2026 Medical School Secondary Essays Examples
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Our team of physician and medical student editors had the pleasure of helping students craft the following medical school secondary essays.
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“How Will You Contribute to Our School” Essay
"Academic Lapses or Breaks" Essay
Why Are Secondaries Important?
“Why This School” Essay
Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest School of Medicine.
The ending of the motto of the Moravian church, which has a strong historical connection with Winston-Salem, is “…in all things, love.” This concluding statement is an apt description of how I attempt to live my life. Wake Forest upholds such values of inclusion and love through the Lovefest tradition and programs such as the student-run DEAC Clinic. After working at free clinics in rural areas, I am committed to becoming a physician that will promote systems of care in the community. With my exposure to rural primary care, I want to use the Rural/Underserved Health experience offered to Wake Forest students through the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians to further my understanding and training in this career path. Furthermore, as an extension of working in primary care, I am interested in being a geriatrician. Wake Forest, as one of the best geriatric hospitals in the country, has a curriculum that aligns with my interests. I am confident that through research, service, and patient care, Wake Forest will shape me into a leader of rural health care for the geriatric community.
Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Wake Forest School of Medicine | Class of 2024
More Examples and Writing Tips for a Convincing Medical School "Why Us" Essay | Click Here
Adversity Essay
Describe a significant challenge you have experienced in your life, share the strategies you employed to overcome the challenge, and what you learned from the experience.
One personal adversity I have overcome is my lack of self-confidence. I was always a quiet child who grew up with two older sisters doing most of the talking. As I aged, I came out my shell to an extent and became more outgoing. I have always struggled in one particular area: public speaking. My passion for medicine grew early as I observed my eldest sister work alongside physicians during her nursing training. However, my shy nature led me to select pre-nursing as my major, since nursing does not require the ability to speak publicly like being a physician often does. I did not truly consider a career as a doctor until my anatomy and physiology professor suggested I do so after recognizing my drive, aptitude, and passion. Even so, it took introspection and time to recognize that I held the potential to become a successful physician.
Over my undergraduate career, I have participated in many group presentations during classes without the benefit of being taught how to successfully prepare. On every occasion, I would become so nervous that I was unable to sleep the entire night prior. By the time I presented, I would be so distracted that I could not think straight, let alone get my point across clearly. This went on until I had the opportunity to participate in a class called Peer Instruction in Laboratory Occupational Training (PILOT), which was an extension of a class that I had succeeded in, Quantitative Biological Methods.
PILOT was designed to expose students to research articles and assist with laboratory techniques and homework. A large part of the grade for the class consisted of teaching a laboratory section of around 40 students for 15 minutes. I almost opted out of the class because of this requirement, but ultimately decided it was a great opportunity to work through my personal fear of public speaking and build my self-confidence.
I set a schedule six weeks ahead of the presentation to begin preparing. A few helpful peers offered advice, telling me that knowing what I wanted to say verbatim was a good way to improve confidence. Thus, I practiced daily until three weeks before the class. I found another tip online: practicing in the actual location of the presentation can help reduce nerves. Subsequently, I approached one of my laboratory teaching assistants and asked if he would let me practice in the laboratory. He was an excellent teaching assistant and took the time to watch me practice and provide feedback.
Ultimately, I felt that I was able to present eloquently and received an excellent grade. Life is full of challenges, and I learned that preparation is key to success. I planned and prepared early, pulled from available resources, and implemented advice from faculty and peers. This experience taught me that I do have the aptitude, strength, and drive to succeed in medical school and overcome any obstacle that I might face. I am eager to embrace more personal growth and realize my full potential as I continue on to medical school.
Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Nova Southeastern University College Of Osteopathic Medicine | Class of 2024
More Examples and The 6 Steps for Writing the Medical School Adversity Essay | Click Here
Diversity Essay
"Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine?" If yes, briefly explain why.
I am a Muslim, Saudi woman, but I am not the preconceived notions of being close minded, uncultured, or oppressed. I’m a passionate helper, an open-minded extrovert, and a curious explorer of the world.
Though I grew up attending a school that taught me to be a leader and encouraged competition, and though travelling the world allowed me to explore new cultures, homogeneity was the ‘norm’ everywhere I went until I attended school in the US. George C. Marshall High School showed me how enriching diversity is. There, in a mixture of backgrounds and ethnicities, I was an ‘other’ among many ‘others’. The following year in Nebraska was different, and I experienced the damage of prejudice when I was the only ‘other’. My experiences drove me to work to bring different people together to give back. Years later, at NYU, this personal passion pushed me to create a volunteer tutoring nonprofit organization.
I believe the ‘other’ in me, with the uncommon background, the unique experiences, and the interesting perspectives, will contribute to the diversity of the student body at Tufts.
Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Albert Einstein College of Medicine | Class of 2024
Click here for More Examples and Steps on How to Write an Effective Medical School Diversity Essay
“How Will You Contribute to Our School” Essay
Explain how interactions with people who are different from you have shaped your worldview and relate how you would enrich the VTC community.
From my academic and work experiences, I have frequently worked with people who are different from myself. Working with students and professors from different backgrounds through college helped me appreciate different viewpoints, especially during my bioethics training. Listening to my classmate, who was a Catholic hospice nurse, explain her differing stance on end-of-life care showed me to appreciate the legitimacy of different opinions. Likewise, I learned from sociology graduate students about the issue of the medicalization of mental illness, which I had not had to consider prior to speaking and working with them. These experiences will help me contribute to the community by enabling me to approach problems from multiple lenses and to listen to and value the input of experts in different fields.
My experiences engaging with different individuals will help me to enrich the community at Virginia Tech. As a tutor, I have been able to work with students of different ages and backgrounds with unique learning goals. For example, my student, Danny, was an adult student taking classes at a community college and had failed his statistics course three times before meeting with me. Even though I had excelled in math classes during school, I was able to listen to his frustrations and identify different ways to help him learn the content and be able to apply it for quizzes and exams. I helped him navigate through the material, and he ended up passing the course comfortably. By working with a wide variety of students like Danny, I have been able to understand the importance of listening actively to individuals’ struggles and unique experiences to learn about how to best help them and I am excited to apply this skill to help future individuals.
In addition to my experiences tutoring, I have been able to interact with individuals different from myself through volunteering. For example, at Judson Park, I volunteered by helping one resident, Ron, participate in art therapy. Ron had suffered two prior strokes and was wheelchair-bound and hemiplegic. I was able to help bring him down to the art room and organize supplies for him. Ron was unique in his needs, which was why he required individualized care to be able to participate in the art therapy. He also struggled with communicating verbally due to deficits from his prior strokes. I adapted by patiently waiting for him to respond at his own pace and looking for body language cues for what he needed at the moment. He was able to make incredible art creations, showing me the resilience of differently abled individuals.
These experiences have shown me the importance of valuing everyone’s unique perspectives and utilizing that consideration and compassion to help others. I can enrich the VTC community by providing this diverse perspective to help my peers and ultimately serve the greater community as a physician.
Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: University of Virginia School of Medicine | Class of 2024
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"Future Goals" Essay
After residency, describe the community in which you see yourself practicing medicine.
Currently, I can see myself practicing medicine in a variety of clinical settings: a private specialty care system, a nonprofit medical facility, individual practice, or a different setting. I am open to all of the new experiences that medical school will bring, including exposure to a variety of clinical settings.
I have worked as a medical scribe at the largest non-profit health care provider in Seattle and have also volunteered for a private specialty hospital. Both of these experiences have exposed me to a different type of medical practice, and I have enjoyed both although in different ways. I loved the diversity of patients I encountered at the nonprofit and enjoyed experiencing different clinic visits whether for constipation or throat pain. At the specialty hospital, I was able to encounter unique and rare medical cases that I’ve only read about in books such as spina bifida or hydrocephalus. I was also able to witness the very specialized and personalized care. I am excited to explore the various clinical setting options in medical school and residency, and figure out which environment best suits my strengths and interests!
Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Stanford School of Medicine | Class of 2024
"Academic Lapses or Breaks" Essay
Use this space if you'd like to address any identified deficiencies in your application.
When I suddenly lost my father to pancreatic cancer shortly before starting college, I was confused and frustrated about my loss. Although I had dreamt of becoming a doctor since I was a little girl, I was newly unsure of whether medicine was right for me. Because I lacked a tangible goal and motivation, my studies and grades suffered during my first years of college. However, once I began volunteering at the Children’s Hospital during my sophomore year, I developed a renewed sense of appreciation and passion for medicine. I started to care a lot more about school and enjoyed learning again. I began working extremely hard in my classes, and slowly but surely, my GPA rose.
Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine | Class of 2024
"Why D.O.?" Essay
How do your professional ambitions align with osteopathic medicine?
My professional ambitions have always aligned with a medical career, ever since I observed my childhood hero and oldest sister, Brittany, work alongside physicians as a registered nurse. At the time, I was only eight years old and not yet privy to the nuances of allopathic versus osteopathic medicine.
Throughout my experiences with the medical profession as a patient and mother, I have found myself disappointed with some of the allopathic medical treatments. I have myself been treated pharmaceutically with medications and became non-compliant with my treatment due to side effects. Several years ago, I was diagnosed with herpetic neuralgia. My neurologist prescription Neurontin, which helped with the symptoms but left me in a fog. I found myself questioning whether there could be a better method.
As an undergraduate student, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to listen to a presentation by a doctor of osteopathy from Lake Eerie College of Medicine in Bradenton, FL. The speaker discussed osteopathic medicine, its principles, and manipulative medicine (OMM). He talked about a time when he bumped into an old friend who had been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. His friend’s condition was so severe that he needed a cane to ambulate independently. The D.O. performed OMM for his friend and provided him with a set of exercises to perform daily at home. Ultimately, the friend did not require the surgery his allopathic physician had recommended.
After listening to his presentation, I felt as though I had a breakthrough. I realized that I wholeheartedly supported these principles as the better solution that I had been looking for. With osteopathic medicine, I could practice medicine in a traditional manner while wielding a valuable skill set that could spare patients from invasive surgeries and pharmaceutical therapeutics causing undesired side effects.
Furthermore, while studying for the MCAT a year ago, I developed a constant waxing and waning neck pain that would radiate to my right shoulder and down my arm. This worsened over a period of four weeks, and I took increasing amounts of ibuprofen to calm the symptoms. A good friend of mine is a physical therapist who manipulated my spine and sent me home with instructions for an exercise plan. She also taught me how to self-evaluate my posture, which has been valuable in preventing additional episodes. I was incredibly impressed with the outcome of the treatment that used my own body and its muscles to treat the pain without using pharmaceuticals or leaving me with residual deficits. As such, my personal trust in natural treatments has emphasized to me that osteopathic medicine is the path I am meant to follow.
The more I learn about osteopathic medicine, the more excited I am to incorporate its principles into my future practice. I am thrilled to learn and practice medicine with a holistic approach to evaluate and treat patients. As a healthcare partner to my future patients, I feel inspired to encourage the implementation of prevention, maintenance, and natural remedies into their treatment plans.
Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine | Class of 2024
Click here for examples and tips on writing the "Why Osteopathic Medicine" secondary essay.
Why are secondary essays important?
- Schools ask these questions for a specific reason
- It's your final chance to make a strong impression
- When they're done right, you will lockdown an interview spot
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Meet Some of Your Editors
Aaron M.
Advisor · Editor
Orthopaedic Surgery · Stony Brook University Hospital
Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University
Hello applicants! I am an Orthopaedic Surgery resident at Stony Brook University Hospital with a passion for mentoring students through the medical school and residency application process. I understand firsthand how stressful and overwhelming it can be to navigate applications, personal statements, interviews, and the pressure of trying to stand out in highly competitive fields—especially when strong guidance can be difficult to find.
My goal is to make the process more approachable, strategic, and less overwhelming for applicants. I work with students to build authentic, compelling applications and essays that highlight their unique story, strengths, and experiences while helping them present themselves with confidence. Whether it’s medical school applications, ERAS, or personal statements, I aim to provide the mentorship and honest feedback I wish more students had access to during the process.
Outside of medicine, the most important part of my life is my family. My wife and I have a son and a German-Australian Shepherd mix named Ovi, after my favorite hockey player, Alex Ovechkin. One of my favorite memories was bringing our son to his first hockey game at just 8 weeks old, which happened to be the game Ovechkin broke the NHL all-time goal scoring record.
I also enjoy traveling whenever I can. My wife and I got engaged in Norway and got married in Italy. Some of our best experiences together have come from exploring new places and cultures outside of the demands of medicine. I think it’s important for students and trainees to realize that, while medicine is incredibly demanding, it’s still possible to build a fulfilling life outside the hospital and prioritize the people and experiences that matter most to you.
Aastha C., MD
Advisor · Editor
Pediatrics · Duke University Hospital
University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Adina G.
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach
Dermatology · HonorHealth
University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix
Ajibola B., MD, PhD
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach
Internal Medicine · Conway Regional Medical Center
Tulane University School of Medicine
Hello! My name is Ajibola Bakare (Aji), and I am a IM resident at the Conway Regional. I attended medical school at Tulane University School of Medicine and completed my undergraduate degree at Transylvania University, where I majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry. I also have experience serving on an admissions committee, which has given me insight into the medical school application process. I look forward to helping guide you on your journey to becoming a physician!
Akshata B.
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
Alyssa R.
Editor
Creighton University School of Medicine
I'm from San Diego, but I'm currently enjoying the change of scenery and seasons Omaha has provided. Even though I've always wanted to go into medicine, I really enjoy the Humanities, especially reading and editing, which led me to join the editing team for a journal during undergrad. I have a service dog that comes to school with me and is very popular with my classmates. I hope to encourage others with disabilities/chronic disease to pursue careers in medicine.
Aman S.
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach
Creighton University School of Medicine
Hi! My name is Aman and I am a medical student at Creighton School of Medicine - Phoenix.
After graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Human Biology and minor in Music Production from the University of Southern California in 2023, I took a gap year working in healthcare administration to learn about the business side of healthcare.
At USC, I had multiple research experiences ranging from AI-based radiomics research to wet lab stem-cell research. Additionally, I was heavily involved in the music program at USC. I studied music production/performance and facilitated community outreach programs to teach music. My "Why Medicine" was very personal and unique because it tied into my passion for music and human connection.
I have multiple years of experience serving as a mentor and peer tutor for the pre-med office at USC. I also served as a teaching assistant for the drumline at USC, helping students learn abstract rhythms note-by-note. Similarly, I look forward to helping you plan for and execute your unique path to medical school every step of the way!
Amanda M.
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach · Tutor
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
Amanda Moser is a medical student at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine with nearly two years of experience as an editor and advisor with MotivateMD. Through this role, she has worked closely with applicants to refine personal statements, secondaries, and interview strategies, helping them effectively communicate their unique stories. Her passion for mentoring stems from a strong belief that the admissions process should feel accessible and empowering rather than overwhelming. In addition to her advising work, Amanda serves as a student interviewer with the PSOM Admissions Office, where she evaluates applicants and contributes to the selection process. This dual perspective—as both an advisor and admissions participant—allows her to provide thoughtful, insider guidance tailored to what admissions committees are truly looking for.
Andrea S.
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach
Drexel University College of Medicine
I'm Andrea, a third-year medical student at Drexel University College of Medicine. I was born in Ecuador and immigrated to the United States when I was five years old and grew up in Queens, NYC. My Ecuadorian roots remain a huge part of who I am and have shaped the way I view community, family, and service. After graduating from New York University, I completed Drexel's DPMS post-baccalaureate program before matriculating into medical school, giving me a firsthand understanding of the many different paths that can lead to a career in medicine.
One of my favorite things about mentorship is getting to know people and hearing their stories. Throughout college and medical school, I have enjoyed supporting students as they navigate academics, medical school applications, career decisions, and the ups and downs that come with pursuing medicine. I believe everyone brings something valuable to the table, and I love helping students recognize the strengths and experiences that make their journeys unique.
My research has primarily focused on neuroscience and vascular surgery, and I am still exploring where my own path in medicine will ultimately lead. Along the way, I have been fortunate to find community through organizations like LMSA and through mentors who believed in me during moments when I wasn't always sure of myself.
Because my journey to medicine has not been a straight line, I understand how challenging and uncertain this process can feel. Those experiences have taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of asking for help when you need it. They have also shaped the way I mentor others, with honesty, empathy, and the belief that there is no single "right" path to becoming a physician.
I joined Motivate MD because I know how much meaningful mentorship can change someone's trajectory, and I hope to provide applicants with the same encouragement, support, and sense of community that helped me along my journey.
Andrew M. MD.
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach · Tutor
University of California, Los Angeles
Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Angelyn L.
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach
Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University
Hi! My name is Angelyn, and I’m currently an MD/MA candidate at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, where I’m also pursuing a Master’s in Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics. My interest in medicine has always been closely tied to my love for storytelling, ethics, and deeply understanding what makes each person who they are. Moreover, I’m the first in my family to pursue medicine and a child of immigrant parents, so I understand the particular challenges that can bring, and am especially passionate about supporting students who are navigating that.
I know how vulnerable it can feel to share personal writing and experiences, and I see it as a privilege to be trusted with that. Whether it’s advising, editing, or interview prep, I promise to give thoughtful, honest, and encouraging feedback, just like the support that helped me most during my own application process.
My goal is to walk alongside you to help you bring out the strongest, most authentic version of your story and make sure it comes across clearly to admissions committees. Every application is unique, and I’m excited to help you shape yours into something you’re proud of submitting. Thank you for letting me a part of this process with you!
Ansel N., MD, PhD
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach · Tutor
Radiation Oncology · MD Anderson Cancer Center
Ohio State University College of Medicine
Medical School: Ohio State University Undergrad: University of Notre Dame Dr. Nalin is a radiation oncology resident at MD Anderson Cancer Center. During medical school, he was actively involved in tutoring, mentoring, and coordinating academic programs for medical students. Dr. Nalin joined Motivate MD to utilize his teaching, leadership, and communication skills to guide students through the medical school and residency application process
Anthara G.
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach
Child Neurology · Nationwide Children's Hospital/Ohio State University
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Autumn M.
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach
Anesthesiology · Brigham & Women's Hospital
Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center
My name is Autumn and I am a first-year Anesthesiology Resident at Brigham & Women’s Hospital.
I joined Motivate MD in 2022 because I am passionate about mentoring and uplifting students as they apply to medical school and residency. My goal is to promote transparency around the application process by outlining expectations of what the process entails and creating realistic timelines that are catered to the unique needs of individual applicants. I aim to use my experiences to provide support to pre-medical and medical students, fostering hope and confidence as they pursue their journey towards becoming a physician.
Educational background: With an upbringing centered around service and a passion for working within marginalized communities, I was fortunate to embark on my undergraduate education at the University of Chicago, where I earned my Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Endocrinology and a minor in Health and Society. My passion for advocacy and service led me to Rush Medical College. With a focus on utilizing education to promote empowerment, I had the opportunity to participate in positive change at Rush and lead efforts in implementing longitudinal initiatives within the community. Through these initiatives, I learned that I can use my platform to serve as an advocate and a leader and make impactful and sustainable change. I am inspired to continue rebuilding trust, reshaping patient perspectives, and re-writing the narrative that has been written for underserved patient populations.
Bairavi M.
Advisor · Editor · Interview Coach
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hi! My name is Bairavi, and I graduated from NYITCOM in 2025 with my DO degree and a Masters in Medical and Health Care Simulation. My main goal throughout medical school was providing mental health resources for woman and children who faced domestic violence as well as advocacy efforts for better health resources for children. Currently, I am finishing up my PhD and will be moving to Philly for residency. In my free time, I love mentoring my cultural community and do various wellness events for the Tamil community in NY. Other than that, you can always see me with a matcha, a good book, and my next plane ticket out.