UNC is ranked 5th in primary care education and 25th in research by U.S. News & World Report. UNC strives to reach underserved populations and reduce health care disparities. Their medical students receive leadership training as part of their curriculum.

The main change in UNC’s secondary application is that each essay has been put on a strict diet. Where you previously were allowed 400 words to answer each question, this year’s application allows you only 250 words per response, except for #5 which last year and this year allows for 200 words. Concision is critical.

UNC Chapel Hill Medical School 2022-23 secondary application essay questions

UNC medical school secondary essay #1

Tell us about a peer who is deserving of recognition but whose accomplishments may not be acknowledged adequately. Why do you think their accomplishments have gone relatively unacknowledged? (250 words)

There are many ways to answer this question. The most important aspect of this prompt, however, is that it is a real experience, not hypothetical. Also, avoid blaming the peer here, although you can write with admiration about the peer’s humility or desire to avoid the spotlight. This prompt is in a way elusive, potentially about bias, discrimination or inequity. This prompt could be an awareness on your part about how someone with an exceptional accomplishment or two somehow gets passed by. Is there inherent blindness to equity? A strong response to this prompt would put yourself in the position of advocate, pro-inclusion, pro-diversity, pro-equity. 

UNC medical school secondary essay #2

Please share your thoughts and experiences with navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. This could include the barriers you have faced in applying to medical school, creative ways you have overcome those barriers, feelings of grief and loss, thoughts on the role of healthcare professionals, challenges associated with racial health inequities, or other reflections on living through a global pandemic crisis. (250 words)

Many U.S. medical schools are asking “How were you affected by COVID-19?” If you had to change plans to volunteer, scribe, or complete classes, be sure to say so, efficiently and clearly, and address the value of “learning to adjust” in a time of crisis in your conclusion. If you had plans canceled, segue into how you found new opportunities in serving your community, serving patients, serving public health during this time.

If you or your family were affected personally by COVID-19, this could be a very compelling story to tell here. You don’t have much space to tell your story. Don’t pad it, but do tell it well.

UNC medical school secondary essay #3

How will your values and attitudes foster a positive educational environment and benefit your future patients? Tell us about the sources of those values and attitude (eg family, places you’ve lived in, things you have read, life experiences, etc) (250 words)

How will you improve the quality of an educational culture for all? How have you been engaged in your classes, tutoring, mentoring, lab, and research? How does this translate over into patient care and practice? How did you come to walk this walk? What convinced you to engage with education in a positive way – family, a mentor, an observation, a lesson learned, a book, a retreat, something someone said? 

UNC medical school secondary essay #4

Tell us about a time when you observed or personally experienced biased behavior. What did you do to address this situation or what would you do in the future? Through either situation we are interested in what you learned. (250 words)

Inevitably, we all witness someone’s exclusion, someone’s presence deemed “less than,” someone cast as “invisible,” someone’s value demeaned. You may have acted on the person’s behalf, so tell that story. Or you may have not been able to act as an advocate on the person’s behalf, and state (or own) that reason, but you’ve lived with the memory of this bias for enough time to know that should it happen again you would do x, y or z. Try to pinpoint the x,y or z rather than say “help” or “support” them. What does “help” or “support” look like in a similar scenario?

If you personally experienced biased behavior, briefly describe what you experienced, how you handled it, and what you learned. What would you do differently, if anything? Try to conclude the experience positively, for example ”The lesson I took away from this experience was to always speak up when someone from a marginal group is not given due credit.”

UNC medical school secondary essay #5

What motivates you to apply to the UNC School of Medicine? (200 words)

In this prompt, UNC wants to know that you know who they are, what they value, what their mission is, and how you fit their school of medicine. This is not a moment to explain what UNC SOM can do for you; rather how are you just right for them; pinpoint a few of their key initiatives and how you intend to participate and contribute.

UNC medical school secondary essay for reapplicants

What has changed about you as a candidate since your last application to medical school? What has made you a stronger applicant? (200 words)

As a reapplicant, you are demonstrating the depth of your determination to attend medical school by reapplying. Reiterate that determination in your response to this question. Strategically focus on the improvements you have made to your application – your new GPA, MCAT score, volunteer work, clinical exposure and life experiences. Focus on how since the time of your previous application you have taken deliberate action to improve your accomplishments and experiences to demonstrate you are a stronger and more focused applicant now.

Applying to UNC? Here are some stats:

UNC School of Medicine average MCAT score: 512

UNC School of Medicine average GPA: 3.70

UNC School of Medicine acceptance rate: 4.1%

U.S. News ranks UNC #25 for research and #5 for primary care.

Check out the Med School Selectivity Index for more stats.

Has this blog post helped you feel more confident about approaching your UNC School of Medicine secondary application? We hope so. It’s our mission to help smart, talented applicants like you gain acceptance to your top choice medical school. With so much at stake, why not hire a consultant whose expertise and personalized guidance can help you make your dream come true? We have several flexible consulting options—click here to get started today!

UNC School of Medicine 2022-23 application timeline

AMCAS submission deadline

October 1st

Source: UNC School of Medicine website

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Related Resources:

• The Ultimate Guide to Secondary Essay Questions from Top Med Schools
• Different Dimensions of Diversity, a podcast episode
• Matching Your Values to the Medical School Mission Statement