Applying to medical school can be a lengthy process.
Applicants first complete the primary application via the American Medical College Application Service, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service or Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service.
Then, they may be asked to complete school-specific secondary applications. Universities can ask a range of questions about personal or professional experiences or motivations for becoming a physician.
While supplemental essay prompts vary across schools, there are some recurring themes. Here are tips on how to respond to questions related to three of the most common themes on medical school secondary applications.
[Read: Proactively Prepare for Medical School Secondary Essays.]
The “why our school” question. Schools may ask why you have chosen to apply to their institution or how you believe their program fits your career goals.
Do not treat this question like a homework assignment wherein you have to pick out as many features of the school as possible and list them in your response. Instead, choose a few of the opportunities the school offers and relate them to your interests.
For example, if you have devoted significant time to research in your premedical career and the school has a specific research-based curriculum designed for medical students, describe how this program ties into your interests and aspirations.
Alternatively, you may find that the school offers a curriculum that aligns with your learning style. You can describe, for example, how you have thrived when learning in groups in the past and that you wish to attend this program because of the emphasis on group-based learning in the curriculum.
In addition to specifics, it is also a good idea to carefully read the school’s mission statement and its vision to get a clearer sense of the overall philosophy. Incorporating how the school’s mission ties into your overall goals is not just a good way to respond to this question but also a useful way of choosing which schools to apply to.
[Read: Follow 8 Tips to Write Secondary Medical School Essays.]
The diversity question. Many schools will want to know what makes you diverse, how you will contribute diversity to the institution or how your diversity will help you as a physician.
When we think of diversity, the first thing that comes to mind is cultural or ethnic diversity. You can certainly talk about your cultural, ethnic or even religious background to answer this question, but keep in mind that diversity is not limited to your heritage.
It can be diversity in the way of experiences, interests, hobbies or life story. If you majored in computer science as an undergraduate or played cricket, these experiences can make you diverse.
When you respond to this question, go beyond what makes you diverse and outline exactly how this diversity will help you contribute as a medical student or future physician.
One applicant, for example, explained how she is diverse because of the unique experience of growing up with nine younger siblings. She described how she helped her parents raise her siblings and learned to be more responsible as well as a better team player.
Another student who majored in anthropology described how her undergraduate education gave her unique insight into human culture and made her better equipped to care for patients.
[Read: Shine on Secondary Medical School Application Essays.]
The challenge question. One common essay prompt in medical school secondaries asks applicants to describe a challenge, adversity or hardship. The exact nature of the question may vary from school to school.
Read the prompt first and understand exactly what the medical school means by challenge or hardship. The school may be referring to a personal hardship or a professional challenge — or the question may not specify, in which case you can choose either.
Regardless of the specifics of the question, stay positive. Do not make yourself sound like a victim or come across as if you are seeking pity from the reader. Instead, describe the challenging situation in a matter-of-fact fashion and explain what approach you used to overcome the challenge. End by explaining what lessons you took away from the difficult experience and how you grew.
Make sure the situation you are explaining is a true hardship or challenge, such as dealing with a serious illness, losing a loved one or managing financial hardships. Be honest with yourself and ask if the situation truly affected you in a profound way. If so, then it likely constitutes a real hardship.
If you have not experienced serious hardships in your life, you can start your response by acknowledging this. In doing so, you will demonstrate maturity and honesty. Then explain a situation that may have been difficult to deal with, albeit not a serious one.
For example, you may say that you are fortunate because your life has been free of serious adversity, but you broke your leg once and from it you became more sensitive toward the situation that people with physical disabilities face.
As you incorporate ideas into your supplemental essay responses, remember that prompts with a similar theme may be worded differently. Crafting a strong response requires first reading the prompt carefully and understanding the exact wording of the question.
Once you have fully understood the question, consider incorporating the ideas above where they are relevant. Do not forget to be succinct and direct in your responses.
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How to Answer 3 Medical School Secondary Application Questions originally appeared on usnews.com
