Vanderbilt University School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips and Timeline [2025–2026], Class Profile
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine offers a forward-thinking, student-driven medical education grounded in early clinical immersion and a strong commitment to health equity. With its innovative 13-month preclinical curriculum, students begin core clerkships in their second year, allowing them time in their third and fourth years to tailor their education through electives, research, and acting internships. Vanderbilt empowers students to take charge of their own learning journey while equipping them with the clinical, scientific, and leadership skills needed to excel in a changing healthcare landscape.
Vanderbilt seeks motivated, compassionate, and curious applicants who are eager to lead change in healthcare. The school values those who are committed to social impact, systems innovation, and collaborative learning. Ideal candidates demonstrate a readiness to engage in hands-on patient care, advocate for underserved populations, contribute to a diverse and inclusive community, and thrive in a supportive, team-based environment. Applicants who embrace wellness, seek mentorship, and show a genuine desire to shape the future of medicine will find a strong fit at Vanderbilt.
Vanderbilt Secondary Essay Tips
Essay #1
Please reflect on the upbringing, background, and experiences in your life that have shaped who you are as a person and will help define the person you want to be in the future. In other words, what makes you who you are? (800 words maximum)
Family, culture, norms, expectations, and experiences all play a role in shaping who we are as individuals. This is a reflection answer. What in your past has influenced who you are today? You could answer this question in broad strokes, focusing on a value that was constant throughout your childhood, or you could tell a story about a specific event that defined or changed you – with a positive outcome, ultimately. What makes you tick? What makes you the introspective person you are? This prompt aims to help the adcom get to know you by revealing your humanity, empathy, and/or compassion, or your leadership, advocacy, and investment in the well-being of others.
Essay #2
Tell us about a time when you interacted with someone who is different than you. What did you learn? What would you do differently, and if so, what? (600 words maximum)
Meeting someone who is very different from you and moving forward with a bond and an understanding of difference requires being a secure and aware individual. Perhaps you learned something – not only about yourself or the other individual, but also about how to interact to foster a safe and productive exchange for both of you. Or perhaps you learned something about how to build a respectful friendship that includes sharing norms and traditions. Such examples are good starting points for this essay.
Essay #3
It is important to understand that everyone needs help at various times in their lives. Reflecting on the last five years, describe a time you asked for help and what you gained from that experience that has influenced your approach to asking for help. (600 words maximum)
Asking for help, especially for something meaningful, is difficult. Who are the people you can rely on? Who are the resources and contacts you feel comfortable reaching out to in a time of need? What does this say about you? What was the outcome when you reached out to others? This prompt seeks a personal story about vulnerability and finding support, resources, and strength.
Essay #4 (Optional)
If you have completed your undergraduate education, please comment on what you have done or have been doing since graduation. (200 words maximum)
In this essay, you must demonstrate how engaged you are, or have been, during a gap year or two. How has the activity you’ve undertaken improved your immersion in medicine? If you have been drawn into personal responsibilities, such as caring for a family member, this would also be a valid answer.
Vanderbilt 2025-2026 Application Timeline
| Date | Milestone/Event |
| May 30, 2025 | Earliest date to submit AMCAS application |
| Mid-July 2025 | Earliest date to be invited to complete the secondary application (Secondary app and recommendation letters are required for interview consideration.) |
| July 31, 2025 | Earliest date to be invited to interview |
| September 2025-February 2026 | Virtual interviews conducted several times per week (Interview days scheduled upon invitation.) |
| November 1, 2025 | Deadline to submit AMCAS application |
| November 14, 2025 | Deadline for official transcripts to arrive at AMCAS |
| November 16, 2025 | Secondary application deadline (Late submissions may limit chances for admission and scholarships. Early completion is strongly encouraged.) |
| Mid-December 2025 | First wave of admission offers sent via phone and email |
| Late February 2026 | Second wave of admission offers sent |
| Early March 2026 | Third wave of admission offers sent |
| April 2026 | Second Look Weekend for admitted students |
| April 30, 2026 | Deadline to confirm acceptance of admission offer |
Source: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine website
***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with Vanderbilt directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***
Vanderbilt Class Profile
Here is a look at the Vanderbilt MD incoming Class of 2022 (data taken from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine website):
Students: 96
MD: 78
Medical Scientist Training Program: 15
Medical Innovator Development Program: 2
Oral maxillofacial student: 1
States represented: 25
Countries represented: 8
Undergraduate majors represented: 31
Women: 48
Male: 46
Genderqueer or gender non-conforming students: 2
Underrepresented in medicine: 26%
As the former assistant dean of student affairs at the William Beaumont School of Medicine and former director of pre-health advisement and the Postbaccalaureate Certificate Program at Sacred Heart University, Dr. Valerie Wherley brings more than 20 years of success working with pre-health candidates in medicine, dental, vet, PA, PT, OT, exercise science, and nursing. Her clients appreciate her expertise in the holistic admissions process and her patient, thoughtful, strategic, and data-driven working style. Work with Valerie! Schedule a free consultation today!
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