Secondary Essay Prompts Database

University of Illinois College of Medicine (Chicago, IL)

These are the secondary application essay prompts for University of Illinois College of Medicine. To put your best foot forward and maximize your chance of an interview invitation, visit our secondary application editing page.
Program Overview

University of Illinois College of Medicine (Chicago, IL)

Secondary Deadline
October 31, 2025
Secondary Fee
$100
FAP Waiver
Yes
Casper Required
No
Screens Applications
Yes
Accepts Application Updates
Yes
Mission

The mission of the University of Illinois College of Medicine is to enhance the health of the citizens of Illinois and the nation by educating physicians and biomedical scientists, advancing knowledge in health and disease, and providing healthcare in a setting of education and research.

Through a college-wide planning effort, we have developed our College of Medicine Overarching Goals within each of the three mission areas.

Vision
  • Excellence everywhere – in research, education and clinical work.
  • Collaboration with all who can advance our mission at UIC and UIUC, the medical district and other institutions world-wide.
  • Diversity- in all its forms from students, to areas of research to collaborative partners- as a means to a higher quality of health care for all.

Values
  • Innovation and Translation of new knowledge and new approaches to disease and health care delivery.
  • Integrity and Commitment to the people we work with as patients, research subjects, communities and our own students, faculty and staff.
  • The Promise of Hope for our patients and supporters by striving toward cures for diseases that have plagued humankind for millennia.

Application Cycles
2026-2027
Application Cycle
All questions have a 250-word limit.

(questions 1-5 required, #6,7 if applicable)
“No character limit is indicated, brevity is typically appreciated by schools as rule of thumb”

1. What characteristics, qualities, or attributes do you possess that have helped you to deal with conflict and change?

2. Which characteristics, qualities, or attributes of UICOM attracted you to apply for medical school here?

3. An important part of UICOM’s identity is the concept of “one college, three campuses.” The curriculum is identical on each campus; however, each campus has unique characteristics. Please describe what you have learned about at least two of our three campuses.

4. What are some of the causes and consequences of prejudice and injustice? What does an individual’s response to prejudice and injustice reveal about their character? What is the role of a bystander who witnesses prejudice or injustice?

5. UICOM values a wide range of perspectives. Describe an aspect of your own perspective, value system, or lived experience that is important to you and how it would contribute to the diverse and collaborative community at UICOM.

6. Have you applied for admission to medical school previously? Yes/No
If you are reapplying this year please describe what you have done during the past year.

7. Have you ever matriculated into and not completed a professional/graduate program? Yes/No
Please describe the circumstances of why you did not complete the program of study.

2025-2026
Application Cycle
All questions have a 250-word limit.

(questions 1-5 required, #6,7 if applicable)
“No character limit is indicated, brevity is typically appreciated by schools as rule of thumb”

1. What characteristics, qualities, or attributes do you possess that have helped you to deal with conflict and change?

2. Which characteristics, qualities, or attributes of UICOM attracted you to apply for medical school here?

3. An important part of UICOM’s identity is the concept of “one college, three campuses.” The curriculum is identical on each campus; however, each campus has unique characteristics. Please describe what you have learned about at least two of our three campuses.

4. What are some of the causes and consequences of prejudice and injustice? What does an individual’s response to prejudice and injustice reveal about their character? What is the role of a bystander who witnesses prejudice or injustice?

5. UICOM values a wide range of perspectives. Describe an aspect of your own perspective, value system, or lived experience that is important to you and how it would contribute to the diverse and collaborative community at UICOM.

6. Have you applied for admission to medical school previously? Yes/No
If you are reapplying this year please describe what you have done during the past year.

7. Have you ever matriculated into and not completed a professional/graduate program? Yes/No
Please describe the circumstances of why you did not complete the program of study.

2024-2025
Application Cycle
All questions have a 250-word limit.

1. What characteristics, qualities, or attributes do you possess that have helped you to deal with conflict and change?

2. Which characteristics, qualities, or attributes of UICOM attracted you to apply for medical school here?

3. An important part of UICOM’s identity is the concept of “one college, three campuses.” The curriculum is identical on each campus; however, each campus has unique characteristics. Please describe what you have learned about at least two of our three campuses.

4. What are some of the causes and consequences of prejudice and injustice? What does an individual’s response to prejudice and injustice reveal about their character? What is the role of a bystander who witnesses prejudice or injustice?

5. UICOM values a wide range of perspectives. Describe an aspect of your own perspective, value system, or lived experience that is important to you and how it would contribute to the diverse and collaborative community at UICOM.

6. Have you applied for admission to medical school previously? Yes/No

If you are reapplying this year please describe what you have done during the past year.

7. Have you ever matriculated into and not completed a professional/graduate program? Yes/No

Please describe the circumstances of why you did not complete the program of study.

2023-2024
Application Cycle
All questions have a 250-word limit.

1. What characteristics, qualities, or attributes do you possess that have helped you to deal with conflict and change?

2. Which characteristics, qualities, or attributes of UICOM attracted you to apply for medical school here?

3. An important part of UICOM’s identity is the concept of “one college, three campuses.” The curriculum is identical on each campus; however, each campus has unique characteristics. Please describe what you have learned about at least two of our three campuses.

4. What are some of the causes and consequences of prejudice and injustice? What does an individual’s response to prejudice and injustice reveal about their character? What is the role of a bystander who witnesses prejudice or injustice?

5. UICOM values a wide range of perspectives. Describe an aspect of your own perspective, value system, or lived experience that is important to you and how it would contribute to the diverse and collaborative community at UICOM.

6. Have you applied for admission to medical school previously?

Yes/No

If you are reapplying this year please describe what you have done during the past year.

7. Have you ever matriculated into and not completed a professional/graduate program?

Yes/No

Please describe the circumstances of why you did not complete the program of study.

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