case western reserve university supplemental essays 2023

Conquering the Case Western Reserve University Supplemental Essays

When applying to Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), a highly ranked and innovative research institution, there's more to consider than just the common application. As part of the process, applicants need to respond to a set of supplemental essays specific to CWRU. These essays allow you to demonstrate your interest in the university and how you see yourself contributing to the CWRU community.

In this blog post, we will provide tips and strategies for each prompt and how best to approach them. Remember, the key is to be genuine and let your unique personality shine through.

Prompt 1: Why are you attracted to your chosen field of study?

This prompt is a classic "Why Major?" question. You should focus on detailing your journey towards choosing your major. Include any personal experiences, academic interests, and long-term goals related to this field. Show a clear understanding of what studying this field at CWRU entails and how it aligns with your aspirations.

Ever since I dismantled my first radio at the age of seven, my curiosity for how things work was ignited. My high school physics class transformed this curiosity into a passion for Electrical Engineering. Understanding the principles behind circuits and signals was captivating. My internship at a local tech startup solidified my decision. There, I applied classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, furthering my fascination for the field. The innovative environment at CWRU, especially the pioneering research at the Case School of Engineering, aligns with my ambitions. I am particularly intrigued by Professor X’s work on sustainable energy systems. Studying Electrical Engineering at CWRU would offer me the blend of theoretical foundation and practical experience, helping me realize my goal of designing efficient and sustainable energy solutions.

Prompt 2: How have you contributed to your high school and/or local community?

CWRU values students who can contribute positively to their community. In this prompt, discuss any experiences where you made a significant impact, be it a school club, local charity, or a personal project. The key is to highlight your initiative, leadership, and commitment to improving the lives of others.

During my sophomore year, I founded a coding club at my high school. I noticed a lack of resources for students interested in programming, and I aimed to fill that gap. We started with five members and expanded to over thirty in two years. We created an inclusive environment where students could explore coding at their own pace. I organized weekly meetings, coding challenges, and guest lectures from local tech professionals. Additionally, we developed an app to connect local charities with volunteers, demonstrating our commitment to the local community. My work with the coding club gave me the satisfaction of providing a learning space for my peers and contributing positively to my community.

Optional Prompt: Is there anything else you would like us to know?

Only respond to this prompt if there's a significant aspect of your profile not covered elsewhere in the application. This could include overcoming personal hardships, unique life experiences, or explaining any inconsistencies in your academic record. Keep it concise and relevant.

During my junior year, my grades experienced a slight dip due to health issues. I was diagnosed with mononucleosis and had to miss school for a month. It was a challenging period as I juggled between recovery and keeping up with my academic commitments. However, I used this experience to develop resilience and adaptability. I caught up with my curriculum through extra classes and self-study. This experience, though tough, has made me more resilient, and I am confident in my ability to overcome future challenges.

Specific School Prompts:

If you're applying to a specific program, such as the Pre-Professional Scholars Program or the Integrated BS/MS Program, you will have additional prompts. These require more specific responses demonstrating your interest and aptitude for the selected program.

Now, let's talk about how to make the most of your word limit for each essay. Aim to be detailed but concise. Provide personal anecdotes where possible to add a narrative element and make your essay engaging.

Optimization of your essays to rank higher is crucial. Here are some key words and phrases related to CWRU to consider:

Case Western Reserve University
Community involvement
Pre-Professional Scholars Program
Integrated BS/MS Program

Remember, these keywords should be used naturally and contextually. They are meant to enhance your content, not to be used as filler.

Writing college essays can feel daunting, but remember that they are just another opportunity to showcase who you are and what you bring to the table. Be authentic, be reflective, and most importantly, be you!

Best of luck with your CWRU application!

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2 Great Case Western Reserve Essay Examples

What’s covered:, essay example 1 – personal statement, essay example 2 – pre-professional scholars program.

Where to Get Your Case Western Essays Edited

Case Western Reserve is a highly-selective college in Ohio. With small class sizes and an abundance of eager applicants, it’s important that your application stands out with strong essays. In this post, we’ll share real essays students have submitted to Case Western, and share what they did well and how they could be made even better. (Names and identifying information have been changed, but all other details are preserved).

Please note: Looking at examples of real essays students have submitted to colleges can be very beneficial to get inspiration for your essays. You should never copy or plagiarize from these examples when writing your own essays. Colleges can tell when an essay isn’t genuine and will not view students favorably if they plagiarized.

Read our Case Western essay breakdown to get a comprehensive overview of this year’s supplemental prompts.

Prompt: In the college application process, you are constantly prompted for a list of your achievements, awards, and accomplishments. While this information is useful to us, we are interested in hearing more about you. Describe an event, achievement, or experience of which you are particularly proud but that will not show up on a resume, may not garner any recognition, and does not appear anywhere else on your admission application. (700 words)

My Senegalese side of the family had always told me that I couldn’t dance because I had inherited a terrible rhythm from my English father. While they were right, I was devastated as this small fact utterly destroyed my hopes of being sprayed with one-dollar bills on the dance floor. Because I couldn’t follow a rhythm to save my life, I was missing out on an essential part of my culture– because Senegalese people live to dance. We’ll find any excuse to blast some P-Square whether it be high school graduation, a Senegalese traditional wedding, or even a fifteen-year-old’s birthday party.

However, one Christmas eve, everything changed for me. It was my brother’s birthday dinner, and my cousins ate their jollof rice. “Don’t Jealous Me” from Black is King summoned my brother from his place in front of his food, and he pulled out his trademark dance move. Being the birthday boy, my grandpa started spraying him with cash. At that moment, I knew that I needed to overcome my lack of rhythm and make some money.

I made my way over to our makeshift dance floor.

“Oh, Katie’s got some moves!” My aunt cheered for me. A few minutes later, my uncle announced that the first annual inter-cousin dance competition was about to begin. My growing confidence in my spectacular dance moves fueled a familiar sense of competitiveness in a whole new setting. I was going to win this competition, no matter what.

I danced and danced to Yemi Alade, the Black is King soundtrack, and more P-Square for what felt like hours, surrounded by my sweaty cousins all jumping for the dollar bills my grandpa was still spraying. But, at this point, all I cared about was winning. When the music finally stopped, my aunt called for a speech from each competitor on why they deserved to win.

My turn for a speech arrived, and I paused dramatically.

“All my life, you all have told me that I would never be able to dance because of my English genes. Today I proved you all wrong.” I then proceeded to exclaim why I deserved to win more than my brother and everyone else.

When everyone finished their speeches and my relatives had concluded their final debates on the winner, they called us over.

“The winner is… Katie!”

The feeling of pride I felt at this moment was more rewarding than any National Latin Exam award or lacrosse game win. Despite the adamant protests of my siblings and cousins, the validation I had gained at being able to relate to my Senegalese heritage was something that I will never forget.

What the Essay Did Well

This is a good essay for two main reasons: the topic was perfect for this prompt and this student brought the reader into the action with her.

To begin with, this prompt specifically asks to learn something about the applicant that isn’t anywhere else on their application. It would be a mistake to simply expand on an activity that’s already listed on her resume, but this student smartly wrote about something completely separate from the rest of the application. Focusing on her heritage and a family celebration allowed her to explain her background, demonstrate the importance of family, and show us her internal conflict.

Her topic is also very focused which works in this essay’s favor. The essay tells the story of a singular Christmas dinner and the dance competition she partook in. Honing in on this one night allowed for the inclusion of more details and personal reflection, both of which are essential for a good essay.

This student’s use of specific details really helps to bring the readers into the story. Since we have never been to her family celebrations, understanding what it sounds, looks, and tastes like lets us appreciate the deeper aspects of the story. Telling us about the jollof rice, the specific songs and artists that were playing, and including direct quotes makes the story come to life.

What Could Be Improved

This essay could be improved further with more elaboration on what drives this student. She included background about her dual-heritage, but we don’t fully understand how isolated she felt from her Sengalese culture. Is it just dancing that makes her feel left out? Does she feel like she is being torn between two cultures and doesn’t have a place in either of them? Delving into these deeper questions would provide great personal depth and self-reflection that would reveal a lot to the admissions committee.

Additionally, she tells us that she is competitive, but we don’t really understand what drives this competition. We get the sense from this essay that this student is a generally competitive person, but where did that come from and how does it motivate them? Building on questions like these, providing more depth and context for the essay, would make this response even better.

Prompt: By applying to the Pre-Professional Scholars Program, you are applying to gain admission to professional school earlier than students who apply in the traditional way. Please indicate why you’re interested in your chosen profession. How do you see yourself being particularly suited to this field? What events and/or experiences have led you to your choice? (250-500 words)

In the United States, common illnesses faced by seven-year-old children do not include malaria. Strep throat, the flu, and even chickenpox are relatively normal for kids to undergo at least once in their lifetime. However, malaria remains a danger for people living in countries that consistently battle the influx of mosquito swarms day and night.

As a malaria survivor myself, I can testify to the horrible experience of chills and high fever in 100-degree heat. All frequent flyers to Sub-saharan Africa know that you’re supposed to start taking the prescription drug five days before your flight. However, sometimes, amid all the craziness it takes to prepare for a trip to a third-world country, it’s possible this little pill might slip from one’s mind. Two weeks later, as my parents prepared to make the long bus ride to the Ewohimi village, I began to feel a little sick. By the time we’d arrived, I was curled up in a ball on my mother’s lap.

My great-grandmother died of a wound infection. The kind of injury that would have you in and out of the hospital in a couple of days killed her due to the lack of resources in Nigerian hospitals. I still remember the shock that crossed my mother’s face as she heard the news over the phone. It didn’t make any sense. Because how can such a simple thing kill someone?

Global health inequities have resulted in the countless loss of lives. Having experienced the result of this inequality myself, I hope to change the supply of healthcare in whatever way I can.

Three out of four members of my father’s family have carried the burden of cancer on their backs. My grandmother passed away from ovarian cancer. Lung cancer killed my nonsmoking grandfather. My aunt can never carry children as a result of her past with cervical cancer. My dad is the only one who’s been lucky enough to avoid the trials and pain that came along with chemotherapy. I’ve seen each of them deteriorate physically and mentally in the days after treatment. As a potential future radiation oncologist, I aspire to make new breakthroughs in cancer treatment research.

I’ve volunteered at my local hospital as well as taken advanced science and math classes throughout my years of high school. In my role as the co-editor-in-chief of my school newspaper, I’ve been able to spread awareness about health inequity and the impact of Covid-19 throughout the world. I have experienced different global healthcare disparities throughout my travels firsthand, and I’m excited to make more of an impact by starting my career in medicine.

This essay does an excellent job of taking time to build to the prompt’s response and not jumping the gun. A less sophisticated essay would tell the reader in the first or second paragraph exactly why they want to be a doctor, but this essay builds suspense over three paragraphs. We are compelled to keep reading because we need to know how all these stories relate to one another.

Another positive aspect of this essay is the conversational tone. It doesn’t feel like this student used a thesaurus on every word or tried to include fancy diction. The topic was very personal and vulnerable, and the voice matched the content. Phrases like “As a malaria survivor myself,” “All frequent flyers to Sub-saharan Africa know…” and “Because how can such a simple thing kill someone?” all create a more casual and conversational tone by letting us in on her credibility, insider tips, and inner thoughts.

Finally, by taking the time to focus on the background and why behind their chosen career, this student didn’t need to include too many basic sentences later on about why they want to go into medicine. Showing us how they’ve been scarred and affected by every family member who battled cancer is a much stronger reasoning than a run-of-the-mill sentence like “I want to be a radiation oncologist because I’ve seen the toll it takes on patients and their family.” Since there was such strong buildup at the beginning of the essay, once we learn what this student wants to do, we are able to connect the dots in our head.

The weakest aspect of this essay is the last paragraph. This paragraph reads like a resume and feels out of place in such a descriptive essay. Because the prompt asks how you see yourself suited to the field and what events have led to pursuing this career, the student probably felt compelled to explain their practical experience with medical care. However, all of the anecdotes at the beginning answered those questions in a far more reflective and engaging manner.

Personal experiences are just as valid motivators — if not more — than extracurricular activities. Admissions officers know that this student volunteered at the hospital and was editor-in-chief at the paper, but they would never know about how malaria affected them, the helpless feeling of hearing their grandpa died, or the battles this student’s family has faced. Briefly throwing those activities in at the end distracted the reader from the rest of the essay and left a less compelling impression.

Where to Get Your Case Western Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Case Western essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!

Tips for Writing Case Western Supplemental Essays 2023-2024

Introduction.

Case Western Reserve University is renowned for its exceptional academic programs, particularly in the fields of scientific research, engineering, and the medical professions. As such, gaining admission to this prestigious institution can be highly competitive. One crucial aspect of the application process is the supplemental essays, which provide an opportunity for prospective students to showcase their unique qualities and aspirations. In this blog post, we will delve into tips and strategies for crafting compelling supplemental essays specifically tailored to Case Western's Pre-Professional Scholars Program.

When it comes to writing these essays, it is essential to understand their purpose. The admissions committee wants to gain insight into who you are as an individual beyond your academic achievements and standardized test scores. They are looking for students who possess not only strong intellectual abilities but also a genuine passion for their chosen field of study. Therefore, your essays should aim to highlight your personal experiences, motivations, and aspirations that align with Case Western's rigorous academic environment.

One effective strategy is to choose a unique and compelling topic that will captivate the reader's attention from the start. Consider sharing a personal anecdote or experience that has shaped your journey towards pursuing a career in medicine or dentistry. This could be a transformative event, a significant challenge you overcame, or even a moment of inspiration that sparked your interest in the field. By selecting an engaging topic, you can immediately establish a connection with the admissions committee and demonstrate your enthusiasm for becoming part of Case Western's vibrant community.

Moreover, when addressing Prompt 1 of the supplemental essays, it is advantageous to focus on showcasing personal growth and resilience through failure. Admissions officers appreciate candidates who have faced setbacks or obstacles along their path and have demonstrated resilience in overcoming them. Reflect on a time when you encountered failure or adversity in your academic or personal life and explain how it shaped you into a stronger individual with an unwavering commitment to your goals.

In Prompt 2 of the supplemental essays, it is crucial to demonstrate your fit with the medical or dental profession. Highlight your experiences, such as internships, volunteer work, or research projects, that have exposed you to the realities of these professions. Discuss how these experiences have solidified your desire to pursue a career in medicine or dentistry and how Case Western's Pre-Professional Scholars Program aligns perfectly with your aspirations. Additionally, explain why specifically attending Case Western's School of Medicine or School of Dental Medicine is an integral part of your academic and professional journey.

By following these tips and strategies, you can craft exceptional supplemental essays that will set you apart from other applicants and increase your chances of gaining admission to Case Western Reserve University's Pre-Professional Scholars Program. In the next sections, we will delve deeper into each aspect of the essays and provide specific examples and insights to guide you through the writing process.

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Understanding the Purpose of the Essays

Case Western Reserve University's supplemental essays play a crucial role in the application process for the Pre-Professional Scholars Program. These essays provide applicants with an opportunity to showcase their unique qualities, experiences, and aspirations that make them a strong fit for the program.

The purpose of the Case Western supplemental essays is twofold. Firstly, they allow the admissions committee to gain deeper insights into an applicant's character, motivations, and goals. By requiring additional essays beyond the standard application, Case Western aims to understand each applicant on a more personal level. This helps them evaluate whether the applicant aligns with the values and mission of the Pre-Professional Scholars Program.

Secondly, these essays enable applicants to demonstrate their writing skills and ability to articulate their thoughts effectively. As future professionals in scientific research, engineering, or medical fields, strong communication skills are essential. The supplemental essays provide a platform for applicants to showcase their ability to convey complex ideas concisely and persuasively.

In evaluating these essays, Case Western looks for authenticity and originality. They want applicants who can think critically and creatively about themselves and their future careers. It is important for prospective students to avoid generic responses or clichés when addressing the prompts. Instead, they should strive to provide unique perspectives that highlight their individuality.

By understanding the purpose of these supplemental essays, prospective students can approach them with clarity and intentionality. They should view this as an opportunity to tell their story in a way that sets them apart from other applicants. Through thoughtful reflection and careful crafting of their responses, students can demonstrate why they are a perfect fit for Case Western Reserve University's Pre-Professional Scholars Program.

In the next section of this blog post, we will explore strategies for choosing a unique topic that will captivate the admissions committee's attention.

Choosing a Unique Topic

When it comes to writing the supplemental essays for Case Western Reserve University's Pre-Professional Scholars Program, one of the most important aspects is choosing a unique and compelling topic. Admissions officers read countless essays, so it is crucial to select a topic that stands out from the rest. While it may be tempting to write about a common experience or topic, such as volunteering at a hospital or participating in a science fair, it is essential to find an angle that sets your essay apart.

To begin, think about your own personal experiences and interests. Consider what makes you unique and what experiences have shaped your journey towards pursuing a career in medicine or dentistry. Reflect on moments that have had a significant impact on your life and have helped shape your passion for the field. These could include personal challenges, influential mentors, or transformative experiences.

Authenticity is key when choosing a topic for your essay. Admissions officers are looking for genuine and sincere reflections of who you are as an individual. Avoid writing about topics simply because you think they will impress the reader. Instead, focus on topics that genuinely resonate with you and allow you to showcase your personality and values.

Additionally, consider how your chosen topic aligns with Case Western Reserve University's mission and values. Research the university's programs, initiatives, and faculty members to identify areas of overlap between their goals and your own aspirations. This will help demonstrate your fit with the university and show admissions officers that you have thoroughly researched their institution.

Showcasing Personal Growth and Resilience

One of the key aspects that Case Western Reserve University looks for in applicants is their ability to showcase personal growth and resilience. This is particularly important when writing the supplemental essays for the Pre-Professional Scholars Program. Admissions officers want to see how applicants have overcome challenges and setbacks, and how these experiences have shaped them into stronger individuals.

When discussing personal growth and resilience, it's important to highlight specific instances where you faced adversity or failure, and how you managed to overcome them. The purpose of this is not to dwell on your failures, but rather to demonstrate your ability to learn from them and grow as a result.

For example, you could discuss a time when you struggled academically or faced a significant setback in a project or extracurricular activity. Instead of focusing solely on the negative aspects of the experience, emphasize how you were able to bounce back and learn from your mistakes. Talk about the lessons you learned, both about yourself and about the situation at hand.

Furthermore, it's crucial to explain how these experiences have shaped you as an individual. Discuss any changes in mindset or perspective that occurred as a result of overcoming challenges. Admissions officers want to see that you have developed resilience and maturity through these experiences, as it indicates your ability to handle difficult situations in the future.

Demonstrating Fit with the Medical or Dental Profession

To successfully demonstrate fit with the medical or dental profession in the Case Western Reserve University supplemental essays, it is crucial to explain your interest and passion for these fields. Begin by discussing what sparked your interest in pursuing a career in medicine or dentistry. This could be a personal experience, an influential figure in your life, or even a specific event that inspired you to make a difference in people's lives through healthcare.

After explaining your initial interest, highlight any relevant experiences and skills that have further solidified your desire to pursue a career in the medical or dental profession. This could include volunteering at a local hospital or clinic, shadowing doctors or dentists, conducting research projects related to healthcare, or participating in extracurricular activities that showcase your dedication to these fields.

In addition to highlighting your experiences, it is important to discuss how Case Western's School of Medicine or School of Dental Medicine aligns with your goals and aspirations. Research specific programs, faculty members, and resources offered by the university that resonate with you and support your future plans. For example, you may be interested in Case Western's strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare research or their commitment to community outreach programs.

By demonstrating fit with the medical or dental profession at Case Western Reserve University, you are showing the admissions committee that you have carefully considered their program and how it aligns with your own goals and values. This not only showcases your dedication and commitment but also highlights why you believe Case Western is the perfect place for you to develop as a future healthcare professional.

In conclusion, when writing about demonstrating fit with the medical or dental profession in the supplemental essays for Case Western Reserve University's Pre-Professional Scholars Program, it is essential to convey both your passion for these fields and how Case Western specifically supports and enhances this passion. By effectively communicating your interest, experiences, and alignment with the university's programs and resources, you will present yourself as a strong candidate who is well-prepared and motivated to excel in the medical or dental profession. Good luck with your application!

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Secondary Application Questions

2024-2025 application cycle, **updated july 10, 2024**.

We would like to provide our applicants with the essay prompts for this year’s CWRU secondary application. Throughout the week of July 15th, secondary application invitations will be emailed to CWRU applicants with a verified AMCAS application and an MCAT score of greater than or equal to 495 .

Applicants are able to select which of our MD program(s) they would like to apply to within the secondary application, and this selection will then dictate which essay prompts are displayed. We hope that this early availability will alleviate some of the stress that may be associated with the application process, and will allow our applicants more time to craft their essay responses while waiting for other processes, such as AMCAS application verification or an MCAT administration, that are required for application completion.

Please note that spaces are counted as characters in our secondary application platform. You will only need to provide one response for prompts that are shared by programs and each program will have access to that response. You won't have to write multiple responses for the same prompt.

University Program Applicants

Required responses:.

Greatest Challenge: The Admissions Committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience, how you handled the uncertainty or stress, and what you learned about yourself as a result. (2,000 character limit)

Personal Growth: Based on your current maturity and wisdom, reflect upon an experience from the past few years that you would handle differently today. (1,000 character limit)
Cultural Awareness: Many have been reckoning with the impact of systemic injustices on social environments and healthcare equity. Describe a personal experience that has deepened your cultural awareness and humility, and the impact of that learning on how you look at health and healthcare. (1,500 character limit)

Gap Year(s) if applicable: If you are taking time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation, please tell us why you made this decision and what you will be doing or have done during this gap. (1,000 character limit)

Optional Responses:

Research/Scholarly Work: One of the four pillars of the Western Reserve2 Curriculum is Research and Scholarship. Although research is not a prerequisite requirement for the University Program, if you have participated in research or other scholarly project (capstone project, honors thesis, etc.), please reflect on the experience, including how you learned from it, what challenged you, and how it may have impacted you educationally and professionally. If you have not completed research or scholarly project, please indicate that in the text box below. (2,500 character limit)
If the details of your project are included elsewhere in your application no need to repeat them here. We are interested in learning what you took away from the experience(s).
If you are applying to both the University Program and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Program, the research response will default to the CCL Program required response.

2. Additional Information Response: Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee that may not be captured in the rest of your application? (2,000 character limit)

CCLCM (5 yr. MD) Applicants

Required responses: .

Greatest Challenge Essay: The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you learned about yourself as a result. (2,000 character limit)
Research Essay: Please tell us about ONE research project to which you made a significant contribution. In your essay, describe your role on the project, the hypothesis of your research and whether you contributed to hypothesis generation, why the methods were selected to answer that hypothesis, your results, and interpretation of your results with respect to future findings. In addition, please briefly share your motivation for pursuing this research project and reflect on how this experience affected your future career goals. (3,500 character limit)
Career Essay: What does your ideal career entail fifteen years after medical school graduation? (1,000 character limit)
Gap Year(s) if applicable: If you are taking time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation, please tell us why you made this decision and what you will be doing or have done during this gap. (1,000 character limit)

Additional Information Response: Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee that may not be captured in the rest of your application? (2,000 character limit)

MSTP (MD/PhD) Applicants

Greatest Challenge Essay: The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you learned about yourself as a result. (2,000 character limit) **Updated July 10, 2023**
Personal Growth: Based on your current maturity and wisdom, reflect upon an experience from the past few years that you would handle differently today. (1,000 character limit)
PhD Advisor: What do you look for in a PhD advisor, and who at CWRU would interest you? (800 character limit)
Area of Interest: What is your specific interest in the MSTP at CWRU? (800 character limit)
Gap Year(s) if applicable: If you are taking time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation, please tell us why you made this decision and what you will be doing or have done during this gap time. (1,000 character limit)

Case Western & Cleveland Clinic Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts

Cracking Med School Admissions

There are two sets of Case Western secondaries: 1) Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and 2) Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (CCLCM). Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (both CWRU and CCLCM) admits students who are strong in academics and research. Submitting an OUTSTANDING Case Western secondaries are vital to receiving an acceptance. It’s important to discuss your research clearly in your Case Western secondary essays.

**Case Western changed its secondary essay prompts for the 2023-2024 cycle.** We would not recommend pre-writing this secondary because the prompts might change again this upcoming 2024-2025 application cycle.

Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a track record of helping several of our mentees receive acceptances to Case Western year after year. We can help you next! We want to stress that submitting a strong Case Western secondary application is crucial and we can help you through our secondary essay editing packages .

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Case Western Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2024 - 2025

Case western reserve university secondary essay prompts.

Greatest Challenge: The Admissions Committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience, how you handled the uncertainty or stress, and what you learned about yourself as a result. (2,000 character limit)
Personal Growth: Based on your current maturity and wisdom, reflect upon an experience from the past few years that you would handle differently today. (1,000 character limit)
Cultural Awareness: Many have been reckoning with the impact of systemic injustices on social environments and healthcare equity. Describe a personal experience that has deepened your cultural awareness and humility, and the impact of that learning on how you look at health and healthcare. (1,500 character limit)
Gap Year(s) if applicable: If you are taking time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation, please tell us why you made this decision and what you will be doing or have done during this gap. (1,000 character limit)
One of the four pillars of the Western Reserve2 Curriculum is Research and Scholarship. Although research is not a prerequisite requirement for the University Program, if you have participated in research or other scholarly project (capstone project, honors thesis, etc.), please reflect on the experience, including how you learned from it, what challenged you, and how it may have impacted you educationally and professionally. If you have not completed research or scholarly project, please indicate that in the text box below. (2,500 character limit)
If the details of your project are included elsewhere in your application no need to repeat them here. We are interested in learning what you took away from the experience(s).
If you are applying to both the University Program and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Program, the research response will default to the CCL Program required response.
Optional – Additional Information Response: Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee that may not be captured in the rest of your application? (2,000 character limit)

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts

Greatest Challenge Essay: The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you learned about yourself as a result. (2,000 character limit)
Research Essay: Please tell us about ONE research project to which you made a significant contribution. In your essay, describe your role on the project, the hypothesis of your research and whether you contributed to hypothesis generation, why the methods were selected to answer that hypothesis, your results, and interpretation of your results with respect to future findings. In addition, please briefly share your motivation for pursuing this research project and reflect on how this experience affected your future career goals. (3,500 character limit)
Career Essay: What does your ideal career entail fifteen years after medical school graduation? (1,000 character limit)
Gap Year(s) if applicable: If you are taking time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation, please tell us why you made this decision and what you will be doing or have done during this gap time. (1,000 character limit)
OPTIONAL – Additional Information Response: Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee that may not be captured in the rest of your application? (2,000 character limit)

Case Western MSTP Secondary Essay Prompts

The most successful medical students at our school are generally those who are intrinsically motivated, self-directed learners. Think of a time when you had to pursue a goal without clear external direction. Describe your approach and any new knowledge, perspectives, or skills that you acquired. (1,000 character limit)
Based on your current maturity and wisdom, reflect upon an experience from the past few years that you would handle differently today. (1,000 character limit)
PhD Advisor: What do you look for in a PhD advisor, and who at CWRU would interest you? (800 character limit)
Area of Interest: What is your specific interest in the MSTP at CWRU? (800 character limit)

Tips to Answer Case Western Secondaries

Case Western Secondaries Pre-Writing Guidance: Because the Case Western secondary changed a lot in the previous cycle, we recommend students to NOT pre-write their Case Western secondaries this year.

Read our Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples to help you with all your secondary essays!

Case Western Secondary Application Tip #1: Answer as many questions as possible on your Case Western secondaries. Our Cracking Med School Admissions team does not view Case Western Medical School secondary essays as optional. For the optional essay about the COVID-19 pandemic, incorporate your personal experiences as well as healthcare current issues you noticed throughout the COVID pandemic. We have an entire healthcare current events blog post here , where you can read more about healthcare disparities and COVID-19 .

Case Western Secondary Application Tip #2: For the question, “Based on your current maturity and wisdom, reflect upon an experience from the past few years that you would handle differently today” and “ The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you learned about yourself as a result ” make sure you clearly discuss what the challenge was and how you overcame this. Common mistakes students make include:

Talking about a topic that is too common among premed students, such getting a “C” in organic chemistry.
Not providing enough context about the challenge they faced.
Not discussing how they overcame the stressful situation.

Many of our Cracking Med School Admissions students write about challenges they had in their research projects for this question. If you have questions about whether your topic is a good topic to write about, send Dr. Mediratta and Dr. Rizal a question through our contact form below.

Case Western Secondary Application Tip #3: Remember, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine LOVES students who have been engaged with research. Even if the research essay is optional, you definitely HAVE TO answer it!

Furthermore, for the research question, you must describe your research clearly. You are not only judged on your actual research endeavors, but you are also judged on how well you can communicate your research. This is a great secondary application to get our help through secondary essay editing !

Case Western Secondary Application Tip #4: Don’t forget to incorporate a little bit about “Why Case Western Med” throughout your Case Western secondaries. You can definitely write more “Why Case Western” in the optional essay, “ Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee that may not be captured in the rest of your application? ” Talk about projects and research you want to do at Case Western.

Read our blog post Why this Medical School? Secondary Essay Example

Case Western Secondary Application Tip #5: Have questions about how you can stand out on your Case Western Med secondaries? Contact us below. Need editing help on your secondary? We can help you through our secondary essay packages .

[ Read more secondary essay tips: Washington University in St. Louis , Stanford , Northwestern , University of Chicago ]

Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders

We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With.

Rachel Rizal, M.D.

Changing the trajectory of people’s lives.

Undergraduate Princeton University, cum laude

Medical School Stanford School of Medicine

Residency Harvard, Emergency Medicine

Awards & Scholarships Fulbright Scholar USA Today Academic First Team Tylenol Scholarship

Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

Advising students to attend their dream schools.

Undergraduate Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa

Residency Stanford, Pediatrics

Awards & Scholarships Marshall Scholar Tylenol Scholarship Global Health Scholar

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Case Western Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2023 - 2024

Based on your current maturity and wisdom, reflect upon an experience from the past few years that you would handle differently today. (1,000 character limit)
Did you take a gap year(s)? Yes or No? If Yes : If you are taking time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation, please tell us what you are doing during this gap, and why. (1,000 characters max)
Optional – Research/Scholarly Work: One of the four pillars of the Western Reserve2 Curriculum is Research and Scholarship. Although research is not a prerequisite requirement for the University Program, if you have participated in research or another scholarly project, please tell us about it. Describe your experience, including the question you pursued and how you approached it, your results and interpretation of the results, and most importantly, any thoughts about what this experience meant to you. Remember that research is broad-based and can include such projects as a senior capstone or a thesis and can include both medical and non-medically-related investigations. If you have not completed research/scholarly work, you will be able to indicate this in a radio button embedded within this response. (3,500 character limit) Note that if you are applying to both the University Program and the CCLCM, the research response will default to the CCLCM required response – see below.

Case Western Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2022 – 2023

The Admissions Committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience, how you handled the uncertainty or stress, and what you learned about yourself as a result. (3,500 characters max – leave blank line between paragraphs)
(Optional) The past year has reflected an unprecedented time in world history, and we are aware that many have experienced significant disruptions in numerous aspects of their lives. Please use the text field below to share with us how you may have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including academic, financial, medical disruptions, etc. If medically-related or patient-based experiences were interrupted, tell us how you were able to explore these areas in alternate ways. (3,500 characters max – leave blank line between paragraphs)
Did you take a gap year(s)? Yes or No? If Yes : If you are taking time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation, please tell us what you are doing during this gap, and why. (1,000 characters max – leave blank line between paragraphs)
One of the four pillars of the Western Reserve Curriculum is Research and Scholarship. Although research is not a prerequisite requirement for the University Program, if you have participated in research or another scholarly project, please tell us about it. Describe your experience, including the question you pursued and how you approached it, your results and interpretation of the results, and most importantly, any thoughts about what this experience meant to you. Remember that research is broad-based and can include such projects as a senior capstone or a thesis and can include both medical and non-medically-related investigations. Please limit your response to 1 page (3,500 character recommendation), and leave a blank line between paragraphs.
Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee that may not be captured in the rest of your application? (3,500 characters)

Case Western Secondary Application Optional Questions

If you took coursework that was Pass/No Pass due to pandemic disruptions for for 2019-2020 and/or 2020-2021 academic years, please list the courses below.

Case Western Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2021 – 2022

One of the four pillars of the Western Reserve Curriculum is Research and Scholarship. Although research is not a prerequisite requirement for the University Program, if you have participated in research or another scholarly project, please tell us about it. Describe your experience, including the question you pursued and how you approached it, your results and interpretation of the results, and most importantly, any thoughts about what this experience meant to you. Remember that research is broad-based and can include such projects as a senior capstone or a thesis and can include both medical and non-medically-related investigations. Please limit your response to 1 page (about 3,500 character recommendation), and leave a blank line between paragraphs.

Case Western Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2020 – 2021

The past few months have reflected an unprecedented time in world history, and we are aware that many have experienced significant disruptions in numerous aspects of their lives. Please use the text field below to share with us how you may have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including academic, financial, medical disruptions, etc. It would also be helpful for us to know if any of your planned experiences in shadowing, volunteering, research, employment, or other activities have been suspended due to the pandemic. (3,500 characters max – leave blank line between paragraphs)
If you were working on a small group project and you thought that another student wasn’t carrying his/her load, how would you handle it? (300-1000 characters recommendation – leave blank line between paragraphs)
Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee that may not be captured in the rest of your application? This optional response will only be considered by the University Program. (3,500 characters max – leave blank line between paragraphs)
One of the four pillars of the Western Reserve2 Curriculum is Research and Scholarship. Although research is not a pre-requisite requirement for the University Program, if you have participated in research or another scholarly project please tell us about it. Describe your experience, including the question you pursued and how you approached it, your results and interpretation of the results, and most importantly, any thoughts about what this experience meant to you. Remember that research is broad-based and can include such projects as a senior capstone or a thesis and can include both medical and non-medically-related investigations. (3,500 characters max – leave blank line between paragraphs)
How will you contribute to the diversity and inclusion mission of our medical school? (1,000 character recommendation)

Case Western Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2019 – 2020

(Required) The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you learned about yourself as a result. (3,500 characters max – leave blank line between paragraphs)
(Required) Please describe the hypothesis of your research, why the methods were selected to answer that hypothesis, your results and interpretation of your results with respect to future findings. In addition, please briefly share your motivation for pursuing this research project and reflect on how this experience affected you. If you have not participated in research or scholarly work, please indicate so in the text area below.
(Required) If you were working on a small group project and you thought that another student wasn’t carrying his/her load, how would you handle it? (300-1000 characters recommendation – leave blank line between paragraphs)
(Required for College Program) Areas of Improvement Essay: Each year our students target for themselves areas of improvement. Other than the acquisition of new knowledge, what personal area do you think you have that could use strengthening? Design a plan as to how you could improve it. (1,000 characters max – leave blank line between paragraphs)
(Required for College Program) Criticism and Feedback Essay: Tell us about a time when you received unexpected criticism or negative feedback. How did you react? What did you do? (1,000 characters max – leave blank line between paragraphs)
(Required for College Program) Career Essay: How do you see your career ten years from now? (1,000 characters max – leave blank line between paragraphs)
(Required for College Program) Teaching Essay: When were you challenged to teach, coach, or mentor others to learn a new skill or improve an old one? Please describe how it went and what you learned from the experience. (1,000 characters max – leave blank line between paragraphs)
(If Applicable) Gap Year Essay: Did you take a gap year? If you are taking time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation, please tell us in no more than four sentences what you are doing during this gap, and why.

(Optional) Additional Information Essay: Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee? This optional response will only be considered by the University Program.

Case Western Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2018 – 2019

The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you learned about yourself as a result. (3,500 characters max – leave blank line between paragraphs)
Did you take a gap year? Yes or No? If you are taking time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation, please tell us in no more than four sentences what you are doing during this gap, and why.

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Case Western Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2017 – 2018

The Admissions Committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you learned about yourself as a result. (3,500 characters max)
Please describe the hypothesis of your research, why the methods were selected to answer that hypothesis, your results and interpretation of your results with respect to future findings. If you have not participated in research or scholarly work, please indicate so in the text area below (3,500 characters max)
If you were working on a small group project and you thought that another student wasn’t carrying his/her load, how would you handle it? (1,000 characters max)
(Optional) Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee? This optional response will only be considered by the University Program.

Case Western Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2016 – 2017

(Optional) One of the four pillars of the Western Reserve Curriculum is Research and Scholarship. Although research is not a pre-requisite requirement for the University Program, if you have participated in research or in another scholarly project please tell us about it. Describe your experience, including the question you pursued and how you approached it, your results and interpretation of the results, and most importantly, any thoughts about what this experience meant to you. Remember that the definition of research is broadly-based and can include such projects as a senior capstone or a thesis, and can include both medically and non-medically-related investigations. (3,500 characters max)
If you were working on a small group project and you thought that another student wasn’t carrying his/her load, how would you handle it? (1,000 characters max)
(Optional) Is there any further information that you wish to share with the Admissions Committee? This optional response will only be considered by the University Program.

Case Western Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2015 – 2016

Case western medical school secondary application essay prompts: 2014 – 2015.

The Admissions Committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you learned about yourself as a result. (3,500 characters max)
Please describe the hypothesis of your research, why the methods were selected to answer that hypothesis, your results and interpretation of your results with respect to future findings. If you have not participated in research or scholarly work, please indicate so in the text area below (3,500 characters max)

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Your chance of acceptance, your chancing factors, extracurriculars, applying to case western: tips on their supplementals.

Could use a hand with the supplemental essays for Case Western Reserve University. For those who’ve successfully navigated this, any advice on how to make my essays stand out? What do they really look for in a candidate's responses?

I'm glad you're reaching out for advice on Case Western's supplemental essays. For these essays, specificity is your best friend. Rather than giving broad statements about why you like the school or generic descriptions of your achievements, dig deep into the details.

Show how your interests align with specific programs or opportunities at Case Western. For example, if you're interested in their biomedical engineering program, talk about how a certain course or lab facility excites you and how you plan to engage with it. Also, reflect on your personal experiences and how they've shaped your aspirations. The admissions committee is looking for authenticity and a clear sense that you're applying because Case Western is the right fit for you, not just because it's a respected institution.

A well-crafted essay that resonates with your genuine intentions and interests can leave a lasting impression. Be sure to have a teacher, counselor, or another trusted individual review your essays before submission; a second set of eyes can catch mistakes and offer valuable feedback!

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Home — Application Essay — National Universities — Decoding Aspirations: My Case Western Reserve Supplemental Odyssey

Decoding Aspirations: My Case Western Reserve Supplemental Odyssey

University: Case Western Reserve University

About this sample

Words: 586 |

Published: Jan 26, 2024

Words: 586 | Pages: 1 | 3 min read

Introduction, the journey of intellectual curiosity, innovation and impactful contributions, case western reserve's unique offerings.

Navigating the terrain of my educational aspirations, the Case Western Reserve Supplemental Essay serves as a beacon, illuminating my path towards a university experience defined by intellectual curiosity, innovation, and impactful contributions. As I embark on this reflective journey, I aim to convey the essence of my academic journey, aspirations, and why Case Western Reserve University is not just a choice but a destination where my intellectual ambitions find resonance.

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'Decoding Aspirations: My Case Western Reserve Supplemental Odyssey'

The Case Western Reserve Supplemental Essay is more than a mere requirement; it is an opportunity to share the narrative of my academic and personal evolution. Choosing a university is a profound decision, and Case Western Reserve University stands out as a beacon of academic excellence and innovation. In crafting this essay, I seek not only to convey my passion for learning and growth but also to articulate why Case Western Reserve is the canvas on which I aspire to paint my academic and professional journey.

My academic journey has been defined by an insatiable intellectual curiosity, a hunger to delve into the complexities of my chosen field. As I engage with the Case Western Reserve Supplemental Essay, I find it to be a conduit to express my passion for discovery and the relentless pursuit of knowledge. The university's commitment to fostering a culture of inquiry aligns seamlessly with my own ethos.

Case Western Reserve University's renowned faculty, cutting-edge research opportunities, and interdisciplinary approach are elements that beckon me. Through this essay, I aim to convey not just my desire to be a part of this dynamic academic environment but also my eagerness to contribute to the vibrant intellectual discourse that defines Case Western Reserve.

Education, to me, is not just about acquiring knowledge but about utilizing that knowledge to make a meaningful impact. The Case Western Reserve Supplemental Essay provides me with the canvas to articulate my aspirations for innovation and contributions to society. The university's emphasis on experiential learning and its commitment to preparing students for real-world challenges resonate deeply with my own vision of education.

Case Western Reserve University's partnerships with industry leaders and its entrepreneurial ecosystem are attributes that fuel my excitement. Through this essay, I aim to convey not just my desire to be a recipient of knowledge but also my eagerness to be an active participant in the university's innovation ecosystem, where ideas are transformed into impactful initiatives.

The Case Western Reserve Supplemental Essay is an avenue to express my appreciation for the unique offerings that distinguish the university. From its emphasis on collaboration across disciplines to its commitment to social responsibility, Case Western Reserve University aligns with my own values and aspirations.

As I engage with this essay, I aim to convey my eagerness to engage with the unique programs, research centers, and extracurricular opportunities that Case Western Reserve University provides. The essay becomes not just a documentation of my ambitions but also a testament to my commitment to being an active and engaged member of the Case Western Reserve community.

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In concluding the Case Western Reserve Supplemental Essay, I am not merely expressing a desire to be a student; I am declaring my intent to be a contributing member of a community that values intellectual curiosity, innovation, and societal impact. Case Western Reserve University is not just a destination; it is a transformative journey where dreams are nurtured, ideas flourish, and individuals are empowered to make a meaningful impact on the world.

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