Why Medical Schools Value Research Experience Research experience isn’t a requirement for med school admission. You won’t find a section about it on your application, but it is still valued and important. So important, in fact, that at some of the most competitive research-oriented med schools, 80-90% of admitted applicants have at least some research…
School-Specific Secondary Essay Tips
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips
This medical school places special emphasis on the relationships formed during medical school with classmates and faculty. Students participate in small group learning activities through the four colleges. In the first two years of medical school, students create their own project to self-direct their learning process with mentorship. The school is seeking students who will…
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Secondary Application Essay Tips
“At the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, we are dramatically advancing the art and science of medical care through an atmosphere of intense collaborative learning, social concern, and scholarly inquiry.” Icahn is known for its progressive stance towards education. They have an early admission program for sophomores in college, called the FlexMed Program,…
University of Pittsburgh Medical School Secondary Application Essay Tips
UPSOM places special emphasis on their collaborative problem-based curriculum and the fact that their medical students begin interacting with patients in their first year of medical school. Providing the best care to patients through research, education, leadership and diversity is central to their mission. In your own background, how can you demonstrate your commitment to…
Yale School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips
“The mission of Yale School of Medicine is to educate and inspire scholars and future leaders who will advance the practice of medicine and the biomedical sciences.” As a top ten research institution, Yale is not simply interested in training students to practice good medicine. They are searching for physician-scientists who will take medical knowledge…
UCSF School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips
“At UCSF, our mission is to advance health worldwide, and we are attracting some of the nation’s best and brightest students to help us achieve that goal. One of the reasons our students come to UCSF is to work in a culture of discovery and innovation.” The feeling that applicants often get from a UCSF…
Baylor College of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips
Given the mission statement for BCM, I recommend covering your clinical, research and community experience in their secondary application essay. 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 2017-18…
Keck School of Medicine of USC Secondary Application Essay Tips
“For more than a century, the doctors of the Keck School of Medicine of USC have cared for those of us who are most vulnerable. We accomplish this through excellence in research, clinical care and education.” The Keck School of Medicine of USC is one of the largest teaching centers in the United States, with…
Harvard Medical School Secondary Application Essay Tips
HMS is looking for students who will help find new ways to approach patient care through diversity, research, and a dedication to service. In this secondary application, it will be important to include relevant leadership roles that you have held in which you were able to improve methods or outcomes. Highlight your experience working with…
Will Your Secondaries Score Interviews?
The thing we hear again and again from our med school experts is that the biggest error applicants make in their secondary essays is failing to answer the question. It sounds easy, right? Just answer the question. But when you’re answering so many essays for so many schools – and you’re feeling anxious and pressed…
Brown Alpert Medical School Secondary Application Essay Tips
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University is the only medical school in the state of Rhode Island. For this reason, it offers unparalleled access to all types of clinical settings and hospitals. It has seven teaching hospitals near its medical school campus. Its mission is “The pursuit of health to benefit society.” First and…
UCSD School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips
The UCSD School of Medicine prefers applicants with extensive research experience. If you have not described your research experience in your personal statement, include a description in the secondary application’s autobiographical essay. They offer a PRIME Heq Program with training in treating medically underserved communities. They also have a dual degree program that allows medical…
Penn State College of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips
Penn State College of Medicine offers an accelerated program for students interested in primary care to complete their training in three years. It provides an interdisciplinary training environment for students from their medical school, physician assistant program and nursing school to train together. Currently, they are collaborating with a private institution to create a medical…
The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences Secondary Application Essay Tips
UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences offers an education that emphasizes the importance of treating patients as individuals and incorporating the latest research available in their training. After the first year, students have the opportunity to participate in paid summer research positions. Students complete clerkships during their third and fourth years with the option…
Western University of Health Sciences Secondary Application Essay Tips
Western University of the Health Sciences is an osteopathic school that emphasizes a desire for life-long learning and a commitment to serving a range of people with compassion. One of the school’s goals is to increase care to underprivileged communities and extend quality of life with patient-centered care. Western University also places a strong emphasis…
New York Medical College Secondary Application Tips
New York Medical College is located in Westchester, New York and has one of the largest medical education programs in the country. Their researchers and physicians are involved in diagnosing and researching large-scale public health threats. As a result, the school emphasizes community involvement, including public education with respect to preventative health, especially for underprivileged…
Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University Secondary Application Tips
Temple University 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. Temple University’s 2018 Secondary Application Essay Questions:…
Stony Brook University School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips
Stony Brook SOM is located in New York. It has a three-part mission that includes research, education and service. For students interested in applying to SBU SOM, you will need to do thorough research and use secondary sources to learn more about the school. If it is one of your top choices or you are…
Tufts University School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips
Tufts describes their fundamental mission as promoting human health, with an emphasis on leadership and clinical care. They are looking for students with a strong background in the fundamentals of science who also want to apply that work in a clinical setting. The school’s curriculum emphasizes patient contact early on along with full integration of…
Duke University Medical School Secondary Application Tips
Duke University’s Medical School is ranked 8th among its peers with a focus on interdisciplinary learning. They aim to use medical research to solve global problems. Duke emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and attention to community health problems. The secondary application questions ask you to consider your role as a physician in global and local communities. Duke…
