Secondary Essay Prompts Database

Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota (Sioux Falls, SD)

These are the secondary application essay prompts for University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine. To put your best foot forward and maximize your chance of an interview invitation, visit our secondary application editing page.

Program Overview

Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota (Sioux Falls, SD)

Secondary Deadline

Two weeks after receiving secondary.

Secondary Fee

$35

FAP Waiver

Casper Required

Screens Applications

Yes

Accepts Application Updates

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Mission

The mission of the University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine is to provide the opportunity for South Dakota residents to receive a quality, broad-based medical education with an emphasis on family medicine. The curriculum is to be established to encourage graduates to serve people living in the medically underserved areas of South Dakota, and is to require excellence in the basic sciences and in all clinical disciplines. The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine is to provide to our students and the people of South Dakota excellence in education, research and service. To these ends, the school is to provide educational pathways leading to both the Doctor of Medicine and the Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Quality health care for the people of South Dakota is addressed by undergraduate, graduate and continuing educational programs as well as by basic and applied medical research.

Vision

The University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine will be a leader in educating students who with knowledge, skill and compassion dedicate their lives to the well-being of their patients, their community and their profession.

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Values

The Sanford School of Medicine should serve as a technical resource in the development of health care policy in the state and provide extension and research initiatives to improve the health care of the citizens of the state.

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Application Cycles

2026-2027

Application Cycle

All questions have a 250-word limit.

Coming Soon

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2025-2026

Application Cycle

All questions have a 250-word limit.

Coming Soon

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2024-2025

Application Cycle

All questions have a 250-word limit.

Given the mission statement of the school, please explain how your experiences and long term goals would help meet the mission. (1500 characters)

Given the diversity statement of the school, explain how your background and experiences with diversity will bring value to the school. (1500 characters)

Briefly describe a crisis or significant challenge in your life, how you have worked through the crisis or challenge, and what you have learned from this experience. (1500 characters)

[For repeat applicants only.] Since your last application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? Please note any relevant academic, employment, clinical and personal experience. (1500 characters) Optional.

For non-South Dakota residents applying to the regular MD program – please describe your ties to South Dakota. (1500 characters)

Please use the space below for anything you might wish to discuss related to the corona virus (COVID-19) public health crisis. Possible topics might include, for example: your biggest lessons and insights from the pandemic; creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis; how the pandemic has affected your outlook on the role of medicine. (5000 characters)

Please enter the city, state and date range you have resided in each location.

Example: Vermillion, SD; 1/1/1990 – 7/31/2008 Sioux Falls, SD; 8/1/2008 – 5/31/2018. Enter your residency history below. (500 characters)

2023-2024

Application Cycle

All questions have a 250-word limit.

1. Given the mission statement of the school, please explain how your experiences and long term goals would help meet the mission. (1500 characters)

2. Given the diversity statement of the school, explain how your background and experiences with diversity will bring value to the school. (1500 characters)

3. Describe how your experiences in health care or social care activities will help you become a good physician. (1500 characters)

4. Briefly describe a crisis or significant challenge in your life, how you have worked through the crisis or challenge, and what you have learned from this experience. (1500 characters)

5. What are your career plans in the event that you are not admitted to a medical school this year or after several applications? (1500 characters)

6. Please use this space to update the information contained on your AMCAS application (i.e. grades in recent courses; alterations in your proposed coursework or graduation; additions to your extracurricular activities) or anything else you want the committee to know. (1500 characters)

7. For repeat applicants only. Since your last application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? Please note any relevant academic, employment, clinical and personal experience. (1500 characters)

8. For non-South Dakota residents applying to the regular MD program – please describe your ties to South Dakota. (1500 characters)

9. Please share and explain any disruptions/hardships in your academic, volunteer, work, and/or personal life related to COVID-19 that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (5000 characters)

10. Please use the space below for anything you might wish to discuss related to the corona virus (COVID-19) public health crisis. Possible topics might include, for example: your biggest lessons and insights from the pandemic; creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis; how the pandemic has affected your outlook on the role of medicine. (5000 characters)

11. Knowledge and skill are crucial, but why should a physician be kind? (5000 characters)

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