After submitting your primary AMCAS, AACOMAS, or TMDSAS application, the next hurdle in the medical school admissions process is secondary essays. While some schools send secondaries automatically, others review your primary application first before deciding whether to invite you to submit them. Either way, secondaries are an essential part of your application that provides admissions committees with deeper insights into your personality, experiences, and fit for their program.

At AcceptMed, we work with applicants to craft strong, memorable, and concise secondary essays that avoid redundancy while effectively showcasing their unique strengths. Many students make the mistake of repeating information from their personal statement or providing generic responses that blend in with other applicants. Instead, your goal is to write secondaries that are concise yet powerful, avoiding repetition while strategically reinforcing your key themes.

Understanding the Purpose of Secondary Essays

Secondary essays allow medical schools to:

• Assess your fit for their program – Schools want to know why you’re interested in them specifically.
• Evaluate your personal values and mission – Many secondaries ask about diversity, leadership, and resilience.
• Fill in gaps from your primary application – This is your opportunity to elaborate on key experiences.
• Test your ability to communicate effectively – Strong, concise writing is a skill every future physician needs.

Many students mistakenly approach secondary essays as a formality—but they are a crucial factor in admissions decisions. Treat them with the same dedication and strategy as your primary application.

Common Secondary Essay Prompts (and How to Approach Them)

While secondary essay prompts vary by school, there are several common themes that appear across most applications. Here’s how to approach each one:

1. Why This School? (School-Specific Essay)

What They’re Looking For:

• Schools want to know if you’ve done your research and genuinely understand their mission, curriculum, and culture.
• Generic responses like "I love the school's reputation" or "I want to help people" won’t cut it.

How to Answer Effectively:

• Mention specific programs, opportunities, or teaching philosophies that align with your goals.
• Connect your experiences to what the school offers (e.g., if the school has a strong underserved community focus, highlight your own relevant experiences).

Weak Example:
"I want to attend XYZ School because of its excellent faculty and strong research opportunities."

Strong Example:
"XYZ School’s commitment to community-based care aligns with my experience volunteering at a free clinic, where I witnessed firsthand the impact of healthcare disparities. I’m particularly drawn to the Urban Health Initiative, which would allow me to continue advocating for underserved populations."

2. Tell Us About a Challenge or Adversity You’ve Overcome

What They’re Looking For:

• Schools want to assess your resilience, problem-solving skills, and ability to grow from setbacks.

How to Answer Effectively:

• Choose a challenge that highlights personal or professional growth (academic struggles, personal hardships, or failures that led to improvement).
• Focus on how you handled the situation and what you learned, rather than just describing the challenge.

Weak Example:
"I had a tough time adjusting to college, but I worked hard and eventually did well."

Strong Example:
"During my first semester, I struggled with time management, which affected my academic performance. Recognizing the need for better organization, I developed a structured study schedule and sought mentorship, which helped me improve my GPA significantly. This experience reinforced the importance of adaptability and seeking help when needed—qualities I will carry into my medical training."

3. Diversity Essay: How Will You Contribute to a Diverse Medical Community?

What They’re Looking For:

• Medical schools value diverse perspectives and experiences—this isn’t just about racial or ethnic background but can include cultural, socioeconomic, academic, or personal diversity.

How to Answer Effectively:

• Highlight unique experiences or perspectives you bring to the table.
• Show how your background will contribute to class discussions, patient care, or medical leadership.

Weak Example:
"I value diversity and enjoy working with people from different backgrounds."

Strong Example:
"Growing up in a bilingual household, I frequently translated for family members during medical appointments. This experience deepened my understanding of language barriers in healthcare and inspired me to volunteer as a medical interpreter, where I learned the importance of clear patient-provider communication. At XYZ School, I hope to continue bridging linguistic gaps in healthcare."

4. Describe an Extracurricular That Has Prepared You for Medicine

What They’re Looking For:

• Schools want to see meaningful engagement, not just a list of activities.

How to Answer Effectively:

• Focus on impact—describe how the experience shaped your medical journey.
• Use specific examples instead of generic statements.

Weak Example:
"I volunteered at a hospital and learned a lot about patient care."

Strong Example:
"While volunteering in the hospital’s emergency department, I encountered a patient who was visibly anxious about a procedure. By explaining each step in simple terms and offering reassurance, I saw how effective communication eased patient distress. This experience reinforced my desire to become a physician who prioritizes patient education and comfort."

How to Write Concise, Non-Repetitive Secondary Essays

1. Avoid Repeating Your Personal Statement

• Each secondary essay should offer new information or a different angle on your experiences.
• If you already discussed an experience in your personal statement, focus on a different aspect of it in your secondary essays.

2. Use a Clear and Direct Writing Style

• Admissions committees read thousands of essays, so get to the point quickly.
• Use strong topic sentences and avoid filler words.

3. Stick to the Word Limit

• If a prompt allows 250 words, don’t write 500—concise, well-crafted responses show thoughtfulness and discipline.

4. Use the STAR Method for Storytelling

• Situation – Briefly describe the scenario.
• Task – What was your role?
• Action – What did you do?
• Result – What did you learn or achieve?

How to Strategically Approach Multiple Schools' Secondaries

• Pre-write Common Essay Responses – Many schools ask similar questions, so having core responses ready saves time.
• Customize Each Essay for the School – Even if a question is similar, tweak your response to align with each school’s mission and values.
• Submit Early – Secondaries are reviewed on a rolling basis, so don’t delay submission.

Medical school secondaries are your chance to go beyond your primary application and show why you’re a strong, well-rounded candidate. Writing concise, compelling essays that avoid repetition will set you apart from other applicants.

• Understand the purpose of secondaries—they provide deeper insights into your fit for a program.
• Avoid repetition—expand on different aspects of your experiences.
• Write clearly and concisely—stick to the point, use strong storytelling, and follow word limits.
• Submit secondaries as early as possible—timing can impact interview chances.

By following these strategies, you’ll write standout secondary essays that make a lasting impression on admissions committees.