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The Lewis Katz School of Medicine has several campus locations in Pennsylvania. The school emphasizes hand-on, collaborative learning, community service, and the intersection between research and clinical care. It is one of the top ranked research-oriented schools. Temple also features a “simulation center” where students take a hands-on approach to clinical work.
Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University 2020-2021 secondary application essay questions
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- There is a 2,000 character limit per essay question, including spaces.
- All questions are required
- There is a 2,000 character limit per essay question, including spaces.
LKSOM secondary essay #1
What is the nature of your interest in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine?
Here, you should describe particular programs at Temple that interest you. Review their website and materials and make a list of about 3 or 4 specific characteristics that you appreciate about Temple. Then, write specifically about each one and why you would like to participate.
LKSOM secondary essay #2
How do you plan on contributing to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine Community?
LKSOM seeks an engaged student body with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and interests to enhance the medical school experience for everyone. Please use the space below to describe what makes you unique as an applicant, an obstacle that you had to overcome, or how you will contribute to the LKSOM community.
For this prompt, make a list of your unique characteristics that might not be evident from the rest of your application. Be sure to include anything that might highlight diversity of experience or background. Then, choose the most compelling and write an essay where you specifically explain what your unique quality is and why it will contribute to the community, keeping in mind the values of the medical school and mission.
LKSOM secondary essay #3
Tell us about your special interest in the campus you selected.
Because Temple has multiple campuses, you should rank your choices and write why you are interested in your first-choice campus. The main campus is in Philadelphia. You can cite reasons relating to special programs, proximity to family, or group dynamics.
LISTEN: 3 Ways Temple Can Help You Become an MD: MCAT, Postbac, Med School >>
LKSOM secondary essay #4
What are your plans for the current year – June 2020 until June 2021?
Explain to the adcom what you are doing during the gap year. Include volunteer and other experiences to give the full picture.
LKSOM secondary essay #5
The Coronavirus pandemic has affected all of us in one way or another.
Please use this space to describe to us how you were impacted academically, personally or professionally by COVID-19. Note: 2,000 character limit per essay question, including spaces.
It is true, COVID-19 has derailed the majority of volunteer work, shadowing, academic research, internships and MCAT plans for medical school applicants. The good news is you’re not alone.
Medical schools are now responding to how current students’ clinical rotations and future students’ application requirements may have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
The Lewis Katz School of Medicine has clarified their medical school application requirements in light of COVID-19:
MCAT
Many of you had to reschedule your spring 2020 MCAT test date, as those administrations were cancelled. We understand that testing may be delayed into the summer months.
You can submit your AMCAS application without MCAT scores. Once we receive your verified application from AMCAS, you will receive an email with a link to our online supplemental application. Receipt of MCAT scores is not required to submit secondary. We will review your complete application when your 2020 MCAT scores are received.
Coursework
Online: While our preference is to review your application with coursework completed in person, we understand that in these unique circumstances most of your spring/summer/fall 2020 coursework is now online. This will not impact the review of your application.
Grading: For the spring 2020 semester, many schools are offered the option for Pass/Fail in lieu of a letter grade. This will not impact the review of your application.
Letters of Recommendation
Some schools may not be offering a committee letter this year. This will not impact your application negatively. Please see the guidelines for submitting individual letters of recommendation.
By adding this new secondary, LKSOM wants you to explain how you were affected, broken down into three categories:
Personally (Were you or your family affected? Did you or someone in your home get sick? Did you or someone in your home have to isolate or quarantine?)
Professionally (Did you lose your job as a scribe, a scientist, a caregiver, a lab manager during a gap year during which you planned to work? Did your workplace rapidly shift their practice to “safe distancing” and amped up disinfecting routines?)
Educationally (Did your Winter or Spring 2020 grades convert to Pass/Fail grades? How has this changed your transcripts and GPA? Did you have to stop shadowing a physician? Did you have to delay taking the MCAT?)
If you were personally affected, definitely explain this, briefly. There’s no room in this prompt to write an involved story. (It has a 2000-character limit.)
It’s likely this prompt is a place for LKSOM to easily and uniformly locate information on how applicants were affected by COVID-19s. That’s practical. So, stay clear and categorize in the manner they ask: personal, professional and educational.
Also, consider that this prompt offers a brief opportunity to place in context the effect of a public health crisis that no one could foresee, perhaps in your concluding comment. Avoid self-pity. Avoid woe-is-me. Convey instead how you, a future doctor, adjusted and further engaged the crisis. How did you step up to the pandemic, in whatever innovative way?
If you would like professional guidance with your LKSM application materials, check out Accepted’s Medical School Admissions Consulting and Editing Services, which include advising, editing, and interview coaching for Temple’s application materials.
Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University 2020 – 2021 application timeline
| AMCAS Application Due | December 15 |
| Supplemental Materials and Fee Due | January 15 |
Source: Lewis Katz School of Medicine website
***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***
Dr. Mary Mahoney, Ph.D. has over 20 years of experience as an advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. She is a tenured English Professor with an MFA in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College and a PhD in Literature and Writing from the University of Houston. For the last twenty years, Mary has served as a grad school advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. Want Mary to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
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