Here are examples of commonly seen topics in secondary essays:
Let’s say it again: this is not a competition, so it’s perfectly fine if you haven’t experienced an extreme challenge in your life. If you have, you’ll have an obvious topic to discuss, but a significant difficulty alone doesn’t make a great essay.
Medical schools want to know that you are level headed, and that you won’t crumble when feeling vulnerable or faced with less than ideal situations. Students often immediately gravitate to academic or scholarly subjects for these essays, but, sometimes the most compelling topics are those that are personal. Why? These topics can often say much more about your character, values, ideals, and decision making. Ideally, you should also write about what you learned and how you grew or changed as a result of the challenge, failure, or adversity.
Applicants are able to select which of our MD program(s) they would like to apply to within the secondary application, and this selection will then dictate which essay prompts are displayed. We hope that this early availability will alleviate some of the stress that may be associated with the application process, and will allow our applicants more time to craft their essay responses while waiting for other processes, such as AMCAS application verification or an MCAT administration, that are required for application completion.
Here are my top tips for secondary application essay writing:
A common misconception is that the diversity essay must center around race or ethnicity. While these are important aspects of diversity, they are far from the only ones. Diversity can encompass a wide range of experiences and identities, including socioeconomic status, gender, disability, or even unique personal challenges. For example, growing up in a rural community with limited access to healthcare can provide a unique perspective on healthcare disparities, just as much as racial or ethnic identity.
Relating my adversity to medical school was a crucial part of my essay. I wanted to convey how the challenges I faced and the lessons I learned would make me a better medical student and, ultimately, a better physician. The perseverance required to overcome my mirrored the resilience needed in medical training. Managing stress, staying disciplined, and pushing through setbacks are skills that would serve me well in the demanding environment of medical school.
Now that we understand the importance of the Medical School Diversity Essay, let's tackle the next challenge: the prompts. These essay prompts are like the roadmap guiding you to articulate your individuality and experiences effectively. The questions might vary, but they all share a common threadâinviting you to reflect on your background, culture, or experiences that make you stand out.
After my second attempt, I applied to medical schools, hoping that other aspects of my application would compensate for my MCAT scores. I faced rejections and was . This period was one of the most emotionally taxing times of my life. I found myself grappling with self-doubt and uncertainty about my future. Despite this, I decided to take a to reassess my strategies, improve my application, and prepare for another attempt at the MCAT.
Challenge/Adversity Secondary Prompt Examples
The medical school adversity essay prompts are like keys that unlock your ability to handle life's curveballs. Here are some common prompts you might encounter, each inviting you to share your experiences of overcoming challenges:
medical school secondary essay prompts
For each essay prompt you receive, pay attention to the character and word limits and use them as cues for how much information a medical school is seeking. A medical school that limits your responses to only 50 words, for example, is asking you for a simple, straightforward response. On the other hand, the school that allows 1,000 words per essay wants you to elaborate and go into some detail.
medical school secondary essay prompts
The essay prompts should serve as clues to the culture of the medical school and indicate what kind of information is important for them to know about applicants. As you research each school to apply to, begin to make notes about what draws you to that school so you can use these thoughts in your secondary essays.
medical school secondary essay prompts
Secondary prompts vary, and I find that students can often recycle essays for multiple schools. But reading secondary prompts carefully is important. The most common mistake students make is providing a response that does not really address what is being asked. Even though writing secondary essays can get laborious, don’t try to make an essay you have already written “fit” for a prompt if it just doesn’t work. Remember, good secondary essays can help you earn a medical school interview.
Medical school secondary essay prompts
Sometimes, especially if your primary application is comprehensive, responding to a secondary essay may force you to repeat information that is already in your primary application. That not only is okay but also suggests that you are in good shape; many schools determine prompts by identifying topics that applicants frequently leave out of primary applications.
medical school secondary essay prompts
Medical schools aren’t just looking for straight-A students. They want resilient people who can handle the pressures of the medical field. The adversity essay, often called the “challenge essay,” is your opportunity to showcase your ability to conquer hurdles and come out stronger on the other side.