University of Minnesota Twin Cities Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts

These are the secondary application essay prompts for University of Minnesota Medical School (Minneapolis). To put your best foot forward and maximize your chance of an interview invitation, visit our secondary application editing page.

About University of Minnesota Medical School

Secondary Deadline: November 15, 2023
Secondary Fee: $100
FAP Waiver: Full Fee Waived
CASPer Required: No
Screens Applications: No
Accepts Application Updates: 

Mission 

To combine our scientific and clinical strengths to deliver the best in innovative, accountable, compassionate care to our patients and to impact the field of medicine for all.

Vision 

To give the best of ourselves to create a Medical School where individuals thrive, collaborations elevate, and the best of medical practice, research and education combine to create a legacy of:

  • Excellently trained and compassionate physicians.
  • Scientists with the courage and expertise to pursue life-changing discoveries.
  • Minnesotans whose lives have been improved through the highest quality of medicine.

2023-2024

1. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of the University of Minnesota Medical School. Explain how a learning environment that embodies these values is crucial to the education of tomorrow’s physicians. Reflect on how you might contribute to this learning environment.

2. How have your individual experiences and identity shaped who you are and who you will be as a physician?

3. Describe a time when you used critical thinking to solve a problem that you encountered in any realm where you asked questions, gathered information, thought through possible solutions and their alternatives, and evaluated what you did critically. Please include in your discussion what you learned from this experience.

4. (Optional) Any other pertinent information would you like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee? This is an opportunity for you to discuss an aspect of your journey to medicine that you have not already presented in your application. You may also update us with any current experiences that were not included in your AMCAS application.

Note: The primary mission of the UMN Medical School, Duluth Campus is to educate physicians dedicated to serving rural Minnesota or Native American communities. Only complete the Rural and/or Indigenous Health questions if your application presents a strong commitment to these communities. Most candidates accepted within the context of the Duluth Campus mission will be placed on that campus.

5. (Optional) The University of Minnesota Medical School is dedicated to educating future physicians who have demonstrated an interest in serving patients and families in rural Minnesota. Reflect on what “rural Minnesota community” means to you. Describe your experience in and ties to rural Minnesota areas. What do you view as the greatest healthcare practice needs in rural Minnesota, and how will your future practice help fill these needs?

6. (Optional) The University of Minnesota Medical School is dedicated to educating future physicians who have demonstrated an interest in serving Indigenous communities. Describe your experience in and ties to Indigenous communities. What do you view as the greatest healthcare needs in Indigenous communities, and how will your future practice help fill these needs?

2022-2023

This year there will be one unified application for both U of Minnesota locations. As part of the secondary app process, you will be asked which campus you prefer, Twin Cities or Duluth.

1. Our physicians pride themselves on giving outstanding care to patients, while looking for better and more equitable ways to do so. As you think about being a future physician and advocate for patients, describe a time when you advocated for someone or something. What did you learn from this situation?

2. Describe a time when you experienced an obstacle, challenge or failure. How did it affect you? What did you learn?

3. Describe a time when you personally experienced, observed, or acted with explicit bias. What did you learn about yourself and the experience?

4. Our families and communities tend to shape our individual worlds and perceptions. Think about the communities that you are an active part of, whether it be a cultural group, family, religious group, neighborhood, etc. Describe the world that you are most comfortable in and how it has shaped who you are. How will this impact your future as a physician and the patients you will serve?

5. Why do you want to go to medical school in the state of MN? (Consider the state of Minnesota and its population.)

6. The COVID-19 pandemic has created innumerable challenges, loss, and uncharted territory in public health. Describe your thoughts, feelings, and experiences with navigating COVID-19. Please tell us what impact, if any, this has had on your path to medical school.

7. The University of Minnesota Medical School is committed to building an anti-racist community. Please share your reflections on, experiences with, and greatest lessons learned about systemic racism. (Consider this country’s history, racism, racial injustice, anti-black racism, and the impact of the murder of Mr. George Floyd on the Minnesota/Twin Cities community).

8. How will your unique attributes (religion, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, ideology, intellectual heritage, and/or experiences) add to the overall diversity of the University of Minnesota Medical School community?

9. What other pertinent information would you like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee? This is an opportunity for you to discuss an aspect of your journey to medicine that you have not already presented in your application. You may also update us with any current experiences that were not included in your AMCAS application. (Optional; 900 character maximum)

2021-2022

All prompts have a limit of 1500 characters unless otherwise specified:

1. Tell us about a time when you recovered from a non-academic setback. How did you identify the setback and what steps did you take to recover?

2. Tell us about a time when you played a role in improving a process. How did you identify the areas for improvement and what steps did you take to change the process?

3. Tell us about a time when you observed, personally experienced, or acted with implicit or explicit bias. If you observed or personally experienced implicit or explicit bias what did you do to address this situation or what would you do in the future? If you were implicitly or explicitly biased how did you become aware of this and what did you do to address the situation or what will you do in the future? Through either situation we are interested in what you learned.

4. Please tell us about your identity. How has your identity impacted the development of your values and attitudes toward others, particularly those with values different from your own? Please include how your values and attitudes will foster a positive learning environment during your training and benefit your future patients through the practice of medicine.

5. Why do you want to go to medical school in the state of MN? (This question seeks to understand why you are interested in the state of MN not the University of Minnesota.)

6. What other pertinent information would you like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee? This is an opportunity for you to discuss an aspect of your journey to medicine that you have not already presented in your application. You may also update us with any current experiences that were not included in your AMCAS application. (900 char.) OPTIONAL

7. If you are not submitting an MCAT score with your application, briefly explain why. This question is required of any applicant who will ultimately not include an MCAT score in their application. OPTIONAL

8. 2020 has proven to be unprecedented times and uncharted territory in global health. Please feel free to share with us your thoughts and experiences with navigating Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). This could include the barriers you have faced in applying to medical school this cycle, feelings of complicated grief and loss, thoughts on the role of health care professionals, challenges associated with racial health inequities as more Black and Brown people are disproportionately impacted, or other reflections on living through a global pandemic crisis. OPTIONAL

9. Right now is a watershed moment in American history and this country’s reckoning with race, racism, racial injustice, and especially anti-Black hatred. If you feel comfortable, we welcome you to please share with us your reflections on, experiences with, and greatest lessons learned about systemic racism that is receiving international attention with the murders of numerous Black, Indigenous, and People of Color including but not limited to George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Vanessa Guillen, Rayshard Brooks, and Elijah McClain. OPTIONAL

2020-2021

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

2019-2020

1. Please describe your experiences with intentionally expanding your cultural awareness in an effort to promote acceptance, respect, and inclusivity. (1500 Characters)

2. Reflect on your background and the impact it has had on developing your own values and attitudes toward others, particularly those with values different than your own. Please include how your values and attitudes will foster a positive learning environment during your training, and benefit your future patients through the practice of medicine. (1500 Characters)

3. Beyond what you have shared in question two, please share information about important aspects of your personal background or identity as it relates to your desire to pursue medicine. Examples might include, but are not limited to, cultural context, disabilities, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, lived experiences, race/ethnicity, religion or spirituality, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. (This question is not required.)

4. If you have a specific interest in the study or practice of medicine please share it here. Please include specific experiences that have informed your interest. (This question is not required.)

5. Please describe a challenging life experience and how you dealt with it. (1500 Characters)

6. Briefly describe why you are interested in attending the University of Minnesota Medical School Twin Cities campus. (1500 Characters)

7. Are you a resident of the state of Minnesota?

8. If you selected OTHER, please provide a brief explanation as to why.

9. If you are a non-resident applicant, do you have any special or significant ties to the state of MN? (Non-resident applicants are not required to have ties to MN and this question is not required.)

10. Please explain any gaps in your education and/or work experiences since high school graduation that are not previously described in your application. (300 characters)

11. Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor and/or felony?

12. If YES, you must include a full explanation below.

13. What other pertinent information would you like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee? This is an opportunity for you to discuss or highlight any aspect of your journey to medicine that you may or may not have already presented in your application. Â You may also update us with any current experiences that were not included in your AMCAS application. (This question is not required.)

14. If you are a re-applicant, how has your current application changed or what additional information would you like to highlight for the Admissions Committee? Re-applicant refers to having applied to any medical school in the past. (This question is not required unless you are a re-applicant.)

2018-2019

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

2017-2018

1. The University of Minnesota strives to ensure diverse educational experiences that promote acceptance, respect and inclusivity. Please describe your experiences with diversity and diverse groups of people. Reflect on your background and the impact it has had on developing your own values and attitudes toward others. Please include how your values and attitudes will foster a positive learning environment during your training, and benefit your future patients through the practice of medicine. (max: 1500)

2. Please share information about important aspects of your personal background or identity as it relates to your desire to pursue medicine. Examples might include, but are not limited to, cultural context, disabilities, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, lived experiences, race/ethnicity, religion or spirituality, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. (This question is not required.)

*3. Tell us about your most significant accomplishment to date. ( max: 1500)

*4. Please describe a challenging life experience and how you dealt with it. (max: 1500)

*5. Briefly describe why you are interested in attending the University of Minnesota Medical School Twin Cities campus. (max: 1500)

*6. Are you a resident of the state of Minnesota? Yes No Other

7. If you selected OTHER, please provide a brief explanation as to why. (max: 1500)

8. If you are a non-resident applicant, do you have any special or significant ties to the state of MN? (Non-resident applicants are not required to have ties to MN and this question is not required.) (max: 1500)

*9. Please explain any gaps in your education and/or work experiences since high school graduation that are not previously described in your application. (max: 300)

10. Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor and/or felony?* Yes No

11. If YES, you must include a full explanation below.

12. What other pertinent information would you like to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee? This is an opportunity for you to discuss or highlight any aspect of your journey to medicine that you may or may not have already presented in your application. You may also update us with any current experiences that were not included in your AMCAS application. (This question is not required.) (max: 900)

13. If you are a re-applicant, how has your current application changed or what additional information would you like to highlight for the Admissions Committee? Re-applicant refers to having applied to any medical school in the past. (This question is not required unless you are a re-applicant.) (max: 900)

2016-2017

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

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.

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