Founded in 1891, Washington University School of Medicine (WashU Medicine) is a top-ranked leader in research, education, and patient care. With world-renowned faculty, groundbreaking research (ranked number two in the nation for research funding from the National Institutes of Health in 2024), and nationally recognized clinical programs, WashU Medicine drives bold discoveries that transform health worldwide. 

Infused in WashU Medicine’s three-phase Gateway Curriculum is the EXPLORE program, which helps students align their education with their career interests. Students choose one of four academic pathways: Advocacy/Global Health, Education, Innovation, or Research.  

As WashU Medicine’s mission emphasizes collaboration, bold thinking, and inclusive solutions, applicants will want to provide evidence of their academic excellence as well as their intellectual curiosity, meaningful research experience, and demonstrated understanding of the realities of medicine. 

Table of Contents

• WashU School of Medicine Secondary Essay Tips
• WashU Medicine Admissions Timeline
• WashU Medicine Class Profile

WashU School of Medicine Secondary Essay Tipshttps://www.accepted.com/free-consultation/

Essay #1

Have you already completed your undergraduate education, have you had your college or graduate education interrupted, or do you plan not to be a full-time student during your application year? If yes, describe in chronological order your activities during the time(s) when you were not enrolled as a full-time student. (2000 characters)

Update your resume or CV, and be succinct but comprehensive in your response to this prompt. Capture the diversity of your activities and interests, including all work experiences and volunteer commitments since you graduated. Because this essay is meant to be a chronological retelling, show how each successive role has helped you grow as a person and future physician.

Essay #2

Describe a time or situation where you have been unsuccessful or failed. (3000 characters)

The best responses to this prompt will demonstrate resilience. Select an event or commitment where you clearly performed poorly but did not give up. Choose something you had to repeat or improve on, and then demonstrate how – through hard work – you were ultimately able to succeed. You might write about your first patient interaction, teaching experience, or research experiment. Reflect honestly on the critical feedback you received, how you internalized that, and improvements you made. End your essay on a high note. 

Essay #3 (Optional)

Is there anything else you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions? Some applicants use this space to describe their unique backgrounds, lived experiences, obstacles and/or challenges they faced in their journey to medical school. (3000 characters)

WashU wants to learn about your personal experiences, socioeconomic difficulties, ethnicity-related challenges, and/or any other identity-related matters (yours or your family’s). Also, if you or your family had an unusual life experience, this is the place to share it. Some applicants use this essay to describe obstacles such as complicated access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, and/or identification with a particular culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity – and/or possibly challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic or other issues encountered in preparation for medical school. 

WashU Medicine Admissions Timeline

Date/Period	Event
May 1, 2025	AMCAS primary application opens
May 30, 2025	Earliest date to submit AMCAS primary application
June 27, 2025	Earliest date WashU receives verified AMCAS applications
July to October 2025	Verified applicants invited to complete WashU supplemental application
September 2025 to February 2026	Interview season (virtual, Monday to Friday; schedule via admissions portal after receiving an invitation)
October 17, 2025	Last day to submit AMCAS primary application (MD and MSTP [MD/PhD] applicants)
October 17, 2025	Last day to submit transcripts to AMCAS (MD and MSTP [MD/PhD] applicants)
October 31, 2025	Last day to submit WashU supplemental application (11:59 p.m. CT) (MD and MSTP [MD/PhD] applicants)
November 7, 2025	Last day to submit letters of recommendation
December 2025 to March 2026	Admissions decisions released (via portal and phone calls)
April 2026	Second Look Weekend for admitted applicants
April 15, 2026	Last day WashU notifies applicants of admissions decisions
April 30, 2026	“Plan to Enroll” deadline in AMCAS tool; applicants must hold only one acceptance (waitlist positions allowed)
May 29, 2026*	MSTP (MD/PhD) “Commit to Enroll” deadline in AMCAS tool; applicants must relinquish other waitlist positions
July 8, 2026*	First day of orientation for MSTP (MD/PhD) students
July 13, 2026*	First day of lab rotations for MSTP (MD/PhD) students
July 20, 2026*	MD “Commit to Enroll” deadline in AMCAS tool; applicants must relinquish other waitlist positions
August 10, 2026*	First day of orientation; academic year begins
August 17, 2026*	First day of classes
*Dates subject to change

Source: WashU Medicine website

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with WashU Medicine directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

WashU Medicine Class Profile

Here is a look at the 2024 entering class (data taken from the WashU Medicine website):

Highly qualified applicants: 5,452

Interviewed: 1,026

Students: 124

Women: 65 

Men: 59

MD: 105 MD 

MD/PhD: 19

States represented: 27

Countries represented: 3

Undergrad institutions represented: 65

Merit and/or need-based scholarships: 89%

Full tuition funding: 67%

Mean MCAT total score: 519.19 (96th percentile)

Mean GPA: 3.92

Related Resources

• Get Accepted to the Washington University School of Medicine [Episode 595]
• Do’s and Don’ts of Medical School Recommendation Letters
• Admissions Straight Talk, a podcast for med school applicants