Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts

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

about Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Secondary Deadline: November 15, 2024
Secondary Fee: $95
FAP Waiver: Yes
CASPer Required:
Screens Applications: Yes
Accepts Application Updates: Yes

Mission

Our mission is to impact the practice of medicine through discovery and education.
The pursuit of excellence requires a learning organization grounded in leadership, innovation, and compassionate care that can translate new knowledge into better human health. These attributes are interwoven by professionalism dedicated to teamwork, collegiality, and social and intellectual diversity. Such values promote the best interests of medicine and further strengthen our social contract with the community we serve.

2024-2025

1. Feinberg’s mission is to train future leaders who will serve their patients, communities and society.
Describe one specific aspect of the FSM integrated curriculum that will help you achieve your future goals within medicine and how FSM, located in Chicago, will help you achieve this professional goal. (200 word max)

2. Describe specific steps you take to manage your stress while balancing personal, educational and professional responsibilities. (200 word max)

3. POST-UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCES (if applicable): If you have one year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe both your completed activities and anticipated plans.(200 word max)

4. REAPPLICANT (if applicable): If you are reapplying to medical school, please address steps taken to enhance your application. (200 word max)

5. Do you or an immediate family member have an existing relationship with the Feinberg School of Medicine?

6. The Feinberg School of Medicine values the totality of our students’ experiences. As everyone has their own narrative, please describe how your unique experiences would enrich the Northwestern community.(200 word max)

2023-2024

All prompts have a 200 words max limit.

1. FEINBERG CURRICULUM: Describe which part (s) of Feinberg’s integrated curriculum you are most excited to engage in and best align with your learning style.

2. COPING STRATEGIES: Describe specific steps you take to manage your stress and maintain wellness while balancing personal, educational, and professional responsibilities.

3. FUTURE CAREER PLANS: Feinberg’s mission is to train future leaders in medicine who will serve their patients, communities and society. Describe one specific goal within medicine and how FSM, located in Chicago, will help you achieve this professional goal.

4. POST-UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCES (if applicable): If you have one year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe both your completed activities and future plans during the gap period.

5. REAPPLICANT (if applicable): If you are reapplying to medical school, please address steps taken to improve your application.

6. FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE RELATIONSHIP
Do you or an immediate family member have an existing relationship with Feinberg School of Medicine?

7. PERSONAL NARRATIVE: The Feinberg School of Medicine values the totality of our students’ experiences. As everyone has their own narrative, please provide more detail about how your unique experiences would enrich the Northwestern community.

2022-2023

1. PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Given the distinctive educational philosophy and integrated curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would align with the institution. (200 word max)

2. COPING SKILLS: Describe specific steps you take to manage your stress and maintain wellness while balancing personal, educational, and professional responsibilities. (200 word max)

3. FUTURE CAREER PLANS: Feinberg’s mission is to train future leaders in medicine who will serve their patients, communities and society. Describe one specific goal within medicine and how FSM, located in Chicago which is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country, will help you achieve this professional goal. (200 word max)

4. COVID-19 IMPACT: Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial or professional challenges, as well as any other relevant information. (200 word max)

5. POST-UNDERGRADUATE EXPERIENCES (if applicable): If you have a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe both your completed activities and future plans during the gap period. (200 word max)

6. REAPPLICANT (if applicable): If you are a reapplicant this cycle, please address steps taken to improve your application for medical school. (200 word max)

7. PERSONAL NARRATIVE: The Feinberg School of Medicine values diversity as a measure of excellence. We define diversity as the totality of the characteristics and experiences of our students. We believe that a diverse student body improves the educational environment and the ability of our graduates to serve an increasingly diverse patient population. Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about how your experiences would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 word max)

2021-2022

The secondary application essay prompts from this medical school application cycle are the same as above.

2020-2021

1. Given the distinctive educational philosophy and integrated curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would fit the institution, and how Feinberg School of Medicine will help you achieve your professional goals.

2. Describe the steps you take to manage your personal stress when confronted with difficult situations.

3. Feinberg’s mission is to impact the practice of medicine through discovery and education. With consideration of FSM’s goal to train future leaders in medicine, please describe your career plans and goals. Be as specific as your current thinking will allow.

4. (if applicable): If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. For REAPPLICANTS: Please also address steps taken to improve your application for medical school.

5. Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about how your experiences would enrich the Northwestern community.

6. Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial or professional barriers, as well as any other relevant information.

All questions have a 200 word limit

2019-2020

1. Given the distinctive educational philosophy and integrated curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would fit the institution.(Limit your response to 200 words)

2. Describe the steps you take to reduce your personal stress when confronted with difficult situations.(Limit your response to 200 words)

3. Feinberg’s mission is to impact the practice of medicine through discovery and education. With consideration of FSM’s goal to train future leaders in medicine, please describe your career plans and goals. Be as specific as your current thinking will allow.(Limit your response to 200 words)

4. (if applicable): If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. For REAPPLICANTS: Please also address steps taken to improve your application for medical school.(Limit your response to 200 words)

5.Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about your selections above and how you would enrich the Northwestern community.(Limit your response to 200 words)

MSTP 6. Why did you choose your undergraduate major? How does the subject appeal to you? (200 W)

7. Name a scientific paper that you have read recently that had a strong impact on you and describe what impact it had. (200 W)

8. Discuss a current unanswered question in biomedical research that you find particularly interesting and what research you would like to see done to address it. (200 W)

9. What is the most gratifying research experience you have had to date and why? What was the greatest obstacle you had to overcome in research and how did you overcome it? (200 W)

10. Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about your selections above and how you would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 W)

11. How do you envision your career after you complete your training, including residency and fellowship? What aspects of your life and career will be most satisfying? What frustrations can you envision in your future career, and how do you hope to handle them? (200 W)

12. Please describe your current research interest as you plan your research training. (200 W)

2018-2019

The secondary application essay prompts from this medical school application cycle are the same as above.

2017-2018

1. Given the distinctive educational philosophy and curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would fit the institution. (Limit your response to 200 words).

2. Describe the steps you take to reduce your personal stress when confronted with difficult situations. (Limit your response to 200 words)

4. (if applicable): If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. (Limit your response to 200 words).

5. Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about your selections above and how you would enrich the Northwestern community. (Limit your response to 200 words).

2016-2017

1. Given the distinctive educational philosophy and curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would fit the institution.
(Limit your response to 200 words)

2. Describe the coping skills (not problem solving skills) you use when confronted with difficult situations.
(Limit your response to 200 words)

3. Describe your career plans and goals. Be as specific as your current thinking will allow.
(Limit your response to 200 words)

5. A section about diversity with check boxes then:
If you wish, use this space to provide more detail about your selections above and how you would bring diversity to the Northwestern community.
(Limit your response to 200 words)

6. Do you or an immediate family member have an existing relationship with the Feinberg School of Medicine? Yes No
If the answer to the question is YES, please provide details. (Limit your response to 75 words)

Disclaimer: The information on this page was shared by students and/or can be found on the medical school’s website. Med School Insiders does not guarantee the accuracy of the information on this page.