University of Virginia School of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts

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

About University of Virginia School of Medicine

Secondary Deadline: Mid December
Secondary Fee: $80
FAP Waiver: Full Fee Waived
CASPer Required: No
Screens Applications: No
Accepts Application Updates: Yes

Mission 

At the University of Virginia School of Medicine, our primary purpose is to educate and train physicians and scientists to help people achieve healthy, productive lives and to advance knowledge in the medical sciences.

2023-2024

1. Please briefly describe how the pandemic impacted your ability to pursue experiences like clinical work, shadowing, research, or community service.

2. Please list any and all future activities in clinical work, shadowing, research, or community service that you plan to pursue in the upcoming year.

3. Why are you interested in attending the University of Virginia School of Medicine? What factors will be most important to you in choosing a medical school? Please answer the question in 350 words or less.

4. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and the University of Virginia School of Medicine? Please answer the question in 350 words or less.

5. Describe a situation which you found challenging. How did you manage it? Please answer the question in 350 words or less.

2022-2023

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

2021-2022

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

2020-2021

All have a limit of 350 words or less:

1.Why are you interested in attending the University of Virginia School of Medicine? What factors will be most important to you in choosing a medical school?

The first step to answering this question is doing some research on the program website to understand some of its nuances. Is it very strong in a particular field of research, or perhaps in community clinical work for the underserved? If one of these aspects aligns with your strengths or interests, explain how you are a great fit for this reason. Outline how these opportunities will help you grow toward your career goals as you envision them. Think about the opportunities the city provides in terms of clinical experience and social experience as well. Make sure you answer the second component of the question which is what parts of a medical school will be most important for your decision.

2. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and the University of Virginia School of Medicine?

Start by brainstorming what is unique about your background. Is it your place of birth, your family, your culture, or you path to medicine? Also consider prior adversity you have had to overcome and how that has shaped your values. Consider 1-2 of these experiences and weave a story about them which show your unique characteristics. Specifically answer how this can contribute to your medical school class and the diversity of thought/experience within it. Consider the effect you might have on your peers, professors and patients.

3. Describe a situation which you found challenging. How did you manage it?

Consider again a scenario when you had a personal struggle which you overcame. What were times in your life you almost quit but did not? Which accomplishments required particular perseverance? Once you have chosen the experience, make sure there is a lesson you learned that you can explain. How did you grow as a person? Consider focusing on the following traits for growth: dedication, perseverance, discipline, interpersonal skills, leadership. FInally, be sure to discuss what skills and coping mechanisms you used to deal with this challenge and what that shows about your character.

2019-2020

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

2018-2019

All have a limit of 350 words or less:

1.Why are you interested in attending the University of Virginia School of Medicine? What factors will be most important to you in choosing a medical school?

The first step to answering this question is doing some research on the program website to understand some of its nuances. Is it very strong in a particular field of research, or perhaps in community clinical work for the underserved? If one of these aspects aligns with your strengths or interests, explain how you are a great fit for this reason. Outline how these opportunities will help you grow toward your career goals as you envision them. Think about the opportunities the city provides in terms of clinical experience and social experience as well. Make sure you answer the second component of the question which is what parts of a medical school will be most important for your decision.

2. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and the University of Virginia School of Medicine?

Start by brainstorming what is unique about your background. Is it your place of birth, your family, your culture, or you path to medicine? Also consider prior adversity you have had to overcome and how that has shaped your values. Consider 1-2 of these experiences and weave a story about them which show your unique characteristics. Specifically answer how this can contribute to your medical school class and the diversity of thought/experience within it. Consider the effect you might have on your peers, professors and patients.

3. Describe a situation which you found challenging. How did you manage it?

Consider again a scenario when you had a personal struggle which you overcame. What were times in your life you almost quit but did not? Which accomplishments required particular perseverance? Once you have chosen the experience, make sure there is a lesson you learned that you can explain. How did you grow as a person? Consider focusing on the following traits for growth: dedication, perseverance, discipline, interpersonal skills, leadership. FInally, be sure to discuss what skills and coping mechanisms you used to deal with this challenge and what that shows about your character.

For MSTP applicants, there is also a fourth essay of 350 words or less with the following prompt:

Below, please briefly discuss:

a) the areas of biomedical research that interest you the most and why.

b) the discovery in your laboratory experience that excited you the most and why.

For MSTP applicants, this will likely be a straightforward essay to answer as research will be a huge part of your prior experience and your future career goals. The key here is to discuss topics which were likely touched on in your primary application without repeating yourself. Try to approach your prior research experience from a new angle, perhaps employing anecdotes to convey a point. Answer what interests you most and why as well as what personal scientific findings was most thrilling and why. Be honest and let your voice shine. Show your passion for what you have done. At the same time, maintain humility and subtlety as this always reflects well.

2017-2018

All 3 of the essays have a word limit of 350 words.

1. Why are you interested in attending the University of Virginia School of Medicine? What factors will be most important to you in choosing a medical school?

2. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and the University of Virginia School of Medicine?

3. Describe a situation which you found challenging. How did you manage it?

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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