Secondary Application
Secondary applications, or "secondaries," are sent individually from each medical school once the AMCAS application has been received and reviewed. Many schools use the AMCAS as an initial screening and then send secondaries to obtain more information from applicants in order to determine who receives an interview. Secondaries vary greatly in substance. Some require nothing more than your name and a check (average secondary charge is $70). Others entail up to 10 essays and are very time consuming.
The due date of secondaries varies by school. It is best to turn in a secondary as soon as possible after receiving it in order to move the process along.
In general, secondaries require additional essays. The key to this part of the application is creating about 6 polished essays based on the most frequently asked questions then modifying them as needed for each school's application. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions. I suggest you prepare a 0.5 to 1 page response to each.
Topic 1: Leadership
Describe the distinguishable characteristics you possess and tell us how you think these characteristics will enhance your success as a (insert school name here) medical student and future physician.
Topic 2: Diversity
At the (insert school name here) Medical School, we are committed to building a superb educational community with students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions, and backgrounds. What would you as an individual bring to our medical school community?
Topic 3: Specific Med School Interest
Indicate the reasons for your specific interest in (insert school name here) School of Medicine.
Topic 4: Personal Challenge
Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience.
Topic 5: After College Activities
Please indicate your activities for the (insert year here) year. If you are in school, please list your courses. If you are working, please describe the nature of your job.
Variation: If you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation.
Variation: What have you done since college?
Topic 6: Other Information
Please share with us something about yourself that is not addressed elsewhere in your application and which may help the Admissions Committee as we review your file.
Variation: Describe a personal experience which resulted in a substantial moral or ethical dilemma. What was the outcome? We are reluctant to accept assertions that you have never encountered such a situation. Please do not address cheating in an academic setting. Length: In general, an initial thorough edit with detailed comments requires at least one hour per 500 words. This length will vary greatly depending on essay quality.
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