Loyola University Chicago’s Stritch School of Medicine stands out for several distinctive features that reflect its Jesuit values, commitment to social justice, innovative programs, and holistic medical education. Located in Maywood, Illinois, just west of downtown Chicago, Stritch is one of the premier Catholic medical schools in the United States. With a cornerstone curricular piece entitled “Patient-Centered Medicine” that emphasizes communication and ethics, and several certificate options including “Culturally Responsive Care and Leadership,” it is clear that Stritch seeks to train patient-focused physicians. 

When applying to Stritch, position your application to highlight not just what you’ve done, but why it mattered to you, especially in service to others. That depth and reflection are what truly resonate at Stritch.

Table of Contents:

• Stritch Secondary Essay Tips
• Stritch Application Timeline
• Stritch Class Profile

Stritch Secondary Essay Tips

Essay #1 

As you consider Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, please tell us what resonates with you regarding our mission as a Jesuit, Catholic medical school? Consider also what you may be curious about regarding our institutional mission and identity. (500 word limit)

Before responding to this prompt, take time to learn about Stritch’s unique identity as a Jesuit, Catholic medical institution. Reflect on how your personal values and professional goals align with the school’s mission and core Jesuit principles, including compassion, service to others, and self-reflection.

In your response, consider sharing specific experiences (e.g., volunteer work, advocacy efforts, or service-oriented roles) that demonstrate your commitment to these values and how they have shaped your path to medicine. These personal examples can effectively illustrate how your experiences and aspirations resonate with Stritch’s mission.

If you have received a Jesuit education in the past, be open in sharing how that background has influenced you. If you have not, discuss why you believe a Jesuit medical education is the right fit and what aspects of this approach you look forward to engaging with. For instance, you might reflect on how incorporating spirituality into your education may provide a broader, more holistic perspective that will enrich your ability to care for and guide patients with empathy and understanding.

Stritch offers a variety of virtual and in-person information sessions as well as resources on its website. Be sure to explore these thoroughly prior to answering this question. 

Essay #2

Considering all that you could do with your life, how have you discerned your decision to become a physician? What is particular to the practice of medicine and the vocation of a physician that draws you to apply to medical school versus another helping/caring profession? What experiences, conversations, and encounters have informed your decision to apply? (500 word limit)

This is a common and important question in medical school applications. Admissions committees are looking for a clear, personal, and specific explanation of why you chose medicine and, more specifically, why you want to become a physician.

Avoid generalities or overused phrases, and instead focus on genuine, defining moments that led you to this path. Start by describing a specific experience or turning point when you first felt called to medicine. Then reflect on how your journey has confirmed that becoming a physician – rather than a nurse, physician assistant, or another healthcare professional – is the right path for you.

Use concrete examples from your experience with clinical volunteering, shadowing, or patient interactions to illustrate your motivation and insights. As you tell your story, highlight the skills, qualities, and values that make you well-suited for the role of a physician. Conclude by reflecting on the kind of doctor you aspire to be – not just in specialty, but in how you hope to impact your patients and the community.

Essay #3 

Social justice, in the Jesuit tradition, justice due to each person’s inherent human dignity, is an essential dimension of education at SSOM. Describe an impactful experience working with and for under-resourced communities. Explain what you have learned about yourself through this service and/or what has hindered your efforts to serve others in these environments. (500 word limit)

Use this opportunity to highlight a meaningful experience, either one not included in your AMCAS application or one you’d like to expand upon. Clearly describe the nature of the experience: what did you do, where did it take place, and who did you work with? Be specific about the under-resourced or underserved community you engaged with.

Focus on both the impact you had and what the experience taught you about yourself, your values, and your path to medicine. Reflect on how this shaped your commitment to service and whether it deepened your desire to care for specific populations as a future physician.

Consider the challenges you faced in serving this community. What barriers did you observe: logistical, cultural, systemic? Use this reflection to demonstrate your insight and potential as a future healthcare advocate. If applicable, share ideas or solutions you believe could help improve access to equitable, high-quality care for that population.

Ultimately, show how this experience has helped you grow both personally and professionally and how it has informed the kind of physician you hope to become.

Essay #4 

Describe a time you received feedback about your performance and disagreed with the feedback. What did you disagree with? How did you handle it? (500 word limit)

Receiving feedback, especially during clinical training in medical school, is an essential part of professional growth. When responding to this prompt, be honest and professional in describing a time when you received feedback you disagreed with. Clearly explain the context: what was the situation or project, who provided the feedback, and why did you initially disagree?

Maintain a factual, respectful tone and avoid sounding defensive. The focus of your response should be on how you handled the situation. Did you seek guidance from a mentor to gain additional perspective? Did you take time to reflect and reconsider your initial reaction? Did you ultimately come to understand or validate the feedback or reaffirm your original stance in a constructive way?

Most importantly, reflect on what the experience taught you. How did you grow from it? How has it shaped the way you approach feedback today, particularly when you don’t immediately agree with it?

This is an opportunity to show emotional intelligence, maturity, and your ability to adapt, which are qualities essential for success in medical school and patient care.

Essay #5 

Medical education is characterized by long hours of study, a steady cadence of course exams, subjective and objective assessment of performance, licensing exams, and sometimes demanding and stressful educational contexts in the clinical environment. How has your chosen undergraduate course of study prepared you for the rigor and demands of the medical school curriculum? What additional skills have you learned as a pre-med student to help you balance your educational and personal responsibilities, including managing your time and relieving stress? (500 word limit)

This prompt is asking you to reflect on why you feel prepared to succeed in the demanding environment of medical school. Your response should demonstrate both academic readiness and personal maturity.

If you are a traditional student, highlight your performance in rigorous upper-level science courses, especially while balancing MCAT preparation. Emphasize how you managed your time effectively to excel academically while also maintaining commitments to extracurricular activities, leadership roles, or personal responsibilities.

If you are a nontraditional student, focus on the concrete steps you’ve taken to prepare for the academic rigors of medical school such as completing a post-baccalaureate program, enrolling in advanced science courses, or earning a strong MCAT score. These efforts demonstrate your dedication and ability to re-engage with academics successfully.

Regardless of your path, it’s important to discuss how you manage competing priorities and maintain your well-being. Briefly describe your healthy coping strategies and time management techniques, and explain how these habits will support your resilience and success throughout medical school.

Use this response to convey confidence, self-awareness, and a thoughtful understanding of what it takes to thrive in a rigorous and demanding academic curriculum.

Optional Essays: Answer if applicable to you (100 to 500 words)

Essay #6 (Optional)

Please indicate additional grades earned, amendments to your proposed coursework or graduation date, address changes, additions to your list of experiences, and anything else you feel we should know.

Keep this brief and factual. This is your chance to provide new and exciting updates such as publications, senior design projects, poster presentations, leadership roles, etc. 

Essay #7 (Optional)

Please explain in more detail (in less than 1500 characters) anything that would help us understand any gaps or delays in your education, academic missteps, or personal challenges not listed elsewhere.

Setbacks are a natural part of any journey, and medical schools appreciate honest, thoughtful reflection on them – especially when paired with evidence of growth and resilience. This response is your opportunity to provide context for any challenges or inconsistencies not already explained in your AMCAS application.

Be factual, concise, and focused on how you’ve grown. For example, if you had to retake a course, briefly explain the circumstances, what you learned from the experience, and what strategies you implemented to ensure future success. 

Avoid excessive detail or defensiveness. Instead, use this space to highlight your self-awareness, accountability, and commitment to improvement. Your goal is to show that you’ve faced challenges with maturity, learned from them, and are now better prepared for the rigors of medical school.

Essay #8 (Optional)

If you have not been enrolled in coursework for over two years, please let us know what you have been doing since your coursework ended.

Medical schools want to feel confident that applicants are prepared to meet the demands of a rigorous curriculum. In your response, be clear and factual, state when you earned your bachelor’s degree, and, if applicable, explain any gap years. Whether those years were taken for personal, academic, or professional reasons, describe how that time contributed to your growth and readiness for medical school. If you pursued additional academic work, such as a master’s program or post-baccalaureate coursework, or significantly improved your MCAT score, be sure to highlight those achievements. Emphasize how these experiences strengthened your academic foundation, enhanced your study strategies, and reinforced your commitment to succeed in medical school.

Essay #9 (Optional) 

Have you applied to SSOM prior to this application? If so, please list the years of your previous application submissions to SSOM and tell us how your application has improved since your previous submission.

Be honest and thoughtful in your response, and only reapply to a program if you’ve made meaningful improvements since your last application. These improvements might include gaining more impactful clinical or volunteer experiences, raising your GPA, or significantly improving your MCAT score. If any of your recent efforts align with Stritch’s mission – such as increased involvement in patient advocacy, health equity, or social justice – be sure to highlight those connections. Reflect on how you’ve grown personally and professionally, and demonstrate how your continued dedication has made you a stronger applicant and a better fit for the school’s values and community. Ultimately, show how these experiences have further solidified your commitment to becoming a compassionate and capable physician.

Stritch Application Timeline

Date	Details
July 7, 2025	Supplemental application available
October 31, 2025	Latest accepted MCAT date for 2026 cycle
November 3, 2025	Primary AMCAS application deadline (rolling admissions; early submission encouraged)
December 12, 2025	Supplemental application deadline (rolling admissions; early submission encouraged)

Source: Stritch website

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

Stritch Class Profile

Here is a look at the Stritch Class of 2029 (data taken from the Stritch website):

Applicants: 13,000+

Enrolled: 175

Mean science GPA: 3.7

Mean overall GPA: 3.8

Mean MCAT score: 512

Women: 62%

Men: 38%

Age range: 21–36

Races and ethnicities: 36

Students born outside the U.S.: 15

U.S. states and territories represented: 29

Undergraduate colleges represented: 87

First-generation college students: 9%

Premed Experience

Mean research hours: 1,140

Mean paid non-clinical experience hours: 1,562

Mean medically based service hours: 393

Mean non–medically based service hours: 508

Related Resources

• Get Accepted to Loyola Stritch Medical School [Episode 580]
• Do’s and Don’ts of Medical School Recommendation Letters
• Admissions Straight Talk, a podcast for med school applicants