uf medical school secondary essays

Win $20,000 for med school tuition from Blueprint MCAT!

University of Florida Secondary Application

University of florida secondary essay prompts, (if you have updated prompts, please submit them at updatesecondaries.com).

Prompts have been updated June 2023 . (Older essays, if available are below)

If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between September 2022 and May 2023, please detail your current and planned activities below. (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.

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. (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.” (500 words)

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. (750 words)

Primary Deadline: Usually around Dec 1st Secondary Deadline : Usually around Jan 15th Secondary Fee : $30 FAP Waiver : Full Fee Waived Casper Required : No PREview Required: No Screens Applications : Yes Accepts Application Updates : Yes Post Interview/Portal

University of Florida College of Medicine Mission:

The College of Medicine strives to improve health care in Florida, our nation, and the world through excellence and consistently superior leadership in education, clinical care, discovery, and service.

Older Essays:

Personal info.

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.
If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between September 2018 and May 2019, 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). Indeed, the late physician, writer and ethicist, Dr. Edmund Pelegrino affirms both the science and art of medicine. But when discussing the nature of the physician/patient relationship he says the following, “The act specific to medicine, that which makes it medicine and thereby distinguishes it from both science and art, is the decision about what is right and good for a particular patient now, with this set of needs, arising out of this particular illness…It is the practical decision, taken in the best interest of a particular person, not in the interest of new knowledge, of society or of the physician.” 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 numerous strategies to equip our students to preserve their own humanity and that of their patients. As students make connections with and get to know their patients, they begin to experience the joy in medical practice. They also have the chance to consider ways that the forces mentioned above can rob a physician of that joy. As they s hare their stories, they encourage one another to make deliberate choices to preserve what we might call the heart or soul of the profession. Read these reflections from two third year students, one about a memorable encounter with a patient and the patient’s daughter and the second a very moving poem where a student explores the importance of taking time to be quiet and alone despite the busyness of our lives. After considering them, comment on what you learned from one or both of the reflections, and then explain what you will do to “never lose the human side of yourself,” treat your future patients as you would a family member, and thereby preserve the soul of medicine (250-500 words) .
Many hours in medical school are appropriately spent pursuing knowledge and skills needed to practice medicine. Medical students must master an enormous amount of information, synthesize it into a workable understanding of the human body, and then discern the best way to translate such knowledge into decisions with individual patients. However, governing this process are larger philosophical questions such as, “What does it mean to be human?” In his 1748 work, “Man as Machine”, French physician and philosopher Julien Offray de La Mettrie argues that humans are nothing more than complex animals. In contrast, many others would suggest there are psychological, social, emotional and spiritual dimensions to being human that are no less important than the biological, and perhaps even more important. Whatever our answers to these questions, those answers will have an impact on what we think it means to be a healthy human. Below are two brief quotations, one from the Greek philosopher Plato and the other from Sir William Osler (1849-1919), widely regarded as one of the fathers of modern medicine. Read and reflect upon them and then choose one for an essay. Please address whether or not you agree with the author, why you do or do not, and how your conclusion might affect the way you practice as a physician. “Variability is the law of life, and as no two faces are the same, so no two bodies are alike, and no two individuals react alike and behave alike under the abnormal conditions which we know as disease.” -William Osler or “The greatest mistake in the treatment of diseases is that there are physicians for the body and physicians for the soul, although the two cannot be separated.” -Plato (250-500 words) .

University of Florida Secondary Application

OTHER SCHOOLS

Florida atlantic university charles e. schmidt college of medicine secondary application, florida state university college of medicine secondary application, herbert wertheim college of medicine at florida international university secondary application, lake erie college of osteopathic medicine bradenton campus secondary application, morsani college of medicine at the university of south florida secondary application, nova southeastern university kiran c. patel college of allopathic medicine secondary application, nova southeastern university kiran c. patel college of osteopathic medicine secondary application, university of central florida college of medicine secondary application, university of florida college of medicine secondary application, university of miami leonard m. miller school of medicine secondary application, search site.

5 MOST POPULAR PODCASTS

Secondary Essay Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

5 Common Medical School Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

5 Common Med School Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Medical School Interview Ethical Questions

Medical Ethics Questions You Can Expect In Your Interview

The Medical School MMI: Everything You Need to Know

The MMI: Everything You Need to Know About the Multiple Mini Interview

Common Medical School Interview Mistakes and How to Fix Them

University of Florida College of Medicine Secondary Application Prompts

Cracking Med School Admissions

The University of Florida College of Medicine secondary essay is extremely difficult and different than any other medical school’s secondary. The U of F secondary reflects on the medical school’s values. They want to recruit premedical students who are reflective and empathetic.

This secondary application takes applicants an extremely long time to fill out well. We strongly urge you not to put this secondary last. Our Cracking Med School Admissions team can help you submit strong University of Florida College of Medicine secondary essays through our secondary essay editing .

Cracking Med School Admissions - 1 School Secondary Essay Edits

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

University of Florida College of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2023 – 2024

Essay 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. (500 words max)

Essay 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.

Reflections – from the University of Florida College of Medicine :

Reflection #1

Again, Next Saturday A pit of nerves in my stomach before we met. A frigid Friday in Florida; the sun’s yellow warmth shone on me. Orange polo and khakis, pacing to my red car, driving to the ALF where you and your wife lived. I got lost, mispronounced your surname at security, and wondered what else I would botch.

My year before medical school, I began to volunteer with hospice as an aspiring oncologist. I wished to comfort those in the most uncomfortable setting – green, naive, eager. Prior to meeting you, for five months, I spent Friday mornings at the bedside of patients actively dying. Gravely white, cold walls surrounded each patient as they mustered final, fleeting breaths. I felt helpless, tried making a difference, holding pale hands in final moments when a family could not. Blue, rudderless, useless – each shift I left wondering if I helped. I heard about home visits: volunteers were assigned a patient and would meet them weekly. A soft, sweet voice answered my call – I spoke with your wife and overheard you ask who was calling. Next Saturday, we would meet.

I knocked on your front door – “come in!” The weather channel on, brown blinds cracked, dusted black and white family portraits. You sat: tall, frail, sunken in a recliner, yet full of life with a grand smile. You wanted to go for a walk outside – this would become our routine. Your wife showed me how to help you from your chair to your walker – “nose over toes.” Slowly, out of breath, leaning on your walker, shaking arms with purple patches – “take your time.” To the toilet, then to your walking clothes, and finally to assemble your Swiss-army walker: Tissue box, snacks, extra sunscreen, a grabber-reacher – you triple-checked that we had it all. “Let’s boogie!”

We began our first walk – 10 steps in, we turned around – we forgot your sweater. Embarking again, we slowly shuffled by the navy pond to the gazebo. We chatted in the shade about your life as an engineer, how you met your wife, your six daughters. My face hurt from smiling as you lured in a family of ducks with wheat bread. Once 2 o’clock hit, it was time to boogie for your late snack – “nose over toes.” You had a shortcut back you were excited to show me. Back to your living room, exhausted, but still sporting a smile – “again, next Saturday.”

This was our routine each Saturday for two months, until one day, it was not. Your wife called on a Thursday morning – you had fallen, EMS had to help you up. You were being kept at the hospice center for respite care. I worriedly rushed over but was relieved to find you smiling, tired, with no major injuries. We sat and talked like old times – you were excited to return home for us to walk again. I saw you again Friday morning – you seemed more exhausted with only a weak smile – “I’m A-okay.” Friday night, something didn’t sit right – I drove back to see you and found you tired, but comfortable. We chatted until you fell asleep – I said goodbye, uneasy, though unsure why.

The next morning, Saturday, I walked to your room – your wife and six daughters solemnly greeted me. “He just passed.” Knees buckle, clear tears puddle on the floor, I try to hold it in – beige tree moss sway by the window. Motionless, peaceful – encased by the warmth of family and loved ones – blocking the bleak white walls. I hugged your family – “we never saw him as happy as he was the last two months.”

We all embraced again – I offered my condolences, went home thinking that was the end of our chapter.

A few weeks went by – I received an email from your wife about your funeral. I felt uncomfortable – not family, only present for two months of your 89 years. Another cool Florida morning – I drove to the cemetery, a winding gray gravel path, forgetting my blazer. Deep in the forest green – walking to your grave, sun rays seeping through, your warmth shining on me. During your eulogy, your wife thanked me for being the son you never had. I only visited, walked, talked – I never thought things so simple could make such a difference. I thanked you for your lessons, and I vowed to come back to visit – again, next Saturday

Reflection #2

It was the last day of my surgery rotation, and the last day on the Trauma service. I was feeling quite tired that day and nervous about my oral exam scheduled at 3pm, and I remember thinking, “I just need to survive today.” Then right around 12pm, the pager went off. It was a Level 1 Trauma Alert. The message read: 25yr M motorcycle crash, unresponsive, CPR on scene. At the trauma bay, the senior resident briefly walked me through the Trauma Algorithm, explaining how it was unlikely the patient would recover after CPR >10mins in the setting of blunt torso trauma. Things happened so fast. The patient arrived, cardiac activity was observed and it was all hands-on deck trying to save his life. I jumped in cutting away his jacket, jeans, and gloves, discovering injury after injury, scrapes, and broken bones. I saw the trauma attending intensely focused trying to place a femoral line. I saw the trauma residents quickly placing chest tubes. I saw nurse after nurse performing CPR. And suddenly, everyone stopped. The resident called the time of death and asked us to hold a minute of silence. I stood there, and I felt heavy. I tried to put a name to the emotions I saw across the room, and I realized I could not name my own. This was the first patient I witnessed die, and I just felt heavy. It wasn’t until I made it back to the call room that the tears finally kicked in.

This experience affected me as I think it affects all medical students. That was the first time a patient had died in front of me, and even though I was technically part of the team trying to save his life, I felt useless. I remembered how much I hated that feeling. One of the reasons I decided to apply to medical school was to avoid feeling useless again…like I did when I was little, when my sister died of a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Then I felt guilty. Guilty for thinking that finishing my surgery rotation was equivalent to fighting for survival. Guilty for thinking only of how I was feeling in that moment. He was someone’s son, maybe someone’s brother, and he had died at 25 years old all alone. I began to imagine what his family would feel when they got that phone call, and my heart sank. I am grateful to have had a supportive classmate find me in the call room. He allowed me to cry it out, to sit with all those feelings, and to find a way to move forward to face my other responsibilities.

I was no longer worried about the oral exam. It felt so trivial now; however, it made me consider another hardship of this profession. We are expected to bounce back so quickly. To process all those feelings in an efficient way so that we can step into the next patient’s room and give it our 100%, all over again. Sitting here today, I have my doubts if I will one day be able to “efficiently” process the loss of a patient. I hope I continue to remember that heavy feeling. I believe it will keep me motivated to learn as much as I can throughout my career, to make sure I give each of my patients the absolute best care possible. This reflection exercise made me realize that I must also continue to hold space for myself and for my colleagues. It is okay to feel all those emotions. Taking the time to reflect on those moments will help us remember what is important to us as future physicians.

Essay 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.

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. (500 words max)

“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. “

Essay 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. (4,000 characters max)

Essay 5) (If applicable) 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 word limit)

Essay 6) (If applicable) 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 wellbeing of others as a physician and if so, how? (500 words max)

Read the following description of introversion and extraversion from the Myers-Briggs foundation website . Most people, while seeing themselves to one degree or another in each description, are inclined towards either being introverted or extroverted. Both groups make wonderful physicians, but each personality type has some inherent strengths and weaknesses which need to be appreciated as individuals develop into practicing physicians. Indicate using the checklists below to what extent you see yourself as more of an extravert or an introvert.

Extraversion (E)

I like getting my energy from active involvement in events and having a lot of different activities. I’m excited when I’m around people and I like to energize other people. I like moving into action and making things happen. I generally feel at home in the world. I often understand a problem better when I can talk out loud about it and hear what others have to say.

The following statements generally apply to me:

I am seen as “outgoing” or as a “people person.”
I feel comfortable in groups and like working in them.
I have a wide range of friends and know lots of people.
I sometimes jump too quickly into an activity and don’t allow enough time to think it over.
Before I start a project, I sometimes forget to stop and get clear on what I want to do and why.

Introversion (I)

I like getting my energy from dealing with the ideas, pictures, memories, and reactions that are inside my head, in my inner world. I often prefer doing things alone or with one or two people I feel comfortable with. I take time to reflect so that I have a clear idea of what I’ll be doing when I decide to act. Ideas are almost solid things for me. Sometimes I like the idea of something better than the real thing.

I am seen as “reflective” or “reserved.”
I feel comfortable being alone and like things I can do on my own.
I prefer to know just a few people well.
I sometimes spend too much time reflecting and don’t move into action quickly enough.
I sometimes forget to check with the outside world to see if my ideas really fit the experience.

Tips to Answer University of Florida Secondary Application Essays

UF Secondary Application Pre-Writing Guidance: We would DEFINITELY not pre-write the UF secondary application. The prompts change every year, and you have to write entire personal statement length essays.

These essays take a very, very long time. Many students get burned out. Start working with Dr. Rishi Mediratta and Dr. Rachel Rizal early on editing the UF secondary application !

UF Secondary Application Tip #1: As grueling as this University of Florida secondary application feels, answer the optional question. It is an opportunity for you to show a unique perspective about yourself. Make sure it complements the other essays.

Our students have used the optional essay to discuss:

personal circumstances
disruptions to academic work
fluctuations in grades
COVID-19 circumstances, both positive and negative
extra-curricular activities aligned with the school’s mission
stories about patient care experiences

UF Secondary Application Tip #2: Tell stories, especially in the optional essay. Stories make you more memorable. In answering the mandatory prompts, students are able to incorporate their personal anecdotes that relate to the topics of the situation.

UF Secondary Application Tip #3: For the UF College of Medicine secondary application medical student reflection essay, make sure you discuss your thoughts on how the medical student grew through the experience he or she writes about. In the strongest UF medical school application essays we’ve read, medical school applicants are able to incorporate their personal experiences too. For example, if the medical student reflection is about end-of-life care, then you can discuss a story in which you were impacted by a patient who was facing end-of-life care. We think it is good if you also give your own personal reflections about the practice of medicine, difficult patient scenarios, or challenges in pursuing a career in medicine.

UF Secondary Application Tip #4: Start early and get our help . The UFCOM secondary not only has several essay, but the essays also have large word limits. Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below. Need editing help on your secondary? We can help you through our secondary essay packages .

[ Read more secondary essay tips: Florida Atlantic University (FAU) , University of Central Florida (UCF) , Florida State University , Edward Via College – VCOM ]

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.

First Name *
Best Email *
Year Applying to Medical School *
Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

University of Florida College of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2022 – 2023

Essay 7) Read the following description of introversion and extraversion from the Myers-Briggs foundation website . Most people, while seeing themselves to one degree or another in each description, are inclined towards either being introverted or extroverted. Both groups make wonderful physicians, but each personality type has some inherent strengths and weaknesses which need to be appreciated as individuals develop into practicing physicians. Indicate using the checklists below to what extent you see yourself as more of an extravert or an introvert.

Our students successfully receive interviews at their reach schools.

Stand Out From Other Applicants

School Secondary Editing Packages

Why choose us.

Your acceptance can be just one essay away…

University of Florida College of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2021 – 2022

If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between September 2021 and May 2022, please detail your current and planned activities below. (500 words max)

At the core of our profession are attributes sometimes called the three C’s; Competence (clinical excellence), Caring (a genuine desire to help others or “other centeredness”) and Character (personal integrity and honesty). In order to grow in these areas, the best practitioners are able to reflect upon who they are as individuals (self-assessment) and allow these insights to shape how they develop as physicians. The relationships we develop with patients and colleagues are among the most rewarding aspects of being a physician and provide the theatre in which the 3 C’s are both learned and practiced. We therefore have 3 prompts designed to help you explore these important topics. The first, below, deals with self-assessment (no essay required), followed in the next section by two essay prompts.

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 are the first time students taste the joy of medical practice. A second grows from cultivating a grateful heart by attending to the many blessings in our lives rather than focusing on what is wrong. There is now a strong scientific basis for the importance of gratitude (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain) but the ancients knew this from experience. 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.” A third is dedicated time to reflect individually and with colleagues upon one’s developing understanding of the profession.
Here are two such reflective essays from UFCOM students during their third year internal medicine clerkship which you should read carefully. One student sees each connection to a patient as like the individual brush strokes of an artist and the other sees gratitude in a patient with an incurable illness and is moved to gratitude in her own life. Reflect on both essays and then choose one and describe how the student grew from the experience. Then explain what you learned as a result of your reflection and how the lesson(s) will influence your future patient physician relationships.
“Do the things that interest you and do them with all your heart. Don’t be concerned about whether people are watching you or criticizing you. The chances are that they aren’t paying any attention to you. It’s your attention to yourself that is so stultifying. But you have to disregard yourself as completely as possible. If you fail the first time then you’ll just have to try harder the second time. After all, there’s no real reason why you should fail. Just stop thinking about yourself.” -Eleanor Roosevelt, You Learn by Living: Eleven Keys for a More Fulfilling Life
“As soon as possible, experts hungrily seek feedback on how they did. Necessarily, much of that feedback is negative. This means that experts are more interested in what they did wrong—so they can fix it—than what they did right. The active processing of this feedback is as essential as its immediacy.” -Angela Duckworth, Grit
“…grit grows as we figure out our life philosophy, learn to dust ourselves off after rejection and disappointment, and learn to tell the difference between low-level goals that should be abandoned quickly and higher-level goals that demand more tenacity. The maturation story is that we develop the capacity for long-term passion and perseverance as we get older.” -Angela Duckworth, Grit: Passion, Perseverance, and the Science of Success
(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. (750 characters max)

University of Florida College of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2020 – 2021

University of florida college of medicine secondary application essay prompts: 2019 – 2020.

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.
If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between September 2019 and May 2020, please detail your current and planned activities below. (500 words max)

At the UFCOM, we have numerous strategies to equip our students to preserve their own humanity and that of their patients. As students make connections with and get to know their patients, they begin to experience the joy in medical practice. They also have the chance to consider ways that the forces mentioned above can rob a physician of that joy. As they s hare their stories, they encourage one another to make deliberate choices to preserve what we might call the heart or soul of the profession.

Read these reflections from two third year students, one about a memorable encounter with a patient and the patient’s daughter and the second a very moving poem where a student explores the importance of taking time to be quiet and alone despite the busyness of our lives. After considering them, comment on what you learned from one or both of the reflections, and then explain what you will do to “never lose the human side of yourself,” treat your future patients as you would a family member, and thereby preserve the soul of medicine. (500 words max)

Below are two brief quotations, one from the Greek philosopher Plato and the other from Sir William Osler (1849-1919), widely regarded as one of the fathers of modern medicine. Read and reflect upon them and then choose one for an essay. Please address whether or not you agree with the author, why you do or do not, and how your conclusion might affect the way you practice as a physician. (500 words max)

“Variability is the law of life, and as no two faces are the same, so no two bodies are alike, and no two individuals react alike and behave alike under the abnormal conditions which we know as disease.” -William Osler
“The greatest mistake in the treatment of diseases is that there are physicians for the body and physicians for the soul, although the two cannot be separated.” -Plato

University of Florida College of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2018 – 2019

University of florida college of medicine secondary application essay prompts: 2017 – 2018.

*All essays have a 250-500 word limit

If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between September 2017 and May 2018, please detail your current and planned activities below.
Read the following description of introversion and extroversion from the Myers-Briggs foundation website. Most people, while seeing themselves to one degree or another in each description, are inclined towards either being introverted or extroverted. Both groups make wonderful physicians, but each personality type has some inherent strengths and weaknesses which need to be appreciated as individuals develop into practicing physicians. Indicate using the checklists below to what extent you see yourself as more of an extrovert or an introvert.
Using the links provided, please read two essays written by University of Florida College of Medicine students as part of their clinical rotations. One tells the story of a student’s experience giving “Bad News” to a patient and her family with his attending physician. The second uses the wear and tear of the “The White Coat” as a way to reflect upon what lessons she learned during the third year of medical school. Pick one of these and tell us what attributes of a good physician you would like to emulate are highlighted in these accounts.
“We desire to recruit and matriculate the brightest students who are intellectually curious, have a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to humanism and service. In so doing we will train the next generation of caring, compassionate, and culturally competent medical professionals, be they practitioners, researchers and/or teachers.” These wonderful ideals are not simply skills to learn, but assume that physicians are virtuous and that their practice grows naturally from these virtues; which raises a question. What are the most important virtues of a physician and how can they be nurtured or undermined? Please consider this question and offer us your thoughts below.
(Optional) If you think there is any additional information that would help the admissions committee in its review of your application please use the space below.

University of Florida College of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2016 – 2017

If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between September 2016 and May 2017, please detail your current and planned activities below.

University of Florida College of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2015 – 2016

If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between September 2015 and May 2016, please detail your current and planned activities below. (500 words max)
In the practice of medicine, we have the amazing privilege to not only help our patients, but also to learn from them in very unexpected ways. Read the following 2 essays, written recently by students at the University of Florida College of Medicine. In the first, a student had a major impact on a young patient on the pediatric surgery service. In the second, the student describes her care for a noncomplient patient. Both made a difference in their patients and both changed and grew through the experience. Pick one, and describe the skills of the author that you notice and think are helpful, then describe how one or both of these stories relate to the kind of physician that you want to be. (500 words max)
Consider three areas of integrity: personal, professional, and intellectual. Using an example, describe how these areas may be interrelated. In your response include why the connection between these areas is significant. (5oo words max)

University of Florida College of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2014 – 2015

If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between September 2014 and May 2015, please detail your current and planned activities below. (500 words max)

Do you see yourself as more of an extravert or an introvert and how will this impact how you learn to communicate with patients and colleagues?

Consider three areas of integrity: personal, professional, and intellectual. Using an example, describe how these areas may be interrelated. In your response include why the connection between these areas is significant. (500 words max)

Contact Us With Questions

We'll answer any and all your questions about medical school we typically respond within 1 business day..

Your Name *
Your Email *
Phone (optional)
Leave us a Message or Question! We will email and call you back. *
Email This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Start typing and press enter to search

University of Florida College of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts

These are the secondary application essay prompts for University of Florida College of Medicine. To put your best foot forward and maximize your chance of an interview invitation, visit our secondary application editing page .

About University of Florida College of Medicine

Secondary Deadline : January 15, 2025 Secondary Fee : $0 FAP Waiver : No CASPer Required : No Screens Applications : Yes Accepts Application Updates : Yes

The College of Medicine strives to improve health care in Florida, our nation, and the world through excellence and consistently superior leadership in education, clinical care, discovery, and service.

1. If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between September 2021 and May 2022, please detail your current and planned activities below. (500 words max) 2. At the core of our profession are attributes sometimes called the three C’s; Competence (clinical excellence), Caring (a genuine desire to help others or “other centeredness”) and Character (personal integrity and honesty). In order to grow in these areas, the best practitioners are able to reflect upon who they are as individuals (self-assessment) and allow these insights to shape how they develop as physicians. The relationships we develop with patients and colleagues are among the most rewarding aspects of being a physician and provide the theatre in which the 3 C’s are both learned and practiced. We therefore have 3 prompts designed to help you explore these important topics. The first, below, deals with self-assessment (no essay required), followed in the next section by two essay prompts.

Read the following description of introversion and extraversion from the Myers-Briggs foundation website. Most people, while seeing themselves to one degree or another in each description, are inclined towards either being introverted or extroverted. Both groups make wonderful physicians, but each personality type has some inherent strengths and weaknesses which need to be appreciated as individuals develop into practicing physicians. Indicate using the checklists below to what extent you see yourself as more of an extravert or an introvert.

Extraversion (E)

The following statements generally apply to me:

I am seen as “outgoing” or as a “people person.”
I feel comfortable in groups and like working in them.
I have a wide range of friends and know lots of people.
I sometimes jump too quickly into an activity and don’t allow enough time to think it over.
Before I start a project, I sometimes forget to stop and get clear on what I want to do and why.

Introversion (I)

I am seen as “reflective” or “reserved.”
I feel comfortable being alone and like things I can do on my own.
I prefer to know just a few people well.
I sometimes spend too much time reflecting and don’t move into action quickly enough.
I sometimes forget to check with the outside world to see if my ideas really fit the experience.

3. 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. (500 words max)

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 are the first time students taste the joy of medical practice. A second grows from cultivating a grateful heart by attending to the many blessings in our lives rather than focusing on what is wrong. There is now a strong scientific basis for the importance of gratitude (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_changes_you_and_your_brain) but the ancients knew this from experience. 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.” A third is dedicated time to reflect individually and with colleagues upon one’s developing understanding of the profession.

Here are two such reflective essays from UFCOM students during their third year internal medicine clerkship which you should read carefully. One student sees each connection to a patient as like the individual brush strokes of an artist and the other sees gratitude in a patient with an incurable illness and is moved to gratitude in her own life. Reflect on both essays and then choose one and describe how the student grew from the experience. Then explain what you learned as a result of your reflection and how the lesson(s) will influence your future patient physician relationships.

4. 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 are laboring 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). (500 words max)

However, great concern has been raised by the 2018 book, The Coddling of the American Mind (The Coddling of the American Mind). In it, Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff, argue that modern trends in parenting, higher education and society are undermining development of these traits making them rarer and hence all the more important as we choose the future physicians for our society.

Below are a series of quotes related to this subject. Please read them, reflect on them and tell us about the places in your own life you have shown grit and perseverance.

“Do the things that interest you and do them with all your heart. Don’t be concerned about whether people are watching you or criticizing you. The chances are that they aren’t paying any attention to you. It’s your attention to yourself that is so stultifying. But you have to disregard yourself as completely as possible. If you fail the first time then you’ll just have to try harder the second time. After all, there’s no real reason why you should fail. Just stop thinking about yourself.” -Eleanor Roosevelt, You Learn by Living: Eleven Keys for a More Fulfilling Life

“As soon as possible, experts hungrily seek feedback on how they did. Necessarily, much of that feedback is negative. This means that experts are more interested in what they did wrong—so they can fix it—than what they did right. The active processing of this feedback is as essential as its immediacy.” -Angela Duckworth, Grit “…grit grows as we figure out our life philosophy, learn to dust ourselves off after rejection and disappointment, and learn to tell the difference between low-level goals that should be abandoned quickly and higher-level goals that demand more tenacity. The maturation story is that we develop the capacity for long-term passion and perseverance as we get older.” -Angela Duckworth, Grit: Passion, Perseverance, and the Science of Success

5. (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. (750 characters max)

*All essays have a 250-500 word limit

1. If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between September 2016 and May 2017, please detail your current and planned activities below.

2. Read the following description of introversion and extroversion from the Myers-Briggs foundation website. Most people, while seeing themselves to one degree or another in each description, are inclined towards either being introverted or extroverted. Both groups make wonderful physicians, but each personality type has some inherent strengths and weaknesses which need to be appreciated as individuals develop into practicing physicians. Indicate using the checklists below to what extent you see yourself as more of an extrovert or an introvert.

3. Using the links provided, please read two essays written by University of Florida College of Medicine students as part of their clinical rotations. One tells the story of a student’s experience giving “Bad News” to a patient and her family with his attending physician. The second uses the wear and tear of the “The White Coat” as a way to reflect upon what lessons she learned during the third year of medical school. Pick one of these and tell us what attributes of a good physician you would like to emulate are highlighted in these accounts.

4. As part of graduation from medical school students at most institutions recite a version of the Hippocratic Oath. This oath dates back to the 5th century and is one of the earliest declarations that a physician will seek the primacy of patient interest in all matters. Similar themes were echoed by the 12th century physician/scholar Moses Maimonides in his famous prayer, “…Inspire me with love for my art and for Thy creatures. Do not allow thirst for profit, ambition for renown and admiration, to interfere with my profession, for these are the enemies of truth and of love for mankind and they can lead astray…” Our admissions mission reads as follows,

“We desire to recruit and matriculate the brightest students who are intellectually curious, have a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to humanism and service. In so doing we will train the next generation of caring, compassionate, and culturally competent medical professionals, be they practitioners, researchers and/or teachers.”

These wonderful ideals are not simply skills to learn, but assume that physicians are virtuous and that their practice grows naturally from these virtues; which raises a question. What are the most important virtues of a physician and how can they be nurtured or undermined? Please consider this question and offer us your thoughts below.

5. Optional:If you think there is any additional information that would help the admissions committee in its review of your application please use the space below.

The secondary application essay prompts from this medical school application cycle were the same as above.

Disclaimer: The information on this page was shared by students and/or can be found on the medical school’s website. Med School Insiders does not guarantee the accuracy of the information on this page.

Medical School Secondary Essay Examples from Accepted Applicants!

Plus tips for answering the 5 most common med school secondary essay prompts.

Before we jump into medical school secondary essay examples, you need to know that the main purpose of the secondary medical school application is to determine whether you are a good “fit” with the mission and values of the school you are applying to. Medical schools send out secondary essays to further assess the unique characteristics of each applicant that have not been addressed in the AMCAS Work and Activities section or your medical school personal statement . This post will go over medical school secondary essay examples from students who were accepted, and tips for writing strong essays that application committees will love.

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

Listen to the blog!

Article Contents 16 min read

Medical school secondary essays: "why our school" prompt.

The most important component of answering this prompt is doing your research. Do you have a thorough understanding of the school's mission statement and values? What population or populations are they most interested in serving? How do they describe their student body? What curriculum-enriching activities are available to their students? Do they have a strong research program? Is their curriculum a good fit for your learning style? Are all of these things in line with your own values, career goals, and learning needs?

Being informed will demonstrate an interest in the program, allowing you to write a response showing that you will be a genuinely good fit for the school.

“Questions like these are an opportunity for you to shine and show the faculty what sets you apart from the other candidates … In your response, it is important to highlight things that are relevant to the institution’s mission and values while also explaining qualities that would make you a great asset to the program … it is important to always tailor your response to the school and program you are applying to, including for this question.” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD

Would you like us to help you with your medical school secondary essays ","buttontext":"free strategy call","buttoncolor":"#ffffff","addtrustpilot":"false","bannerundertext":" ","belowbuttontext1":null,"belowbuttontext2":null,"trustpilot":false}" :url=""https:\/\/bemoacademicconsulting.com\/contact-schedule-free-strategy-call"" code="banner1" background-color="#000066" button-color="#ffffff" banner-image> to answer this prompt, it can be useful to think about how to choose a medical school and what you’re looking for. “my main priority [in choosing a med school] was location. since i knew i was going to spend four years there, i wanted it to be in a location that i could see myself having support and enjoying. beyond that i looked at opportunities for research support, patient population diversity, and locations where students matched. i also thought about where rotations occur during third year as i wanted to focus on hospitals where rotations were not scattered and centralized to a main hospital center.” – dr. monica taneja, md, university of maryland school of medicine..

What are you most excited about when you think of attending this school? Research? Global health? Community outreach? "}]" code="timeline1">

Medical School Secondary Essay Example: Why Our School?

Write a critical analysis of your personal and scholastic qualifications for the study of medicine, the realization of your professional ambitions, and why you are choosing to apply to our school.

When I was in kindergarten, I was playing tag with my friends when I noticed a kid sitting on the bench. He seemed visibly anxious and left out of the fun so I felt compelled to invite him to play with us. This sense of compassion lay the foundation for my desire to study medicine. As I grew older, I became more inquisitive about the natural world and wanted to know how everything worked and fit together. I started to become passionate about chemistry, mathematics and biology, finding that those subjects gave me the tools to understand my surroundings. I felt empowered with every new concept I would learn; however I never quite felt as though I knew enough. It was only when my friend asked for help with her mental illness that I realized just how much I did not know and how unequipped I was to help someone in this situation. The clash between my sense of compassion and my lack of knowledge and ability to help drove me to want to study medicine.

As I ventured into college, my knowledge-seeking tendencies manifested in an interest in biomedical engineering. I chose this degree for its ability to teach me about the design and manufacturing of groundbreaking medical technologies such as skin-grafts, medical imaging devices, and prostheses. I dreamt of pushing clinical innovations and finding the next technology to revolutionize patient care. Aside from educating myself in medical technology, my college years gave me a lasting perspective and understanding of the Hispanic community’s struggles. I once accompanied my friends to volunteer in a mobile clinic. It was early in the morning when a nurse told me to put up a sign that read: “We do not check IDs.” At first, I was confused, but after careful consideration, I realized that it was to not deter illegal immigrants from seeking medical aid. As the day went on and patients came in, I noticed that most did not have the means to afford regular health and dental care. Most of them prayed that their illnesses would go away on their own because they did not have the means to get professional help. This experience really opened my eyes to the plight of underserved communities and reinforced my decision to pursue medicine so that I could help serve those who were unable to help themselves.

I applied to X University for its opportunities to allow me to work with underserved communities and develop the technical and interpersonal skills to provide patients from these communities the best care. I hope to combine my experience within medicine and engineering to push clinical technologies and advancements further to provide cheap and effective alternatives to current medications and treatments to drive down the cost of healthcare so that it can become available to more people.

Questions surrounding cultural competency delve into your ability to interact with people whose culture, beliefs, or values are different from your own. Are you able to help people in a way that is in line with their values and belief system, even if these values and beliefs are not in line with your own? It is also important to realize the vital role that effective communication plays in bridging cultural differences.

Similar to the TMDSAS personal characteristics essay, your essay should focus on the barriers you encountered, the communication strategies you employed to overcome these barriers, how you helped the person in a way that respected their beliefs, and how you will apply this lesson in the future.

Great ideas for narratives that could address the diversity secondary essay prompt include:

A time when you used your problem-solving skills to help someone from a socio-cultural background different from your own.
A time you advocated for someone from a different socio-cultural background from your own.
How you used your communication skills to overcome a language barrier and help someone.
A reflection on what you learned from working with people with a different background from your own.
A reflection on communicating with people with a different background from your own.
A reflection on learning about and accepting the difference in beliefs of people with a different background from your own.
A reflection on an interaction with an individual whose values were different from your own.

Medical School Secondary Essay Example: Diversity Essays

A. Describe how you relate to someone who is very different from you. Examples of differences may be cultural, racial, religious, economic, gender/sexual orientation, lifestyle.

The world is so diverse and it can be easy to resign to only care for and be informed of one’s own personal interests. To connect with someone else is to choose to forgo ignorance and aim to understand other people and their backgrounds. This is a choice that is made every day when we decide how to interact in society.

In my first year of university, I roomed with a person who immigrated from Colombia. I saw how difficult it was for her to transition to a new country and to overcome cultural barriers. Instead of accepting the fact that our cultures rendered us incompatible, I decided to educate myself on her culture. I started to read of the political unrest in Colombia, I found Latin music we could listen to, and I utilized my basic Spanish to try to make her feel at home. Five years later, we still live together and are the best of friends. It's clear that a little effort trying to understand the life and journey of someone else can go a long way to building connections and trust.

Would you rather watch a video? Here are the most common medical school secondary essay prompts:

B. Please discuss the diversity that you would bring to our school of medicine and the profession of medicine.

The challenges I faced as a first-generation immigrant has taught me several valuable lessons, which have influenced my pursuit of medicine. Here in the States, I am granted liberties that are otherwise unattainable in Vietnam- specifically access to quality healthcare and opportunities for growth and enrichment. My first exposure to medicine did not transpire in a hospital but instead took place in a small tent affiliated with a roaming clinic.

The significant gap in healthcare accessibility, advancement, and quality between the States and the developing countries were increasingly apparent when I returned to Vietnam to visit my family. In time, I also realized that these similar circumstances and situations exist in my local community as well. This has inspired me to advocate for the underserved population because I, myself, can identify with their struggles. During our financial crisis, my family received overwhelming support and generosity from several neighborhood communities. I wish to return the kindness. Now more than ever, in a time where immigrants are restricted access, I must fight to give them a voice.

I also bring with me the traditions and culture of a Vietnamese American. I have developed my own understanding of the diverse facets of the Asian American identity and the ripple effect it has on the community. Through lion dancing and partnering with the Vietnamese and Chinese communities, I grasped the important role that communities play in providing resources. To become one of the few Vietnamese doctors in the area would allow me to address the needs of the community and give me a platform to collaborate with other communities of color. One of my goals is to break down the language barriers and stigmas surrounding the older Asian community and help them achieve their health goals.

I bring a steadfast mindset of advocating for the underserved in my community and as an immigrant Vietnamese American, I aim to use my position to influence decisions that will benefit the entire community.

Medical School Secondary Essays: "Overcoming Challenges" Prompt

This prompt is looking at what medical schools typically refer to as “resilience”. The reality is that you will be faced with a wide variety of challenges during your medical training. Medical schools are looking for candidates who are equipped with mature coping strategies, enabling them to proficiently navigate whatever life, or medical school, decides to throw at them.

You can use any example from your own life to address this prompt. Ideas include:

A time when things did not go according to plan.
Overcoming a setback.
Overcoming an illness or injury.
Dealing with the illness of a loved one.

The important thing to remember with this prompt is to keep it positive. Focus on the strategies you used to overcome the hurdle that presented itself to you, and what you learned from the situation. Review some adversity essays for medical school for inspiration.

“It is not only important to highlight the situation in detail but to also reflect on your actions. Drawing upon lessons from this experience and how you used what you learned to make changes the next time around is key to demonstrating a growth mindset.” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD.

Describe a challenging situation you faced and what you did to address it.

My sister was diagnosed with epilepsy at 3 months old, and it has been a continual learning experience. She never qualified for an autism diagnosis, but her behaviors resembled an autistic or neurodivergent individual. As an 8-year-old, I did not notice public reactions to my sister’s behaviors.

But, as we both grew older, I became embarrassed when people would stare at her, or notice her behavioral differences. Behavioral incidents continued to occur throughout my time in high school and college. However, I have grown into a more empathetic person who better understands the difficulties my sister faces. I won’t deny that sometimes it is still embarrassing, but I remind myself that she struggles to control her behaviors and it is not her fault.

The best way I can help her as a sister is to be there for her and try to help her through the emotions she may not be able to express all the time. Understanding my sister has made me into a stronger, more confident and empathetic woman.

Medical School Secondary Essays: "Future Goals" Prompt

It’s okay not to know exactly what kind of doctor you want to be or what medical specialty you want to pursue. For this prompt, reflect on the experiences that cemented your decision to pursue medicine.

What was it specifically about these experiences that made you want to become a doctor?
What fascinated you the most? Why?
What patient population did you enjoy working with the most? Why?

You can then go on to say what kind of doctor you would like to be, or, if you haven't decided, suggest more generally which direction you would like to see your career take (i.e. mention a patient population you think you would like to work with). Many students change their minds once having been in medical school a couple of years, so it’s reasonable to say that you will keep your eyes open and continue to explore every opportunity!

Medical School Secondary Essay Example: Your Future Goals

Professionalism and the ability to gain respect in the community in which you live is of utmost importance as you embark upon a career as a physician. What three professional qualities do you feel a Student Doctor must be able to demonstrate as he/or she makes the transition into the study and practice of medicine? How will you demonstrate those qualities as a medical student at RowanSOM?

There are many valuable attributes a student doctor must possess, but the three of which I consider the most valuable are self-discipline/reflection, open-mindedness/sensitivity, and teamwork skills.

Possessing self-discipline and self-reflection skills are key for any student doctor planning on tackling the arduous medical courses that will come their way. Through my undergraduate career, I have constantly improved upon my academic study strategies to adapt to the rigors of upper-level biological courses. I realize that when one way does not work it is crucial to consult peers, advisors, and professors to improve my approach. Such changes included recording my lectures, attending more office hours, and even seeking resources outside of my lecture material to supplement my knowledge. I use this principle in my personal health goals as well. For example, my favorite hobby that I use to keep me grounded is going to the gym, where I attempt to break my fitness plateaus by researching and consulting peers. It is this drive to constantly improve myself that will allow me to overcome the many obstacles that will come my way during my medical pursuit.

In addition, it is important for student doctors to be open-minded and sensitive when understanding patients from diverse backgrounds. My research experience at the Center for Addiction, Personality, and Emotion Research enriched my understanding of the socioeconomic and environmental factors that are involved in developing addiction disorders. Learning about the neurobehavioral and psychological processes that underlie addictive behavior reinforced my awareness of the health disparities that arise from environmental and social systems in my local community. It is imperative to understand the patient outside of their symptoms in order to realize the other factors involved in their diagnosis. I aim to one day use this knowledge to inform my future patients of preventative measures and how to overcome their environmental strains.

Lastly, it is crucial for student doctors to develop teamwork skills when entering the field of medicine. Physicians have to be prepared to engage and work within different teamwork structures or environments with other specialists to provide high-quality care for their patients. My experiences as an EMT taught me firsthand how critical it is to build long-lasting relationships based on trust with your team. I have spent countless hours getting to know my EMS crew to ensure that we built a sense of camaraderie that would allow us to work well together during calls. I remember one occasion when my partner was flustered during a stressful call and could not remember the next step in delivering a treatment protocol to a patient. I noticed he was frustrated and subtly reminded him of the next step. Based on our relationship and trust, he acted on my advice and later thanked me for the assistance. Knowing that we always had each other’s back gave us the reassurance and confidence we needed to handle the many unpredictable calls that came our way. I hope to strengthen this same sense of teamwork as a future physician.

If you have an academic lapse or took a break that you wish to explain to the admissions committee, you may want to prepare this prompt in advance. The most important things to focus on are:

Clearly, yet briefly, explain the situation that led to the break or lapse.
Outlining how you moved past the situation.
Outlining what you learned from the situation, and how you will manage similar situations going forward.

“The best way to address red flags is to be open and honest … and provide open reflection on how you grew from the experience.” – Dr. Monica Taneja, MD.

“what i would do in these situations is talk about the red flag/gap in an open and honest way without sounding closed off or confrontational about it … essentially, you are taking something that would normally be considered a negative and spinning into a positive.” – dr. jaime cazes, md, university of toronto temerty faculty of medicine., medical school secondary essay example: academic lapses or breaks.

If you have taken a gap year(s), please explain what you have been, or will be, doing since graduating from your undergrad institution.

I threw myself into the medical school application process during my final year of my undergrad degree. Realizing that my application was lacking, I have spent the time since graduation gaining volunteer and leadership experience, improving my MCAT score, and taking science prerequisite courses.

Taking post-baccalaureate classes proved advantageous. I was thrilled when my MCAT score improved significantly, going from 505 to 517. My score was a testament to the hard work and dedication I put into my organic chemistry and molecular biology courses, and to the time management, accountability, and work ethic I refined in studying for the MCAT.

While pursuing post-baccalaureate science courses improved my academics, volunteering at a seniors’ care center has opened my eyes to the issues facing seniors and those who care for them. Once, upon entering the facility, I heard a patient calling for help; he had fallen and could not get back into his wheelchair. Per volunteer protocol, I cannot physically assist the residents into their chairs. However, after determining that he was not physically hurt, I calmly reassured him that I was getting help and informed the nurses of his situation. This incident and other experiences at the center allowed me to develop and practice skills such as enforcing appropriate boundaries, working with others, and handling unexpected and stressful circumstances with poise.

From my various experiences, I have developed and refined my belief system and skill set. I've developed a greater sensitivity to those facing physical or mental limitations, and a dedication to serving my community in overcoming such challenges. I’ve learned the value of being empathetic and showing compassion in the process. I've developed the critical traits and values that I am certain this school would be proud of, whether as a student or as a physician.

Pre-writing your secondaries for med school is key! Here's how:

Medical School Secondary Essays: Tips from Our Experts and Students

1. submit your essays as soon as you can.

Submitting your essays early means you can take advantage of medical schools’ rolling admissions process. As soon as medical school secondary essays are received, decisions about interview invites are made. Submitting early means a better chance of securing an interview, and therefore an acceptance letter. Being delayed with your secondaries can cost you both! One of our students, Rishi, had to reapply after submitting his secondaries too late and receiving zero interview invites.

“[One of] the things that really I think prevented me from getting in the first time around is I was just very delayed with my secondaries … I didn't even get any interviews that first cycle because I was so late on my secondaries.” – Rishi, former BeMo student.

Planning your secondaries well ahead of time also ensures you’re not rushing to write, proof, rewrite and finalize your essays.

“It is advisable to start preparing for secondaries as early as possible so that you have enough time to revise and go through multiple iterations of edits prior to submitting. Also, getting a fresh pair of eyes to have a look is never a bad idea.” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD.

2. pre-write your med school secondary essays.

Some of you may be realizing at this point that you’ve applied to 10-20 schools and that each will likely send somewhere between 2-10 prompts. That’s a lot of essay writing! To get on top of this, we recommend pre-writing your secondary essays.

“Secondaries were a lot of work especially after completing all of the primary application materials. 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. For each school I read their mission statement and tailored my answers to their priorities. Since many essays also overlap between schools, I was able to morph different essays based on length to reduce overall writing. Pre-writing allowed me to have [less than] 1 week turn around on all of my secondary application returns.” – Dr. Monica Taneja, MD.

If you check out our comprehensive list of medical school secondary essay prompts , you can pull out common themes for the schools you are most interested in applying to. You should then create an essay outline or rough essay that addresses each of these themes.

“A lot of these prompts, they might be worded a little bit different … but there's some broad [question] types. If you compare a couple of schools, there will be some overlap and that's helpful because you can write what are these common skeletons that will allow you to be more efficient.” – Rishi, BeMo student.

Though schools may change their prompts from year to year, pre-planning at least some of your essays will make you much more efficient with your writing, allowing you to create consistently well-thought-out essays.

Just like with your medical school personal statement, your personal stories will help your secondary essays stand out and be more memorable to the admissions committee.

“These application readers are reading a large volume of essays and sometimes they're not spending as much time as you might think. They are kind of glancing over every word so you have to think like what they are going to remember from this when they read it.” – Rishi, BeMo student.

As part of your pre-writing plan, start brainstorming personal experiences or influences you can talk about in your secondaries to make your points and keep your readers’ attention.

Medical school secondary essays are meant to provide medical school with more specific information about your candidacy and fit for their programs. The questions are geared towards the missions, requirements, and goals of each program. They are usually sent out once primary applications have been submitted.

Some schools will list a deadline (UCLA secondary essays are due after fifteen days). If the school does not specify a deadline, you should aim to submit your secondaries no later than 2 weeks after receiving the invites to complete them.

Some of the most common med school secondary prompts include "Why our school?", "Cultural Competency", "Overcoming Challenges", and "Future Goals". Pay attention to the wording of the prompts, as they may not include this direct terminology, but you should approach them with specific strategies to answer them.

Each medical school will have its own secondaries requirements. Some may ask for 1 or 2 essays, while others may require 10. Check the requirements of your schools of choice to make sure.

Yes, there are some medical schools without secondary essays , but these are rare. Check with the programs of your choice to make sure.

Many med schools recycle their secondary prompts from year to year. Plus, there are some common themes that all secondaries explore. Check out the old prompts from your schools of choice to start planning general outlines for your essays.

Most likely, you will be eliminated from the applicant selection pool right away. Med schools will want to see your dedicated and commitment to their school, which secondaries demonstrate. If you are late or do not submit them at all, you will no longer be considered for a position in their medical school.

If you applied to many med schools, there is a chance you will have trouble completing all the secondaries on time. If this is your position, you should certainly try to complete all of them on time and of good quality. Focus on the schools you want to attend and where you have the highest chance of acceptance and complete their secondaries first.

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

Apple Podcasts

Like our blog? Write for us ! >>

Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions.

Wynne Milhouse

Hello! Would it be okay to write about how not getting into medical school the first time was a time of adversity, even if it was on a secondary for a school I didn't apply to last time (or if it was)? I feel as if this prompt may show up for schools that I did and did not apply to two years ago, but not getting into medical school the first time WAS a big hurdle, and I have made significant changes to combat this. Is it okay to talk about that, or will that reflect poorly on me? Thanks! Best, Wynne Milhouse

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello Wynne! Thank you very much for your question. Absolutely, you should write about not getting into med school the first time even if you are writing secondaries for a school you did not apply to last time. You can even mention that you are now applying to this school because you improved your research and found that this would be a more suitable choice for you. Let us know if you have any other questions!

Get Started Now

Talk to one of our admissions experts

Our site uses cookies. By using our website, you agree with our cookie policy .

FREE Training Webinar:

How to make your secondary essays stand out, (even if you think you don't have extraordinary experiences).

Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts Database

Updating for 2024-2025 as Secondaries Come in!

ProspectiveDoctor has compiled a database of past and current medical school secondary essay prompts from past years to help you get a head start on your secondary applications. Select a school to discover their essay prompts.

University
A








B



C






















D





E




F





G


H

M



I



J



K




L




























N












O






P






R




S










T
















U


V





W













Y

Creighton University School of Medicine Secondary Questions
Emory University School of Medicine Secondary Questions
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University Secondary Questions
Indiana University School of Medicine Secondary Questions

Communities Pre-Med Medical Resident Audiology Dental Optometry Pharmacy Physical Therapy Podiatry Psychology Rehab Sci Veterinary
What's new Trending New posts Latest activity
Support Account Help Confidential Advising
Vision, Values and Policies
PreMed Communities
Pre-Medical (MD)
MD Medical School-Specific Discussions Prior Years

2023-2024 Florida

Thread starter wysdoc
Start date Mar 23, 2023

Applying to Med School? Get In Or Your Money Back

Plain-spoken Texan

Mar 23, 2023

“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.” Click to expand...

“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.” Click to expand...

“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.'” Click to expand...

“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. “ Click to expand...

ishouldnotbehere

Full member.

Jun 23, 2023

Is anyone prewriting last year's secondary? How did you guys approach the second prompt about the students' reflections?

scaredapplicant23

ishouldnotbehere said: Is anyone prewriting last year's secondary? How did you guys approach the second prompt about the students' reflections? Click to expand...

YodaPineapple

Jun 24, 2023

UF is one of the few schools where I would not pre-write, as their prompts tend to change every year.

scarletblaze

Jul 15, 2023

Has anyone received secondaries yet?

Jul 16, 2023

scarletblaze said: Has anyone received secondaries yet? Click to expand...

Jul 17, 2023

schools taking their sweet time to send secondaries this year💀

BetterLateThanNever.

ishouldnotbehere said: Nope Click to expand...

Jul 19, 2023

IS Received 7/18

Xqcowadwo said: IS Received 7/18 Click to expand...

AnonymousAnt said: Can you share prompts please? I’m assuming they’re new from last year. Click to expand...

OreoLover365

Xqcowadwo said: Same prompts Click to expand...

dopaminedoc

IS received 7/19

Jul 20, 2023

dopaminedoc said: IS received 7/19 Click to expand...

Can you plz post the secondary instead of saying “same as last year” lol @Xqcowadwo

Xqcowadwo said: 1) Please limit your response to 250-500 words 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. 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. 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. Click to expand...

OreoLover365 said: Thank you @Xqcowadwo ! Is there no “additional information” question this year? Last year it was “ 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.”(750 words). Click to expand...

spongebobdoc

Jul 21, 2023

does the "please limit ur response to 250-500 words" apply to questions 2 and 3? also, we have to reply to only one prompt for question 2 right, bc it says reflect on both.

Jul 22, 2023

Anyone else get a secondary?

ishouldnotbehere said: Anyone else get a secondary? Click to expand...

Jul 23, 2023

IS verified 5/31 no secondary yet

AnonymousAnt said: I don't mind these secondary questions at all but am I the only one who thinks they read more like an analytical english assignment rather than having anything to do with one's candidacy for medical school? Click to expand...

floridaresident said: does the "please limit ur response to 250-500 words" apply to questions 2 and 3? also, we have to reply to only one prompt for question 2 right, bc it says reflect on both. Click to expand...

lolitachiquita

IS, verified 7/13 still no secondary, I have completed and submitted every other FL school

kaleidoscope1202

lolitachiquita said: IS, verified 7/13 still no secondary, I have completed and submitted every other FL school Click to expand...

OOS reapplicant verified 6/27, still no secondary

MusicalMangoMan

kaleidoscope1202 said: +1. I’m a re-applicant to this school and did my undergrad here. I have finished the secondaries for FSU, USF, FAU, UCF, and FIU. I don’t know what they’re doing Click to expand...

MusicalMangoMan said: Dang man, I'm not even verified yet and only barely started pre-writing. Do you think I could finish all FL schools (besides Miami) in under a week? In total I'm applying to 25 MD schools, but I want to prioritize my in state. Click to expand...

Jul 24, 2023

+ 1 IS verified 6/13 finally

+1 IS recieved, verified 7/18

for the activities section, do we just include what we are currently doing or everything from our activities section? the form specifies what we're doing prior to attending UF, but the " University Admissions cannot see your AMCAS and they use this activity timeline for residency review " from the email makes it seem like they have access to none of our activities on our application

thegazette said: for the activities section, do we just include what we are currently doing or everything from our activities section? the form specifies what we're doing prior to attending UF, but the " University Admissions cannot see your AMCAS and they use this activity timeline for residency review " from the email makes it seem like they have access to none of our activities on our application Click to expand...

OOS secondary received

@wysdoc Here are some additional questions on the UFCOM secondary: 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 help frame how you envision your future contributions to the health and wellbeing of others as a physician and if so, how? (500 words max) 3. There is a page for selecting introversion and extroversion traits/statements but no essay associated with it

Purple&Gold8

Medical school applicant.

amdocahe said: OOS secondary received Click to expand...

IS, received this morning too

So we just have to wait until we get our UFID# in 36-48 hours before we can submit our secondary application??

SultanateIV

Jul 25, 2023

For the extraversion / intraversion section, can you pick statements from both sides? Or are we limited to just picking from one side

SultanateIV said: For the extraversion / intraversion section, can you pick statements from both sides? Or are we limited to just picking from one side Click to expand...

OreoLover365 said: I think you can pick statements from both sides. That's what I am going to do unless someone tells me otherwise Click to expand...

DougEFreshh

Is it pointless to apply as an OOS applicant with no ties to the state of Florida? I wanna know that im not wasting my time writing this lengthy secondary?

Dougieb said: Is it pointless to apply as an OOS applicant with no ties to the state of Florida? I wanna know that im not wasting my time writing this lengthy secondary? Click to expand...

HopefullySomewhere

Jul 26, 2023

AnonymousAnt said: If you have the 30$ and some time to spare, why not. But keep in mind they only interviewed 80 out of 2200 OOS applicants, and I’d bet that those 80 either went to UF or have connections to the state in other ways. Click to expand...

HopefullySomewhere said: Out of the new class only 2/120 were OOS. It’s basically pointless to apply to FSU as OOS with no ties Click to expand...

Has anyone gotten their UF ID?

SultanateIV said: Has anyone gotten their UF ID? Click to expand...

OreoLover365 said: Yeah I got mine last night. Took about 36 hours Click to expand...

Similar threads

Mar 17, 2023

Mar 21, 2023

Oct 18, 2023
This site uses cookies to help personalize content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies and terms of service . Accept Learn more…

Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts

Get the most updated medical school secondary essay prompts. Learn how to create the best medical school secondary application, improve your chances of receiving an interview, and get accepted at your dream school. See the most recent SDN threads here .

JavaScript is disabled on your browser.

Please enable JavaScript or upgrade to a JavaScript-capable browser to use this site.

Secondary Essay Prompts for Allopathic Schools

Do you want to see secondary essay prompts for all U.S. medical schools?

Select a school below:

*Data collected from MSAR 2016-2017 and institution website. Disclaimer: The information on this page was shared by students and/or can be found on each medical school’s website. MedEdits does not guarantee it’s accuracy or authenticity.

Website Disclaimer
Terms and Conditions
MedEdits Privacy Policy

IMAGES

Medical School Secondary Essays: Prompts & Tips To Answer Them
Fillable Online Medical School Secondary Essays: The Complete Guide
Medical School Secondary Essays 8 TIPS & 7 REAL EXAMPLES
Medical School Secondary Essays: 5 Tips to Nail Them & Essay Prompts
How To Write An Essay For Medical School
Everything You Should Know About Medical School Secondary Essays with

VIDEO

What IS The MBA Optional Essay?
Prelims पास करने की अचूक रणनीति
Ultimate Medical Academy Student Story
UF College of Medicine Match Day 2023
What to Expect From UF’s Online Medical Physiology Program
The Med Student Life: A Day In The Journey Of Medical School

COMMENTS

University of Florida Secondary Application
Full, updated list of the University of Florida secondary essay prompts and helpful tips on how to answer secondary essays.
University of Florida College of Medicine Secondary Application Prompts
Get the University of Florida secondary application essay prompts since 2014. Plus, our Cracking Med School Admissions tips to help you stand out on your University of Florida secondary application!
University of Florida College of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts
These are the secondary application prompts for University of Florida College of Medicine for the currently application cycle. To view the previous year's secondary essay prompts, scroll down.
Regular Admission Requirements
Applicants must receive a bachelor's degree from a US post-secondary college or university accredited by one of the regional accrediting organizations recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the United States Department of Education (USDE) prior to matriculation to the University of Florida College of Medicine.
Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts (2024-2025)
A complete list of med school secondary prompts to help you get ahead and stay organized during your admissions process We recommend using this resource alongside our Secondary Essay Premium Example Hub, which includes a sample essay in response to every prompt required by every MD and DO program in the US and Canada. It's even been featured by outlets including U.S. News & World Report ...
University of Florida College of Medicine Secondary Questions
Access complete and up-to-date medical school secondary application questions for University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville.
A Successful Low-Stat Applicant's Guide to Writing Killer Secondary Essays
Edited to add: a great secondary can help a low stat applicant (ie myself) get an interview invite when they otherwise wouldn't, and a high stat applicant basically shoe-in an acceptance (dependent on the caliber of the school obviously). I know it's overwhelming (I did 50-something secondaries last year) but really put everything you have into them, because they really do matter a lot and can ...
How to Answer Common Essay Prompts on Medical School Secondary
How to Answer Common Essay Prompts on Medical School Secondary Applications Coherently emphasize your unique persona, life journey, motivations and alignment with the medical profession.
Accepted Medical School Secondary Essay Examples
Top-notch medical school secondary essay examples that got MULTIPLE acceptances, plus tips from our MD experts on how to prepare for secondaries!
FAQ » Medical Admissions
A: A complete application consists of a verified AMCAS, MCAT score of at least 500, the two-part secondary application (UF Professional School Application + UF COM Secondary) and minimum three letters of recommendation.
2022-2023 Florida
2022-2023 University of Florida Secondary Essay Prompts. 1. If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between September 2022 and May 2023, 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.
University of Florida
Access our complete list of all Secondary Essay Prompts from University of Florida in Gainesville, FL, for the 2018-2023 admissions cycles.
Medical School Secondary Essays: The Complete Guide 2024 (Examples
Part 1: Introduction As a medical school applicant, you've worked hard on your submitting the best AMCAS application you can. You've written a compelling medical school personal statement, a detailed AMCAS Work and Activities section, and more. Now med schools are sending you school-specific secondary applications that require you to write additional essays?
Medical Admissions » College of Medicine » University of Florida
As the largest college within the UF Health academic health center, the UF College of Medicine is home to thousands of faculty, students and staff committed to improving the health and well-being of people across the globe. #15 Ranked in top public medical schools (U.S. News & World Report Rankings)
Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts Database
Prospective Doctor has compiled a database of past and current medical school secondary essay prompts to help you get started on secondary applications.
2024-2025 MD Medical School-Specific Discussions
2024-2025 MD Medical School-Specific Discussions. Allopathic medical school-specific discussions of secondary prompts, interview invites, and experiences, and general discussions of the admissions process at a particular institution. This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors.
2023-2024 Florida
2023-2024 Florida Secondary Essay Prompts. 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.
5 Tips for Writing Your Medical School Secondary Essays
1. Timing is everything. You should complete each secondary application within two weeks of receiving it. That being said, please do not rush! Two weeks should be enough time to write persuasive, well-written essays. 2. Prioritize to hit important deadlines.
Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts
Get the most updated medical school secondary essay prompts. Learn how to create the best medical school secondary application, improve your chances of receiving an interview, and get accepted at your dream school.
Medical Honors Program at the University of Florida
The Medical Honors Program at the University of Florida (2023) allows college sophomores early acceptance medical school. Learn about U of F Medical Honors Program requirements and more.
Secondary Essays for Medical Schools
Secondary Essay Prompts for Allopathic Schools Do you want to see secondary essay prompts for all U.S. medical schools? Select a school below:
Secondaries Directory (2023-2024) : r/premed
Here are some resources you can use to prewrite essays, track which schools have sent out secondaries, and monitors schools' progress through the cycle. Student Doctor Network (SDN): 2023-2024 Threads: MD Schools and DO Schools. 2022-2023 Threads: MD Schools and DO Schools. 2021-2022 Threads: MD Schools and DO Schools.
All:) the :) Florida :) schools' :) secondaries :) are :) so
As a FL residence, I feel you :) and UF's secondary tho :) cries in FL residency. My parents moved to Florida while I was in undergrad :l so I have FL residency, and I HATE the state (sorry other FL residents). Hey, at least most of them are only $30 (other than Miami...) As a FL resident, I hated them to.