University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health Secondary Essay Prompts
These are the secondary application essay prompts for University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health. To put your best foot forward and maximize your chance of an interview invitation, visit our secondary application editing page.
About University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health
Secondary Deadline: December 1, 2023
Secondary Fee: $75
FAP Waiver: Full Fee Waived
CASPer Required: No
Screens Applications: Yes
Accepts Application Updates: No
Mission
Advancing health without compromise through:
- Service: Providing the best possible patient care experience and outcomes for all those who need our services and providing programs that support the health and wellness of individuals and populations.
- Scholarship: Delivering contemporary education for current and future generations of health professionals.
- Science: Conducting a broad range of research to discover the most promising ways to promote health and to prevent, detect and treat illness in people and populations.
- Social responsibility: Doing what is best for the communities we serve through environmental sustainability, policy advocacy, health care delivery and public health.
Vision
Working together, UW Health will be a national leader in health care, advancing the well-being of the people of Wisconsin and beyond.
Values
- Integrity: Doing the right things at the right time and place. Focus on the best interests of patients. Be honest with patients, learners and each other.
- Innovation: Finding new and better ways to enhance quality of care and all aspects of our work.
- Compassion: Treat patients, families, learners and each other with kindness and empathy. Connect with patients and families individually and personally and engage them as partners in their care decisions.
- Accountability: Be individually and collectively responsible for the work we do and for the outcomes and experience of every patient, every learner, every day.
- Respect: Honor patients’ right to privacy and confidentiality. Value differences among individuals and groups. Actively listen, encourage feedback and choose the best way to deliver timely and meaningful information.
- Excellence: Strive to be the best and work continuously to improve performance and exceed expectations.
- Diversity: Foster a culture of inclusion and respect among our patients, employees, learners, and the communities we serve. Through teaching, discovery and advocacy, promote equity in access to quality health care.
2023-2024
2.Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of UWSMPH. 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 mission. (250 words)
3.Many inequities exist at the intersection between health outcomes and historical, societal, economic, or other systemic factors. Choose a broader issue or policy that impacts health outcomes where you believe change is needed to advance health equity. Discuss the role you hope to play as a physician in addressing this issue. (250 words)
4.In a paragraph (200-300 words), please share how COVID-19 impacted your application in the following domains:
- Academic
- Volunteer
- Research
- Work
- Personal Life Topics to address might include the public health lessons and health care insights learned from the pandemic, creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis, or any hardships (economic, health, or other) you faced due to the virus or its mitigation efforts (e.g. social distancing, quarantine).
2022-2023
1.The Admissions Committee is committed to holistic, mission-aligned evaluation of all applicants. Review our institution’s mission. Using specific examples, discuss how and why you believe you are a good fit for the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. (500 words max.)
2. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of UWSMPH and crucial to the education of tomorrow’s physicians. Reflect on how you would embody these values in your education or practice. (250 words max.)
3. Integrity, accountability, and compassion are UWSMPH core values. Pick one of these and reflect on your lived experience with it. (250 words max.)
4. Many inequities exist at the intersection between health outcomes and historical, societal, economic, or other systemic factors. Choose a broader issue or policy that impacts health outcomes where you believe change is needed to advance health equity. Discuss the role you hope to play as a physician in addressing this issue. (250 words max.)
5. (OPTIONAL) If germane to your overall application, please share in a brief paragraph how COVID-19 impacted your application in any of the following domains:
- Academic
- Volunteer
- Research
- Work
- Personal Life
Topics to address might include the public health lessons and health care insights learned from the pandemic, creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis, or any hardships (economic, health, or other) you faced due to the virus or its mitigation efforts (e.g. social distancing, quarantine). (250 words max.)
Required Essay for Re-applicants to UW-Madison:
Individuals who are reapplying are required to submit a statement indicating what has changed since the previous application to the UW School of Medicine and Public Health MD or MD/PhD program (e.g., additional academic work, new letters of recommendation, work and volunteer experience, life changes, etc.) (500 words)
2021-2022
1. The Admissions Committee takes many factors into consideration when reviewing your application. A successful applicant is frequently one who communicates what makes them exceptional and why they will become an outstanding physician. You are invited but not required to provide additional information in this essay. Some applicants tell us about hardships and challenges that they have faced in their lives and how these experiences have helped them become caring and compassionate individuals. Other applicants use this space to emphasize a particular passion they have related to their future career in medicine. If you are not a resident of Wisconsin, you may want to tell us why you are interested in the University of Wisconsin or about a special connection that you may have to our state or people who live here. Our goal is to gain insight into you as a unique applicant. You may include anything in this essay that you feel is relevant. (Limit response to 500 words.)
2. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values of UWSMPH. 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 mission. (250 words max.)
3. Recently, the United States has seen several incidents that have brought more focus to the intersection of patient care, public health and systemic racism. Choose one area/issue where you believe change is needed. Discuss what role you will play in addressing this as a health professional. (250 words max.)
4. In a paragraph (200-300 words), please share how COVID-19 impacted your application in the following domains:
- Academic
- Volunteer
- Research
- Work
- Personal Life
Topics to address might include the public health lessons and health care insights learned from the pandemic, creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis, or any hardships (economic, health, or other) you faced due to the virus or its mitigation efforts (e.g. social distancing, quarantine).
2020-2021
1. (Optional) In a paragraph (200-300 words), please share how COVID-19 impacted your application in the following domains:
- Academic
- Volunteer
- Research
- Work
- Personal Life
Topics to address might include the public health lessons and health care insights learned from the pandemic, creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis, or any hardships (economic, health, or other) you faced due to the virus or its mitigation efforts (e.g. social distancing, quarantine).
2. (Optional) The Admissions Committee takes many factors into consideration when reviewing your application. A successful applicant is frequently one who communicates what makes them exceptional and why they will become an outstanding physician. You are invited but not required to provide additional information in this essay. Some applicants tell us about hardships and challenges that they have faced in their lives and how these experiences have helped them become caring and compassionate individuals. Other applicants use this space to emphasize a particular passion they have related to their future career in medicine. If you are not a resident of Wisconsin, you may want to tell us why you are interested in the University of Wisconsin or about a special connection that you may have to our state or people who live here. Our goal is to gain insight into you as a unique applicant. You may include anything in this essay that you feel is relevant. (Limit response to 500 words.)
Reapplicants:
Individuals who are reapplying are required to submit a statement indicating what has changed since the previous application to the UW School of Medicine and Public Health MD or MD/PhD program (e.g., additional academic work, new letters of recommendation, work and volunteer experience, life changes, etc.). Please limit your response to 500 words.
2019-2020
Prompt has a 500-word limit.
1. The Admissions Committee takes many factors into consideration when reviewing your application. A successful applicant is frequently one who communicates what makes them exceptional and why they will become an outstanding physician. You are invited but not required to provide additional information in this essay. Some applicants tell us about hardships and challenges that they have faced in their lives and how these experiences have helped them become caring and compassionate individuals. Other applicants use this space to emphasize a particular passion they have related to their future career in medicine. If you are not a resident of Wisconsin, you may want to tell us why you are interested in the University of Wisconsin or about a special connection that you may have to our state or people who live here. Our goal is to gain insight into you as a unique applicant. You may include anything in this essay that you feel is relevant.
2018-2019
For MSTP:
1. Please describe the research that you would like to do as an MSTP student at the University of Wisconsin to prepare you for a career as a researcher and leader in medicine. This may include specific scientists, laboratories, facilities or programs. (Limit response to 500 words.)
For MSTP applicants, this will likely not be a challenging question to answer as research will be a huge part of your prior experience and your future career goals. The key here is to be specific. Do your research on existing labs, mentors, and research opportunities at the University of Wisconsin and detail those which interest you. Tie them to your prior experiences and your future career goals. If you discuss topics which were touched on in your primary application, try to approach your prior research experience from a new angle, perhaps employing anecdotes to convey a point. Make sure you answer how these opportunities will prepare you for a career in research and leadership in medicine, as the prompt asks.
For all:
2. Optional Essay
The Admissions Committee takes many factors into consideration when reviewing your application. A successful applicant is frequently one who communicates what makes them exceptional and why they will become an outstanding physician. You are invited but not required to provide additional information in this essay.
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 skills you have gained or life experiences you have had which give you a unique perspective and ability. Consider 1-2 of these traits and weave a story about them which show your unique characteristics. Specifically answer how this can contribute to your medical school class; consider the effect you might have on your peers, professors and patients.
3. Some applicants tell us about hardships and challenges that they have faced in their lives and how these experiences have helped them become caring and compassionate individuals. Other applicants use this space to emphasize a particular passion they have related to their future career in medicine. If you are not a resident of Wisconsin, you may want to tell us why you are interested in the University of Wisconsin or about a special connection that you may have to our state or people who live here.
You have 4 potential options in answering this questions:
Focus on prior adversity or hardship you have faced. What did you learn from the experience and how did it help you grow? Be sure to remain positive and not to paint yourself as a victim.
What is a particular passion or love you have? Consider art, music, sports, or other creative outlets which make you unique. How are these skills or principles translatable to a career in medicine.
Do some research on the school 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 location provides in terms of clinical experience and social experience as well. Answer why this program in particular.
Discuss personal connections you have to the program.
4. Our goal is to gain insight into you as a unique applicant. You may include anything in this essay that you feel is relevant. (Limit response to 500 words.)
As this prompt is terribly broad, think through your primary and the above secondary questions and consider if there is a strength or side of you which you have not yet detailed. Be creative and answer if appropriate.
2017-2018
1. The Admissions Committee takes many factors into consideration when reviewing your application. A successful applicant is frequently one who communicates what makes them exceptional and why they will become an outstanding physician. You are invited but not required to provide additional information in this essay.
2. Some applicants tell us about hardships and challenges that they have faced in their lives and how these experiences have helped them become caring and compassionate individuals. Other applicants use this space to emphasize a particular passion they have related to their future career in medicine. If you are not a resident of Wisconsin, you may want to tell us why you are interested in the University of Wisconsin or about a special connection that you may have to our state or people who live here.
3. Our goal is to gain insight into you as a unique applicant. You may include anything in this essay that you feel is relevant. OPTIONAL (500 words.)
2016-2017
1. The Admissions Committee takes many factors into consideration when reviewing your application. A successful applicant is frequently one who communicates what makes them exceptional and why they will become an outstanding physician. You are invited but not required to provide additional information in this essay. Some applicants tell us about hardships and challenges that they have faced in their lives and how these experiences have helped them become caring and compassionate individuals. Other applicants use this space to emphasize a particular passion they have related to their future career in medicine. If you are not a resident of Wisconsin, you may want to tell us why you are interested in the University of Wisconsin or about a special connection that you may have to our state or people who live here. Our goal is to gain insight into you as a unique applicant. You may include anything in this essay that you feel is relevant. (Limit response to 500 words.)
2. Only for previous applicants to the UW MD program. Individuals who are reapplying are required to submit a statement indicating what has changed since the previous application to the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health MD program (e.g., additional academic work, new letters of recommendation, work and volunteer experience, life changes, etc.). Please limit your response to 500 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.
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