Wake Forest University School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Tips and Timeline [2025–2026], Class Profile
The Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina offers three collaborative learning campuses: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, and the Clarkson Campus. As the academic core of Atrium Health, Wake Forest is one of the nation’s most selective MD programs. It prepares future healthcare leaders through innovative education, patient-centered care, and research that directly translates into improved outcomes. Graduates are equipped with both technical excellence and compassion to advance health for all.
The Wake Ready curriculum is divided into three phases: Foundations, Immersion, and Individualization. Unique curricular threads – such as patient safety, social determinants of health, histopathology, dermatology, radiology, and pharmacology – are woven throughout the program to provide a comprehensive understanding of medicine.
Think you may be a good fit for the Wake Forest School of Medicine? You could be if you possess academic excellence, leadership, and a service-driven mindset.
Table of Contents:
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine Secondary Essay Tips
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine Application Timeline
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine Class Profile
Wake Forest University School of Medicine Secondary Essay Tips
Essay #1
The mission of our academic health system is to improve health for all. Consider your abilities, insights, and previous experiences and then tell us about your potential to help improve health for all. (200 words)
When responding to this essay prompt, focus on your understanding of equity and how it has shaped your perspective. Have you encountered experiences involving health inequity, access to healthcare, and/or social determinants of health? This is your opportunity to share a compelling yet concise story, such as a personal challenge you faced or an event you witnessed during volunteer activities, work, or school.
The majority of your essay should emphasize how you acted on this experience and the perspectives you developed as a result. Did this experience inspire you to promote equity? If so, how? For example, did you mentor underrepresented K-12 students or help establish a mobile healthcare clinic for underserved communities?
Your conclusion should align with the mission of the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s MD program, which emphasizes “educating future physicians [who are] empowered to transform health for all.” Did your experience shape the physician you want to become? Consider the main takeaway you want readers to remember from your response and how it reflects your commitment to advancing equity in healthcare.
Essay #2
Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words)
Reflect on a challenge that pushed your limits – one that was incredibly difficult to endure but taught you a valuable life lesson. Begin your essay by providing the backstory of your challenge. Why and how did it push your limits? What were your concerns, and what aspects of the situation made you uncomfortable? Your challenge can come from your personal life, professional experiences, extracurricular activities, or other life events.
The majority of your essay should focus on how you overcame the challenge. Share the steps you took to navigate it. What problem-solving techniques did you use? Did you address the challenge independently, or did you rely on a support system (e.g., a friend, mentor, relative, or co-worker)? This is an opportunity to reflect on your growth and the life lessons you gained from the experience.
Conclude your essay by summarizing the lessons you learned and explaining how the experience will impact you moving forward. Did this challenge make you more resilient, adaptable, or confident? Perhaps it taught you to speak up after witnessing an unethical situation or helped you develop a stronger sense of perseverance. Focus on how this growth will shape your future endeavors.
Essay #3
From your list of “most meaningful experiences” on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? (200 words)
What matters most is selecting an experience that was transformative for you and clearly reflects why you decided to pursue medicine. Your essay should align with your personal statement and the overarching theme of your primary application. Everyone’s journey to medicine is different, and there is no “correct” answer here.
Begin your essay by providing context. Was this experience a volunteer activity, a job, or something that occurred during college or afterward? Did it involve someone in your life, such as a mentor, who shaped this experience? It’s perfectly acceptable to mention a non-medical experience as long as it played a pivotal role in your decision to pursue medicine.
The rest of your essay should focus on how the experience was transformative. Why did it mean so much to you? What did it teach you about yourself? How did it solidify your decision to become a physician? Did it help shape the type of physician you aspire to be? Consider mentioning skills you developed during this experience – such as compassion, investigative research abilities, or interpersonal communication skills – that will help you care for your future patients.
Essay #4
Please share an experience that demonstrates how you have collaborated with others. (200 words)
Share an example of an experience that not only had a significant impact on you but also taught you a new skill or life lesson that will benefit you during medical school and beyond. Provide context by describing the people you collaborated with. Were they coworkers, classmates, volunteers, or others? Explain the team’s goal and your role within it. Were you the key leader or a logistics coordinator, or did you hold another important position?
Describe the outcomes you and your team achieved. How did you contribute to the team’s success? For instance, did you assign tasks to team members, foster effective communication, or collect data for a research project? Be sure to connect how this experience has prepared you for success as a medical student at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine and in your future career as a physician.
Essay #5
Describe your future goal(s). Reflect on your past experiences and describe how these experiences will shape your goal(s). (200 words).
Think about the type of physician you aspire to become. Which patient population do you want to serve? Do you plan to focus on improving the health of marginalized communities? Would you prefer to practice medicine in a rural, suburban, or urban environment? Is there a specialty you are passionate about?
When reflecting on your past experiences, consider which extracurricular and volunteer opportunities you most enjoyed. Do you envision a career in academic medicine? Is there a research team or project at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine that aligns with your goals and can help you achieve that dream? Are there specific clubs at the school that connect to your previous volunteer experiences? Be sure to highlight how the school’s program will support you in reaching your professional goals.
Essay #6
Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. (150 words)
When reflecting on your past experiences, take time to consider which volunteer, research, or extracurricular opportunities you most enjoyed. Try to connect these experiences to the Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s mission statement. Reflect on your preferred learning style and explain how the school’s curriculum is a good fit for you. What is unique about its curriculum that will help you thrive? Are there specific clubs you’re interested in that are not available at other medical schools? Is there a research group or project you hope to join? Be sure to thoroughly research what the Wake Forest University School of Medicine offers and emphasize how its program will support you in achieving your goals.
Additionally, having an established support system is incredibly important. If you have friends or family in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, mention how this support system will contribute to your success as a medical student at Wake Forest.
Essay #7
Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words)
Share something distinctive that showcases your personality, and provide specific examples. For instance, do you have a unique hobby, such as crocheting hats for neonatal patients or creating a neighborhood community garden? Are you passionate about volunteering in your community? Do you possess a special talent or have an interesting life experience, such as being a comedian or a perfumer or having traveled to all seven continents?
Wake Forest University School of Medicine Application Timeline
| Date | Event |
| May 27, 2025 | AMCAS application open for submission |
| June 27, 2025 | Verified AMCAS applications sent to Wake Forest University School of Medicine (Note: Secondary applications may not be sent until mid-July) |
| July 12, 2025 | Latest MCAT considered for Early Decision applicants |
| July 31, 2025 | Latest CASPer test considered for Early Decision applicants |
| August 1, 2025 | Early Decision Program deadline |
| August 2025 to January 2026 | Interview season |
| September 13, 2025 | Latest MCAT considered |
| October 1, 2025 | Early Decision Program offers of acceptance made |
| October 15, 2025 | AMCAS application deadline |
| October 15, 2025 to February 2026 | Regular Decision offers of acceptance made |
| November 13, 2025 | Latest CASPer test considered |
| November 30, 2025 | Wake Forest University School of Medicine secondary application due |
| November 30, 2025 | Letters of evaluation due |
| February 2026 | “Plan to Enroll” option becomes available |
| April 15, 2026 | Accepted students narrow offers to three medical schools (if applicable) |
| April 30, 2026 | “Commit to Enroll” option becomes available; applicants must narrow to one offer |
| 21 days prior to orientation (TBD) | “Commit to Enroll” deadline |
Source: Wake Forest School of Medicine website
***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with the Wake Forest School of Medicine directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***
Wake Forest University School of Medicine Class Profile
Here is a look at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine Class of 2028 profile (data taken from the Wake Forest University School of Medicine website):
Applicants: 12,139
Interviewed: 498
New matriculants: 145
- North Carolina: 47
- Out of state: 98
Average age: 24
Average MCAT score: 511
Average GPA: 3.83
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