examples of secondary school essay

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Secondary Essay Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Session 242.

Ever after you submit your primary application, the work isn’t over. Secondary essays are still a huge part of your medical school application.

On this podcast, I’ve covered a lot of different topics related to the application process, including personal statements, applications in general, and interview prep. But I’ve never actually talked specifically about writing your secondaries until now, so I want to touch on this topic today. Specifically, we’ll discuss the most common mistakes students make when it comes to secondary essays.

[01:22] First Biggest Mistake: Not Writing Them Sooner

One of the biggest mistakes students make is waiting for the request for secondary essays to come before they start working on them. If you’ve submitted your primary application and you’re not writing your secondary essays, then you’re behind.

Some schools will monitor how long it takes you to send a secondary back and they will use this as a gauge on your interest to get into their school. If it takes you three weeks to respond, while their average response time is a week and a half, chances are that you could be put lower down the list.

The implications of rolling admissions for medical school

Remember that the medical school admissions process is a rolling admissions process, which means that as soon as applications open, the clock is ticking. This is different than applying to college, which is a deadline-driven process. As long as your application is in by the deadline, you’re just as good as everybody else that applied. This is not the same with medical schools.

So the earlier you turn in your primary application and the sooner you’re done with your secondary essays, the sooner your MCAT score is in, the sooner your letters of recommendation are in, and the sooner your application is complete, you have a better chance that the schools will look at your application while they still have plenty of interview spots open.

I cover this in more depth in Session 281 of The Premed Years :

Applying to medical school is like a game of musical chairs . Your chances of getting a seat becomes slimmer as the application cycle goes on… A s you get later in the cycle, there’s a decreasing number of seats available and an increasing number of applicants in the pool. This is why you need to apply early and understand how putting off the MCAT can affect you.

Pre-write your secondary essays

If you’re asking how to pre-write your essays when the schools haven’t sent them to you yet, the good news is most schools don’t change their essays from year to year. There are a few exceptions, but most schools don’t.

We have compiled a  Medical School Secondary Essay Database , with prompts from all the medical schools. Look up the schools you’re applying to, and if your primary application is submitted, get started on your secondaries.

You will find that writing secondary essays gets easier and easier over time because a lot of them are around the same theme.

[05:22] Second Biggest Mistake: Letting Them Sit Unopened

The second biggest mistake students make with secondaries is letting them sit on your desk or unopened in the mailbox. Let’s say you scheduled a vacation in the middle of application season for some reason, and your secondaries are just sitting there for a couple of weeks while you’re traveling. You can’t do this.

[Related episode: Does It Matter How Fast I Turn Around My Secondary Essays? ]

[06:18] A Deep Dive into Secondary Essays

You will find out that a lot of the questions are very similar from school to school. A lot of them are going to ask about diversity or why you’re applying to a DO school, so you need to be prepared to answer these.

Some students will try to write answers for broad types of questions, like write a generic answer for “diversity questions” or “what will I bring to the class” type questions. Don’t try to answer question batches like that. Just answer the secondary prompts from one school, then move on to the next school. Don’t try to work outside of a school framework.

[07:25] Third Biggest Mistake: Not Answering the Question

One common feedback I give to students I work with is that they’re not answering the question. They told a beautiful narrative about this patient they saved, but they didn’t answer the question the school was looking for. You have to answer the questions.

Most of the questions are asking you something very specific, so keep that in mind and make sure you’re answering the question. I recommend you get feedback from somebody. Ask them to review whether or not you’re answering the question asked.

[08:49] Fourth Biggest Mistake: Being Too Generic

A common question for secondary essays is, “What about our school makes you want to go here?” A lot of students can get so generic here that I can just copy and paste it from secondary to secondary for every school that asks the same question.

You need to say something specific about the school. You need to do some research and come up with a list of programs at each of the medical schools, or student organizations at each of the medical schools.

Identify what is unique about that school

If you want to join a specific program at that school because of the impact you see it having, talk about that. Mention the program by name. Mention very specific types of things or types of research. Mention the mission statement of the school or the program.

Do your research. A lot of medical schools may look alike after a while, but do your research and see if there’s anything specific that you can draw out to help you write your secondaries.

[11:02] Fifth Biggest Mistake: Repeating the Same Story

Students tend to repeat the same stories from their primary application on their secondary. Don’t tell the same story. Even if they’re asking for your most meaningful clinical experience, you can talk about the same experience, but don’t tell the same story.

Some essays will specifically tell you not to repeat anything that’s in your primary application. If that is the case, then you can’t even talk about the same experience. You have to figure something else out. It can be frustrating when schools do that, especially when they ask about your most meaningful clinical experience and you already put that in your personal statement.

Listing extracurriculars for your secondary application

Some schools will ask for a list of extracurricular activities. In that case, it is okay to just copy and paste from the list you created for your primary application. You don’t need to re-work everything and re-frame things and tell new stories. Just copy and paste it. Some schools just want it in their secondary and not in the primary application.

[Related episode: 5 Common Mistakes Premeds Make With Extracurriculars ]

[13:03] Sixth Biggest Mistake: Copying and Pasting Without Editing

Do not get caught copying and pasting without editing. You don’t want to be that student who sends a secondary essay to NYU that says “I would love to be part of Columbia Medical School next year.”

Be sure to edit it and have somebody look over your stuff. Copy and paste all you want, but then put it aside for the day, and go back and check the next day. Make sure all of the names have been changed and everything is up to date before you send it off.

Links and Other Resources

• Check out our Medical School Secondary Application Essay Database .
• Check out our Secondary Essay Editing service .
• Related episode: Does It Matter How Fast I Turn Around My Secondary Essays?
• Related episode: What Does the Med School Application Timeline Look Like?
• Need MCAT Prep?  Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” for 10% off Next Step full-length practice tests or “MSHQTOC” for $50 off MCAT tutoring or the Next Step MCAT Course at  Blueprint MCAT (formerly Next Step Test Prep) !

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Your Medical School Secondary Essay Guide with 4 Real-Life Examples

Posted in: Applying to Medical School

Table of Contents

If you meet a medical program’s basic requirements and their AdComs think you deserve a second look, you’ll be asked to fill out a secondary application. It’s the first exciting step in the process after submitting your primary application that suggests a medical school may be interested in what you can bring to their program.

AdComs use secondary applications to learn more about you and determine which applicants are the best fit for their programs. Secondaries are generally comprised of a series of questions that you’ll answer with short essays.

Want a head start? Check out Prospective Doctor’s database of school-specific prompts for the 2024/25 application cycle .

You should write personalized responses to each program’s secondary essay prompts, but since many of these prompts fit into several basic categories, it’s not quite as daunting a task as writing your personal statement for the primary application. These often fit into broad topics like:

• Why you took a gap year
• Leadership experience
• Types of adversity you have faced
• Why you’re interested in a particular institution
• “Anything else we should know?”

Keep reading for tips on how to write effectively, which essays to prioritize, and how quick your timeline may be. By following these tips, you can effectively showcase your strengths and interests to medical schools and increase your chances of being accepted.

Want expert help to ace your secondaries and med school interviews? Join the 92% of our clients who get into med school.

Secondary essay examples for inspiration.

Below, I’ve provided four medical school secondary essay examples. They cover a wide range of subjects and are all real-life examples from our coaching clients, and each student was later accepted by the requesting medical program.

Prompt: Please briefly discuss your research experience. (500 words max)

Essay: Our current study investigates activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) as a biomarker for spinal cord injury and stroke. We found specific induction of ATF3 in rodent CNS neurons and significant increase in human serum ATF3 within one day of injury or stroke. ATF KO mice also had worsened neurological outcome post-injury, suggesting that ATF3 has some neuroprotective function. As a staff research associate, I use tissue samples to examine the expression of ATF3 on an individual cellular level. To determine correlation between ATF3 levels, AIS score, and AIS improvement of SCI patients, I collect blood samples to quantify biomarker levels. Preliminary data from our ongoing study also demonstrates a positive correlation between serum ATF3 and injury severity in rodents and humans. To design experiments and present my findings, I use analytical skills and practice effective communication. 

In undergrad, our lab focused on the nature and function of fear. One challenge in treating PTSD is understanding why some individuals develop disorders while others do not. Using stress-enhanced fear learning procedures, we studied fear-learning as well as voluntary alcohol intake in rodents. The ability to identify potential factors that promote susceptibility will serve as a valuable tool to examine proposed risk factors of PTSD and work toward preventing and reducing the severity of certain mental illnesses. In this role, I strengthened my benchwork, animal handling, and critical thinking skills. 

I also worked as a research assistant in a developmental psychology lab at UCLA. Project PEAR investigated executive functioning by assessing how children sustain attention and persist during challenging tasks. I helped run EEG and behavioral sessions, during which I instructed children on tasks while measuring brain activity. The CARE study examined why certain children have more difficulty managing their worries and fears, with the goal of discerning more effective coping mechanisms. I coded audio and video to identify strategies for teachers and parents to use in promoting positive development. Through this experience, I practiced working with children and nurtured my compassion.

Prompt: Describe your identity and how it has impacted the development of your values and attitudes toward individuals different from yourself and how this will impact your interactions with future colleagues and patients. (2500 characters)

Essay: Growing up, I traveled to India during summers to visit my family. Living in India for months at a time allowed me to understand the rich history of my ancestral homeland, Hyderabad. Unlike other parts of India, Hyderabad historically saw collaboration between Hindus and Muslims. They set aside their differences to live peacefully and build long-lasting monuments, such as the Charminar, symbolizing the value of tolerance on which Hyderabad was established. I experienced firsthand how coexistence between Hindus and Muslims persists today, as my family tailor and my apartment watchman have Arabic names and practice Islamic traditions. Recognizing this aspect of my heritage informed my identity as someone who celebrates diversity and understands its importance.

Upon returning to the US, I had a new appreciation for the values of diversity and acceptance, which I now noticed in my hometown as well. Although the people in my community had our differences, we assisted one another during difficult times. Whether it was shoveling driveways during snowstorms or babysitting children of our working neighbors, we could count on the people living around us to understand our needs and support one another. The values I learned from my neighbors continue inspiring me to behave altruistically and help those in need whenever possible.

My experiences reflect the richness of my life as well as the dual nature of my identity. I embody diverse values because I am both an Indian with deep ties to centuries of history and tolerance and an American with compassionate attributes. Throughout my undergraduate years, I delivered meals at food banks, served underprivileged groups and clinics, and treated patients experiencing multiple medical comorbidities as an EMT. By taking these actions, I aim to apply the diverse aspect of my identity in my life and help others overcome the challenges they face.

As a physician, I hope these core values will meaningfully shape my interactions with colleagues and patients. I will work alongside colleagues and staff to collectively improve patient outcomes. With my patients, I will act compassionately and dedicate myself to addressing their needs through high-quality care. Witnessing different parts of the world, learning to appreciate different backgrounds, and selflessly contributing to others’ health will serve me well as I work toward these goals.

Read Next: Writing a Diversity Essay for Medical School (with Examples)

Prompt: The Medical College of [LOCATION] is committed to educating health professionals who are dedicated to improving health equity across the diverse populations we serve. Share with us what you have learned or how you have grown through working with or serving people from cultural backgrounds or groups different than your own. How do you believe you can contribute to improving health equity or reducing health disparities as a physician? (2000 characters)

Essay: I can contribute to improving health equity because I have a passion and skillset for caring for persons with disabilities. When I was a freshman, my grandma with Alzheimer’s moved in, and I started to care for her. While caring for her, I learned new communication skills to keep her safe and happy. Initially, it was hard to see her reckon with the side effects of dementia, but I learned to accept her changes by forming new connections and appreciating the person she has become. Caring for my grandmother showed me the positive impact of caring for others, so I applied for a supervisor role in an assisted living facility, where I have helped over 50 residents with varying disabilities. I have worked with nonverbal residents who need assistance in every aspect of life, along with independent residents whom I help with social skills by assisting them in engaging with the community at men’s groups, book clubs, and part-time jobs

Common Questions You May Be Asked

There are specific questions you may be commonly asked in secondary applications. Each medical school has a different process, but there are some patterns.

The number of secondary essay prompts from any given medical school can vary wildly. Some schools may have 1-2 prompts, while others may have a whole slew. Carefully read and follow the prompts provided. Tailor your responses to meet their specific needs and requirements.

The length of your response will also vary. Some prompts allow 300 word limits while others allow up to 500-1000 characters.

Below are some FAQs I see a lot on secondary applications. Knowing what to expect and how to answer them will help the process go faster.

Why do you want to come to [MEDICAL SCHOOL]?

Ah, the dreaded “Why us?” question. Research a school’s website to see what they think they offer, but your response should not directly copy and paste from there.

Instead, use their words as inspiration. Relate back to your experiences and how that fits in with a particular school. Show that you’ve done your research and that you can contribute to this school’s mission statement.

Here are a few tips for approaching the “why this school” question :

• Get specific. Highlight unique programs, opportunities, or faculty at this school that appeal to you. This could be a particular research focus, clinical training opportunities, or student organizations that align with your interests.
• Exhibit your shared values. Explain how the school’s mission and values align with your own. This will show that you have a genuine connection to the school and are a good fit for their community.
• Name drop (sort of). Mention any connections you have to the school, but be modest. This could be a personal connection, such as loved ones who graduated from the school, or a professional connection, such as having a physician affiliated with the school as a mentor. Make sure it’s authentic, as the person you mention will likely be asked to confirm the relationship.

This is also great research to do prior to an interview, as it will likely come up during that process as well.

@shrinkwholovespink #premed #premedadvice #premedstudent #premedlife #medschoolsecondary #medschoolsecondaries ♬ original sound - Ziggy Yoediono MD MBA

What is your most important relationship? Who is the most influential person in your life?

This sort of question should be easy to answer. Of course, you can choose a parent or relative, but you can also think outside the box and choose a teacher or a professor.

It’s not the particular person you choose that’s important; it’s how they inspired you to be the person you are, especially if they helped you want to be a physician.

• If you write, “My dad is important to me because he was a doctor and he showed me how to take care of patients,” it will not get you anywhere.
• Instead, you could write, “My dad showed me from an early age what it means to take care of people.” [This makes the reader think, “How did he show you?”] “Not only is he a well-respected doctor in the community,” [Reader: “So this applicant has healthcare in his blood.”] “…but he also shows his care for others through volunteer work.” [Reader: “Oh, he and his family do non-profit work.”] “He often brought me along to volunteer with him at a pop-up clinic, where I saw the dignity he conferred to others…” [Reader: “Giving underserved people dignity is important and natural to him.”] And so on…

What is your most important extracurricular?

Don’t be annoyed by these questions, even though it may feel like you already answered them on the AMCAS .

There are a few approaches to answering this question. If a single activity really is most important, and you already wrote about it as one of your three most meaningful experiences on your AMCAS, you can write about it again in more detail.

If there is something dominant in your life, write about that. For example, if you are a classical musician on the side, a prolific actor in the community, or the area’s top chess player, discuss it!

I would avoid discussing shadowing experiences. Did following around a doctor really change your life? If it really did, talk about it honestly. But don’t force it.

Tell us more about the research you conducted.

This is a straightforward question in which you can discuss your most significant research activities. Make sure to give the reader a framework in the first few sentences. Show them the big picture of your project or lab without bogging the paragraph down with nitty-gritty details.

• Do not start a paragraph with context-less jargon, such as this: “I studied receptor RLAJKNCH – r897 which showed that there was no uptake in expression when compared to JLKASN – 8343 when exposed to methyl-alpha-dioxide.”
• Do write in this style: “The purpose of our research was to understand how toxins affect cells, which in turn could be used to eventually try to come up with novel drugs. In particular, I studied…”

What are your long-term goals?

You don’t need a chosen specialty or fellowship to write about it here — AdComs expect these choices to grow and morph as you actually attend med school. Instead, you can say you are leaning towards X and Y because you have been exposed to them in the past. Or you know you love working with children, and so you’d love to do pediatrics.

Think about how your past experiences fit into your future goals. If you have participated in global health trips , perhaps you want to mention that and say you eventually would love to do international healthcare work.

As always, research each specific school so you can ensure your long-term goals align with their mission.

What do you add to the class? (Diversity)

Diversity is strength — in all its forms. Remember, diversity and inequities come in many packages. Skin color is certainly one of them, but there is so much more. If you are Asian, you may not be considered as diverse when it comes to applying to medical school . Same thing if you are Caucasian.

But what about diversity in your field of study in college? In your interests? In your musical talents? Or in your computer programming skills? Do you come from a unique background in any way?

Read Next: How to Write the Diversity Secondary Essay for Medical School

If you really cannot think of a single thing that distinguishes you, you may be in the wrong field. There is something interesting about you. Find it, and write about it here.

Can you describe a challenge you have overcome?

Lots of medical students say, “I’ve never had a challenge.” While it may be true you didn’t grow up unhoused, surely your life hasn’t been free of hiccups. That said, you should not overplay the time you broke your little toe and couldn’t get to class on time. Steer clear of unethical or insensitive examples.

Examples may include a death in the family, a time when you had to adjust to a new life outside of the home, a time when your sibling was going through depression and you had to help him, etc.

Here are my recommendations for this question:

• Keep it interesting. Boring writing gets looked over, and you want to stand out.
• Connect it back. Relate what you’re saying to things you’ve already done or genuinely want to do.
• Follow instructions. I’ll say it again — give the school what it’s looking for, not tangents and non-sequiturs.

Anything else you’d like us to know?

This question is challenging, but think about your best qualities — your most unique qualities. Have you been able to talk about those traits? If not, here’s your opportunity.

Don’t bore the admissions board with high school stories or irrelevant anecdotes. Instead, exhibit your strength as a prospective med student, your cultural competency, gap year activities if applicable, and your value to the school and to the medical field. Most of these prompts say it outright but don’t reuse your AMCAS personal statement .

My Tips for Secondary Essays

I’ve written secondaries — I get it. Although some of this long process may frustrate you, I recommend you take a deep breath and do your best work in a timely manner. There’s a good reason for secondaries, and there are ways to increase your chances.

Here are my top tips for secondary application essay writing:

• Pre-write common responses. Before you receive secondaries, draft up some compelling answers to common secondary questions. Don’t submit these pre-writes word for word, but you can still save time by having something to edit instead of writing a response from scratch.
• Read the instructions carefully. Pay attention to the specific requirements for each secondary application. Some schools may have specific essay prompts, while others may ask for additional information about your experiences or goals that you already discussed on your AMCAS. Know what is expected of you before you begin.
• Prioritize for the best results. First, I would tackle those that you think are short and easy (i.e. no essays or maybe one very short essay). Then move on to your top choice schools. If there is a secondary that has a really tough question, come back to it with a fresh mind at a later time.
• Start early. Secondary applications can take a significant amount of time to complete, so it is crucial to start working on them as soon as possible. You need enough time to thoughtfully complete each application and avoid feeling rushed or stressed.
• Tailor your responses. You may be tempted to copy and paste your responses from one application to the next, but you must tailor your responses to each school. Show that you did your research and are genuinely interested in attending that particular program.
• Proofread. As with any written communication, you must proofread your secondary application for spelling, grammatical, and formatting errors. A well-written application can make a strong impression, while a poorly written one will kill your chances.
• Avoid feeling overwhelmed. You may feel like a bunch of medical schools suddenly inundate you with applications all at one time. You are now looking at a stack of 20 applications, each with 1-6 essays on them. But if you plan ahead and pre-write your essays, you can avoid a lot of that overwhelm. Get a jump start on your secondaries to avoid most of the stress.
• Avoid answering generic questions generically. If you get generic questions like, “Why do you want to come here?” You will feel like saying, “Because it’s a medical school! Why else?!” Instead, tailor your responses, do your research, and add a personal flair that helps your secondary stand out. (This is one reason you should avoid asking ChatGPT to write your answer , although chatbots like it can help in the editing process.)
• Avoid getting frustrated if you already answered a question. Some secondaries ask you to elaborate on experiences you listed on your AMCAS application cycle, or some may repeat a question without acknowledging you ever answered it at all. You can only answer, “Tell us about your most important activities,” in so many ways. Instead of getting frustrated, consider how lucky you are to have gotten a secondary where they want to hear more from you. That’s a good sign you’re being strongly considered for admission!

How Quickly Do I Need to Send In My Secondaries?

I recommend that you complete and submit your medical school secondary applications as soon as possible, as most schools make admissions decisions on a rolling basis. However, it is also important that you have enough time to carefully complete each secondary application and tailor your responses to each school.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: aim to complete and submit each secondary application within 1-2 weeks of receiving it. This timeframe will allow you to thoroughly review the prompts and requirements, gather any necessary materials, and craft well-written responses.

On the other hand, some schools may have specific deadlines for secondary applications, so check the requirements for each school that sends you secondaries. Submit secondary applications at least 2-3 days before the deadline, if possible. Don’t wait until the last minute.

Prioritizing the completion of your secondary applications, managing your time well, and meeting deadlines will demonstrate your commitment to the medical school admissions process and increase your chances of being accepted .

Can I Reuse Secondary Essays for Multiple Programs?

You should reuse information when writing essays for multiple schools. However, that information should always be tailored to the specific program you’re applying to. Make a judgment call about which wording you can copy and paste and what you should write from scratch.

Remember that each medical school has its own mission, values, programs, and opportunities. Be sure that your essays highlight how you align with and will fit into each school’s specific community.

Can I Reuse Secondaries from Past Application Cycles?

It is not advisable to reuse medical school secondary essays from a previous application. To improve your odds the second time around, you have to show schools that you’ve grown as an applicant. This means incorporating information about any new experiences and qualifications you’ve earned since your previous application attempt.

Think about it — what good is re-submitting an essay that wasn’t successful the first time around? Rewrite it if you want to boost your chances.

Also, remember that the schools you are applying to this time around may have different essay prompts or may be looking for different information in their secondary essays.

Is Getting a Secondary a Sign I’m Likely to Be Accepted?

Getting a secondary is a good sign, but it’s not a sure sign you’ll get accepted. It does indicate you’ve moved past an admissions board’s first round of screening applicants. Generally, if you already chose schools you’re a good fit for based on candidacy strength (test scores, GPA, etc.), you’ll probably get multiple secondaries.

Not all applicants will receive secondary applications. Programs generally have a limited number of spots available and receive a

Renee Marinelli, MD

Dr. Marinelli has practiced family medicine, served on the University of California Admissions Committee, and has helped hundreds of students get into medical school. She spearheads a team of physician advisors who guide MedSchoolCoach students.

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Mount Sinai School of Medicine (Icahn) – Mt Sinai Secondary Essays & Tips To Stand Out

• Cracking Med School Admissions

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, otherwise known as Mount Sinai Medical School, is getting harder to get accepted each year. Icahn School of Medicine is becoming increasingly innovative and interdisciplinary. Many of the premedical students we have advised over the years are visionaries in healthcare and have passions in narrative medicine, computer science, and artificial intelligence. It is extremely important to express your healthcare passions in your Mt Sinai secondary essays. Read more below for tips to STAND OUT on your Mt Sinai secondary essays ! We will help you dissect and brainstorm ideas. 

Mount Sinai Medical School is located in Manhattan, New York City, making it an ideal place for students seeking for urban action! 

The Mount Sinai Secondary application gets longer and longer over the years. Make sure to start on this early! We think this is a great secondary application to start pre-writing because the prompts don’t change too much and they are medium length. If you have any questions, contact our Cracking Med School Admissions team. We can help you tailor your Mt Sinai secondary through our secondary essay packages . 

• Personally Tailored Essays
• Edits by Stanford & Harvard-trained Doctors
• We study your application strengths to see what unique attributes we’ll bring to the medical school

Mount Sinai Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2023 – 2024

Mount sinai secondary application md essay prompts.

• What is the toughest feedback you ever received? How did you handle it and what did you learn from it? (250 words max)
• If you are committed to a particular community or if there is an important aspect of your identity not addressed elsewhere in the application, we invite you to do so here. Briefly also explain how such factors may have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. Completing this section is optional. (150 words max)
• Describe a situation that you have thought to be unfair or unjust, whether towards yourself or towards others. How did you address the situation, if at all? (200 words max)
• If you are currently not a full time student, please briefly describe the activities you are participating in this academic year. (100 words max)
• Are there significant gaps in time that are unaccounted for in your application? [Yes/No]
• (Optional) Were there any adverse circumstances in your premedical preparatory journey including but not limited to impact from COVID-19? (100 words max)

Icahn School of Medicine at Mout Sinai removed its optional diversity essay from last year.

Mount Sinai Secondary Application MD/PhD Essay Prompts

• Answer all questions in the Icahn Medical School essays except: Describe a situation that you have thought to be unfair or unjust, whether towards yourself or towards others. How did you address the situation, if at all?
• Please tell us about a time when an experiment didn’t go as planned or yielded an unexpected result. How did you approach this challenge and what did you learn? (200 words max)
• What are your career goals? Describe which features of the MD/PhD Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai you will leverage to achieve them? (200 words max)
• Provide a one to three sentence summary of your current research interest. (100 words max)

Other Mount Sinai Secondary Questions

Icahn Medical School has other Y/N questions for medical school applicants.

• Have you previously applied to the MD or MD/PhD Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai/Mount Sinai School of Medicine (including an Early Assurance Program such as FlexMed)? Y/N
• Have you, in the past years, applied to any other medical school? Y/N
• Are there significant gaps in time that are unaccounted for in your application? Y/N

Tips to Answer Mount Sinai Secondary Essays

Mount Sinai Secondaries Pre-Writing & Timing Guidance: We think that the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai secondaries are great to start pre-writing! They are not too hard and the prompts don’t change frequently. However, Mount Sinai is not a time sensitive school and this is a secondary application you can submit until late August or early September. Quality is more important than timing (rushing to submit the Mt Sinai secondary essays).

• Download our  Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples .

Mt Sinai Secondary Essays Tip #1:  It is important to strategize your essays. What is the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Admissions Committee looking for? Dr. Rizal has helped premeds get accepted at Mount Sinai and has hung out with friends / mentees at the school for the past 15 years. It’s important to note that the Icahn School of Admissions committee looks at what students do outside of academics and scholarly inquiry in non-science fields. The adcom committee wants to see how you will improve healthcare and tackle healthcare issues from a non-clinical perspective. Remember, that Mount Sinai has a FlexMed program, reflecting that it looks to recruit non-traditional medical students! Finally, the Icahn Medical School admissions committee is looking for individuals who will contribute to the non-competitive nature and collaborative learning environment at Mount Sinai Medical School. Make sure to download our Cracking Med School Admissions secondary essays guide.

In the past few years, Dr. Mediratta & Dr. Rizal have noticed patterns in which types of applicants receive interview invites. It’s important to stress these points in your Mount Sinai secondary essays:

• Innovation – what are your innovative ideas to improve 
• Data / Artificial Intelligence / Computer Science – we’ve seen an increase in students with data, AI, and computer science backgrounds receive interview invites. Not having these skillsets will not preclude you from getting interviews, but having these skills can be a plus for Icahn Medical School! Read Dr. Rizal’s U.S. News article –  Artificial Intelligence and Healthcare: What Premeds Should Know
• Desire to improve healthcare throughout his or her medical career  – Icahn School of Medicine wants to attract students who care about healthcare broadly in addition to patient care.
• Leadership – The students who get interviews at Icahn School of Medicine often also get invites to Harvard, Stanford, and Duke. All these schools are looking for the next leaders in medicine.

Several of our students get interview invites and acceptances to Mount Sinai School of Medicine each year. Make sure to contact us to help you stand out on your essays!

Mt Sinai Secondary Essays Tip #2: Answering the Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai secondary application question, “ What is the toughest feedback you ever received? How did you handle it and what did you learn from it ?” is tough. One overly common topic is receiving feedback to improve grades. While this is an OKAY topic, our Dr. Mediratta and Dr. Rizal typically are not fans of this essay and encourage our students to think about another topic.

Some topics we thought worked last year included:

• Feedback from a research PI
• Feedback from a work manager or boss
• Feedback from your friend
• Feedback from a patient

Mt Sinai Secondary Essays Tip #3: Highlight your leadership, passion to change healthcare, and impact on society. The questions are geared towards learning more about what you did in gap years and your extra-curricular activities. Tell stories to convey your impact and leadership. For example, if you conducted research over a gap year, tell a story about a challenge you faced or a patient you met while conducting a clinical trial. After reading your entire AMCAS and secondary application, we need to have a clear understanding of how you want to change healthcare . 

Mt Sinai Secondary Essays Tip #4: Mt Sinai School of Medicine is an innovative and “out-of-the-box thinking” institution. Reflect how you’ve been innovative in your endeavors, whether it’s through writing composition or your research. For more ideas about how to connect your extra-curricular activities with medicine, read Dr. Rachel Rizal’s U.S. News article, “ Link Premed Nonclinical Experiences to Medicine. “

Mt Sinai Secondary Essays Tip #5: Don’t forget to incorporate a little bit about “Why Mount Sinai School of Medicine” throughout the essay(s) you respond to. Talk about projects and research you want to pursue at Icahn and surrounding New York City. Read our Cracking Mount Sinai School of Medicine Admissions page to get more information about the culture and curriculum of the medical school. Finally, read our blog post on how to answer, “ Why this medical school ?”

Mt Sinai Secondary Essays #6: The Mount sinai secondary essays question, “I f you are committed to a particular community or if there is an important aspect of your identity not addressed elsewhere in the application, we invite you to do so here. Briefly also explain how such factors may have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine ” is a diversity question. Remember, diversity does not necessarily mean your ethnic diversity. We recommend students write about their strengths, including exceptional extracurricular activity endeavors. This is important to note for the optional questions about your unique background. We encourage all our students to answer this question. 

Mt Sinai Secondary Essays Tip #7 : Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below. Need editing help on your secondary? We can help you through our secondary essay packages . 

[ Read more secondary essay tips:  Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) ,  Yale School of Medicine ,  Columbia University Vagelos ,  Weill Cornell Medicine  ]

Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders

We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With.

Rachel Rizal, M.D.

Changing the trajectory of people’s lives.

Undergraduate Princeton University, cum laude

Medical School Stanford School of Medicine

Residency Harvard, Emergency Medicine

Awards & Scholarships Fulbright Scholar USA Today Academic First Team Tylenol Scholarship

Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

Advising students to attend their dream schools.

Undergraduate Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa

Residency Stanford, Pediatrics

Awards & Scholarships Marshall Scholar Tylenol Scholarship Global Health Scholar

stand out from other applicants with our secondary essay edit packages

Download your secondary essay guide.

Use this essay guide and workbook to write standout secondaries.

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Mount Sinai Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2022 – 2023

• (Optional) If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity or a commitment to a particular community, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Aspects might include, but are not limited to significant challenges in or circumstances associated with access to education, living with a disability, socioeconomic factors, immigration status, or identification with a culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine.  (100 words max)

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Mount Sinai Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2021 – 2022

Mount sinai medical school secondary application essay prompts: 2020 – 2021.

• If you are currently not a full-time student, please briefly describe the activities you are participating in this academic year. (100 words max)
• Were there any adverse circumstances in your premedical preparatory journey including but not limited to recent impact from COVID-19? If yes , please explain. (100 words max)
• (Optional) If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity or a commitment to a particular community, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Aspects might include, but are not limited to significant challenges in or circumstances associated with access to education, living with a disability, socioeconomic factors, immigration status, or identification with a culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. (100 words max)

Mount Sinai Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2019 – 2020

• Please tell us about a situation in which working collaboratively on a team was challenging. What did you do? What did you learn? (200 words max)
• Please describe an influential experience that motivated your decision to become a physician-scientist. (200 words)
• What is the toughest feedback you ever received? How did you handle it and what did you learn from it? (200 words)
• Please tell us about a time when an experiment didn’t go as planned or yielded an unexpected result. How did you approach this challenge and what did you learn? (200 words)
• What are your career goals? Which characteristics of the MD/PhD Program at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai do you believe will help you to achieve them? (200 words)

Mount Sinai Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2018 – 2019

Mount sinai medical school secondary application essay prompts: 2017 – 2018.

• Please tell us about a passion (professional or personal) you have had thus far in your life. (250 words max)
• Please tell us about a situation in which working collaboratively with others was challenging (250 words max)

Mount Sinai Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2016 – 2017

• Please tell us about a situation in which working with others has been challenging. (200 words max)

Mount Sinai Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2015 – 2016

Icahn school of medicine at mount sinai secondary application essay prompts: 2014 – 2015, contact us with questions, we'll answer any and all your questions about medical school we typically respond within 1 business day..

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