Given the principles for BCM, I recommend covering your clinical, research and community experience in their secondary application essays. They place special emphasis on recruiting students from diverse backgrounds and from ethnicities that are underrepresented in medicine. Highlight your personal connections, volunteer work, and leadership roles in medically underserved communities.
Baylor College of Medicine 2019-20 secondary application essay questions
Baylor College of Medicine essay #1
If you have taken a gap year(s), please explain what you have been, or will be, doing since graduating from your undergrad institution. (2,000 characters)
If this question applies to you, share everything that you have been doing or plan to be doing during this time. It’s better to have too many than not enough activities. You can include any progress you have made in your professional life as well as in hobbies. Use all the space allowed. Obviously, it will help if you have continued your clinical work and community service, but don’t neglect to mention any achievements in other areas of your life. It’s better to be a well-rounded applicant with lots of diverse interests than focused only on medicine.
If you run out of space because you are so busy during your gap year(s), then choose those activities that show achievement and a breadth of experience.
Baylor College of Medicine essay #2
Is becoming a physician a second career for you? If so, what was your first career choice? (2,000 characters)
Be honest in responding to this question. You should detail all the reasons why you chose your first career path, and mention any and all accomplishments that you achieved in this field. There is no need to “bash” or write about the negative side of this career to explain why you left it. Instead, consider pivoting to explain how and why your background in this area will give you a unique perspective in medicine. How will your original career benefit your approach to medicine?
Baylor College of Medicine essay #3 (Required)
Indicate any special experiences, unusual factors or other information you feel would be helpful in evaluating you, including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, prevailing over adversity. You may expand upon but not repeat AMCAS application information. (2,000 characters.)
Using a timeline you have created of your life that includes all significant events and/or an updated copy of your resume or CV, check off the items you have already covered in your primary application. Create a list from the remaining items that you have not covered which are related to clinical, research, work, or leadership in community service. Are there any items that relate to how you have overcome adversity? Strategically selecting the activities or events that will reveal more about you as a person, create an outline using this short list. Free-write to cover as much detail as you can from your outline. After taking a break, edit the material to ensure you have a clear introductory sentence, solid body with explanations, and a concise conclusion that sums up your experiences.
If you would like professional guidance with your Baylor College of Medicine application materials, check out Accepted’s Medical School Admissions Consulting and Editing Services, which include advising, editing, and interview coaching for Baylor’s application materials.
Baylor College of Medicine 2019-20 application timeline
| AMCAS Application Due | November 1, 2019 |
| Supplemental Application Due | MD/PhD: November 1, 2019
MD only: December 1, 2019 |
| Interviews Take Place | August 2019 – February 2020 |
***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***
Alicia McNease Nimonkar worked for 5 years as the Student Advisor & Director at the UC Davis School of Medicine's postbac program where she both evaluated applications and advised students applying successfully to med school and other health professional programs. She has served Accepted's clients since 2012 with roughly a 90% success rate. She has a Master of Arts in Composition and Rhetoric as well as Literature. Want Alicia to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
Related Resources:
• 5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Med School and Secondary Essays, a free guide
• School-Specific Med Secondary Essay Tips
• How to Write About Overcoming Challenges Without Sounding Like a Whiner
