Get in touch: +1 888 453 5021
Secondary essays aren’t like the med school personal statement. Think of the personal statement as your personal essay that describes who you are. Secondary essays are also personal essays, but they’re more about why you’re applying to the specific medical school.
You can’t really get specific to each medical school in your personal statement, as that would just limit your options. Secondary essays are your chance to do just that.
But I often see students struggle to get really personal in these essays. They say something like, “I want to attend your school because of your esteemed faculty.” That won’t cut it. You need to dig deep and research the school’s unique offerings. Do they offer a clinic you can’t find elsewhere? Do they have a special curriculum that aligns with your learning style?
Whenever possible, go deeper. The more specific you are in these essays, the better.
In this guide, I’ll explain exactly how to write compelling secondary essays for medical school, including the different types of prompts you can expect to find.
You typically receive secondary essay prompts after you submit your primary application. Strong secondary essay responses should be specific to each school. Unlike your personal statement, these essays should be tailored to each school you’re applying to.
The first step to writing a strong secondary essay is reviewing successful essays. You can use these essays as inspiration for what you should write about. Don’t copy these essays exactly, as your response needs to be in your own words.
You can find out what worked for each applicant and how they structured their response to sound compelling. The most important rule of thumb for these essays is to reference unique selling points at each school, such as clinics, labs, or research opportunities that no other school offers.
We have a 100+ secondary essay database full of essays that helped applicants get accepted to medical school.
After seeing what worked for other students, outline your essays. The best way to prepare for these essays is to know exactly what you want to say. Use this time to outline a rough draft of how you’d like to respond to each prompt. Different schools might send you a different number of prompts to respond to, so you could be writing one or five essays, depending on the school you applied to.
Jot down all the bullet points you’d like to highlight for each prompt you need to respond to. Keep this outline brief and straightforward. Don’t spend a ton of time on logistics in this step, since it’s just to get your thoughts onto a Google Doc.
One-on-one med school application support can ensure your essays are clear and compelling. Work with our expert admissions advisors to write strong secondary essays for any medical school you already applied to.
The most important thing to keep in mind when you’re on the writing portion is answering the prompt’s question. Some prompts ask open-ended questions, but your answer should be straightforward and succinct.
Don’t fall into the trap of writing so much that you stray from what the prompt is actually asking you.
In our secondary application webinar, Dr. Neil Jairath, an expert advisor at Inspira Advantage and graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, shares his tips for writing your secondary essays.
“Use a clear and concise writing style in your secondary essays,” he says. “You want to be a lot more straightforward and to the point; avoid complex or technical language, and eliminate unnecessary words or sentences that are too generic. Think of the psychology of your reader. Small chunks of paragraphs allow your reader’s mind to navigate much more easily.”
Your secondary essays should communicate your main points efficiently, making it easy for admissions readers to understand your argument. Avoiding unnecessary words or generic statements ensures every sentence has a purpose and strengthens your overall essay.
For example, a strong opening could be, “I became a certified EMT to improve patient outcomes in underserved communities, where I learned the importance of teamwork, quick decision-making, and empathy.” This immediately communicates the applicant’s purpose and impact.
A weaker approach would be, “I always liked helping people, so I decided to do an EMT course. It was really interesting, and I learned a lot of things that could be helpful in the future.” This version is vague and unfocused, and it doesn't clearly connect the experience to your motivation or future goals.
Use specific examples from your clinical work, volunteering, research, leadership, or personal experiences to show growth over time.
Instead of writing that you’re “passionate about helping patients,” describe a specific moment that shows this, such as leading a patient education initiative at a community health center or supporting a family through a complex care process. These examples add depth and credibility to your essay.
Dr. Elle Reason, an admissions expert at Inspira Advantage and graduate of Duke University School of Medicine, shares her tips on secondary essays:
Every example should also tie back to your main message. In our medical application webinar, Dr. Joonhyuk Lee, a radiology resident and admissions counselor at Inspira Advantage, explains that coming back to your main argument is key. Each smaller story should connect back to your larger narrative.
Tying every point to your central theme makes your essay sound cohesive and genuine. It reinforces the qualities you’ve already talked about in other application components.
For example, if your theme is improving patient care in underserved communities, each experience you describe, from volunteering to shadowing, should explicitly show how it develops that theme. A strong example might explain how coordinating follow-up care at a free clinic deepened your understanding of healthcare disparities.
A weaker example would describe a volunteering experience without connecting it back to your overarching narrative. This would likely leave the reader unsure of its relevance to your story.
For each experience you talk about, explain what you learned, how you grew, and how it will help you as a future physician. Admissions committees care much more about your actual thought process than the experience itself. They want to see if you can turn an experience into a reason why you’d make a great physician.
In our application narrative webinar, Dr. Austin Johnson, a Stanford School of Medicine graduate and Inspira Advantage admissions expert, explains how to contextualize these experiences.
“You want to hit that sweet spot of a cohesive, unique narrative. Contextualize those events within personal-professional growth. Share not only how you think about each event in your narrative but also how that will impact you in the future.”
Strong secondary essays show how each experience fits into an overarching narrative.
For example, instead of stating that you volunteered at a clinic, explain how the experience taught you to navigate patient interactions, strengthened your empathy, and motivated your commitment to healthcare equity. Bad essays list activities without reflecting on them, which can make the essay sound disingenuous or immature.
When you’re done writing your first draft, read your essay out loud to catch any mistakes or awkward sentences. Ask a friend, mentor, or professor to read your essay and leave any edits. A fresh pair of eyes is usually better than your own.
However, if you’re in a time crunch, you can edit it yourself. Just make sure you catch all the mistakes before you submit it.
For more in-depth tips on secondary essays from our admissions experts, check out the video below:
Secondary essay prompts can take many different forms. Some ask you to emphasize your background, some want to know more about why you’re applying to the school, and some want to read how you’ve overcome challenges in your life.
Whatever the case, your responses should be both specific to you and the school that you’re applying to. It should also tie back to the application narrative that you already explained in your primary application.
For example, if you highlighted that you’re passionate about working with underserved populations, use a specific moment to show how you came to this conclusion. Maybe you volunteered for a homeless shelter and saw firsthand how direct access to healthcare can change lives. You’re applying to that specific medical school because they value supporting underserved populations.
In the section below, I’ll cover exactly what types of secondary essays you can expect to see after AMCAS verifies your primary application.
Diversity essays are the most common type of secondary essay. Medical schools want students from different backgrounds, identities, and life experiences. These essays should focus on your background and how that will make you a great physician. For example, if you lived in Spain and moved to the U.S. and learned English but now want to work with the Spanish diaspora, this should be the main thrust of your diversity essay.
Keep in mind that every applicant is diverse, no matter your background. You can highlight your diversity, even if you aren’t an immigrant or have a disadvantaged socioeconomic background.
Sources of diversity may include:
When writing your essay, focus on what you’ve genuinely experienced, what you learned, and how those experiences shaped your perspective, empathy, and approach to patient care.
Question: Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health and crucial to the education of tomorrow’s physicians. Reflect on how you would embody these values in your education or practice. (250 words max.)
Response:
“Since childhood, I have had a passion for Spanish and the different Spanish-speaking cultures. My advanced Spanish classes in college emphasized cultural studies rather than grammar. As a result, these courses taught me to understand, appreciate, and respect other cultures. As a student at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, I would use these lessons in my peer interactions. In discussions, I would be excited to hear about my classmates’ perspectives on different topics. These perspectives would guide me as I create culturally appropriate educational materials and treatment plans for my future patients. With Spanish-speaking patients, my ability to speak Spanish will add to my cultural sensitivity and help me advocate for their health.
Currently, the doctors I work with at Riverside Family Health Clinic model respect for others’ socioeconomic status. Many patients come through the clinic unable to afford their medications. Both doctors work with these patients to find more affordable treatment plans. As a future doctor, I will strive to do the same. Respecting others’ socioeconomic status can also apply to my peer interactions at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health. With fellow medical students from low-income households, I would focus on ensuring they have access to the same opportunities as other students so their socioeconomic status does not hinder their education and training. In sum, my goal is to promote inclusion among people of different cultures and income levels to reduce disparities in healthcare.”
The adversity essay is another common secondary essay prompt that allows admissions committees to assess your resilience and capacity for growth. It’s less about comparing hardships and more about reflecting on your own challenges and what you learned from them.
With an adversity essay prompt, admissions committees want to see how you manage stress, overcome obstacles, and adapt to difficult situations, which are all vital skills you need as a physician.
In an adversity essay, you can address experiences such as:
Focus on describing the challenge, your response, the outcome, and the lessons learned. This demonstrates self-awareness, problem-solving, and the ability to persevere through adversity.
Question: Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience.
Response:
“In my third year of college, I was trained alongside a fourth-year student to become co-lab managers for our research lab. Even though we had joined the lab at the same time and were both selected by our PI due to our potential as leaders, it became clear that he did not see me as a partner. He would assign busywork to me, take full charge of larger projects despite my efforts to be involved, and would not ask for my opinion when forming plans for the lab.
This made it extremely challenging for me to perform the duties my PI expected from me as a lab manager. Instead of confronting him directly, I decided to show that I was fully capable and deserving of my position through my actions. I slowly took on bigger responsibilities while fulfilling the tasks he gave me. I asked my PI if I could spearhead separate projects which were later expanded on to be prepared for a patent and publication.
Although I’ve gained confidence and he now refers to me as his co-lab manager, I realized that addressing him directly earlier instead of “keeping the peace” would have enabled us to manage the lab together more effectively. This lesson has stuck with me and I now respectfully speak up if I feel strongly about an issue as having the courage to do so is important to me as a future physician.”
These essay prompts are trying to learn more about why you’re applying to this school specifically. In these essays, you should use specific factors about each school, such as unique clinics, labs, professors, etc., that you can’t find anywhere else. The more specific you are here, the better.
Research the school’s website and mission statements, or, even better, speak with students and alumni to identify programs, initiatives, or values that resonate with you. If you can find the info with a quick Google search, it’s probably not specific enough. Click into several different pages until you find something specific that excites you about the school that you can then use as a talking point.
Question: Why have you chosen to apply to the Georgetown University School of Medicine and how do you think your education at Georgetown will prepare you to become a physician for the future? (3,000 characters)
Response:
“I am passionate about delivering healthcare that is rooted in compassion, which is one of the main values of Georgetown University School of Medicine. Since experiencing the power of compassion on a service trip to Guatemala, I have strived to show compassion to others in all aspects of my life, including my experiences in healthcare. Several of these experiences, such as shadowing at an Amish clinic and working as an ophthalmic assistant, have allowed me to practice compassion in patient interactions. As a result, I have witnessed how compassion creates trust in patient relationships, leading to better health outcomes. I would be excited to continue learning about compassion-based healthcare at Georgetown University School of Medicine through the school’s tradition of Cura Personalis in order to become a physician who actively listens to her patients and advocates for them in culturally and financially appropriate ways.
I am also passionate about working to reduce healthcare disparities within underserved communities, which is another value of Georgetown University School of Medicine. My time in Guatemala first showed me how powerful seemingly small actions can be and how different access to basic resources, such as food and healthcare, is between rural areas in Guatemala and the United States. Since this trip, I have continued focusing on underserved communities through work at an Amish clinic in Summer 2019 and research with Ohio State’s School of Public Health in 2020 on policies and interventions that have improved the health of indigenous women and children in Latin America. Furthermore, in my current role as an ophthalmic assistant, I use my Spanish proficiency to help our patients who prefer Spanish or speak little English feel more comfortable and involved in their healthcare. As a student at Georgetown University School of Medicine, I would love to volunteer at the Hoya and Asylum clinics as well as at other local sites to help some of Washington, D.C.’s most vulnerable residents receive quality healthcare and lead healthier lives. I am also interested in learning about how overlapping minority identities contribute to poor health by taking interdisciplinary courses with Georgetown’s Medical Humanities Initiative. With Washington, D.C.’s diversity, being a student at Georgetown University School of Medicine would place me in an ideal learning environment as I work towards becoming a compassionate physician who is focused on serving her community and reducing health disparities.”
Many students take a gap year after their bachelor’s degree before matriculating into medical school. There are many reasons for this, and the medical school you’re applying to wants to understand why you might’ve taken one.
In this essay prompt, explain how you’ve spent your gap year and how these experiences will contribute to your success in medical school and beyond. Some questions to address include:
Connect your gap year experiences to your intended field of study. Even if they’re not directly related, highlight how they strengthened skills like time management, communication, teamwork, or resilience to show your readiness for medical school.
Question: Has there been/will there be a gap between achieving your bachelor’s degree and expected matriculation into medical school? If there has been or will be a gap in your education, please describe how you have/will use this time. If not, please enter N/A. (750 Characters)
Response:
“Since May 2022, I have been working full-time as an ophthalmic assistant for two physicians at Miami Valley Eye Center, an ophthalmology clinic in Dayton, Ohio. I will continue working here during the upcoming year. With each patient, I perform the initial work-up to obtain their medical history and “eye vitals.” After the doctors examine the patient, I update the patient’s record. I also perform various in-clinic procedures, including corneal pachymetry, tonometry, visual field testing, and OCT scans. In addition, I help train the new ophthalmic assistants that our office hires. From this job, I have learned about the values I want to exemplify as a doctor, such as patience, compassion, inclusivity, and cultural sensitivity.”
This is one of the most open-ended medical school secondary prompts. Think of it as an opportunity to share anything about yourself that isn’t fully represented elsewhere in your application.
You can use this space to highlight experiences, skills, or achievements that haven’t appeared in other essays. This could include volunteer work, research, or even accomplishments outside of medicine, as long as you can connect them to your growth as a candidate.
You don't need to answer this question unless the prompt requires it. If your application already shows your strengths and candidacy clearly, leave it blank rather than force an answer.
Question: If you wish to update or expand upon your activities, you may provide additional information below. (500 words)
Response:
“My favorite teachers in school have always been the ones who advocated for me, pushed me to believe in myself, never judged me, and encouraged independence while offering help if needed. When I first took on a leadership role as a senior member of my high school dance competition team, I strived to exemplify these qualities. Whenever a younger member needed help with executing a specific step, I created a judgment-free environment while providing advice and encouraging a growth mindset.
To improve as a leader, I applied and was accepted to the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership, which focuses on developing leadership skills. At the organization’s workshops, I learned the importance of recognizing people’s efforts and contributions in a team setting, no matter how small.
In college, I was a Barre instructor at Ohio State University’s recreation center. Once or twice a week, I guided my students through an hour of exercises while teaching proper alignment and muscle engagement. During my classes, I participated alongside my students so they could see that we were on the same team while struggling through the burn. I also accommodated students with varying abilities by providing modifications for injuries or movement limitations. Although most students did not have a dance background, I praised their effort and encouraged continual improvement.
During my time at Ohio State University, I also served as Vice President and then President of the Ballroom Dance Club in my junior and senior years. In these roles, I became the club’s instructor during one of our two weekly practices. When teaching a new move, I demonstrated it first, then broke down the steps for leaders and followers. After practicing individually, I had club members pair up. At each practice, I answered questions and ensured everyone felt supported. Occasionally, I received feedback from members on ways to improve as an instructor, which I thanked them for and implemented immediately.
I use the same strategies now when training new ophthalmic assistants at my current job. Whenever they make mistakes, I do not scold them but use it as an opportunity for learning. As a result, the individuals I train feel comfortable asking for help and view me as a supportive teammate. I hope my future team members and patients see me not only as a leader but also as a cheerleader for their success and a mentor who encourages critical thinking, learning from mistakes, and self-confidence.”
Here is an example of a “bad” secondary essay, and how we transformed it into a good one.
Question: Share with us your story. This is your opportunity to allow us to know how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words)
“I was born in February 2000, two years after my older brother. I was very energetic as a child, and my parents signed me up for ballet, tap, and gymnastics. I liked dancing a lot and continued taking classes through middle and high school. In school, I enjoyed learning languages, especially Spanish. I also liked science and was interested in learning how the human body works. In middle school, I did my first school musical, which I enjoyed, and I did a few more plays in high school. I spent many hours at my dance studio each week and kept improving my skills.
During the summer after my sophomore year, I participated in a program at Georgetown University about medicine. I learned about diseases, surgeries, and patient diagnosis. It was a very interesting experience and made me want to learn more about medicine. I also participated in a Spanish exchange program in Guatemala and went on a service trip there. I helped renovate schools and teach English. These experiences made me think more about helping underserved communities.
In college, I majored in Spanish. I also shadowed at an Amish clinic, which showed me that there are healthcare disparities in certain communities. I did some research on vaccination rates and on programs to help women and children in Latin America. I learned some new things, but I am still learning a lot about healthcare and how to make a difference.
Currently, I work as an ophthalmic assistant. I interact with patients and try to give good care. I also help train new staff, which has been a good experience. I have learned to communicate with patients and be patient with them. I want people to know that I am bilingual, like helping others, and want to become a doctor to help underserved communities.
In my free time, I continue to dance and practice Spanish. I also like volunteering and learning new things about science and medicine. These experiences have shaped who I am and what I want to do in the future. I hope that as a medical student, I can continue to grow and help people through medicine.”
“After two years with only a quiet son, my parents welcomed me into their family one snowy February day in 2000. Soon after my birth, my parents realized that I was going to be a loud, energetic child. My mother enrolled me in ballet, tap, and gymnastics classes at the age of three, and I quickly fell in love with these activities.
When I started preschool and kindergarten, my French teacher introduced me to another activity I loved: learning languages. It was not until I started elementary school that I developed an affinity for Spanish. In middle school, I continued doing ballet and explored other styles, such as jazz and contemporary. My middle school education strengthened my knowledge of Spanish grammar and made me realize my passion for science, especially biology. In eighth grade, I branched out from my typical extracurricular activities and participated in the school musical.
In high school, I continued exploring theater through classes. During my sophomore year, I participated in both the fall and winter school plays. I also continued dancing, easily spending around 20 hours per week at my studio. Academically, my science and Spanish knowledge expanded even more throughout high school. My passion for science sparked my curiosity in becoming a doctor because I wanted to learn more about how the body works and what causes disease.
The summer after my sophomore year, I participated in the National Student Leadership Conference for Medicine, a two-week program at Georgetown University where I dissected organs, attended lectures on diseases and surgeries, diagnosed simulation patients based on their symptoms, and more. With regard to Spanish, my school noticed my language skills and selected me for an exchange program with another school in Guatemala. After my junior year, I spent a month in Guatemala taking classes and exploring the culture. I also went to Guatemala in my junior year during Spring Break with a small group of peers to do community service, such as renovating schools and teaching English. This trip sparked my desire to serve others, especially those who are underserved, and taught me about the power of compassion.
For college, I went to Ohio State University and majored in Spanish. After my freshman year, my shadowing experience at an Amish clinic inspired me to help underserved communities with health disparities through medicine. I continued exploring health disparities through academic coursework and research projects involving vaccination rates in an underserved clinic and interventions to improve the health of indigenous women and children in Latin America.
In my current job as an ophthalmic assistant, I have the ability to practice the type of patient interactions I strive to have in the future. These interactions are rooted in trust, advocacy, and cultural sensitivity. As an applicant to medical school, I hope to be recognized as an intelligent, bilingual woman with a clear goal of addressing health disparities through research and compassionate healthcare.”
Here’s a table summarizing what we changed, why, and how it strengthened the essay:
For even more advice on secondary applications, take a look at this webinar below:
The best way to write a secondary essay is to review successful examples from applicants who were accepted to medical school. We have a free database with 100+ essays from real students who worked with our admissions experts and got into medical school. Take a look at the full directory and see what made them successful with our free tool.
You can expect to receive your secondary applications in late June through July, which is shortly after AMCAS verifies your primary application. The ideal turnaround time is within two weeks of receiving them, but one week is even better. If you’re applying to 25+ schools, this can mean a lot of writing in a one-week period.
No, not every medical school offers a secondary application, so you might not have to write an essay for each school you applied to. Other medical schools may require an interview before you can complete a secondary application.
Yes, you can repurpose essays with common themes such as diversity or leadership, but you need to tailor them to each school. Use the same core ideas or anecdotes, but reference the school’s specific programs, values, or mission to make each essay unique. Admissions officers notice generic answers, so customization is key to demonstrating genuine interest.
Reapplicants should acknowledge past weaknesses honestly but briefly and then focus on what they’ve learned and how they’ve improved. Highlight concrete steps you’ve taken, such as retaking courses, gaining clinical experience, or strengthening research skills, to show growth and readiness for medical school.
Currently, you don't need to disclose AI use unless the school specifically asks. However, your essay needs to be written in your own voice. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) says you can use AI as a tool for brainstorming, editing, or clarity, not for creating content that misrepresents your work.
Dr. Jonathan Preminger was the original author of this article. Snippets of his work may remain.
.svg)
