Ohio State University (OSU) Secondary Essay Prompts

1. REQUIRED ESSAY FOR THOSE APPLYING TO REGULAR M.D., M.D./PhD AND THE PRIMARY CARE TRACK:
The mission statement of The Ohio State University College of Medicine is to “improve people’s lives” through innovation in research, medical education, and patient care. Please describe how your past experiences predict your potential to contribute in two of these three areas. (250 words or less)

The key to answering this question skillfully is to choose experiences that exemplify your abilities to achieve these missions without repeating what was already stated in the personal statement and primary application. This can be difficult to achieve because likely the most important experiences you had prior to applying were listed there. Two strategies can be useful:

A. Describe a prior experience from a different angle, perhaps with an anecdote that exemplifies a particular strength or skill you gained that will help you achieve the above goals. A story is a unique way to approach the same experience from a new angle.

B. Be creative in thinking of less conventional experiences that may have helped you gain these skills. Instead of research or clinical work, consider perhaps a time when you bridged a gap or resolved a dispute between disparate parties from different backgrounds. This can help show your ability to unite and lead diverse people which will help you empower your patients and provide effective patient care. This is an example of a creative approach to this question.

2. REQUIRED ESSAY FOR THOSE APPLYING TO REGULAR M.D., M.D./PhD AND THE PRIMARY CARE TRACK:
The OSU COM Admissions vision statement states that the admissions committee will assemble a class that displays “diversity in background and thought.” Why is “diversity in background and thought” a desirable characteristic for a medical school’s student body? (250 words or less)

For this answer, think about the ideals which you hold in high esteem that help a team function and allow differing groups to work together. Different viewpoints in collaboration often create a unique outcome which is stronger than it otherwise would have been in isolation. You can consider using an anecdote from an occasion on which you collaborated with someone with a differing opinion. In the end, craft an answer that fits your ideals and beliefs about this topic. A genuine answer is always strongest.

3. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED ESSAY ONLY FOR THOSE APPLYING TO THE PRIMARY CARE TRACK:
Describe the experiences you have had in Primary Care and the influences they have had on your decision to apply to the Primary Care Track three year program. (500 words or less)

This question necessitates a prior background with primary care and an interest in the field. This should be relatively straightforward for students interested in such a track. What may make your answer unique is discussing alternative primary care experiences besides the conventional medical school clinic experience. Did you institution have a free clinic? Did you work with underserved populations providing health screening or educational services in the community? This may make your answer unique. Describe how your experiences inform your overall goals in medical school and beyond.

4. ADDITIONAL REQUIRED ESSAY ONLY FOR THOSE APPLYING TO THE PRIMARY CARE TRACK:
“Health Is Primary” is a communications campaign to advocate for the values of family medicine, demonstrate the benefits of primary care, and engage patients in our healthcare system. The aim is to build a primary care system that reflects the values of family medicine, puts patients at the center of their care, and improves the health of all Americans. How do you plan to reflect the values of Family Medicine in your future career? (250 words or less)

The key here is to discuss your future career in order to specifically answer the question. It is reasonable to draw on past experiences (just be sure not to repeat your answer above) but use them to convey how you will craft your career as a primary care physician. Consider the following large roles of a primary care physician that you may strive towards: excellence in patient care, patient education, preventative health, medical student and resident education, holistic approach to medical care, collaboration with mental health providers.