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George Washington Secondary Example Response #2

Below is another example secondary response from the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

Please provide the Admissions Committee with a brief summary of your activities, academics, employment or other occupations to account for full-time activity (approx. 30-40 hours/week) from the point of application through matriculation in 2021. (750 characters)

Currently, I am volunteering at Cigna Regional Health Center. As a volunteer, I take patients’ vitals, heights, and weights in the pediatric department. I also take the temperatures of all incoming patients in the clinic and help them fill out paperwork related to COVID-19 exposure. 

I am also currently shadowing Dr. Zapato, a pediatrician. Other doctors I wanted to shadow expressed concerns about the safety of their patients due to the pandemic, so I ended up shadowing these physicians virtually. To date, I have e-shadowed Dr. Daniel Johnson, a family medicine physician, Dr. Justin Mahone, a geriatrician, Dr. Michelle Yurba, a dermatopathologist, and Dr. Michael Anderson, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon. 

I am also taking a course called Scribe 2, which is preparing me to become a medical scribe.

The MD Program includes substantial content in Clinical Public Health (population health, health systems science, health policy, and community health) to prepare GW graduates for an expanded scope of practice required to be successful 21st century physicians. What are your specific interests and experiences related to that aspect of the MD Program? (350 characters)

I grew up in a rural village in Nepal. We have many cultural traditions that are different from those in America, and some (like Chhaupadi) negatively impact the mental health and physical well-being of our community. I’ve seen firsthand how human behavior can hurt the health of a group of people, and want to address similar issues in the future. 

What makes you a unique individual? What challenges have you faced? How will these factors help you contribute to the diversity of the student body at GW? (1000 characters)

I grew up in Nepal, one of the least developed countries in the world. The closest hospital was a 6-hour walk away, and our school only offered education up to the 8th-grade level.

The lack of healthcare was apparent. So many women in my village were forced to endure the emotional toll of losing their baby during childbirth. Other women passed away due to poor postpartum care. Growing up, I watched friends die from preventable diseases like the stomach flu. 

We followed cultural traditions (like Chhaupadi) which forced women out of society and into huts following their periods and childbirth. This left them susceptible to hypothermia, rape, animal attacks, and without care. 

My experience growing up shaped me into a determined, compassionate, and empathetic person with a distinct perspective. I know what it’s like to grow up without access to care many take for granted, and I’m passionate about helping address similar issues which affect underserved communities.

What is your specific interest in the MD Program at GW? What opportunities would you take advantage of as a student here? Why? (2000 characters)

Growing up in poverty without access to healthcare taught me the importance of selfless service and education. It opened my eyes to others’ suffering and motivated me to help other people. My goal of helping medically underserved populations aligns with the mission of George Washington’s medical college.

Through my pre-health advisor, I learned about GW’s International Medicine and Haiti programs. GW’s commitment to providing diverse experiences to its students and medical relief to underserved countries around the world really impresses me. 

I know firsthand how these international programs can impact and save lives. Growing up in a rural village in India, I witnessed many friends die from the stomach flu. We thought these tragedies were inevitable until an international physician educated us about how the stomach flu was treatable and preventable. Had these physicians never helped us, we would have lost many more in our community.

It would be an honor to attend George Washington Medical College, participate in these programs, and help underserved communities around the world. I am confident that I would not only thrive but also contribute to the diversity of George Washington’s class of 2021. 

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Howard University Secondary

Below are some example responses to Howard University College of Medicine’s secondary.

Have you lived in communities which are medically underserved, or where the majority of the population is economically and/or educationally disadvantaged? (Please indicate, Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less)

I grew up in Nepal, one of the least developed countries in the world. I was born in a rural village with a population of less than 1000. Because my village had no connecting roads, the closest hospital was a 6-hour walk away. We only had one school which offered education up to the 8th-grade level, and two small grocery stores. It was a 10-minute walk to the nearest drinking water tap and the village had no electricity until 5 years ago.

The lack of healthcare was apparent. So many women in my village were forced to endure the emotional toll of losing their baby during childbirth. Other women passed away due to poor postpartum care. Growing up, I watched my friends die from preventable diseases like the stomach flu. 

Later on, we moved to another town in pursuit of higher education. This town contained only one hospital and had virtually no clinics with doctors. Furthermore, the go-to health centers in this town were actually pharmacies run by health assistants instead of doctors.

Have you worked (volunteer or paid employment) with medically underserved, economically disadvantaged and/or educationally disadvantaged populations? (Please indicate, Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less)

Uneducated communities that lack healthcare can become dangerous places to live. In Nepal, this combination gave birth to risky traditions. One of the worst is the Chhaupadi, where girls during their period and immediately after childbirth are considered “impure” and are forced to stay in an isolated hut away from their home. Because of this, many women in my village have had to endure hypothermia, rape, animal attacks, and poor care after childbirth. When I got my period, I had to follow this tradition. My hut lacked a door, which left me vulnerable and extremely cold the entire night. This was honestly one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. The stories I had heard of girls being raped or sexually harassed turned into a reality for me.  

After my family moved to a new town, I met many girls who went through similar hardships. We decided to form a group at school called “Women Rising”, where we participated in rallies and discussions about the issues of rape and sexual assault. Every other Saturday we visited rural villages where we talked about the issues of menstruation, Chhaupadi tradition, postpartum care, and treatment for diseases like the stomach flu. While compliant about most issues, most men and older generations were unwilling to change their views about Chhaupadi since it had been in practice for hundreds of generations. However, many women listened and some spoke up about their horrific experiences with Chhaupadi. We encouraged all the women to stand up for one another when faced with resistance. This was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. Though we may not have completely dismantled Chhaupadi, it was a start.

After residency, do you plan to practice medicine in an underserved or disadvantaged community? (Please indicate, Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less)

Due to my upbringing, I know firsthand what it feels like not to have access to health care. I’m aware that there are other people currently going through a similar struggle that I went through growing up. By working as a primary physician in a suburban or rural area and focusing on serving minorities and underserved populations, I think I can play a role in addressing the health care gap that is present today.  

Please provide below any additional information you believe is important in evaluating your application (e.g. additional coursework, problems with academic record; disadvantaged, etc.) (Please indicate, Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less)

The first semester of my senior year was particularly challenging for me. During this semester, I took 19 credit hours, worked on two research projects, tutored students, worked part-time, was president of the Association of Students for Change, shadowed a pediatrician, and volunteered in a clinic. While it was tiring and difficult to balance these activities, I loved being a part of them and made sure I gave 100 percent. I realized that I am capable of doing so much more than I thought I could. I eventually finished the semester with a 4.0 GPA and was even more determined to pursue a career in medicine.

Every hardship I’ve encountered has paved my path towards a career in medicine. It’s also taught me to be resilient, hardworking, creative, empathetic, and compassionate, and it’s given me the strength to tackle new challenges. I plan to use these experiences to contribute to better and more diverse health care and advocate for minorities and underserved populations in the community.

Did COVID-19 Impact you preparing your AMCAS application for fall 2021? (i.e. volunteer/work experience, financially, course registration, MCAT testing, etc.) [Please respond Yes or No and then explain/describe briefly in 250 words or less, indicate N/A if not applicable]

Due to COVID-19, many of the doctors I reached out to for shadowing expressed concerns about the safety of their patients. Because of this, I asked to shadow patients virtually. While these virtual shadowings were helpful and informative, they did not allow me to observe direct physician-patient interactions. 

Because of the pandemic, I was also unable to finish and publish my research, which saddens me the most. I actually left my job in 2019 in order to focus on my research more. I spent hours working on my research project under the guidance of my adviser, and my findings might have been able to greatly benefit pancreatic cancer treatment. This lack of fulfillment has further motivated me to pursue a career in medicine and engage in research in the future.

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Example Medical School Update Letter

Below is an example medical school update letter. Applicants frequently send letters like these to medical schools to provide updates on their recent grades and activities they did not include in their primary and secondary applications.


December 2, 2019

Office of Medical Student Admissions
Great Medical School
The Courtyard at Health Sciences S600
95 Medical Avenue
Lincoln, NE 68501

Dear Admissions Committee,

I am writing to express continued interest in your school and provide an update of the grades I have received and the activities I have undertaken since submitting my primary application four months ago.

Because I submitted my transcripts to AMCAS before my graduation, I was not able to provide the Great Medical School with my spring quarter grades on my primary application. During spring quarter of my senior year, I received an A+ in my anthropology class (CULTURE&COMMUNICATION), an A in my biostatistics class (INTRO-BIOSTATISTICS), and an A in my physiological science laboratory (PHYSIO LAB).

Since graduating, I have been volunteering at the Capacity Center, a service organization that provides the homeless with meals, showers, clothing, laundry facilities, and mail services. The Capacity Center also helps homeless individuals find housing, obtain employment, and access health services. As a volunteer at the Capacity Center, I initially met with homeless individuals who were new to our program, interviewed them, and then put these individuals in contact with someone at the center who could directly help them obtain access to their particular needed service. More recently, I have been helping the homeless by operating and stocking the clothing shed at the shelter. Here, I help homeless individuals find the clothes they need.

I have also been working at Karios, an established tutoring company in California that helps students with and without learning disabilities improve in school and on standardized tests. Currently, I tutor students who are preparing for the SAT, SSAT, and ACT or struggling in various areas of mathematics. I particularly enjoy helping students work through their difficulties and seeing their progress.

Additionally, I have been working for Composite. The company recently invented an ergonomic product that reduces workplace injuries. To prepare for Composite’s launch to market, I have been involved in the marketing of the product (i.e. website design, social media, video production, etc.) and the development of the company’s sales strategies.

I truly enjoyed visiting the Great Medical School on interview day, and was very impressed with the school. I especially liked the school’s accelerated curriculum, which allows for career exploration early on in a medical student’s career. Furthermore, I liked how the curriculum was student-centered. From talking to medical students at the Great Medical School, I learned that the school embraces medical students’ feedback and implements changes based on those suggestions. It is comforting to know that medical students have a say in how the school is run. Finally, I was also impressed with the school’s emphasis on clinical training and access to unique training resources. Because of this, I believe medical students at the Great Medical School are prepared extremely well for the clinical aspect of medicine.

I would consider myself very fortunate to attend the Great Medical School and am excited about the prospect of becoming a part of the Great Medical School’s community. I hope the information above will be of use when evaluating my application, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Bob Student
AAMCID: 14835918

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Caribbean Medical School Attrition Rates

Most Caribbean medical schools don’t publish their attrition rates online.

So, we conducted a simple study in order to estimate the dropout rates at the Big Four (Saint George’s University, Saba, American University of the Caribbean, and Ross).

We reached out to at least 10 students and alumni from each school and asked them to estimate their school’s attrition rate. We then averaged their responses.

Here are the results.

SchoolEstimated Attrition Rate (%)
American University of the Caribbean20.4
St. George's University26.3
Saba University35.0
Ross University41.7

AUC appears to have the lowest dropout rate at around 20%, while Ross has the highest.

Obviously, this is a small sample size. Because of this, these results don’t reflect the actual attrition rates at these schools by any means.

However, it does give us some insight into those rates.

Notes:

We reached out to students/alumni in ~2017.

SGU is the one school I could find that has an attrition rate on its website (7-12%). However, the statistic doesn’t appear to be a hard ‘average’, as the post says the dropout rate is ‘”usually” between 7-12 percent. So, I would take this stat with a grain of salt as well.

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The Different Types of Med School Recommendation Letters

When you apply for medical school, you’ll find that each school has its own letter of recommendation requirements.

In general, most schools are happy if you’re able to submit letters from two science professors and one non-science professor. This is not true for all schools, so you should research the letter of recommendation requirements for each school before applying.

Schools may also encourage letters from principal investigators, doctors, and people you’ve worked for during volunteering or work experiences.

I’ll cover the different types of letters that I’ve seen schools ask for below.

The Science Letter of Recommendation

Most schools require two of these. In general, a letter from a professor who teaches a course related to biology, chemistry,  or physics applies.

I think it’s pretty reasonable why medical schools would want letters from these types of professors. Diagnosing patients accurately and understanding the underlying causes of diseases requires medical students to be good at and enjoy science. These professors can really speak to this.

Check out this med school letter of recommendation template if you’re curious about what science professors write about.

The Non-Science Med School Letter of Recommendation

A decent amount of schools I applied to required one of these. Any professor who taught English, history, sociology, anthropology, or another non-science course should apply.

Why is this letter important? Medical schools also want insights into your ability to communicate. Speaking and writing well are also important parts of being a doctor.

Explaining to someone why they’re sick, what’s happening with their body, and persuading them to take the proper course of action is often harder than diagnosing them correctly.

Obviously, they’ll have plenty of your writing to go off of from your personal statement and secondary essays, but having an authoritative person speak to this quality is way more assuring.

Physician Letters of Recommendation

Rarely will you be required to provide a letter of recommendation from a physician, but most schools will accept a letter from a doctor you’ve shadowed or volunteered for.

Mercer is one school I can think of that falls outside this category, as they recommend that one letter comes from a physician or health care professional.

Doctors probably have a really good idea of whether an applicant will succeed or not in the medical field because, well, they work there every single day.

They’re also very well respected and their words will carry weight with members on admissions committees.

PI Letters of Recommendation

I have yet to see an MD program that requires a letter from a PI or research supervisor. In fact, many applicants never conduct any sort of research period.

Regardless, many schools accept letters from PIs. If you did do some sort of research, it’s probably a good idea to ask your PI for a letter if you think it will depict you in a positive light.

Character Reference Letters

Many schools will probably expect professors, doctors, PIs, and others to comment on your character during their letter. However, most schools won’t specifically ask for a letter that is solely a character reference.

However, this is not always true. For example, UCF accepts two character letters which can be from a friend, neighbor, clergy member, volunteering experience, etc.

If the school you’re applying to does ask for a character letter, they’re probably looking to see if you’re ethical, well-rounded, passionate, likable, respectful, mature, etc.

Letters from Teaching Assistants

For whatever reason, most medical schools won’t allow a letter from a teaching assistant to count as one of your core letters. I specifically remember being bummed out about this when I applied because the TAs knew me a lot better than the professors did.

You can probably submit a letter from a TA in addition to other letters that fulfill the requirements for the school. However, note that letters from teaching assistants are apparently seen as ‘weaker’ than letters from professors.

Letters from Volunteering/Work Experiences

If you’ve had any volunteering or work experiences, many schools will also accept a letter from someone who managed or supervised you. This letter could probably serve as a character reference as well as validation that you actually participated in this activity.

Furthermore, your letter writer could explain how the skills you picked up on the job will help you as a physician.

More Information

Make sure to read the letter of recommendation requirements for each school you’re applying to prior to submitting your primary application. This way, you won’t waste money and time applying to a school which requires letter types that you don’t have.

For example, when I applied to Thomas Jefferson University, I didn’t know the school preferred one of my letters be from a physics professor. Some schools have strange requirements, and the only way to know is to look them up.

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Loma Linda Example Secondary Response

Loma Linda is one of the more unique medical schools out there. Filling out the school’s secondary will most likely require researching the school’s website for most applicants. Here’s one of my example responses to one of their questions that pretty much forces applicants to do some leg work.

Describe the extent and source of your knowledge of Loma Linda University School of Medicine (LLUSM). (750 characters max)

My knowledge of LLUSM primarily stems from the school’s website and from friends who have applied here in the past. LLUSM seeks to follow in Christ’s footsteps in its desire to heal and teach others in order to “make man whole.” The school teaches medicine from a Seventh-day Adventist, Christian perspective, and strongly encourages students to participate in service-oriented activities, such as international medical mission trips or programs helping underserved communities. An equal value is placed on the importance of education and research. The school emphasizes the holistic–physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual–growth of the student.

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Tulane Secondary Response Example

Tulane University School of Medicine would not be a bad place to end up for medical school. Providing a good response to the ‘why Tulane’ secondary question is important. If you can’t answer this question, you’ll probably come across like you haven’t done your homework. I provided my response from a couple of years ago as a reference for future applicants.

Briefly describe the reasons for your interest in Tulane University School of Medicine (150 words):

The ability to volunteer at the various student-run clinics at Tulane University School of Medicine (TUSOM) is one reason I applied to the school. I believe working in these clinics–which include the Fleur de Vie NOLA East Clinic, Common Ground Health Clinic, and Ozanam Inn–will not only expand my clinical skill set, but also allow me to help underserved populations. Through these clinics, I can help treat those who are homeless, struggling from drug addiction, and uninsured.

TUSOM’s reputation for fostering a collaborative environment among students also appeals to me. The school’s focus on team-based learning not only allows for much communication and teamwork to occur in the classroom, but also helps students grasp the difficult medical school curriculum. From personal experience, I strongly believe that collaborating with others makes the learning process more efficient.

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Creighton Secondary Essay Example Response

Creighton usually asks its applicants to describe how they’re going to carry out the school’s mission. It’s a somewhat annoying essay because it’s difficult to reuse one of your other essays here, and it’s usually one of the longer ones. I provided my response below from a couple of years ago.

How will you use your specific attributes and experiences to reinforce the ­Creighton University School of Medicine Mission? (2000 Characters)

Mission: In the Jesuit, Catholic tradition of Creighton University, the mission of the School of Medicine is to improve the human condition with a diverse body of students, faculty, and staff who provide excellence in educating students, physicians and the public, advancing knowledge and providing comprehensive patient care.

My passion for educating others, conducting research, and caring for the “whole person” will allow me to reinforce the mission of Creighton University School of Medicine.

My passion for education began in college and continues to this day. After taking and enjoying science classes in college, I decided to tutor another undergraduate student in the areas of physics, organic chemistry, and physiology. Through these tutoring sessions, I realized how rewarding it felt to help another person gain a deeper understanding of science. As a physician, I hope to continue to educate others by helping patients understand the diseases that afflict them.

In addition to education, I am also passionate about advancing our current level of knowledge through research. When working as an undergraduate researcher, I enjoyed attempting to find solutions to unanswered questions in science, planning out my experiments, and analyzing data to support or refute my hypotheses. I hope to be able to use the analytical and critical thinking skills that I learned from this experience in future research projects as a medical student and physician.

Other experiences in college have shown me the importance of providing patients with comprehensive care. Recently, I watched a friend’s health deteriorate. His social life, ability concentrate and work, and his general outlook on life have all been affected. After seeing how a physical condition can negatively impact so many aspects of a person’s life, I have realized the necessity in caring for the social, psychological, and spiritual well being of a patient, in addition to addressing his or her physical symptoms.

As a physician, I hope to continue to educate others, advance knowledge through research, and provide patients with comprehensive care. Through these three acts, I believe I can make the most impact as a physician.

Analyzing this secondary response

It’s hard to fit three points (science, research, and comprehensive care) into this essay due to the character count. Ideally, though, I would have liked to have gone into more depth on the three points if I could have. Maybe focusing on one point instead of three would have been better.

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George Washington Secondary Example Response

George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences has a number of secondary questions. However, I personally believe the ‘why George Washington’ question is the hardest. This question forces applicants to research the school online, which takes a good amount of time.

I figured I would share my old essay from a couple of years ago when I applied to GW. Here you go:

What is your specific interest in the MD Program at GW? What opportunities would you take advantage of as a student here? Why? (2000 characters not including spaces)

Although GW offers opportunities, programs, and world-class training for its medical students in many areas, two main features of the MD program especially impress me. In particular, the school’s focus on clinical training and encouragement of the pursuit of academic areas outside of the traditional medical school curriculum allow the school to stand out.

Through the four-year-long Practice of Medicine Course, students at GW receive world-class clinical training and are provided with early clinical exposure. Beginning their first month of medical school, students at GW participate in a clinical apprenticeship, a program which allows students to observe the practice of medicine and practice their clinical skills. Furthermore, students continue their clinical training in a small group setting–through clinical integration sessions–and in various simulated settings. The innovative Clinical Learning and Simulation Skills Center (CLASS center) particularly allows students to hone their clinical skills, as they practice critical care training, procedures, and crucial skills on human patient simulators. I believe that through this extensive and early exposure to a clinical setting, medical students at GW develop much clinical expertise, technical skills, and knowledge about medicine.

Through its unique “Track Programs,” GW also allows its students to obtain a broader healthcare perspective. In particular, the health policy scholarly concentration track at GW appeals to me. During my senior year in college, I enjoyed delivering a presentation on how our former and current health policy affects underrepresented communities. As a medical student at GW, I would be able to continue to pursue my passion for learning about health policy through this track program. Furthermore, the opportunity to work with lawmakers to enact changes in our health care system would be very rewarding.

By attending GW, I would be able to take advantage of its renowned clinical training and track programs. In my opinion, these two aspects of GW would provide me with a solid, clinical foundation as well as the opportunity to explore areas like health policy that are outside of the traditional medical school curriculum. I believe that these unique experiences at GW would help me to develop into a very well-rounded, competent physician.

More notes about the secondary

Remember that you only have so much time to research the school and write this essay, as you probably have 20 other secondaries for different schools to complete as well. My advice is to browse through GW’s website, pick a few things you like about the school, and just start writing.

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Mount Sinai Secondary Response Example

Here’s another secondary essay example, this time from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Again, this is from a couple of years ago.

I unfortunately didn’t end up getting an interview at Mount Sinai. If I could go back in time, I think I would explain more about what I learned from the experience. Regardless, I still think this might be a helpful essay to look at for those applying.

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

On the first day of physiology lab, our class was divided into lab groups of three people each. The first lab consisted of isolating a sciatic nerve from a frog and later performing experiments on the nerve to obtain information about action potentials.

During the lab, one group member, Emma, insisted on carrying out the dissection and experiments herself despite my other group member’s and my repeated offers to help. After the lab, I asked my other group member, Jessica, if she similarly noticed Emma’s reluctance to let others participate in the experiment. When Jessica acknowledged the problem as well, I decided to speak with Emma about the issue.

The following week at lab, I explained to Emma our predicament. Because Jessica and I had not been able to participate fully in lab, I explained, we struggled to learn the dissection techniques and grasp important physiology concepts. I emphasized that equal contribution of group members would increase efficiency and allow all group members to learn.

Emma apologized, explaining she had simply been unaware of the situation. From this day forward, our group equally divided up laboratory responsibilities. This allowed for increased efficiency and a collaborative working environment.