comprised of three artifacts and three very short essays (100 words each). The portfolio provides an opportunity to SHOW US and TELL US how compassion, curiosity, and creativity have played out in your life through visual artifacts and short essays. How do you exemplify these values? How have you grown in these areas? Show us and tell us the connections between these values and your experience. The artifacts should be somewhat reflective in nature so share your thoughts and insights. For example, if you did or are still doing work in a research lab, we are less interested in a detailed description of the science and more interested in learning what you actually did, how YOU contributed, and if you were able to be innovative. Was the activity you are presenting part of a class for credit or something you did on your own? Was this part of a team? If so, what was YOUR role? Show us and tell us who you are, and why you are a strong applicant for our program.

Each artifact should be uploaded as a PDF (one page for each value, formatted no larger than 8.5″ x 11″). No hyperlinks or embedded videos are allowed. We encourage you to make your artifacts image focused. Your artifacts will be most powerful if you include multiple activities for each and clearly indicate the quality and depth of your experience, but only include that which is meaningful for the value. You may repeat experiences listed on your AMCAS application and/or include new ones. Please do not include activities from high school or earlier unless they are of very high quality or impact (an example would be achieving Eagle Scout rank). Family interactions/relationships (“spending time with family”) are unlikely to score well unless you can show how they are noteworthy or significant (an example would be full-time caregiver for a family member for a period). As you are completing your portfolio, please keep in mind that our screeners will evaluate your portfolio independently BEFORE they evaluate your AMCAS application so do not assume the screeners are aware of any of the information in your AMCAS.

Captions or other brief notes can be included on the artifact to help the screener understand your images. Don’t provide an essay in place of a visual artifact unless you are an extraordinarily skilled writer! In addition to any notes included on your artifact, each artifact will be accompanied by a very brief essay (maximum 100 words) to give context to your artifact. While the content of your portfolio is of primary importance, our reviewers are also evaluating your presentation. This does not mean you have to be “artistic”, but it is valuable to show an innovative approach.

We believe in creating physicians who, in addition to solving healthcare’s most complex problems, are also tender, kind, and warm. From day one, you will be working with patients.

• Show Us – How have you changed the lives of others? What have you experienced that has fostered a deep sense of compassion? For example, have you had a moving volunteer experience? Have you learned through adversity and shared those lessons with others in need? Share with us the ways you’ve impacted a larger population and help us see how you will be the type of physician we would entrust with our most beloved community members.
• Upload Compassion PDF artifact.
• Tell Us – In 100 words or less, explain how this artifact reflects Carle Illinois College of Medicine’s value of Compassion.

Carle Illinois College of Medicine values lifelong learners. We want to see your passion for learning and growing!

• Show Us – How have you explored new interests, cultures, or people? Have you identified a need and taken the initiative to respond to that need? For example, is there a research project or work experience you’d like to share? Has your curiosity fostered a deeper sense of vulnerability, resilience, or life-long learning? If so, how? Let us see where your curiosity has taken you.
• Upload Curiosity PDF artifact
• Tell Us – In 100 words or less, explain how this artifact reflects Carle Illinois College of Medicine’s value of Curiosity.

The dictionary tells us that innovation is a new method, idea, or product. Often there is an outcome, a clearly defined result, or a new thing is discovered. The introduction of something new requires dynamic thinking and creative solutions. Creativity is key to innovation. Help us see your creativity!

• Show Us – What are the ways you demonstrate you have an active mind? What are you really proud of? For example, have you used technology in novel or distinct ways? What innovative solutions have you employed in your work, healthcare, or hobbies? Have you taken a risk to respond to a problem, to express yourself, or to achieve your goals? Describe how you live and lead a creative life.
• Upload Creativity PDF Artifact
• Tell Us – In 100 words or less, explain how your artifact reflects Carle Illinois College of Medicine’s value of Creativity.

Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science

• Please specifically discuss how, if admitted to our program, your admission would contribute to the diversity of the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science community. (150 words)
• Briefly share your plans for the upcoming academic year. Do you plan to work, conduct research, volunteer in a health care setting, participate in community service, attend school, travel, participate in leisure activities or other activities? (150 words)
• Have you ever had a major setback? What was the cause and how did you overcome it? (150 words)
• What areas of your life need the most improvement, and what plans have you made to improve it? (150 words)

Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations: “Since the school uses a rolling admissions process, however, those who submit their AMCAS application and all supporting materials in the summer and early fall will enhance their potential for being offered interviews.”

500-word maximum for all questions.

• Explain how you know that you want to spend your life studying and practicing medicine. Describe how the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM) can help you develop into the kind of person and physician you hope to become.
• Social justice in the Jesuit tradition, justice due each person by virtue of their own inherent human dignity, is an essential dimension of education at SSOM. Describe what you have learned about yourself from your concrete social justice experiences. Explain how you plan to sustain your efforts to advocate for current social justice issues as a medical student and as a physician. 
• Serving underserved and under-resourced communities is an expression of social justice. Describe an impactful experience in working with and for under-resourced communities. Explain what you have learned about yourself through this service OR what has hindered your efforts to serve others in these environments.
• Describe a time you received feedback about your performance and disagreed with the feedback. What did you disagree with? How did you handle it?
• Describe a non-academic personal/professional challenge or conflict that you have experienced. Explain what skills, resources and/or strategies you employed to resolve the problem. 
• Have you or any of your relatives attended or been employed by Loyola University Chicago or the Loyola Stritch School of Medicine?

Complete the following questions if applicable:

• Please indicate additional grades earned, amendments to your proposed coursework or graduation date, address changes, additions to your list of experiences, and anything else you feel we should know.
• Please explain in more detail (in less than 1500 characters) anything that would help us understand any gaps or delays in your education, academic missteps, or personal challenges not listed elsewhere.
• If you have not been enrolled in coursework for over two years, please let us know what you have been doing since your coursework ended.
• Have you applied to SSOM prior to this application? If so, please list the years of your previous application submissions to SSOM and tell us how your application has improved since your previous submission.
• Are you currently, or have you been, enrolled in any of the following programs?
• Applicant Boot Camp or Health Equity and Advocacy Leaders (ASPIRE):
• Early Assurance Program (EAP):
• Health Professionals Recruitment and Exposure Program (HPREP):
• Loyola University Chicago undergraduate (LUC):
• Loyola MA in Medical Sciences (LUC MAMS):
• Loyola MS in Medical Physiology (LUC MSMP):
• Loyola Masters in Infectious Disease and Immunology (INDIRI):
• Proviso United with Loyola for Educational Enrichment (PULSE):
• Medical Minority Applicant Registry (MED-MAR):
• Have you ever been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic or parking violation? If the answer is yes, please explain below.
• If you did not submit an advisor or committee letter, please tell us why.

Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

• List any relative who is an osteopathic physician:
• Why do you believe CCOM would provide you with the type of osteopathic medical education you are seeking? (1500 characters)
• Why should CCOM accept you into this year’s class? (1500 characters)
• Upload a copy of your resume or curriculum vitae, which will include, but not be limited to the following information:
• Educational History (colleges attended and degrees earned)
• Employment History
• Medically-related work and volunteer experiences
• College extracurricular activities, honors, and leadership responsibilities
• Community activities, honors, and leadership responsibilities
• Hobbies and nonacademic interests

Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine

MD application questions

• FEINBERG CURRICULUM: Describe which part (s) of Feinberg’s integrated curriculum you are most excited to engage in and best align with your learning style. (200 words)
• COPING STRATEGIES: Describe specific steps you take to manage your stress and maintain wellness while balancing personal, educational, and professional responsibilities. (200 words)
• FUTURE CAREER PLANS: Feinberg’s mission is to train future leaders in medicine who will serve their patients, communities and society. Describe one specific goal within medicine and how FSM, located in Chicago, will help you achieve this professional goal. (200 words)
• POST-UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCES (if applicable): If you have one year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe both your completed activities and future plans during the gap period. (200 words)
• REAPPLICANT (if applicable): If you are reapplying to medical school, please address steps taken to improve your application. (200 words)
• FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE RELATIONSHIP: Do you or an immediate family member have an existing relationship with Feinberg School of Medicine? (200 words)
• Personal Narrative: The Feinberg School of Medicine values the totality of our students’ experiences. As everyone has their own narrative, please provide more detail about how your unique experiences would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 words)

MSTP application questions

• Why did you choose your undergraduate major? How does the subject appeal to you? (200 words)
• Name a scientific paper that you have read recently that had a strong impact on you and describe what impact it had. (200 words)
• Discuss a current unanswered question in biomedical research that you find particularly interesting and what research you would like to see done to address it. (200 words)
• If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. (200 words)
• If you are a re-applicant this cycle, please address steps taken to improve your application. If not a reapplicant, please enter “N/A”. (200 words)
• What is the most gratifying research experience you have had to date and why? What was the greatest obstacle you had to overcome in research and how did you overcome it? (200 words)
• Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial or professional barriers, as well as any other relevant information. (200 words)
• Personal Narrative: The Feinberg School of Medicine values diversity as a measure of excellence. We define diversity as the totality of the characteristics and experiences of our students. We believe that a diverse student body improves the educational environment and the ability of our graduates to serve an increasingly diverse patient population. Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about how your experiences would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 words)

Rush Medical College of Rush University

• Rush Medical College is located on Chicago’s near west side and serves a diverse patient population. We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us about a life experience that has broadened your own worldview or enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from this experience. (1000 characters)
• As an anchor institution, Rush is embedded in its strategies to improve the societal and structural determinants of health, which improve the economic vitality of Chicago’s west side neighborhoods and help residents achieve better health. Using your own experiences, describe how you have impacted and/or changed a person or community. (1000 characters)
• (OPTIONAL): If applicable, describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your application to and/or preparation for medical school. (1000 characters)
• (OPTIONAL): Use this space to provide additional information, which is non-COVID related, you would like the Committee on Admissions to be aware of when reviewing your application. (1000 characters)

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

The mission of SIU School of Medicine is to assist the people of central and southern Illinois in meeting their health care needs through education, patient care, research and service to the community.

• Preference is given to established residents of central and southern Illinois who intend to practice medicine in the state.
• Applicants should have a good foundation in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
• Applicants are expected to demonstrate facility in writing and speaking the English language.
• Preference is given to applicants who will have earned a baccalaureate degree by the time of matriculation.
• Preference is given to applicants who have had sufficient recent academic activity to demonstrate potential for successful completion of medical school.
• Although the Admissions Committee establishes no quotas, active efforts are made to recruit qualified applicants from groups who have been under-represented in the medical profession.
• SIU School of Medicine uses a holistic approach to identify students who best fulfill its mission: to assist the people of central and southern Illinois in meeting their health care needs through education, patient care, research and service to the community. In what ways do you believe you would contribute to SIU’s mission and what barriers have you overcome in your life’s circumstances to reach this point in applying to medical school? Please limit your response to 300 words or less.
• Tell us about your lived experiences that will make you a better physician? Please limit your response to 300 words or less.
• To be successful as a student at SIU School of Medicine and as a practicing physician, you must be flexible and committed to cultivating and employing critical interactive and learning skills. Describe your experiences that demonstrate: contribution in a teamwork setting; engagement in self-directed and life-long learning (taking personal initiative to identify and address your learning goals and needs); and exposure to the small group tutorial process used in a problem-based learning environment. Please limit your answer to 500 words or less.
• If you have previously applied to SIU School of Medicine, please describe how you feel you have strengthened your credentials since that application. Please limit your answer to 300 words or less.
• Have you ever been convicted of a felony? Have you ever been convicted with a misdemeanor other than a minor traffic offense? Have you ever been charged with a felony or a misdemeanor other than a minor traffic offense, or with misconduct on any college campus? If you answered ‘YES’ to any of the three preceding questions, please explain the relevant circumstances. (No character limit was given.)

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine

• Students at the Pritzker School of Medicine complete the majority of their clinical training at UChicago Medicine (UCM). UCM is one of the top ten most racially inclusive hospitals in the United States with a primary service area of 12 South Side zip codes where poverty is over double the state level. Additionally, our students lead six free clinics in diverse neighborhoods throughout the city of Chicago.

Please share with us the personal and professional experiences that have best prepared you to work in this diverse clinical environment. (450 words)

• (MD-Only Applicants)

All MD students participate in our longitudinal Scholarship & Discovery research program, which offers protected curricular time, mentoring, and funding for students to pursue their scholarly interests.

• Please describe your research interests and share how our research opportunities will help you advance your career goals. (450 words)
• Share with us a difficult or challenging situation you have encountered and how you dealt with it. In your response, identify both the coping skills you called upon to resolve the dilemma, and the support person(s) from whom you sought advice. (450 words)
• Optional Additional Information

Please feel free to use this space to convey any additional information that you might wish the Committee to know. For example, if you are not currently completing a degree, please share your planned or current activities for this application cycle. We suggest that you limit your text to about 300 words.

University of Illinois College of Medicine

• What characteristics, qualities, or attributes do you possess that have helped you to deal with conflict and change?
• Which characteristics, qualities, or attributes of UICOM attracted you to apply for medical school here?
• An important part of UICOM’s identity is the concept of “one college, three campuses.” The curriculum is identical on each campus; however, each campus has unique characteristics. Please describe what you have learned about at least two of our three campuses.
• What are some of the causes and consequences of prejudice and injustice? What does an individual’s response to prejudice and injustice reveal about their character? What is the role of a bystander who witnesses prejudice or injustice?
• UICOM values a wide range of perspectives. Describe an aspect of your own perspective, value system, or lived experience that is important to you and how it would contribute to the diverse and collaborative community at UICOM.
• Have you applied for admission to medical school previously? (Yes/No)
• If you are reapplying this year please describe what you have done during the past year.
• Have you ever matriculated into and not completed a professional/graduate program? (Yes/No)
• Please describe the circumstances of why you did not complete the program of study.

Indiana University School of Medicine

There are no secondary essay prompts for the 2023–2024 cycle.

Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Do you have experience shadowing or working with a physician (DO or MD)? If so, describe the experience (name & location of hospital/clinic, name & specialty physician, and amount of time spent shadowing).
• Please share any other relevant information that you would like the MU-COM Admissions Committee to know about you. (300 words)
• Indicate any changes or additions that have occurred since submitting your AACOMAS application. (Including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, research, military service, academic warnings, conduct violations, and/or convictions.)
• Are you interested in practicing medicine in Indiana? If yes, please describe your interest and reasons why. If no, please explain why not. (300 words)
• Describe your motivation for attending MU-COM and osteopathic medicine. Please be specific.
• Please explain any gaps in education or employment longer than holidays and semester breaks
• In which area of medicine are you most interested in practicing and why? (choose up to 3)

Des Moines College of Osteopathic Medicine

Note: Questions are contained within the AACOMAS primary application.

• If you have previously applied to medical school, how has your application improved? (250 characters)
• Please describe your exposure to osteopathic medicine, including (but not limited to) experiences with physicians in primary care or rural practice within the U.S. How have these experiences impacted you and your pursuit of osteopathic medical education as it relates to the mission of Des Moines University? (2000 characters)
• What activities are you currently or planning to pursue leading up to potential matriculation? (500 characters)

University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations: “Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit application materials by October 15.”

• We understand you may be applying to multiple medical schools. Please explain your reasons for applying to the Carver College of Medicine. (1500 characters)
• Describe a personal characteristic, challenge, or experience that makes you unique. How will this influence your contribution to a dynamic healthcare system that advocates for all peoples? (1500 characters)
• Please list and briefly describe all medically related experiences (paid/volunteer) you have completed during the past 5 years. Do NOT forecast future hours. Please include experiences listed on your AMCAS and also provide any additional experiences NOT listed on your AMCAS. (Up to 15 entries and 175 characters per description)
• If you are a reapplicant to the Carver College of Medicine, how have you strengthened your application? (1500 characters)
• If you are not currently in a degree-seeking program, please indicate what you will be doing from the time you complete this secondary application to the start of medical school. (1500 characters)

Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations: “Secondary applications are due within 21 days of your invitation.”

• Describe a time that you experienced a personal failure. What did you learn from the experience? How did it affect your personal growth? How did you show grit after the failure?
• What kinds of things are you not good at? Why? How could this present a challenge in medical school?
• Describe a situation in which you believe you or someone else were not treated fairly. How did you respond? What changes did you make or could be made to prevent someone being treated in this way in the future?

University of Kansas School of Medicine

Answer the questions that apply to you. All applicants will answer questions 1-5.

• Describe your health care experiences that involved direct exposure to physicians’ clinical duties and how they have shaped your desire to apply to medical school. (1000 characters)
• Describe examples of leadership experience in which you have significantly influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time. (1000 characters)
• Beyond academics (grades and MCATs), describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to address this challenge. (1000 characters)
• Give an example of what you have done to make your community a better place to live. (1000 characters)
• Patients come from various backgrounds. Please describe how you will engage with patients whose backgrounds may differ from yours. (1000 characters)
• If you are not a Kansas resident, what is your specific interest in applying to the University of Kansas School of Medicine? (1000 characters)
• If there are academic discrepancies in your application that have not been explained in your application, use this space to clarify. Examples may include unexplained gaps in time, multiple undergraduate institutions attended, multiple course withdrawals, inconsistent academic performance, inconsistency between academic performance and MCAT scores. (1000 characters)
• If you are currently enrolled, or plan to be enrolled during the next academic year in a graduate or professional degree program, please describe your status within the program and your intention to complete the program. You must also request a letter from your graduate program advisor or from the dean of your professional school. This letter must include acknowledgement of your application to medical school and a description of your status in the program. Students in the MD program are considered and expected to participate full-time in MD program requirements and accompanying activities (e.g., service, research, etc.). Our experience over multiple decades has informed the SOM that participation in outside activities (e.g., employment, other degree programs, etc.) is not conducive to successfully navigating our curriculum and overall school requirements. Failing to meet program expectations can place the student at risk for administrative action, including dismissal. (1000 characters)
• If you are no longer a full-time student, briefly describe your current employment, community, medical, and/or educational activities. (1000 characters)
•  For Repeat Applicants Only: Since your last application, note any relevant academic, employment, and personal experiences that enhance your ability to be a better physician. (1000 characters)
• For Combined MD/PhD Program Applicants: Do you also want to be considered as an “MD-only” applicant? (1000 characters)

University of Kentucky College of Medicine

• Why have you chosen to apply to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine? (1500 characters)
• The University of Kentucky College of Medicine’s (UKCOM) mission statement promotes a diverse and inclusive environment that provides excellence in education, equitable health care, and transformative research to improve the health and wellness of Kentuckians and beyond. Please describe how your past experiences or future plans contribute to enriching and enhancing the learning environment at UKCOM. (1500 characters)
• If you are a non-Kentucky resident, you are required to elaborate on your Kentucky ties if applicable (personal, familial e.g.) (700 characters)
• UKCOM provides MD programs at four campuses including the Lexington Campus, the Morehead Campus (Rural Physician Leadership Program), the Bowling Green Campus, and the Northern Kentucky Campus. You will apply to one of the four UK College of Medicine campuses. Please indicate your campus choice. Please elaborate on why this is your preferred campus. (700 characters)
• What competencies and qualities do you feel a physician should possess? (1500 characters)
• Describe a personal activity involving advocacy and/or community service that has impacted your personal values about delivering equitable patient care. (2000 characters)
• Describe an experience or situation which made you feel grateful? (1500 characters)
• It is impossible to have predicted the drastic impact caused by the novel coronavirus identified as COVID-19. Describe how this has impacted your social interactions, connections with peers, and perception of teamwork. (1500 characters)
• Please share unique, personally important, and/or challenging facts in your life and/or work experiences. Please discuss how such factors have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine. (2500 characters)
• Describe a situation where you were not in the majority. (1500 characters)

University of Louisville School of Medicine

• Why are you choosing to apply to the University of Louisville School of Medicine? (500 char)
• List the individuals who are providing letters of recommendation as a component of your complete secondary application (for example, Committee letter/institution name, Professor Smith/academic subject, etc.) The letter of recommendation policy can be found by copying and pasting the following URL into your browser Submit Letters of Recommendation — School of Medicine University of Louisville. (500 char)
• Describe your most significant personal accomplishments and/or experiences and how these may relate to your potential to contribute to the medical community. (1000 char)
• What has been your most significant contribution to your community, through service or volunteerism? What was its impact on the community and on you? (1000 char)
• Academic productivity and the ability to engage in extracurricular achievements can be impacted by a number of challenges. For example, students who come from rural areas, who held regular employment during college years, or who are the first in their families to graduate from college may not have the same access to opportunities and support as students from other environments. Adversity can shape both the person you are and what you have to offer your future classmates, colleagues and patients. Please describe any challenges that you consider significant in your lived experience. (500 char)
• The University of Louisville School of Medicine’s mission is to improve the health of our patients and the diverse communities we serve through excellence and leadership in education, patient care, research and community engagement. Describe how your life experiences and personal attributes prepare you to provide excellent and equitable care to diverse patient populations. (500 char)
• List and describe any additional experiences, interests, hobbies, or skills not included in other areas of your application or that you have completed since submitting your AMCAS application. (500 char)
• Discuss briefly why you have decided to pursue medicine and how your personal characteristics align with those you believe are most needed by physicians. (500 char)
• Practice after residency: How do you see yourself practicing medicine after residency training? (Please include choice of medical practice and location). (500 char)
• If you are a reapplicant, what has changed from your previous application or your approach to this year’s admissions cycle? (250 char)
• If you are not a Kentucky resident, please explain any personal or familial ties to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. If you are a Kentucky resident type “Not Applicable” in the text box below. (500 char)
• Please list each place of permanent residence, beginning from birth, including the City, County, State, years in residence, and estimated population size. (1000 char)

University of Pikeville–Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Please describe your experience with osteopathic medicine, such as your care and treatment from a DO and your shadowing experience with a DO (including number of hours). Please describe how your experience has influenced your decision to apply to an osteopathic medical school.

Louisiana State University – New Orleans School of Medicine

LSU uses forms (rather than essays) for most of its secondary. The following two prompts are the optional essays for this year: 

• (Optional) Disadvantaged scholarship information letter specifying disadvantage & copy of parent’s federal income tax return.
• (Optional) Supplemental essay – 500 to 600 words of your values.

Prompts for applicants to Primary Care Scholars program and Rural Scholars Track:

• Please provide specific information about your immediate and extended family that live in rural or underserved communities in Louisiana. (i.e., relationship, community, occupation, etc.)
• List all extracurricular activities during college, e.g., volunteer work, clubs, etc. Please indicate the duration and nature of your participation.
• Describe your involvement in your home community prior to and since attending college, e.g., community groups, activities, or volunteer efforts, etc. Please indicate your length of time of involvement.
• List your hobbies and interests.
• Based on your own personal experience, observations and insights, describe the roles and responsibilities of a rural or primary care physician.
• Why do you feel you are a suitable candidate for the Rural Scholar Track (RST), and/or the Patrick F. Taylor Primary Care Scholar Program (PFT)?
• Primary Care Scholars program applicants:
• What other career possibilities have you considered?
• Describe your personal experiences and knowledge of rural and/or community life.
• Do you have any commitments or obligations that will interfere with practicing medicine in Louisiana immediately following completion of a residency program (i.e., military, ROTC, religious, etc.?) If yes, please describe.
• Rural Scholars Track applicants: What medical specialty possibilities have you considered?

Louisiana State University – Shreveport School of Medicine

• Briefly describe the key motivational factor(s) in your decision to apply to LSU Health Shreveport and any additional information about yourself you feel would be of interest to the Admissions Committee in consideration of your application. (500 characters)
• Second prompt for reapplicants: PLEASE ANSWER THIS QUESTION ONLY IF YOU ARE A RE-APPLICANT TO LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT. Since your previous medical school application, what academic, employment, volunteer experiences or other progress have you made that make you a more competitive applicant? (2000 characters)

Tulane University School of Medicine

• Tulane University School of Medicine’s mission statement states: We improve human health and foster healthy communities through discovery and translation of the best science into clinical practice and education; to deliver the highest quality patient care and prepare the next generation of distinguished clinical and scientific leaders. Briefly describe the reasons for your interest in Tulane University School of Medicine. (150 words)
• What disparities in health do you believe are pertinent to the New Orleans patient population? How would you attempt to address them as a medical student at Tulane? You may support your answer by using past involvement working in a similar patient population to compare and/or describe your interest in any student activities offered at Tulane or in New Orleans. (150 words)
• Who knows you best and how would they describe you? (150 words)
• Please list any leadership positions (clubs, organizations, paid work) you may have held. (100 words)
• Please list your hobbies and major non-academic interests. (150 words)
• (OPTIONAL) Tulane University School of Medicine values the diversity of its patients, faculty, staff, and students. Do you identify with a particular group that you believe is underrepresented among medical professionals? These include groups oriented around, but not limited to: ethnicity, race, sexuality, religion, disability, and economic background. (60 words)
• (OPTIONAL) In what ways did the COVID-19 pandemic alter/interrupt your medical school application? (No limit)

University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

• a) Have you ever applied to ANY academic program (undergraduate, graduate, or professional) at the University of New England? If yes, please indicate the program and year in which you applied. If no, please respond N/A.

b) Describe your interests in attending UNE COM and any contact you’ve had with our students, alumni, or faculty. If you are related to a UNE COM graduate, please list that person’s full name, year of graduation, and relationship to you. (2000 characters)

• a) How many Osteopathic Vs Allopathic medical schools have you applied to this cycle?

b) If you previously only applied to Allopathic medical schools, why are you now applying to Osteopathic Medical schools? Please be concise and specific.

c) If this is more than your first round of application to medical schools, what have you done to enhance your preparedness? Please be concise and specific. (2000 characters)

• UNE COM’s curriculum is built on a foundation of team-based education. Give an example of when you worked on an effective team, either academically or professionally. Explain why a team-based approach is the right model for your medical education. (2000 characters)
• If everything goes according to plan, how and where do you see yourself professionally in ten years? How come? (2000 characters)

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

•  (Optional) If you have already received your bachelor’s degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year. (2000 characters)
• (Optional) If you interrupted your college education for a semester or longer, please describe what you did during that time. (2000 characters)
• Briefly describe your single, most rewarding experience. Feel free to refer to an experience previously described in your AMCAS application. (2500 characters)
• Are there any areas of medicine that are of particular interest to you? If so, please comment. (2500 characters)
• Briefly describe a situation where you had to overcome adversity; include lessons learned and how you think it will affect your career as a future physician. (2500 characters)
• Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from the experience? (2500 characters)
• Wonder encapsulates a feeling of rapt attention … it draws the observer in. Tell us about a time in recent years that you experienced wonder in your everyday life. Although experiences related to your clinical or research work may be the first to come to mind, we encourage you to think of an experience that is unrelated to medicine or science. What did you learn from that experience? (2500 characters)
• (Optional)The Admissions Committee values hearing about each candidate for admission, including what qualities the candidate might bring to the School of Medicine if admitted. If you feel there is information not already addressed in the application that will enable the Committee to know more about you and this has influenced your desire to be a physician, feel free to write a brief statement in the space below. You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first generation college student, or being a part of a minority group (whether because of your sexual orientation, religion, economic status, gender identity, ethnicity) or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. Please note that this question is optional and that you will not be penalized should you choose not to answer it. (2500 characters)

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations: Within 21 days of the invite. (This information was confirmed with the school.)

• Medicine and Officership are time-honored professions that unite at “America’s Medical School” in rewarding and challenging ways. What are your thoughts and impressions about serving as a uniformed medical corps officer, and why do you want to pursue this career path? (1500 characters)
• The Uniformed Services University features a unique curriculum that prepares students to care for those in harm’s way. Please describe what in your research about our school and its values attracts you to our institution’s mission and approach. (1500 characters)
• Our Admissions Committee assembles classes of students with a wide range of backgrounds, skills, experiences, and talents. Please describe how a special quality or experience of yours has informed your ability to participate well in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment. (1500 characters)
• (Optional) Were there any significant disruptions in your academic/volunteer/work/personal life related to COVID-19 that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider in reviewing your application? (1500 characters)
• (Optional) You may use this field to enter any information that you would like to share that was not provided on your AMCAS application. (2000 characters)

University of Maryland School of Medicine

• How would you describe your cultural background? (optional, 1000 characters)
• Describe here the reason why you are specifically interested in attending the University of Maryland School of Medicine. (1000 characters)
• Have you previously met or attended/seen a presentation by a University of Maryland School of Medicine Admissions staff member at an open house, college fair, conference, school visit, etc.? If yes, please explain. (1000 characters)
• Aside from summer and holiday breaks, have there been any pauses or delays in your education semesters between high school and college, during college, or after college? If yes, please explain (1000 characters)
• Please describe what you will be doing during the 2023-2024 academic year. If you graduated/will graduate in 2023, what are your plans for the coming year until you matriculate to medical school? (1000 characters)
• If you’ve experienced academic challenges while in college and/or graduate or professional school, please describe and explain below. Please be sure to include withdrawals, incompletes, poor grades, etc. (Optional, 1000 characters)
• Briefly describe your most meaningful exposure to clinical medicine. (1500 characters)
• Briefly describe your most satisfying experience related to community service. (1500 characters)
• Without limiting the discussion to your own identity, please describe how you envision contributing to the values of equity and inclusivity at our School of Medicine, and in the medical profession. (1500 characters)
• What does it mean to you to enter into a profession? (1500 characters)

MSTP Prompts

• Please indicate the MD/PhD program you are most interested in (drop-down menu).
• Why are you applying to the MD/PhD Program at the UMSOM? (2500 characters)
• Please list the name(s) of your MD/PhD letter of recommendation writers who can focus on your research potential. (2500 characters)

Massachusetts

Boston university school of medicine.

•  Did you go on to college directly after high school? (1400 characters)
• Are you expecting to go on to medical school directly after completing your undergraduate degree? (Post bac work is NOT considered undergraduate. If attending a post bac program prior to entering medical school, the answer is NO and should be explained.) If you took gap year(s), please use this space to explain what you have been doing prior to applying to medical school. (1400 characters)
• If you have spent more than 4 years as an undergraduate, please explain below. (You may skip this question if you have graduated within 4 years.) (1400 characters)
• Please provide a narrative or timeline to describe any features of your educational history that you think may be of particular interest to us. For example, have you lived in another country or experienced a culture unlike your own, or worked in a field that contributed to your understanding of people unlike yourself? Or, have you experienced advanced training in any area, including the fields of art, music, or sports? This is an opportunity to describe learning experiences that may not be covered in other areas of this application or your AMCAS application. It is not necessary to write anything in this section. Also, use this section to explain any impact that COVID-19 may have had on your educational/research/volunteering or employment plans. (2000 characters)
• Boston Medical Center is the largest safety net hospital in New England, serving primarily people who are publicly insured, people of color, immigrants, and low-income people in the Greater Boston Area. Why are you specifically interested in beginning your medical education in this environment, and how do you feel that your previous experiences will prepare you for this unique learning environment? (3000 characters)
• Use the space below to provide additional information you feel will provide us with a comprehensive understanding of your strengths as a candidate for a career in medicine. This should include only information NOT already included in your AMCAS or other sections of the Chobanian & Avedisian SOM Supplemental Application. Most applicants leave this blank. Yes, it’s really optional. (3000 characters)
• Re-Applicant Comment – This section may be used by re-applicants who wish to highlight specific areas of their application or to outline specific changes since their last application. (3000 characters)

Harvard Medical School

• If you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation. (4000 characters)
• If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity not addressed elsewhere in the application that may illuminate how you could contribute to the medical school and that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, or other aspects of your personal or family background to place your prior academic achievements in context or provide further information about your motivation for a career in medicine or the perspectives you might bring to the medical school community. Many applicants will not need to answer this question. (4000 characters)
• (Optional) The Committee on Admissions understands that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted applicants in various ways. If you wish to inform the Committee as to how these events have affected you and have not already done so elsewhere in your application, please use this space to do so. (This is an optional essay; the Committee on Admissions will make no judgment based on your decision to provide a statement or not.)
• The interview season for the 2023-2024 cycle will be held virtually and is anticipated to run from mid-September through January 2024. Please indicate any significant (three or more weeks) restriction on your availability for interviews during this period. If none, please leave this section blank.

Tufts University School of Medicine

• Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine? (1000 characters)
• Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Include in this explanation if you will be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, etc. (1000 characters)
• Please tell us about your journey to medical school and how your background and experiences will positively impact your future as a medical student and physician. If you have experienced personal circumstances or hardships that have helped you develop qualities that you believe will allow you to better serve your future patients and the medical community as a whole, please share those experiences in your response. (1000 characters)
• Tufts values include a commitment to social responsibility; to serve and advocate for all people, especially underserved and vulnerable patients and populations, by addressing social determinants of health, health equity, social justice, and stewardship of social resources. Have you done substantial work or volunteer service in such communities? (1000 characters)
• Do you have any withdrawals or repeated coursework listed on your transcript(s)? (1000 characters)
• Did you take any leaves of absence or significant breaks from your undergraduate education? (Do not include time off after graduation.) (1000 characters)
• Because your academics will not be shared with interviewers until after you complete your interview, we encourage you to use this space to elaborate on any academic challenges you have overcome. We understand that many applicants encounter academic hardships along the way. Please comment on any academic difficulties that you have encountered since completing high school (grades and MCAT scores). We believe that such difficulties offer an opportunity for growth and would appreciate learning how your experiences have affected your approach to academics. If you have not encountered any difficulties, you may answer ‘No.’ (1000 characters)
• Have you ever been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, a Misdemeanor crime, excluding 1) any offense for which you were adjudicated as a juvenile 2) any convictions which have been expunged or sealed by a court, or 3) any misdemeanor convictions for which any probation has been completed and the case dismissed by the court (in states where applicable)? For more information please visit our web site. (1000 characters)

University of Massachusetts Medical School 

The following note is from admissions:

The secondary application has a required field for inputting Calculus; however, we would like to confirm it is not required. We have since removed this field from the application. For the Secondary question #6 (below) this is a required essay for all applicants. Our instructions incorrectly state it is for MD/PhD applicants; however, we need all applicants (MD and MD/PhD) to complete this important essay. If you have already submitted your secondary application without completing this prompt, we have automatically unsubmitted your application so you may add this.

Additionally, 

• MD applicants must answer questions 1, 2, 4, and 6 while MD/PhD applicants must also answer question 7 in addition to 1, 2, 4, and 6. 
• Questions 3 and 5 are options but should be answered if you participated in a UMass Chan Medical/Baystate sponsored program and if you are taking/took gap time respectively.
• We would like to learn how you developed and demonstrated core professionalism competencies that are required of entering medical students. Please respond to the first prompt (#1; Diversity). Then select three of the other six prompts (#2-#7). Each response should be 150-200 words. Use the text box below for your answer. Separate each of your four responses by writing the competency above/before your response (example: Teamwork – All teams have their struggles, but they can be overcome…).
• UMass Chan Medical School strives to be a diverse academic community mindful of the fact that diversity makes our community stronger and benefits the patients we serve. Share your definition of diversity. Describe an example where you contributed to the diversity of a group, team or class. Connect this to how you will contribute to the diversity of the UMass Chan Medical School community. (Diversity)
• Describe a time when you have made a decision that was not popular and how you handled this. (Leadership competency)
• Describe a time when you were on a team that was dysfunctional in some regard. How did you address the situation? (Teamwork)
• Describe a meaningful interaction you have had with a person whom you have helped at work, school or another activity. (Empathy/Compassion)
• Have you ever been in the middle of a situation where there was poor communication? What did you do to improve it? (Communication)
• Describe a time when you have “thought outside the box” to solve a problem. (Inquiry)
• Describe a time when you suffered a setback. How did you respond to this challenge? (Persistence/Grit)
• Please discuss any part of your application that you feel requires further explanation. For example, discuss grades or MCAT scores that do not reflect your true ability, and/or a gap in time that is not explained elsewhere in your application. Discuss any impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on your academic, service, extracurricular or employment experiences. If you are reapplying to T.H. Chan SOM, highlight how you have strengthened your application. (250 words)
• If you have participated in T.H. Chan SOM or UMass Memorial Health Care, or UMass Chan Medical-Baystate sponsored programs (SEP, Summer Research Program, Worcester Pipeline Collaborative, AHEC, BaccMD, HSPP, Academic Internships, BSEP, Summer Scholars) please describe how these programs helped you decide to apply to T.H. Chan SOM. (200 words)
• Why did you apply to T.H. Chan SOM? (200 words)
• If you are currently taking a gap year, in what activities are you engaged? (200 words)
• Please describe an example of your personal and/or professional experience with and understanding of systemic inequity, exclusion, or lack of representation in health care in the United States. How did you arrive at this understanding? (200 words)

Track specific-questions:

• Purch – Please describe how a focus on population health and healthcare disparities will benefit you in your training and/or career. Please limit your response to less than or equal to 500 words.
• LEAD@Lahey – Based on your interests and life experiences, please describe how you might be a good fit for the LEAD@Lahey Pathway at UMass Chan Medical School. What unique experiences and perspectives might you bring to the class? Please limit your response to 250 words or less

Central Michigan University College of Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations: 2 weeks from the time of invitation (This information was confirmed with the school.)

• Please provide a brief summary of your affiliation with any County selected (there is a list of counties above the text box that you can select from). (250 words)
• Describe your motivation for applying to the CMU College of Medicine and your future career in medicine. Finally, describe how your preparation and background will contribute to the mission of the CMU College of Medicine. (1000 words)
• [REAPP ONLY]: If you have applied to any medical school in previous cycles, what have you done since your last application to prepare yourself for a career in medicine? If you have not applied to medical school previously, write “N/A” in the box. (500 words)

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

• Imagine and reflect upon your life and medical career at the time of retirement. What do you envision being your proudest/most significant accomplishment? (500 words)
• American society has been reckoning with a variety of systemic injustices throughout its history. Considering your life experiences up to now, share your thoughts and perspectives about this statement using the lens from which you view the world around you. (500 words)
• Consider three or four words and/or phrases from your medical school application that you use to describe or characterize yourself. Pick one (or a completely different one) that is underdeveloped to provide additional written narrative to the committee as to why you’ve decided to pursue a career in medicine. (500 words)
• Use the space below to reflect upon your COVID-19 public health crisis experiences, challenges, and/or insights. (500 words)
• If you could present yourself to the Admissions Committee, what would you want to make sure they knew (or remembered) about you? (500 words)

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

• The MSUCOM curriculum stresses the importance of intrapersonal competencies, including personal responsibility and adaptability. Please tell us a time when you were faced with a challenge in these areas and how that challenge impacted your professional growth. (300 words)
• What does professionalism mean to you as a future physician? (300 words)
• You may provide additional information, not stated elsewhere, you feel may help the Admissions Committee gain a better understanding of your candidacy. This may include major life achievements or explanations of academic or non-academic discrepancies on your application. You may also include interests or work experiences (500 words)
• For reapplicants: What has changed since your last application? (500 words)

Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

• Oakland County has a diverse patient population with a health equity divide that has resulted in a vulnerable group of patients that are underserved. Given your understanding of social determinants of health, how would you go about addressing these inequities? (400 words)
• Describe how OUWB’s mission and values align with your professional goals and objectives. (400 words)
• Master adaptive learners in medicine represent a combination of both efficient problem-solvers and possess the ability to learn and innovate when faced with a novel challenge to deliver high-quality healthcare. Think back to your educational journey and describe how you embodied the definition of a master adaptive learner. (400 words)
• (Optional) Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your qualifications for medical school that are not already represented in your application materials? For example, if you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation. Note: This space is provided for new information only, not to promote qualifications already highlighted in your other materials. (400 words)
• (Optional) If you are a reapplicant to OUWB, please describe improvements you have made to your current application from previous cycles (please include academics, experiences, etc.). (400 words)

University of Michigan Medical School

• Respond to either of the following, depending on which program you are applying to:
• MD applicants: Comment on how you hope to impact medicine in the future. If examples are needed, feel free to refer to our seven Paths of Excellence. Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).
• MSTP applicants: Describe why you decided to apply to the University of Michigan MSTP. If you are interested in a specific department, program, or area of research for your Ph.D., please provide a brief explanation. We recognize that your interests may change. Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).
• Please respond to ONLY one of the following two prompts. Do not exceed 2500 characters including spaces (about 400 words).
• Describe how your identity impacts the development of your values and attitudes toward individuals different from yourself and how this will impact your interactions with future colleagues and patients.
• If you recognize and/or represent a voice that is missing, underrepresented, or undervalued in medicine, please describe the missing voice(s) and how increased representation in medicine could impact the medical community.
• How was your journey to medical school affected by the COVID pandemic? Please feel free to describe any positive or negative aspects. Do not exceed 2500 characters including spaces (about 400 words).
• Outside of medicine, and beyond what we can read in your application, please tell us what you’re curious about, or what you’re passionate about, or what brings you joy – and why. Some examples include listening to historical novels, exploring national parks, woodworking, baking cupcakes, podcasting, knitting, playing pickleball, filmmaking, making music, etc. Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).

Wayne State University School of Medicine

• When reflecting on the roles and responsibilities of a physician, discuss what appeals and does not appeal to you. (1250 characters)
• How would you address the inconsistencies between medical information and disinformation? How do these inconsistencies impact patients and society? (1250 characters)
• List healthcare issues faced by marginalized communities and include their impact on social determinants of health. How would you address them? (1250 characters)
• Which of your experiences or activities align with WSU SOM’s mission? Please discuss how. (1250 characters)
• Please answer if you have had a gap (career change, re-applicant, additional education, etc.). A “gap” is defined as a period of time between the end of your undergraduate education and the start of medical school. What activities have you participated in or plan to participate in during this period? How does this relate to your future career in medicine? (1250 characters) Please mark N/A if this does not apply to you.

Western Michigan University School of Medicine

• Please explain both of the following:
• The specific reason(s) you have chosen to apply to WMed and
• How you will utilize the unique features of WMed’s mission, vision, and curriculum to achieve your career goals. (2000 characters)
• Describe how you add to the cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity of the medical profession and what you bring to the practice of medicine – your values, skills, talents, and life experiences. (2000 characters)
• WMed Re-Applicants Only: Describe the changes to your application from previous cycles – include academics, experiences, and/or personal attributes. (2000 characters)
• (Optional): Please explain any connection you have to Southwest Michigan. (2000 characters)
• (Optional): Is there any additional information not included elsewhere in your application you would like the admissions committee to know?(2000 characters)

Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

MD Applicants

• Why are you specifically interested in pursuing your medical education at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine? Please tell us in a few sentences why you are interested in the top track choice you indicated. (500 words)
• Each of us relates to others through characteristics that make up our individual diversity. Tell us how your diversity is reflected not only in your personal and professional activities, but also in your relationship with others, particularly in diverse learning environments. (500 words)

MSTP Applicants

• In the space below, write a brief paragraph (max. 500 characters) explaining why you are specifically applying to the Mayo Clinic MD-PhD Program.

University of Minnesota Medical School

Time-sensitive considerations: “It is strongly recommended that applicants complete the supplemental application within two weeks of receiving the invitation.”

• Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of the University of Minnesota Medical School. Explain how a learning environment that embodies these values is crucial to the education of tomorrow’s physicians. Reflect on how you might contribute to this learning environment. (1500 characters)
• How have your individual experiences and identity shaped who you are and who you will be as a physician? (1500 characters)
• Describe a time when you used critical thinking to solve a problem that you encountered in any realm where you asked questions, gathered information, thought through possible solutions and their alternatives, and evaluated what you did critically. Please include in your discussion what you learned from this experience. (1500 characters)
• (Optional) Any other pertinent information would you like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee? This is an opportunity for you to discuss an aspect of your journey to medicine that you have not already presented in your application. You may also update us with any current experiences that were not included in your AMCAS application. (1500 characters)

Note: The primary mission of the UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus is to educate physicians dedicated to serving rural Minnesota or Native American communities. Only complete the Rural and/or Indigenous Health questions (below) if your application presents a strong commitment to these communities. Most candidates accepted within the context of the Duluth Campus mission will be placed on that campus.

• (Optional) The University of Minnesota Medical School is dedicated to educating future physicians who have demonstrated an interest in serving patients and families in rural Minnesota. Reflect on what “rural Minnesota community” means to you. Describe your experience in and ties to rural Minnesota areas. What do you view as the greatest healthcare practice needs in rural Minnesota, and how will your future practice help fill these needs? (1500 characters)
• (Optional) The University of Minnesota Medical School is dedicated to educating future physicians who have demonstrated an interest in serving Indigenous communities. Describe your experience in and ties to Indigenous communities. What do you view as the greatest healthcare needs in Indigenous communities, and how will your future practice help fill these needs? (1500 characters)

Mississippi

University of mississippi school of medicine.

• Please discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic affected your academic preparation for medical school or extracurricular opportunities. Please also discuss any other impact of the pandemic that you would like the admissions committee to know. (2500 characters)
• Please outline your motivation for pursuing the medical degree. (3000 characters)

William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Statement of Purpose:

• The Mission of the William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM) is to prepare men and women to become osteopathic physicians through an emphasis on primary care, lifelong learning, research and scholarly activities, and service, including osteopathic clinical service, and graduate medical education. Using a community-based training model, the COM will educate and train graduates who are committed to serving the healthcare needs of all individuals, with special attention directed to the medically underserved and diverse populations of the state, region, nation and across the globe. In the space below (not to exceed 500 words), please explain how your ambitions and career plans will help WCUCOM fulfill this mission.

A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

• What particular qualities do you feel you can bring to KCOM? (Please limit your response to 500 words or less. All information provided in this section must be the original work of the applicant and not from another author.)
• What specific experience/exposure have you had with osteopathic medicine? How has this influenced your decision to become an osteopathic physician? (Please limit your response to 500 words or less. All information provided in this section must be the original work of the applicant and not from another author.)

Saint Louis University School of Medicine

• Will you be a full-time student for the 2023-2024 academic year? If you answer No: Please describe your current activities.(1,000 characters)
• Do you have a premedical advisor? If you answer yes: How often do you meet?
• Do you wish to include any comments to the Saint Louis University (SLU) School of Medicine Admissions Committee (e.g. why you chose to apply to SLU, other extenuating circumstances, etc.)? Please explain (1,000 characters)
• Tell us about a time when you were the other: (1,000 characters)
• Were you ever the recipient of any action (e.g. dismissal, disqualification, suspension, etc.) by any college for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violations? If you answer yes: Please explain fully. (1,000 characters)

University of Missouri – Columbia School of Medicine

• Why are you interested in attending the University of Missouri School of Medicine? (1200 characters)
• How will you add a unique perspective to the medical school and the practice of medicine? (1200 characters)
• How will you contribute to an inclusive learning environment at the medical school and the practice of medicine? (2000 characters)
• Is there anything that was not fully addressed in your application and/or any additional updates since submitting the AMCAS application? (2000 characters)
• (Re-applicant essay): Since your last application attempt how has your application improved? (3000 characters)

University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine

• Please describe how COVID-19 has impacted your pathway to becoming a Physician. The questions below will help you get started but do not limit your responses to these considerations:
• If you are interested in rural healthcare or in practicing a specialty that meets the needs of underserved rural communities, please describe your interest in this aspect of healthcare.
• How will your diversity/diverse experiences (e.g., gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, veteran status, from rural or underserved community, first generation student status) add to your career in medicine?

Washington University School of Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations : “We strongly recommend that you complete your Supplemental Application within two weeks of being invited to do so…”

• Describe a time or situation where you have been unsuccessful or failed. (3000 characters)
• (OPTIONAL) Is there anything else you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions? Some applicants use this space to describe unique experiences, obstacles, and/or challenges they faced in their journey to medical school. (3000 characters)
• (OPTIONAL) Are you still a full-time student? If no, describe in chronological order your activities during the time(s) when you were not enrolled as a full-time student. (2000 characters)

Creighton University School of Medicine

• Please state your reasons for applying to Creighton University School of Medicine. (2000 characters)
• In Creighton’s Jesuit, Catholic tradition, the mission of the School of Medicine is to improve the human condition with a diverse body of students, faculty and staff who provide excellence in educating students, physicians and the public, advancing knowledge and providing comprehensive patient care to all persons. Please describe the role(s) you can play in helping the School of Medicine achieve its mission. (2000 characters)
• Describe your experiences within multicultural settings and/or with disadvantaged or underserved populations and how they prepared you to for a future as a physician? (2000 characters)
• Describe how you have dealt with a personal challenge or major obstacle that you have overcome. Focus on what you learned about yourself and how it will help you during the challenges you might face in medical school. (2000 characters)
• Please reflect on your entire application, is there anything you would like to further share with the Admissions Committee? Gap(s) in your education, personal and/or academic challenges, etc. (2000 characters)
• At Creighton we are committed to the service of others through non-medical volunteer activities. Please list all your non-medical community service hours post high school. Please list any experiences, including those previously described on your AMCAS application. Include a brief description, dates and number of hours for each event. (300 characters per description)

University of Nebraska College of Medicine

• If you have been away from full-time academics for more than two years, please explain. (N/A if not applicable) (750 characters)
• If you are a re-applicant to the UNMC College of Medicine, how is your application different this year? (N/A if not applicable) (750 characters)
• If this is your first application to UNMC, but not your first application to medical school, what is your rationale for applying to UNMC this cycle? (N/A if not applicable) (750 characters)
• What is your personal rationale for applying to the UNMC College of Medicine, especially if you are not from Nebraska? (1000 characters)
• What are you most proud of in your life? (1500 characters)
• Tell us about a time when you have had to overcome adversity. (1500 characters)
• Tell us something about yourself that will enhance the UNMC College of Medicine? (1500 characters)
• What have you learned from working with people whose background is different from yours? (1500 characters)

Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Why are you interested in pursuing this degree at Touro Nevada? (1500 characters)
• What award(s) or recognition(s) have you received within the last five years? (1500 characters) (Optional)
• What volunteer experience have you had during the last three years? (1500 characters) (Optional)
• What research experience have you had during the last three years? (1500 characters) (Optional)
• Please tell us about your extracurricular activities or hobbies. (1500 characters) (Optional)

University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Medicine

• Why are you interested in the Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV and how does your background and future goals contribute to our mission? (250 words)
• Briefly discuss how you envision yourself contributing to the care of our growing and diverse population in the state of Nevada. (250 words)
• Provide a BRIEF chronological list of your time since graduating from high school up to the point of applying to medical school. Do not write in essay form here. This should be a list by years. (250 words)
• (This field is not required.) You are welcome to share with the Admissions Committee any disruptions or impact to your application components, the application process, and/or your personal life (for example during COVID-19). (250 words)
• If you have any other information you believe is important for the Admissions Committee to consider, please include it here. Do not restate information already in your primary AMCAS application. You may also explain you ties to Nevada with more detail in this box or any information related to academic/MCAT improvement and resiliency. (250 words)

University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine

• Please share why you want to pursue your medical education at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine; describe any connections to Northern Nevada communities; and how you are prepared to contribute to UNR Med’s vision of a Healthy Nevada. (300 words)
• Describe a time when you were part of a team that was struggling to meet objectives. How did you react? What would you do differently? What did you take away from this experience that will influence your approach to working on a team in the future? (300 words)
• Reflect on and describe an experience where you provided care or service to individuals from populations that commonly experience health care disparities. Discuss what you learned about the socio-cultural or economic factors that affect underserved populations and describe how your interactions with these individuals motivated or prepared you for a future in medicine. (300 words)
• Describe a time when you faced a significant life crisis or an academic, personal, or professional failure. How did you respond, what did you learn, and how did the experience influence your future actions? (300 words)
• Please share an example of how you have used critical thinking and communication skills to develop a creative or innovative solution to a challenging problem. (300 words)
• (Optional) You are invited to provide a brief statement regarding anything not previously addressed or disclosed in your application that you would like considered during the review of your application. If you are a re-applicant to UNR Med, we encourage you to outline any significant changes or new experiences from your previous application. (500 words)

New Hampshire

Geisel school of medicine at dartmouth.

• Please indicate your plans for the 2023-2024 academic year. If in school, please list your courses. If working, let us know something about the nature of your job. If your plans or courses change subsequently, please inform the Admissions Office by email at [email protected]. (no word limit)
• Please reflect on your primary application and share something not addressed elsewhere that would be helpful to the Admissions Committee as we review your file. (no word limit)
• Please tell us specifically why you are interested in Geisel. (no word limit)
• Geisel School of Medicine values social justice and diversity in all its forms. Reflect on a situation where you were the “other.” (250 words)

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University

• Please describe your anticipated educational, employment, volunteer, or other activities between completing your AMCAS application and matriculating to medical school. (1500 characters)
• Tell us about something that makes you a unique applicant to CMSRU. How will CMSRU help you fulfill your mission? (1500 characters)
• Medical school involves hard work and can be stressful at times. Tell us about activities that you use to help maintain a work-life balance and respond to stress. (1500 characters)

Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

• Why are you interested in attending the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine? (500 words)
• Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine values social justice and diversity in all its forms. Describe a circumstance where you sought to learn about a culture, group or idea different than your own and how that impacted you. (500 words)
• Describe your experience with the field of medicine (or a related field) that has prepared you for advanced study in this area. Specifically, how have your life experiences prepared you to pursue a degree in medicine, including coursework, clinical work, experiences in overcoming adversity, work opportunity, volunteer activities, and/or research experiences? (500 words)
• Have you ever been convicted of any crime or offense, whether State or Federal, including offenses categorized as misdemeanors, high misdemeanors, or felonies? You should include convictions under any circumstances such as, but not limited to, a plea of guilty, Non Vult, Nolo Contendere, No Contest, etc., or a finding by a judge or jury. You do not need to include convictions that were overturned on appeal. (500 words)

Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Please select the checkbox(es) that most adequately describes your campus and/or curriculum preferences below. Choose one of the following:

Explain why SGL or PBL.

• Please identify your area of professional interest below (i.e. Family Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, etc.)
• How did you learn about osteopathic medicine and why is it a good fit for you?
• Explain why you are interested in attending Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine:
• Optional: Please describe any significant barriers or challenges you may have overcome in the pursuit of your personal/professional goals.

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

• We are committed to supporting our NJMS community by enhancing collaboration between students, staff, and faculty, with a dedicated focus on humanism, health equity and social justice. How do you envision yourself contributing to the NJMS community? (1500 character limit)
• We seek students who are respectful, self-aware, humble, resilient, team-oriented, and adaptable. Discuss a personal or professional challenge you have experienced and share insight on what you learned about yourself and how the challenge was resolved. (1500 character limit)
• If you will not be a full-time student between June 2023 and August 2024, please describe in detail your planned activities, including projected time commitment for each activity: (1500 character limit)
• If you have chosen to pursue one or more “growth” years prior to your planned matriculation to medical school in 2024, please share insight on your decision. (1500 character limit)
• If you are a re-applicant, please share what you have done to enhance your candidacy and re-application? (1500 character limit)
• Please elaborate on challenges not thoroughly addressed anywhere else in your application (Please feel free to address any or all of the following if applicable: Institutional Actions, Academic and/or MCAT inconsistencies, personal challenges,): (1500 character limit)
• Please discuss any additional information you feel may help us in our review of your candidacy. (1500 character limit)

Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

RWJMS has identified the core values below as critical to our mission and vision. We strive to matriculate learners who embody these values.

R — Respect, dignity and humanism for the diverse population we serve

W — Wellness and resilience

J — Joining learners hand in hand with care delivery

M — Making patients first with safe, compassionate, high-quality care

S — Science to advance human health

• Please select a RWJMS core value that resonates the most with you. In two paragraphs or less, reflect on one of your experiences to discuss how you have built a foundation for this value and how it will contribute to our community of learners. (No Word Limit)
• Discuss a difficult or challenging situation you have encountered and how you dealt with it. Be sure to include the skills you called upon to resolve the dilemma, and the support person(s) from whom you sought advice. (250 words)
• Please feel free to comment on any course grades, GPA trends, or MCAT scores and what you have learned about yourself. (No Word Limit)
• Please use this space if you would like to provide additional information to the admissions committee. (No Word Limit)

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine

• What draws you to the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine? If admitted, what do you see yourself becoming involved in? (300 words)
• If you could strengthen one area of your application, what would it be? What have you done, or what do you plan to do, to address it and improve going forward? (300 words)

University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations: “Applicants will be allowed two weeks to complete the Secondary Application from the time they are initially invited.”

• At the UNM School of Medicine we are committed to building a dynamic, productive and positive learning environment in addition to promoting cross cultural and cross racial understanding among students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions and backgrounds. Describe the effect that your experiences with engaging diversity have had on your own growth and development. Provide an example and describe how it will impact your career in the medical profession. (2000 characters)
• There are multiple paths that lead to medical school and many obstacles along the way. Please describe the unique path that has led you to medicine as well as any obstacles or adversity that you had to overcome in achieving this goal. How will this experience affect your career as a physician? (2000 characters)
• While providing healthcare as a physician is often a rewarding career, it is also a profession that entails addressing constant challenges. Imagine you are a physician at a local institution and you notice on 18 occasions in the past week, patients were not administered the correct dose of a medication. When looking into it further, you learned that 17/18 cases occurred right after a physician handoff (defined as the process of transferring role and responsibility for providing care from one physician to another). Given this scenario, what are the initial steps you and your institution might take to improve the situation? (2000 characters)
• While providing healthcare as a physician is often a rewarding career, it is also a profession that entails addressing constant challenges. What do you see as the most significant issues the medical profession will face in the next 20 years, and what are some potential solutions for these problems? (2000 characters)
• Teamwork is integral to training and the career of a physician. This kind of work setting entails addressing constant challenges in task execution, communication etc. What is an issue you have encountered working on a team and how did you address and resolve this issue? (2000 characters)
• Please describe how COVID-19 has affected your preparation for applying to medical school. Describe any academic, personal, financial, or professional barriers/disruptions that COVID-19 may have triggered. (2000 characters)
• Have you previously submitted an AMCAS application to the University of New Mexico School of Medicine? (Y/N) Please share some of the ways you have improved your application since you last applied. For example, improved MCAT Score, took additional upper level biology courses, increased clinical or volunteer experiences, etc. (200 word limit)

Albany Medical College

• Describe yourself (1000 characters).
• Please explain any inconsistencies in your university, graduate, or professional school academic performance and/or MCAT scores. If the question does not apply to you, please put N/A in the box provided (1000 characters).
• Has your college or university, graduate or professional school attendance been interrupted for any reason? If yes, please explain. Also, please explain any extended gaps in activity/employment in your post-graduate history. If the question does not apply to you, please put N/A in the box provided (1000 characters).
• Describe a significant challenge that has prepared you for the MD career path (1000 characters).
• Please describe your personal experiences with the structural and social determinants of health in your life and community, how they shaped your engagement with medicine and your future ideas for doctoring (1000 characters).
• Tell us about a community with which you identify and how you are involved with it (1000 characters).
• Is there anything else you would like the admissions committee to know when reviewing your application? If so, please use the space provided (1000 characters).

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University

This is a series of questions that only require a response if they apply to you. For each question, you may use up to 3,000 characters to respond.

A. History​

• I have taken time off from school between high school and college.
• I have taken time off from school during my undergraduate years.
• I have taken at least a year off from school since college graduation, including this year that I am applying.
• I have taken and received credit for online science core courses (e.g. chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, physics and mathematics) that were taken prior to the Covid Pandemic (earlier than Spring 2020).
• I have applied previously to medical school.
• I have submitted an AMCAS application to Einstein previously.
• I am/was a graduate student in the Graduate Programs in the Biomedical Sciences of Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
• I was accepted to medical school previously but did not attend.
• I was previously enrolled in medical school.
• I can attest that I have fulfilled the Albert Einstein College of Medicine COMPETENCIES (Course Requirements | M.D. Admissions | Albert Einstein College of Medicine) for admission.
• I will have a Baccalaureate Degree by the time I matriculate into medical school.
• I am presently holding a deferral from another medical / graduate / professional school.
• I have received a grade of “F” during my college/graduate school years.
• I have received a grade of “D” during my college/graduate school years.

B. History Continued

• I have received a grade of “W” during my college/graduate school years.
• I have received a grade of “I” during my college/graduate school years.
• As an undergraduate, I transferred from one college to another.
• I have been the recipient of a warning notice for a non-academic issue that did NOT result in a disciplinary action.
• I have been subject to a disciplinary action and/or administrative action, expunged or not, while an undergraduate or graduate student.
• I currently have disciplinary charges pending.
• I have been prohibited or suspended from practicing in a professional capacity because of alleged misconduct.

[There is a space to include information about parents and their education and addresses.]

• If you were employed during the academic year, other than during winter and summer breaks, please write the number of hours you worked per week, and tell us what you did and why you were employed.
• Please provide the names of languages you speak (other than English) and indicate the fluency with which you speak them (beginner, moderate, advanced). If none, please write “NA.”

C. Letters of Recommendation

Your PRIMARY RECOMMENDATION PACKET will be submitted by (select one):

• If you indicated, above, that you will have, “Two individual letters (up to 5 are allowed),” please provide the names, titles and institution of your letter writers; please use a separate line for each. Please note that one letter must be from your MAJOR and your second letter from a science faculty member (two science letters from two different faculty members in the same department is acceptable). If this does not apply to you, please write “NA” in the box below.
• If you are a post-Baccalaureate student (not a master’s degree student), a letter or statement of “Good Standing” must be submitted either from your undergraduate college or university, or included in your post-bac letter. Please indicate which of the two applies to you, and the name, title, and school from which the letter has been submitted. If no letter or statement has been submitted, please indicate when such a letter or statement will be uploaded to the AMCAS Letter Writer. If this does not apply to you, please write “NA.”
• Did you take your last science course more than 5 years ago?
• If you have an Undergraduate Pre-Professional Advisory Committee at your college or university, and have chosen NOT to request a letter from that Committee, please tell us why not.

D. Einstein/Montefiore Work Experience 

• Have you worked in basic or clinical research at Einstein/Montefiore?
• Have you participated in an Einstein/Montefiore Pipeline (Pathway) Program during high school, college or after?
• Have you ever volunteered at Einstein/Montefiore in one of our clinical areas, other than research or a Pipeline Program?
• If you answered “yes” that you have worked with us here at Einstein/Montefiore, will a letter from an Einstein/Montefiore faculty member be included in your evaluations?
• E. Einstein/Montefiore Family Member
• Do you have a family member who is a current employee (non-faculty) of an Einstein/Montefiore affiliated hospital?
• Do you have a SIBLING who is currently enrolled as an Einstein medical or graduate student?
• Do you have a family member who is currently a Faculty member at an Einstein/Montefiore affiliated hospital?
• Do you have a family member who is an Einstein Alumnus (MD, MSTP or PhD degree only)? Please do not include names of relatives who have only completed residency training here.

F. Unique Life Experiences

• What unique life experiences, personal attributes and/or perspectives will you bring as part of the incoming class? Are there particular challenges or successes that you have encountered? If you do not wish to write anything, please write “NA.”

G. Anything else you’d like to share with us?

• Please use this space to tell us anything about yourself that you would like us to know. If you do not wish to write anything, please write “NA.”

Additional prompts MSTP applicants must complete:

• In the list below and in the following question, please indicate the field(s) of your prior research experience. Check all that apply.
• Please describe briefly the field(s) in which you plan to pursue your future research. We are looking for the big picture, Aging, Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Immunology, etc., not the specific focus. (250 characters)
• Please list your previous scientific presentations and abstracts. List all authors, abstract titles, name of meeting, and date of meeting. List each meeting on a separate line. Please do not include the text of the abstract. (9999 characters)
• Please list publications on which you are a co-author. List each on a separate line. Include names of all authors, title, journal, year of publication, and volume and page number(s). Please do not list papers that are “in preparation.” (9999 characters)
• Please indicate which was your favorite course in college and why. (3000 characters)

Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

• Have you previously applied to Medical School? (200 characters)
• If you took time off from your undergraduate studies, please briefly summarize your reasons for doing so. (250 words)
• Did you work for compensation during college (either during the school year or summers)? If so, what did you do? How many hours a week did you work? (300 words)
• If you have graduated from college, please briefly summarize what you have done in the interim. (300 words)
• Please describe your most meaningful leadership positions. (300 words)
• Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons values diversity in all its forms. How will your experiences contribute to this important focus of our institution and inform your future role as a physician? (300 words)
• Is there anything else you would like us to know? (400 words)

Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine

• Explain why the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell is a good fit for your medical education journey? (250 words)
• “The School of Medicine, in a culture of community, scholarship and innovation, is dedicated to inspiring diverse, promising students to lead and transform medicine for the betterment of humanity.” How do you feel you would contribute to the Zucker School of Medicine’s mission and values and where do you see this taking you in the future? (250 words)

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

• If you are currently not a full-time student, please briefly describe the activities you are participating in this academic year. (100 words)
• If you are committed to a particular community or if there is an important aspect of your identity not addressed elsewhere in the application, we invite you to do so here. Briefly also explain how such factors may have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. Completing this section is optional. (150 words)
• What is the toughest feedback you ever received? How did you handle it and what did you learn from it? (250 words)
• Describe a situation that you have thought to be unfair or unjust, whether towards yourself or towards others. How did you address the situation, if at all? (200 words)

MSTP applicants: 

[ Note: Question #3 above does not have to be completed. Also, Questions #5-7 below (bolded) are additional essays.] 

• Were there any adverse circumstances in your premedical preparatory journey including but not limited to recent impact from COVID-19? If yes, please explain. (100-word count)
• If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity or a commitment to a particular community, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Aspects might include, but are not limited to significant challenges in or circumstances associated with access to education, living with a disability, socioeconomic factors, immigration status, or identification with a culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. Completing this section is optional. (150 words)
• Describe a time when you needed to ask for help. (200 words)
• What are your career goals? Describe which features of the MD/PhD Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai you will leverage to achieve them? (200 words)
• Provide a one to three-sentence summary of your current research interest. Limit your response to 100 words or less.

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations: “It is recommended that you complete our Supplemental Application within 10 days from receipt of our email.”

• Briefly describe the reasons for your campus/site choice and comment on one or two factors that are most important to you in choosing where you wish to pursue your medical education. (1000 characters)
• NYITCOM values diversity, equity, and inclusion. How will your background and experiences add to our inclusive culture and how will this focus influence your future role as a physician? (1000 characters)
• Describe a challenge you’ve faced and the steps you took to overcome it. (1000 characters)
• Describe the community in which you see yourself practicing medicine. (1000 characters)
• Have you previously applied to NYITCOM? If yes, what specific steps have you taken to strengthen your credentials for the current application year? (1000 characters)
• How and where did you learn about NYITCOM? (250 characters)

New York Medical College

• If you do not have any family members with a connection to NYMC for any of the below categories you can skip this section.
• In this activity please indicate if you have/had a family member (Grandparent, Parent or Sibling) that attended the NYMC School of Medicine. Applicable to alumni from School of Medicine only. Does not apply to alumni from NYMC-sponsored residency programs, NYMC Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences (GSBMS) or NYMC School of Health Sciences & Practice (SHSP)
• In this activity please indicate if you have a family member (Grandparent, Parent or Sibling) Applicable to full-time faculty at School of Medicine only
• In this activity please indicate if you have a family member (Grandparent, Parent or Sibling) Applicable to full-time employees at School of Medline only.
• Please review the NYMC Social Media Policy. If you select YES, we ask that you please briefly explain what has been posted. 
• Please share any disruptions in your academic, volunteer, work, and/or personal life related to COVID-19 that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider (300 character limit)
• Please review the NYMC Technical Standards on our NYMC.EDU website for Admissions and Enrollment and attest to your understanding of them. Please scroll down to the bottom of the page where it says policies related to student admission to view the link.

New York University Grossman School of Medicine

• If applicable, please comment on significant fluctuations in your academic record which are not explained elsewhere on your application. (no limit)
• If you have taken any time off from your studies, either during or after college, please describe what you have done during this time and your reasons for doing so. (no limit) 
• The Admissions Committee holistically evaluates a range of student qualities and life experiences that complement demonstrated academic excellence. What unique qualities do you possess that make you uniquely suited to become a physician or physician-scientist? How have your individual lived experiences shaped your core values and desire to be a future leader in our profession? (2500 characters)
• Please answer only one of the following three questions (2500 characters):
• The most meaningful achievements are often non-academic in nature. Describe the personal accomplishment that makes you most proud. Why is this important to you?
• Conflicts arise daily from differences in perspectives, priorities, worldviews and traditions. How do you define respect? Describe a situation in which you found it challenging to remain respectful while facing differences?
• Describe a situation in which working with a colleague, family member or friend has been challenging. How did you resolve, if at all, the situation as a team and what did you gain from the experience that will benefit you as a future health care provider?
• NYU Grossman School of Medicine strives to provide our students with the option of accelerating their medical educational training. In order to guide our curricular efforts to provide additional opportunities for early career exploration for our students, please select up to three residency specialties that are currently of interest to you. Please note that your selection in no way impacts your admissions decision (i.e., there are no right or wrong selections), that it is not binding in any way, and that you may select “Undecided” if you are unsure of your future career path. 

CV required

MSTP specific questions

• How many months of full-time research experience have you completed? When estimating this amount, you may convert part-time research into its full-time equivalent. For example, if you conducted part-time research for 1 year for ~50% of the time, this would equal 6 months of full-time research. Please do not include lab experiences associated with a course (e.g., organic chemistry course with lab).
• What area of research would you like to pursue in your graduate training? (200 words max)
• Please describe your ideal career. (200 words max)

New York University Long Island School of Medicine

• NYULISOM seeks to admit highly motivated candidates whose experiences and professional goals directly align with our primary care mission and demonstrate a commitment to a future career as a general practitioner in fields of medicine that are anchored in the principles of primary care and address the growing physician workforce shortages in specific medical disciplines.

To advance this mission, acceptance to NYULISOM is paired with the offer of a directed pathway to residency into one of four designated residency programs at NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island. (400 words)

• Internal Medicine 
• Pediatrics 
• Obstetrics & Gynecology 
• General Surgery 

Please indicate the specific residency track for which you wish to be considered and explain the reason(s) for your choice, including those experiences listed on your AMCAS application that have confirmed your decision to pursue this field of medicine in the context of primary care. If applicable, please also discuss any other factors –such as your personal journey, academic interests or activities not listed on your application— that have influenced your choice.

•  Please provide the response that applies to you (400 words):
• If you are still in school, please tell us your planned academic, extracurricular, research, community service and/or work activities for the application cycle.
• If you have graduated from college, please tell us what you have been doing since that time up until the present and your reasons for doing so. Please be sure to account for all your time since graduating.
• (Optional) Please comment on any significant fluctuations in your academic record or inconsistencies in your MCAT score; if you took a leave of absence for any reason during college; or any application irregularities that you feel would be helpful for the admissions committee to consider when conducting its holistic review of your credentials. (400 words)
• (Optional) Please feel free to share any other information that you have not already included in your AMCAS application or secondary responses that you believe would be relevant for the admissions committee to know about. (400 words)

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University College of Medicine

• Will you be attending college full-time as of September 15? If no, please describe your activities for the period of September 15 to July 1. (no word count)
• What will be your support system while in medical school? (150 words)
• Describe what personal, urban experiences prepare you to live and study in New York City. (150 words)
• If you had a completed application to the College of Medicine in a prior application cycle, please highlight any changes since your previous application in a list with dates. If this question does not apply to you, enter “not applicable” in the text box below. (150 words)
• Why do believe you are a good fit for SUNY Downstate? (300 words)
• What is your experience with diversity, health equity and social justice? (300 words)

SUNY Upstate Medical University

• If you earned your baccalaureate degree prior to this past June (2023), please provide a brief statement indicating your plans for the upcoming academic year.
• Which medical specialty do you currently plan to pursue?
• You might consider yourself disadvantaged if you grew up in an area that was medically or underserved or had insufficient access to educational opportunities. Do you consider yourself within this description? 
• If you answer Yes: please explain your particular circumstances regarding why you consider yourself a disadvantaged applicant.
• Upstate Medical University is strongly committed to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for the patients we serve and all who work at, study at, or visit our campus. In 500 words or less, please answer the following question: As a potential partner in this effort, please describe your commitment to eliminating health inequities, discrimination, or other forms of social injustice.
• If you are interested in Primary Care: are you interested in receiving more information about potential scholarship opportunities?
• We understand that the COVID-19 crisis disrupted many aspects of our lives. Please share if you had any curricular impacts during this time, for example, change to pass/fail courses or to online coursework or if you anticipate any deficiencies in experiences as a result of COVID-19.

Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine

• Tell us how your past experiences and/or challenges have defined you (500 words or less)
• Please respond to ONE of the following two questions: (500 words or less)
• Please describe how you, as a future physician, plan to address the social determinants of health.
• What, in your opinion, is the role of a physician in addressing systemic racism and societal injustices?
• Will your education be continuous between college and medical school matriculation? (500 words or less)
• If NO, please explain what you have done or plan to do during the gap period and why.
• If YES, please tell us about your proudest accomplishment to date.

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

This Personal Statement is different than the essay that had been submitted with your AACOMAS application. Although there is no specified length to this essay, please limit the length of this Personal Statement to the space available on this page. Please discuss how your background, experience or academic program has prepared you for meeting Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Mission, Goals, or Objectives. Consider addressing a few of the following areas: 

a) Why Osteopathic Medicine? 

b) Have you been exposed to a diverse environment and how did you contribute? 

c) How have your academic background and personal experiences prepared you for medical school? or 

d) How were you influenced by a shadowing experience?

University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine

• In 500 words or fewer, please explain your reasons for applying to the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Buffalo. Please be specific.
• In 500 words or fewer, please explain how you would respond to a fellow student who muttered a racist or homophobic statement under their breath in your presence and that of other peers.

University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

• (Optional) Please share any challenges and/or special circumstances that impacted your application. (200 words)
• If you previously applied to medical school, briefly describe any experiences you have been part of since your previous application. (200 words)
• Tell us about a community you identify with and how you’re involved with it? (200 words)

Weill Cornell Medical College

• Please write a brief statement giving your reasons for applying to Weill Cornell Medical College. (1525 characters)
• Please describe a challenge you faced and how you addressed it. (1525 characters)
• If applicable, please tell us about any special circumstances related to COVID-19 that could help us understand you better. (1525 characters)
• If you are not attending college during the upcoming (2023-2024) academic year, what are your plans? (1525 characters)

North Carolina

Campbell university jerry m. wallace school of osteopathic medicine.

• Briefly describe how your career goals align with the CUSOM Mission
• What three qualities will you bring to CUSOM which will enhance the overall climate of our school? How do these qualities align with the CUSOM mission?
• Osteopathic medicine parallels allopathic medicine but has distinct principles and practices. Which of these principles and practices are of greatest interest to you and why?

Duke University School of Medicine

• Tell us Who You Are: Share with us your story. This is your opportunity to allow us to know how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words)
• Working with Others: Trust and rapport are essential in your day-to-day interactions with people. How do you cultivate a relationship with a person who may be very different from you? (400 words)
• Advocacy: Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define your view of advocacy. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words)
• Coping with Disappointment: Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you discovered from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking? (400 words)
• Leadership: What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis? (400 words)
• Critical Thinking: Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or similar experience in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career? (400 words)
• Understanding the Need for Healthcare Changes: Potential sources of health inequities exist. Duke’s Moments to Movement (M2M) is a collective stand to address these issues. Discuss your experience with disparities in health, health care and society. (400 words)
• COVID-19 Implications: How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words)

Further Information: Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application

For PCLT (Primary Care Leadership Track) applicants:

• Community Engagement: PCLT values community engagement. What is your understanding of community engagement and its value? How does community-engagement impact either research or working in a community to improve health outcomes? (250 words)
• Why PCLT: What distinguishes you from other applicants to the PCLT program? (250 words)

East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine

• When you close your eyes and imagine your professional life 20 years from now, what do you see? (2500 characters, max)
• Tell us about a time where you felt that you persisted towards a goal or outcome you wanted even when there where challenges/barriers in the way. How did to you stay motivated to achieve your goal? Describe resources you used to overcome the challenge. (2500 characters, max)
• Medical school presents numerous emotional and professional challenges. Please share an instance where you faced a difficult academic situation and explain how you managed the situation. How did you promote your wellness during this situation? (2500 characters, max)
• East Carolina University’s motto is Servire- “To Serve.” Tell us about your most meaningful community service project or experience unrelated to patient care. (2500 characters, max)

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine

• Describe an experience where you attempted a task and realized during the process that you were not ready for it. How did this experience impact your approach to trying new things? (250 words)
• How will your life experiences foster a positive educational environment and benefit your future patients? (250 words)
• Discuss your involvement in a service activity that has impacted your understanding of healthcare and your desire to pursue a career in medicine. (250 words)
• What motivates you to apply to the UNC School of Medicine? (200 words)

There is also a reapplicant essay available if you are one.

Wake Forest School of Medicine

• We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us one experience that enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from it. (200 words or less)
• Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words or less)
• From your list of “most meaningful experiences” on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? (200 words or less)
• Please share an experience that demonstrates how you have collaborated with others. (200 words or less)
• Describe your future goal(s). Reflect on your past experiences and describe how these experiences will shape your goal(s). (200 words or less)
• Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. (150 words or less)
• Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words or less)

North Dakota

University of north dakota school of medicine and health sciences.

Residency History: List each permanent residence starting with your place of birth and number of years at each residence. The last two questions in this section are required.   

a. What is your state of current permanent residence? (This would be where your driver’s license is from, what state you pay taxes to, etc…) (Required)  

b. List the high school, city, and zip code you graduated from. (Required)

The UND School of Medicine & Health Science gives residency preference in admissions. To be considered for one of our residency preferences, you must answer the questions below. If you do not meet any of our residency preferences, please select “no” on the first question.  

a. Do you meet one of the UND SMHS residency preferences?  

b. Are you currently a legal resident of North Dakota and graduated from a North Dakota high school?   

c. Are you currently a legal resident of North Dakota for five consecutive years or longer at the time of your application to UND SMHS?  

d. Are you currently and have you been a resident of North Dakota for more than one but less than five years at the time of your application to UND SMHS?  

e. Do ALL the following questions apply to you:  

1) A North Dakota high school graduate? 

2) A previous legal resident of North Dakota for ten years or more? 

3) Your parents are current legal residents of North Dakota?    

f. Excluding online degrees, are you, or will be at the time of matriculation, a graduate of a North Dakota college or university?   

g. Excluding online degrees, do you have a first-degree family member (mother, father, sibling, child, or spouse) who is a graduate of a North Dakota college or university? List family member and the college or university they attended.  

h. Do ALL the following apply to you:  

1) You currently are a legal ND resident for less than one year OR you are currently not a resident of ND?  

2) Your spouse is currently attending or has been accepted into a ND university or college at the time of your application to UND SMHS?  

3) You will be living in ND during the current academic year?  

i. Are you a current legal resident of Minnesota and graduated from a high school in Minnesota Red River Valley? List high school and county (https://med.und.edu/student-affairs-admissions/applicant-eligibility.html)  

j. Do ALL the following questions apply to you: 

1) A current legal MN resident? 

2) You have resided in a MN Red River Valley county for one year or more at the time of your application to UND SMHS? 

3) If this applies to you, list county you have resided in for one year or more.   

k. Do ALL the following questions apply to you: 

1) A current legal MN resident for one year or more at time of your application to UND SMHS? 

2) You live outside the Red River Valley area?  

l. Do ALL the following questions apply to you: 

1) A current legal MN resident for less than one year at time of your application to UND SMHS? 

m. Are you a current resident of a WICHE-sending state Wyoming or Montana?   

The following question is used to identify applicants for the Indians into Medicine (INMED) Program. For information regarding this program, contact [email protected]. If not applicable proceed to the next Question Set.   If applicable answer the following questions below: 

1) Are you an enrolled member of a U.S. federally recognized tribe?  

2) Do you agree to have your application shared with the Indians Into Medicine office? If you answer no to this question, you will not be reviewed for the INMED program. 

Answer questions 4 – 11. Do not leave any questions blank.   

• The School of Medicine & Health Sciences is a community-based medical school, and because of the unique circumstances of our regional location, we place special emphasis on the unique skills needed to provide care for patients and populations in rural and Native American communities across all competencies. The primary purpose of the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences is to educate physicians and other health professionals for subsequent service in North Dakota and to enhance the quality of life of its people. Other purposes include the discovery of knowledge that benefits the people of this state and enhances the quality of their lives. Please explain the steps you have taken towards, and how you will fulfill different aspects of the school’s mission. (1200 words)  
• Reflect on personal experiences of resilience and emotional intelligence throughout your life and how this has prepared you in your pursuit of a career in medicine. (1200 characters)  
• Describe your experiences with diverse populations. Examples include a summary of a volunteer experience, study abroad, employment, self-taught endeavor or a formal course on diversity that includes direct interaction with individuals or groups from socioeconomic disadvantaged, diverse cultures, rural, or other backgrounds. (1200 characters)  
• Describe your research activity.  Examples include the outcome of a formal research experience, course-dependent undergraduate research, thesis, or capstone project. (600 characters)  
• Describe your creative activity. Examples include the ongoing production of art forms, artistic performance, or other creative efforts, such as photography, painting, musical talents, needlework, cooking, wood-working, building cars, yoga instructor, dancing, theatre performance, writing, gaming etc. (600 characters)  
• Expand and reflect on medical and/or clinical experience as it relates to the mission of the School of Medicine & Health Sciences. This may include a summary of physician shadowing, clinical observation, community service, volunteer work, and/or employment. Examples include, but are not limited to, work in a clinic, hospital, as a first responder, clinical lab, public health, home health visits, assisted living, nursing home care, youth camps, or relevant military duty. (1200 characters)  
• Expand and reflect on leadership and team experience. This may include a summary of leadership roles or teamwork in employed positions, extracurricular activities, organizations, volunteer services, or any other leadership or team experiences. (1200 characters)  
• What are your career plans if you do not ever get admitted to medical school? (600 characters)  
• If needed, update the information in your AMCAS application (i.e., grades in recent courses, alterations in your proposed coursework or graduation, additions to extracurricular activities, unreported legal and institutional infractions, etc.).  (600 characters)   
• Are you currently enrolled in a grant-funded and/or degree-granting postbaccalaureate program and/or advanced degree? If so, what is your timeline for completion? (600 characters)  
• Have you participated in any of these pathway programs: Scrubs Camp, Med Prep, CLIMB, Summer Institute, Pre-Med Day, etc? Please indicate all that apply. (Radio option)   
• UND SMHS REAPPLICANTS ONLY: When was your previous application, and, subsequently, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? Note any relevant academic, employment, clinical, and personal experience and/or development.  (1200 characters)   
• Have you read the UND SMHS Standards of Capacity policy (https://med.und.edu/policies/_files/docs/4.14-standards-of-capacity.pdf), and are you prepared to meet these standards with or without reasonable accommodations? 

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

**Updated: July 11, 2023, in light of updates CWRU released.**

• Greatest Challenge Essay: The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you learned about yourself as a result. (2,000 character limit) 
• Based on your current maturity and wisdom, reflect upon an experience from the past few years that you would handle differently today. (1,000 character limit)
• Gap Year(s) if applicable: If you are taking time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation, please tell us why you made this decision and what you will be doing or have done during this gap time. (1,000 character limit)
• Research/Scholarly Work: One of the four pillars of the Western Reserve2 Curriculum is Research and Scholarship. Although research is not a prerequisite requirement for the University Program, if you have participated in research or another scholarly project, please tell us about it. Describe your experience, including the question you pursued and how you approached it, your results and interpretation of the results, and most importantly, any thoughts about what this experience meant to you. Remember that research is broad-based and can include such projects as a senior capstone or a thesis and can include both medical and non-medically-related investigations. If you have not completed research/scholarly work, you will be able to indicate this in a radio button embedded within this response. (3,500 character limit)

Note that if you are applying to both the University Program and the CCLCM, the research response will default to the CCLCM required response.

• Additional Information Response: Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee that may not be captured in the rest of your application? (2,000 character limit)

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (5 yr. MD) Applicants

• Greatest Challenge Essay: The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you learned about yourself as a result. (2,000 character limit)
• Research Essay:   Please tell us about ONE research project to which you made a significant contribution. In your essay, describe your role on the project, the hypothesis of your research and whether you contributed to hypothesis generation, why the methods were selected to answer that hypothesis, your results, and interpretation of your results with respect to future findings. In addition, please briefly share your motivation for pursuing this research project and reflect on how this experience affected your future career goals. (3,500 character limit)
• The most successful medical students at our school are generally those who are intrinsically motivated, self-directed learners. Think of a time when you had to pursue a goal without clear external direction. Describe your approach and any new knowledge, perspectives, or skills that you acquired. (1,000 character limit)
• Career Essay: What does your ideal career entail fifteen years after medical school graduation? (1,000 character limit)
• Gap Year(s) if applicable: If you are taking time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation, please tell us why you made this decision and what you will be doing or have done during this gap time. (1,000 character limit) 
• Additional Information Response:  Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee that may not be captured in the rest of your application? (2,000 character limit)

MSTP (MD/PhD) Applicants

• Based on your current maturity and wisdom, reflect upon an experience from the past few years that you would handle differently today. (1,000 character limit) 
• PhD Advisor: What do you look for in a PhD advisor, and who at CWRU would interest you? (800 character limit)
• Area of Interest: What is your specific interest in the MSTP at CWRU? (800 character limit)

Northeast Ohio Medical University

• What do you hope to achieve from your experience as a NEOMED student? (5000 characters, max)

Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

All applicants are required to answer the following question in the form of an essay. There is no specific word count, font or font size required. Please name the file using following format: “last name, first name, required essay.”

• There are philosophical and tangible differences between osteopathic and allopathic medicine. Describe what being an osteopathic physician means to you, and what qualities make a good osteopathic physician. What have you done to gain knowledge and experience of osteopathic medicine? 
• All applicants are required to answer one of the following three questions in the form of an essay. There is no specific word count, font or font size required. Make sure to include the question itself at the top of your essay. Please name the file using the following format: “last name, first name, selected essay.”
• Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions you hope to make to your community as a medical student and later as a physician?
• There are multiple paths that lead to medical school and many obstacles along the way. Please describe the unique path that has led you to medicine as well as any obstacle or adversity that you had to overcome in achieving this goal. How will this experience affect your career as a physician?
• What has been your most meaningful life experience (i.e., family situation, clinical or shadowing experience, volunteer experience, etc.) that influenced your decision to pursue medicine?

The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Required essays for those applying to the regular M.D., M.D./PhD, Primary Care, and the Community Medicine tracks:

• The mission statement of The Ohio State University College of Medicine is to “improve people’s lives” through innovation in research, medical education, and patient care. Please describe how your past experiences predict your potential to contribute in two of these three areas. (250 words)
• The OSU COM has a goal of assembling a class that is enriched with a broad range of unique experiences. Do you believe this is a desirable goal for a medical school’s student composition? Please elaborate. (250 words)

Additional required essays only for those applying to the Primary Care track:

• Please see our website for more information about applying to our program at medicine.osu.edu/pct. How do you feel ready to choose a career in family medicine? Please provide any examples of exposure and/or experiences not already mentioned in your application. (250 words)
• “Health is Primary” is a communications campaign to advocate for the values of family medicine, demonstrate the benefits of primary care, and engage patients in our healthcare system. The aim is to build a primary care system that reflects the values of family medicine, puts patients at the center of their care, and improves the health of all Americans. How do you plan to reflect the values of Family Medicine in your future career? (250 words)
• Please see our website for more information about applying to our program at medicine.osu.edu/cmt. Please give an example of a life experience that sparked your desire to practice medicine in a smaller community and apply to the Community Medicine Track. (250 words)
• Why are you interested in training in a smaller community, and what is the impact you hope to have by training in this setting? (250 words)

The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences 

The Admissions Committee considers a wide variety of factors in evaluating applicants, including fit between applicants and our program’s mission, goals, and culture. In the essays below, we invite you to share information about yourself with regard to two aspects of our program. We encourage you to provide information and insights that may not be easily gleaned from other aspects of your medical school application. In responding to the essay prompts below, you should interpret the questions to the best of your ability.

• One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves cultural competence. The competency involves several distinct domains, including:
• Demonstrating knowledge of socio-cultural factors that affect interactions and behaviors;
• Showing an appreciation and respect for multiple dimensions of diversity;
• Recognizing and acting on the obligation to inform one’s own judgment;
• Engaging diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work;
• Recognizing and appropriately addressing bias in selves and others;
• Interacting effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in one of the above domains. (Clearly indicate which of the six domains above that you are responding to.) As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will impact your future contribution to the culture of diversity and inclusion at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences and later in your career as a physician. (600 words)
• One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves resilience and adaptability. This competency involves the ability to tolerate stressful or changing environments or situations and adapt effectively to them. Additional characteristics of this competency are persistence and the ability to recover from setbacks. Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in resilience and adaptability as described above. As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will help you meet new challenges you may face in medical school. (600 words)
• (Optional) Please use the space below for anything you might wish to discuss related to the corona virus (COVID-19) public health crisis. Possible topics might include, for example: your biggest lessons and insights from the pandemic; creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis; hardships you may have faced as a result of the virus or quarantine. (You will have an opportunity to specifically discuss impacts to your coursework/grades in a separate item.) (600 words)
• We invite you to briefly discuss any other connections you may have to The University of Toledo, the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, the city of Toledo, or the region of Northwest Ohio or to provide additional information about the affiliations you noted above. (300 words)
• Please briefly describe what activities you are/have been engaged in during the period between undergraduate school and medical school. (300 words, pops up if you answered “yes” to if you had a gap.)
• If you feel you have any aspects of your record that may potentially negatively influence your application to our medical school, we encourage you to use this space to discuss them in order to provide the admissions committee with further context about your application. (Examples of possible topics include MCAT scores lower than our class average, low grades, withdrawn course, institutional action/student conduct violation.) (500 words)

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

The University of Cincinnati’s Next Lives Here initiative includes three platforms:

• Inclusion: Intentionally engaging people and the contribution of diverse ideas.
• Innovation: Challenging existing practices and paradigms and discovering the unknown.
• Impact: Positively transforming our community and society in measurable ways.

The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Mission:

We work together in a spirit of collaboration, inclusion, and service: To educate and train the physicians, scientists, and health professionals of tomorrow; To advance knowledge through impactful, innovative research; To improve health and well-being through compassionate, patient-centered care.

• Considering the UCCOM mission, tell us why you’re applying here and how our mission aligns with your own. (Your response is limited to 2000 characters.)

The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Values:

We are committed to excellence, diversity, and integrity in our students, faculty, staff, and all of our activities. We provide an inclusive environment where innovation and freedom of intellectual inquiry flourish.

• Please share your personal journey to a career in medicine and let us know how the UCCOM values align with your own. (Your response is limited to 2000 characters.)

Academic Impact of COVID-19 (optional)

• Please explain, if applicable, any ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic specifically and negatively impacted and/or caused significant hardship for your academic performance between the months of March 2020 and September 2022. (Your response is limited to 2000 characters.)

Non-Academic Impact of COVID-19 (optional)

• We understand that all applicants have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Please use the space below to describe any personal (ie, non-academic) life-altering experiences or changes to your plans related to the pandemic between March 2020 and September 2022. (Your response is limited to 2000 characters.)

Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine

• If you earned a medically related certificate/license, how many hours have you worked in that role since earning your certificate/license? If not, please enter N/A. (100 characters)
• If there has been a significant economic hardship, please explain the circumstances. If none, please enter N/A. (750 characters)
• If your parents are graduates of Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, please list their name(s) and graduation year(s). Enter N/A if your parents are not Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine Alumni. (100 characters)
• If you have relatives that are Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine alumni, current students, faculty or staff, please list their name(s). Enter N/A if you do not have relatives that are Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine alumni, current students, faculty or staff. (100 characters)
• If you have applied to Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine in a previous cycle, please indicate the year(s) of your previous application(s). Enter N/A if this is your first application to Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. (100 characters)
• What is the primary reason that you have chosen to apply to the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine? (750 characters)
• Are there any specific patient populations that that you desire to serve as a physician? (750 characters)
• If there has been or will be a gap in your education, please describe how you have/will use this time. If not, please enter N/A. (750 characters)
• If you consider yourself a non-traditional candidate, please explain. If not, please enter N/A. (750 characters)
• Briefly describe any extenuating circumstances which you believe are pertinent to your application (i.e. Poor grades, withdrawn courses, life events). If none, please enter N/A. (750 characters)
• If you have attended any allopathic or osteopathic medical school, as a candidate for an M.D. or D.O., please list the name of the school and explain the reason for separation. Enter N/A if you have not attended any allopathic or osteopathic medical school as a candidate for an M.D. or D.O. (750 characters)
• If you are not a current resident of the state of Ohio, please describe your connection to Ohio. If you have no connection to the state of Ohio, please enter N/A. (750 characters)
• If you have a connection to Wright State University, please describe your that connection. If you have no connection to Wright State University, please enter N/A. (750 characters)
• If you have a connection to the Boonshoft School of Medicine, please describe that connection. If you have no connection to the Boonshoft School of Medicine, please enter N/A. (750 characters)

Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Are you currently enrolled in classes? (Yes/No) 
• (If not), please describe your current activities (300 words)
• Please describe something you deserved but didn’t get and how you felt about it. (300 words)
• Optional: Is there any additional information you would like the college to know about you? (500 words)

University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

Main campus required essays, Oklahoma City

• Why are you applying to The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine? (Max 250 words)
• Do you have family or friends in Oklahoma? Please explain (No word/character limit)
• Where else are you applying? (No character limit)

Applicants have two educational track options at the College of Medicine. One is located in Oklahoma City and the other is located in in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Tulsa campus is called the School of Community Medicine (SCM). All applicants interested in the SCM must complete the four additional SCM questions:

• Please submit an essay that explains your interest and commitment to Community Medicine. (450 words max)
• Please explain how you expect the SCM track to enhance your medical education. (250 words max)
• Please enter any additional community or volunteer experience not included on your AMCAS application. (250 words max)
• Please highlight any other relevant life experience that you feel might have an impact on your application to the SCM track. (250 words max)

Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine

• What experience have you had that has given you insight into the patients you hope to eventually serve? (1550 characters)
• Tell us about a time you went into a situation completely unprepared. (1550 characters)
• Discuss a time in your life that demonstrated your resilience and ability to overcome adversity. (1550 characters)
• In 1990, Salovey and Mayer defined emotional intelligence (EI) as “the subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions”. The components of EI include self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Briefly describe one example of a time you harnessed your EI to resolve a difficult situation, AND one example of a time your failure to use your EI compounded a difficult situation. What did you learn about yourself in each of these situations? (1550 characters)
• Give an example of personal feedback in the last few years that was difficult to receive. How did you respond? (1550 characters)
• Please discuss the roles Dignity, Respect and Deference play in how medical teams optimize patient care. (1550 characters)
• (Optional) Are there any additional ties to the state of Oregon you wish to share? If yes, use the space below. If no, leave blank. Please note that this does not factor toward your consideration as an Oregon resident or Oregon Heritage. (1550 characters)
• (Optional) We know that many of our applicants in the OHSU UME Program may have familial relationships with individuals who are OHSU faculty, residents, staff, or current students who serve as evaluators in our admissions process. We have added this question in hopes to prevent perceived or actual conflicts of interest that can occur when an applicant has a family member (or someone with a similar close personal relationship) they may encounter through the admissions process. If you have any such connections, please list those individuals’ names and departments below.  If no, leave blank. (2050 characters)

Supplemental Information section with additional prompts:

• Based on your own experiences or the experiences of family and friends, do you believe that the area in which you grew up was adequately served by the available health care professionals? Were there enough physicians, nurses, hospitals, clinics, and other health care service providers and how did that affect your experience and relationship with health care? Please explain. (4000 characters)
• [“While you were growing up, did you experience any of the following types of adversity?” with options to select the severity of the following adversities: economic, educational, ethnic/cultural, family] Please describe the nature of the adversity and how social, economic, academic, or other circumstances affected you and your opportunities. (4000 characters)
• We acknowledge that our application is not fully comprehensive. If there is anything additional you would like to let us know about you, please briefly state it here. (550 characters)

Pennsylvania

Drexel university college of medicine.

• Please discuss all of your current and recent activities and engagements that have prepared you for medical school. Please be sure to include any traditional and/or non-traditional clinical exposures and volunteering experiences that you have done that are not already included in your application. (2000 characters)
• Why are you interested in Drexel? Please also explain how you meet various elements of our mission – compassionate care, diversity, spirited inquiry, collaboration, and opportunity. (1500 characters)
• Please describe any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your medical or non-medical service experiences, including any circumstances that impacted your engagement in activities, academics, and MCAT that would have helped to prepare you for medical school. (1500 characters)

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

• If you are applying to the Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program, please share with the Admissions Committee what primary care and/or psychiatry means to you, and why you believe you are a good fit for the Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program. (1500 characters)
• Given Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s unique mission and values, please tell us why you believe you are a good fit for our institution. (1500 characters)
• List the five most important attributes you believe a physician should possess. Please choose one that you believe you embody and describe a personal experience that demonstrates this trait. (1500 characters)
• Geisinger Commonwealth values diversity, health equity, inclusion, and social justice. Tell us how you will share in this mission. (1500 characters)
• If you have previously applied to medical school, please describe your significant experiences between this year’s application and your previous application. If you are not a previous applicant, please type, “N/A” in the response area. (1500 characters)

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

There are no secondary essay prompts for the 2023–2024 cycle. 

Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine

• If not currently enrolled in a full-time academic program, please summate your activities from the time of graduation from your baccalaureate program through the time of this application, as well as your plans between now and your matriculation to medical school. (75 words)
• Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (75 words)
• Explain why you decided to apply to the Penn State College of Medicine. (75 words)
• Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (250 words)
• Write a short statement describing how you envision using your medical education to advance care for under-represented or marginalized populations. (250 words)

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

• PCOM recognizes and affirms the dignity of all members of the PCOM community. Do you self-identify as part of the LGBTQIA community? (Yes/No) 
• If yes, please use this space to specify your identity within the LGBTQIA community, if you wish. (200 characters, optional)
• Have you ever participated in a PCOM-sponsored program for undergraduate, high school or middle school students interested in medicine/health sciences? (Yes/No). If yes, the following questions are required:
• Please briefly describe the program. (If possible, include program title, dates attended, grade, etc.) (500 characters)
• How did this experience influence your journey toward a career in Osteopathic Medicine? (500 characters)
• Have you previously applied to any of PCOM’s academic programs at any of our locations? (Yes/No). If yes, the following questions are required:
• If you attend or have previously attended any of PCOM’s academic programs at any of our locations, please list below the campus, program and terms of enrollment. (500 characters)
• Please tell us what you have done since the submission of your last application that improves your candidacy to our DO program(s). (1500 characters)
• Use this space if you’d like to address any identified deficiencies in your application. (700 characters)
• If you selected to be considered for the Philadelphia location of PCOM, please respond to the following question: What one aspect of the PCOM campus community resonates with your personality and values? (2000 characters)
• If you selected to be considered for the South Georgia location of PCOM, please respond to the following question: What one aspect of the PCOM South Georgia campus community resonates with your personality and values? (2000 characters)

Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

• Sidney Kimmel Medical College defines diversity as the richness in human differences. How will your own experiences allow you to contribute to the diversity of the student body and to provide equitable and inclusive care to your future patients? (2500 characters)
• Do you have any additional information that hasn’t been covered? (4000 characters)

Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine 

• What is the nature of your interest in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine? (2000 characters)
• The Admissions Committee would like to know more about you. LKSOM seeks an engaged student body with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and interests to enhance the medical school experience for everyone. Please use the space below to describe what makes you unique as an applicant, an obstacle that you had to overcome, or how you will contribute to the LKSOM community. (2000 characters)
• Tell us about your special interest in the campus you selected. (2000 characters)
• What are your plans for the current year – June 2023 until June 2024? (2000 characters)
• The Coronavirus pandemic has affected all of us. Please use this space to describe to us how you were impacted academically, personally or professionally by COVID-19. (2000 characters)
• Have you completed a pathway/pipeline program offered through LKSOM or another medical school? These types of pathway/pipeline programs include Diversity Scholars, STEP-UP, Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) or other similar programs sponsored by a medical school. (Y/N)

University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine 

• If you were offered an option to continue courses with a standard grading system or switch to Pass/Fail, and you elected Pass/Fail, please describe the reason(s) for your decision here (500 characters).
• The Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) is deeply committed to recruiting a class inclusive of diverse perspectives and experiences; this enriches the instruction we provide, enhances team-based learning, and ensures our students’ preparation to address the health needs of a pluralistic society. How would your life experiences contribute to the student body and how would you contribute to an inclusive atmosphere at PSOM? Please explain and limit your response to 1,000 characters.
•  We are all navigating through challenging times, and physicians and physician-scientists must contend with many instances of uncertainty. Describe a time when you faced a situation that was ambiguous, confusing, or uncertain, and how you navigated making a decision without complete information (3000 characters).
•  Please explain your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine and limit your response to 1,000 characters.

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

• Tell us about a challenging problem you faced and how you resolved it. Include how the experience contributed to the person you are today. (Limit your response to 250 words or less.)
• At UPSOM, diversity and inclusion are measures of distinction, integral to achieving institutional excellence, and essential to the development of future physicians who become leaders in medicine. Describe how you have demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the past, and how you hope to grow that commitment in medical school. (Limit your response to 250 words or less.)
• Tell the Admissions Committee why you are applying to Pitt Med and why you think this school would be a good fit for you? (Limit your response to 250 words or less.)

Puerto Rico

Ponce school of medicine and health sciences.

• List/describe: Academic honors, Research experience/ Publications, Community service/ volunteer work
• Explain your interest in graduate studies and your long-range professional plan.

San Juan Bautista School of Medicine 

No secondary essay prompts for this cycle.

Universidad Central Del Caribe School of Medicine

University of puerto rico school of medicine, rhode island, brown university the warren alpert medical school .

• Summarize your activities during the 2022–2023 academic year. Describe how your activities are preparing you for a medical career. (2000 characters)
• How will your unique attributes, life experiences, and interests add to the Alpert Medical School community? (2000 characters)
• Reflect on a situation when you had to change course, and how you did so. (3000 characters)

South Carolina

Medical university of south carolina college of medicine.

• Please discuss your primary interest in attending the Medical University of South Carolina. (2000 characters)
• We desire to train students and physicians to work with the diverse patients of our state and nation. Please share any important aspects of your background, identity, and/or experiences that have impacted your ability to relate to and work with diverse communities and patient populations. (3000 characters)
• For re-applicants: If you are a re-applicant, please describe what you have done since last applying (i.e. your activities, involvement, preparedness, etc.) to strengthen your candidacy for medical school. (2000 characters)
• For out-of-state applicants: If you are not a legal resident of South Carolina, please describe in detail your strong Close Ties to South Carolina. Close Ties are defined as: (1) Having lived in SC for multiple years, (2) Parents who currently live full-time in SC, (3) Completed the majority of your education in SC (i.e. enrolled in or graduate of an undergraduate and/or graduate degree from a South Carolina institution), (4) and/or Currently living in and/or working in South Carolina. (3000 characters)

University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Columbia

No character limit for any question.

• What additional qualifications have you acquired since your last application? (if applicable)
• Do you have any other ties to South Carolina that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider? (if applicable)
• What are your medical practice goals?
• Describe your employment status since you completed your bachelor’s degree (part-time, full-time, and dates) (only if you have graduated).
• In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why?
• What areas of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what areas do you plan to pursue?
• Do you have any accomplishments or experiences that make you a unique applicant?
• Explain any impact that COVID-19 may have had on your educational, research, volunteering, or employment plans.
• Working as part of a team is an important aspect of your medical education at our School of Medicine and as a practitioner in the future. Please share at least one experience where you worked as part of a team to accomplish a goal/objective. What was your role as a part of the team and what did you learn from working with others? How did you deal with conflict on the team and/or working with a team member who you disagreed with?

University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Greenville

• Please consider sharing experiences, challenges, family or personal circumstances, interests, etc. that you believe would bring added value and unique lived experience to the learning community at USC School of Medicine Greenville.  (5000 characters)
• If you are not a South Carolina resident, what relationships, bonds, or other interests or connections do you have to the state? (If not applicable, please write N/A) (5000 characters)
• Is there any additional information you would like the Admissions Committee to consider that has not been previously addressed? (If not applicable, please write N/A) (5000 characters)
• Why have you chosen to apply to USC School of Medicine Greenville and how do you think your education at USCSOM Greenville will prepare you to become a physician in the future? (5000 characters)
• At USCSOM Greenville we are committed to Transforming Medicine One Doctor at a Time. Share how, as a physician, you will seek to transform medicine. (5000 characters)
• Please describe a personal work, social or educational experience which felt inclusive and welcoming. (5000 characters)

South Dakota

University of south dakota sanford school of medicine.

• Given the mission statement of the school, please explain how your experiences and long-term goals would help meet the mission. (1500 characters)
• Given the diversity statement of the school, explain how your background and experiences with diversity will bring value to the school. (1500 characters)
• Describe how your experiences in health care or social care activities will help you become a good physician. (1500 characters)
• Briefly describe a crisis or significant challenge in your life, how you have worked through the crisis or challenge, and what you have learned from this experience. (1500 characters)
• What are your career plans in the event that you are not admitted to a medical school this year or after several applications? (1500 characters)
• Please use this space to update the information contained on your AMCAS application (i.e. grades in recent courses; alterations in your proposed coursework or graduation; additions to your extracurricular activities) or anything else you want the committee to know. (1500 characters)
• For repeat applicants only. Since your last application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? Please note any relevant academic, employment, clinical and personal experience. (1500 characters)
• For non-South Dakota residents applying to the regular MD program – please describe your ties to South Dakota. (1500 characters)
• Please share and explain any disruptions/hardships in your academic, volunteer, work, and/or personal life related to COVID-19 that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (5000 characters)
• Please use the space below for anything you might wish to discuss related to the corona virus (COVID-19) public health crisis. Possible topics might include, for example: your biggest lessons and insights from the pandemic; creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis; how the pandemic has affected your outlook on the role of medicine. (5000 characters)
• Knowledge and skill are crucial, but why should a physician be kind? (5000 characters)

East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations:   (Regarding all information requested in the supplementary application.) “This information, when requested, must be completed within 14 days of the date on which the information was requested.”

• What makes you interested in Quillen? Discuss your perceptions on how attending Quillen would align with your future goals and your hopes for how it will shape you into the physician you want to become. (1500 characters)
• Social justice, systemic racism, and equity for all have been at the forefront of national conversations. Quillen College of Medicine recognizes that many barriers still exist for persons of color and those from historically underrepresented communities. As a physician you will have opportunities to foster an environment of change for your patients and community. Please share with us your reflections on how your life experiences have impacted the development of your values and attitudes toward others, particularly those with backgrounds or values different from your own. (1500 characters)
• Applicant choice. Please select only one of the following questions to answer. Be sure to indicate your choice by starting with the number associated with the question: (1500 characters)
• There is no doubt that the level of stress brought on by medical schools can impact a student’s mental health and emotional well-being. Discuss the ways you plan to manage your own health and well-being during medical school.
• Describe an experience you have had during your life that has given you a unique understanding of human suffering and what did you learn from this experience?
• Use this space to tell the committee anything else about yourself that you have not had the opportunity to present elsewhere in your application.

Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations: “Because we interview and admit on a rolling basis, we strongly encourage applicants to submit their completed application packages at least four weeks prior to the March 15 deadline.”

• Please write and ATTACH the short essay addressing ONE of the following questions: (No word count)
• Medical school requires a huge commitment in time and energy. How have you prepared for this commitment?
• If you are a re-applicant please tell us what you have done to strengthen your application.
• Optional: Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know that you haven’t explained on your AACOMAS application? (No word count)

Meharry Medical College School of Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations: “The Admissions Committee prefers if the candidate has completed the Supplemental application before their interview.”

• Why do you wish to attend Meharry Medical College School of Medicine? (No limit)
• Please describe a personal situation of failure, significant challenge, or a major obstacle that you have overcome. Include a description of your coping skills and lessons you learned from that situation. (No limit)

University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine

Optional essays:

• Provide any additional information not previously provided in the personal comments of your AMCAS Primary application. (500 characters)
• Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to provide our applicants with an optional essay prompt for this years UTHSC COM secondary application. Please use the text field below to share with us how you may have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including academic, financial, medical disruptions, etc. It would also be helpful for us to hear if any of your planned experiences in shadowing, volunteering, research, employment, or other activities were suspended due to the pandemic. (2500 characters)

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

• Please reflect on the upbringing, background, and experiences in your life that have shaped who you are as a person and will help define the person you want to be in the future. In other words, what makes you who you are? (800 words)
• Tell us about a time when you interacted with someone who is different than you. What did you learn? What would you do differently? (600 words)
• Everyone needs help at various times in their lives. Describe a time you asked for help and what you gained from that experience that has influenced your approach to asking for help. (600 words)
• Optional: If you have completed your undergraduate education, please comment on what you have done or have been doing since graduation. (200 words)
• Optional: If applicable, please describe how the COVID-19 outbreak affected your pathway to medical school. You may discuss any academic, personal, financial, or professional alterations to your plans. NOTE: Disclosing certain hardships or obstacles that have been faced during this time will not negatively affect an application. (200 words)

Baylor College of Medicine 

• In addition to training as a competent physician, please select up to two additional areas of interest from the items below that you may want to pursue during your medical studies. Your responses will have no bearing on applications to joint degrees or special programs to which you might also apply. Options include:
• Clinical Research
• Healthcare/disparities/medical underserved communities
• Academic Medicine
• Community Health
• Simulation in medical education
• Health systems science
• What knowledge, skills and attitudes have you developed that have prepared you for this career path? (1,000 characters)
• Are you planning to matriculate into medical school immediately after completing your undergraduate education? If not, please explain what activities and/or careers you have pursued in the time between your college education and your application. (no limit)
• Indicate any special experiences, unusual factors or other information you feel would be helpful in evaluating you, including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, prevailing over adversity. You may expand upon but not repeat TMDSAS or AMCAS application information. This section is mandatory. Please make sure you submit an essay or your application will not be reviewed by the committee. (2,000 characters)

MD/PhD Applicants Additional Prompts:

• Please describe your primary research Interests for PhD training. (Limit of 1000 characters)
• Why do you think Baylor College of Medicine MD/PhD Program would be a good place for you to train to be a physician scientist? Please provide names of potential Baylor College of Medicine and/or Rice University faculty with whom you would like to work. (Will not limit final research project or mentor selection) (Limit of 1,500 characters)
• Tell us about a characteristic(s) that may enable you to interact with people from a wide range of ages, experiences, viewpoints, and backgrounds. (Limit of 1,000 characters)
• Published articles, please provide full citations.
• Plans for the 2023-2024 academic year description (Limit of 1,000 characters)

Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

• What do you like or dislike most about the area you are from (your hometown or where you graduated high school)? (800 characters)
• Describe a moment when you failed to accomplish a task or let yourself down. How did you grow from this experience? (800 characters)
• What do you consider the role of physicians in medically underserved Texas communities? (800 characters)
• Sam Houston State University’s Motto is “The Measure of a Life is its Service.” What is the most significant service contribution that you have made? (800 characters)
• As a DO physician, how would you plan to incorporate the tenets of osteopathic medicine into your future practice? (800 characters)
• Are you a Texas resident? [Yes or No]
• Please share anything you would like to mention to the SHSU-COM Admissions Committee about yourself to strengthen your application. (500 characters)

TCU School of Medicine

• TCU School of Medicine does not employ a written secondary application. Instead, they use an online tool that allows invited applicants to record audio answers to questions given at the time of recording.

Texas A&M University College of Medicine

• As a physician, you never know what type of patient you will serve. From your past experiences, please describe or highlight factors or situations that demonstrate your ability to work with individuals from multicultural communities. (3500 characters max)
• The Texas A&M School of Medicine embraces the Aggie Core Values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity and Selfless Service. Please elaborate on personal characteristics, values, accomplishments and/or any experiences that you feel will help to demonstrate your potential to contribute to the school and to the profession of medicine. (3500 characters max)
• Describe any circumstances indicative of some hardship, such as, but not limited to, financial difficulties, personal or family illness, a medical condition, a death in the immediate family or educational disadvantage not mentioned in your primary application essays. What strategies have you used to address these circumstances? (3500 characters max)
• OPTIONAL QUESTION: List the area (or areas) of medicine that appeals to you and briefly explain. (Limit your explanation to 50 words or 250 characters total) Do not leave blank. If not applicable, please so indicate.

EnMed (Engineering Medicine) Program prompts

• How did you hear about the EnMed program? (250 words)
• How will the Engineering Medicine program meet your career goals and aspirations in ways that a traditional MD program would not? (250 words)
• List the knowledge and skills you have participated in outside the classroom, then describe how these have prepared you to create innovative medical technologies. (250 words)
• List the knowledge and skills you have acquired inside the classroom, then describe how these have prepared you to create innovative medical technologies. (250 words)
• At the end of your career, what do you want to have accomplished in order to consider yourself successful? (250 words)

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine

• The mission of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Paul L. Foster School of Medicine is to provide an outstanding education and development opportunities for a diverse group of students, residents, faculty, and staff; advance knowledge through innovation and research; and serve the needs of our socially and culturally diverse communities and region.” Recognizing the components of this mission and that PLFSOM is located on the US/Mexico border, please describe why you are interested in applying to our school. (300 words or less)
• The Foster SOM student honor code states “In my capacity as a Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso School of Medicine medical student, I will uphold the dignity of the medical profession. I will, to the best of my ability, avoid actions which might result in harm to my patients. I will protect the dignity of my patients and the deceased, and will protect their confidential information in accordance with the prevailing standards of medical practice. I will not lie, cheat, or steal. I will enter into professional relationships with my colleagues, teachers, and other health care professionals in a manner that is respectful and reflective of the high standards and expectations of my profession. I will not tolerate violations of this Code by others and will report such violations to the appropriate authorities.” Please describe past experiences or personal attributes that reflect your affinity with this honor code. (300 words or less)
• Please describe any unique personal experiences or disadvantage (educational, financial or otherwise) and their significance to you in your pursuit of a medical degree. (300 words or less)

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine – Lubbock

Areas of Interest:

• Please indicate the area(s) of medicine you are interested in and briefly describe your significant activities for each respective interest in the available text box (if checked, a box will appear with a 100 word limit)
• Practicing in an underserved area
• Rural health
• Medical Research
• Medical Academics
• Border Health
• Public Health
• Other (please describe below)

Supplemental Information:

• Have you experienced any road bumps in your academic career? (low academic performance, dropping, retaking, or failing courses, etc.) If yes, please explain your circumstance. (250 words or less)
• (Required) Please share any lessons learned during your academic journey. For example, a time a goal of yours was deterred and maybe even halted, how did you handle that situation? (250 words or less)
• If you are applying to a dual degree program, please rank them in order of preference.
• Are you applying to our MD & E program?
• Are you applying to FMAT?
• Have you experienced any hardship or adversity, personally or professionally? If yes, please share your experience with us. (200 words or less)
• (Required) Please tell us about your favorite recreational/leisure activities. (200 words or less)
• (Required) Please share with us your ideal practice. For example: Where would you practice? Who would your patients be? What would your specialty be? (100 word limit)
• Do you consider yourself from West Texas or as having West Texas ties? If yes, what town or county did you reside in, or what other factors would you cite? (100 words or less)
• Do you consider yourself to be first generation? If yes, please explain your reasoning (Examples of Definition: both of your parents are born outside of the USA, both of your parents have education or a degree outside of the USA, both of your parents do not have an education higher than high school). If yes, then explain. (100 words or less)
• Have you ever participated in any TTUHSC special programs?
• Middle School to Medical School (M2M)
• Early Dedication to Medical Education (EDME)
• Future Healthcare Professional’s Experience (FHPE)
• Summer Enrichment Program (SEP)
• Premedical Enrichment Program (PEP)
• Graduate Medical Education Sciences (GMES)

University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine

• Explain your understanding of osteopathic medicine and your interest in pursuing this pathway to becoming a physician. (200 words)
• UIWSOM is the first faith-based school of osteopathic medicine in Texas and mission-driven. How will you contribute to the UIWSOM by fulfilling this mission? (200 words)
• Please describe your preparation for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Include any tools you may have used to prepare, length of study time, practice exams, etc. (200 words)
• (Answer if applicable.) If you are reapplying to UIWSOM, what have you done to strengthen your application since you last applied? (200 words)
• Are you a current or former student of the University of the Incarnate Word who falls in one of the categories below?

a) Current MBS student

b) Previous UIWSOM MBS student

c) Current UIW undergraduate student in Direct Admit program

University of Houston College of Medicine

• (a) Yes or no questions with 300 characters to explain each experience:
• I have prior experience in a primary care setting.
• I have prior experience in a medical practice or social service for an underserved area.
• I have prior experience in community or public health
• (b) Describe the setting (urban/inner city; suburban; rural); your role and responsibilities; and approximate date range for any of the experiences you indicated in the previous section. If you answered (N) to the category, enter “N/A” or leave the box blank for that category.

Primary Care: (300 character limit)

Medical or Social service for underserved area: (300 character limit)

Community or Public Health: (300 character limit)

• Describe any employment, family or other obligations that impacted your education that are NOT already indicated in your TMDSAS application. (750 characters, optional)
• Describe up to 3 of your activities/life experiences that align with our mission. Explain how they might demonstrate a commitment to underserved communities. The examples you select must be included in TMDSAS primary application. Go to the UH College of Medicine mission for more information. (1500 characters)

University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

OSTEOPATHIC KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCES, AND/OR RELATIONSHIPS

Please address each topic in a separate paragraph:

• What experiences and/or relationships have motivated you toward a career in osteopathic medicine? (2,000 characters including spaces)

ACADEMIC HISTORY

A. If you attended more than two colleges/universities, explain why. Community colleges are not needed. (1,000 characters including spaces)

B. If applicable, please update the information contained on your TMDSAS application. Indicate any additional grades earned, alterations in your proposed coursework or graduation date, additions to your extracurricular activities, name change, or anything else you feel the Admissions Committee should know. (1,000 characters including spaces)

ADDITIONAL EVALUATIONS (Optional)

An additional evaluation letter may be submitted directly to UNTHSC Office of Admissions by the evaluator. A letter from an osteopathic physician is highly recommended. Please indicate the name of the evaluator and whether or not they are a D.O.

SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

• -Did you live in a single parent household?

If yes, number of years/months:

• Number of Years:
• Number of Months:
• -Do you consider yourself financially disadvantaged?

If yes, please explain. (1,000 character limit including spaces)

• -Do you consider yourself educationally disadvantaged?

OPTIONAL ESSAY

One of the values of the University of North Texas System is Courageous Integrity which means one should model exceptional standards and act in the best interest of our community. These behaviors include:

• Build trust through consistent actions that are honest, transparent, and authentic
• Provide, accept, and support open and constructive feedback
• Hold yourself and others accountable for decisions, behaviors, actions, and results

Please select a specific instance where you have demonstrated Courageous Integrity and describe how this is indicative of your character (2,000 character limit)

University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School 

In an effort to give a greater number of applicants the opportunity to present themselves to Dell Med’s admissions team, the school uses a unique video secondary application. If selected for further consideration, the applicant receives an email invitation with details on how to prepare and submit the video through a free online portal. The secondary application consists of questions that address specific aspects of the school’s mission. In a two-minute response for each question, the candidate speaks to how their experiences will help them contribute to this work. The priority deadline for the secondary application is Dec. 15; application will be reviewed only after the secondary is submitted.

Candidates who feel they would represent themselves better in a written format are given the opportunity to request a written version of the secondary application.

( Note: Candidates do not receive the same set of questions.)

University of Texas Long School of Medicine at San Antonio 

Long School of Medicine does not employ a written secondary application. However, all applicants who are invited to interview are also invited to complete a standard one-way video interview.

University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine

Part A. Choose two of the following prompts to respond to (300 words maximum each):

• Describe a time when you advocated for someone whose social identity (e.g., race, gender, sex, religion, socioeconomic status, ability status, etc.) differed from yours. Explain the situation and why advocacy was necessary.
• Describe a time you were wrong. Why were you wrong? How did you respond?
• How do you define curiosity? Provide an example in which curiosity helped solve or expand your knowledge and experience outside of the academic environment.
• What attributes do you look for in your physician(s)? Which of these attributes do you need to develop? How will you develop them?
• John Sealy School of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch serves patients throughout Texas, focusing on Galveston County and Gulf Coast Region. Are there particular characteristics of our school and/or the Galveston area in terms of location, history, or other attributes which make you especially interested in matriculating here?

Part B. There will also be an asynchronous video you need to complete through SparkHire. 

University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston 

Please discuss one of the following: 

• A challenging situation or obstacle you have faced in the past
• Any academic road bumps in your academic career (low academic performance, failing course, dropping/retaking of courses)
• Why was it challenging? How did you handle it? Knowing what you know now, would you do anything differently? What did you learn? (2500 characters)
• Describe a time or situation where you have been unsuccessful or failed. What did you learn from this experience and how have you applied this learning to your work and/or life? (2500 characters)
• What would you like to contribute and be remembered for in medicine? (2500 characters)

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine

• Which potential barriers and facilitators exist for medicine of the future? How will you make a difference in this regard? (350 words or less)
• Describe how you decide if a person or source is trustworthy. (300 words or less)
• Describe a time when the awareness of your own limitations resulted in a favorable outcome for you or someone close to you. (350 words or less)
• In the event you are accepted to two or more medical schools, what factors would be most important in determining which school would be the “best fit” for you. (150 words max; bullet points are acceptable)
• OPTIONAL: If you feel that the Admissions Committee should be aware of any academic discrepancies or extenuating circumstances, please explain them. (350 words or less)
• OPTIONAL: Describe any major hardships you have overcome to reach this point in your life. (350 words or less)
• OPTIONAL: How have volunteer work, hobbies, and/or extracurricular activities informed your beliefs about health care and a career in medicine? (350 words or less)
• [Video Response]: Submit a 2-minute video that responds to two of the values listed below.
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine prepares future physicians in accordance with the following values: patient advocacy, community focus, cultural awareness, collaborative leadership style, and lifelong problem solving. Select TWO (2) of these values and discuss what you have done in the past that resonates with them. How will you support and strengthen these two values when you practice medicine?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

• Describe a group project or activity that you are most proud of. Consider the following in your response: What aspect makes you most proud? How was it accomplished? How did you deal with disagreement or conflict in the group? How did you get fellow group members to embrace a position or view your perspective? (2500 characters)
• Describe a time that you have witnessed someone acting unethically or dishonestly, or an experienced behavior of harassment or discrimination. What did you do? Describe your reaction, is there anything you might do differently now in retrospect. (2500 characters)
• Describe an interaction or experience that has made you more sensitive or appreciative of cultural differences, and/or how you have committed yourself to understanding and aiding in the pursuit of equity and inclusion in your academic, professional or personal life. (2500 characters)
• Have you engaged in any public service activities for a duration of one year or greater in length (examples: Military, Peace Corps, Teach for America, etc.). Yes or No? If so, please describe the experience and impact on your personal and professional development. (2500 characters) (Optional)
• Please explain any academic discrepancies or extenuating circumstances that you feel the Admissions Committee should know. (2500 characters) (Optional)

University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine

 Answer these checkbox questions:

• I have direct ties to the East Texas region (born, graduated high school, community college, undergraduate, etc.)
• I have indirect ties to the East Texas Region (family members, in-laws, visited East Texas frequently, attended summer camp in East Texas, etc.)
• I have ties to a rural region with similar characteristics to the East Texas region (size, demographics, health disparities, etc.)
• I do not have ties to the East Texas region; however, I’m interested in practicing in this area after graduation.
• I do not have ties to the East Texas region but am still interested in attending the UT Tyler School of Medicine.
• Are you a reapplicant? Yes/No
• Are you a reapplicant to UT Tyler SOM? Yes/No
• If yes, What have you done between the last application cycle to make your application stronger? (no character limit)
• Why are you interested in applying to UT Tyler’s SOM? (500 words)
• Describe any experiences/information you have in/about East Texas as it relates to our Mission Statement. (500 words)
• Please share with the committee what unique skills, experiences, and/or qualities/characteristics and/or ideas you may have/possess that will help you contribute to the mission of UT Tyler School of Medicine if selected for the class. (500 words)
• Please review the SOM Values and select the value that most resonates with you. Explain why. (500 words)
• Optional question (highly recommend): Please use this space to share with the committee any additional information that may help us evaluate your candidacy that is not addressed elsewhere in the application. (500 words)

Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Record a short video (maximum 8 minutes) that answers the following questions:
• Who are you?
• What is your passion?
• What does service mean to you?
• Tell us about a physician you admire/want to emulate?
• Why Noorda-COM?

University of Utah School of Medicine 

• Tell us why you are interested in pursuing a career in medicine at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. How does our program align with your personal and professional goals? What can you contribute to our exceptional learning experience? (300 words)
• Describe how health disparities have impacted you, your community, and/or the communities you have served. What lessons have you learned and how do you plan to use this knowledge to address health equity as a medical student at our program and as a future physician? (300 words)
• (For reapplicants) “Upon reflection and self-assessment, please share with us your areas of demonstrated growth since your previous application. Please highlight examples of your continued commitment to medicine.” (300 words)

RUUTE Scholars questions:

• According to your experiences, what does rural and underserved mean to you? (500 words)
• How would participation in RUUTE help you fulfill your career aspirations? (150 words)
• Why do you believe this program will be a good fit for you? (150 words)

Population Health Program questions:

• Please share your interest in the Population Health Program (no word count given)
• What are your career interests and future professional goals? (no word count given)
• Please describe how you have demonstrated commitment to Population Health concepts during your academic and professional experiences: (no word count given)
• What does Population Health mean to you and how do you plan on implementing it into your future education and professional career? (no word count given)

University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine

• The Larner College of Medicine curriculum emphasizes active in-person participation and peer co-learning which translates into strong clinical practice. This relies on individual students preparing for, and being actively involved in, participatory class sessions. Please share your thoughts on the suitability of active learning for you. You may use any of the points below to guide your response. (400 words)
• Navigating a group learning process.
• Personal contributions to such a learning environment and areas of growth.
• The value of balancing your learning with the teaching of your classmates.
• Any potential challenges to this approach to learning.
• The Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont recognizes that diversity extends beyond chosen and unchosen identities and encompasses an individual’s entire experiences. Diverse environments can promote growth and provide an opportunity for reflection. Reflect on a time you learned something from someone or a group of people who are unlike yourself and how that challenged your preconceptions or biases. How will this experience influence your behavior in the future? (400 words)
• The Larner College of Medicine has core values that are reflected in our professionalism statement. How has your understanding of what professionalism means evolved over time? Reflect on a personal experience that contributed to your understanding of your own core values. (300 words)
• What unique opportunities at Larner College of Medicine would be meaningful to you in your education and how do these align with your larger goal of becoming a physician? (250 words)
• (Optional) Use this space to share any information, not presented elsewhere, that will clarify any aspect of your application. If you are a reapplicant, you may choose to share what you have done since your previous application. (250 words)

Eastern Virginia Medical School

Time-sensitive considerations: 30 days from the date of invitation (This information was confirmed with the school.)

• Briefly describe your exposure to medicine. (2000 characters)
• What do you think you will like best about being a physician? (2000 characters)
• What do you think you will like least about being a physician? (2000 characters)
• Describe yourself and your medical career as you see it ten years from now. (2000 characters)
• Please indicate your reasons for applying to EVMS. (2000 characters)
• (Optional) EVMS is dedicated to inclusivity and supporting patients and students from diverse backgrounds. Feel free to share your personal experience or ties to communities from diverse backgrounds. Please explain in detail if you wish to respond. Some examples include but are not limited to race/ethnicity, culture, LGBTQ+, differently-abled/disabled, etc. (2000 characters)
• (Optional) If you would like to discuss how race has personally affected your life, through discrimination, inspiration or otherwise, feel free to share your experiences, obstacles overcome, and how this impacted your education and road to applying to medical school. (3000 characters)

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Describe a significant challenge you have experienced in your life, share the strategies you employed to overcome the challenge, and what you learned from the experience. (500 words)
• Professionalism and respect in the community in which you live is of utmost importance in medical school and as a physician. What three professional qualities do you believe a Student Doctor must demonstrate and describe how you will demonstrate these qualities as a medical student at VCOM? (500 words)
• How do your professional ambitions align with osteopathic medicine? (500 words)
• What influenced your decision to apply to VCOM? (e.g., personal or medical experiences; influences of friends/family/physicians/mentors; etc.) (500 words)

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, as a faith-based institution, exists to develop excellent osteopathic physicians in a Christian environment who will impact the world by becoming leaders in the practice of medicine and servants of their fellow man. In 250-500 words, please describe how your personal faith, beliefs, or values will allow you to contribute to LUCOM’s mission to develop patient-centered physicians for the osteopathic medical profession.
• In under 300 words, how do you hope to impact your community as an osteopathic physician?

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations:  “The supplemental application should be submitted within 60 days of supplemental granted notification by 6 pm.”

• You are approached by a neighbor whom you are friendly with and who knows you are headed to medical school. The neighbor wants your opinion on whether she should have her healthy 3-year-old child vaccinated against COVID. The neighbor is well-researched and thoughtful, bringing up data that suggests limited long-term benefits of vaccination, while pointing to concerning, documented side effects. How would you respond to this dilemma? (Comments are limited to 2,000 characters. Research on the topic is encouraged)
• How do you define “grit”, and how have you demonstrated this in the past? (2,000 character limit)
• Please briefly explain any lapses in your undergraduate education that are not explained in your application. (2,000 character limit)
• Please briefly explain any low GPAs or poor grades. (2,000 character limit)
• If not addressed in your application, what are you currently doing now?

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine and Research Institute

• Explain why integrity is more important than intelligence and perseverance using an example from your life. (600 words)
• Explain how your concept of diversity is both the same and different from the mainstream view. (600 words)
• Choose one aspect about yourself, not already reflected in your application, that you are most proud of. Explain your choice below. (600 words)
• Please describe something you deserved but didn’t get and how you felt about it. (600 words)

University of Virginia School of Medicine

• Please briefly describe how the pandemic impacted your ability to pursue experiences like clinical work, shadowing, research, or community service. 
• Please list any and all future activities in clinical work, shadowing, research, or community service that you plan to pursue in the upcoming year. 
• Why are you interested in attending the University of Virginia School of Medicine? What factors will be most important to you in choosing a medical school? Please answer the question in 350 words or less.
• How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and the University of Virginia School of Medicine? Please answer the question in 350 words or less.
• Tell us about a challenge or obstacle you experienced. How did you manage it? Please answer the question in 350 words or less.

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Describe personal experiences that have shaped your desire to attend an osteopathic medical school that focuses on addressing rural and/or medically underserved populations and diversity, equity, and inclusion in health care. (One page)

Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

• How will you contribute to the mission and vision of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine? Support your response with your experiences and/or attributes. (300 words)
• What experiences have you had with rural and/or underserved communities/populations? What have you learned from these experiences? (300 words)
• Describe your connections to Washington communities and your interests in practicing medicine in Washington. (300 words)
• How have you built your resilience? (300 words)
• Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics or experiences that would add to the educational environment for your classmates. (300 words)
• If you are a re-applicant to WSU College of Medicine, describe what you have done since last applying to strengthen your candidacy for our medical school. If you are not a re-applicant to the College of Medicine, please leave blank. (300 words)

University of Washington School of Medicine

• How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or people you have worked with? (250 words)
• The UWSOM aims to build a diverse class of students to enrich the field of medicine. What perspectives, identities, and/or qualities would you bring? (250 words)
• What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them? (250 words)
• Describe your competency by explaining how you have explored and come to understand issues in the social sciences and humanities as they relate to the practice of medicine. (250 words)
• For re-applicants: From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application? (250 words)
• For Wyoming applicants: Describe your experiences in Wyoming that have influenced and/or informed your decision to pursue a medical career? (250 words)

West Virginia

Marshall university joan c. edwards school of medicine .

• Why did you decide to apply to Marshall? (5000 characters)
• Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Where do you want to serve or practice medicine? (5000 characters) 
• If you are not presently attending school indicate your employment or other plans for the time prior to your planned enrollment in medical school. If still in school, enter N/A. (2000 characters)

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

• Why do you want to be an osteopathic physician? (500 characters)
• What advantage do you see in attending WVSOM over other medical schools? (500 characters)
• Describe an ethically challenging situation you have been in, and how you respond? (500 characters)
• What do you feel it will take for you to succeed in medical school? (500 characters)
• Describe a situation in work, volunteer activities, or organizations where you demonstrated your ability to work well with others. (500 characters)
• What experiences (living, working or visiting) have you had in rural areas? (500 characters)

West Virginia University School of Medicine

Time-sensitive considerations: 2 weeks from the date of invitation (This information was confirmed with the school.)

• Why do you want to attend the WVU SOM? (150 words)
• Describe a time when you worked closely and successfully with another person who had a background different from your own. (150 words)
• How do you see yourself serving the state of West Virginia if accepted? (150 words)
• Which one of the AAMC Interpersonal or Intrapersonal Core Competencies is your strongest, and why? How will this competency enhance your ability to be an outstanding physician? (150 words)
• What is your life motto, and why? (150 words)

Medical College of Wisconsin

• Explain how your unique background, identity, interests, or talents will contribute to the MCW learning community. (1000 characters) 
• How will MCW uniquely prepare you for your future goals? (1000 characters)
• Recount a time when you made a decision you regret. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (2000 characters)
• The Medical College of Wisconsin is committed to educating health professionals who are dedicated to improving health equity across the diverse populations we serve. Share with us what you have learned or how you have grown through working with or serving people from cultural backgrounds or groups different than your own. How do you believe you can contribute to improving health equity or reducing health disparities as a physician? (2000 characters)

Additional Demographic Checkboxes

• If you choose one (or multiple), you will have up to 2,000 characters to elaborate.
• I identify as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or asexual (LGBTQIA) community.
• I am the first person in my immediate family to attend college (excluding siblings).
• I was born or grew up in a rural community.
• I am a military veteran (including active duty and those transitioning to civilian life).
• I come from an economically disadvantaged background.
• I attended an underperforming elementary, middle, or high school.
• My primary language is NOT English.
• I have overcome a significant hardship.

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

• The Admissions Committee is committed to holistic, mission-aligned evaluation of all applicants. Review our institution’s mission. Using specific examples, discuss how and why you believe you are a good fit for the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. (500 words max.)
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of UWSMPH and crucial to the education of tomorrow’s physicians. Reflect on how you would embody these values in your education or practice. (250 words max.)
• Integrity, accountability, and compassion are UWSMPH core values. Pick one of these and reflect on your lived experience with it. (250 words max.)
• Many inequities exist at the intersection between health outcomes and historical, societal, economic, or other systemic factors. Choose a broader issue or policy that impacts health outcomes where you believe change is needed to advance health equity. Discuss the role you hope to play as a physician in addressing this issue. (250 words max.)
• (OPTIONAL) : If germane to your overall application, please share in a brief paragraph how COVID-19 impacted your application in any of the following domains:
• Personal Life

Topics to address might include the public health lessons and health care insights learned from the pandemic, creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis, or any hardships (economic, health, or other) you faced due to the virus or its mitigation efforts (e.g. social distancing, quarantine).

• Required Essay for Re-applicants to UW-Madison: Individuals who are reapplying are required to submit a statement indicating what has changed since the previous application to the UW School of Medicine and Public Health MD or MD/PhD program (e.g., additional academic work, new letters of recommendation, work and volunteer experience, life changes, etc.) (500 words)

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• Text or Call Us 917-994-0765

• 2024 Medical School Secondary Essays Examples

Be Memorable. Claim an interview spot. Get Accepted.

Our team of physician and medical student editors had the pleasure of helping students craft the following medical school secondary essays. 

“Why This School” Essay

Adversity essay, diversity essay, “how will you contribute to our school” essay, “future goals” essay, “academic lapses or breaks” essay, “why d.o.” essay, why are secondaries important, tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the wake forest school of medicine..

The ending of the motto of the Moravian church, which has a strong historical connection with Winston-Salem, is “…in all things, love.” This concluding statement is an apt description of how I attempt to live my life. Wake Forest upholds such values of inclusion and love through the Lovefest tradition and programs such as the student-run DEAC Clinic. After working at free clinics in rural areas, I am committed to becoming a physician that will promote systems of care in the community. With my exposure to rural primary care, I want to use the Rural/Underserved Health experience offered to Wake Forest students through the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians to further my understanding and training in this career path. Furthermore, as an extension of working in primary care, I am interested in being a geriatrician. Wake Forest, as one of the best geriatric hospitals in the country, has a curriculum that aligns with my interests. I am confident that through research, service, and patient care, Wake Forest will shape me into a leader of rural health care for the geriatric community.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Wake Forest School of Medicine | Class of 2024

More Examples and Writing Tips for a Convincing  Medical School “Why Us” Essay | Click Here

Describe a significant challenge you have experienced in your life, share the strategies you employed to overcome the challenge, and what you learned from the experience..

One personal adversity I have overcome is my lack of self-confidence. I was always a quiet child who grew up with two older sisters doing most of the talking. As I aged, I came out my shell to an extent and became more outgoing. I have always struggled in one particular area: public speaking. My passion for medicine grew early as I observed my eldest sister work alongside physicians during her nursing training. However, my shy nature led me to select pre-nursing as my major, since nursing does not require the ability to speak publicly like being a physician often does. I did not truly consider a career as a doctor until my anatomy and physiology professor suggested I do so after recognizing my drive, aptitude, and passion. Even so, it took introspection and time to recognize that I held the potential to become a successful physician.

Over my undergraduate career, I have participated in many group presentations during classes without the benefit of being taught how to successfully prepare. On every occasion, I would become so nervous that I was unable to sleep the entire night prior. By the time I presented, I would be so distracted that I could not think straight, let alone get my point across clearly. This went on until I had the opportunity to participate in a class called Peer Instruction in Laboratory Occupational Training (PILOT), which was an extension of a class that I had succeeded in, Quantitative Biological Methods.

PILOT was designed to expose students to research articles and assist with laboratory techniques and homework. A large part of the grade for the class consisted of teaching a laboratory section of around 40 students for 15 minutes. I almost opted out of the class because of this requirement, but ultimately decided it was a great opportunity to work through my personal fear of public speaking and build my self-confidence.

I set a schedule six weeks ahead of the presentation to begin preparing. A few helpful peers offered advice, telling me that knowing what I wanted to say verbatim was a good way to improve confidence. Thus, I practiced daily until three weeks before the class. I found another tip online: practicing in the actual location of the presentation can help reduce nerves. Subsequently, I approached one of my laboratory teaching assistants and asked if he would let me practice in the laboratory. He was an excellent teaching assistant and took the time to watch me practice and provide feedback.

Ultimately, I felt that I was able to present eloquently and received an excellent grade. Life is full of challenges, and I learned that preparation is key to success. I planned and prepared early, pulled from available resources, and implemented advice from faculty and peers. This experience taught me that I do have the aptitude, strength, and drive to succeed in medical school and overcome any obstacle that I might face. I am eager to embrace more personal growth and realize my full potential as I continue on to medical school.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Nova Southeastern University College Of Osteopathic Medicine | Class of 2024

More Examples and The 6 Steps for Writing the Medical School Adversity Essay | Click Here

“do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of tufts university school of medicine” if yes, briefly explain why..

I am a Muslim, Saudi woman, but I am not the preconceived notions of being close minded, uncultured, or oppressed. I’m a passionate helper, an open-minded extrovert, and a curious explorer of the world. 

Though I grew up attending a school that taught me to be a leader and encouraged competition, and though travelling the world allowed me to explore new cultures, homogeneity was the ‘norm’ everywhere I went until I attended school in the US. George C. Marshall High School showed me how enriching diversity is. There, in a mixture of backgrounds and ethnicities, I was an ‘other’ among many ‘others’. The following year in Nebraska was different, and I experienced the damage of prejudice when I was the only ‘other’. My experiences drove me to work to bring different people together to give back. Years later, at NYU, this personal passion pushed me to create a volunteer tutoring nonprofit organization. 

I believe the ‘other’ in me, with the uncommon background, the unique experiences, and the interesting perspectives, will contribute to the diversity of the student body at Tufts.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Albert Einstein College of Medicine | Class of 2024

Click here for More Examples and Steps on How to Write an Effective Medical School Diversity Essay

Explain how interactions with people who are different from you have shaped your worldview and relate how you would enrich the VTC community.

From my academic and work experiences, I have frequently worked with people who are different from myself. Working with students and professors from different backgrounds through college helped me appreciate different viewpoints, especially during my bioethics training.  Listening to my classmate, who was a Catholic hospice nurse, explain her differing stance on end-of-life care showed me to appreciate the legitimacy of different opinions. Likewise, I learned from sociology graduate students about the issue of the medicalization of mental illness, which I had not had to consider prior to speaking and working with them. These experiences will help me contribute to the community by enabling me to approach problems from multiple lenses and to listen to and value the input of experts in different fields.

My experiences engaging with different individuals will help me to enrich the community at Virginia Tech. As a tutor, I have been able to work with students of different ages and backgrounds with unique learning goals. For example, my student, Danny, was an adult student taking classes at a community college and had failed his statistics course three times before meeting with me. Even though I had excelled in math classes during school, I was able to listen to his frustrations and identify different ways to help him learn the content and be able to apply it for quizzes and exams. I helped him navigate through the material, and he ended up passing the course comfortably. By working with a wide variety of students like Danny, I have been able to understand the importance of listening actively to individuals’ struggles and unique experiences to learn about how to best help them and I am excited to apply this skill to help future individuals.

In addition to my experiences tutoring, I have been able to interact with individuals different from myself through volunteering. For example, at Judson Park, I volunteered by helping one resident, Ron, participate in art therapy. Ron had suffered two prior strokes and was wheelchair-bound and hemiplegic. I was able to help bring him down to the art room and organize supplies for him. Ron was unique in his needs, which was why he required individualized care to be able to participate in the art therapy. He also struggled with communicating verbally due to deficits from his prior strokes. I adapted by patiently waiting for him to respond at his own pace and looking for body language cues for what he needed at the moment. He was able to make incredible art creations, showing me the resilience of differently abled individuals.

These experiences have shown me the importance of valuing everyone’s unique perspectives and utilizing that consideration and compassion to help others. I can enrich the VTC community by providing this diverse perspective to help my peers and ultimately serve the greater community as a physician.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: University of Virginia School of Medicine | Class of 2024

Click here for tips on writing the “How You’ll Contribute” secondary essay.

Need help writing your secondary essays?

After residency, describe the community in which you see yourself practicing medicine..

Currently, I can see myself practicing medicine in a variety of clinical settings: a private specialty care system, a nonprofit medical facility, individual practice, or a different setting. I am open to all of the new experiences that medical school will bring, including exposure to a variety of clinical settings.

I have worked as a medical scribe at the largest non-profit health care provider in Seattle and have also volunteered for a private specialty hospital. Both of these experiences have exposed me to a different type of medical practice, and I have enjoyed both although in different ways. I loved the diversity of patients I encountered at the nonprofit and enjoyed experiencing different clinic visits whether for constipation or throat pain. At the specialty hospital, I was able to encounter unique and rare medical cases that I’ve only read about in books such as spina bifida or hydrocephalus. I was also able to witness the very specialized and personalized care. I am excited to explore the various clinical setting options in medical school and residency, and figure out which environment best suits my strengths and interests!

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Stanford School of Medicine | Class of 2024

Use this space if you’d like to address any identified deficiencies in your application.

When I suddenly lost my father to pancreatic cancer shortly before starting college, I was confused and frustrated about my loss. Although I had dreamt of becoming a doctor since I was a little girl, I was newly unsure of whether medicine was right for me. Because I lacked a tangible goal and motivation, my studies and grades suffered during my first years of college. However, once I began volunteering at the Children’s Hospital during my sophomore year, I developed a renewed sense of appreciation and passion for medicine. I started to care a lot more about school and enjoyed learning again. I began working extremely hard in my classes, and slowly but surely, my GPA rose.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine   | Class of 2024

How do your professional ambitions align with osteopathic medicine?

My professional ambitions have always aligned with a medical career, ever since I observed my childhood hero and oldest sister, Brittany, work alongside physicians as a registered nurse. At the time, I was only eight years old and not yet privy to the nuances of allopathic versus osteopathic medicine.

Throughout my experiences with the medical profession as a patient and mother, I have found myself disappointed with some of the allopathic medical treatments. I have myself been treated pharmaceutically with medications and became non-compliant with my treatment due to side effects. Several years ago, I was diagnosed with herpetic neuralgia. My neurologist prescription Neurontin, which helped with the symptoms but left me in a fog. I found myself questioning whether there could be a better method.

As an undergraduate student, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to listen to a presentation by a doctor of osteopathy from Lake Eerie College of Medicine in Bradenton, FL. The speaker discussed osteopathic medicine, its principles, and manipulative medicine (OMM). He talked about a time when he bumped into an old friend who had been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. His friend’s condition was so severe that he needed a cane to ambulate independently. The D.O. performed OMM for his friend and provided him with a set of exercises to perform daily at home. Ultimately, the friend did not require the surgery his allopathic physician had recommended.

After listening to his presentation, I felt as though I had a breakthrough. I realized that I wholeheartedly supported these principles as the better solution that I had been looking for. With osteopathic medicine, I could practice medicine in a traditional manner while wielding a valuable skill set that could spare patients from invasive surgeries and pharmaceutical therapeutics causing undesired side effects.

Furthermore, while studying for the MCAT a year ago, I developed a constant waxing and waning neck pain that would radiate to my right shoulder and down my arm. This worsened over a period of four weeks, and I took increasing amounts of ibuprofen to calm the symptoms. A good friend of mine is a physical therapist who manipulated my spine and sent me home with instructions for an exercise plan. She also taught me how to self-evaluate my posture, which has been valuable in preventing additional episodes. I was incredibly impressed with the outcome of the treatment that used my own body and its muscles to treat the pain without using pharmaceuticals or leaving me with residual deficits. As such, my personal trust in natural treatments has emphasized to me that osteopathic medicine is the path I am meant to follow. 

The more I learn about osteopathic medicine, the more excited I am to incorporate its principles into my future practice. I am thrilled to learn and practice medicine with a holistic approach to evaluate and treat patients. As a healthcare partner to my future patients, I feel inspired to encourage the implementation of prevention, maintenance, and natural remedies into their treatment plans.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine   | Class of 2024

Click here for examples and tips on writing the “Why Osteopathic Medicine” secondary essay.

Why are secondary essays important?

• Schools ask these questions for a specific reason
• It’s your final chance to make a strong impression
• When they’re done right, you will lockdown an interview spot

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Meet Some of Your Editors

Ansel N., MD,PhD

The ohio state university college of medicine.

Alexa S., MD

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Harvard Medical School

Yale School of Medicine

George Washington School of Medicine

DUKE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

University of California San Francisco School of Medicine

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Ansel N., MD/PhD

Radiation Oncology Resident Former Medical School: Ohio State

My name is Ansel Nalin. I am a current Radiation Oncology resident at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX. I graduated from the Ohio State University College of Medicine MD/PhD program.

While in medical school, I tutored first- and second-year medical students, helping them review lecture material and prepare for block exams. I taught study strategies to first-year students adjusting to the medical school curriculum. I worked individually with students during board exam preparation. I also led a review course for MD/PhD students prior to taking Step 1. In addition to my role as a tutor, I was also selected by the Ohio State College of Medicine Academic Office staff to serve in a leadership role for two years. In this role I led the team of 40 students on the peer tutoring team. I met weekly with College of Medicine staff to plan academic programs benefitting first- and second-year medical students. Together we organized and managed academic resources for medical students including our peer tutoring programs, group review sessions, and student-led review lectures. I coordinated the tutoring assignments for medical students involved in the program; over 100 students utilized the programs. We oversaw the creation of new student-led anatomy review sessions that were incorporated into the medical school academic program.

While enrolled in the MD/PhD program, I completed my PhD in cancer immunology studying natural killer cell development. I also collaborated on translational research projects seeking to identify new cell-based therapies for cancer. I published multiple papers in high impact journals and had the opportunity to present my work at both local and international conferences. I continue to pursue research that develops immune-based therapies for cancer and plan to pursue a career as a physician-scientist.

I joined the team at Motivate MD to help students achieve their goals in medicine. I have benefitted from the support of many outstanding mentors, and I strive to have a similarly positive impact in helping students succeed. My experiences as a tutor and teaching assistant, in both undergraduate and medical school, have helped me develop excellent skills in communication and mentoring. In addition to my teaching and leadership experience, I have developed specific skills to help students with the application and interview process for medical school and residency programs.

Not only am I familiar with what makes a strong application, I am prepared to help students highlight their strengths in their essays and interviews. I have extensive writing and speaking experience from my graduate studies. I have coached other students in communicating effectively. From my own experience in interviewing for medical school and residency, I can help students gain confidence in their communication skills and clearly express their motivations and goals. As a member of the Motivate MD team, I am passionate about helping students work toward their goal of a successful career in medicine.

I am an OBGYN resident and graduate of the University of Cincinnati. Throughout medical school, I engaged in research at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and UCCOM’s OBGYN department. I have a strong background in mentorship. In medical school, I was a part of an organization that would mentor local Cincinnati youths. I was also involved in mentoring medical students in the years below through her medical scholar’s program. I also have a lot of experience editing medical school essays and mentoring my scribes when I was a chief scribe during my gap years. I took two years off prior to applying for medical school. During this time, I completed research at WashU with a neuroimaging lab as a clinical research coordinator and scribed in an emergency department. The medical application process was daunting for me. I went through the process of taking the MCAT multiple times and struggled to figure out where I would be a competitive applicant. I chose to work for Motivate MD to assist students with this intimidating process and help in areas where I felt I was lacking guidance prior to medical school! I am very excited to get the opportunity to work with you!

Jisoo is a medical student at Harvard Medical School. She has a background in neurobiology wet-lab research, and has a strong interest in mentorship, especially of underserved populations. Everyone has a unique journey to medical school, and Jisoo is committed to helping applicants present their own unique journeys in a meaningful and comprehensive manner. She has lots of experience working with individuals that have diverse pathways to medical school and closely collaborates with applicants from the beginning to the end of their application process, providing individualized support for each applicant.

Hi! My name is Rhys (pronounced like “Reese’s Pieces”) and I am a medical student at Yale School of Medicine.

I have upwards of 9 years experience mentoring peers, most recently aiding students through the premedical path at my undergrad. I also have worked as an executive function/planning tutor for Los Angeles area high school and college students. Earlier in college, I worked as a research aide/teaching assistant helping students leverage “writing-to-learn” in order to improve their understanding of complex concepts.

After graduating  Summa Cum Laude  with a Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Engineering and Health Policy from the University of Southern California in 2021, I took a gap year primarily to scribe at a pediatric clinic to boost my clinical experience hours and to continue to work on a philanthropic start-up I co-founded while at USC.

At USC, I had multiple research experiences ranging from biomedical device research in a hybrid wet lab to policy analysis. I also was heavily involved in pro-bono consulting for non-profits and social enterprises.

I have personal experience approaching the common “Why Medicine?” question from a non-traditional angle (engineering major/activities and low clinical hours compared to non-clinical), tying in a non-standard major “X factor” extracurricular into the overall theme of an application, and expressing interest in dual degrees/interdisciplinary medical careers (policy, public health etc).

I look forward to helping you plan for and execute your unique path to medical school!

George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Hi Everyone! My name is Anthu Gnanakumar and I am a medical student at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences. I majored in neuroscience and minored in English at the University of Virginia prior to taking a gap year and attending medical school. During my gap year, I worked as a medical assistant (MA) at endocrinology and pediatric primary care practices. I really value the hands-on experience I got through being an MA and would highly recommend taking a gap year if you are at all considering it!

I remember being daunted by the significant uptick in medical school applications during the pandemic and can empathize with the ever-increasing competitiveness of getting into medical school. I have mentored and advised multiple peers and friends from high school and college as they navigated the application process and look forward to extending that mentorship to many of you. It is my hope that we can work together to shape your narrative into meaningful essays and interview responses!

Duke University School of Medicine

Hi all! My name is Arthi and I’m a medical student at Duke. I am originally from New Jersey and went to Duke for undergrad where I was able to discover interests in medical humanities, global health, and peer mentorship. Having previously taught in an art studio, I found ways to engage with medical humanities through storytelling and creative arts with elders with dementia. In medical school, I help run a program that allows admitted patients to share their life story and with cartoon creations to simplify medical diagnoses. I also majored in global health and worked on projects in based in Uganda and India during undergrad that focused on studying how evidence-based interventions actually function in practice. I spent my gap year as a global health research assistant which allowed me to gain experience with all stages of project initiation, management, and dissemination. I’m working towards spending Duke’s MS3 research year engaging with global health implementation research on site. I don’t have any family in medicine so I asked for a lot of advice from upperclassmen and medical students throughout. I was a peer tutor for over 3 years and during my senior year, I started a peer advising program that’s goal was to reach beyond just academics. During that time, I mentored many premed students on course choice, finding research and volunteering experiences, applying to summer program and gap year jobs, MCAT, and building a school list. I continued many of these relationships since graduating and have been able to provide continued support through brainstorming and editing primary and secondary applications, interview prep, and ultimately decision making. One thing I’ve come to learn from my process and that my classmates is that there isn’t one right way to do things and it can be valuable to talk through and understand your priorities and the things that make you the most excited and craft your application around those. I know how stressful and draining each step of the application process can be and I would love the chance to provide some of guidance and support I received at whichever turn you need.

NYU Grossman School of Medicine Admissions Committee Experience

Hi! My name is Kate and I’m a current medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City! I’m originally from Kingsport, Tennessee and attended Clemson University where I completed my undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering and a master’s degree in Applied Health Research. I have many years of experience as an advisor and mentor, mainly through working as study abroad ambassador and as a peer tutor and peer mentor through a Women in Engineering organization at my school. Later in college, I also worked as a teaching assistant for a challenging chemical engineering course in my degree. I also volunteered my time as a tour guide and was able to provide loads of advice and guidance to future students through that role. While finishing my master’s degree at Clemson University, I worked as a scribe at a gastroenterology clinic to boost my clinical experience hours. During this time, I also served as a mentor and health coach for a local volunteer organization with a mission to help people get off of government assistance. At Clemson, I had multiple research experiences ranging from social psychology to OB/GYN clinical research. I was also heavily involved with STEM outreach at local schools, ran a pitch competition, and volunteered as a conversational partner for international students who were learning English. I also spent the summer after I graduated college working at Interlochen Arts Camp as a camp counselor and reigniting my passion for theatre and the arts. I have had a slightly more non-traditional path to medicine (engineering degree/extracurriculars, taking a year to do a master’s, working at an arts camp), and I have a lot of experience in how to best weave together your own unique story in order to stand out to admissions committees. As a current medical student, I now spend my time working as an Admissions Ambassador and serving as a mentor to incoming students. I also currently interview for my medical school and so I can provide a lot of insight as I’ve sat on both sides of the Zoom interview screen. I look forward to helping you put your best foot forward in your applications and interviews for medical school!

Hello! I am a medical student at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons planning to apply into neurology this upcoming fall. I have extensive mentoring and advising experience both prior to medical school, when I served as a peer advisor for my undergraduate institution’s pre-health club, and as a medical student, continuing to advise undergraduates on essay writing, interview preparation, and general application and career advice. I also work as a mentor in the local community, tutoring and advising 8 th grade and high school age students interested in the health sciences. I have significant research and publication experience beginning as an undergraduate and continuing throughout medical school, having published four first-author manuscripts while contributing to multiple others. Prior to medical school, I spent a gap year as a National Institutes of Health Post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award fellow, a role in which I studied Alzheimer’s disease proteomics and metabolomics. Currently, my research focus has shifted towards neuroinfectious diseases and contributions of infectious exposures to lifetime dementia risk. In addition to clinical medicine, I have a strong interest in public health and anthropology that informs my research and clinical pursuits. 

Hello! My name is Jessica, and I am a medical student at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine. I completed my undergraduate degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology at Johns Hopkins University, along with a minor in Entrepreneurship & Management. At Hopkins, I played on the varsity tennis team, served as a peer tutor, and volunteered at the JHH Sickle Cell Infusion Center. After graduating from college, I took on a full-time position at the Sickle Cell Infusion Center as a clinical research coordinator. I stayed in this role for one gap year, where I ran the largest registry of sickle cell disease patients in the United States, helping to characterize disparities faced in health outcomes and access to care. Since starting medical school, I have become heavily involved in cervical cancer research, volunteering at the Chinese Hospital in downtown San Francisco, and advocating for vulnerable populations. As a first-generation medical student, I understand how overwhelming the application process is and how vital near-peer guidance can be. I’ve helped several applicants through their application writing and interview process, who will all be matriculating to medical school this upcoming fall. I look forward to helping you curate your own story, put your best foot forward, and pursue your dream career!

• Medical School Secondary Essays

Medical School Secondary Essays: All MD & DO Prompts

Featured Expert: Dr. Monica Taneja, MD

Medical school secondary essay prompts are designed to help medical schools in the US find out more about you, from your past academic, professional and personal experiences to what your goals are for the future. The following is a comprehensive list of medical schools and their medical school secondary prompts for the most recent application cycle.  secondary essays You’ll find a list of medical schools ( MD and DO ) organized by state along with the medical school secondary essay prompts they are using for this cycle. Click on each school name to review the secondary essay prompts for each school. Check out our medical school secondary essay examples devoted to answering the most common secondary essay prompts on this list. With this list you can start preparing your medical school secondary essays and increase your chances of getting in!

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

Article Contents 1 min read

Medical school secondary essays prompts: all us allopathic and osteopathic schools , allopathic schools, university of alabama heersink school of medicine (allopathic).

State of Residence Section:

1. Non-Alabama Resident with Ties to Alabama: Describe any ties or meaningful experiences you have had related to the state of Alabama or UAB Medical Center (1500 characters)

2. All Applicants: if the area you spent most of your life before college differs from where you currently consider your permanent address, please explain (1500 characters)

Essay Section:

3. Where do you see yourself in your medical career fifteen to twenty years from now? (750 characters)

4. Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics or experiences that would add to the learning environment for your classmates. (750 characters)

5. Describe a patient interaction with the healthcare system. This could be a direct patient observation (in person or virtual) during a shadowing/clinical experience or a personal experience within the healthcare system. What did you learn from this experience? (750 characters)

6. Describe a fulfilling or challenging community service experience and how you grew personally from the experience. (750 characters)

7. UAB Medicine provides quality health care and compassionate service to every patient, every time, regardless of their individual differences or circumstances. Our academic medical center attracts patients from across the world who represent many cultures, religions, lifestyles, and economic backgrounds. Why are you specifically interested in beginning your medical education in this environment, and how do you feel that your previous experiences will prepare you for this unique learning environment? (750 characters)

8. (OPTIONAL): Describe your identity and how it has impacted the development of your values and attitudes toward individuals different from yourself and how this will impact your interactions with future colleagues and patients. (750 characters)

9. (OPTIONAL): Please share any information you want us to know about you that is not included in your AMCAS application or in this secondary application. (750 characters)

Additional Experiences Section:

10. You have a separate page to add any experiences that you did not have listed on your AMCAS application

University of South Alabama College of Medicine

In-State Applicants:

1. Although interests may change, what areas of medicine are you primarily interested in at the current time? (200 characters)

Out-of-State Applicants:

2. Although our primary obligation is to residents of the State of Alabama, we do consider competitive applicants from neighboring states and applicants with strong ties to the State of Alabama.

Please write a brief essay explaining your ties to the State of Alabama. (2000 characters)

Optional Essay

3. The learning community at the University of South Alabama Whiddon College of Medicine benefits from the inclusion of students with broad life experiences, as well as students from diverse backgrounds. The Admissions Committee encourages you to share life experiences that you may have had and/or important factors in your background that illustrate your readiness for practicing medicine in a multicultural society. (3500 characters)

Osteopathic Schools

Alabama college of osteopathic medicine.

1. Describe how specific attributes of ACOM’s mission and core values align with your professional goals and personal attributes?

2. The Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine promotes values and equity from various cultural, social, and economic backgrounds. Discuss the role that diversity played in your decision to become an osteopathic medical school applicant.

3. What are your personal attributes that demonstrate the osteopathic philosophy? (500 words or less) 

  University of Alaska Anchorage/University of Washington WWAMI Program

Alaska residents can participate in the WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) program organized by the University of Washington School of Medicine and offered through the University of Alaska Anchorage.

1. How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or people you have worked with? (250 words)

2. The UWSOM aims to build a diverse class of students to enrich the field of medicine. What perspectives, identities, and/or qualities would you bring? (250 words)

3. What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them? (250 words)

4. Describe your competency by explaining how you have explored and come to understand issues in the social sciences and humanities as they relate to the practice of medicine. (250 words)

5. For re-applicants: From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application? (250 words)

6. For Wyoming applicants: Describe your experiences in Wyoming that have influenced and/or informed your decision to pursue a medical career? (250 words)

University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson

1. Please share a meaningful experience you have had working or volunteering in the health professional field or a time in your past in which you were responsible for the care and well-being of someone else. What did you learn from this as it relates to becoming a physician? (Limit: 350 words)

2. Discuss a time in your life in which you have failed at something other than an academic experience. How did you confront the failure and what did you learn from it? Please describe how you typically approach challenges that you face in your life. (Limit: 350 words)

3. "The mission of the University of Arizona College of Medicine of Admissions is to select a diverse cohort of students who will become the future leaders in advancing healthcare to the distinct communities that comprise Arizona and the United States. Consistent with the mission of the University of Arizona College of Medicine, selection of individuals with a demonstrated commitment to serve as care providers, physician scientists, clinical leaders and/or public health experts, including advocates for rural and urban underserved populations, is highly valued. Applicants seeking admission should exhibit qualities of altruism, academic excellence, leadership and dedication to becoming lifelong learners through research endeavors and academic development." Please describe the role(s) you can play in helping the College of Medicine to achieve its mission. (Limit: 350 words)

4. Describe the effect that your experiences with engaging diversity have had on your own growth and development. Provide an example and describe how it will impact your career in the medical profession. (Limit: 350 words)

5. Share any disruptions in your academic/volunteer/work/personal life related to COVID-19 that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (no limit)

University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix

1. I previously applied to any medical school yes/no (select yes if you submitted a primary or secondary application). If yes, please provide specific examples that illustrate how you are a stronger applicant this cycle. (1000 characters)

2. What achievement are you most proud of in your life? What aspect(s) of this achievement will you bring to our medical school? (1000 characters)

3. The UA College of Medicine - Phoenix practices Inclusive Excellence, which celebrates the differences, talents, and unique qualities of all individuals. Please describe how you will pursue Inclusive Excellence in your studies while contributing to the collaborative environment at the College of Medicine - Phoenix. (1000 characters)

4. Servant Leadership is a Core Value and Attribute we deem essential for our students to possess. To us, it is service to others where one possesses personal humility along with a strong professional will. Describe a time where you have practiced this skill or have seen this in another. What traits were exemplified, and how will you apply these traits to your career in medicine? (1000 characters)

5. Throughout your application you have given us a sense of how you intend to contribute to the UA College of Medicine – Phoenix. We would now like to know about how you anticipate the UA College of Medicine – Phoenix will contribute to your goals and passion for medicine. What aspects of our program and community appeals most to you, and how do you plan to make use of specific resources and opportunities here? (1000 characters)

6. Please reflect on your entire application, is there anything you would like to further share with the Admissions Committee? Items to consider: connection(s) to Phoenix and/or our medical community, your plan during this application season, gap(s) in your education, personal, academic, or COVID-related challenges. Do not repeat any information already mentioned in the primary or secondary applications. (1000 characters)

Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine - Arizona

Maximum 500 words

1. Why are you specifically interested in pursuing your medical education at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine? Please tell us in a few sentences why you are interested in the top choice track you indicated.

2. Each of us relates to others through characteristics that make up our individual diversity. Tell us how your diversity is reflected not only in your personal and professional activities but also in your relationships with others, particularly in diverse learning environments.

A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

  1. What do you feel you can contribute to ATSU-SOMA?

2. Describe when you had to persevere in a challenge or obstacle, and what keeps you motivated to keep going towards your goals.

3. Any info you would like to share to the admissions committee?

Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine

1. How did you become aware of Midwestern University/AZCOM? (max. 1500 words)

2. Why do you believe AZCOM would provide you with the type of osteopathic medical education you are seeking? (max. 1500 words) 

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine

1. Non-Arkansas residents who have strong ties to Arkansas are given preference over non-residents without strong ties to the state. Therefore, if you have strong ties to Arkansas (you have lived in Arkansas, you have a parent or close relative who resides in Arkansas, you attend(ed) an Arkansas college, etc.), you must describe your ties to Arkansas in a letter to be uploaded using the Upload Documents section of this application.

Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine

1. List any significant volunteer, community service and/or mission experiences you have had that is not listed on your AACOMAS application. Provide the organization name, hours/week, duration of experience, as well as a brief description of your duties.

2. Please tell us about any healthcare experiences you have had that are not listed on your AACOMAS application. Provide organization name, hours/week, duration of experience, and a brief description of your duties.

3. How do you plan to fulfill the ARCOM Mission in your practice as a physician?

4. What challenges do you expect to personally face most in the next 10 years as a healthcare professional?

5. How do you expect to overcome these challenges?

6. Describe an experience where you interacted with a person or people from a different background than you (ability, religion, gender, race, age, socioeconomic status, citizenship/ nationality, sexual orientation).

7. How did that interaction impact your mindset of the role of a physician?

8. If you are in a difficult basic science class and feel you are not fully grasping the information given in lecture, how would you alter your study habits or techniques to better understand the material and complete the course successfully?

9. What is a recent book you read that impacted the way you think about today's world?

10. Please explain how this book impacted the way you think about today's world.

11. How did you hear about ARCOM? (No limit)

University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine

1 . If you wish to update or expand upon your activities, you may provide additional information below. (500 words)

2. If you are 2023 or earlier college graduate, please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree. (350 words)

3. Do you identify as being part of a marginalized group socioeconomically or in terms of access to quality education or healthcare? Please describe how this inequity has impacted you and your community. (350 words)

Stanford Medical School

1. Are there any current or pending disputes concerning your academic status?

If yes, please explain. (300-character limit)

2. Was your enrollment status ever interrupted during your undergraduate or graduate program, not including summer term (e.g. medical, personal, or academic reasons, military service, other)?

If yes, please explain. (150-character limit)

3. PRACTICE SETTING

What do you see as the most likely practice scenario for your future medical career?

Choose the single answer that best describes your career goals and clinical practice setting:

• Academic Medicine (Clinical)
• Academic Medicine (Physician Scientist)
• Non-Academic Clinical Practice
• Health Policy
• Health Administration
• Primary Care
• Public Health/Community Health
• Global Health

Please describe your motivation for this practice scenario. Why do you feel you are particularly suited for this practice scenario? What knowledge, skills and attitudes have you developed that have prepared you for this career path? (1,000-character limit)

4. CURRICULAR INTERESTS

How will you take advantage of the Stanford Medicine Discovery Curriculum and scholarly concentration requirement to achieve your personal career goals? (1,000-character limit)

5. BACKGROUND

Describe in a short paragraph your educational and family background.

(for example) I grew up in New York City, as the 3rd child of a supermarket cashier and a high school principal. I attended Mann High School where my major interests were boxing and drama. (600-character limit)

6. CONTRIBUTION TO LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Please describe which aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you to make a distinctive contribution to Stanford Medicine. (2,000-character limit)

Please describe how you have uniquely contributed to a community with which you identify. (1,000-character limit)

8. ADVOCACY

Please describe an experience/ situation when you advocated for someone else. (1,000-character limit)

9. ANYTHING ELSE? (OPTIONAL) Please include anything else that will help us understand better how you may uniquely contribute to Stanford Medicine? (OPTIONAL) (1,000-character limit)

Stanford also includes a fifteen question Health Attitude Survey where you give your opinion on several healthcare-delivery issues by choosing from six responses (Strongly Disagree/Moderately Disagree/Mildly Disagree/Mildly Agree/Moderately Agree/Strongly Agree)

 Check out some Stanford medical school secondary essay examples !

UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine

You only have 15 days to submit your secondary essays; all late applications will not be accepted.

1. At the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, students are provided with curriculum and experiences enabling them to become an "Outstanding Physician, AND...," dedicating themselves to important societal missions. What missions do you want to embrace? What have you done toward your missions? (800 characters)

2. Respond to the following and indicate how these areas of experience have impacted your progress toward your future career goals in relation to becoming an "Outstanding Physician, AND...".

A-Describe your most unique leadership, entrepreneurial, or creative activity. (800 characters)

B-Describe your most important volunteer work and why it was meaningful. (800 characters)

C-Describe your most scholarly project (thesis, research or field of study in basic or clinical science or in the humanities) and provide the total number of hours, dates and advisor. (800 characters)

3. Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial or professional barriers, as well as other relevant information. (800 characters)

4. Did you experience or are you anticipating time between graduating from college and matriculating into medical school?

(If yes) Describe the activities in which you participated or are planning to participate. Examples include additional schooling, employment, or caring for a loved one.

5. Do you identify as being part of a group that has been marginalized (examples include, but are not limited to, LGBTQIA, disabilities, federally recognized tribe) in terms of access to education or healthcare?

(If yes) Describe how this inequity has impacted you or your community and how educational disparity, health disparity and/or marginalization has impacted you and your community. (800 characters)

Essay Prompts for PRIME-LA (2000 characters)

1. What is the most important social issue confronting the health of marginalized and under-resourced communities? Describe the first steps you would take to address this issue.

2. In what way will graduating from PRIME-LA and obtaining a master's degree enhance your career in health care or health services for marginalized and under-resourced communities? (If you are considering a specific master’s degree (e.g., MPP, MPH, MBA, etc.), please incorporate your graduate degree plans or aspirations into your answer)

3. Describe how your experiences demonstrate your understanding of, and commitment to, marginalized and under-resourced communities.

4. What are your greatest strengths and your greatest challenges as you approach medical school?

5. Describe your most memorable experience as it relates to working with marginalized and under-resourced populations.

University of California, San Diego School of Medicine

1. This should be a true autobiographical statement. Topics to be included are family, childhood, primary and secondary school years, undergraduate years, and, if applicable, what you’ve done since completing your bachelor’s degree. You should also discuss the motivational factors which led you to a career in medicine including any disadvantages or obstacles which might put your accomplishments into context. A repeat of your AMCAS statement will not be acceptable. Please note: if you are applying to the MD/PhD program, please include why you are specifically interested in seeking MD/PhD training at UCSD. (6000 characters)

2. (OPTIONAL) Please describe how educational disparity, health disparity and/or marginalization has impacted you and your community? (4800 characters)

3. On your AMCAS Application, you were asked to identify your three “most meaningful” experiences. These activities have been auto-filled in your secondary application. In addition to the information, you provided on the AMCAS application, we would like to know if there are any additional activities you would consider among your most meaningful. This may include activities that you’ve already completed but couldn’t include as you were limited to three selections on the AMCAS application, or it may include a new activity that began after your initial AMCAS application was submitted. Use the “Add” button below to enter a new activity. We would also like to know if a letter of recommendation has been submitted on your behalf by somebody you worked with through this experience. If you do not have a letter from this experience, simply type N/A. This information allows Admissions Committee members reviewing your application to more readily match your letters to your experiences and thus facilitates the review of your application. DO NOT LIST ANY ACTIVITY MORE THAN ONCE. (100-character description for each activity you add)

4. Some medical school applicants are already focused on pursuing a particular career pathway in medicine. While many students will change from this pathway during medical school, knowing of your potential interests does help us to assign interviewers. Your choice below does not influence how the Admissions Committee selects students to interview. Please select from one of career pathways listed below. In addition to this selection, please provide a brief description of your future career goals: (400 characters) 

• Academic Medicine (Working as a faculty member at a School of Medicine either as a clinician, a clinician-educator, or a clinician investigator. This could be in any field of medicine)
• Primary Care and/or work in underserved communities (Working as a general internist, a pediatrician, or a family medicine physician and/or spending the majority of your time working in a community currently underserved by the medical profession)
• Public Health, administrative leadership in medicine (Pursuing an MPH and/or working for a public health department or organization; working in health care policy; working as a hospital administrator)
• Specialist in private practice (Working in a private practice or managed care setting as a subspecialist. Examples include cardiologist, infectious disease specialist, obstetrician, orthopedic surgeon, general surgeon, anesthesiologist, radiologist)
• Other/undecided

University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine

1. What is the most fun you’ve had lately? (65-word limit)

2. If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be? (65-word limit)

3. What are three things you don't care about at all? (65-word limit)

4. Describe a situation in which you didn’t get something you felt you deserved. (65-word limit)

5. Are you a member of a group that is under-represented in medicine? (If yes) Which Group? How does under-representation affect your community? (200-word limit)

6. Have you previously applied to medical school (M.D., D.O., international)? (If yes) Upon reflection, what do you think went wrong? (200-word limit)

7. (Optional): Is there anything else you would like us to know? If yes, please answer the question in 200 words or less.

University of California, Davis School of Medicine

1. Optional: Discuss any elements of your application that you feel might be concerning to the Admissions Committee (This could include explanation of metric trends, institutional actions, legal violations, etc.) Please enter N/A if no concerns to report. (500 characters)

2. Optional: Do you have a connection to Northern or Central California? (500 characters)

3. Activities: Please list the activities you would like to be considered in your application to UC Davis. The secondary activities may be used to highlight your experiences specifically relevant for UC Davis. You may use your most meaningful experiences listed in your initial AMCAS application or select/add others that may be relevant to UC Davis. Please only list three. The admissions committee will review all AMCAS application activities as well; this an opportunity to highlight your most meaningful and/or relevant to UC Davis School of Medicine.

Prompt for activities: Briefly describe this activity and its significance. How did it prepare you for a medical career? Include any supporting information (e.g. your contribution to the project or accomplishment as well as links to any publication, etc) (500 characters each activity)

University of California, Irvine School of Medicine

MD (1500 characters each)

1. What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why?

2. Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience.

3. (Optional) Do you identify as being part of a marginalized group socioeconomically or in terms of access to quality education or healthcare? If so, please describe how this inequity has impacted you and your community.

4. (if already have an undergrad degree) Please clarify for the Admissions Committee your activities (school, work, and/or volunteer, travel, etc.) since receiving your undergraduate degree. You may list them in chronological order or you may incorporate them into an essay, stating why you chose particular activities. If you have just received or will receive your undergraduate degree this year, please discuss your plans for current year.

MD/PhD Prompts (1500 characters each)

1. What research accomplishment are you most proud of and why?

2. Please describe to the Admissions Committee a research challenge you have overcome and what you learned from that experience.

3. What does it mean, to you, to be an MD/PhD?

4. Please list all posters, manuscripts (published or planned) you would like the Admissions Committee to consider.

University of California, Riverside School of Medicine

1. The mission of the UCR School of Medicine is to improve the health of the people of California and, especially, to serve Inland Southern California by training a diverse workforce of physicians and by developing innovative research and health care delivery programs that will improve the health of the medically underserved in the region and become models to be emulated throughout the state and nation. What experiences, skills, and abilities will you bring to the class to fulfill this mission 

2. The values of the UCR SOM are integrity, innovation, inclusion, excellence, accountability and respect. Please choose one of the values and tell us how you have personally experienced it or have seen it emulated in a clinical setting.

3. In what type of healthcare setting do you see yourself practicing medicine?

4. Tell us about a personal challenge you have faced in your life thus far and how you demonstrated resilience and grit to overcome it. (Please do not write about studying for or taking the MCAT)

5. (Optional) If there is anything you would like the committee to consider about your candidacy that is not explained elsewhere in your application, please use this space to tell us.

6. (only if you are non-California resident) If you answered Yes, please explain your connection to Inland Southern California and the mission of the UC Riverside School of Medicine

California Northstate University College of Medicine

1. Why have you chosen to apply to CNUCOM? (250 words maximum)

2. In the medical profession, you will be exposed to students, faculty, colleagues, and patients of various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. How has your involvement with diverse populations prepared you for potentially four years in Elk Grove, the greater Sacramento area, and the rest of the Central Valley? (250 words maximum)

3. Did you have a Pre-Health Advisor at your undergraduate institution? If so, please tell us about your experience. How did it help you in your journey to to apply to medical school? If not, please let us know how you worked independently to find out more about applying to medical school and the path of your journey to apply?

4. In which direction would you like to see healthcare progress over the next decade? (250 words maximum)

5. If your education has not been continuous since high school, please explain why. Examples of discontinuities include time taken off while obtaining your undergraduate degree, in addition to gap years. (250 words maximum)

6. If you have previously applied to medical school, what have you accomplished since that time that would warrant your admission now? (250 words maximum)

7. Is there anything you would like the Admissions Committee to know that is not reflected elsewhere in your application? (250 words maximum)

8. How do you feel about standardized tests? How did you prepare for the MCAT? What tools or preparatory courses/material did you use and how did you study? Do you feel like your score reflects how you will perform in medical school? From what you have learned, do you think it will help you in the way you will study or prepare for USMLE exams?

California University of Science and Medicine

1. Describe a time when you were faced with problems or stresses that tested your coping skills. What did you do? 1500 characters

2. Provide us with a specific example of something you did which helped build enthusiasm in others. 1500 characters

3. How would you describe yourself in terms of your ability to work as a member of a team? 1500 characters

4. Describe the last time you were criticized by a peer or supervisor. How did you handle it? 1500 characters

5. What does it mean to be emotionally intelligent? How have you effectively used your skills in emotional intelligence in the past? 1500 characters

6. Give an example of when you had to work with someone who was difficult to get along with. Why was this person difficult? How did you handle that person? 1500 characters

7. What would be the best example that shows you are a person of integrity? 1500 characters

8. If given the opportunity to attend medical school, where would you see yourself in ten years? 1500 characters

9. Diversity comes in many forms. How do you think you might contribute to the diversity of the class? 1500 characters

10. If you were enrolled in fewer than 12 units/credits for more than 1 semester/2 quarters during your undergraduate education, please provide a brief explanation below. Optional (500 characters)

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science

1. The university’s vision statement is “Excellent health and wellness for all in a world without health disparities”. Describe how you envision yourself contributing to the CDU vision statement. (1200 characters)

2. Describe your commitment to transforming the health of diverse and underserved communities. (800 characters)

3. Detail the key motivational factors in your decision to apply to the CDU MD Program. (1200 characters)

4. Please describe a personal experience in which you have encountered discrimination. (800 characters)

5. How will you utilize your medical knowledge and skills to contribute positively to your community after completing medical school? (800 characters)

Kaiser Permanente Tyson School of Medicine

1. During your career as a physician, you will potentially encounter obstacles, and be required to overcome challenges. Please describe your experience with a situation that had an unfavorable outcome, including your reaction, how you might have responded differently, and what you learned about yourself. (250 words)

2. Kaiser Permanente is committed to advancing equity, inclusion, and diversity for all. How will you contribute to the diversity of the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine? (250 words)

3. Lifelong learning is an essential process for continued professional development. This includes reflection and being open and responsive to constructive feedback. Please tell us about an area of intellectual exploration you’re passionate about, and your approach to exploring this area. (250 words)

4. (Optional) Please describe how you have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic (no limit)

Loma Linda University School of Medicine

1. What makes LLUSM particularly attractive to you? (275-word limit)

2. Our medical curriculum integrates spiritual, ethical, and relational issues from the Christian perspective into the practice of medicine. Religion courses and weekly chapel services are part of this program. Please respond to the preceding statements as they relate to your personal educational and career goals. (275-word limit)

3. What personal attributes make you a desirable candidate for admission to LLUSM? (275-word limit)

4. Identify experiences in your life that illustrate your service to others. (275-word limit)

5. Discuss how your spiritual origins, development, and experiences have influenced and been integrated into your daily life. (275-word limit)

6. Please describe your current involvement (or reason for not being involved) with a church or religious group. (275-word limit)

7. If you have already graduated, briefly describe your activities since graduation and your planned activities prior to matriculation into medical school. (275-word limit)

8. Behavioral Expectations. LLU has expectations which include respect for all persons and high standards of personal and professional conduct. This includes abstinence from alcohol, nicotine, cannabinoids, and illicit drugs/substances in all forms. Please describe any use of the above substances within the past year. (No word limit)

Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine

1. Are you a TUCOM re-applicant who has previously interviewed? If yes, what was the result of that interview and what changes, if any, have you made which should effect a different outcome?

2. Have you attended any TUCOM information sessions on campus, at another location, or virtually? If yes, please list the event(s) in which you participated.

3. Please describe your understanding of osteopathic medicine including osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). Please include your personal exposure to osteopathic medicine (if any) and demonstrate your understanding of the osteopathic principles and history of the profession.

4. Please describe your hobbies (or non-academic pursuits) and how they will influence your success as an Osteopathic medical student and/or Osteopathic physician in the future.

5. Please discuss how your life experiences and personal characteristics will contribute to your future success as an outstanding osteopathic physician.

6. When considering medical schools, what criteria are important to you and how does TUCOM align with those criteria?

7. Have you graduated or do you plan to graduate from a High School or equivalent (e.g. GED, ATB, etc.) - OR - College whose primary method of instruction is English?

8. Have you ever had a criminal conviction (this includes a judge or jury verdict, guilty plea, a plea of no contest or nolo contendere, and/or juvenile offenses), or any criminal conviction that you are currently appealing?

Western University of Health Sciences - College of Osteopathic Medicine

500-word limit each

1. What experience observing a DO solidified your desire/ambition to become an osteopathic physician? (This could be a formal shadowing experience (one-on-one with a physician), scribing, observing your own physician, friend, or family member who is a DO).

2. If you have not had the opportunity to shadow/observe a DO why is it important to you to become an osteopathic physician?

3. What was your most memorable community service activity and how did your activity benefit the community?

4. How does the COMP Mission statement align with your values?

5. Why do you want to attend COMP?

6. What does diversity, equity, and inclusion mean to you and why are they important?

7. Have you participated in research? (y/n)

If yes, briefly describe your role and what skills you gained from participation in the research. Please provide us with the link to the publication or abstract if possible. Did you contribute to the published work as an author/coauthor? (y/n)

8. Briefly discuss any extenuating circumstances which you feel are pertinent to your application (poor grades, course withdrawals, lapse in your education, etc.).

9. If you have not taken any coursework for over 3 years, please explain why and what you have been doing during that period of time.

10. Are you a transfer applicant? (y/n)

University of Colorado School of Medicine

1. The pillars of our curriculum are Leadership, Curiosity, and Commitment. Tell us about how you have embodied one or more of these attributes in your path to medicine thus far. In which of these areas do you see the most opportunity for personal growth and why? Limit this response to 500 words 

2. Please describe how your background and/or your unique lived experiences contribute to our culture of inclusive excellence. Limit the response to 300 words.

3. (If reapplicant) Please explain how you and your application has changed since your previous submission. Limit this response to 1500 Characters.

4. Fort Collins Track: Please tell us why you are interested in being a part of the 4-year CUSOM at CSU (Fort Collins Branch campus)? With the background that FCB’s smaller class sizes and unique structure lead to a highly interactive curriculum, please tell us how this campus matches your learning style and personal philosophy. Limit your statement to 1500 characters, including spaces (approximately 300 words).

5. Rural Track: Describe your personal and professional goals in becoming a rural physician. In particular, describe your interest and ability to spend your clinical year in a rural community. You may also include how past experiences living and/or working in a rural area and your ties to or interest in rural Colorado communities aligns with your goals. Limit your statement to 1500 characters, including spaces (approximately 300 words).

Colorado Springs Branch:

1. Please submit a short statement regarding your interest in the Colorado Springs Branch. You may address characteristics of the Branch that would be a fit for your strengths, experiences, and/or career plans. You may also note your ties to or interest in Colorado Springs or other similar communities. Limit the essay to 1500 characters, including spaces (approximately 300 words).

2. In the Colorado Springs Branch LIC, students work in multiple health systems across Southern Colorado (e.g. Colorado Springs, Cañon City, Pueblo) to understand the interface between academic and community medicine and participate in a curriculum focused on how physician leadership in quality improvement and community engagement can impact health equity. Please describe how participation in the Colorado Springs Branch LIC would advance your career goals, and how your life experiences have led you to an interest in our program. You may also note any ties to Colorado Springs or the Southern Colorado community, if applicable. Please limit your statement to 300 words.

Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine - Colorado

1. “ What unique characteristics, abilities, or skills will you bring to help advance the mission and vision of RVUCOM? ”

Yale Medical School

Required Essay 1 (Please limit your response to 500 words):

Yale School of Medicine values diversity in all its forms. How will your background and experiences contribute to this important focus of our institution and inform your future role as a physician?

Essay 2 (Please limit your response to 500 words):

MD applicants: Please answer either one of the following questions

MD/PhD applicants: Please answer question 2 as it pertains to your proposed PhD research.

• While there is great emphasis on the physician-patient relationship, Yale School of Medicine also emphasizes the importance of training future physicians to care for communities and populations.
• Describe how your experiences would contribute to this aspect of the mission of the Yale School of Medicine.
• Research is essential to patient care, and all students at Yale School of Medicine complete a research thesis. Tell us how your research interests, skills, and experiences would contribute to scholarship at Yale School of Medicine.

Essay 3 (Please limit your response to 500 words):

This section is optional. It should be used to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee any important information (personal, academic, or professional) not discussed in other sections of your Yale Secondary Application.

 Read some Yale medical school secondary essay examples !

University of Connecticut School of Medicine

1. Highlight your experiences in the health care field. What insights have you gained about potential problems you will face as a physician?

2. How will the University of Connecticut School of Medicine best serve your needs of becoming a physician or physician scientist?

3. The University of Connecticut School of Medicine realizes that each applicant brings a unique perspective from a broad range of experiences that have been influential in leading to a career in medicine. How will your own life experiences and unique identity enhance the UConn SoM classroom and community?

Quinnipiac University Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine

1. If you will not be enrolled as a full-time student, how will you be spending/intend to spend your time during your application year? If you are a re-applicant, please address steps taken to improve your application for medical school. (200 words)

2. Why is it important to you to go into medicine and become a physician? (200 words)

3. What quality or attribute do you think is most important in being a physician? Please explain. (200 words)

4. As a medical student and future physician, you will be faced with many uncertain situations. Please describe a situation when you were asked to do something that was beyond your capabilities. How did you handle the situation? Please provide a specific example. (400 words)

5. Netter SOM is a diverse and inclusive community, and we believe that each person brings their own unique experiences and attributes. How have your experiences, personal/family background or personal identity impacted your values and attitudes in working with others who will be both similar and different from you? (400 words)

6. If applicable, please address any withdrawals, repeated courses, leaves of absence or breaks in your undergraduate education that are not explained in your application. (250 words)

Georgetown Medical School

1. Are you/will you be enrolled in any program during the 2023-2024 academic year?

2. Have you ever completed one of the following Georgetown Programs? (check all that apply):

• The Georgetown University Academy for Research, Clinical, and Health Equity Scholarship (ARCHES)
• Pedro Arrupe S.J. Scholarship for Peace (ARRUPE)
• Gateway Exploration Program (GEP)
• Georgetown Scholars Program (GSP)
• Georgetown University School of Medicine Summer Immersion Program (GUSOM SCS)
• Cultivating Opportunity & Realizing Excellence (CORE) Leadership Program
• Graduated from Georgetown Experimental Medical Studies Program (GEMS)
• Graduated from Special Master's Program (SMP)

3. The Georgetown University School of Medicine (GUSOM) strives to ensure that its students become respectful physicians, with cultural humility, who embrace all dimensions of caring for the whole person. With our Jesuit values of Cura Personalis, People for Others, and Community in Diversity, we are steadfast in our commitment to racial justice and to addressing the health inequities exacerbated by the recent pandemic. Please describe how your values, life experiences, and your identity will contribute to these GUSOM priorities. (1000 Characters)

4. Is there any further information that you would like the Committee on Admissions to be aware of when reviewing your file that you were not able to notate in another section of this or the AMCAS Application? (1000 Characters 

5. Why have you chosen to apply to the Georgetown University School of Medicine and how do you think your education at Georgetown will prepare you to become a physician for the future? (3000 Characters)

  Want to read some Georgetown medical school secondary essays ?

Howard University College of Medicine

1. Have you lived in communities which are medically underserved, or where the majority of the population is economically and/or educationally disadvantaged? (Please indicate, Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less) (3000 char max)

2. Have you worked (volunteer or paid employment) with medically underserved, economically disadvantaged and/or educationally disadvantaged populations? (Please indicate, Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less) (3000 char max)

3. After residency, do you plan to practice medicine in an underserved or disadvantaged community? (Please indicate, Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less) (3000 char max)

4. Please provide below any additional information you believe is important in evaluating your application (e.g. additional coursework, problems with academic record; disadvantaged, etc.) (Please indicate, Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less)

5. Did COVID-19 impact you preparing your AMCAS application for fall 2024? (i.e. volunteer/work experience, financially, course registration, MCAT testing, etc.) [Please respond Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less, indicate N/A if not applicable]

6. Why Howard University College of Medicine? (2500 char)

George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

1. If you selected regional medical campus preferred or regional medical campus only, please explain in detail your interest in regional medical campus and how it will be a good fit for your clinical education? (1750 characters)

2. Please provide the Admissions Committee with a brief summary of your activities, academics, employment or other occupations to account for full-time activity (approx. 30-40 hours/week) from the point of application through matriculation in 2024. (750 characters)

3. The MD Program includes substantial content in Clinical Public Health (population health, health systems science, health policy, and community health) to prepare GW graduates for an expanded scope of practice required to be successful 21st century physicians. What are your specific interests and experiences related to that aspect of the MD Program? (350 characters)

4. What makes you a unique individual? What challenges have you faced? What have you learned from your experiences? (750 characters)

5. What is your specific interest in the MD Program at GW? What opportunities would you take advantage of as a student here? Why? (1750 characters)

6. Have you previously interacted directly with the MD Admissions Office through events, tours, fairs, webinars, or interviews? (Y/N) If yes, please explain (250 chars). 

Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University

Prerequisites: (1600 char limit incl spaces)

1. Use this area to justify and/or explain any academic hardships on your transcripts (any failed and/or repeated courses due to any reason)

2. Use this area to explain exceptions to these prerequisites at your institution.

About Self:

3. Whether or not you will be a full-time student, please provide details of your activities/employment for the application year. (1200 char incl spaces)

4. Describe why you would like to attend the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at FAU. What values, skills, talents, and life experiences would you contribute to our community? (1600 char incl spaces)

Experience (1600-character limit incl. spaces):

5. Describe your most meaningful community service experience that is unrelated to direct patient care. Why did you select this particular experience? In what way did you grow and learn from this experience? What did you enjoy most?

6. What traits do you feel you have developed through your experiences thus far (such as paid or unpaid work experiences) that will help prepare you to be successful in medical school and a future physician. Experience does not need to be related to patient care.

7. Leadership can be defined in many ways. One way of defining leadership is as a set of behaviors used to help people align their collective direction, or lead a group or an organization. Tell us about a time you executed your leadership skills.

8. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped shape you as a person. Focus on what you learned about yourself and how it will help you during challenges you may face during medical school and as a future physician. Describe any support system and/or resources you had available and how you utilized them.

Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Primary Activity/Employment

1. Whether or not you will be a full-time student, please explain what you will be doing prior to your planned matriculation into medical school. (Not sure of character limit, but it is less than 1000 for sure)

  2. If you have taken a gap year(s), please explain what you have been, or will be doing since graduating from your undergrad institution. (same as above)

Supplemental Essays

1. Miami is a vibrant and multicultural, multilingual city. You will be exposed to cultures and languages different than your own while living and studying in this city. Please explain in detail an experience in which you collaborated, worked, or were exposed to diverse backgrounds. Please describe the impact the experience had on you. (1200 characters)

2. Why did you choose to apply to FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine? (1200 characters)

3. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Focus on what you learned about yourself and how it will help you during the challenges you might face in medical school. Describe any support system you had at your disposal and how you utilized these resources. (1200 characters)

4. If you are accepted into medical school, how do you envision your lifestyle will change, and what challenges may await? Similarly, what do you think will be the most rewarding and difficult part of practicing medicine in the future? (1200 characters)

5. Use this area to explain any exception to the prerequisites at your institution. (OPTIONAL, 1000 characters)

6. Is there any additional information about your academic record that you would like the Admissions Committee to know? Please include any academic difficulties or course withdrawals. (OPTIONAL, 1000 characters)

1. Please share any disruptions and/or challenges you have experienced this application year as a direct result of COVID-19 that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider in conjunction with your application. The following are some examples of topics for consideration, but are not limited to: academic preparations; extracurricular activities and/or experiences; personal and/or professional opportunities; or lessons and insights gained as a result of COVID-19. (1000 characters)

For those who are not Florida residents, the following prompt will appear:

Please describe any connection to FIU, FIU HWCOM, or South Florida.

Florida State University College of Medicine

A. Personal Background (500 words)

1 . Please provide a description of your family. (Optional)

2. Please provide a description of where you grew up (i.e. rural area, large city, etc.) (Optional)

3. Indicate what you do for fun and diversion (hobbies, special interests, etc.). (Optional)

4. What is a unique trait, experience, or interest that we would not normally learn about you? (Optional)

5 . If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you are comfortable voluntarily sharing with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Many applicants will not need to answer this question. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, identification with a minority culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. (Optional)

B. Self Critical Analysis (500 words)

1. Why are you choosing to apply to the FSU College of Medicine? Please be specific describing what is particularly attractive about FSU COM.

2. What do you feel are your personal and scholastic qualifications for the study of medicine? (Optional)

3. If you have previously interviewed or applied to the College of Medicine, what steps have you taken to improve your application? (Optional)

C. Additional Questions (500 words)

1. In what field/specialty of medicine do you envision yourself working ten years from now? Please list no more than three (3) specialties.

2. Write a short statement describing how you envision using the specialty/ties you listed above to advance our mission 

3. The Admissions Committee understands that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted applicants in various ways. If you wish to inform the committee as to how these events have affected you and have not already done so elsewhere in your application, please use this space to do so. (Optional)

D. Florida Resident (200 characters)

The Florida State University College of Medicine accepts very few out-of-state applicants. Except under rare circumstances, out of state applicants are considered for admission only if their county of residence is geographically contiguous with the State of Florida, or if they can demonstrate significant ties to the State of Florida.

Is Florida currently your legal State of residence? (Yes/No)

Has it ever been your legal state of residence? (Yes/No)

If “yes,” please briefly explain: (Optional)

If you have never been a Florida resident or are not currently residing in Florida

(answered “no” to both questions above), please briefly describe any significant ties that you have to the State of Florida (Examples of significant ties include- but are not limited to- attending college within Florida; having strong family ties to Florida, owning property in Florida, etc.) (Optional)

E. Disclosures (500 characters)

1. Have you ever been charged with a violation of the law which resulted in, or is still pending could result in, probation, community service, a jail sentence, or the revocation or suspension of your driver's license (including traffic violations which resulted in a fine of $200 or more)? If "yes", please explain. (Optional)

2. Have you ever been or are you now under investigation for any academic or legal/conduct problems at any undergraduate or graduate institution? If "yes", please explain. (Optional)

University of Florida College of Medicine

1. If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between August 2023 and July 2024, please detail your current and planned activities below. (250-500 words)

2. The medical profession is frequently described as being both a science and an art. One could summarize this by saying that patients must “be well cared for” (science) but they must also “feel well cared for” (art). We work to teach our students not only the scientific principles of medicine, but also the core values of medicine, often called “professionalism”. Toward this end we keep patients at the center of our education and often reflect on their stories with our students.

The exciting advances in our understanding of the biological basis for disease have led to the emergence of a host of targeted therapies and amazing technologies improving the duration and quality of our patients’ lives. The better a physician knows his/her patient, the better decisions they will make together as they approach important healthcare related questions. This so-called shared decision-making model is one key feature of patient centered care.

Practicing the art of medicine in this way yields a physician patient relationship (PPR) that is both therapeutic and mutually enriching. However, many of these same technologies have the unintended consequence of separating us from our patients, both literally and figuratively. In addition, the industrialization of medicine and use of electronic health records have led to a decrease in the time physicians spend with their patients further eroding the strength of the PPR.

At the UFCOM, we have many strategies to equip our students to preserve their own humanity and that of their patients. One of the most important is the ability to make connections with and get to know their patients. Frequently such connections become the student’s first taste of the joy of medical practice. In fact, the UFCOM version of the Hippocratic Oath includes the following affirmation. “I will remember with gratitude and humility those whose illness or injury provided examples from which I learned, and, in their honor, I will continue the pursuit of knowledge.”

In our polarized society, the importance of such virtues as humility and gratitude have perhaps never been greater. Over the last two decades, the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California Berkeley has offered strong scientific support for the importance of such virtues as gratitude and humility in human well-being. But it should also be remembered that philosophers and theologians have cherished these virtues for centuries.

For example, when mounting a legal defense for a friend, Cicero observed, “while I wish to be adorned with every virtue, yet there is nothing which I can esteem more highly than the being and appearing grateful. For this one virtue is not only the greatest, but is also the parent of all the other virtues.” Offering a similar endorsement for the virtue of humility, Augustine of Hippo observed, “Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.”

Students at UFCOM regularly write about and discuss encounters with patients that shape their professional identity in important ways. In so doing, we all learn to become better physicians and human beings.

Here are two such reflections, by our students, one a poem and the other an essay. Read and reflect on both and then choose one and describe how the writer grew from the experience. Consider the affirmation from the Hippocratic Oath in your response. (250-500 words)

3. The profession of medicine has always had an explicit contract with society about our expertise and competence but it also includes an important affirmation. Namely, that we will subordinate self-interest to patient interest when the needs of our patients require us to do so. This does not mean we do not take care of ourselves and one another, but it does mean we willingly take on risks to ourselves that many others would not. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought this commitment to light as many medical professionals labored on the front lines caring for the sick despite the potential dangers.

When we consider medical practice and hence, medical education, one could ask what sorts of virtues or character traits equip young medical professionals for such a noble calling. Many come to mind including courage, compassion, intellectual honesty and integrity. But recently attention has been given to the ability to stay with a task or course even when one is tired, discouraged and the work is daunting and laborious. Terms such as “resilience”, “endurance”, “perseverance”, “determination” or “grit” describe this character trait. Dr. Angela Duckworth has explored this in detail in her book “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” (Angela Duckworth). Cultivating this virtue, in ourselves and one another, offers a tangible means to lean against the depersonalizing and emotionally exhausting forces at work in healthcare.

As physicians, we have the privilege of caring for people who are in the most difficult places of their lives. Being present during these times can be both a source of joy as we help our patients, but can also challenge our own emotional health and resilience. Struggling to make sense of suffering induced by disease, social forces and human agency has brought an occasion for growth among many of us who work in healthcare.

As you grow into your new identity as a physician, you will come face to face with the suffering of other human beings. In fact, we will all have to face our own losses as we go through medical training and practice. Put simply, none of us is exempt from suffering. As the Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe (1930-2013) once observed, “When suffering knocks at your door and you say there is no seat for him, he tells you not to worry because he has brought his own stool.”

Holocaust survivor and renowned psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, (1905-1997) wrote an account of his time in the concentration camp called, “Man’s Search for Meaning”. It has sold more than 10 million copies in 24 languages and offers profound insights into how finding meaning in suffering sustains us during our darkest times.

Below are several quotes from Dr. Frankl that deal with finding purpose and meaning in suffering. After reading and thinking about his insights, chose one or two and tell us about experiences where you have seen these principles at work either in your own life, or in the lives of others.

• “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
• “If there is a meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffering. Suffering is an ineradicable part of life, even as fate and death. Without suffering and death, human life cannot be complete.”
• “A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the 'why' for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any 'how.'”
• “Being human always points, and is directed, to something or someone, other than oneself - be it a meaning to fulfill or another human being to encounter.”

4. (Optional) If you think there is any additional information that would help the admissions committee in its review of your application, including any disruptions in your academic/volunteer/work/personal life related to COVID-19, please use the space below. (4000 characters max)

Additional Questions

1. *REQUIRED If you are not a legal resident of Florida according to your AMCAS application, write a statement describing your association with the State of Florida below. This statement is required even if you have no ties to the State of Florida. (no apparent word count)

2. (optional) Reflect upon your life experiences, values and/or personal background. Do any or all of these helps frame how you envision your future contributions to the health and wellbeing of others as a physician and if so, how? (500 words max)

University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine

1. Do you believe the competitiveness (i.e. course requirements, experiences, academic performance, etc.) of your application for medical school has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic? If yes, please provide specifics as to how your competitiveness was impacted. If no, type “N/A”. (1500 Characters)

2. What do you see as the most likely practice scenario for your future medical career?

(Private Practice, Academic Medicine, Public Health, Health Care Administration, Health Policy, Other)

Describe the knowledge, skills, and attributes you have developed in preparation for the career path you have chosen in the previous question. (1500 characters)

3. The USF Morsani College of Medicine’s Scholarly Concentrations program aims to support the educational development of medical students by providing opportunities for academic endeavors in areas of special interest. This program facilitates self-directed learning, enhances interactions between students and fosters relationships between students and faculty. Scholarly concentrations provide a forum where diversity of ideas and perspectives are valued. Each concentration includes elements of course work, practical application and scholarly presentation. Please review our Scholarly Concentrations website to determine which concentration would be of interest to you and answer the following question: (Scholarly Concentrations Program | USF Health) a. How would the USF Morsani College of Medicine’s Scholarly Concentrations Program help your personal career goals? (1500 characters)

4. The USF Morsani College of Medicine strives to educate a very diverse set of students who bring a variety of strengths and interests to the field of medicine. The definition of diversity is broad and includes (but is not limited to) lifestyle, race/ethnicity, geography, socioeconomic status and distance traveled through life. The definition of strength is also broad and includes (but is not limited to) humanism, scholarship, intellectual curiosity, research, and leadership. How do you feel your particular experiences, interests, and passions will add to the strength and diversity of the USF class and ultimately to the field of medicine? (2000 characters)

5. If you have experienced academic difficulties, please explain the situation and how it was resolved. (Please explain all grades less than a "B", including B-, or any "withdrawal" on your transcripts). (2000 characters)

6. If you have chosen the SELECT program or BOTH, please explain how your experiences and career goals match with the mission of the SELECT program. (MD SELECT Program | USF Health) (1500 characters)

University of Central Florida College of Medicine

1. If you are NOT a Florida resident, please describe any connection to UCF COM, UCF, or Florida. (500 characters)

2. If you do not expect to spend the academic year enrolled in an academic program, please explain how you will use this time. (500 characters)

3. In this space, provide brief details regarding academic difficulties, grades below "B minus," or course withdrawals. (500 characters)

4. What breakthrough in clinical or research medicine would you like to see occur within the span of your career in medicine? Why? (750 characters)

5. The complexity of healthcare delivery increasingly requires interdisciplinary teamwork. What lessons have you learned from sports, music, business or other experiences have prepared you to succeed in this environment? (750 characters)

6. We often hear that students want to pursue medicine to help people. Why did you choose medicine and not some other field where you can help others, such as nursing, physical therapy, pharmacology, psychology, education, or social work? (750 characters)

7. Please share with the Admissions Committee why you are specifically interested in UCF COM. (750 characters)

8. Please provide a short essay to help us understand who you are. This essay should be different from your AMCAS Personal Statement. UCF COM places great value on the broad diversity of our students within the classroom. We believe the diverse characteristics of each individual in the class are important factors in serving the educational missions of this school and of our community. Please discuss any unique, personally important and/or challenging experiences in your background that have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine and service to others. These may include experiences such as the quality of your early educational environment, socioeconomic status, cultural background, or other significant events or circumstances that you feel have shaped your character and defined you as an individual. We are also interested on your thoughts about what you can contribute to your class and the medical profession in general. (Up to 4,000 characters)

University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine

1. What have you done during the recent COVID-19 pandemic that will better prepare you to be a medical student and future physician?

2. Why have you selected the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine for your medical education? Please be as specific as possible.

3. Please provide a chronological list with dates AND a brief description of your clinical experiences/shadowing.

4. Please provide a chronological list with dates of your community service/volunteering.

5. Please discuss a situation where you had to use your leadership skills.

6. Please briefly discuss your research experience.

7. Please provide a chronological list with dates of your employment.

8. What have you done to help identify, address and correct an issue of systemic discrimination?

9. Choose one of the following prompts (you can't do both)

(optional) Provide a description of any activities involving the FINE ARTS (dance, drama, music, art, photography, etc.

(optional) Provide a description of any activities involving SPORTS (organized team sports, recreational activities that you play, watch or follow)

10. (optional) Describe your most meaningful involvement in STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS.

11. (optional) Provide a description of your most memorable TRAVEL experience.

12. (optional) Provide a description of your HOBBIES and what you do for fun and relaxation.

Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicin e

1. Please provide an example that indicates your ability to function effectively as a productive member of a team working toward a common objective. Elaborate on leadership roles you held in this capacity and how you solved problems that arose. Indicate highlights learned from this experience. (Maximum 4000 characters)

2. Please share some personal examples of problem solving in a team environment and/or leadership experience that would lead to your success in a Problem Based Learning environment. (Maximum 4000 characters)

3. At NSU M.D., we value the unique perspective that each applicant brings. Identify any traits, life experiences, or interests that a professor or advisor would not normally know about you. (Maximum 4000 characters)

4. How has your academic work beyond the “traditional” pre-medical school requirements (i.e., introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and introductory physics) prepared you for medical school and for a career in medicine? Please highlight any service-learning activities that align with humanism in medicine. (Maximum 4000 characters)

5. Is there a time gap between earning your last degree (baccalaureate or other) and the expected time of your medical school matriculation? If yes, please explain. (Maximum 4000 characters)

6. Were you employed full-time (or part-time) during your undergraduate or graduate years? If yes, please explain. (Maximum 4000 characters)

7. Do you believe that you are a member of a group that is under-represented in medicine? If yes, please explain. (Maximum 4000 characters)

8. Please explain any gaps or inconsistencies in either academic or standardized test performances throughout your undergraduate, graduate, or post-graduate career. (No word limit)

Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

1. How did you learn about osteopathic medicine? (1000-character limit)

2. List and briefly describe your significant health care-related volunteer activities since graduation from high school. (2000 characters)

3. If you have ever matriculated into an M.D. or a D.O. program, please explain the reason(s) for leaving. Please use the following format: date, institution, status. If non applicable, please type "none" (1000-character limit)

4. If you were employed during the regular school year (excluding summers) while in undergraduate or graduate school, please list dates of employment beginning with your current position along with title or job description, level of responsibility, and number of hours per week. (2000 character)

Emory Medical School

(200-word limit each)

1. List your entire curriculum plan for the 2023-2024 academic year. If you are not in school, please briefly describe your plans for the coming year 

2. Briefly describe your health-related experiences. Be sure to include important experiences that are in your AMCAS application, as well as any recent experiences.

3. Briefly describe your interest in Emory and the Emory degree program you have selected.

4. Emory School of Medicine is committed to recruiting and educating medical students who will help deliver quality health care and will promote the health of our patients. In our community, this includes learning about and addressing the health care needs of our most under-served populations. Please describe any of your activities that have been in service to under-served communities.

5. If you have any updates or new information to report since you have submitted your AMCAS primary application, please briefly describe below.

Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

1. Please discuss your primary interest in attending the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University. (300 words)

2. Please describe your motivation for becoming a physician. What contributions do you feel that you could make to the medical profession in the future? (300 words)

3. Please list any additional clinical experiences that are not included on your AMCAS application. Please include the physician’s name OR type of experience (i.e., Nursing, PA, EMT, E.R. Scribe, etc.) in the description column below along with the location, dates and total number of hours. If no additional experiences have occurred, please select "N/A."

4. The Admissions Committee regards the diversity of an entering class as an important factor in serving the educational mission of MCG and meeting the healthcare needs of a diverse patient population. Please describe how your own personal attributes, background, or life experiences, would contribute to the diversity of the class. (300 words)

5. The art of medicine requires resilience on the part of its practitioners. There can be perceived failure even when the medical team has done everything right. Please describe a time when you were a part of something that failed. What did you learn from this experience? (300 words)

6. Please describe the geographical area in which you would most likely practice medicine and why. Please include the country, region, state, city and/or town in your response. (300 words)

7. Please explain any inconsistencies in your academic record. This may include below average course performance, grade trends, MCAT scores, etc. Please enter N/A if not applicable. (300 words)

8. If applicable, indicate any special experiences, unusual factors, or other information you have not already addressed in your application. Please enter N/A if not applicable. (300 words)

9. Please discuss any disruptions to your medical school application as a result of COVID-19. This may include but is not limited to academic performance, clinical, volunteer, research and extracurricular activities. (300 words)

Morehouse School of Medicine

1. Briefly explain the reasons for your selections in the Perceptions of Your Medical Career Section.

2. Type a brief statement setting forth the key motivational factors in your decision to apply to Morehouse School of Medicine and any information about yourself you feel would be of interest to the Committee of Admissions in the consideration of your application.

Mercer University School of Medicine

1. Please provide below an alternate e-mail address (different from the one listed on the Primary AMCAS Application) to which we can send you correspondence related to your application. (Required)

2. Please provide a cell phone number at which you can be contacted in reference to your application. (Required)

3. Please address any institutional action, including honor code or conduct code violations, from your time as an undergraduate and graduate student. (Required)

4. If you wish to discuss your perceptions of your academic readiness for the rigors of a medical school curriculum or explain poor grades in college coursework or MCAT scores to the Admissions Committee, please do so below.

5. What is your understanding of the practice of rural medicine?

6. Do you consider yourself to have been raised or to be residing in an area that is medically underserved or in a county that consists of medically underserved populations? By medically underserved we mean populations vulnerable to poor health due to difficulties accessing adequate health care services. This may be due to factors including but not limited to: education level; poverty; being uninsured or underinsured; lack of a usual source of care other than the emergency department; belonging to a socially marginalized group with poorer health outcomes; cultural or language barriers to receiving quality medical care; distance or lack of transportation to needed medical care. Please explain.

7. The mission of Mercer University School of Medicine (MUSM) is to educate physicians and health professionals to meet the health care needs of medically underserved and rural areas of Georgia. Summarize your work and learning experiences that you believe reflect congruence with this mission. Based on your understanding of our mission, where and what do you envision yourself doing after completion of medical school and residency?

8. If you wish to, please briefly explain to the Admissions Committee experiences, attributes, or qualifications you believe are unique to you that will strengthen the educational environment at MUSM.

9. Please explain to the Admissions Committee factors that you could not highlight above that would help the Admissions Committee better understand your unique circumstances. If you would like to briefly highlight any substantial updates with regard to your application (example, volunteer experiences) that have occurred after you submitted the Primary AMCAS Application, please summarize them below.

10. Describe your experiences in service to others and your community and how they have helped prepare you to be a physician.

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Georgia Campus

No secondary application required.

University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine

1. Resilience is “the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.” Consider a challenge you have experienced. How are your attitudes and actions regarding your challenge a reflection of resilience? (600-word limit)

2. Describe your most important volunteer work and why it was meaningful. (600-word limit)

3. Describe any personal connection to JABSOM and/or Hawaii and the Pacific that you may have. If you do not have a personal connection to JABSOM and/or Hawaii, please describe your interest in attending JABSOM. (600-word limit)

4. If you are a re-applicant to JABSOM, please complete the following additional essay. Describe what efforts you have made to further improve your application to the MD Program. (600-word limit)

Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM)

1. What characteristics of ICOM will help you become a successful osteopathic physician? (no character limit)

2. If this is not your first time applying to medical school, how have you improved your application? (Please type N/A if not applicable) (no character limit )

3. What does Osteopathic Principles and Practices mean to you and how will you integrate these into your future practice? (no character limit)

Carle Illinois College of Medicine

Carle Illinois is looking for everything most other medical schools are looking for – and something more. If you are completing our secondary application, you have already passed the threshold for our competency checklist. Well done. Now we want to find out more about you.

Our secondary application is unique. We are looking for physician-innovators. Does that describe you? Our secondary application is your chance to demonstrate that you have the compassion, curiosity and creativity we believe a physician-innovator needs. We are asking you to complete a portfolio comprised of three artifacts and three very short essays (100 words each).

The portfolio provides an opportunity to SHOW US and TELL US how compassion, curiosity, and creativity have played out in your life through visual artifacts and short essays. How do you exemplify these values? How have you grown in these areas? Show us and tell us the connections between these values and your experience. The artifacts should be somewhat reflective in nature so share your thoughts and insights.

For example, if you did or are still doing work in a research lab, we are less interested in a detailed description of the science and more interested in learning what you actually did, how YOU contributed, and if you were able to be innovative. Was the activity you are presenting part of a class for credit or something you did on your own? Was this part of a team? If so, what was YOUR role? Show us and tell us who you are, and why you are a strong applicant for our program.

Each artifact should be uploaded as a PDF (one page for each value, formatted no larger than 8.5" x 11"). No hyperlinks or embedded videos are allowed. We encourage you to make your artifacts image focused. Your artifacts will be most powerful if you include multiple activities for each and clearly indicate the quality and depth of your experience, but only include that which is meaningful for the value. You may repeat experiences listed on your AMCAS application and/or include new ones.

Please do not include activities from high school or earlier unless they are of very high quality or impact (an example would be achieving Eagle Scout rank). Family interactions/relationships ("spending time with family") are unlikely to score well unless you can show how they are noteworthy or significant (an example would be full-time caregiver for a family member for a period). As you are completing your portfolio, please keep in mind that our screeners will evaluate your portfolio independently BEFORE they evaluate your AMCAS application so do not assume the screeners are aware of any of the information in your AMCAS.

Captions or other brief notes can be included on the artifact to help the screener understand your images. Don't provide an essay in place of a visual artifact unless you are an extraordinarily skilled writer! In addition to any notes included on your artifact, each artifact will be accompanied by a very brief essay (maximum 100 words) to give context to your artifact. While the content of your portfolio is of primary importance, our reviewers are also evaluating your presentation. This does not mean you have to be "artistic", but it is valuable to show an innovative approach.

1. Compassion

We believe in creating physicians who, in addition to solving healthcare's most complex problems, are also tender, kind, and warm. From day one, you will be working with patients.

Show Us - How have you changed the lives of others? What have you experienced that has fostered a deep sense of compassion? For example, have you had a moving volunteer experience? Have you learned through adversity and shared those lessons with others in need? Share with us the ways you’ve impacted a larger population and help us see how you will be the type of physician we would entrust with our most beloved community members.

Tell Us - In 100 words or less, explain how this artifact reflects Carle Illinois College of Medicine's value of Compassion.

2. Curiosity

Carle Illinois College of Medicine values lifelong learners. We want to see your passion for learning and growing!

Show Us - How have you explored new interests, cultures, or people? Have you identified a need and taken the initiative to respond to that need? For example, is there a research project or work experience you’d like to share? Has your curiosity fostered a deeper sense of vulnerability, resilience, or life-long learning? If so, how? Let us see where your curiosity has taken you.

Tell Us - In 100 words or less, explain how this artifact reflects Carle Illinois College of Medicine's value of Curiosity.

3. Creativity

The dictionary tells us that innovation is a new method, idea, or product. Often there is an outcome, a clearly defined result, or a new thing is discovered. The introduction of something new requires dynamic thinking and creative solutions. Creativity is key to innovation. Help us see your creativity!

Show Us - What are the ways you demonstrate you have an active mind? What are you really proud of? For example, have you used technology in novel or distinct ways? What innovative solutions have you employed in your work, healthcare, or hobbies? Have you taken a risk to respond to a problem, to express yourself, or to achieve your goals? Describe how you live and lead a creative life.

Tell Us - In 100 words or less, explain how your artifact reflects Carle Illinois College of Medicine’s value of Creativity.

Chicago Rosalind Franklin Medical School

(150 words each)

1. Please specifically discuss how, if admitted to our program, your admission would contribute to the diversity of the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science community.

2. Briefly share your plans for the upcoming academic year. Do you plan to work, conduct research, volunteer in a health care setting, participate in community service, attend school, travel, participate in leisure activities or other activities?

3. Have you ever had a major setback? What was the cause and how did you overcome it?

4. What areas of your life needs the most improvement, and what plans have you made to improve it?

Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

1. Explain how you know that you want to spend your life studying and practicing medicine. Describe how the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM) can help you develop into the kind of person and physician you hope to become.

2. Social justice in the Jesuit tradition, justice due each person by virtue of their own inherent human dignity, is an essential dimension of education at SSOM. Describe what you have learned about yourself from your concrete social justice experiences. Explain how you plan to sustain your efforts to advocate for current social justice issues as a medical student and as a physician.

3. Serving underserved and under-resourced communities is an expression of social justice. Describe an impactful experience in working with and for under-resourced communities. Explain what you have learned about yourself through this service OR what has hindered your efforts to serve others in these environments.

4. Describe a time you received feedback about your performance and disagreed with the feedback. What did you disagree with? How did you handle it?

5. Describe a non-academic personal/professional challenge or conflict that you have experienced. Explain what skills, resources and/or strategies you employed to resolve the problem.

6. Have you or any of your relatives attended or been employed by Loyola University Chicago or the Stritch School of Medicine?

Complete Questions 7-13 If Applicable

7. Please indicate additional grades earned, amendments to your proposed coursework or graduation date, address changes, additions to your list of experiences, and anything else you feel we should know.

8. Please explain in more detail (in less than 1500 characters) anything that would help us understand any gaps or delays in your education, academic missteps, or personal challenges not listed elsewhere.

9. If you have not been enrolled in coursework for over two years, please let us know what you have been doing since your coursework ended.

10. Have you applied to SSOM prior to this application? If so, please list the years of your previous application submissions to SSOM and tell us how your application has improved since your previous submission.

11. Are you currently, or have you been, enrolled in any of the following programs?

• Applicant Boot Camp or Health Equity and Advocacy Leaders (ASPIRE)
• Early Assurance Program (EAP)
• Health Professionals Recruitment and Exposure Program (HPREP)
• Loyola University Chicago undergraduate (LUC)
• Loyola MA in Medical Sciences (LUC MAMS)
• Loyola MS in Medical Physiology (LUC MSMP)
• Loyola Masters in Infectious Disease and Immunology (INDIRI)
• Proviso United with Loyola for Educational Enrichment (PULSE)
• Medical Minority Applicant Registry (MED-MAR)

12. Have you ever been convicted of a crime other than a minor traffic or parking violation? If the answer is yes, please explain below.

13. If you did not submit an advisor or committee letter, please tell us why.

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

1. FEINBERG CURRICULUM: Describe which part (s) of Feinberg’s integrated curriculum you are most excited to engage in and best align with your learning style.

2. COPING STRATEGIES: Describe specific steps you take to manage your stress and maintain wellness while balancing personal, educational, and professional responsibilities.

3. FUTURE CAREER PLANS: Feinberg’s mission is to train future leaders in medicine who will serve their patients, communities and society. Describe one specific goal within medicine and how FSM, located in Chicago, will help you achieve this professional goal.

4. POST-UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCES (if applicable): If you have one year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe both your completed activities and future plans during the gap period

5. REAPPLICANT (if applicable): If you are reapplying to medical school, please address steps taken to improve your application.

6. FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE RELATIONSHIP

Do you or an immediate family member have an existing relationship with Feinberg School of Medicine?

7. Personal Narrative: The Feinberg School of Medicine values the totality of our students’ experiences. As everyone has their own narrative, please provide more detail about how your unique experiences would enrich the Northwestern community.

Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center

1. Rush Medical College is located on Chicago’s west side and serves a diverse patient population. We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us about a life experience that has broadened your own world view or enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from this experience. (1000 characters)

2. As an anchor institution, Rush is embedded in its strategies to improve the societal and structural determinants of health which improve the economic vitality of Chicago’s west side neighborhoods and help residents achieve better health. Using your own experiences, describe how you have impacted and/or changed a person or community. (1000 characters)

3. (Optional) If applicable, describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your application to and/or preparation for medical school. (1000 characters)

4. (Optional) Use this space to provide additional information, which is non-COVID related, you would like the Committee on Admissions to be aware of when reviewing your application. (1000 characters)

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

The mission of SIU School of Medicine is to assist the people of central and southern Illinois in meeting their health care needs through education, patient care, research and service to the community.

• Preference is given to established residents of central and southern Illinois who intend to practice medicine in the state.
•  Applicants should have a good foundation in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
• Applicants are expected to demonstrate facility in writing and speaking the English language.
• Preference is given to applicants who will have earned a baccalaureate degree by the time of matriculation.
• Preference is given to applicants who have had sufficient recent academic activity to demonstrate potential for successful completion of medical school.

Although the Admissions Committee establishes no quotas, active efforts are made to recruit qualified applicants from groups who have been under-represented in the medical profession.

1. SIU School of Medicine uses a holistic approach to identify students who best fulfill its mission: to assist the people of central and southern Illinois in meeting their health care needs through education, patient care, research and service to the community. In what ways do you believe you would contribute to SIU’s mission and what barriers have you overcome in your life’s circumstances to reach this point in applying to medical school? Please limit your response to 300 words or less.

2. Tell us about your lived experiences that will make you a better physician? Please limit your response to 300 words or less.

3. To be successful as a student at SIU School of Medicine and as a practicing physician, you must be flexible and committed to cultivating and employing critical interactive and learning skills. Describe your experiences that demonstrate: contribution in a teamwork setting; engagement in self-directed and life-long learning (taking personal initiative to identify and address your learning goals and needs); and exposure to the small group tutorial process used in a problem-based learning environment. Please limit your answer to 500 words or less.

4. If you have previously applied to SIU School of Medicine, please describe how you feel you have strengthened your credentials since that application. Please limit your answer to 300 words or less.

5. Have you ever been convicted of a felony? Have you ever been convicted with a misdemeanor other than a minor traffic offense? Have you ever been charged with a felony or a misdemeanor other than a minor traffic offense, or with misconduct on any college campus? If you answered 'YES' to any of the three preceding questions, please explain the relevant circumstances. (no character limit given)

Pritzker School of Medicine

1. Students at the Pritzker School of Medicine complete the majority of their clinical training at UChicago Medicine (UCM). UCM is one of the top ten most racially inclusive hospitals in the United States with a primary service area of 12 South Side zip codes where poverty is over double the state level. Additionally, our students lead six free clinics in diverse neighborhoods throughout the city of Chicago.

Please share with us the personal and professional experiences that have best prepared you to work in this diverse clinical environment. (450 words)

2. (MD-Only Applicants)

All MD students participate in our longitudinal Scholarship & Discovery research program, which offers protected curricular time, mentoring, and funding for students to pursue their scholarly interests.

Please describe your research interests and share how our research opportunities will help you advance your career goals. (450 words)

3. Share with us a difficult or challenging situation you have encountered and how you dealt with it. In your response, identify both the coping skills you called upon to resolve the dilemma, and the support person(s) from whom you sought advice. (450 words)

4. Optional Additional Information

Please feel free to use this space to convey any additional information that you might wish the Committee to know. For example, if you are not currently completing a degree, please share your planned or current activities for this application cycle. We suggest that you limit your text to about 300 words.

University of Illinois College of Medicine

1. What characteristics, qualities, or attributes do you possess that have helped you to deal with conflict and change?

2. Which characteristics, qualities, or attributes of UICOM attracted you to apply for medical school here?

3. An important part of UICOM’s identity is the concept of “one college, three campuses.” The curriculum is identical on each campus; however, each campus has unique characteristics. Please describe what you have learned about at least two of our three campuses.

4. What are some of the causes and consequences of prejudice and injustice? What does an individual’s response to prejudice and injustice reveal about their character? What is the role of a bystander who witnesses prejudice or injustice?

5. UICOM values a wide range of perspectives. Describe an aspect of your own perspective, value system, or lived experience that is important to you and how it would contribute to the diverse and collaborative community at UICOM.

6. Have you applied for admission to medical school previously?

If you are reapplying this year, please describe what you have done during the past year.

7. Have you ever matriculated into and not completed a professional/graduate program?

Please describe the circumstances of why you did not complete the program of study.

Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University

1. List any relative who is an osteopathic physician:

2. Why do you believe CCOM would provide you with the type of osteopathic medical education you are seeking? (1500 Characters)

3. Why should CCOM accept you into this year's class? (1500 Characters)

4. Upload a copy of your resume or curriculum vitae, which will include, but not be limited to the following information:

• Educational History (colleges attended and degrees earned)
• Employment History
• Medically-related work and volunteer experiences
• College extracurricular activities, honors, and leadership responsibilities
• Community activities, honors, and leadership responsibilities
• Hobbies and nonacademic interests

Indiana University School of Medicine

No secondary applications required.

Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

1. Describe the experience (name & location of hospital/clinic, name & specialty physician, and amount of time spent shadowing).

2. Please share any other relevant information that you would like the MU-COM Admissions Committee to know about you. (300 words)

3. Indicate any changes or additions that have occurred since submitting your AACOMAS application. (Including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, research, military service, academic warnings, conduct violations, and/or convictions.)

4. Are you interested in practicing medicine in Indiana? If yes, please describe your interest and reasons why. If no, please explain why not. (300 words)

5. Describe your motivation for attending MU-COM and osteopathic medicine. Please be specific.

6. Please explain any gaps in education or employment longer than holidays and semester breaks.

7. In which area of medicine are you most interested in practicing and why (choose up to 3).

University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine

1. We understand you may be applying to multiple medical schools. Please explain your reasons for applying to the Carver College of Medicine. (1500-character limit)

2. Describe a personal characteristic, challenge, or experience that makes you unique. How will this influence your contribution to a dynamic healthcare system that advocates for all peoples? (1500-character limit)

3. Please list and briefly describe all medically related experiences (paid/volunteer) you have completed during the past 5 years. Do NOT forecast future hours. Please include experiences listed on your AMCAS and also provide any additional experiences NOT listed on your AMCAS. You may list up to 15 entries, 175 characters to describe EACH.

4. If you are a reapplicant to the Carver College of Medicine, how have you strengthened your application? (1500-character limit)

5. If you are not currently in a degree-seeking program, please indicate what you will be doing from the time you complete this secondary application to the start of medical school. (1500-character limit)

University of Kansas School of Medicine

1. Describe your health care experiences that involved direct exposure to physicians' clinical duties and how they have shaped your desire to apply to medical school.

2. Describe examples of leadership experience in which you have significantly influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.

3. Beyond academics (grades and MCATs), describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to address this challenge.

4. Give an example of what you have done to make your community a better place to live.

5. Patients come from various backgrounds. Please describe how you will engage with patients whose backgrounds may differ from yours.

6. If you are not a Kansas resident, what is your specific interest in applying to the University of Kansas School of Medicine?

7. If there are academic discrepancies in your application that have not been explained in your application, use this space to clarify. Examples may include unexplained gaps in time, multiple undergraduate institutions attended, multiple course withdrawals, inconsistent academic performance, inconsistency between academic performance and MCAT scores.

8. If you are currently enrolled, or plan to be enrolled during the next academic year in a graduate or professional degree program, please describe your status within the program and your intention to complete the program. You must also request a letter from your graduate program advisor or from the dean of your professional school. This letter must include acknowledgement of your application to medical school and a description of your status in the program. Students in the MD program are considered and expected to participate full-time in MD program requirements and accompanying activities (e.g., service, research, etc.). Our experience over multiple decades has informed the SOM that participation in outside activities (e.g., employment, other degree programs, etc.) is not conducive to successfully navigating our curriculum and overall school requirements. Failing to meet program expectations can place the student at risk for administrative action, including dismissal.

9. If you are no longer a full-time student, briefly describe your current employment, community, medical, and/or educational activities.

10. For Repeat Applicants Only: Since your last application, note any relevant academic, employment, and personal experiences that enhance your ability to be a better physician.

11. For Combined MD/PhD Program Applicants: Do you also want to be considered as an "MD-only" applicant?

Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

Read your secondary invitation carefully, they have a definite deadline.

1. Describe a time that you experienced a personal failure. What did you learn from the experience? How did it affect your personal growth? How did you show grit after the failure?

2. What kinds of things are you not good at? Why? How could this present a challenge in medical school?

3. Describe a situation in which you believe you or someone else were not treated fairly. How did you respond? What changes did you make or could be made to prevent someone being treated in this way in the future?

University of Kentucky College of Medicine

1. Why have you chosen to apply to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine? (1500 characters)

2. The University of Kentucky College of Medicine's (UKCOM) mission statement promotes a diverse and inclusive environment that provides excellence in education, equitable health care, and transformative research to improve the health and wellness of Kentuckians and beyond. Please describe how your past experiences or future plans contribute to enriching and enhancing the learning environment at UKCOM. (1500 characters)

3. If you are a non-Kentucky resident, you are required to elaborate on your Kentucky ties if applicable (personal, familial e.g.) (700 characters)

4. UKCOM provides MD programs at four campuses including the Lexington Campus, the Morehead Campus (Rural Physician Leadership Program), the Bowling Green Campus, and the Northern Kentucky Campus. You will apply to one of the four UK College of Medicine campuses. Please indicate your campus choice. Please elaborate on why this is your preferred campus. (700 characters)

5. What competencies and qualities do you feel a physician should possess? (1500 characters)

6. Describe a personal activity involving advocacy and/or community service that has impacted your personal values about delivering equitable patient care. (2000 characters)

7. Describe an experience or situation which made you feel grateful? (1500 characters)

8. It is impossible to have predicted the drastic impact caused by the novel coronavirus identified as COVID-19. Describe how this has impacted your social interactions, connections with peers, and perception of teamwork. (1500 characters)

9. Please share unique, personally important, and/or challenging facts in your life and/or work experiences. Please discuss how such factors have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine. (2500 characters)

10. Describe a situation where you were not in the majority. (1500 characters)

University of Louisville School of Medicine

1. Why are you choosing to apply to the University of Louisville School of Medicine? (500 characters)

2. List the individuals who are providing letters of recommendation as a component of your complete secondary application (for example, Committee letter/institution name, Professor Smith/academic subject, etc.) The letter of recommendation policy can be found by copying and pasting the following URL into your browser Submit Letters of Recommendation — School of Medicine University of Louisville. (500 characters)

3. Describe your most significant personal accomplishments and/or experiences and how these may relate to your potential to contribute to the medical community. (1000 characters)

4. What has been your most significant contribution to your community, through service or volunteerism? What was its impact on the community and on you? (1000 characters)

5. Academic productivity and the ability to engage in extracurricular achievements can be impacted by a number of challenges. For example, students who come from rural areas, who held regular employment during college years, or who are the first in their families to graduate from college may not have the same access to opportunities and support as students from other environments. Adversity can shape both the person you are and what you have to offer your future classmates, colleagues and patients. Please describe any challenges that you consider significant in your lived experience. (500 characters)

6. The University of Louisville School of Medicine’s mission is to improve the health of our patients and the diverse communities we serve through excellence and leadership in education, patient care, research and community engagement. Describe how your life experiences and personal attributes prepare you to provide excellent and equitable care to diverse patient populations. (500 characters)

7. List and describe any additional experiences, interests, hobbies, or skills not included in other areas of your application or that you have completed since submitting your AMCAS application. (500 characters)

8. Discuss briefly why you have decided to pursue medicine and how your personal characteristics align with those you believe are most needed by physicians. (500 characters)

9. Practice after residency: How do you see yourself practicing medicine after residency training? (Please include choice of medical practice and location). (500 characters)

10. If you are a reapplicant, what has changed from your previous application or your approach to this year's admissions cycle? (250 characters)

11. If you are not a Kentucky resident, please explain any personal or familial ties to the Commonwealth of Kentucky. If you are a Kentucky resident type "Not Applicable" in the text box below. (500 characters)

12. Please list each place of permanent residence, beginning from birth, including the City, County, State, years in residence, and estimated population size. (1000 characters)

University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

1. Have you previously applied?

2. Please describe your experience with osteopathic medicine, such as your care and treatment from a DO and your shadowing experience with a DO (including number of hours). Please describe how your experience has influenced your decision to apply to an osteopathic medical school.

Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans

1. (Optional) Disadvantaged scholarship information letter specifying disadvantage & copy of parent’s federal income tax return.

2. (Optional) Supplemental essay - 500 to 600 words of your values.

Louisiana State University of School of Medicine in Shreveport

1. Briefly describe the key motivational factor(s) in your decision to apply to LSU Health Shreveport and any additional information about yourself you feel would be of interest to the Admissions Committee in consideration of your application. (500 characters)

2. Second prompt for reapplicants: PLEASE ANSWER THIS QUESTION ONLY IF YOU ARE A RE-APPLICANT TO LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT. Since your previous medical school application, what academic, employment, volunteer experiences or other progress have you made that make you a more competitive applicant? (2000 characters)

Tulane University School of Medicine

1. Tulane University School of Medicine’s mission statement states: We improve human health and foster healthy communities through discovery and translation of the best science into clinical practice and education; to deliver the highest quality patient care and prepare the next generation of distinguished clinical and scientific leaders. Briefly describe the reasons for your interest in Tulane University School of Medicine. (150 words)

2. What disparities in health do you believe are pertinent to the New Orleans patient population? How would you attempt to address them as a medical student at Tulane? You may support your answer by using past involvement working in a similar patient population to compare and/or describe your interest in any student activities offered at Tulane or in New Orleans. (150 words)

3. Who knows you best and how would they describe you? (150 words)

4. Please list any leadership positions (clubs, organizations, paid work) you may have held. (100 words)

5. Please list your hobbies and major non-academic interests. (150 words)

OPTIONAL: The following questions are optional. Declining to answer a question will not negatively impact your application in any way.

6. Tulane University School of Medicine values the diversity of its patients, faculty, staff, and students. Do you identify with a particular group that you believe is underrepresented among medical professionals? These include groups oriented around, but not limited to: ethnicity, race, sexuality, religion, disability, and economic background. (60 words)

7. In what ways did the COVID-19 pandemic alter/interrupt your medical school application? (no limit)

 Check out some Tulane medical school secondary essay examples !

William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Statement of Purpose:

The Mission of the William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM) is to prepare men and women to become osteopathic physicians through an emphasis on primary care, lifelong learning, research and scholarly activities, and service, including osteopathic clinical service, and graduate medical education. Using a community-based training model, the COM will educate and train graduates who are committed to serving the healthcare needs of all individuals, with special attention directed to the medically underserved and diverse populations of the state, region, nation and across the globe.

In the space below (not to exceed 500 words), please explain how your ambitions and career plans will help WCUCOM fulfill this mission.

University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

1. Have you previously applied to the University of New England (undergraduate, graduate, or professional)? (2000 characters)

2. Have you had any contact with UNE COM via alumni, faculty, staff or students? (2000 characters)

3. Are you related to any alumni of UNE COM? (2000 characters)

4. What is your interest in attending UNE COM? (2000 characters)

5. If you previously only applied to Allopathic medical schools, why are you now applying to Osteopathic Medical schools? Please be concise and specific. b) If this is more than your first round of application to medical schools, what have you done to enhance your preparedness? Please be concise and specific. (2000 characters)

6. UNE COM’s curriculum is built on a foundation of collaborative team-based education. Give an example of when you worked in an effective academic or professional group. Explain why a team-based approach is the right model for your medical education. (2000 characters)

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

1. Optional: If you have already received your bachelor's degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation, and your plans for the upcoming year. (2000 characters)

2. Optional: If you interrupted your college education for a semester or longer, please describe what you did during that time. (2000 characters)

3. Briefly describe your single, most rewarding experience. Feel free to refer to an experience previously described in your AMCAS application. (2500 characters)

4. Are there any areas of medicine that are of particular interest to you? If so, please comment. (2500 characters)

5. Briefly describe a situation where you had to overcome adversity; include lessons learned and how you think it will affect your career as a future physician. (2500 characters)

6. Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from the experience? (2500 characters)

7. Wonder encapsulates a feeling of rapt attention … it draws the observer in. Tell us about a time in recent years that you experienced wonder in your everyday life. Although experiences related to your clinical or research work may be the first to come to mind, we encourage you to think of an experience that is unrelated to medicine or science. What did you learn from that experience? (2500 characters)

8. Optional: The Admissions Committee values hearing about each candidate for admission, including what qualities the candidate might bring to the School of Medicine if admitted. If you feel there is information not already addressed in the application that will enable the Committee to know more about you and this has influenced your desire to be a physician, feel free to write a brief statement in the space below. You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first-generation college student, or being a part of a minority group (whether because of your sexual orientation, religion, economic status, gender identity, ethnicity) or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. Please note that this question is optional and that you will not be penalized should you choose not to answer it. (2500 characters)

Read our John Hopkins medical school secondary essay examples !

University of Maryland School of Medicine

1. How would you describe your cultural background? (optional, 1000 characters)

2. Describe here the reason why you are specifically interested in attending the University of Maryland School of Medicine. (1000 characters)

3. Have you previously met or attended/seen a presentation by a University of Maryland School of Medicine Admissions

staff member at an open house, college fair, conference, school visit, etc.? If yes, please explain. (1000 characters)

4. Aside from summer and holiday breaks, have there been any pauses or delays in your education semesters between high school and college, during college, or after college? If yes, please explain (1000 characters)

5. Please describe what you will be doing during the 2023-2024 academic year. If you graduated/will graduate in 2023, what are your plans for the coming year until you matriculate to medical school? (1000 characters)

6. If you’ve experienced academic challenges while in college and/or graduate or professional school, please describe and explain below. Please be sure to include withdrawals, incompletes, poor grades, etc. (Optional, 1000 characters)

7. Briefly describe your most meaningful exposure to clinical medicine. (1500 characters)

8. Briefly describe your most satisfying experience related to community service. (1500 characters)

9. Without limiting the discussion to your own identity, please describe how you envision contributing to the values of equity and inclusivity at our School of Medicine, and in the medical profession. (1500 characters)

10. What does it mean to you to enter into a profession? (1500 characters)

MSTP Prompts

1. Please indicate the MD/PhD program you are most interested in (drop-down menu).

2. Why are you applying to the MD/PhD Program at the UMSOM? (2500 characters)

3. Please list the name(s) of your MD/PhD letter of recommendation writers who can focus on your research potential. (2500 characters)

Harvard Medical School

1. If you have already graduated, briefly (4000 characters maximum) summarize your activities since graduation.

2. If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity not addressed elsewhere in the application that may illuminate how you could contribute to the medical school and that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, or other aspects of your personal or family background to place your prior academic achievements in context or provide further information about your motivation for a career in medicine or the perspectives you might bring to the medical school community. Many applicants will not need to answer this question. (4000 characters)

3. The Committee on Admissions understands that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted applicants in various ways. If you wish to inform the Committee as to how these events have affected you and have not already done so elsewhere in your application, please use this space to do so. (This is an optional essay; the Committee on Admissions will make no judgment based on your decision to provide a statement or not.) (4000 characters)

4. The interview season for the 2023-2024 cycle will be held virtually and is anticipated to run from mid-September through January 2024. Please indicate any significant (three or more weeks) restriction on your availability for interviews during this period. If none, please leave this section blank. (1000 characters)

 HST Prompt:

The HST MD program draws on the combined resources of Harvard and MIT to provide a distinct preclinical education tailored to preparing students for careers as transformative physicians who will shape the future practice of medicine. Our students come from the full spectrum of disciplines including biological, physical, engineering and social sciences. HST classes are small, commonly include graduate students and have an emphasis on quantitative and analytic approaches. The unique HST pre-clinical curriculum prepares students well for the HMS clinical education while also emphasizing disease mechanisms and preparing students to solve critical unmet needs in medicine and healthcare (ranging from novel diagnostics and therapeutics to applications of ‘big data’ and systems engineering). Please focus on how your interests, experiences and aspirations have prepared you for HST (rather than identifying specific HST faculty or research opportunities). (4000 character maximum)

Boston University School of Medicine

1. Did you go on to college directly after high school? (1400 characters)

2. Are you expecting to go on to medical school directly after completing your undergraduate degree? *

(Post bac work is NOT considered undergraduate. If attending a post bac program prior to entering medical school, the answer is NO and should be explained.) If you took gap year(s), please use this space to explain what you have been doing prior to applying to medical school. (1400 characters)

3. If you have spent more than 4 years as an undergraduate, please explain below. (You may skip this question if you have graduated within 4 years.) (1400 characters)

4. Please provide a narrative or timeline to describe any features of your educational history that you think may be of particular interest to us. For example, have you lived in another country or experienced a culture unlike your own, or worked in a field that contributed to your understanding of people unlike yourself? Or, have you experienced advanced training in any area, including the fields of art, music, or sports? This is an opportunity to describe learning experiences that may not be covered in other areas of this application or your AMCAS application. It is not necessary to write anything in this section. Also, use this section to explain any impact that COVID-19 may have had on your educational/research/volunteering or employment plans. (2000 characters)

5. Boston Medical Center is the largest safety net hospital in New England, serving primarily people who are publicly insured, people of color, immigrants, and low-income people in the Greater Boston Area. Why are you specifically interested in beginning your medical education in this environment, and how do you feel that your previous experiences will prepare you for this unique learning environment? (3000 characters)

6. Use the space below to provide additional information you feel will provide us with a comprehensive understanding of your strengths as a candidate for a career in medicine. This should include only information NOT already included in your AMCAS or other sections of the Chobanian & Avedisian SOM Supplemental Application. Most applicants leave this blank. Yes, it's really optional. (3000 characters)

7. Re-Applicant Comment - This section may be used by re-applicants who wish to highlight specific areas of their application or to outline specific changes since their last application. (3000 characters)

Tufts University School of Medicine

(1000-character limit each)

1. Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine?

2. Please briefly describe your plans for the coming year. Include in this explanation if you will be a student, working, conducting research, volunteering, etc.

3. Please tell us about your journey to medical school and how your background and experiences will positively impact your future as a medical student and physician. If you have experienced personal circumstances or hardships that have helped you develop qualities that you believe will allow you to better serve your future patients and the medical community as a whole, please share those experiences in your response.

4. Tufts values include a commitment to social responsibility; to serve and advocate for all people, especially underserved and vulnerable patients and populations, by addressing social determinants of health, health equity, social justice, and stewardship of social resources. Have you done substantial work or volunteer service in such communities? (yes/no) If yes, Please describe the experience and how it may shape your desire to practice with vulnerable populations in the future.

5. Do you have any withdrawals or repeated coursework listed on your transcript(s)? (yes/no)

6. Did you take any leaves of absence or significant breaks from your undergraduate education? (yes/no) (Do not include time off after graduation.)

7. Because your academics will not be shared with interviewers until after you complete your interview, we encourage you to use this space to elaborate on any academic challenges you have overcome. We understand that many applicants encounter academic hardships along the way. Please comment on any academic difficulties that you have encountered since completing high school (grades and MCAT scores). We believe that such difficulties offer an opportunity for growth and would appreciate learning how your experiences have affected your approach to academics. If you have not encountered any difficulties, you may answer 'No.'

8. Have you ever been convicted of, or pleaded guilty or no contest to, a Misdemeanor crime, excluding 1) any offense for which you were adjudicated as a juvenile 2) any convictions which have been expunged or sealed by a court, or 3) any misdemeanor convictions for which any probation has been completed and the case dismissed by the court (in states where applicable)?

University of Massachusetts Medical School

"MD applicants must answer questions 1, 2, 4 and 6 while MD/PhD applicants must also answer question 7 in addition to 1,2, 4 and 6. Questions 3 and 5 are options but should be answered if you participated in a UMass Chan Medical/Baystate sponsored program and if you are taking/took gap time respectively."

1. We would like to learn how you developed and demonstrated core professionalism competencies that are required of entering medical students. Please respond to the first prompt (#1; Diversity). Then select three of the other six prompts (#2-#7). Each response should be 150-200 words. Use the text box below for your answer. Separate each of your four responses by writing the competency above/before your response (example: Teamwork - All teams have their struggles, but they can be overcome...).

1) UMass Chan Medical School strives to be a diverse academic community mindful of the fact that diversity makes our community stronger and benefits the patients we serve. Share your definition of diversity. Describe an example where you contributed to the diversity of a group, team or class. Connect this to how you will contribute to the diversity of the UMass Chan Medical School community. (Diversity)

2) Describe a time when you have made a decision that was not popular and how you handled this. (Leadership competency)

3) Describe a time when you were on a team that was dysfunctional in some regard. How did you address the situation? (Teamwork)

4) Describe a meaningful interaction you have had with a person whom you have helped at work, school or another activity. (Empathy/Compassion)

5) Have you ever been in the middle of a situation where there was poor communication? What did you do to improve it? (Communication)

6) Describe a time when you have "thought outside the box" to solve a problem. (Inquiry)

7) Describe a time when you suffered a setback. How did you respond to this challenge? (Persistence/Grit)

2. Please discuss any part of your application that you feel requires further explanation. For example, discuss grades or MCAT scores that do not reflect your true ability, and/or a gap in time that is not explained elsewhere in your application. Discuss any impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on your academic, service, extracurricular or employment experiences. If you are reapplying to T.H. Chan SOM, highlight how you have strengthened your application. (250-word limit)

3. If you have participated in T.H. Chan SOM or UMass Memorial Health Care, or UMass Chan Medical-Baystate sponsored programs (SEP, Summer Research Program, Worcester Pipeline Collaborative, AHEC, BaccMD, HSPP, Academic Internships, BSEP, Summer Scholars) please describe how these programs helped you decide to apply to T.H. Chan SOM. (200-word limit)

4. Why did you apply to T.H. Chan SOM? (200-word limit)

5. If you are currently taking a gap year, in what activities are you engaged? (200-word limit)

6. Please describe an example of your personal and/or professional experience with and understanding of systemic inequity, exclusion, or lack of representation in health care in the United States. How did you arrive at this understanding? (200-word limit)

MD Tracks and Specializations

PURCH (Population Urban and Rural Community Health) - Please describe how a focus on population health and healthcare disparities will benefit you in your training and/or career. Please limit your response to less than or equal to 500 words.

LEAD@Lahey - Based on your interests and life experiences, please describe how you might be a good fit for the LEAD@Lahey Pathway at UMass Chan Medical School. What unique experiences and perspectives might you bring to the class? Please limit your response to 250 words or less. 

Central Michigan University College of Medicine

1. Please provide a brief summary of your affiliation with any County selected (there is a list of counties above the text box that you can select from) (250 words).

2. Describe your motivation for applying to the CMU College of Medicine and your future career in medicine. Finally, describe how your preparation and background will contribute to the mission of the CMU College of Medicine. (1000 words)

3. [REAPP ONLY]: If you have applied to any medical school in previous cycles, what have you done since your last application to prepare yourself for a career in medicine? If you have not applied to medical school previously, write “N/A” in the box. (500 words)

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

1. Imagine and reflect upon your life and medical career at the time of retirement. What do you envision being your proudest/most significant accomplishment? (500 words)

2. American society has been reckoning with a variety of systemic injustices throughout its history. Considering your life experiences up to now, share your thoughts and perspectives about this statement using the lens from which you view the world around you. (500 words)

3. Consider three or four words and/or phrases from your medical school application that you use to describe or characterize yourself. Pick one (or a completely different one) that is underdeveloped to provide additional written narrative to the committee as to why you’ve decided to pursue a career in medicine. (500 words)

4. Use the space below to reflect upon your COVID-19 public health crisis experiences, challenges, and/or insights. (500 words)

5. If you could present yourself to the Admissions Committee, what would you want to make sure they knew (or remembered) about you? (500 words)

Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

400-words each

1. Oakland County has a diverse patient population with a health equity divide that has resulted in a vulnerable group of patients that are underserved. Given your understanding of social determinants of health, how would you go about addressing these inequities?

2. Describe how OUWB’s mission and values align with your professional goals and objectives.

3. Master adaptive learners in medicine represent a combination of both efficient problem-solvers and possess the ability to learn and innovate when faced with a novel challenge to deliver high quality healthcare. Think back to your educational journey and describe how you embodied the definition of a master adaptive learner.

4. Optional: Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your qualifications for medical school that are not already represented in your application materials? For example, if you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation. Note: This space is provided for new information only, not to promote qualifications already highlighted in your other materials.

5. Optional: If you are a reapplicant to OUWB, please describe improvements you have made to your current application from previous cycles (please include academics, experiences, etc.).

University of Michigan Medical School

Comment on how you hope to impact medicine in the future. If examples are needed, feel free to refer to our seven Paths of Excellence.

(1500 characters)

if applying to the Medical Scientist Training Program

Describe why you are applying to the University of Michigan MSTP. If you are interested in a specific department, program, or area of research for your Ph.D., please provide a brief explanation. We recognize that your interests may change. (1500 characters)

Please respond to only one of the following two prompts. (2500 characters)

Describe how your identity impacts the development of your values and attitudes toward individuals different from yourself and how this will impact your interactions with future colleagues and patients.

If you recognize and/or represent a voice that is missing, underrepresented, or undervalued in medicine, please describe the missing voice(s) and how increased representation in medicine could impact the medical community.

How was your journey to medical school affected by the COVID pandemic? Please feel free to describe any positive or negative aspects.

(2500 characters)

Outside of medicine, and beyond what we can read in your application, please tell us what you’re curious about, or what you’re passionate about, or what brings you joy – and why. Some examples include listening to historical novels, exploring national parks, woodworking, baking cupcakes, podcasting, knitting, playing pickleball, filmmaking, making music, etc. (1500 characters)

 Try reading some University of Michigan medical school secondary essay examples !

Wayne State University School of Medicine

1. When reflecting on the roles and responsibilities of a physician, discuss what appeals and does not appeal to you. (1250 characters)

2. How would you address the inconsistencies between medical information and disinformation? How do these inconsistencies impact patients and society? (1250 characters)

3. List healthcare issues faced by marginalized communities and include their impact on social determinants of health. How would you address them? (1250 characters)

4. Which of your experiences or activities align with WSU SOM’s mission? Please discuss how. (1250 characters)

5. Please answer if you have had a gap (career change, re-applicant, additional education, etc.). A “gap” is defined as a period of time between the end of your undergraduate education and the start of medical school. What activities have you participated in or plan to participate in during this period? How does this relate to your future career in medicine? (1250 characters) Please mark N/A if this does not apply to you.

Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine

1. Please explain both of the following:

1) The specific reason(s) you have chosen to apply to WMed and

2) how you will utilize the unique features of WMed's mission, vision, and curriculum to achieve your career goals. (2000 characters)

2. Describe how you add to the cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity of the medical profession and what you bring to the practice of medicine - your values, skills, talents, and life experiences. (2000 characters)

3. WMed Re-Applicants Only: Describe the changes to your application from previous cycles - include academics, experiences, and/or personal attributes. (2000 characters)

4. Optional: Please explain any connection you have to Southwest Michigan. (2000 characters)

5. Optional: Is there any additional information not included elsewhere in your application you would like the admissions committee to know?

(2000 characters)

Osteopathic Schools 

Michigan state university college of osteopathic medicine.

1. The MSUCOM curriculum stresses the importance of intrapersonal competencies, including personal responsibility and adaptability. Please tell us a time when you were faced with a challenge in these areas and how that challenge impacted your professional growth.

2. What does professionalism mean to you as a future physician?

3. You may provide additional information, not stated elsewhere, you feel may help the Admissions Committee gain a better understanding of your candidacy. This may include major life achievements or explanations of academic or non-academic discrepancies on your application. You may also include interests or work experiences.

University of Minnesota Medical School

1. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of the University of Minnesota Medical School. Explain how a learning environment that embodies these values is crucial to the education of tomorrow's physicians. Reflect on how you might contribute to this learning environment 

2. How have your individual experiences and identity shaped who you are and who you will be as a physician? 

3. Describe a time when you used critical thinking to solve a problem that you encountered in any realm where you asked questions, gathered information, thought through possible solutions and their alternatives, and evaluated what you did critically. Please include in your discussion what you learned from this experience.

4. (Optional) Any other pertinent information would you like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee? This is an opportunity for you to discuss an aspect of your journey to medicine that you have not already presented in your application. You may also update us with any current experiences that were not included in your AMCAS application.

Note: The primary mission of the UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus is to educate physicians dedicated to serving rural Minnesota or Native American communities. Only complete the Rural and/or Indigenous Health questions if your application presents a strong commitment to these communities. Most candidates accepted within the context of the Duluth Campus mission will be placed on that campus.

5. (Optional) The University of Minnesota Medical School is dedicated to educating future physicians who have demonstrated an interest in serving patients and families in rural Minnesota. Reflect on what "rural Minnesota community" means to you. Describe your experience in and ties to rural Minnesota areas. What do you view as the greatest healthcare practice needs in rural Minnesota, and how will your future practice help fill these needs?

6. (Optional) The University of Minnesota Medical School is dedicated to educating future physicians who have demonstrated an interest in serving Indigenous communities. Describe your experience in and ties to Indigenous communities. What do you view as the greatest healthcare needs in Indigenous communities, and how will your future practice help fill these needs?

Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine

1. Why are you specifically interested in pursuing your medical education at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine? Please tell us in a few sentences why you are interested in the top track choice you indicated.

2. Each of us relates to others through characteristics that make up our individual diversity. Tell us how your diversity is reflected not only in your personal and professional activities, but also in your relationship with others, particularly in diverse learning environments.

MSTP Applicants

In the space below, write a brief paragraph (max. 500 characters) explaining why you are specifically applying to the Mayo Clinic MD-PhD Program.

**Note**: If you opt for MD-only consideration if rejected from the MSTP, then the application adds the MD prompts that you previously did not have to do.

University of Mississippi School of Medicine

1. Please discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic affected your academic preparation for medical school or extracurricular opportunities. Please also discuss any other impact of the pandemic that you would like the admissions committee to know. (2500 characters)

2. Please outline your motivation for pursuing the medical degree. (3000 characters)

William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (Mississippi Campus)

Washington university school of medicine.

1. Describe a time or situation where you have been unsuccessful or failed. (3000 characters)

2. Is there anything else you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions? (Optional) Some applicants use this space to describe unique experiences, obstacles, and/or challenges they faced in their journey to medical school. (3000 characters)

3. Are you still a full-time student? If no, describe in chronological order your activities during the time(s) when you were not enrolled as a full-time student. (Optional) (2000 characters)

Saint Louis University School of Medicine

1. Will you be a full-time student for the 2023-2024 academic year? If you answer NO:

Please describe your current activities... (max 1,000 characters)

2. Do you have a premedical advisor? If you answer yes: How often do you meet?

3. Do you wish to include any comments to the Saint Louis University (SLU) School of Medicine Admissions Committee (e.g. why you chose to apply to SLU, other extenuating circumstances, etc.)? Please explain (1000 characters)

4. Tell us about a time when you were the other: (1000 characters)

5. Were you ever the recipient of any action (e.g. dismissal, disqualification, suspension, etc.) by any college for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violations? If you answer yes:

Please explain fully... (max 1,000 characters)

University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine

1. Why are you interested in attending the University of Missouri School of Medicine? (1200 characters)

2. How will you add a unique perspective to the medical school and the practice of medicine? (1200 characters)

3. How will you contribute to an inclusive learning environment at the medical school and the practice of medicine? (2000 characters)

4. Is there anything that was not fully addressed in your application and/or any additional updates since submitting the AMCAS application? (2000 characters)

5. (Re-applicant essay): Since your last application attempt how has your application improved? (3000 characters)

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

1. How will your diversity/diverse experiences (e.g., gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, veteran status, from rural or underserved community, first generation student status) add to your career in medicine? (1000 Words)

2. Please describe how COVID-19 has impacted your pathway to becoming a Physician. The questions below will help you get started but do not limit your responses to these considerations: (2500 Words)

Academic: Did your school move to an online-only curriculum? Were you able to interact with your professors? Did you have to leave an academic program stateside or abroad? Did your school require you to move to the Pass/Fail grading system? Did your original MCAT exam get canceled or delayed? Were there other academic barriers?

Professional: Did you hold a job? Did you have to go out and seek new job opportunities? Did you lose a job? Were there other financial or professional barriers that you faced?

Personal: Did you have to move out of a house or dorm? Did you have to cancel travel plans? Did you modify your planned experiences related to healthcare or volunteer opportunities? Did you seek out volunteer opportunities that arose from the crisis?

3. If you are interested in rural healthcare or in practicing a specialty that meets the needs of underserved rural communities, please describe your interest in this aspect of healthcare.

1. What are you currently doing to maintain your academic knowledge? (2500 characters)

2. Describe a time when you had a personal failure. How did you move on from that experience? (2500 characters)

3. We are often too busy to plan future activities. Describe a time when you were so busy you had to react to situations rather than plan for them. (2500 characters)

A.T. Still University of Health Sciences Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

1. What particular qualities do you feel you can bring to KCOM? (Please limit your response to 500 words or less. All information provided in this section must be the original work of the applicant and not from another author.)

2. What specific experience/exposure have you had with osteopathic medicine? How has this influenced your decision to become an osteopathic physician? (Please limit your response to 500 words or less. All information provided in this section must be the original work of the applicant and not from another author.)

University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine

1. If you have been away from full-time academics for more than two years, please explain. (N/A if not applicable) (750 characters)

2. If you are a re-applicant to the UNMC College of Medicine, how is your application different this year? (N/A if not applicable) (750 characters)

3. If this is your first application to UNMC, but not your first application to medical school, what is your rationale for applying to UNMC this cycle? (N/A if not applicable) (750 characters)

4. What is your personal rationale for applying to the UNMC College of Medicine, especially if you are not from Nebraska? (1000 characters 

5. What are you most proud of in your life? (1500 characters)

6. Tell us about a time when you have had to overcome adversity. (1500 characters)

7. Tell us something about yourself that will enhance the UNMC College of Medicine? (1500 characters)

8. What have you learned from working with people whose background is different from yours? (1500 characters)

Creighton University School of Medicine

1. Please state your reasons for applying to Creighton University School of Medicine. (2000 characters)

2. In Creighton's Jesuit, Catholic tradition, the mission of the School of Medicine is to improve the human condition with a diverse body of students, faculty and staff who provide excellence in educating students, physicians and the public, advancing knowledge and providing comprehensive patient care to all persons. Please describe the role(s) you can play in helping the School of Medicine achieve its mission. (2000 characters)

3. Describe your experiences within multicultural settings and/or with disadvantaged or underserved populations and how they prepared you to for a future as a physician? (2000 characters)

4. Describe how you have dealt with a personal challenge or major obstacle that you have overcome. Focus on what you learned about yourself and how it will help you during the challenges you might face in medical school. (2000 characters)

5. Please reflect on your entire application, is there anything you would like to further share with the Admissions Committee? Gap(s) in your education, personal and/or academic challenges, etc. (2000 characters)

6. At Creighton we are committed to the service of others through non-medical volunteer activities. Please list all your non-medical community service hours post high school. Please list any experiences, including those previously described on your AMCAS application. Include a brief description, dates and number of hours for each event. (300 characters per description)

University of Nevada Las Vegas, School of Medicine

1. Why are you interested in the Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV and how does your background and future goals contribute to our mission?

2. Briefly discuss how you envision yourself contributing to the care of our growing and diverse population in the state of Nevada.

3. Provide a BRIEF chronological list of your time since graduating from high school up to the point of applying to medical school. Do not write in essay form here. This should be a list by years.

4. (This field is not required.) You are welcome to share with the Admissions Committee any disruptions or impact to your application components, the application process, and/or your personal life (for example during COVID-19).

5. If you have any other information, you believe is important for the Admissions Committee to consider, please include it here. Do not restate information already in your primary AMCAS application. You may also explain you ties to Nevada with more detail in this box or any information related to academic/MCAT improvement and resiliency.

University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine

1. Please share why you want to pursue your medical education at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine; describe any connections to Northern Nevada communities; and how you are prepared to contribute to UNR Med’s vision of a Healthy Nevada. (300 words)

2. Describe a time when you were part of a team that was struggling to meet objectives. How did you react? What would you do differently? What did you take away from this experience that will influence your approach to working on a team in the future? (300 words)

3. Reflect on and describe an experience where you provided care or service to individuals from populations that commonly experience health care disparities. Discuss what you learned about the socio-cultural or economic factors that affect underserved populations and describe how your interactions with these individuals motivated or prepared you for a future in medicine. (300 words)

4. Describe a time when you faced a significant life crisis or an academic, personal, or professional failure. How did you respond, what did you learn, and how did the experience influence your future actions? (300 words)

5. Please share an example of how you have used critical thinking and communication skills to develop a creative or innovative solution to a challenging problem. (300 words)

6. (Optional) You are invited to provide a brief statement regarding anything not previously addressed or disclosed in your application that you would like considered during the review of your application. If you are a re-applicant to UNR Med, we encourage you to outline any significant changes or new experiences from your previous application. (500 words)

Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine

1500-character limit for each

1. Why are you interested in pursuing this degree at Touro Nevada?

2. What award(s) or recognition(s) have you received within the last five years?

3. What volunteer experience have you had during the last three years?

4. What research experience have you had during the last three years?

5. Please tell us about your extracurricular activities or hobbies.

Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

1. Please indicate your plans for the

2023-2024 academic year. If in school, please list your courses. If working, let us know something about the nature of your job. If your plans or courses change subsequently, please inform the Admissions Office by email at [email protected] . (no limit)

2. Please reflect on your primary application and share something not addressed elsewhere that would be helpful to the Admissions Committee as we review your file. (No limit)

3. Please tell us specifically why you are interested in Geisel: (no word count)

  4. Geisel School of Medicine values social justice and diversity in all its forms. Reflect on a situation where you were the “other” (250-word limit)

Want to read some Geisel School of Medicine secondary essay examples ?

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University

1. Please describe your anticipated educational, employment, volunteer, or other activities between completing your AMCAS application and matriculating to medical school. (1500 characters)

2. Tell us about something that makes you a unique applicant to CMSRU. How will CMSRU help you fulfill your mission? (1500 characters)

3. Medical school involves hard work and can be stressful at times. Tell us about activities that you use to help maintain a work-life balance and respond to stress. (1500 characters)

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

1500-characters each

1. We are committed to supporting our NJMS community by enhancing collaboration between students, staff, and faculty, with a dedicated focus on humanism, health equity and social justice. How do you envision yourself contributing to the NJMS community?

2. We seek students who are respectful, self-aware, humble, resilient, team-oriented, and adaptable. Discuss a personal or professional challenge you have experienced and share insight on what you learned about yourself and how the challenge was resolved.

3. If you will not be a full-time student between June 2023 and August 2024, please describe in detail your planned activities, including projected time commitment for each activity:

4. If you have chosen to pursue one or more “growth” years prior to your planned matriculation to medical school in 2024, please share insight on your decision

5. If you are a re-applicant, please share what you have done to enhance your candidacy and re-application?

6. Please elaborate on challenges not thoroughly addressed anywhere else in your application (Please feel free to address any or all of the following if applicable: Institutional Actions, Academic and/or MCAT inconsistencies, personal challenges,):

7. Please discuss any additional information you feel may help us in our review of your candidacy

Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

1. RWJMS has identified the core values below as critical to our mission and vision. We strive to matriculate learners who embody these values: 

• R -- Respect, dignity and humanism for the diverse population we serve
• W -- Wellness and resilience
• J -- Joining learners hand in hand with care delivery
• M -- Making patients first with safe, compassionate, high-quality care
• S -- Science to advance human health

Please select a RWJMS core value that resonates the most with you. In two paragraphs or less, reflect on one of your experiences to discuss how you have built a foundation for this value and how it will contribute to our community of learners. (No Word Limit)

2. Discuss a difficult or challenging situation you have encountered and how you dealt with it. Be sure to include the skills you called upon to resolve the dilemma, and the support person(s) from whom you sought advice. (250 words)

3. Please feel free to comment on any course grades, GPA trends, or MCAT scores and what you have learned about yourself. (No Word Limit)

4. Please use this space if you would like to provide additional information to the admissions committee. (No Word Limit)

Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

1. Why are you interested in attending the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine? (500 words)

2. Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine values social justice and diversity in all its forms. Describe a circumstance where you sought to learn about a culture, group or idea different than your own and how that impacted you. (500 words)

3. Describe your experience with the field of medicine (or a related field) that has prepared you for advanced study in this area. Specifically, how have your life experiences prepared you to pursue a degree in medicine, including: coursework, clinical work, experiences in overcoming adversity, work opportunity, volunteer activities, and/or research experiences? (500 words)

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

1. Please select the checkbox(es) that most adequately describes your campus and/or curriculum preferences below. Explain why SGL (small group learning) or PBL (problem-based learning).

2. Please identify your area of professional interest below (i.e. Family Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, etc.)

3. How did you learn about osteopathic medicine and why is it a good fit for you?

4. Explain why you are interested in attending Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine

5. Optional: Please describe any significant barriers or challenges you may have overcome in the pursuit of your personal/professional goals.

University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Background and Diversity

1. At the UNM School of Medicine we are committed to building a dynamic, productive and positive learning environment in addition to promoting cross cultural and cross racial understanding among students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions and backgrounds. Share any unique or challenging factors in your background, such as the quality of your early educational environment, socioeconomic status, culture, race, ethnicity and life and work experiences. How will your background or experiences contribute to the diversity of a medical school class? (2000 characters)

Interest and Suitability for a Career in Medicine

2 . Mentorship and clinical experience are integral to developing and understanding of the challenges and rewards of being a physician? Thinking back to your own road to applying to medical school, what is a patient experience or mentorship moment that was most formative to your progression so far? Please share this experience and explain how it fits into your motivation for pursuing a career as a physician. (2000 characters)

Problem Solving

3. There is a physician shortage in New Mexico. What is your understanding of the contributors to this problem, and what ideas do you have to address it? (2000 characters)

• Public Health

4. What aspects of public health do you think should be emphasized in the UNM SOM curriculum? Why? (2000 characters)

Self-Growth/Teamwork

5. Please describe a personal or professional challenge or conflict that you have experienced. How did you resolve it? What skills, resources and/or strategies did you employ? DO NOT write about the MCAT, a course, or an academic issue. (2000 characters)

COVID-19 Impact

6. Please describe how COVID-19 has affected your preparation for applying to medical school. Describe any academic, personal, financial, or professional barriers/disruptions that COVID-19 may have triggered. (2000 characters)

Reapplication:

7. Have you previously submitted an AMCAS application to the University of New Mexico School of Medicine? (Yes/No)

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine

1. If you could strengthen one area of your application, what would it be? What have you done, or what do you plan to do, to address it and improve going forward? (300 words)

2. In the space provided, please explain the reasoning behind your selection above (why you chose the New Mexico location) (300 words)

3. Describe an experience you’ve had or an activity you’ve participated in that aligns with the mission of BCOM. (300 words max).

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

1. Have you previously applied to Medical School? Comments: (200 characters)

2. If you took time off from your undergraduate studies, please briefly summarize your reasons for doing so. (250 words)

3. Did you work for compensation during college (either during the school year or summers)? If so, what did you do? How many hours a week did you work? (300 words)

4. If you have graduated from college, please briefly summarize what you have done in the interim. (300 words)

5. Please describe your most meaningful leadership positions. (300 words)

6. Columbia Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons values diversity in all its forms. How will your experiences contribute to this important focus of our institution and inform your future role as a physician? (300 words)

7. Is there anything else you would like us to know? (400 words)

For MSTP Applicants:

1. What academic honors have you received (e.g., prizes, scholarships, fellowships, honor societies)? (1000 words)

2. What are your major research interests? (20 words)

3. PhD Goals (1000 words)

4. Additional Information (1000 words)

5. There's also an "Experiences" section similar in format to the AMCAS Work/Activities section (no word limit)

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

1. If you are currently not a full-time student, please briefly describe the activities you are participating in this academic year. (100 words)

2. If you are committed to a particular community or if there is an important aspect of your identity not addressed elsewhere in the application, we invite you to do so here. Briefly also explain how such factors may have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. Completing this section is optional. (150 words)

3. What is the toughest feedback you ever received? How did you handle it and what did you learn from it? (250 words)

4. Describe a situation that you have thought to be unfair or unjust, whether towards yourself or towards others. How did you address the situation, if at all? (200 words)

5. (Optional) Were there any adverse circumstances in your premedical preparatory journey including but not limited to impact from COVID-19? (100 words)

For MSTP applicants (note that question #4 above does not have to be completed)

6. (optional) If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity or a commitment to a particular community, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Aspects might include, but are not limited to significant challenges in or circumstances associated with access to education, living with a disability, socioeconomic factors, immigration status, or identification with a culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. Completing this section is optional. (150 words)

7. What are your career goals? Describe which features of the MD/PhD Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai you will leverage to achieve them? (200 words)

8. Provide a one to three sentence summary of your current research interest. Limit your response to 100 words or less.

State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine

1. Will you be attending college full-time as of September 15? If no, please describe your activities for the period of September 15 to July 1. (no word count)

2. What will be your support system while in medical school? (150 words)

3. Describe what personal, urban experiences prepare you to live and study in New York City. (150 words)

4. If you had a completed application to the College of Medicine in a prior application cycle, please highlight any changes since your previous application in a list with dates. If this question does not apply to you, enter "not applicable" in the text box below. (150 words)

5. Why do believe you are a good fit for SUNY Downstate? (300 words)

6. What is your experience with diversity, health equity and social justice? (300 words)

State University of New York Upstate Medical University

500 words or less

1. If you earned your baccalaureate degree prior to this past June (2023), please provide a brief statement indicating your plans for the upcoming academic year.

2. Which medical specialty do you currently plan to pursue?

3. You might consider yourself disadvantaged if you grew up in an area that was medically or underserved or had insufficient access to educational opportunities. Do you consider yourself within this description? If you answer Yes, please explain your particular circumstances regarding why you consider yourself a disadvantaged applicant.

4. Upstate Medical University is strongly committed to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for the patients we serve and all who work at, study at, or visit our campus. In 500 words or less, please answer the following question:

As a potential partner in this effort, please describe your commitment to eliminating health inequities, discrimination, or other forms of social injustice.

5. If you are interested in Primary Care, are you interested in receiving more information about potential scholarship opportunities?

6. We understand that the COVID-19 crisis disrupted many aspects of our lives. Please share if you had any curricular impacts during this time, for example, change to pass/fail courses or to online coursework or if you anticipate any deficiencies in experiences as a result of COVID-19.

New York Medical College

1. If you do not have any family members with a connection to NYMC for any of the below categories you can skip this section.

•  In this activity, please indicate if you have/had a family member (Grandparent, Parent or Sibling) that attended the NYMC School of Medicine. Applicable to alumni from School of Medicine only. Does not apply to alumni from NYMC-sponsored residency programs, NYMC Graduate School of Basic Medical Sciences (GSBMS) or NYMC School of Health Sciences & Practice (SHSP)
•  In this activity, please indicate if you have a family member (Grandparent, Parent or Sibling) Applicable to full-time faculty at School of Medicine only
•  In this activity, please indicate if you have a family member (Grandparent, Parent or Sibling) Applicable to full-time employees at School of Medline only.

2. Please review the NYMC social media Policy. If you select YES, we ask that you please briefly explain what has been posted.

3. Please share any disruptions in your academic, volunteer, work, and/or personal life related to COVID-19 that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider.

4. Please review the NYMC Technical Standards on our NYMC.EDU website for Admissions and Enrollment and attest to your understanding of them. Please scroll down to the bottom of the page where it says policies related to student admission to view the link.

State University of New York at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

1. In 500 words or fewer, please explain your reasons for applying to the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo. Please be specific.

2. In 500 words or fewer, please explain how you would respond to a fellow student who muttered a racist or homophobic statement under their breath in your presence and that of other peers?

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

UNIQUE LIFE EXPERIENCES

1. What unique life experiences, personal attributes and/or perspectives will you bring as part of the incoming class? Are there particular challenges or successes that you have encountered? If you do not wish to write anything, please write “NA.”

2. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH US? Please use this space to tell us anything about yourself that you would like us to know. If you do not wish to write anything, please write “NA.”

For MSTP applicants, the following are additional prompts in addition to the above that you must complete:

1. In the list below and in the following question, please indicate the field(s) of your prior research experience. Check all that apply.

2. Please describe briefly the field(s) in which you plan to pursue your future research. We are looking for the big picture, Aging, Neuroscience, Cell Biology, Immunology, etc., not the specific focus. (250c)

3. Please list your previous scientific presentations and abstracts. List all authors, abstract titles, name of meeting, and date of meeting. List each meeting on a separate line. Please do not include the text of the abstract. (9999c)

4. Please list publications on which you are a co-author. List each on a separate line. Include names of all authors, title, journal, year of publication, and volume and page number(s). Please do not list papers that are “in preparation.” (9999c)

5. Please indicate which was your favorite course in college and why. (3000c)

University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

1. (Optional) Please share any challenges and/or special circumstances that impacted your application. (200 words)

2. If you previously applied to medical school, briefly describe any experiences you have been part of since your previous application. (200 words)

3. Tell us about a community you identify with and how you're involved with it? (200 words)

Stony Brook University School of Medicine

1. Tell us how your past experiences and/or challenges have defined you (500 words or less)

2. Please respond to ONE of the following two questions: (500 words or less)

(1) Please describe how you, as a future physician, plan to address the social determinants of health.

(2) What, in your opinion, is the role of a physician in addressing systemic racism and societal injustices?

3. Will your education be continuous between college and medical school matriculation?

If NO, please explain what you have done or plan to do during the gap period and why. (500 words or less)

If YES, please tell us about your proudest accomplishment to date. (500 words or less)

Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine

1. Explain why the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell is a good fit for your medical education journey? 250 words

2. “The School of Medicine, in a culture of community, scholarship and innovation, is dedicated to inspiring diverse, promising students to lead and transform medicine for the betterment of humanity.” How do you feel you would contribute to the Zucker School of Medicine’s mission and values and where do you see this taking you in the future? 250 words.

New York University Long Island

NYULISOM seeks to admit highly motivated candidates whose experiences and professional goals directly align with our primary care mission and demonstrate a commitment to a future career as a general practitioner in fields of medicine that are anchored in the principles of primary care and address the growing physician workforce shortages in specific medical disciplines.

To advance this mission, acceptance to NYULISOM is paired with the offer of a directed-pathway to residency into one of four designated residency programs at NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island.

• Internal Medicine
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• General Surgery

Please indicate the specific residency track for which you wish to be considered and explain the reason(s) for your choice, including those experiences listed on your AMCAS application that have confirmed your decision to pursue this field of medicine in the context of primary care. If applicable, please also discuss any other factors –such as your personal journey, academic interests or activities not listed on your application— that have influenced your choice.

Please provide the response that applies to you:

If you are still in school, please tell us your planned academic, extracurricular, research, community service and/or work activities for the application cycle.

If you have graduated from college, please tell us what you have been doing since that time up until the present and your reasons for doing so. Please be sure to account for all your time since graduating.

(Optional) Please comment on any significant fluctuations in your academic record or inconsistencies in your MCAT score; if you took a leave of absence for any reason during college; or any application irregularities that you feel would be helpful for the admissions committee to consider when conducting its holistic review of your credentials.

(Optional) Please feel free to share any other information that you have not already included in your AMCAS application or secondary responses that you believe would be relevant for the admissions committee to know about.

New York University Grossman School of Medicine

MD Questions

1. If applicable, please comment on significant fluctuations in your academic record which are not explained elsewhere on your application. (no limited provided)

2. If you have taken any time off from your studies, either during or after college, please describe what you have done during this time and your reasons for doing so. (no limit provided)

3. The Admissions Committee holistically evaluates a range of student qualities and life experiences that complement demonstrated academic excellence. What unique qualities do you possess that make you uniquely suited to become a physician or physician-scientist? How have your individual lived experiences shaped your core values and desire to be a future leader in our profession? (2500 characters)

4. Answer one of the three of the following (limit 2500 characters):

1) The most meaningful achievements are often non-academic in nature. Describe the personal accomplishment that makes you most proud. Why is this important to you?

2) Conflicts arise daily from differences in perspectives, priorities, worldviews and traditions. How do you define respect? Describe a situation in which you found it challenging to remain respectful while facing differences?

3) Describe a situation in which working with a colleague, family member or friend has been challenging. How did you resolve, if at all, the situation as a team and what did you gain from the experience that will benefit you as a future health care provider?

4) NYU Grossman School of Medicine strives to provide our students with the option of accelerating their medical educational training. In order to guide our curricular efforts to provide additional opportunities for early career exploration for our students, please select up to three residency specialties that are currently of interest to you. Please note that your selection in no way impacts your admissions decision (i.e., there are no right or wrong selections), that it is not binding in any way, and that you may select “Undecided” if you are unsure of your future career path. (a drop-down list of specialties will show up for this question)

MSTP Specific Questions

1. How many months of full-time research experience have you completed? When estimating this amount, you may convert part-time research into its full-time equivalent. For example, if you conducted part-time research for 1 year for ~50% of the time, this would equal 6 months of full-time research. Please do not include lab experiences associated with a course (e.g., organic chemistry course with lab).

2. What area of research would you like to pursue in your graduate training? (200 words max)

3. Please describe your ideal career. (200 words max)

Cornell Medical School

1. Please write a brief statement giving your reasons for applying to Weill Cornell Medical College.

2. Please describe a challenge you faced and how you addressed it.

3. If applicable, please tell us about any special circumstances related to COVID-19 that could help us understand you better.

4. If you are not attending college during the upcoming (2023-2024) academic year, what are your plans?

  Want to read some Cornell medical school secondary essay samples ?

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - New York

“This Personal Statement is different than the essay that had been submitted with your AACOMAS application. In no more than three paragraphs that will fit on this single page (if the essay creates a second page, it is too long), please discuss how your background, experience or academic program has prepared you for meeting Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Mission, Goals, or Objectives.”

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

1,000-character limit each

1. Briefly describe the reasons for your campus/site choice and comment on one or two factors that are most important to you in choosing where you wish to pursue your medical education.

2. NYITCOM values diversity, equity, and inclusion. How will your background and experiences add to our inclusive culture and how will this focus influence your future role as a physician?

3. Describe a challenge you’ve faced and the steps you took to overcome it.

4. Describe the community in which you see yourself practicing medicine.

5. Have you previously applied to NYITCOM? If yes, what specific steps have you taken to strengthen your credentials for the current application year?

6. How and where did you learn about NYITCOM?

Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University

2500-character max.

1. When you close your eyes and imagine your professional life 20 years from now, what do you see?

2. Tell us about a time where you felt that your persisted towards a goal or outcome you wanted even when there where challenges/barriers in the way. How did to you stay motivated to achieve your goal? Describe resources you used to overcome the challenge.

3. Medical school presents numerous emotional and professional challenges. Please share an instance where you faced a difficult academic situation and explain how you managed the situation. How did you promote your wellness during this situation?

4. East Carolina University’s motto is Servire- “To Serve.” Tell us about your most meaningful community service project or experience unrelated to patient care.

University of North Carolina School of Medicine

1. Describe an experience where you attempted a task and realized during the process that you were not ready for it. How did this experience impact your approach to trying new things? (250 words)

2. How will your life experiences foster a positive educational environment and benefit your future patients? (250 words)

3. Discuss your involvement in a service activity that has impacted your understanding of healthcare and your desire to pursue a career in medicine. (250 words)

4. What motivates you to apply to the UNC School of Medicine? (200 words)

5. Reapplicant essay available if you are one.

Duke University School of Medicine

1. Tell us Who You Are: Share with us your story. This is your opportunity to allow us to know how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words)

2. Working with Others: Trust and rapport are essential in your day-to-day interactions with people. How do you cultivate a relationship with a person who may be very different from you? (400 words)

3. Advocacy: Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define your view of advocacy. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words)

4. Coping with Disappointment: Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you discovered from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking? (400 words)

5. Leadership: What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis? (400 words)

6. Critical Thinking: Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or similar experience in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career? (400 words)

7. Understanding the Need for Healthcare Changes: Potential sources of health inequities exist. Duke’s Moments to Movement (M2M) is a collective stand to address these issues. Discuss your experience with disparities in health, health care and society. (400 words)

8. COVID-19 Implications: How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words)

9. Further Information: Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application

  Here are some Duke medical school secondary essay examples for inspiration!

Wake Forest University School of Medicine

1. We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us one experience that enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from it. (200 words or less)

2. Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words or less)

3. From your list of "most meaningful experiences" on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? (200 words or less)

4. Please share an experience that demonstrates how you have collaborated with others. (200 words or less)

5. Describe your future goal(s). Reflect on your past experiences and describe how these experiences will shape your goal(s). (200 words or less)

6. Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. (150 words or less)

7. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words or less)

Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine

1. The MISSION of Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM) is to educate and prepare community–based osteopathic physicians in a Christian environment to care for the rural and under-served populations in North Carolina, the Southeastern United States, and the nation. Briefly describe how your career goals align with the CUSOM Mission (4,000-character limit)

2. What three qualities will you bring to CUSOM which will enhance the overall climate of our school? How do these qualities align with the CUSOM mission? (4,000-character limit)

3. Osteopathic medicine parallels allopathic medicine but has distinct principles and practices. Which of these principles and practices are of greatest interest to you and why? (4,000-character limit)

University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences

1. The School of Medicine & Health Sciences is a community-based medical school, and because of the unique circumstances of our regional location, we place special emphasis on the unique skills needed to provide care for patients and populations in rural and Native American communities across all competencies. The primary purpose of the UND School of Medicine & Health Sciences is to educate physicians and other health professionals for subsequent service in North Dakota and to enhance the quality of life of its people. Other purposes include the discovery of knowledge that benefits the people of this state and enhances the quality of their lives. Please explain the steps you have taken towards, and how you will fulfill different aspects of the school’s mission. (1200 words)

2. Reflect on personal experiences of resilience and emotional intelligence throughout your life and how this has prepared you in your pursuit of a career in medicine. (1200 characters)

3. Describe your experiences with diverse populations. Examples include a summary of a volunteer experience, study abroad, employment, self-taught endeavor or a formal course on diversity that includes direct interaction with individuals or groups from socio- economic disadvantaged, diverse cultures, rural, or other backgrounds. (1200 characters)

4. Describe your research activity. Examples include the outcome of a formal research experience, course-dependent undergraduate research, thesis, or capstone project. (600 characters)

5. Describe your creative activity. Examples include the on-going production of art forms, artistic performance, or other creative efforts, such as photography, painting, musical talents, needlework, cooking, wood-working, building cars, yoga instructor, dancing, theatre performance, writing, gaming etc. (600 characters)

6. Expand and reflect on medical and/or clinical experience as it relates to the mission of the School of Medicine & Health Sciences. This may include a summary of physician shadowing, clinical observation, community service, volunteer work, and/or employment. Examples include, but are not limited to, work in a clinic, hospital, as a first responder, clinical lab, public health, home health visits, assisted living, nursing home care, youth camps, or relevant military duty. (1200 characters)

7. Expand and reflect on leadership and team experience. This may include a summary of leadership roles or teamwork in employed positions, extracurricular activities, organizations, volunteer services, or any other leadership or team experiences. (1200 characters)

8. What are your career plans if you do not ever get admitted to medical school? (600 characters)

9.  If needed, update the information in your AMCAS application (i.e., grades in recent courses, alterations in your proposed coursework or graduation, additions to extracurricular activities, unreported legal and institutional infractions, etc.). (600 characters)

10. Are you currently enrolled in a grant-funded and/or degree-granting post- baccalaureate program and/or advanced degree? If so, what is your timeline for completion? (600 characters)

11. Have you participated in any of these pathway programs: Scrubs Camp, Med Prep, CLIMB, Summer Institute, Pre-Med Day, etc? Please indicate all that apply. (Radio option)

12. UND SMHS REAPPLICANTS ONLY: When was your previous application, and, subsequently, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? Note any relevant academic, employment, clinical, and personal experience and/or development. (1200 characters)

13. Have you read the UND SMHS Standards of Capacity policy ( https://med.und.edu/policies/ _files/docs/4.14-standards-of-capacity.pdf), and are you prepared to meet these standards with or without reasonable accommodations?

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

1. Greatest Challenge Essay: The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you learned about yourself as a result. (2,000-character limit)

2. Based on your current maturity and wisdom, reflect upon an experience from the past few years that you would handle differently today. (1,000-character limit)

3. Gap Year(s) if applicable: If you are taking time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation, please tell us why you made this decision and what you will be doing or have done during this gap time. (1,000-character limit)

Optional Responses:

1. Research/Scholarly Work: One of the four pillars of the Western Reserve2 Curriculum is Research and Scholarship. Although research is not a prerequisite requirement for the University Program, if you have participated in research or another scholarly project, please tell us about it. Describe your experience, including the question you pursued and how you approached it, your results and interpretation of the results, and most importantly, any thoughts about what this experience meant to you. Remember that research is broad-based and can include such projects as a senior capstone or a thesis and can include both medical and non-medically-related investigations. If you have not completed research/scholarly work, you will be able to indicate this in a radio button embedded within this response. (3,500-character limit)

Note that if you are applying to both the University Program and the CCLCM, the research response will default to the CCLCM required response.

2. Additional Information Response: Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee that may not be captured in the rest of your application? (2,000-character limit)

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine

2. Research Essay: Please tell us about ONE research project to which you made a significant contribution. In your essay, describe your role on the project, the hypothesis of your research and whether you contributed to hypothesis generation, why the methods were selected to answer that hypothesis, your results, and interpretation of your results with respect to future findings. In addition, please briefly share your motivation for pursuing this research project and reflect on how this experience affected your future career goals. (3,500-character limit)

4. Intrinsic Motivation and Self-Directed Learning: The most successful medical students at our school are generally those who are intrinsically motivated, self-directed learners. Think of a time when you had to pursue a goal without clear external direction. Describe your approach and any new knowledge, perspectives, or skills that you acquired. (1,000-character limit)

5. Career Essay: What does your ideal career entail fifteen years after medical school graduation? (1,000-character limit)

6. Gap Year(s) if applicable: If you are taking time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation, please tell us why you made this decision and what you will be doing or have done during this gap time. (1,000-character limit)

1. Additional Information Response: Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee that may not be captured in the rest of your application? (2,000-character limit)

Northeast Ohio Medical University

1) NEOMED Personal Statement Please complete a brief personal statement of 5,000 characters or fewer addressing the question below: What do you hope to achieve from your experience as a NEOMED student?

Ohio State University College of Medicine

1. The mission statement of The Ohio State University College of Medicine is to "improve people's lives" through innovation in research, medical education, and patient care. Please describe how your past experiences predict your potential to contribute in two of these three areas.

2. The OSU COM has a goal of assembling a class that is enriched with a broad range of unique experiences. Do you believe this is a desirable goal for a medical school's student composition? Please elaborate.

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED ESSAYS ONLY FOR THOSE APPLYING TO THE PRIMARY CARE TRACK:

3. Please see our website for more information about applying to our program at medicine.osu.edu/pct. How do you feel ready to choose a career in family medicine? Please provide any examples of exposure and/or experiences not already mentioned in your application.

4. "Health is Primary" is a communications campaign to advocate for the values of family medicine, demonstrate the benefits of primary care, and engage patients in our healthcare system. The aim is to build a primary care system that reflects the values of family medicine, puts patients at the center of their care, and improves the health of all Americans. How do you plan to reflect the values of Family Medicine in your future career?

5. Please see our website for more information about applying to our program at medicine.osu.edu/cmt. Please give an example of a life experience that sparked your desire to practice medicine in a smaller community and apply to the Community Medicine Track.

6. Why are you interested in training in a smaller community, and what is the impact you hope to have by training in this setting?

The University of Toledo College of Medicine

1. The Admissions Committee considers a wide variety of factors in evaluating applicants, including fit between applicants and our program’s mission, goals, and culture. In the essays below, we invite you to share information about yourself with regard to two aspects of our program. We encourage you to provide information and insights that may not be easily gleaned from other aspects of your medical school application. In responding to the essay prompts below, you should interpret the questions to the best of your ability.

One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves cultural competence. The competency involves several distinct domains, including:

• Demonstrating knowledge of socio-cultural factors that affect interactions and behaviors;
• Showing an appreciation and respect for multiple dimensions of diversity;
• Recognizing and acting on the obligation to inform one's own judgment;
• Engaging diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work;
• Recognizing and appropriately addressing bias in selves and others;
• Interacting effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.

Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in one of the above domains. (Clearly indicate which of the six domains above that you are responding to.) As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will impact your future contribution to the culture of diversity and inclusion at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences and later in your career as a physician. (600 words)

2. One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves resilience and adaptability. This competency involves the ability to tolerate stressful or changing environments or situations and adapt effectively to them. Additional characteristics of this competency are persistence and the ability to recover from setbacks.

Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in resilience and adaptability as described above. As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will help you meet new challenges you may face in medical school. (600 words)

3. (Optional) Please use the space below for anything you might wish to discuss related to the corona virus (COVID-19) public health crisis. Possible topics might include, for example: your biggest lessons and insights from the pandemic; creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis; hardships you may have faced as a result of the virus or quarantine. (You will have an opportunity to specifically discuss impacts to your coursework/grades in a separate item.) (600 words)

4. We invite you to briefly discuss any other connections you may have to The University of Toledo, the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, the city of Toledo, or the region of Northwest Ohio or to provide additional information about the affiliations you noted above. (300 words)

5. Please briefly describe what activities you are/have been engaged in during the period between undergraduate school and medical school. (300 words, pops up if you answered "yes" to if you had a gap.)

6. If you feel you have any aspects of your record that may potentially negatively influence your application to our medical school, we encourage you to use this space to discuss them in order to provide the admissions committee with further context about your application. (Examples of possible topics include MCAT scores lower than our class average, low grades, withdrawn course, institutional action/student conduct violation.) (500 words)

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

1. The University of Cincinnati’s Next Lives Here initiative includes three platforms:

Inclusion: Intentionally engaging people and the contribution of diverse ideas.

Innovation: Challenging existing practices and paradigms and discovering the unknown.

Impact: Positively transforming our community and society in measurable ways.

The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Mission:

We work together in a spirit of collaboration, inclusion, and service: To educate and train the physicians, scientists, and health professionals of tomorrow; To advance knowledge through impactful, innovative research; To improve health and well-being through compassionate, patient-centered care.

Considering the UCCOM mission, tell us why you’re applying here and how our mission aligns with your own.

Your response is limited to 2000 characters.

2. The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Values:

We are committed to excellence, diversity, and integrity in our students, faculty, staff, and all of our activities. We provide an inclusive environment where innovation and freedom of intellectual inquiry flourish.

Please share your personal journey to a career in medicine and let us know how the UCCOM values align with your own.

3. Academic Impact of COVID-19 (optional)

Please explain, if applicable, any ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic specifically and negatively impacted and/or caused significant hardship for your academic performance between the months of March 2020 and September 2022.

4. Non-Academic Impact of COVID-19 (optional)

We understand that all applicants have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Please use the space below to describe any personal (ie, non-academic) life-altering experiences or changes to your plans related to the pandemic between March 2020 and September 2022.

MD-PhD Essays

1. Research Projects: Please summarize your past research experience(s). Discuss your role and contributions to the project(s). Explain how these experience(s) have prepared you for a career as a physician-scientist. (4000 characters)

2. Qualifications for MD/PHD: Please discuss your motivation and goals for joining an MD/PhD program. Elaborate on future career plans and how the University of Cincinnati MSTP will help you achieve those goals. (2000 characters)

3. Research Interests: Please discuss your research interests and how these align with the research opportunities provided at the University of Cincinnati/Cincinnati Children’s. Discuss potential MSTP faculty mentors whose research is of interest to you. (2000 characters)

Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine

1. If you earned a medically related certificate/license, how many hours have you worked in that role since earning your certificate/license? If not, please enter N/A. (100 characters)

2. If there has been a significant economic hardship, please explain the circumstances. If none, please enter N/A. (750 characters)

3. If your parents are graduates of Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, please list their name(s) and graduation year(s). Enter N/A if your parents are not Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine Alumni. (100 characters)

4. If you have relatives that are Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine alumni, current students, faculty or staff, please list their name(s). Enter N/A if you do not have relatives that are Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine alumni, current students, faculty or staff. (100 characters)

5. If you have applied to Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine in a previous cycle, please indicate the year(s) of your previous application(s). Enter N/A if this is your first application to Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. (100 characters)

6. What is the primary reason that you have chosen to apply to the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine? (750 characters)

7. Are there any specific patient populations that that you desire to serve as a physician? (750 characters)

8. If there has been or will be a gap in your education, please describe how you have/will use this time. If not, please enter N/A. (750 characters)

9. If you consider yourself a non-traditional candidate, please explain. If not, please enter N/A. (750 characters)

10. Briefly describe any extenuating circumstances which you believe are pertinent to your application (i.e. Poor grades, withdrawn courses, life events). If none, please enter N/A. (750 characters)

11. If you have attended any allopathic or osteopathic medical school, as a candidate for an M.D. or D.O., please list the name of the school and explain the reason for separation. Enter N/A if you have not attended any allopathic or osteopathic medical school as a candidate for an M.D. or D.O. (750 characters)

12. If you are not a current resident of the state of Ohio, please describe your connection to Ohio. If you have no connection to the state of Ohio, please enter N/A. (750 characters)

13. If you have a connection to Wright State University, please describe your that connection. If you have no connection to Wright State University, please enter N/A. (750 characters)

14. If you have a connection to the Boonshoft School of Medicine, please describe that connection. If you have no connection to the Boonshoft School of Medicine, please enter N/A. (750 characters)

Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

1. All applicants are required to answer the following question in the form of an essay. There is no specific word count, font or font size required. Please name the file using following format: "last name, first name, required essay".

"There are philosophical and tangible differences between osteopathic and allopathic medicine. Describe what being an osteopathic physician means to you, and what qualities make a good osteopathic physician. What have you done to gain knowledge and experience of osteopathic medicine?"

2. All applicants are required to answer one of the following three questions in the form of an essay. There is no specific word count, font or font size required. Make sure to include the question itself at the top of your essay. Please name the file using the following format: "last name, first name, selected essay".

1) Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions you hope to make to your community as a medical student and later as a physician?

2) There are multiple paths that lead to medical school and many obstacles along the way. Please describe the unique path that has led you to medicine as well as any obstacle or adversity that you had to overcome in achieving this goal. How will this experience affect your career as a physician?

 3) What has been your most meaningful life experience (i.e., family situation, clinical or shadowing experience, volunteer experience, etc.) that influenced your decision to pursue medicine?

University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

1. Why are you applying to The University of Oklahoma College of Medicine? (Max 250 words)

2. Do you have family or friends in Oklahoma? Please explain (No word/character limit)

3. Where else are you applying? (no character limit)

If you go for the SCM track: (School of Community Medicine, in Tulsa)

1. Please submit an essay that explains your interest and commitment to Community Medicine. (Max 450 words)

2. Please explain how you expect the SCM track to enhance your medical education. (Max 250 words)

3. Please enter any additional community or volunteer experience not included on your AMCAS application. (Max 250 words)

4. Please highlight any other relevant life experience that you feel might have an impact on your application to the SCM track. (Max 250 words)

University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine

1. Please submit an essay that explains your interest and commitment to Community Medicine. (450 words max)

2. Please explain how you expect the SCM track to enhance your medical education. (250 words max)

3. Please enter any additional community or volunteer experience not included on your AMCAS application. (250 words max)

4. Please highlight any other relevant life experience that you feel might have an impact on your application to the SCM track. (250 words max)

Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

1. Are you currently enrolled in classes? Yes/No >> (If not), please describe your current activities (300 words)

2. Please describe something you deserved but didn’t get and how you felt about it. (300 words)

3. (Optional): Is there any additional information you would like the college to know about you? (500 words)

Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine

1. What experience have you had that has given you insight into the patients you hope to eventually serve? (1550 characters)

2. Tell us about a time you went into a situation completely unprepared. (1550 characters)

3. Discuss a time in your life that demonstrated your resilience and ability to overcome adversity. (1550 characters)

4. In 1990, Salovey and Mayer defined emotional intelligence (EI) as “the subset of social intelligence that involves the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and actions”. The components of EI include self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. Briefly describe one example of a time you harnessed your EI to resolve a difficult situation, AND one example of a time your failure to use your EI compounded a difficult situation. What did you learn about yourself in each of these situations? (1550 characters)

5. Give an example of personal feedback in the last few years that was difficult to receive. How did you respond? (1550 characters)

6. Please discuss the roles Dignity, Respect and Deference play in how medical teams optimize patient care. (changed from last year) (1550 characters)

7. Are there any additional ties to the state of Oregon you wish to share? If yes, use the space below. If no, leave blank. Please note that this does not factor toward your consideration as an Oregon resident or Oregon Heritage. (1550 characters)

8. We know that many of our applicants in the OHSU UME Program may have familial relationships with individuals who are OHSU faculty, residents, staff, or current students who serve as evaluators in our admissions process. We have added this question in hopes to prevent perceived or actual conflicts of interest that can occur when an applicant has a family member (or someone with a similar close personal relationship) they may encounter through the admissions process. If you have any such connections, please list those individuals’ names and departments below. If no, leave blank. (2050 characters)

Supplemental Information section with additional prompts:

9. Based on your own experiences or the experiences of family and friends, do you believe that the area in which you grew up was adequately served by the available health care professionals? Were there enough physicians, nurses, hospitals, clinics, and other health care service providers and how did that affect your experience and relationship with health care? Please explain. (4000 characters)

10. "While you were growing up, did you experience any of the following types of adversity?" with options to select the severity of the following adversities: economic, educational, ethnic/cultural, family] Please describe the nature of the adversity and how social, economic, academic, or other circumstances affected you and your opportunities. (4000 characters)

11. We acknowledge that our application is not fully comprehensive. If there is anything additional you would like to let us know about you, please briefly state it here. (550 characters)

Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

500-words max.

4. How does the COMP Northwest Mission statement align with your values?

5. Why do you want to attend COMP Northwest in Lebanon, Oregon?

University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

1. If you were offered an option to continue courses with a standard grading system or switch to Pass/Fail, and you elected Pass/Fail, please describe the reason(s) for your decision here (500 characters).

2. The Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) is deeply committed to recruiting a class inclusive of diverse perspectives and experiences; this enriches the instruction we provide, enhances team-based learning, and ensures our students’ preparation to address the health needs of a pluralistic society. How would your life experiences contribute to the student body and how would you contribute to an inclusive atmosphere at PSOM? Please explain and limit your response to 1,000 characters.

3. We are all navigating through challenging times, and physicians and physician-scientists must contend with many instances of uncertainty. Describe a time when you faced a situation that was ambiguous, confusing, or uncertain, and how you navigated making a decision without complete information (3000 characters).

4. Please explain your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine and limit your response to 1,000 characters

Read some UPenn medical school secondary essay samples !

Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine

1. If not currently enrolled in a full-time academic program, please summate your activities from the time of graduation from your baccalaureate program through the time of this application, as well as your plans between now and your matriculation to medical school. (Maximum 75 words)

2. Is there a unique aspect of your application that should be considered by the admissions committee? (Maximum 75 words)

3. Explain why you decided to apply to the Penn State College of Medicine. (Maximum 75 words)

4. Write a short paragraph describing a significant experience you have had working in a team setting. (Maximum 250 words)

5. Write a short statement describing how you envision using your medical education to advance care for under-represented or marginalized populations. (Maximum 250 words)

Drexel University College of Medicine

1. Please discuss all of your current and recent activities and engagements that have prepared you for medical school. Please be sure to include any traditional and/or non-traditional clinical exposures and volunteering experiences that you have done that are not already included in your application. (2000 characters)

2. Why are you interested in Drexel? Please also explain how you meet various elements of our mission - compassionate care, diversity, spirited inquiry, collaboration, and opportunity. (1500 characters)

3. (optional) Please describe any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your medical or non-medical service experiences, including any circumstances that impacted your engagement in activities, academics, and MCAT that would have helped to prepare you for medical school. (1500 characters)

Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

1. Sidney Kimmel Medical College defines diversity as the richness in human differences. How will your own experiences allow you to contribute to the diversity of the student body and to provide equitable and inclusive care to your future patients? (2500 characters)

2. Do you have additional information that you would like to provide at this time? (4000 characters)

Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine

1. What is the nature of your interest in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine?

2. The Admissions Committee would like to know more about you. LKSOM seeks an engaged student body with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and interests to enhance the medical school experience for everyone. Please use the space below to describe what makes you unique as an applicant, an obstacle that you had to overcome, or how you will contribute to the LKSOM community.

3. Tell us about your special interest in the campus you selected.

4. What are your plans for the current year - June 2023 until June 2024?

5. The Coronavirus pandemic has affected all of us.

Please use this space to describe to us how you were impacted academically, personally or professionally by COVID-19. Note: 2,000-character limit per essay question, including spaces.

6. Have you completed a pathway/pipeline program offered through LKSOM or another medical school? These types of pathway/pipeline programs include Diversity Scholars, STEP-UP, Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) or other similar programs sponsored by a medical school. (Y/N)

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

1500-characater limit

If you are applying to the Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program, please share with the Admissions Committee what primary care and/or psychiatry means to you, and why you believe you are a good fit for the Abigail Geisinger Scholars Program. (Still answer questions 2-4 below though. Only question 1 is substituted by this prompt)

1. Given Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s unique mission and values, please tell us why you believe you are a good fit for our institution.

2. List the five most important attributes you believe a physician should possess. Please choose one that you believe you embody and describe a personal experience that demonstrates this trait?

3. Geisinger Commonwealth values diversity, health equity, inclusion, and social justice. Tell us how you will share in this mission.

4. If you have previously applied to medical school, please describe your significant experiences between this year’s application and your previous application. If you are not a previous applicant, please type, “N/A” in the response area.

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

1. Tell us about a challenging problem you faced and how you resolved it. Include how the experience contributed to the person you are today. (250 words or less.

2. At UPSOM, diversity and inclusion are measures of distinction, integral to achieving institutional excellence, and essential to the development of future physicians who become leaders in medicine. Describe how you have demonstrated a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the past, and how you hope to grow that commitment in medical school. (250 words or less.)

3. Tell the Admissions Committee why you are applying to Pitt Med and why you think this school would be a good fit for you? (250 words or less.)

Duquesne University College of Osteopathic Medicine

ESSAY QUESTION 1:

Why do you want to become a physician, and how are you a good fit for DUQCOM's mission?

PLEASE ANSWER ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FROM QUESTIONS 2 - 4.

(maximum 400 words for each question)

ESSAY QUESTION 2 - Describe a situation in which you had to utilize your beliefs and values to interact with people from different backgrounds. How did those beliefs and values impact the relationship?

ESSAY QUESTION 3 - While there is great emphasis on the physician-patient relationship, DUQCOM also emphasizes the importance of training future physicians to care for diverse communities and populations. Describe how your experiences would contribute to caring for patients in under-resourced communities as they relate to addressing health disparities, which is a key component of the mission of the College of Medicine.

ESSAY QUESTION 4 - Comment upon how you intend to utilize your medical training to impact the healthcare profession. Please include two of the following topics in your answer: application of knowledge in ethics, regional and global health disparities, health policies and economics, innovation and entrepreneurship, medical humanities, patient safety, quality improvement, and scientific discovery.

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

No secondary application.

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

No secondary application. 

Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

1. Summarize your activities during the 2023-2024 academic year. Describe how your activities are preparing you for a medical career. (2000 characters)

2. How will your unique attributes, life experiences, and interests add to the Alpert Medical School community? (2000 characters)

3. Reflect on a situation when you had to change course, and how you did so. (3000 characters)

Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine

1. Please discuss your primary interest in attending the Medical University of South Carolina. (2000 characters)

2. We desire to train students and physicians to work with the diverse patients of our state and nation. Please share any important aspects of your background, identity, and/or experiences that have impacted your ability to relate to and work with diverse communities and patient populations. (3000 characters)

3. For re-applicants- If you are a re-applicant, please describe what you have done since last applying (i.e. your activities, involvement, preparedness, etc.) to strengthen your candidacy for medical school. (2000 characters)

4. For out-of-state applicants- If you are not a legal resident of South Carolina, please describe in detail your strong Close Ties to South Carolina. Close Ties are defined as: (1) Having lived in SC for multiple years, (2) Parents who currently live full-time in SC, (3) Completed the majority of your education in SC (i.e. enrolled in or graduate of an undergraduate and/or graduate degree from a South Carolina institution), (4) and/or currently living in and/or working in South Carolina. (3000 characters)

University of South Carolina School of Medicine

No word limits.

1. (if applicable) What additional qualifications have you acquired since your last application?

2. (if applicable) Do you have any other ties to South Carolina that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider?

3. What are your medical practice goals?

4. Describe your employment status since you completed your bachelor's degree (part-time, full-time, and dates) (only if you have graduated)

5. In what region of the country do you want to practice medicine? Why?

6. What areas of medicine are you interested in at this time, or what areas do you plan to pursue?

7. Do you have any accomplishments or experiences that make you a unique applicant?

8. Explain any impact that COVID-19 may have had on your educational, research, volunteering or employment plans.

9. Working as part of a team is an important aspect of your medical education at our School of Medicine and as a practitioner in the future. Please share at least one experience where you worked as part of a team to accomplish a goal/objective. What was your role as a part of the team and what did you learn from working with others? How did you deal with conflict on the team and/or working with a team member who you disagreed with?

University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville

Question 1: Please consider sharing experiences, challenges, family or personal circumstances, interests, etc. that you believe would bring added value and unique lived experience to the learning community at USC School of Medicine Greenville. (5000 characters)

Question 2: If you are not a South Carolina resident, what relationships, bonds, or other interests or connections do you have to the state? (If not applicable, please write N/A) (5000 characters)

Question 3: Is there any additional information you would like the Admissions Committee to consider that has not been previously addressed? (If not applicable, please write N/A) (5000 characters)

Question 4: Why have you chosen to apply to USC School of Medicine Greenville and how do you think your education at USCSOM Greenville will prepare you to become a physician in the future? (5000 characters)

***Essay Question 1*** At USCSOM Greenville we are committed to Transforming Medicine One Doctor at a Time. Share how, as a physician, you will seek to transform medicine. (5000 characters)

***Essay Question 2*** Please describe a personal work, social or educational experience which felt inclusive and welcoming. (5000 characters)

University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine

1. Given the mission statement of the school, please explain how your experiences and long-term goals would help meet the mission. (1500 characters)

2. Given the diversity statement of the school, explain how your background and experiences with diversity will bring value to the school. (1500 characters)

3. Describe how your experiences in health care or social care activities will help you become a good physician. (1500 characters)

4. Briefly describe a crisis or significant challenge in your life, how you have worked through the crisis or challenge, and what you have learned from this experience. (1500 characters)

5. What are your career plans in the event that you are not admitted to a medical school this year or after several applications? (1500 characters)

6. Please use this space to update the information contained on your AMCAS application (i.e. grades in recent courses; alterations in your proposed coursework or graduation; additions to your extracurricular activities) or anything else you want the committee to know. (1500 characters)

7. For repeat applicants only. Since your last application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? Please note any relevant academic, employment, clinical and personal experience. (1500 characters)

8. For non-South Dakota residents applying to the regular MD program – please describe your ties to South Dakota. (1500 characters)

9. Please share and explain any disruptions/hardships in your academic, volunteer, work, and/or personal life related to COVID-19 that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (5000 characters)

10. Please use the space below for anything you might wish to discuss related to the corona virus (COVID-19) public health crisis. Possible topics might include, for example: your biggest lessons and insights from the pandemic; creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis; how the pandemic has affected your outlook on the role of medicine. (5000 characters)

11. Knowledge and skill are crucial, but why should a physician be kind? (5000 characters)

East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine

(All max 1500-character counts)

1. What makes you interested in Quillen? Discuss your perceptions on how attending Quillen would align with your future goals and your hopes for how it will shape you into the physician you want to become.

2. Social justice, systemic racism, and equity for all have been at the forefront of national conversations. Quillen College of Medicine recognizes that many barriers still exist for persons of color and those from historically underrepresented communities. As a physician you will have opportunities to foster an environment of change for your patients and community. Please share with us your reflections on how your life experiences have impacted the development of your values and attitudes toward others, particularly those with backgrounds or values different from your own.

3. Applicant choice. Please select only one of the following questions to answer. Be sure to indicate your choice by starting with the number associated with the question:

•  There is no doubt that the level of stress brought on by medical schools can impact a student's mental health and emotional well-being. Discuss the ways you plan to manage your own health and well-being during medical school.
•  Describe an experience you have had during your life that has given you a unique understanding of human suffering and what did you learn from this experience?
•  Use this space to tell the committee anything else about yourself that you have not had the opportunity to present elsewhere in your application.

Meharry Medical College

1. Why do you wish to attend Meharry Medical College, School of Medicine?

2. Please describe a personal situation of failure, significant challenge or a major obstacle that you have overcome. Include a description of your coping skills and lessons you learned about yourself from that situation.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine

1. List all courses you are currently taking or plan to take within the current academic year (e.g., Fall 2023 and/or Spring 2024). List course(s), title, and credit hours. (1000 characters) (I think it's only "optional" if you're not currently a student!)

2. (optional) Any additional information not previously provided in the personal comments of your AMCAS primary application? (500 characters)

3. (optional) Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we would like to provide our applicants with an optional essay prompt for the year's UTHSC College of Medicine secondary application. Please use the text field below to share with us how you may have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including academic, financial, medical disruptions, etc. It would also be helpful for us to know if any of your planned experiences in shadowing, volunteering, research, employment, or other activities have been suspended due to the pandemic. (2500 characters)

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

1. Please reflect on the upbringing, background, and experiences in your life that have shaped who you are as a person and will help define the person you want to be in the future. In other words, what makes you who you are? (800 words)

2. Tell us about a time when you interacted with someone who is different than you. What did you learn? What would you do differently? (600 words)

3. Everyone needs help at various times in their lives. Describe a time you asked for help and what you gained from that experience that has influenced your approach to asking for help. (600 words)

4. (Optional): If you have completed your undergraduate education, please comment on what you have done or have been doing since graduation. (200 words)

5. (Optional): If applicable, please describe how the COVID-19 outbreak affected your pathway to medical school. You may discuss any academic, personal, financial, or professional alterations to your plans. NOTE: Disclosing certain hardships or obstacles that have been faced during this time will not negatively affect an application. (200 words)

6. (Optional): How did you first become interested in Vanderbilt University School of Medicine? (200 words)"

Baptist Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine

250 words each

1. BUCOM shares the values of our larger learning community at Baptist Health Sciences University such as integrity, professionalism, continuous improvement, and service as an expression of our Christian values. We foster a Christian environment where servant leadership is modeled in all aspects of learning, teaching, service, and business. Describe what it means to be a servant leader and how it connects to your decision to become an osteopathic physician.

2. Why did you decide to apply to BUCOM, and what personal values will you bring that will enhance our campus community during your time here?

3. After residency, describe the community setting, job role, and type of practice in where you see yourself.

Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

Please write and ATTACH the short essay addressing ONE of the following questions:

Medical school requires a huge commitment in time and energy. How have you prepared for this commitment?

If you are a re-applicant, please tell us what you have done to strengthen your application.

1. Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know that you haven’t explained on your AACOMAS application?

University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

1. Describe a group project or activity that you are most proud of. Consider the following in your response: What aspect makes you most proud? How was it accomplished? How did you deal with disagreement or conflict in the group? How did you get fellow group members to embrace a position or view your perspective? (2500 characters)

2. Describe a time that you have witnessed someone acting unethically or dishonestly, or an experienced behavior of harassment or discrimination. What did you do? Describe your reaction, is there anything you might do differently now in retrospect. (2500 characters)

3. Describe an interaction or experience that has made you more sensitive or appreciative of cultural differences, and/or how you have committed yourself to understanding and aiding in the pursuit of equity and inclusion in your academic, professional or personal life. (2500 characters)

4. (Optional) Have you engaged in any public service activities for a duration of one year or greater in length (examples: Military, Peace Corps, Teach for America, etc.). Yes or No? If so, please describe the experience and impact on your personal and professional development. (2500 characters)

5. (Optional) Please explain any academic discrepancies or extenuating circumstances that you feel the Admissions Committee should know.

Baylor College of Medicine

1. In addition to training as a competent physician, please select up to two additional areas of interest from the items below that you may want to pursue during your medical studies. Your responses will have no bearing on applications to joint degrees or special programs to which you might also apply.

• Clinical Research
• Healthcare/disparities/medical undeserved communities
• Academic Medicine
• Community Health
• Simulation in medical education
• Health systems science

What knowledge, skills and attitudes have you developed that have prepared you for this career path? (1,000-character limit)

2. Are you planning to matriculate into medical school immediately after completing your undergraduate education? If not, please explain what activities and/or careers you have pursued in the time between your college education and your application. (no limit)

3. Indicate any special experiences, unusual factors or other information you feel would be helpful in evaluating you, including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, prevailing over adversity. You may expand upon but not repeat TMDSAS or AMCAS application information. This section is mandatory. Please make sure you submit an essay or your application will not be reviewed by the committee. (2000-character limit).

MD/PhD Applicants Additional Prompts:

1. Please describe your primary research Interests for PhD training. [Limit of 1000 characters]

2. Why do you think Baylor College of Medicine MD/PhD Program would be a good place for you to train to be a physician scientist? Please provide names of potential Baylor College of Medicine and/or Rice University faculty with whom you would like to work. (Will not limit final research project or mentor selection) [Limit of 1500 characters]

3. Tell us about a characteristic(s) that may enable you to interact with people from a wide range of ages, experiences, viewpoints, and backgrounds. [Limit of 1000 characters]

4. Published articles, please provide full citations:

5. Plans for the 2023-2024 academic year description [Limit of 1000 characters]

University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine

1. Describe a time when you advocated for someone whose social identity (e.g., race, gender, sex, religion, socioeconomic status, ability status, etc.) differed from yours. Explain the situation and why advocacy was necessary.

2. Describe a time you were wrong. Why were you wrong? How did you respond?

3. How do you define curiosity? Provide an example in which curiosity helped solve or expand your knowledge and experience outside of the academic environment.

4. What attributes do you look for in your physician(s)? Which of these attributes do you need to develop? How will you develop them?

5. John Sealy School of Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch serves patients throughout Texas, focusing on Galveston County and Gulf Coast Region. Are there particular characteristics of our school and/or the Galveston area in terms of location, history, or other attributes which make you especially interested in matriculating here?

B. There will also be an asynchronous Video you need to complete via SparkHire, follow the instructions given. Here is the SparkHire site with FAQS and info for candidates: SparkHire FAQS for candidates

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine

No secondary essays.

University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical School

1. Please discuss one of the following:

a) A challenging situation or obstacle you have faced in the past

b) Any academic road bumps in your academic career (low academic performance, failing course, dropping/retaking of courses)

Why was it challenging? How did you handle it? Knowing what you know now, would you do anything differently? What did you learn?

2. Describe a time or situation where you have been unsuccessful or failed. What did you learn from this experience and how have you applied this learning to your work and/or life? (2500 characters)

3. What would you like to contribute and be remembered for in medicine? (2500 characters)

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine

Four Required Essays:

1. Which potential barriers and facilitators exist for medicine of the future? How will you make a difference in this regard? (350 words or less)

2. Describe how you decide if a person or source is trustworthy. (350 words or less)

3. Describe a time when the awareness of your own limitations resulted in a favorable outcome for you or someone close to you. (350 words or less)

4. In the event that you are accepted by two or more medical schools, what factors would you consider most important when choosing a school to attend. (100-word max; bullet points are acceptable)

Three Optional Essays: (truly optional)

1. [Optional] If you feel that the Admissions Committee should be aware of any academic discrepancies or extenuating circumstances, please explain them. (350 words or less)

2. [Optional] Describe any major hardships you have overcome to reach this point in your life. (350 words or less)

3. [Optional] How have volunteer work, hobbies, and/or extracurricular activities informed your beliefs about health care and a career in medicine? (350 words or less)

Required Video Response:

Submit a 2-minute video that answers one of the two questions below.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine prepares future physicians in accordance with the following values: patient advocacy, community focus, cultural awareness, collaborative leadership style, and lifelong problem solving. Select TWO (2) of these values and discuss what you have done in the past that resonates with them. How will you support and strengthen these two values when you practice medicine?

University of Texas Medical School at Houston

I have prior experience in primary care setting (general internal medicine physician, a general pediatrician, or a family medicine physician).

I have prior experience in a medical practice or social service for an underserved area:

I have prior experience in community or public health:

Describe the setting (urban/inner city; suburban; rural); your role and responsibilities; and approximate date range for any of the experiences you indicated in the previous section. If you answered (N) to the category, enter “N/A” or leave the box blank for that category.

Primary Care: (300-character limit)

Medical or Social service for underserved area: (300-character limit)

Community or Public Health: (300-character limit)

Describe any employment, family or other obligations that impacted your education that are NOT already indicated in your TMDSAS application. (750 characters) (optional)

Describe up to 3 of your activities/life experiences that align with our mission. Explain how they might demonstrate a commitment to underserved communities. The examples you select must be included in TMDSAS primary application. (1500-character limit)

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine

1. The mission of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Paul L. Foster School of Medicine is to provide an outstanding education and development opportunities for a diverse group of students, residents, faculty, and staff; advance knowledge through innovation and research; and serve the needs of our socially and culturally diverse communities and region.” Recognizing the components of this mission and that PLFSOM is located on the US/Mexico border, please describe why you are interested in applying to our school. (300 words or less)

2. The Foster SOM student honor code states “In my capacity as a Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso School of Medicine medical student, I will uphold the dignity of the medical profession. I will, to the best of my ability, avoid actions which might result in harm to my patients. I will protect the dignity of my patients and the deceased, and will protect their confidential information in accordance with the prevailing standards of medical practice. I will not lie, cheat, or steal. I will enter into professional relationships with my colleagues, teachers, and other health care professionals in a manner that is respectful and reflective of the high standards and expectations of my profession. I will not tolerate violations of this Code by others and will report such violations to the appropriate authorities.” Please describe past experiences or personal attributes that reflect your affinity with this honor code. (300 words or less)

3. Please describe any unique personal experiences or disadvantage (educational, financial or otherwise) and their significance to you in your pursuit of a medical degree. (300 words or less)

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine

1. Please indicate the area(s) of medicine you are interested in and briefly describe your significant activities for each respective interest in the available text box (100 words).

• Practicing in an underserved area
• Rural Health
• Medical Research
• Medical Academics
• Border Health
• Other (Please describe below)

2. Have you experienced any road bumps in your academic career? (Low academic performance, dropping, retaking, or failing courses, etc.). If so, please explain (250 words or less)

3. Please share any lessons learned during your academic journey. For example, a time a goal of yours was deterred and maybe even halted, how did you handle that situation? (250 words or less)

4. If you are applying to a dual degree program, please rank them in order of preference.

5. Are you applying to our MD & E program?

6. Are you applying to FMAT?

7. Have you experienced any hardship or adversity, personally or professionally? If yes, please share your experience with us. (200 words or less)

8. Please tell us about your favorite recreational/leisure activities (100 words or less)

9. Please share with us your ideal practice. For example: Where would you practice? Who would your patients be? What would your specialty be? (100-word limit)

10. Do you consider yourself from West Texas or as having West Texas ties? If yes, what town or county did you reside in, or what other factors would you cite? (100 words or less)

11. Do you consider yourself to be first generation? If yes, please explain your reasoning (Examples of Definition: both of your parents are born outside of the USA, both of your parents have education or a degree outside of the USA, both of your parents do not have an education higher than high school). If yes, then explain? (100 words or less)

12. Have you ever participated in any TTUHSC special programs?

• Middle School to Medical School (M2M)
• Early Dedication to Medical Education (EDME)
• Future Healthcare Professional’s Experience (FHPE)
• Summer Enrichment Program (SEP)
• Premedical Enrichment Program (PEP)
• Graduate Medical Education Sciences (GMES)

University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School

Texas a&m health science center college of medicine.

1. As a physician, you never know what type of patient you will serve. From your past experiences, please describe or highlight factors or situations that demonstrate your ability to work with individuals from multicultural communities. (3500 chars max)

2. The Texas A&M School of Medicine embraces the Aggie Core Values of Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity and Selfless Service. Please elaborate on personal characteristics, values, accomplishments and/or any experiences that you feel will help to demonstrate your potential to contribute to the school and to the profession of medicine. (3500 chars max)

3. Describe any circumstances indicative of some hardship, such as, but not limited to, financial difficulties, personal or family illness, a medical condition, a death in the immediate family or educational disadvantage not mentioned in your primary application essays. What strategies have you used to address these circumstances? (3500 chars max)

4. OPTIONAL QUESTION: List the area (or areas) of medicine that appeals to you and briefly explain. (Limit your explanation to 50 words or 250 characters total) Do not leave blank. If not applicable, please so indicate.

EnMed - Specific Prompts: All are 250 words.

1. How did you hear about the EnMed program?

2. How will the Engineering Medicine program meet your career goals and aspirations in ways that a traditional MD program would not?

3. List the knowledge and skills you have participated in outside the classroom, then describe how these have prepared you to create innovative medical technologies.

4. List the knowledge and skills you have acquired inside the classroom, then describe how these have prepared you to create innovative medical technologies.

5. At the end of your career, what do you want to have accomplished in order to consider yourself successful?

TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine

Sam houston state university college of osteopathic medicine.

1. What do you like or dislike most about the area you are from (your hometown or where you graduated high school)? [800-character limit]

2. Describe a moment when you failed to accomplish a task or let yourself down. How did you grow from this experience? [800-character limit]

3. What do you consider the role of physicians in medically underserved Texas communities? [800-character limit]

4. Sam Houston State University's Motto is "The Measure of a Life is its Service." What is the most significant service contribution that you have made? [800-character limit]

5. As a DO physician, how would you plan to incorporate the tenets of osteopathic medicine into your future practice? [800-character limit]

6. Are you a Texas resident? [Yes or No]

7. Please share anything you would like to mention to the SHSU-COM Admissions Committee about yourself to strengthen your application. [500-character limit]

University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth/Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

OSTEOPATHIC KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCES, AND/OR RELATIONSHIPS

Please address each topic in a separate paragraph:

1. What experiences and/or relationships have motivated you toward a career in osteopathic medicine? (2,000-character limit including spaces)

ACADEMIC HISTORY

1. If you attended more than two colleges/universities, explain why. Community colleges are not needed. (1,000-character limit including spaces)

2. If applicable, please update the information contained on your TMDSAS application. Indicate any additional grades earned, alterations in your proposed coursework or graduation date, additions to your extracurricular activities, name change, or anything else you feel the Admissions Committee should know. (1,000-character limit including spaces)

ADDITIONAL EVALUATIONS (Optional)

An additional evaluation letter may be submitted directly to UNTHSC Office of Admissions by the evaluator. A letter from an osteopathic physician is highly recommended. Please indicate the name of the evaluator and whether or not they are a D.O.

SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

1. Did you live in a single parent household?

If yes, number of years/months:

Number of Years:

Number of Months:

2. Do you consider yourself financially disadvantaged?

If yes, please explain. (1,000-character limit including spaces)

3. Do you consider yourself educationally disadvantaged?

OPTIONAL ESSAY

One of the values of the University of North Texas System is Courageous Integrity which means one should model exceptional standards and act in the best interest of our community. These behaviors include:

• Build trust through consistent actions that are honest, transparent, and authentic
• Provide, accept, and support open and constructive feedback
• Hold yourself and others accountable for decisions, behaviors, actions, and results

Please select a specific instance where you have demonstrated Courageous Integrity and describe how this is indicative of your character (2,000-character limit)

University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine

1. Explain your understanding of osteopathic medicine and your interest in pursuing this pathway to becoming a physician.

2. UIWSOM is the first faith-based school of osteopathic medicine in Texas and mission driven. How will you contribute to the UIWSOM by fulfilling this mission?

3. Please describe your preparation for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Include any tools you may have used to prepare, length of study time, practice exams, etc.

4. If applicable, please answer the following:

If you are reapplying to UIWSOM, what have you done to strengthen your application since you last applied?

Are you a current or former student of the University of the Incarnate Word who falls in one of the categories below?

a) Current MBS student

b) Previous UIWSOM MBS student

c) Current UIW undergraduate student in Direct Admit program

University of Utah School of Medicine

1. Tell us why you are interested in pursuing a career in medicine at the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine. How does our program align with your personal and professional goals? What can you contribute to our exceptional learning experience? (300 words)

2. Describe how health disparities have impacted you, your community, and/or the communities you have served? What lessons have you learned and how do you plan to use this knowledge to address health equity as a medical student at our program and as a future physician? (300 words)

3. (for reapplicants) "Upon reflection and self-assessment, please share with us your areas of demonstrated growth since your previous application. Please highlight examples of your continued commitment to medicine." (300 words)

Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine - Southern Utah Campus

1. What unique characteristics, abilities or skills will you bring to help advance the mission and vision of RVUCOM? There is no text limit.

Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine

Record a short video (maximum 8 minutes) that answers the following questions:

• Who are you?
• What is your passion?
• What does service mean to you?
• Tell us about a physician you admire/want to emulate?
• Why Noorda-COM?

University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine

1. The Larner College of Medicine curriculum emphasizes active in-person participation and peer co-learning which translates into strong clinical practice. This relies on individual students preparing for, and being actively involved in, participatory class sessions. Please share your thoughts on the suitability of active learning for you. You may use any of the points below to guide your response. (Maximum 400 words)

• Navigating a group learning process.
• Personal contributions to such a learning environment and areas of growth.
• The value of balancing your learning with the teaching of your classmates.
• Any potential challenges to this approach to learning.

2. The Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont recognizes that diversity extends beyond chosen and unchosen identities and encompasses an individual’s entire experiences. Diverse environments can promote growth and provide an opportunity for reflection. Reflect on a time you learned something from someone or a group of people who are unlike yourself and how that challenged your preconceptions or biases. How will this experience influence your behavior in the future? (Maximum 400 words)

3. The Larner College of Medicine has core values that are reflected in our professionalism statement. How has your understanding of what professionalism means evolved over time? Reflect on a personal experience that contributed to your understanding of your own core values. (Maximum 300 words)

4. What unique opportunities at Larner College of Medicine would be meaningful to you in your education and how do these align with your larger goal of becoming a physician? (Maximum 250 words)

5. (Optional) Use this space to share any information, not presented elsewhere, that will clarify any aspect of your application. If you are a reapplicant, you may choose to share what you have done since your previous application. (Maximum 250 words) 

University of Virginia School of Medicine

Please briefly describe how the pandemic impacted your ability to pursue experiences like clinical work, shadowing, research, or community service.

Please list any and all future activities in clinical work, shadowing, research, or community service that you plan to pursue in the upcoming year.

Why are you interested in attending the University of Virginia School of Medicine? What factors will be most important to you in choosing a medical school? Please answer the question in 350 words or less.

How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and the University of Virginia School of Medicine? Please answer the question in 350 words or less.

Tell us about a challenge or obstacle you experienced. How did you manage it? Please answer the question in 350 words or less.

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

1. You are approached by a neighbor whom you are friendly with and who knows you are headed to medical school. The neighbor wants your opinion on whether she should have her healthy 3-year-old child vaccinated against COVID. The neighbor is well-researched and thoughtful, bringing up data that suggests limited long-term benefits of vaccination, while pointing to concerning, documented side effects. How would you respond to this dilemma? (Comments are limited to 2000 characters. Research on the topic is encouraged)

2. How do you define “grit”, and how have you demonstrated this in the past? (2000-character limit)

3. Please briefly explain any lapses in your undergraduate education that are not explained in your application.

4. Please briefly explain any low GPAs or poor grades.

5. If not addressed in your application, what are you currently doing now?

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

1. Explain why integrity is more important than intelligence and perseverance using an example from your life (600 words).

2. Explain how your concept of diversity is both the same and different from the mainstream view (600 words).

3. Choose one aspect about yourself, not already reflected in your application, that you are most proud of. Explain your choice below (600 words).

4. Please describe something you deserved but didn’t get and how you felt about it (600 words).

Eastern Virginia Medical School

1. Briefly describe your exposure to medicine. (2000 characters)

2. What do you think you will like best about being a physician? (2000 characters)

3. What do you think you will like least about being a physician? (2000 characters)

4. Describe yourself and your medical career as you see it ten years from now. (2000 characters)

5. Please indicate your reasons for applying to EVMS. (2000 characters)

6. (Optional) EVMS is dedicated to inclusivity and supporting patients and students from diverse backgrounds. Feel free to share your personal experience or ties to communities from diverse backgrounds. Please explain in detail if you wish to respond. Some examples include but are not limited to race/ethnicity, culture, LGBTQ+, differently-abled/disabled, etc. (2000 characters)

7. (Optional) If you would like to discuss how race has personally affected your life, through discrimination, inspiration or otherwise, feel free to share your experiences, obstacles overcome, and how this impacted your education and road to applying to medical school. (3000 characters)

University of Washington School of Medicine

Washington state university elson s. floyd college of medicine.

1. How will you contribute to the mission and vision of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine? Support your response with your experiences and/or attributes.

2. What experiences have you had with rural and/or underserved communities/populations? What have you learned from these experiences?

3. Describe your connections to Washington communities and your interests in practicing medicine in Washington.

4. How have you built your resilience?

5. Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics or experiences that would add to the learning environment for your classmates.

6. If you are a re-applicant to WSU College of Medicine, describe what you have done since last applying to strengthen your candidacy for our medical school. If you are not a re-applicant to the College of Medicine, please leave blank.

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine

(One Page): Describe personal experiences that have shaped your desire to attend an osteopathic medical school that focuses on addressing rural and/or medically underserved populations and diversity, equity, and inclusion in health care.

West Virginia University School of Medicine

1. Why do you want to attend WVU SoM? How did you first hear about WVU SoM, and why do you feel you would be a good fit?

2. Describe a time when you worked closely and successfully with another person who had a background different from your own.

3. How do you see yourself serving the state of West Virginia if accepted?

4. Which one of the AAMC Interpersonal or Intrapersonal Core Competencies is your strongest, and why? How will this competency enhance your ability to be an outstanding physician?

5. What is your life motto, and why?

Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

1. Why did you decide to apply to Marshall? (5000 characters)

2. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Where do you want to serve or practice medicine? (5000 characters)

3. If you are not presently attending school indicate your employment or other plans for the time prior to your planned enrollment in medical school. If still in school, enter N/A. (2000 characters)

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

1. Why do you want to be an osteopathic physician? (500 characters)

2. What advantage do you see in attending WVSOM over other medical schools? (500 characters)

3. Describe an ethically challenging situation you have been in, and how you responded. (500 characters)

4. What do you feel it will take for you to succeed in medical school? (500 characters)

5. Provide a brief comment about your study habits. (500 characters)

6. Describe a situation in work, volunteer activities, or organizations where you demonstrated your ability to work well with others. (500 characters)

7. What experiences (living, working or visiting) have you had in rural areas? (500 characters)

8. Briefly comment on how your volunteer experience benefited you. (500 characters) 

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

1. The Admissions Committee is committed to holistic, mission-aligned evaluation of all applicants. Review our institution’s mission. Using specific examples, discuss how and why you believe you are a good fit for the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. (500 words max.)

2. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of UWSMPH and crucial to the education of tomorrow’s physicians. Reflect on how you would embody these values in your education or practice. (250 words max.)

3. Integrity, accountability, and compassion are UWSMPH core values. Pick one of these and reflect on your lived experience with it. (250 words max.)

4. Many inequities exist at the intersection between health outcomes and historical, societal, economic, or other systemic factors. Choose a broader issue or policy that impacts health outcomes where you believe change is needed to advance health equity. Discuss the role you hope to play as a physician in addressing this issue. (250 words max.)

5. (OPTIONAL) If germane to your overall application, please share in a brief paragraph how COVID-19 impacted your application in any of the following domains:

• Personal Life

Topics to address might include the public health lessons and health care insights learned from the pandemic, creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis, or any hardships (economic, health, or other) you faced due to the virus or its mitigation efforts (e.g. social distancing, quarantine). (250 words max.)

Medical College of Wisconsin

1. Explain how your unique background, identity, interests, or talents will contribute to the MCW learning community. (1000 characters)

2. How will MCW uniquely prepare you for your future goals? (1000 characters)

3. Recount a time when you made a decision you regret. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (2000 characters)

4. The Medical College of Wisconsin is committed to educating health professionals who are dedicated to improving health equity across the diverse populations we serve. Share with us what you have learned or how you have grown through working with or serving people from cultural backgrounds or groups different than your own. How do you believe you can contribute to improving health equity or reducing health disparities as a physician? (2000 characters)

There are also additional demographic checkboxes:

• I identify as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or asexual (LGBTQIA) community.
• I am the first person in my immediate family to attend college (excluding siblings).
• I was born or grew up in a rural community.
• I am a military veteran (including active duty and those transitioning to civilian life).
• I come from an economically disadvantaged background.
• I attended an underperforming elementary, middle, or high school.
• My primary language is NOT English.
• I have overcome a significant hardship.

If you choose one or multiple, you have 2000 characters to elaborate.

 5. We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic may have disrupted academic, extracurricular, and personal activities that could affect your application and/or your application preparation. Do you have additional information you'd like to provide? (y/n) (2000 characters)

Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine

No secondary essay required.

Ponce School of Medicine

No secondary essay required. 

San Juan Bautista School of Medicine

University of puerto rico school of medicine.

No secondary essays required. 

As this information changes frequently, we encourage you to verify these details with the program(s) to which you are considering applying. If you see an error here, please notify us with the updated information, and we’ll send you a FREE copy of a BeMo book of your choosing! You can receive our Ultimate Guide to Med School Admissions, our Ultimate Guide to MMI Prep, or our Ultimate Guide to CASPer Prep! Please email our Student Support Team with any corrections, and we’ll arrange to send you your free book upon confirming the information: info [at] bemoacademicconsulting.com

“When the secondaries started rolling in and I realized that schools could have anywhere from two to six extra essays that I was going to have to write for every single one … I started to get a little nervous” - Allison Edwards, former BeMo student and current student at Dell Medical School.

It’s true that writing medical school secondary essays adds more pressure to an already pressure-laden process of applying to medical schools. While two or six essays may seem manageable, you have to remember that you might be applying to anywhere between ten or twenty different medical schools, so they can add up. What’s more, you typically have only between two weeks, more or less, to complete all these essays, so, as Allison discovered, “it was a lot of late nights and days off spent writing these vast amounts of essays.”

However, another strategy to ease the pressure of having to write a sizable number of medical school secondary essays is to pre-write them, which you can do with the help of this article, as we’ve listed the most recent prompts used by allopathic and osteopathic schools in the US. But starting early, even before you apply, doesn’t only give you a head start. As Dr. Neel Mistry, MD, suggests, “It is advisable to start preparing for secondaries as early as possible so that you have enough time to revise.”

Writing multiple drafts is a valuable strategy for writing your primary application essays, but you may not have enough time if you don’t pre-write. However, if you do pre-write, you can perfect your essays and submit them well-ahead of any deadline. Dr. Monica Taneja, a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine , also recommends this: “I tried to pre-write secondaries starting in mid-June as there aren’t many changes year to year in prompts which are easily found online.” Dr. Taneja also found that “pre-writing allowed me to have <1 week turn around on all of my secondary application returns.”

But if you’re pressed for time, and aren’t able to pre-write, Dr. Taneja suggests re-using basic elements about your story, and infusing them in various essays. Many medical school secondary prompts tend to focus on the same subjects, so you can re-use essays, as long as you remember to add unique things about the school. As Dr. Taneja found, she “was able to morph different essays based on length to reduce overall writing.” 

1. What is the purpose of secondary essays?

Secondary essays provide admission committees with a chance to get to know you further to help them determine whether you will be a suitable candidate for their program. Through a variety of questions, admission committee members will learn more about your personal and professional characteristics, values, and unique skill set to see if they are in line with their core values and mission statement. The information you provide should not be copied from your AMCAS work and activities section and in general, should expand or provide new information that isn't found elsewhere in your application materials.

2. Does every medical school send secondary applications?

Not every school uses secondary applications, but a majority do. While some schools send out secondary applications to all students who apply, other schools use primary applications as a way to weed out applicants. In these cases, schools will send secondaries to those they'd like to see continue in the admissions process. Schools that do not use secondary application essays have a different screening process, and typically look at your GPA, extracurriculars for medical school , your medical school personal statement and MCAT scores to help determine whether you should be invited for an interview.

3. Are secondary applications free?

Not usually. In most cases, schools charge a fee that must be included when you send in your secondary essays. On average, this fee ranges from $50-$100, but some schools may charge more and some may charge less.

4. Some of my secondary essay prompts are optional, should I include something in this section?

It's common to see questions such as “is there anything else you'd like the admissions committee to know about you” in your secondary applications. First, it's important to know that even though a certain section may be optional, it could still be used in the overall scoring of your application materials. With this said, it's always important to remember quality over quantity. If you really do have something meaningful to add that could benefit your application, such as explaining any gaps or academic lapses, then it's a good idea to include this information here. An optional section doesn't have to only address a potential weakness in your application, it may also be suitable to use an optional essay to discuss a significant experience or a personal achievement. If on the other hand, you don't have anything else to include that would be beneficial, it's best to leave the prompt blank.

5. If I only have a 300-word limit, how should I structure my medical school secondary essay?

No matter the length of your secondary essay, your format should remain the same:

• Introduction, body paragraph (s) and conclusion
• Begin with an interesting, memorable opening sentence
• Use 1-3 main experiences to address the prompt
• Show, don't tell
• Finish with a strong conclusion that will leave the reviewer wanting to know more about you
• Ensure your essay is free from any grammatical errors or typos

6. Can I use the same answer for more than one program?

If more than one program has similar medical school secondary prompts and has the same word or character limit, yes, you can re-use an answer. However, do ensure you actually read the prompt carefully and adhere to the character limit instead of rushing and just trying to re-use answers. Even if you are re-using an answer or a portion of an answer, ensure you do read through it very carefully to make sure it meets all the requirements of the prompt.

7. Can I re-use an experience I mentioned in my personal statement or sketch?

It’s better to use different experiences if you can. However, if you really wish to, you can re-use an experience, but do not just regurgitate what you wrote word for word on your personal statement or sketch. Programs have most likely already reviewed your primary application so they do not need to read the exact same thing again, and repetition will likely hurt your chances at the program. Instead, think about the experience you want to re-use. Is there a different specific example you can use that is more suitable for the secondary essay? Alternatively, are there different lessons you can highlight that you learned? This way, even if you re-use the same experience, you are using different content to show a separate aspect of it, so it actually deepens the experience and what you gained from it, furthering what you discussed in your personal statement or sketch. Follow this link to find some excellent medical school personal statement examples.

8. How do I address academic lapses, failures, or gaps?

Many students are scared of this type of secondary essay, but there’s no need to panic! This is actually an opportunity for you to address any shortcomings in your application. The key is to take a proactive and positive approach. You should clearly highlight what happened, and any mitigating factors (ex. stress, illness, family situation) but note that these are merely mitigating factors and NOT excuses. You must take responsibility for your shortcomings and end by addressing what strategies you have put in place to ensure this type of situation will not occur again. Be specific when you mention strategies, as this tells adcoms how you will hold yourself accountable.

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Med School Secondary Essay Bank (2018-2023)

Hey y'all, I'm back with a second feature on admit.org - a complete list of all MD and DO secondary essays between 2018 and 2023.

With six years of secondaries, I also built a simple algorithm to predict the percent chance an essay will be used by a school in the next 2024 cycle. It's pretty cool to use for prewriting because you can see essays that are being used 6 years in a row and are likely to show up again versus ones that are being switched every year.

Hopefully this helps at least one person next cycle prewrite important essays, since I was so demotivated when a few niche essay prompts I had to write couldn't be used.

Let me know if you have any feedback or suggestions to further improve it.

Link: https://admit.org

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Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Prompts & Tips

• Cracking Med School Admissions

Every medical school student and alumnus we have met from Drexel University College of Medicine has absolutely loved his or her experience there! Drexel is a very popular medical school students both from the east coast and California apply to. It is important to convey why you would be a great fit for the Drexel University community on your Drexel secondary application. Drexel is a community-oriented school, and it is important to talk about how you have been involved with your local community. Additionally, you should write how you want to contribute to Philadelphia, where Drexel is located, throughout your Drexel secondaries. We can also help you personalize your secondary  through our  secondary essay editing packages . 

Read our other Drexel School of Medicine secondary application tips below for advice on how to answer each question. While Drexel previously did not have any secondary questions, the admissions office now gives students an opportunity to share additional information. 

The Drexel Medical School changed its Drexel secondary application prompts last year (2023-2024 application cycle). We would advise students to NOT pre-write this in the 2024 medical school admissions cycle.

Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a strong track record of helping our mentees receive acceptances to Drexel Medical School for the past several years. Make sure to ask us any questions  you have about what to emphasize on your Drexel secondaries.  

• Personally Tailored Essays
• Edits by Stanford & Harvard-trained Doctors
• We study your application strengths to see what unique attributes we’ll bring to the medical school

Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024

Note: The Drexel Secondary Essay Prompts changed this year

• Please discuss all of your current and recent activities and engagements that have prepared you for medical school. Please be sure to include any traditional and/or non-traditional clinical exposures and volunteering experiences that you have done that are not already included in your application.  (2,000 characters)
• Why are you interested in Drexel? Please also explain how you meet various elements of our  mission  – compassionate care, diversity, spirited inquiry, collaboration, and opportunity.  (1,500 characters)
• (optional)  Please describe any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your medical or non-medical service experiences, including any circumstances that impacted your engagement in activities, academics, and MCAT that would have helped to prepare you for medical school.  (1,500 characters)

Tips to Answer Drexel Secondaries

  Drexel Pre-Writing Guidance:  Because Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary essays changed in the 2023-2024 cycle, we would not recommend applicants to start pre-writing the Drexel Med secondaries prior to the official release of the Drexel secondary essay prompts.

• Download our   Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples .

Drexel Secondary Application Tip #1: Take advantage of the essentially no word limit. No, that does not mean you  have to submit 2 page answers for each question. But, we hear of students who submit a few sentences for their responses, and  we think this is a wasted opportunity to stand out to the Admissions Committee!

Drexel Secondary Application Tip #2: For the Drexel secondary application question, “ Please discuss all of your current and recent activities and engagements that have prepared you for medical school. Please be sure to include any traditional and/or non-traditional clinical exposures and volunteering experiences that you have done that are not already included in your application. “

• Because of Drexel’s mission and based on the students our Cracking Med School Admissions team observes getting interview invites during the admissions process, it is important to highlight: 1) Patient care and 2) Community service or community engagement in this essay.
• Read Dr. Rachel Rizal’s article in U.S. News :  Link Premed Nonclinical Experiences to Medicine
• We typically recommend students to write at least 3 sentences about each activity.
• Highlight leadership and initiatives you have with each activity, if applicable.

Drexel Secondary Application Tip #3: Include stories. For example, you can discuss a memorable patient story from one of your activities in the last year. Or, if you helped somebody build a home through Habitat for Humanity in one of your community service activities, then talk about how you impacted a specific family. Or, if you are a science teacher in elementary schools, you can talk about one of your favorite classes to teach! The goal is to paint a story and allow the reader to visualize you in action making a difference in your community.  

Drexel Secondary Application Tip #4:  For the Drexel Med School secondary application prompt, “ Why are you interested in Drexel? Please also explain how you meet various elements of our  mission – compassionate care, diversity, spirited inquiry, collaboration, and opportunity ” …. students often get confused about what makes each medical school’s mission unique. Yes, every medical school states that it cares about the community, intellectual curiosity, teamwork, patient centered care, and diversity. 

From our experience, successful applicants discuss these aspects on the “Why Drexel Med School” secondary application essay:

• Interest in urban health and patient care in urban settings. If you have worked in Philadelphia, that is a plus!
• Community service experience and desire to serve the community surrounding Drexel College of Medicine.
• Creative or innovative ideas to improve healthcare, especially community health.

Our Cracking Med School Admissions team knows the nuances of each medical school and what admissions committees tend to look for. Work with us on your Drexel secondaries and all other secondary application packages so that you can stand out  through our secondary essay packages . 

• Read our HIGH YIELD blog post:  Why this Medical School? Secondary Essay Example

Drexel Secondary Application Tip #5:  Emphasize and highlight any life experiences, clinical care experiences, or commitment to community service in Philadelphia. We have heard from students at Drexel Med School that the Drexel University Admissions Committee wants to attract a student body who has  had experiences in urban health so that they can contribute to the greater Philadelphia during medical school. 

What if you don’t have experiences in Philadelphia? Then highlight any urban health experiences . Have questions? Contact us below.

Drexel Secondary Application Tip #6: Connect your Drexel secondaries to what you want to do as a medical student at Drexel. Remember, accepted students and matriculants often do community health, community health research, or community service projects throughout their time at Drexel University College of Medicine.

[ Read more secondary essay tips from other medical colleges: New York Medical College , University of Pennsylvania (UPenn Perelman School of Medicine) , George Washington , Lewis Katz Temple  ]

Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023

• If you are a recent graduate, please tell us what you have been doing since graduation. If you have not yet graduated, please discuss your current activities and engagements. We understand that it may have been difficult to obtain clinical or volunteer service experiences during the pandemic; therefore, be sure to discuss any traditional and /or nontraditional clinical exposures and volunteering experiences that you have done during this time. (no word limit)
• What else do you feel is important for us to know about you? You can use this space to highlight something not addressed in your application, including new experiences not in your AMCAS application . You can also talk about how COVID -19 impacted you. For example, it may have caused disruptions or changes in your plans. If there is something you would like to share regarding how this event impacted you, share that information here. (1,000 words max)

Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders

We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With.

Rachel Rizal, M.D.

Changing the trajectory of people’s lives.

Undergraduate Princeton University, cum laude

Medical School Stanford School of Medicine

Residency Harvard, Emergency Medicine

Awards & Scholarships Fulbright Scholar USA Today Academic First Team Tylenol Scholarship

Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

Advising students to attend their dream schools.

Undergraduate Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa

Residency Stanford, Pediatrics

Awards & Scholarships Marshall Scholar Tylenol Scholarship Global Health Scholar

stand out from other applicants with our secondary essay edit packages

Download your secondary essay guide.

Use this essay guide and workbook to write standout secondaries.

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Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022

• What else do you feel is important for us (Drexel Medical School Admissions Committee) to know about you? You can use this space to highlight something not addressed in your application, including new experiences not in your AMCAS application (primary application). You can also talk about how COVID -19 impacted you. For example, it may have caused disruptions or changes in your plans. If there is something you would like to share regarding how this event impacted you, share that information here. (1,000 words max)

Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021

• If you are a recent graduate, please tell us what you have been doing since graduation. You may answer “Not applicable”. (No word limit)
• What else do you feel is important for us (Drexel Medical School Admissions Committee) to know about you? You can use this space to highlight something not addressed in your application, including new experiences not in your AMCAS application (primary application). You can also talk about how COVID -19 impacted you. For example, it may have caused disruptions or changes in your plans. If there is something you would like to share regarding how this event impacted you, share that information here. (500 words max)

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Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020

• If you are a recent graduate, please tell us what you have been doing since graduation. You may answer “Not applicable” . (No word limit)
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Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019

• We at Drexel University College of Medicine have a rich history and a valued mission. Each individual contributes to, supports and enriches our community. Please share with us how you plan on contributing to our College. (200 words max)

Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions 2017 – 2018

• (Optional) What else do you feel is important for us (Drexel Medical School Admissions Committee) to know about you? Please use this space to highlight something not addressed in your application, including new experiences not in your AMCAS application. (200 words max)

Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions 2016 – 2017

• We at Drexel University College of Medicine have a rich history and a valued mission. Each individual contributes to, supports and enriches our community. Please share with us how you plan on contributing to our College. (200 word character limit)
• (Optional) What else do you feel is important for us (Drexel Medical School Admissions Committee) to know about you? Please use this space to highlight something not addressed in your application, including new experiences not in your AMCAS application. (200 word character limit)

Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions 2015 – 2016

There were no essay prompts in the Drexel Medical School secondary application for the 2015-2016 cycle.

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How Did Mpox Become a Global Emergency? What’s Next?

The virus is evolving, and the newest version spreads more often through heterosexual populations. Sweden reported the first case outside Africa.

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By Apoorva Mandavilli

Apoorva Mandavilli covered the 2022 mpox outbreak and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Faced once again with a rapidly spreading epidemic of mpox, the World Health Organization on Wednesday declared a global health emergency. The last time the W.H.O. made that call was in 2022, when the disease was still called monkeypox.

Ultimately the outbreak affected nearly 100,000 people worldwide, primarily gay and bisexual men, including more than 32,000 in the United States.

The W.H.O.’s decision this time was prompted by an escalating crisis of mpox concentrated in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It recently spread to a dozen other African countries. If it is not contained, the virus again may rampage all over the world, experts warned.

On Thursday, Sweden reported the first case of a deadlier form of mpox outside Africa , in a person who had traveled to the continent. “Occasional imported cases like the current one may continue to occur,” the country’s public health agency warned.

“There’s a need for concerted effort by all stakeholders, not only in Africa, but everywhere else,” Dr. Dimie Ogoina, a Nigerian scientist and chair of the W.H.O.’s mpox emergency committee, said on Wednesday.

Congo alone has reported 15,600 mpox cases and 537 deaths, most of them among children under 15, indicating that the nature of the disease and its mode of spread may have changed.

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