After submitting your primary AMCAS or AACOMAS application, the next step on your journey to medical school is writing secondary essays. Secondary essays are a crucial part of your application because they allow you to address specific aspects of your candidacy and demonstrate how well you align with each medical school’s mission. To make your secondary essays stand out, you need a thoughtful approach, clear writing, and an understanding of what admissions committees are looking for.

At AcceptMed, our team of Harvard Medical School physicians can help you navigate the process with personalized guidance. Whether you need help brainstorming ideas, structuring your essays, or polishing the final drafts, we’re here to ensure your secondary applications reflect your strengths and potential. 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to craft compelling secondary essays that can help you stand out in a competitive applicant pool.

Understand the Purpose of Secondary Essays

Medical school secondary essays give admissions committees a chance to learn more about you beyond your primary application. While the primary application showcases your academic achievements, clinical experience, and personal background, secondary essays dig deeper into your motivations, values, and alignment with the school’s mission.

Secondary essay prompts can vary from school to school, but common themes include:

• Why this medical school?
• How will you contribute to our program?
• Describe a challenge you’ve overcome.
• Discuss your experiences with diversity.

The goal is to provide insights that personalize your application and help the admissions committee understand why you’re a great fit for their school.

Organize Your Secondary Essay Process

Secondary applications often arrive in bulk and come with tight deadlines, so it’s important to stay organized and manage your time effectively.

• Create a Timeline: As soon as you receive secondary applications, create a schedule to ensure you complete each essay well before the deadline. Don’t rush the process—quality is more important than speed.
• Prioritize Schools: Tackle your top-choice schools first, but don’t neglect others. A well-organized system can help you avoid burnout and ensure every essay is polished.
• Use a Spreadsheet: Track each school’s prompts and deadlines. Include columns for essay word count limits, key themes, and submission dates.

Tailor Each Essay to the Specific School

One of the most important rules of secondary essays is to avoid generic responses. Each essay should be tailored to the school’s specific mission, values, and programs. Admissions committees want to see that you’ve researched their school and have genuine reasons for applying.

• Research the School: Before writing your essay, explore the school’s website, curriculum, unique programs, and mission statement. Identify specific aspects that resonate with your interests and career goals.
• Align with the Mission: Many schools have a particular focus, whether it’s serving underserved populations, promoting research, or fostering diversity. Highlight how your background and aspirations align with these values.
• Show Genuine Interest: Schools want to know why you’re applying to their specific program. Avoid vague statements and give concrete examples of why you’d be a great fit.

Be Concise and Direct

Secondary essays often come with strict word or character limits, so you need to make every word count. Admissions committees read hundreds of essays, so a clear, concise, and direct approach is best.

• Stay Focused: Answer the prompt directly without veering off-topic. Use specific examples and avoid unnecessary fluff.
• Use Simple, Powerful Language: Avoid overly complex language or trying to sound impressive with jargon. Focus on being authentic and clear.
• Follow the Word Limit: Going over the word limit can hurt your chances, as it suggests you didn’t follow instructions. Stick to the guidelines while ensuring your response is complete.

Address Weaknesses Thoughtfully

Some secondary essays ask you to discuss a challenge or address any weaknesses in your application. This can feel intimidating, but it’s an opportunity to show resilience and growth.

• Acknowledge Weaknesses Honestly: Whether it’s a low MCAT score, a gap in your academic record, or a lack of clinical experience, don’t shy away from discussing weaknesses. Instead, address them head-on.
• Focus on Growth: The key is to highlight how you’ve grown from these challenges. Show how you’ve learned from your experiences and become a stronger candidate.
• Avoid Making Excuses: Take responsibility for your actions and decisions, but demonstrate how you’ve overcome adversity or improved in areas where you were lacking.

Reflect on Personal Experiences with Depth

Many secondary prompts ask you to reflect on personal experiences, especially those that shaped your decision to pursue medicine. Use these essays to highlight moments that influenced your journey.

• Be Authentic: Admissions committees can tell when an essay feels forced or inauthentic. Share genuine stories and emotions that give insight into your character and motivations.
• Use Specific Examples: Instead of general statements like "I want to help people," dive into specific experiences where you directly impacted someone’s life or learned important lessons.
• Show Reflection: It’s not enough to just list experiences. Reflect on how these experiences shaped your values, perspective, and commitment to medicine.

Address Diversity in a Meaningful Way

Many medical schools include a prompt about diversity, asking how your background, experiences, or identity will contribute to the school’s community. This essay is your chance to showcase what makes you unique.

• Think Beyond Ethnicity: While diversity can include race and ethnicity, it can also include socioeconomic background, life experiences, language skills, or personal challenges.
• Highlight Unique Contributions: Explain how your background or experiences will enhance the school’s learning environment or patient care approach.
• Be Respectful and Thoughtful: When discussing sensitive topics like race or inequality, it’s important to approach the subject with respect and humility.

Proofread and Edit Carefully

A well-written essay can be undermined by grammatical errors, awkward phrasing, or unclear structure. Before submitting your essays, take time to proofread and revise them carefully.

• Read Aloud: Reading your essays aloud can help you catch awkward sentences or unclear ideas.
• Get Feedback: Ask a trusted advisor, mentor, or admissions consultant to review your essays. A fresh set of eyes can help identify areas for improvement.
• Check for Consistency: Ensure your tone and message are consistent across all essays. Each essay should contribute to a cohesive narrative about who you are and why you’re a strong candidate.

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