how to write a good mcat essay

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By submitting my email address. i certify that i am 13 years of age or older, agree to recieve marketing email messages from the princeton review, and agree to terms of use., 15 tips for your medical school personal statement.

Don't underestimate the power of the medical school personal statement to make a strong, positive impression on an admissions committee. Combined with your interview performance, your personal statement can account for 60% (or more) of your total admissions score!

Medical schools want to enroll bright, empathetic, communicative people. Here's how to write a compelling med school personal statement that shows schools who you are and what you're capable of.

Personal Statement Topics

Your medical school personal statement is a component of your primary application submitted via, TMDSAS (for Texas applications), or AACOMAS (NB: If you are applying to medical school in Canada, confirm the application process with your school, as not all application components may be submitted through AMCAS).

These applications offer broad topics to consider, and many essay approaches are acceptable. For example, you could write about:

• an experience that challenged or changed your perspective about medicine
• a relationship with a mentor or another inspiring individual
• a challenging personal experience
• unique hardships, challenges, or obstacles that may have influenced your educational pursuits
• your motivation to seek a career in medicine

You'll write an additional essay (or two) when you submit secondary applications to individual schools. These essays require you to respond to a specific question. Admissions committees will review your entire application, so choose subject matter that complements your original essay .

Read More: Strategies for Secondary Applications

How to Write a Personal Statement for Medical School

Follow these personal statement tips to help the admissions committee better understand you as a candidate.

1. Write, re-write, let it sit, and write again!

Allow yourself 6 months of writing and revision to get your essay in submission-ready shape. This gives you the time to take your first pass, set your draft aside (for a minimum of 24 hours), review what you’ve written, and re-work your draft.

2. Stay focused.

Your personal statement should highlight interesting aspects of your journey—not tell your entire life story. Choose a theme, stick to it, and support it with specific examples.

3. Back off the cliches.

Loving science and wanting to help people might be your sincere passions, but they are also what everyone else is writing about. Instead, be personal and specific.

4. Find your unique angle.

What can you say about yourself that no one else can? Remember, everyone has trials, successes and failures. What's important and unique is how you reacted to those incidents. Bring your own voice and perspective to your personal statement to give it a truly memorable flavor. 

5. Be interesting.

Start with a “catch” that will create intrigue before launching into the story of who you are. Make the admissions committee want to read on!

6. Show don't tell.

Instead of telling the admissions committee about your unique qualities (like compassion, empathy, and organization), show them through the stories you tell about yourself. Don’t just say it—actually prove it.

7. Embrace the 5-point essay format.

Here's a trusty format that you can make your own:

• 1st paragraph: These four or five sentences should "catch" the reader's attention.
• 3-4 body paragraphs: Use these paragraphs to reveal who you are. Ideally, one of these paragraphs will reflect clinical understanding and one will reflect service.
• Concluding paragraph: The strongest conclusion reflects the beginning of your essay, gives a brief summary of you are, and ends with a challenge for the future.

8. Good writing is simple writing.

Good medical students—and good doctors—use clear, direct language. Your essays should not be a struggle to comprehend.

9. Be thoughtful about transitions.

Be sure to vary your sentence structure. You don’t want your essay to be boring! Pay attention to how your paragraphs connect to each other.

Free MCAT Practice Tests & Events

Evaluate and improve your MCAT score.

10. Stick to the rules.

Watch your word count. That’s 5,300 characters (including spaces) for AMCAS applications, 5,000 characters for TMDSAS, and 4,500 characters for AACOMAS.

11. Stay on topic.

Rambling not only uses up your precious character limit, but it also causes confusion! Think about the three to five “sound bytes” you want admissions committee to know and remember you by.

12. Don't overdo it.

Beware of being too self-congratulatory or too self-deprecating.

13. Seek multiple opinions.

Before you hit “submit,” ask several people you trust for feedback on your personal statement. The more time you have spent writing your statement, the less likely you are to spot any errors. A professor or friend whose judgment and writing skills you trust is invaluable.

Read More: 12 Smart Tips for Your AMCAS Application

14. Double-check the details.

Always check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. This goes for the rest of your application (like your activities list), too. A common oversight is referencing the wrong school in your statement! Give yourself (and your proofreaders) the time this task truly requires.

15. Consult the experts about your personal statement strategy.

Our med school admissions counselors can diagnose the “health” of your overall application, including your personal statement. Get expert help and guidance to write an effective personal statement that showcases not only your accomplishments, but your passion and your journey.

Want to get an edge over the crowd?

Our admissions experts know what it takes it get into med school. Get the customized strategy and guidance you need to help achieve your goals.

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• Medical School Application

AMCAS Personal Statement: My Best Tips for Writing It

Featured Expert: Dr. Christian Cuevas, MD

Your AMCAS personal statement is one of the most important components of your AMCAS application . It can be the tipping point for whether you get an interview. But your AMCAS personal statement won’t write itself, and synthesizing all your ideas, experience, and background into about 5,300 characters is no easy feat. For me, the personal statement was one of the most difficult portions of the AMCAS application, so I'll share with you everything I learned through writing it.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

Article Contents 11 min read

Amcas personal statement example #1.

916 words (5,181 of the maximum 5,300 characters with spaces)

My mother grew up as one of 14 children in a very poor home in rural Ontario, where both parents, while loving and warm, suffered from alcoholism. She and her siblings experienced significant childhood adversity, the legacy of which still looms large. Later, as the matriarch of her own family, she ran a small business, supported my aunts, uncles, and cousins, and provided stability for all of us. She modelled, and I internalized, compassion for my loved ones as they lived through uncertainty, conflict, illness, and loss.

You might wonder why I tell my mother’s story, rather than my own. I could say that my mother inspired me to go into medicine and leave it at that. However, to call it inspiration would be a discredit to the profound influence my mother has had on my life and the lives of everyone around us.

They say, “it takes a village,” but my family basically made up half the village where I lived. I’m exaggerating, but it’s almost true. In such an isolated place, the few families that existed formed a close, interdependent community. When someone fell ill, it was often the family who stepped in, since the nearest clinic was 40 minutes away.

 On how to stand out in your personal statement :

“The personal statement is an opportunity for you to shine and really impress the committee to invite you for an interview. In order to stand out, it is important to answer the main questions well: a bit about yourself and what led you to medicine, why you would make an ideal medical student and future physician, what attracts you to this particular institution, and what sets you apart from the other candidates.” - Dr. Neel Mistry, MD

“what i did was start with a story. like any good novel, the stories first lines are meant to hook the reader. this can be about anything if you can bring it back and relate it to your application... it is important that the story be real... while in my opinion it is ok to slightly embellish some details of story to make it more interesting, straight lying or overly unrealistic situations should be avoided.” - dr. jamie cazes, md, “i focused on my journey to medicine and opportunities that i sought out along the way. everyone’s path and validation is unique, so walking the reader through your growth to the point of application will naturally be different.” - dr. monica taneja, md, tip #1: get an early start.

I went the “last minute route” which I DO NOT recommend. I took my MCAT in early May, and in the process of waiting for my score to be released, I began writing my personal statement. About 2-3 weeks sounds like it would be plenty of time to write but taking into consideration writing your AMCAS activities section while also requesting transcripts and letters of recommendation , due dates can come up quick! I highly DO NOT recommend going this route unless you enjoy unnecessary stress and potentially decreasing the quality of your personal statement.

A realistic timeline for writing your AMCAS personal statement will look like this:

• 6 months prior to the AMCAS opening date, start brainstorming and reflecting on your experiences to get an idea of what you want your AMCAS personal statement to look like and pinpoint experiences that are truly convincing and authentic.
• 5-6 months prior to the opening date, begin an outline/rough draft of the ideas comprised and start piecing everything together. Decide what will go in your introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs. At this point, start having someone look over your paper, either a trusted friend or mentor or a professional such as a med school admissions advisor.
• 1 month prior to the opening date, have a final draft ready to allow time to complete other aspects of your application.  

Tip #2: The Essay Is a Story, not a Resume

You want to captivate your reader’s attention from the beginning to keep them engaged throughout the rest of your personal statement. When writing my personal statement, I described falling backwards and having glass shatter on my face, requiring a trip to the emergency department and my first encounter with a physician. I used this story to give my reader an example of what my first memory was when interacting with the medical system and begin giving them a glimpse of my story in medicine. 

Introduction

The introduction is arguably the most important aspect of your paper, so use it to immerse your reader into your story right away:

Unconscious and confused, I woke up and registered my surroundings. My parents, with pale, frantic expressions, stared back at me in disbelief. I simply wanted to help my mother tidy the kitchen shelves flooded with decorative, glass knick-knacks. It was spring cleaning time in our household. Instead, my face was lacerated by falling glassware. The warmth of my blood running down my face startled me as my parents picked me up and carried me to the car. When we got in the car, I felt lightheaded and eventually lost consciousness. I woke up a second time in my father\u2019s arms as he rushed me towards the emergency room where hordes of people crowded us. Still unsure of what was happening, I recall being placed on a bed and greeted by a man in a white coat. When he spoke, a sense of peace and hope came upon my family. We knew everything would be alright. ","label":"AMCAS Personal Statement Introduction","title":"AMCAS Personal Statement Introduction"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

Body Paragraphs

In your body paragraphs, you want to give your reader a “roadmap” as to what you are going to discuss in the body of your personal statement (essentially, the topics you are to discuss in the body paragraphs). This is done to give your reader a clear idea of what they are about to read.

The body of your personal statement is where you discuss 2-3 personal experiences that have helped drive you to pursue medicine. For example, my 2 experiences consisted of talking about a family member who suffered from cancer and my time in Haiti providing care for the rural Haitian people. When describing these experiences, you want to paint a specific story (a patient interaction, for example) to make it more personable and “show” instead of “telling” what you did. Additionally, you want to make sure you discuss what you learned from the experience and how it convinced you to pursue medicine.

I had the privilege to go with a group of missionaries to provide health care to the people of Haiti. Once we arrived, we immediately noticed the damage done by the earthquake, even years after the tragedy. The brokenness and anguish from that event were etched into the people\u2019s faces and culture. Traveling from village to village, our hearts ached from seeing people covered with filth, dirt and bugs. Many were infected with diseases that a simple antibiotic could treat, yet their malnourished bodies could not fight them off. Once we established a good rapport among the villages by providing health care, such as simple physical exams or procedures such as hysterectomies, we saw their attitudes shift from despair to radiant hope. Adults would run to different doctors on our team, repeatedly thanking them with gifts of fresh produce. The joy on the faces of the Haitian children whenever they would hear our four-wheeler coming up the mountain is an image I will never forget. This pivotal experience shaped my attitude towards helping marginalized groups of people; I learned to be more patient, understanding, and welcoming to all walks of life. Understanding that not all are privileged to have easy access to simple healthcare. Additionally, I learned to be able to adapt to my surroundings and provide quality care, even in a setting where there may be a lack of resources. ","label":"AMCAS Personal Statement Body","title":"AMCAS Personal Statement Body"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

Lastly, you want to wrap up your paper by bringing up all of your experiences and briefly touching upon their learning points and how you will use those experiences to be a good physician in the future. You can also call back to the experience/topic you brought up in your introduction to make the conclusion connect to your introduction. This will help wrap up your paper nicely and bring everything together for your reader.

A physician has many responsibilities: diagnosing illnesses, offering treatments, prescribing medications. However, I believe the most important one is being a beacon of hope to the hopeless, a light illuminating the path for those who fear their debilitating ailments. Sensing peace overcome my parents during my first chaotic visit to the hospital ER, seeing \u201cJaimie\u201d have hope in physicians knowing she could potentially die, and hearing the Haitian people yell with joy when they received necessary treatment are the kinds of emotional experiences I wish to bring to others, experiences which will make every ounce of hard work more than worth it. Regardless of what mentally strenuous and physically taxing trials this career brings, I want to one day be that hope for many. ","label":"AMCAS Personal Statement Conclusion","title":"AMCAS Personal Statement Conclusion"}]" code="tab3" template="BlogArticle">

It’s always easier to write an essay if someone assigns you the topic. For instance, maybe you had to research diversity and inclusion in medical education at some point and think you know the “secret” to writing an excellent diversity secondary essay . But what do you do when there is no prompt – or the topic is you? Where do you start? How do you choose? What do medical schools want to hear? How do you come across as unique when the purpose of the essay is so generic?

When brainstorming through all of your previous experiences, there are the straightforward ones that make sense, such as shadowing, clinical and volunteer work, and research. When I began brainstorming for my AMCAS personal statement, I used my running document of all of the undergraduate medicine or science related experiences I had since starting college . But I also did some self-reflection on any medically related experiences I had growing up in terms of my own run-ins with medicine, as well as family medical experiences that I thought were worth mentioning.

In my AMCAS personal statement, I highlighted my experience as a patient, what my immigrant parents experienced in the healthcare system, and my involvement in translating for a free clinic focused on Spanish-speaking patients. I chose these experiences as they were the easiest to explain and talk about; they truly were part of my passion in trying to improve healthcare for people with a similar background to me.

My number one recommendation for choosing topics to discuss in your personal statement is to choose stories that show your passion. The main purpose of the AMCAS personal statement is to convince the admissions committee that there is nothing else you would rather do then to study medicine. 

Do you need inspiration for your AMCAS personal statement? Check out this video with examples:

Tip #4: Remember that Writing Is a Craft

The challenges I had with writing my personal statement are likely similar to the challenges you will face when writing yours. My drafting experience was a bit rough as I am not the strongest writer. I had a lot of help from friends, family, and professors who I trusted. Writing your AMCAS personal statement may take more than 2-3 drafts (mine took about 10 drafts), so be patient with yourself! It is completely okay to re-write a paragraph or even your whole personal statement to get it to where you want it to be (this is why I recommend starting your rough draft six months to a year before your application is due).

Usually, I made one small edit, sent it out to people, and received 10+ recommendations for change. At times, it was hard to keep track of all of the recommendations as at times I would receive conflicting recommendations. Looking back, I wish I had services to help with narrowing down what aspects of my personal statement truly needed to be changed and which are okay to keep.

Become a good – even great – writer in the process of applying to medical school, and you can rest easy that you’ve given this particular part of your application your best shot.

Getting behind the idea of creative writing may not appeal to science majors, but believe me, it’s a skill that will serve you in medicine in more ways than you can imagine. However, it may seem like just another chore to get out of the way. If that’s your mindset, you should change it – because your AMCAS personal statement is a real opportunity to reflect on and distill your passion for medicine.

And why not take advantage of our free offer to acquire BeMo’s Ultimate Guide to Medical School Personal Statements & Secondary Essays? This 300-page guide with tips, strategies, and sample successful personal statements promises to “help you learn to write captivating essays, even if you are not a natural writer.”

Tip #5: Get Expert Feedback

Like I described above, getting recommendations from multiple people that were conflicting made it difficult to focus on the aspects of my personal statement that truly needed revising as I would spend too much time focusing on the minor details that may or may not improve my paper. Get an expert second set of eyes to look at your AMCAS personal statement draft and provide you with objective feedback.

The reality is that every great writer has an editor, and you will need one. Given the importance of the AMCAS personal statement, there’s really no reason not to consider medical school personal statement editing services to help you out. There’s no question that a medical school application tutor is worth it to radically improve your personal statement and other components that can highly influence your admission chances.

AMCAS stands for American Medical College Application Service. Most medical schools in the US use this centralized application service.

You have 5,300 characters, including spaces, to work with.

You would not discuss your MCAT score or academics in your personal statement, but if you have used an MCAT score calculator and found that you fall short or have had to retake the MCAT , you may want to address the issue in your personal statement to explain how your grades and/or other achievements offset your lower score and why you remain an excellent candidate for medical school.

We recommend giving yourself a minimum of 2 months to brainstorm, draft, polish, and revise. Don’t hesitate to get medical school application help if you are struggling with any aspect of admissions.

If you’re applying to medical schools in Texas, you will use TDMSAS , and if you are applying to medical schools in Canada, you might use OMSAS . Moreover, certain medical schools may have their own distinct application procedures, so be sure to research the specific medical school requirements for the schools to which you are applying. 

Yes, we recommend a standard academic essay structure with an eye-catching introduction, three body paragraphs, and compelling conclusion.

Writing skills are a big part of producing any application essay, but what you include and why are just as important. Admissions advisors can guide you with their advanced knowledge of medical school application processes.

No, your AMCAS personal statement will be sent to all the schools you apply to, so it should focus on you and your interest in pursuing medicine, not the specific schools that interest you.

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Nadia mourtada

Thanks for providing us with some good ideas on how to write a good statement. That helped with my personal statement, however, I have a question: Do they really read our personal statement? Please let me. Thanks

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello Nadia! Thanks for your comment. Yes, admissions committees do read your personal statements. After your grades and MCAT score meet the requirements, your personal statement is usually one of the most influential components of the application. It can really help you get the interview invite, so we strongly recommend spending time and effort on it!

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3 Steps to Writing a Strong Medical School Personal Statement

• February 26, 2019
• MCAT Blog|Med School Admissions
• Reviewed By: Liz Flagge

As any admissions officer will tell you, there is no single determining factor in medical school admissions. A perfect MCAT score won’t guarantee you’ll get accepted, though that doesn’t mean you still shouldn’t try your best to get the highest MCAT score you can.

The beauty of holistic review is that all parts of your application are important, including your med school personal statement. In fact, many students fail to get accepted because, despite their otherwise flawless application and intriguing story, they couldn’t write a compelling personal essay. It’s not an easy task, and students often ask for help writing a personal statement.

We’ve broken down the writing process into three steps to make it less overwhelming.

Step One to Writing a Med School Personal Statement: Prepping

Understand the requirements.

The AMCAS ( American Medical College Application Service ), TMDSAS ( Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service ), and AACOMAS ( American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine ) all have open-ended prompts that ask you to explain your interest and motivation for pursuing medicine. The section should be used as an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants.

Free-Write to Jot Down Your Thoughts

Although you’re not answering a specific question, there are certain things you want to get across in your essay: the reason(s) you decided to pursue medicine, your motivations, and any hardships or unique situations you’ve faced. Take 30 minutes to simply write everything that would even remotely address these questions. Don’t think; just write. There are no right or wrong answers in this stage. Your thoughts don’t necessarily need to connect to each other, but they should relate back to the prompt. Freewriting allows you to start putting ideas to paper without the pressure of writing a perfect first draft. Then choose the best topic out of the bunch to flesh out, or select a network of related ideas.

Focus and Reflect

Look at the experiences and activities you chose to focus on. What did you learn from those experiences? What point do you want to leave your reader with? Why do you REALLY want to become a doctor and how do your experiences and writing convey that? Adcoms don’t just want a list that regurgitates your resume/accomplishments/awards; they want to know you’ve thought hard about your decision to become a doctor.

Analyze Other Personal Statements

Chances are you haven’t written a personal statement since you applied to undergrad. Analyzing other personal statements can be very beneficial to not only get your creativity flowing but also to understand what framework works better. A successful personal statement will demonstrate what admission committees look for. On the other hand, a personal statement from a student that didn’t get into his top schools can show you what not to do. You can apply the same critical eye to your own drafts afterward. Dr. Ryan Gray has compiled 30 personal statements with feedback for you to analyze and draw inspiration from.

Step Two to Writing a Med School Personal Statements: Writing Your First Draft

Set the stage in the introduction.

Once you have picked your topic, it’s time to start writing. Your goal in the introduction is to engage the reader. Without giving too much away, make sure you’re conveying the qualities you chose to write about and leave them wanting more.

Don’t Tailor It to One Specific School

The AMCAS and TMDSAS applications are universal, which is why you shouldn’t tailor the essays to a specific school, especially if you’re applying to multiple schools. Save the personal touch for each school’s secondary application.

Find a Unique Angle

Unfortunately, it’s very likely many med school applicants will talk about the same topic. Almost all applicants will have volunteered at a hospital or clinic, so your task is to showcase what made your experience unique. It might be a specific patient or doctor you worked with, a disaster that changed the way you looked at medicine, or how you managed to flourish despite when you fainted the first time you drew someone’s blood.

Write a Story, Not Just An Essay

Essays, at least in the collegiate sense, can be boring. The normal structure of Intro-Thesis- Supporting Paragraphs-Conclusion may not work in the medical school admissions process. Think about it: admissions officers likely read hundreds of applications every day. Their eyes might just gloss over a thesis sentence that reads, “In this essay, I will explain why I want to become a doctor.” Give them a break from the cookie-cutter essays. This is your moment to prove you’re something more than just MCAT scores and GPA. Write your story, the one that got you to point where you are and that will continue in medical school. Be descriptive and utilize your personal flair, but don’t be informal. This is still a professional setting. There’s also need to exaggerate; the committee wants to hear about YOU! Your reasons for becoming a doctor as legitimate as the next person’s.

Stay Within the Character Limit and Format

This speaks for itself, but it’s very important to not go over the allotted character limit (5300 on the AMCAS and 5000 for the TMDSAS, including spaces). The AMCAS platform also doesn’t read formatting, so it’s best to write your essay in a word document first, then paste it in a text application before submitting.

Wrap It up in Your Conclusion

Use your conclusion to bring everything full circle and reemphasize your passions and commitment to medicine.

Step Three to Writing a Med School Personal Statement: Editing and Rewriting

Go through multiple rounds of editing.

You will rewrite your personal statement more than once. Each draft can go through different phases of editing. Go through your first draft and pay attention to the content and what you can say to make it better. Then set it aside. When you’re ready to pick it up again, check for other issues, such as spelling/grammar, clarity, structure, content, flow/transitions, thematics, and tone. Rewrite your statement at least twice.

Get an Outside Opinion

Often when we create something, we are too close to the project to be completely objective. It’s always best to have other people edit a draft. However, your neighbor or best friend may not be the best choices to look over your essay. Find people who have strong backgrounds in writing or even medicine who can make your statement stronger.

Condense If Necessary (and It Probably Will Be)

You’re already aware of the character limits for the essays. Hopefully, your first draft stayed within those parameters, but if it didn’t, now is the time to decide what information is necessary and what can be cut. It’s always a good idea to use all the space provided if you need to, but less is often more. A shorter, but strong, personal statement is more effective than one that drones on and on without hitting its mark.

The personal statement is where your personality and story can really shine. Show the admissions committee what makes you unique and a strong doctor-in-the making. Schedule a free consultation with our Senior Advisors to learn how to take your application from good to great!

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Ultimate MCAT FAQ — 27 of Your Questions Answered

• By Med School Insiders
• May 21, 2024
• MCAT , Testing

The MCAT: the test, the myth, the legend. It’s an academic marathon that strikes fear into the heart of every hopeful premed—and if it doesn’t, then it most certainly should. The MCAT is a vital piece of your medical school application  that can make or break your chances of acceptance. But what exactly is the MCAT, why is it so difficult, and why is it taken so seriously? Read our MCAT FAQ for answers to 27 essential questions.

1 | What Is the MCAT?

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a 7.5 hour standardized exam designed to assess a prospective medical student’s foundational science knowledge and critical thinking skills.

If you hope to be accepted to medical school and become a doctor, you must take the MCAT exam first. Admissions committees believe your MCAT score is an indicator of whether or not you can handle the rigors of medical school. While your MCAT score is far from the only thing admissions committees consider, performing well on the MCAT is essential if you wish to be considered by top-tier medical schools.

2 | What’s on the MCAT Test?

The MCAT is divided into 4 multiple choice sections. Each section is worth 132 points for a total perfect MCAT score of 528.

The four MCAT sections are:

Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys)

Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (Bio/BioChem)

Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (Psych/Soc)

You are allotted 95 minutes to complete each of the following sections: 1, 3, and 4. These three sections each contain 59 questions, 44 of which are passage-related, and 15 of which are standalone. You are allotted 90 minutes to complete section 2, CARS, which contains 53 questions, all of which are passage-related.

Sections 1, 3, and 4 of the MCAT require a thorough understanding of scientific facts and concepts, as well as the ability to integrate knowledge from multiple disciplines with advanced inquiry, deduction, and reasoning skills.

Section 2, CARS, differs from the other three sections in that it does not require any memorization. CARS is designed to assess your critical thinking and reasoning skills exclusively. This section requires you to read and consider passages from a wide range of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences and then analyze and answer questions about what you have just read. Performing well on CARS requires that you be able to rapidly comprehend and analyze what you read .

Learn more: MCAT Sections: What’s on the MCAT?

3 | How Long Does the MCAT Take?

With breaks, the MCAT takes 7.5 hours to complete, not including the time it takes to sign in and get settled. Without breaks, the MCAT takes 6 hours and 15 minutes to complete. That said, we highly recommend you utilize each break to take a breath, eat a snack, and reset before the next section begins.

Learn more: How Long Does the MCAT Take?

4 | How Many Breaks Do You Get During the MCAT?

You have 3 optional breaks during the MCAT exam, which means you are allowed to take a break after you complete each section. The first break is 10 minutes, the second break is 30 minutes (for lunch), and the final break is 10 minutes. There is also an optional 10 minute tutorial before the test begins.

Time-wise, this is how the MCAT is broken down:

Optional tutorial: 10 minutes

Chem/Phys: 95 minutes

Optional break: 10 minutes

CARS: 90 minutes

Optional lunch break: 30 minutes

Bio/BioChem: 95 minutes

Psych/Soc: 95 minutes

5 | How Is the MCAT Scored?

The MCAT is completely multiple choice. The score range of each of the 4 MCAT sections is 118-132, for a total perfect score of 528. The lowest possible score is 472. Each of the 4 sections is worth 25% of your final score.

Time: 95 minutes

Score Range: 118-132

Number of Questions: 59 total (44 passage-related, 15 standalone)

Time: 90 minutes

Number of questions: 53 total (all passage-related)

6 | What’s a Good MCAT Score?

A good MCAT score is different for everyone and largely depends on the schools you hope to be accepted to. While a perfect MCAT score is 528, most medical schools suggest that students should have a minimum MCAT score of 500, which means scoring 125 in each of the four sections. That said, in order to be competitive, you must aim to score higher than 500.

Average statistics of recent matriculated medical school students can give you a general idea of what’s expected, but if you have specific medical schools in mind, it is vital that you research exactly what is expected for each school you are applying to.

For example, osteopathic (DO) schools put less importance on your MCAT score compared with allopathic (MD) schools.

The average MCAT score for recent matriculants applying through AMCAS is: 511.70

The average MCAT score for recent matriculants applying through AACOMAS is: 503.90

Keep in mind that these are only averages. In order to be competitive, it’s critical to aim for a much higher than average score.

The AAMC’s Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) database is the best way to find out how your MCAT score and GPA compare to the students who have already been accepted to the schools you’re applying to.

Learn more: Is Your MCAT Score Good Enough?

7 | How Hard Is the MCAT?

The MCAT is ranked as one of the hardest examinations in the world .

The MCAT is particularly challenging because it isn’t only a test of what you know—it’s a test of how you think. Within a short period of time, students must be able to synthesize information, think critically, and analyze what is presented to them.

In addition, many questions on the MCAT combine content from different subjects, including biology, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, general chemistry, physics, sociology, psychology, humanities, and social sciences.

Aside from the difficulty of the test itself, you can expect to be at the testing center for at least eight hours on the day of your test. Some of that time will involve getting settled in and taking breaks, but you will still spend 6 hours and 15 minutes on content alone. Just for reference, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) takes about 3 hours to complete—including breaks.

All of that said, the MCAT will be more difficult for some than others. The difficulty of the MCAT is based on how well a student is able to prepare and stick to a personalized study schedule.

Learn more: How Hard Is the MCAT?

8 | How Do I Take the MCAT?

You can register for your MCAT exam through the AAMC website . If you don’t already have one, you will first need to create an account to access AAMC services.

9 | When Should I Start Studying for the MCAT?

The MCAT test calendar varies each year. The date you need to begin studying depends on your test date. We recommend dedicating 3-6 months to studying before the test date. We believe 3 months is ideal if you can dedicate 40 or more hours per week to studying.

For example, if you want to take the MCAT in September, you should begin studying in March at the earliest and June at the latest to give yourself 3-6 months. Use our guide below to figure out when you need to begin studying.

Learn more: When Should You Start Studying for the MCAT?

10 | How Do MCAT Practice Tests Compare to the Real Thing?

According to most test takers, practice tests tend to be even harder than the real MCAT. The AAMC MCAT practice tests are as close as possible to the real thing because the same test developers who write the practice tests also write the MCAT. Many students report that their actual MCAT score was very similar to what they scored on the AAMC practice tests.

While AAMC has a free practice test, students report that this test is actually easier than the real MCAT. To get something that’s as close as possible to the real MCAT, it will be necessary to pay for one or more of the AAMC’s full-length practice exams that provide scaled scoring.

There are also a number of other MCAT practice tests out there, including Kaplan practice tests and the Princeton Review practice tests.

In our guide on How Do MCAT Practice Tests Compare to the Real Thing , we examine a number of different MCAT practice tests through the lens of students’ reported experiences and how their practice test scores compared to their MCAT scores.

11 | When Is the Best Time to Take the MCAT?

The best time to take the MCAT largely depends on your plans after college—do you plan on going straight into medical school, or are you hoping to take a year off?

If you plan on going straight into medical school, we recommend taking the MCAT during the summer after your sophomore year. If you plan to take a year off after college, take the MCAT during the summer between your junior and senior years.

12 | How Do I Know If I’m Ready to Take the MCAT?

This is a personal decision primarily based on 3 key factors:

• How well your MCAT studying is going
• Your results on practice tests
• Your personal state of mind (your confidence level, timeline, etc.)

It is important to note, however, that delaying your MCAT could be a costly mistake, as the longer you spend studying, the more chances you have of forgetting previous material.

Learn more: Should You Delay Your MCAT? How to Know If You’re Ready

13 | How Long Does It Take to Get MCAT Scores?

Official MCAT scores are released 30-35 days after an exam date.

2024 Schedule and Score Release Dates for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT)

14| How Long Do MCAT Scores Last?

According to AAMC , medical schools generally accept scores that are two or three years old. Many medical schools do not accept MCAT exam scores that are more than three years old.

15 |  How Much Does the MCAT Cost?

Standard registration for the MCAT costs $330. However, this price has risen over the years, and it’s likely it will continue to rise. Registration for the Fee Assistance Program costs $135. If you’re testing outside of the US, Canada, or US Territories, you will be charged a $120 international fee in addition to the registration fee. You must receive final approval for the AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program before you select your test date and location.

But this isn’t the only cost you have to factor in. Learn more: How Much Does the MCAT Cost? The REAL Costs Analyzed .

16 |  How Do MCAT Accommodations Work?

If you feel a current physical or mental disability or condition will negatively impact your performance on the MCAT, submit an application for MCAT accommodations. MCAT accommodations are adjustments to the standard testing conditions of the MCAT designed for students who have a medical condition or disability that could hinder their performance on the MCAT.

Possible conditions that could qualify you for MCAT accommodations:

• Pregnancy or if you are currently nursing
• Temporary medical conditions, such as a broken limb
• Learning disabilities, such as ADHD
• Psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety or depression
• Sensory conditions, such as if your vision or hearing is impaired
• Physical conditions, such as a long-term illness

MCAT accommodations are not determined based on the diagnosis alone; they are determined by your current functional limitations and the specific demands of the task, and they’re only allowed if they are supported by adequate evidence. For example, it may be true that you’re pregnant, but you will need to prove that this will directly impact your ability to complete a standardized test.

You will need to begin preparing your application many months before your actual MCAT test, as in order to receive MCAT accommodations, you must submit an Initial application long before your MCAT exam date. Initial requests take up to 60 days to be reviewed by the AAMC, and other requests can take up to 30 days to be reviewed.

Your accommodations must be approved 15 days before your exam date. Since you’ll need some time to collect documentation and familiarize yourself with the accommodations process, we recommend you begin this process no later than 120 days before your desired MCAT test date.

Successfully meeting the requirements for MCAT accommodations takes a number of steps. Learn more in our comprehensive guide to Applying for MCAT Accommodations .

17 | How Many Times Can and Should You Take the MCAT?

The AAMC allows students to take the MCAT up to three times in a year, four times over two years, and seven times in a lifetime. Each scored attempt will appear on your record, so each of your MCAT scores will be seen by admissions committees—unless you void the test (more on that below.)

However, just because you can take the MCAT three times in the same year or seven times in a lifetime doesn’t mean you should. At Med School Insiders, we absolutely do not recommend taking it that many times.

Aim to take the MCAT only once, but if you really dropped the ball the first time or nerves got the better of you, consider retaking the test, but only once.

Learn How Many Times Can (And Should) You Take the MCAT?

18 | What Does It Mean to Void the MCAT? Should You Do It?

Voiding the MCAT means you can cancel your test and request that it not be scored after you take it. You have five minutes after the test to tell the supervisors you want to void your MCAT, and if you do, your MCAT won’t be graded. No one will look at it at all, which means you will have no idea how you did, and neither will schools. While the attempt will still count toward your total number of MCAT attempts, schools won’t know that you voided an MCAT.

It can be quite tempting to void your MCAT after you take it. You’re drained. You don’t know for sure how you did, and you know that every scored attempt will be seen by your dream schools.

If you feel like you completely tanked a section or left half of the questions blank, you may consider voiding it and trying again.

However, know that pretty much everyone feels terrible after the MCAT. Everyone thinks they could have done better, but this is not a valid enough reason to discount all your months of studying and hard work, not to mention the money you’ve already invested in the test.

Read our guide: Voiding the MCAT — What You Need to Know .

19 | What MCAT Test Dates Are Available?

In 2024, two to five MCAT test dates will be available each month from January to September, with the lowest being two in March and the most being five in June. There are no MCAT test dates available in February or October through December in 2024.

Check out the official MCAT Test Dates and Score Release Dates .

20 | When Are MCAT Scores Released?

Official MCAT scores are released 30-35 days after an exam date by 5 pm ET on the scheduled score release date.

View score release dates here: MCAT Test Dates and Score Release Dates .

21 | Are There US Medical Schools That Don’t Require the MCAT?

All traditional medical schools in the US require applicants to take the MCAT. While there are some schools abroad that do not require it, going to these schools could limit your future career opportunities.

Articles that claim to list medical schools without an MCAT requirement are actually listing BS/MD, BS/DO, or other similar early admission pathways, which can begin as early as high school.

Early admission pathways are combined bachelor and medicine degree programs, such as a BS or BA combined with an MD or DO through a single acceptance. For example, BS/MD, BA/MD, BS(BA)/DO, and EAPs (Early Assurance Programs).

Programs like BS/MDs are usually between 6-8 years. While they offer a direct path to an MD or DO without an MCAT, they do require you to commit your entire life to medicine while you’re still in your teens and before you’ve taken any advanced science courses in college or early hands-on experience in the medical field through employment or volunteering.

Learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of early admission pathways and if avoiding the MCAT is right for you in our guide: Are There US Medical Schools That Don’t Require the MCAT?

22 | Is an MCAT Retake Worth It?

Technically, the AAMC allows you to take the MCAT up to three times in a year, four times over two years, and seven times in a lifetime. It should be noted that every scored attempt appears on your record, which means they are all seen by admissions committees.

Here are the 3 main questions to consider before retaking the MCAT:

• Do you actually need a higher score to gain acceptance to your desired medical school?
• Can you significantly improve your score? (Do you have enough time and energy to study for the MCAT again? Do you have an improved study strategy?)
• How many times have you already taken the MCAT?

Deciding whether or not to retake the MCAT is a dilemma that many students face. Signing up to take the test again right away without making any changes to your study habits is a poor choice, as there is no reason to expect you will perform any better than you did before.

Keep in mind that your success on the MCAT is based much more on your preparation than your level of intelligence. A high MCAT score depends on your study strategies, discipline, and your use of evidence-based learning principles during your preparation.

For more details, read our guide: Is an MCAT Retake Worth It?

23 | What Should I Bring to the MCAT?

The most important thing to remember on MCAT test day is your ID. You must present identification when you arrive, and that identification must meet certain criteria set by AAMC.

During your breaks, you are only permitted access to food, water, and medication. Bring plenty of water or other beverages that will keep you hydrated, as well as a variety of healthy snacks. You may want to bring a small lunch, such as a simple sandwich.

Learn more: What to Bring to MCAT Test Day .

24 | What Should I Wear to the MCAT?

Choose clothes you are comfortable in. It’s a long test, and you’ll want your attention focused exclusively on the exam, not on what you’re wearing.

Any personal items, including jewelry and watches, must be removed before entering the test, so it’s best not to bring them with you at all. Everything on you will be examined, and any unnecessary items must be stowed in the secure storage area provided by the testing center. You will even need to turn out your pockets, so check that they are empty before you arrive.

25 | What Should I Eat Before and During the MCAT?

Choose a filling but not overly heavy breakfast. We recommend protein and starchy foods with a low glycemic index, such as eggs, salmon, oatmeal, or whole wheat toast.

Keep your food choices simple, but bring extra just in case. You’ll be working your brain hard for several hours, and that’s going to build up your appetite. Ideal foods include sandwiches, nuts, granola bars, bananas, and berries. Light, healthy foods are best, but at the same time, don’t bring something you aren’t used to or haven’t tried before. MCAT test day is not the time to experiment.

26 | Is MCAT Tutoring Worth It?

The MCAT is extremely difficult, and your score could determine your future in medicine or lack thereof. The good news is there is no reason to tackle this overwhelming, seemingly insurmountable task alone, as an innumerable number of people have been exactly where you are right now and have successfully matriculated to medical school. Why not benefit from their expertise?

Choosing whether or not to get assistance depends on your own personal strengths and weaknesses, the time you have available, and your ability to design your own personalized study strategy.

At the end of the day, MCAT tutoring is all about improving your score, and with study strategies and schedules designed by real doctors and tailored to your own unique strengths, weaknesses, and study habits, that’s exactly what you’ll be able to do.

Learn more: Is MCAT Tutoring Worth It?

27 | What Are the Best MCAT Resources?

When it comes to MCAT resources, AAMC is an excellent place to start. Princeton Review and Kaplan also offer extensive resources, but it’s better to focus on one rather than choosing both.

• AAMC Complete Resources
• Official AAMC Guide to the MCAT
• Princeton Review MCAT Complete Box Set
• Kaplan MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review

We also recommend using Memm to effortlessly and efficiently organize information and accelerate your MCAT learning.

Med School Insiders offers MCAT tutoring customized to your specific needs. We have a diagnostic process that evaluates how you can make the greatest improvements. You’ll be matched with a top-scoring tutor for one-on-one mentorship and relationship building. It’s a custom, one-of-a-kind approach that’s based on efficiency and effectiveness.

Learn how to choose the best MCAT tutor , including what to look for in a service and red flags to watch out for.

Med School Insiders offers a range of MCAT tutoring packages, including 10 hours, 25 hours, and 40 hours, depending on your specific needs and budget. We’ll provide a customized study schedule, practice tests, recordings of every session, and more. Our tutors are all doctors who have been through the process before and excelled on the MCAT themselves (averaging >98th percentile).

We’re so confident you’ll see great results that we have a score increase guarantee. If your score does not improve, we’ll work with you for another 5 hours free of charge.

Learn more about our MCAT tutoring services and comprehensive admissions packages . Visit the Med School Insiders blog for a wide selection of current MCAT resources. We’re always adding to our library.

Med School Insiders

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Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts: The Most Common Questions to Prepare For

Padya Paramita

June 12, 2019

You’ve uploaded your transcript, MCAT score, extracurricular information, personal statement, and finally clicked the submit button on the AMCAS . You might want to use the next couple of weeks to relax. I wouldn’t recommend it, considering your medical school secondary essays are right around the corner. Schools cut off a big portion of the application pool between the secondary and the interview stages, so don’t take the medical school secondary essay prompts lightly!

Although medical schools don’t typically begin sending out secondary applications until early July, you shouldn’t just sit around and start reading a 400-page novel for fun while you wait. Rather, prepare yourself to have common essay topics ready for the minute the prompts are sent out. Below, I’ve outlined the general timeline of secondaries, how to keep yourself organized in the process, the most common medical school secondary essay prompts and how to approach them, recent secondary questions at MD programs, and overall dos and don’ts when writing your medical school secondaries.

How to Prepare for Secondaries: The Basics

Secondary essay prompts are demanding and ask you questions that allow you to reflect on your experiences, career goals in medicine, and challenges that you have overcome. Medical schools want to know why you’re interested in their program and how they might be a good fit for you and vice versa. The number of applicants who receive secondaries varies from school to school. Most schools automatically send out secondaries upon submission of the primary to all applicants, while others ensure students have passed an initial screening and met the GPA and MCAT cutoffs (typically set at a 3.0 GPA and 500 MCAT score) before sending out secondary essays.

First and foremost, you should not put off submitting your secondaries, because your application is not considered complete without them. At most schools, your AMCAS will not even be read until you’ve submitted this portion as well, so don’t delay. Medical schools don’t usually state a deadline for the secondary essays but if they do, absolutely adhere to it, or all your hard work will go to waste.

Second, medical schools view the time you take to turn in your secondaries as a direct reflection of your interest in their program. If there’s no deadline, you should be looking to complete them and send them back within two weeks of receiving them. The two week turnaround time is long enough to be meticulous, but short enough to show eagerness. If you sit around and take over a month to send back your secondaries, don’t expect an interview. But if you take time to think about possible medical school secondary essay prompts and how you might prepare for them in advance, you won’t be scrambling at the last minute.

Secondaries Organization & Game Plan

In order to keep yourself organized and monitor the secondaries for each school, start a spreadsheet. It should detail whether you’ve received the prompt, whether you’ve paid the secondary application fee ($50 or $75, depending on the school), the method to submit, the essay topic(s), and whether you’ve submitted the essays or not. This way, you can keep track of your progress and what remains to be covered for each school, avoiding additional stress during this high pressure period.

The best way to prepare for your secondary essays is to simply start writing about yourself. While there’s no way to figure out the secondary essay prompts in advance for all your schools, you can generate tailored, well-written essays far more easily if you go ahead and tackle traditional essay topics. Medical school secondary essay prompts often follow a general pattern that you can readily get a sense of. The word or character limit for the secondary essays is set by each school, and could range anything from 2000 to 4000 characters.

The secondaries ask for essays about you , so keep in mind your most impressive qualifications, why you want to attend medical school, and how each school might be able to help you achieve your goals. You want to choose topics which bring out the best version of yourself. Remember, the people reading your applications are humans. You don’t want to bore them. You want to stand out as a unique individual in the process. It can come in handy to keep a separate document outlining your reasons for pursuing medicine and the unique opportunities at each medical school that resonate with your passions within the field. This can help you get the ball rolling so you’re ready to conquer medical school secondary essay prompts .

Examples of Common Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts

You should put approximately 25-30 medical schools on your list to stay on the safer side of the intensely competitive medical school admissions process. Schools often have a range of 2-9 secondary questions for you to answer. Take a moment to do the math. This means that you could end up answering over seventy medical school secondary essay prompts . You only had to write one personal statement in the primary, so the number of essays you have to write for the secondary stage can seem like a massive mountain to climb.

The good news is, there will be some overlap in the kinds of prompts among the schools. That said, you should expect each school’s essays to need quite a bit of tweaking to adjust to specific prompts. And don’t expect to be able to reuse every essay you write! But preparing for typical prompts is a strategic starting point. Listed below are a number of secondary essay prompts which are common among many medical schools:

• Explain why you wish to attend this particular medical school.
• What diverse or unique element will you bring to this medical school community?
• If you graduated before you applied, summarize your activities since you graduated.
• Describe a challenge you overcame or a time when you faced an ethical dilemma and how you learned and grew from that experience.
• Who is the most influential person in your life and why?
• Describe a meaningful leadership position.
• What are your goals as a physician?
• What research or independent academic work have you completed, and what did you accomplish or learn?
• What do you think is the role of a physician in a community?
• Describe a humbling experience and what you learned from it.
• Elaborate on an area of interest outside of medicine (e.g., hobbies).
• Describe the characteristics that make you who you are. How will they impact your success as a medical student and physician?
• From the list of activities and experiences listed in your AMCAS application, please select one that has most impacted your decision to enter medicine.
• Is there any other information you would like to share with the admissions committee?

Medical schools often send some combination of these prompts, or similar questions relating to your identity, meaningful experiences, or goals. So even if you don’t know exactly which medical school secondary essay prompts to expect, the list above should give you a clearer picture of what to prepare for.

How to Tackle the Most Common Prompts

Now that you’ve seen the classic questions medical schools ask for secondaries, it’s time to analyze how to answer them. Generally, if you look at the pattern of the prompts, admissions committees want to know who you are, why you’re motivated to pursue medicine, and how you would fit in at their school.

To further break down the ways schools specify what they’re looking for, let’s look at some questions based off of the common medical school secondary essay prompts :

“Why This School” Essays

Take a look at the following “why this school” prompts from three different medical schools in 2018, and the way they framed their questions:

• Georgetown University - Why have you chosen to apply to the Georgetown University School of Medicine and how do you think your education at Georgetown will prepare you to become a physician for the future? (1 page, formatted at your discretion)
• Mayo Clinic - Why are you specifically interested in pursuing your medical education at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine even if you gain acceptances to other highly ranked medical schools? (500 words or less)
• University of Toledo - Briefly describe why you wish to attend medical school at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences. As part of this essay, please discuss, if applicable, any personal connection you may have to The University of Toledo, the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences/former Medical College of Ohio, the city of Toledo, or the region of Northwest Ohio. (300 words)

Success with these questions lies in actually taking the time to do research on your school list. Make sure you know exactly what the programs offer - you’ve applied to the school for a reason. What are the things you like the most about it and how will it help your goals? Emphasize your demonstrated interest in the school as specifically as possible - detail what about the program’s mission appeals to you the most and fits your personality and plans. Finally, make sure you carefully read the entire prompt and answer all parts. While the objective of the questions is the same (to find out why you have chosen the school), each school puts its own unique spin to the question.

In the past, Georgetown has wanted to know how your training as a physician would benefit from a Georgetown education. To tackle this prompt, jot down specialties only Georgetown offers - faculty, courses, research opportunities - which appeal to you. Don’t pick every single thing off the website. Select a special few details relevant to your interests within medicine and talk about how learning from a certain professor, for example, aligns with your goals.

Mayo’s prompt last year was similar, but asked why you would choose them despite acceptances to other top schools. You definitely need to be as specific as possible in your response. Admissions committee members obviously want accepted students to enroll. They want to know that you’re not applying just for the sake of trying to attend a highly ranked school. So this is the time to demonstrate your knowledge of the program and to feature the opportunities you can take advantage of only at Mayo

Toledo’s “why this school” prompt in 2018 wanted to know about personal connections to the school, the city of Toledo, or the entire region of northwestern Ohio. Public medical schools pay special attention to in-state applicants, and love to see candidates convey interest in the regional appeal of the school. Whether you’ve learned fun facts from a relative who’s an alum or you have a strong connection to the food in the area, expressing concrete details about what you love about the medical school’s environment can help admissions committee members gain an added perspective on you.

“How Will You Contribute to Our School” Essays

Check out a couple examples of medical school secondary essay prompts from last year which ask about how you will contribute to MD programs:

• New York University - The Admissions Committee uses a holistic approach to evaluate a wide range of student qualities and life experiences that are complementary to demonstrated academic excellence, strong interpersonal skills and leadership potential. What unique qualities or experiences do you possess that would contribute specifically to the NYU School of Medicine community (2500 characters max)?
• University of Nevada - Describe how your background and future goals will contribute to the mission of the University of Nevada School of Medicine.

To answer the “how will you contribute to our school prompts,” you need to think about the theme of your own application, and the theme of the institution itself.

Your essay could follow an application persona, or a recurrent theme throughout to help you stand out from other applicants. For example, your application persona could be that you are an aspiring surgeon who was motivated to be a doctor after helping victims of a natural disaster. Keeping your persona in mind can help you decide which of your qualifications and experiences to highlight in such an essay. What do you bring to the table that other applicants don’t? What are you passionate about? What parts of medicine excite you?

Admissions committees want to understand how they’ll specifically benefit from your unique contributions. Think about what each school is known for. How does its mission align with what you hope to achieve from an education in medicine? Don’t get carried away, just talk about your perspective.

“Describe a Challenge You’ve Faced” Essays

Often, medical schools want to know about how you respond to challenges, as shown in the prompts below:

• University of Chicago - Share with us a difficult or challenging situation you have encountered and how you dealt with it. In your response, identify both the coping skills you called upon to resolve the dilemma, and the support person(s) from whom you sought advice. We suggest that you limit your essay to about 550 words.
• Harvard University - If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Many applicants will not need to answer this question. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, identification with a minority culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. (4000 characters maximum)
• University of Kansas - Beyond academics (grades and MCATs), describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to address this challenge.

When answering prompts that fall under the “challenge” umbrella, you should do a little bit of self-reflection. The applicants you’re going up against may have faced far greater adversity than you have - whether in the loss of their home or facing prejudice of some kind in society. This type of question may be optional, for example, in the case of Harvard’s 2018 secondaries. But, if the question is not optional, and you’re not sure that you’ve really faced many challenges, do not exaggerate your adversity . Grasping at straws for adversity will backfire and show that you lack perspective.

Medical schools want their classes to be comprised of exceptional individuals, each of whom should bring something different to the class. Instead of telling stories that aren’t yours, focus on challenges you might have faced in a unique passion or avocation. Try talking about an obstacle you faced in your clinical adventures or while leading a project for your work or internship.

Dos and Don’ts

Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with what you can expect out of your medical school secondary essay prompts , it’s time to go over some dos and don’ts to make sure you avoid common mistakes and stay on track to write standout secondaries.

Think About Your Primary Application

When answering medical school secondary essay prompts , it’s important that what you wrote in your primary application stays in the front of your mind. You definitely should not repeat experiences that you already outlined in your personal statement or activities list. But, if there’s something you didn’t get to talk about in depth - such as an important part of your cultural background or an impressive research internship, this is the place to write about it!

Ensure That You’ve Followed All Directions

A good place to start the secondary process is to read the prompts very carefully. Identify the task at hand and ask yourself: what is the question really asking? You can treat the task as a to-do list, and elaborate on each point on the list to form an outline of your essay. Look through the prompt guidelines - word limit, page limit, formatting requirements - and ensure you stick to them.

You might be reusing bits and pieces from one school’s essay for another. That’s okay. But make sure you’ve edited it to fully answer the latter school’s question and formatting requirements. If admissions committees see that you haven’t completed all parts of the prompt, or that you’ve crossed the limit or format guidelines, it’s an automatic red flag. You will not receive an interview if you fail to meet schools’ instructions. It might seem like a minor thing, but such mistakes definitely happen, especially when you’re writing so many applications.

Leave Yourself Plenty of Time to Edit

You must appear professional on your medical school application, and secondaries are an important part of that. Once you’ve finished writing your essays, edit them as much as possible. There will be a lot of essays to go through and you’ll be under a time crunch, but you need to read and reread them to ensure quality. Make sure you avoid run-on sentences and that you’ve made each word count. Careless errors such as grammatical or spelling mistakes will not reflect well on you.

Think Strategically

The medical school application process is notoriously cutthroat. You have to pick and choose your battles. When answering medical school secondary essay prompts , you should not answer all your reach schools first. You should focus on the schools you’re most likely to attend in order to demonstrate interest, but don’t be too ambitious. Check to see which of the schools on your list - especially schools you’re more likely to get into - have secondary prompts that can be easily answered with solid responses that you have already prepared. You definitely want to be smart in the balance of submitting secondaries both promptly and strategically.

Provide Mixed Messages

Remember, you need to keep your primary application in mind when filling out your secondaries. If some bit of information in your secondary application doesn’t match what you’ve already said in your primary application, admissions committees will notice. Don’t write something in your essays that contradicts what you’ve stated as a value or credential previously.

Writing about a topic you can’t speak in depth about might lead to trouble on multiple fronts. If you do so in your essay and you’re asked about it in an interview, you will be in trouble. In a similar vein, you shouldn’t highlight something that was a minimal experience. You will be competing against brilliant students who have versatile stories to tell. Talking about a minor burn you got three years ago might not be a great way to fill up the space allotted for your secondaries.

Write About a High School Experience  

You’re an adult now. You’ve gone through years of life experiences that have greatly impacted your motivation to become a doctor. Unless it was something extremely formative and absolutely integral for your medical school application, don’t waste your secondaries reliving your high school glory days.

Use Flowery Language

This is not a poetry competition and neither are you studying for the SAT. There’s no need to be pretentious and show off your vocabulary on your medical school secondaries. While it’s good to mix up your word usage and not repeat, don’t go all out with the metaphors or thesaurus.com. Admissions committees want to know more about you and what you’ll bring to their program. Don’t take the attention away from the story by adding too many long words that ultimately don’t make sense.

Medical school secondary essay prompts offer you the challenge of answering specific questions about yourself and your career interests within a short span of time. But, if you anticipate the kinds of questions headed your way and prepare in advance, with a stroke of luck, you might even have a few first drafts before the secondaries even come out. You’ve got a lot of writing coming up, so the sooner you start working on the common medical school secondary essay prompts , the better. And if you get an interview, and eventually accepted into medical school, the extra effort you put into working on your secondary essays will all be worth it.

General FAQ

Do all applicants get secondaries.

The number of applicants who receive secondaries varies from school to school. Most schools automatically send out secondaries upon submission of the primary to all applicants, while others ensure students have passed an initial screening and met the GPA and MCAT cutoffs.

When is the right time to turn in my secondary essays?

Medical schools view the time you take to turn in your secondaries as a direct reflection of your interest in their program. If there’s no deadline, you should be looking to complete them and send them back within two weeks of receiving them.

What are some common secondary essay prompts?

Some of the most common prompts include: “explain why you wish to attend this particular medical school,” “what diverse or unique element will you bring to this medical school community,” and “if you graduated before you applied, summarize your activities since you graduated.”

How many prompts do I have to answer per school?

Schools often have a range of 2-9 secondary questions for you to answer.

Tags : medical school secondarys , applying to medical school , medical school essays , medical school secondary essay prompts , medical school secondary essays

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[13:03] Sixth Biggest Mistake: Copying and Pasting Without Editing

Do not get caught copying and pasting without editing. You don’t want to be that student who sends a secondary essay to NYU that says “I would love to be part of Columbia Medical School next year.”

Be sure to edit it and have somebody look over your stuff. Copy and paste all you want, but then put it aside for the day, and go back and check the next day. Make sure all of the names have been changed and everything is up to date before you send it off.

Links and Other Resources

• Check out our Medical School Secondary Application Essay Database .
• Check out our Secondary Essay Editing service .
• Related episode: Does It Matter How Fast I Turn Around My Secondary Essays?
• Related episode: What Does the Med School Application Timeline Look Like?
• Need MCAT Prep?  Save on tutoring, classes, and full-length practice tests by using promo code “MSHQ” for 10% off Next Step full-length practice tests or “MSHQTOC” for $50 off MCAT tutoring or the Next Step MCAT Course at  Blueprint MCAT (formerly Next Step Test Prep) !

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Medical School Admissions: Secondary Applications

What are secondary applications, will i get a secondary from every school i apply to, how much do secondary applications cost, what are common questions on secondary applications.

• What are you interested in?
• Why are you interested in our medical school specifically?
• How would you add to the diversity of our school?
• What is a challenging situation you’ve had to overcome?
• One is one non-medical activity that has had a significant impact on you?
• If you have already graduated, what have you done since undergrad?

Do secondary applications have deadlines?

How do i write so many essays, what are schools looking for in the essays, secondary application do’s and don’ts.

♦  Do  make each essay specific to the prompt ♦  Do  have lots of people proofread your essays ♦  Do  use a spreadsheet to organize which essays go to which schools ♦  Don’t  just cut and paste parts of other essays without ensuring your essay makes sense ♦  Don’t  simply repeat information from primary application ♦  Don’t  forget to include payment if one is required.

4 tips to manage your secondary applications

1. be highly organized.

Create a spreadsheet or a document where you keep all the application links, essay prompts, passwords, usernames, due dates, and other secondary application minutiae. That way, you can quickly and easily keep track of all the information necessary to access your secondary applications. You should also have a system for keeping track of your secondary application completion status. You don’t want to do all that hard work and then forget to hit ‘submit’ on an application.

2. Submit Promptly

The majority of medical schools have  rolling admissions . That means you’re better off submitting your application sooner than later. When that desire to procrastinate on your secondaries creeps in, think about all the other applicants who might be ahead of you in line for review if you submit tomorrow instead of today. Keep yourself motivated, be proactive, and complete those secondary applications as soon as you can without sacrificing quality.

3. Read Ahead

Some medical schools will have past essay prompts available on their website. If they’re available, you can get a head-start by brainstorming essay topics and considering how you want to connect your experiences to their prompts. You should also check out the school’s mission, values, and other information on their website. You want to be familiar with all relevant information about the program in which you hope to enroll. Knowing this information is key to successful secondaries—and will help during your  medical school interview .

4. Set Priorities

Even though they can be tedious and time-consuming,  secondary applications  should take top priority, and you should prioritize completing your secondaries based on the priority you give to your prospective programs. Without a completed secondary, you’re unlikely to get an interview invitation. So, if there’s a school you’re particularly interested—or a “safety” school where your odds of acceptance are higher—you should prioritize the application for that school first.

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What You Need to Know About the MCAT® Exam

New section.

An overview of the the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) and how to prepare.

What’s the MCAT exam?

The Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) is a standardized, multiple-choice, computer-based test that has been a part of the medical school admissions process for more than 90 years. Each year, more than 85,000 students sit for the exam. All medical schools in the United States and many in Canada require MCAT scores for regular admission to medical school. Many health profession schools and graduate programs also accept MCAT scores in lieu of other standardized tests. The MCAT exam tests examinees on the skills and knowledge that medical educators, physicians, medical students, and residents have identified as key prerequisites for success in medical school and practicing medicine. The content is divided into four sections:

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

The AAMC develops the MCAT exam and administers it multiple times each year, from late January through September, at hundreds of test sites throughout the United States and Canada and in select locations throughout the world.

When should I take the MCAT exam?

It is important to take the exam when you are prepared and ready. Be sure you are comfortable with the content and skills tested on the exam, which are often covered in introductory-level science courses. Read over the  What's on the MCAT Exam?  tool to be sure you have covered all the topics and skills that are tested on the exam.

In many cases, examinees take their exam in the calendar year that precedes the year you plan to enter medical school. Before choosing an exam date, you’ll want to consider the likelihood that you’ll need to retake the exam and how well you understand the content. For example, if you plan to take a summer course that may help you on the MCAT exam, such as a science class, it may be best to take the exam later that summer. Also, keep in mind that there are testing limits (three times in one calendar year, four times over two years, and seven times over the course of your lifetime), and medical schools will see all of your scores. Remember, you should take the exam only when you are prepared and ready.

How important is the MCAT exam?

Taking the MCAT exam is an important step in the application process, but it is just one part of your overall application to medical school. Admissions committees consider many other aspects about you, including your academic strengths, exposure to health care and medical research environments, personal experiences and interests, potential to contribute to the campus and community, and personal attributes such as maturity and drive to help others. You can see the 15 core competencies medical schools look for in Anatomy of an Applicant.

What if I can’t afford the registration fee?

The AAMC believes that the cost of applying to medical school shouldn’t be a barrier for anyone aspiring to be a physician. The  Fee Assistance Program  assists students who, without financial assistance, would not be able to take the MCAT exam or apply to medical school. If you meet the eligibility requirements, this program reduces the registration fee. It also provides several additional benefits, including free MCAT preparation resources.

How do I prepare?

The material you will be responsible for knowing on the MCAT exam is outlined in the online tool,  What’s on the MCAT Exam?  The knowledge and skills tested on the exam are found in introductory level biology, physics, psychology, and sociology, general and organic chemistry, and first-semester biochemistry. Because course content differs between schools, it is a good idea to compare the content of the courses you plan to take with the content lists in the online tool. Pre-health advisors and other faculty at your school are also great resources for helping you plan which courses will best prepare you to do well on the exam. If you do not have a pre-health advisor, the  National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP)  has volunteer advisors who can assist you. To help you prepare for the content on the exam, the AAMC collaborated with the Khan Academy and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to create original video tutorials and review questions that cover all content tested on the exam.

So how to start? One of the best places to start when preparing for the exam is to put together a study plan. Study plans help you organize, focus, and stay on track. The AAMC walks you through six-steps  to help you create your own study plan.

What test preparation resources are available?

The AAMC offers official MCAT test preparation tools and resources (free and at low cost) to ensure you can study and practice with content written by the test developers and can replicate the MCAT experience in a simulated testing environment. Learn about the test preparation products and resources  here .

How is the MCAT exam scored?

You will receive five results from your MCAT exam—one for each of the four sections and one combined total score.

Section scores : Each of the four section scores will range from 118 to 132. Test takers will receive scores for each of the four sections.

Total score : Scores for the four sections are combined to create a total score. The total score ranges from 472 to 528. Scores typically are reported 30–35 days after your exam date. Learn more about your scores and your score report  here .

What if I don’t score well?

If you aren’t satisfied with your MCAT score, your prehealth advisor can help you decide if you should retake the exam.  The Official Guide to the MCAT® Exam  also offers some data to consider when making this decision.

4 Ways to Address a Low MCAT Score on Your AMCAS Application

Last Updated on June 26, 2022 by Laura Turner

Overcoming a low MCAT score on your AMCAS application can feel daunting. Can they really judge my whole application by my performance on one 8 hour block of life!!? Sadly, most schools do put extensive emphasis on MCAT scores. However, a low score is not the end of the world if you are within the range of applicants to a particular school. Ask yourself: What do medical schools look for? The answer is more dynamic than just a good MCAT score…

But there are a few places within your application that it can be appropriate to address a less-than-satisfactory MCAT. An initially low MCAT score followed up by a stronger MCAT score can be easy to explain. A situation like that may not even require a mention. However, a single, low MCAT score (or even multiple low MCAT scores) can be a more challenging feat to overcome in your application. Situations like such, warrant some explanation.

Here are four ways to address a low MCAT score on your application:

1. The Personal Statement

Your personal statement is the first place people consider when weighing how you can explain a weak point in your application.

Disclaimer : This is extremely difficult to do well, and it will only apply to certain applicants. If you have real life or personal circumstances that interfered with a strong MCAT performance, this would be the place to mention that.

It can be accomplished if you use only a portion of your personal statement (no more than 2 sentences) to explain a poor performance, and what you’ve done to improve yourself and learn from the situation. The emphasis should be on how you have moved forward from the low MCAT score, not the score itself. Whether you are explaining a suboptimal performance followed by a more impressive score or explaining how standardized test taking is not a strong suit, this can be a place to do it. Because this is one of the only sections in your application that allows for free thought (as opposed to objective data), it might be an option to consider.

That being said, it is best not to make excuses for a poor performance. If there is no real reason for your low MCAT score besides simply poor testing, then you should not use the personal statement to address a low MCAT score. Rather, you should focus your energy on telling a compelling story in the essay.

2. Letters of Recommendation

Whenever you ask for a letter of recommendation—regardless of your MCAT score—you should make sure to write a cover letter for your recommenders. This is something we have all of our students at InGenius Prep do, and something that plays a large role in creating a cohesive application.

For the purpose of addressing a low MCAT score though, you should look at the breakdown. If you performed poorly on the Chemical and Physical Foundations section, maybe you want to ask your Organic Chemistry professor to write you a letter of rec. This person will be able to speak towards your ability and aptitude in the classroom over a long period of time—even if your single section score might not indicate such. Asking recommenders to address these sort of topics in their letters is probably the most direct way of addressing the content of the MCAT. These letters are most successful when the writer can speak to your qualities both in and outside of the classroom.

3. Your School List

The next way to address a low MCAT score, is being tactical about selecting where to apply. If you don’t fall into the category of being able to explain a low score in the personal statement, then there are more indirect ways that you can address this issue.

You should be realistic about where you have an actual chance of being granted an interview. Use objective data, like average MCAT scores of matriculated students, to gauge if a school is a reach, fit, or a safety. When selecting your list of schools to apply to, you should have a mix of reaches and safeties. The lower your MCAT score, the fewer safeties you will have. You will need to be honest with yourself about how realistic it is to get an interview at a reach school.

Consider applying to schools in the Caribbean with lower MCAT averages or to  DO schools if your MCAT score is low.

Similarly, the lower your MCAT score, the more schools you will need to apply to in order to increase your chances of getting interviews. Apply broadly! Especially with a lower score, you should apply to 20+ schools. The only way you can GUARANTEE that you don’t get an interview, is if you don’t apply!

4. Highlighting Your Strengths

Lastly, you can choose to overshadow a weak MCAT performance by highlighting more impressive aspects of your application. If a strength of your application is your volunteer or work experience or honors and awards, you need to accentuate this aspect of your application to take focus off other areas.

Medical schools want to see quality experiences that show a substantial contribution on your part. If you have meaningful experiences that accentuates your passion or your compassion, this is a great opportunity to make the reader see another side of you as an applicant, besides objective data.

Applying these lessons to your own application It is reasonable to utilize more than one of the above four approaches when putting together your AMCAS application. You should focus on explaining any downfalls while also highlighting the strengths of your application at the same time. This process is all about framing. You should feel like you have control over how your application is read. Don’t focus on the negative. Make sure your unique experiences, view of the world, background, or research are the pieces that you highlight.

Overall, the MCAT remains a key aspect of any premed’s application; however it does not define the person that it’s attached to. Show the admissions committee who you are in addition to your score. Don’t let that one day hold back your application!

David Quinzi is a Graduate Coach for InGenius Prep , an admissions consulting company that helps students with their applications to medical school. He graduated with a BS from Cornell University and is a current MD Candidate at Upstate Medical University.

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How to create impressive medical school secondary essays.

Reviewed by:

Jonathan Preminger

Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine

Reviewed: 5/28/24

Are you ready to tackle your medical school secondary essays? Read on to learn how to format them, common essay types, and more! 

At this stage in your application to medical school, you've gone through the AMCAS primary application process and are now receiving your secondary applications. Your secondaries are a series of specific questions that each school you've applied to sends to you.

That being the case, you are probably wondering how to create impressive secondary essays. If you've applied to many schools, you’ll be writing many essays. But you need not worry because this article will dive into the different kinds of essay prompts you will receive and how to answer them effectively.

Get The Ultimate Guide on Writing an Unforgettable Personal Statement

What Are Medical School Secondary Essays?

Secondary essays are the second component of the application process for medical school. Each school has a unique secondary application, whereas the primary application was a single application sent to several schools using either AMCAS, TMDSAS, or AACOMAS.

Secondary applications will usually consist of a series of short questions or essay questions. Questions will be unique to each school; however, there is significant overlap among them. If you submitted your primary application in June, you could expect to receive secondary applications beginning in July and continuing throughout the summer.

However, it’s important to note that not all schools send secondary applications to all applicants. Some use the primary application as a screening tool and only send secondaries to students they’d like to see continue in the admissions process.

A school like Stanford will ask seven essay questions, while Loma Linda will ask eight.

Purpose of Secondary Essays

Secondary essays give you an opportunity to show the medical school you want to attend, how your goals and values align with theirs, and how you would contribute to their program as a student.

Schools want to ensure that you are a good fit for their program and learn more about you than you could address in your AMCAS work and activities section. 

They want to see your uniqueness and what sets you apart from the other candidates.

Best Format to Follow When Writing Your  Secondary Essays

When writing your secondaries, here is a suggested guideline: 

• Answer the prompt
• Outline your response
• Use concrete examples
• Relate examples to your theme
• Adhere to word or character counts
• Reflect on your experiences

Answer the Prompt 

Whatever the prompt is, have a definitive response to start the essay to make your answer as straightforward as possible. 

Outline the Response 

As you're given a character count limit, it is best to outline your response to use your space effectively. Create a list of all the points you want to make and tailor them to incorporate the school's central values and goals. 

Use Concrete Examples

Stories are more effective in making a point than general statements. Use examples in your essay to build on your main points. 

Relate Examples to Your Theme

When you provide examples, make sure to answer the question, "How is this relevant?" Your examples should demonstrate how you will benefit medicine and make a good physician.

Adhere to Word and Character Counts

When you have preset responses to medical school secondary prompts, you address all critical points within the character count limits. 

Reflect on Your Experiences 

Describe what you learned and gained from your experiences. Don’t just talk about it; explain why it was significant. 

Re-read your essay the next day to make sure it is free of errors and conveys the message you are trying to make. Consulting a med school advisor can be an effective way to make sure your response is strong and stands out among other applicants.

Sometimes, students re-read and miss their own mistakes, so having an unbiased editor with experience in medical school admissions can be beneficial.

Common Types of Medical School Secondary Essays and Tips for Answering Each Type

Although secondary essay themes can vary, these are the most common essay types.

Diversity Essay

In medicine and other healthcare fields, diversity is essential. A clinician needs to be able to connect with patients from different backgrounds and experiences. Having a diverse student body creates an atmosphere of inclusivity, and as a worker in the social sector, especially front-line work, connecting with your patients is critical.

When writing a diversity essay , you may think the only topics you can cover are multiculturalism, race, and religion. You might think that because you're not a minority, you don’t have anything new to add. 

You might think you are already represented well and have no experience with diversity, so you do not have anything important to say. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. A variety of factors determine what level of diversity you can bring to the table:

• Your qualities and what you want to learn, or what you still wish to learn
• Your immigration experience if you were a newcomer or how your values differ from your social circle; how has the difference of values shaped your way of connecting with patients
• What do you understand about cultural competency? Are you aware of different medical approaches in the field? Do you apply that to your practice? And why is it important to know about how other cultures view medicine/treatment?
• Your language
• Where you grew up (rural vs. urban, in-country vs. abroad)

Diversity can also come from your experiences: a sibling with Down Syndrome, service in the military, an illness that you’ve struggled with, or the loss of a loved one. All of these experiences count as diversity and are what medical schools are looking for.

Where you came from and how your skills, experiences, and interests differentiate you from your peers. These unique backgrounds allow different ideas and perspectives to be brought to the classroom.

Additionally, using terms loosely in your essay, like "diversity, "multicultural," or "cultural competency," does not mean you have an understanding of them. Instead, it may make you seem insincere, so the better way to go is to be honest. Speak about what you actually know and what you have really experienced with diversity.

Adversity Essay

The purpose of an adversity essay is for admissions committees to understand your level of resiliency and room for growth in the medical field.

This essay isn’t about competing with people's stories of adversity but showcasing your own challenges and experiences and depicting what those experiences have taught you for professional development. It is more of a reflection piece about managing stress or barriers in your life and illustrating how you overcome them.

The admissions committees want to see this because they want to know if you can overcome hurdles that come your way. Medical school is a massive undertaking full of hurdles –tests and courses will push you to your limit.

The admissions committees want to see your ability to adapt and problem-solve so that you can pick yourself up after falling down.

Topics you can include:

• How you handle disappointing a loved one/or disappointment in general
• Managing criticism or feedback
• External situations that were out of your hands
• Talk about a challenge you’ve faced. What was your response? What was the result? What did you learn?

"Why Our School?" Essay

This prompt is aimed at determining why you want to attend a particular medical school. Medical schools read through hundreds of secondary essays each year. Instead of highlighting their program facts, which they already know about, show them that you connect to their mission, vision, and values.

The key is to mention your qualities, life experiences, and skills concerning the school's mission, vision, values, and programs. This way, you are not just repeating what the school offers but also mentioning how these programs fit you as an individual.

One approach to answering this prompt is by researching the school's website and finding topics of interest to you or seeing the school's values mentioned consistently throughout the website.

From there, you can pinpoint specific programs you like and write about how you can learn from them and what skills you can offer. Essentially, it is about seeing what the school stands for or what work they encourage and incorporating your own experiences with their beliefs.

For example, If a school places importance on community service and you have relevant volunteer experiences, make sure to mention this and how you want to continue improving those skills. If your experience is more research-based, talk about that experience and how more community service will make you a better physician.

If you want to stand out, you can survey students or graduates of the school and inquire about their experiences to see if the school is right for you. How do you reach others? Connecting via social media or reaching out to your peers may be a good start.

This essay is not about writing what the school already knows about themselves but more about what you can learn and benefit from and why this is the right fit for you. 

Gap Year Essay

These days, it's common for students to take a year or two off after completing their undergrad degree before they go to medical school. There are multiple reasons for this, and the medical school you are applying to wants to know what those reasons are.

It is a reasonably straightforward prompt: talk about how you have spent your gap year and how it will contribute to your medical school success and beyond.

Questions to discuss in this essay include:

• What did you achieve during your gap year?
• Why did you want to take a gap year?
• What experiences did you have? How did this year shape your role as a worker, and how will you deliver the skills you've built through the healthcare field?
• What did you learn about yourself during this period?

It is always an excellent tactic to connect your gap year to the program of study you are applying for. Even if it doesn't connect, you can still mention how it makes you a more suitable candidate for the program. 

Even if you did an unrelated job while studying or preparing for medical school, the attributes you learned along the way and your continuous efforts to grow and learn are what admissions committees will notice.

“Anything Else You'd Like Us to Know?” Essay

Out of all the medical school secondary prompts, this is likely the most open-ended, and confusion about how to best answer it is understandable. Addressing such a vague question can be challenging. How do you know what to talk about? Is there anything else that I want to discuss?

Use this as an opportunity to highlight anything about yourself and your experiences that aren't well discussed or explained elsewhere on the application. 

If you have any pre-written material that you have not used in your essays, this is the time to use them. If this is not an option, you can write a completely new essay discussing topics like volunteering or research experience .

You can also talk about other achievements or skills that aren't directly related to medicine but find a way to relate it back to how it makes you a better candidate. This section is also a good place to explain any shortcomings in your application, such as a failed course, a low test score, etc.

Some students believe it is mandatory to answer this question, which is simply not true unless the question states otherwise. If you feel that your application addresses all your key points and conveys your candidacy in the best possible way, there is no need to force it. It's always better to prioritize quality over quantity.

To help you get started on your secondary essays, try taking a look at some examples responding to all these kinds of prompts and more. The sample med school essays in our database will help you find inspiration from the work of past successful students !

Sample Med School Essay Prompts

From UW School of Medicine

Medical School Secondary Prompts (250-word limit)

• The UWSOM aims to build a diverse class of students to enrich the field of medicine. What perspectives, identities, and/or qualities would you bring?
• What obstacles have you experienced, and how have you overcome them?
• How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or people you have worked with?
• Describe your competency by explaining how you have explored and come to understand issues in the social sciences and humanities as they relate to the practice of medicine.

From Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago  

Essay Question 1 (450-word limit suggestion)

“Students at the Pritzker School of Medicine complete the majority of their clinical training at UChicago Medicine (UCM). UCM is one of the top ten most racially inclusive hospitals in the United States with a primary service area of 12 South Side zip codes where poverty is over double the state level. Additionally, our students lead six free clinics in diverse neighborhoods throughout the city of Chicago.

Please share with us the personal and professional experiences that have best prepared you to work in this diverse clinical environment.”

Essay Question 2 (450-word limit suggestion)

“All MD students participate in our longitudinal Scholarship & Discovery research program, which offers protected curricular time, mentoring, and funding for students to pursue their scholarly interests. Please describe your research interests and share how our research opportunities will help you advance your career goals.”

Essay Question 3 (450-word limit suggestion)

“Share with us a difficult or challenging situation you have encountered and how you dealt with it. In your response, identify both the coping skills you called upon to resolve the dilemma, and the support person(s) from whom you sought advice.”

Optional Additional Information

“Please feel free to use this space to convey any additional information that you might wish the Committee to know. For example, if you are not currently completing a degree, please share your planned or current activities for this application cycle. We suggest that you limit your text to about 300 words.”

Explore our Med School Secondary Essay Database to find the 2023-2024 medical school secondary prompts for your dream med schools!

‍ Common Mistakes to Avoid

These are some common mistakes to avoid as you navigate your secondary application essays. 

Failing to Pre-Write Your Essays 

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is waiting to receive your secondary application before working on it. It would be best if you started working on your secondaries after you submit your primary applications. 

You have a limited time (many secondaries are due two weeks to a month after receipt) to submit, so the sooner you can get them done, the better. You should always send secondaries back within two weeks to show your continual interest in that medical school.

Focusing Only on the Situation and Not What You Learned

When sharing anecdotes, demonstrate their value by discussing what you took away from them. Don't just go from one statement to another, talking about the events as they occurred. 

Not Following Word Limits

If the word count is 800 words and your piece is 700 words, that is perfectly acceptable. Try and write the best quality piece without going over the word count. 

Being Generic

Some medical school secondary prompts will lead you to discuss why you want to attend a particular school. In these cases, to avoid being generic in your responses, say something specific about the school. 

You should do some research and come up with a list of programs at each of the medical schools or student organizations at each of the medical schools. Identify what is unique about that school: specific values, programs, or opportunities they have.

Have more questions about secondary essays? Read on for more answers! 

1. When Can I Expect to Receive Secondary Applications? 

Once you submit your primary application and AMCAS receives your transcripts, they begin the verification process. You will receive your secondary applications after AMCAS completes verification and releases your primary applications to the medical schools to which you applied. 

2. Will I Receive a Secondary Application From Every School?

While the majority of schools will send you a secondary without screening your primary application, some will screen your primary. Therefore, you may not receive a secondary from every medical school. 

3. How Long Do I Have to Submit My Essay?

It would be best if you aimed to submit your secondaries as soon as possible – generally within two weeks of receiving your secondary application. Remember, schools correlate your reply time with your level of interest. It’s best to submit within two weeks.

4. What If a School Changes Its Secondary Essay Prompts?

Schools usually change their prompts every few years, and if they do, the themes often remain the same. Instead of asking why you want to attend their school, it may change to asking how you feel your passions align with their goals as an institution. So, it's still a good idea to pre-write. 

Even if they change it, you could always reword and repurpose one of your essays for other schools.

5. How Optional Are Optional Essays?

They are somewhere between optional and required. It would help if you only answered an optional prompt when you have relevant information to address. A forced response will not go over well with admissions committees and can hurt your application.

6. Which Secondary Essay Should I Work On First?

You should prioritize the ones from your top-choice schools and the ones that require in-depth answers so that you will have material to re-use if necessary.

Final Thoughts

Completing your secondary applications is a time-consuming and stressful process. Now that you know what to and what not to do, you can begin confidently working on your essays. You are now armed with the knowledge of how to create impressive secondary essays.

Don't underestimate the importance of pre-writing your secondaries; always convey your individuality. Answer the prompt as clearly as you can and expand on your key points. Remember that the ultimate goal is to impress the admissions committee enough to be called in for an interview.

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Does The New MCAT Have an Essay?

Did someone say essay.

When the AAMC added content to the latest version of the MCAT, many students were left wondering whether or not the writing sample would make a comeback. If you were one of the pre-meds racking your brain asking “does the MCAT have an essay?”, then fear not! There is no essay requirement on the new MCAT.

Prior to the 2013 testing year, all test-takers were required to complete a fourth section of the MCAT, which was simply called the Writing Sample . Because of this requirement, students converged upon campus writing centers everywhere to improve their writing. The importance of this section was ambiguous to say the least. Many students didn’t know if schools were even interested in the scores they received on this section. Furthermore, the scoring for this section was privy to inconsistencies because it had to be evaluated by an actual person. Following the 2012-2013 testing year, the AAMC did away with the essay portion of the exam to make room for what was then the optional trial section. The writers used incentives to encourage students to take this optional section. This trial section was comprised of sample items that tested out the types of questions that are now found on the current version of the exam.

Do Med Schools Care About My Writing?

Medical schools absolutely care about your writing! Even though the writing section was removed from the MCAT, an essay is still required as part of your medical school application. Both allopathic and osteopathic medical schools require this essay, better known as the personal statement. Your statement can be up to 5300 characters long for AMCAS and 4500 characters long for AACOMAS . It allows you to expound upon your reasoning for wanting to become a physician.

While your writing is no longer assigned a score, schools use your personal statement as an integral part of you application. This is one of the first opportunities that you will have as an applicant have to set yourself apart from the crowd and let your personality and passion shine through. It’s a great opportunity to identify yourself in your own words and apart from your GPA and MCAT score.

Have other MCAT questions? Check out Magoosh’s MCAT FAQ !

April is a newly accepted medical student who is passionate about passing the torch to up-and-coming pre-meds who are navigating the MCAT and med school admissions. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Clark Atlanta University and master’s degree in interdisciplinary health sciences from Drexel University College of Medicine. She loves magazines, audiobooks, kid and teen TV, and everything beauty!

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College Reality Check

Understanding the MCAT: A Comprehensive Guide

Over 85,000 medical school-bound students take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) each year. You may have to gear up for it anytime soon if you are planning on becoming a doctor or another medical professional someday.

The MCAT, which is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), is a standardized test taken by undergraduate students who are planning on attending most medical schools in the US and Canada, too.

It’s made up of 4 different sections that test an examinee’s skills and knowledge of concepts and principles in the sciences.

Make sure that you don’t stop reading this article if you have been dreaming of being a medical student.

Is the MCAT Important for College Admissions?

The MCAT exam is an important part of admissions if the graduate school requires it. Even if an institution does not require it, chances are that it will accept the MCAT in lieu of some other standardized test.

Do You Have to Take the MCAT?

Most medical schools in the US as well as many in Canada require applicants to take the MCAT as a part of the application process. Needless to say, if a particular institution requires it, the applicant will have to sit for it.

However, a person may attend a medical school without an MCAT score through a Baccalaureate-MD program such as:

Can Colleges See How Many Times You Took the MCAT?

Medical schools can see how many times an applicant sat for the MCAT exam. That’s because each and every MCAT score of the examinee will appear on his or her record.

So, in other words, admissions officers at all graduate schools that the individual applies to will see all of his or her MCAT scores even without requesting them.

While it’s possible for a student who is interested in a professional program in the healthcare area to take the MCAT up to 7 times, it’s not a good idea to take the examination repeatedly — we will discuss this matter in a few, so keep reading.

What is on the MCAT?

The MCAT is a standardized test that also serves as a graduate school entrance exam. It’s divided into different sections, the number of multiple-choice questions in each varying from 53 to 59.

How Many Sections are on the MCAT?

The MCAT exam is divided into 4 different sections, and they are as follows:

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

The first 3 sections of the MCAT are established around the various foundational concepts in the sciences.

On the other hand, the final section of the standardized test is focused on the comprehension proficiencies of the MCAT test-taker as they relate to the humanities as well as social sciences.

As a matter of fact, the section Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills is composed of 50% humanities and 50% social sciences.

How Many Questions is the MCAT?

There are a total of 230 questions on the MCAT exam. The first 3 sections of the test have 59 questions each, while the remaining section has only 53 questions all in all.

Let’s take a look at the breakdown of all 230 MCAT questions per section of the examination:

What Kind of Math is on the MCAT?

While the MCAT exam requires test-takers to do mathematical computations, there is no actual math section on the exam. Students, however, need to use their knowledge in fundamental math such as algebra and trigonometry.

Having knowledge of calculus is not necessary on the MCAT.

Subjects that require medical school-bound individuals to carry out math include chemistry and physics as well as biology which requires some statistical reasoning and data gathering.

It’s also important to note that introductory physics, which makes up 25% of the section Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, requires some math, too.

Is There Science on the MCAT?

The MCAT exam assesses the content knowledge of test-takers in various hard sciences, which include:

• Biochemistry
• General Chemistry
• Introductory Biology
• Introductory Physics
• Organic Chemistry

Other than testing how much students know about the said subjects, the MCAT exam also evaluates reasoning and critical thinking skills on various concepts of hard sciences.

Is There Writing on the MCAT?

There is no writing section on the MCAT exam. In 2013, the AAMC removed the writing section, which was referred to as the Writing Sample, of the standardized test.

During its time as a component of the MCAT, the Writing Sample section required test-takers to develop and write 2 essays, each of which was written in response to a prompt and took 30 minutes to complete.

The essays students had to write called for a combination of both argumentative writing skills as well as expository writing skills.

The essays were evaluated based on various criteria, including the following:

• Development of a central idea
• Writing skills
• Grammar and punctuation

What is the MCAT Reasoning Test?

The reasoning component of the MCAT exam is the section referred to as Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.

According to the AAMC itself, the said section of the standardized test is very much like some other verbal reasoning tests that medical school applicants might have taken throughout their academic careers.

As mentioned earlier, the section Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills has a total of 53 questions, thus making it having the least number of questions among the various MCAT sections.

How Does the MCAT Work?

Unlike most other standardized tests, the MCAT examination does not come in a paper and pencil format. Instead, the all-day test is administered on a computer whose interface is full-screen, with no title bar and others.

Due to the fact that the graduate school exam takes more than 6 hours to complete, there are optional but highly recommended breaks between sections, which brings the total length of the test to over 7 hours.

What Does the MCAT Measure?

The MCAT exam is designed to measure the knowledge of undergraduate students who are planning on applying to medical school of various natural, behavioral and social science concepts and principles.

Similarly, it evaluates various skills of theirs, including problem-solving and critical thinking skills, all of which are vital for academic success in a health-related program.

Is the MCAT Multiple Choice?

The MCAT is an exam consisting of multiple-choice questions. Unlike most other standardized tests or college entrance tests, there are no free-response questions and, as discussed earlier, a writing section on the MCAT exam.

In many instances, multiple-choice tests require students to have a sharp memory to pass.

Well, the MCAT exam is different — even though the answer to every question is already there and the test-takers simply have to select it instead of incorrect ones, MCAT exam questions are designed to require students to rely on their critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

So, in other words, memorizing terms and concepts alone won’t do.

Each multiple-choice question on the MCAT has a total of 4 answer options. Pre-medical students sitting for the examination will be more than happy to learn that there’s no penalty for a wrong answer.

Is the MCAT a Standardized Test?

The MCAT is a standardized test that has been an important component of the medical school admissions process since the late 1920s.

It’s the examination taken by individuals who are planning on applying to a health profession institution, including those that provide the following professional programs:

• Doctor of Medicine (MD)
• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
• Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM)
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
• Other health-related programs that use MCAT results for meeting a test score admissions requirement

No matter the medical school or program, those who plan on applying must sit for the same exam with the same set of questions, which will be graded in the same manner, and that is why the MCAT exam is a standardized test.

When Do You Take the MCAT Test?

It is recommended for undergraduate students to take the MCAT exam the earliest during the latter part of their sophomore year of college or the summer between their sophomore and junior year of college.

Many, however, choose to take the graduate school entrance test in the same year that they are applying to medical school.

But, according to AAMC itself, it’s best for students to take the MCAT when they feel most prepared, given that each test-taker has different needs and preferences that should be considered.

For those who feel that they may have to retake the MCAT exam, it’s a good idea to take it earlier in a testing year so that they can have enough time to plan their next move when their scores become available 30 to 35 days from the test date.

How to Guess on the MCAT

The MCAT exam consists of multiple-choice questions, each of them having 4 answer options. Since there is no penalty for answering a question incorrectly, guessing is always an option.

Doing the process of elimination is the best way to go about making a guess on the MCAT — instead of finding the correct answer, the examinee should spot the wrong answer.

The more incorrect answers are confidently eliminated, the better the chances of getting a point. For instance, eliminating 2 incorrect options raises the chances of answering correctly by 50%.

How Long is the MCAT?

The MCAT exam is 6 hours and 15 minutes long. However, when breaks, which are optional but recommended, are factored in, the standardized test becomes 7 hours and 27 minutes to complete.

The entire MCAT examination is administered in a single day only at the designated testing centers of medical school applicants.

Each section of the MCAT is anywhere from 90 minutes to 95 minutes long. On the other hand, breaks are anywhere from as short as 10 minutes to as long as 30 minutes.

Of course, each break is placed between each MCAT section.

Let’s take a look at the length of time test-takers are given to complete every section of the MCAT test:

The longest break, which is the lunch break, is 30 minutes long.

How Does MCAT Scoring Work?

In determining an MCAT test-taker’s score, his or her score in each of the 4 sections of the graduate school entrance examination is equivalent to the number of questions that he or she answers correctly.

Wrong answers and unanswered questions do not affect the individual’s total score.

Then, the total number of correct scores for every section of the MCAT exam is converted to a scaled score that ranges from as low as 118 to as high as 132.

Scaled scores from each MCAT exam section, afterward, are added, resulting in a test-taker’s overall MCAT score — the lowest possible MCAT score is 472, while the highest possible MCAT score is 528.

On the internet, there are many different MCAT score converters designed to help med school-bound individuals determine scaled scores, such as a calculator from Med School Coach and a tool from Inspira Advantage.

What is a Good MCAT Score?

According to Kaplan, a good MCAT score is 511 or higher. The international company providing education services adds that there should be no section score that’s lower than a scaled score of 127.

But in a more technical sense, a good MCAT score is something that puts the individual who is eyeing a professional medical program near or above the average percentile for admitted students at his or her target school.

For instance, according to the AAMC, the average MCAT score of all matriculants to MD-granting institutions in the US in 2022 was 511.9.

Similar to other standardized tests, MCAT scores have percentiles. As a matter of fact, most medical schools evaluate applicants with MCAT scores using percentiles.

To give you an idea, here’s a table of the percentile ranking used in 2022 (from 528 to 515 only):

Facts About the MCAT

The MCAT exam costs $330, and the registration fee includes the test itself and the distribution of MCAT scores to various institutions. Registering 1 to 2 weeks before the test date increases the cost to $370.

Every year, the AAMC selects roughly 25 administration dates per year, all of which are between the months of January and September.

Such is done by the MCAT’s creator in order to fit in the typical medical school admissions cycle. In 2023, however, the AAMC offered the MCAT exam across 30 different test dates.

As far as retaking the MCAT is concerned, students can take the standardized test up to a maximum of 7 in their lifetime. Per year, though, they can only sit for the examination up to 3 times.

Taking the MCAT exam more than 3 times could indicate that the individual is struggling.

Below, you will come across a few other facts about the MCAT examination.

History of the MCAT

It was in 1928 when the MCAT exam was first administered. The standardized test was created as a result of the high dropout and/or failing rates at US medical schools during that time, sometimes as high as 50%.

Originally, the examination had between 6 to 8 different sections.

Back in 1946, however, the MCAT’s number of sections was reduced to only 4. Since then, the graduate school entrance exam went through a total of 4 iterations, with the latest resulting in the MCAT exam as everybody knows it these days.

Who Created the MCAT?

The creator and administrator of the MCAT is the AAMC. As with the 230 questions divided into 4 sections, they are written exclusively for the MCAT by the standardized test’s exam developers.

What is the Association of American Medical Colleges?

The AAMC is a non-profit association dedicated to revolutionizing health by means of medical education, health care, medical research as well as community collaborations — its member institutions consist of 170 accredited US and Canadian medical school members and more than 400 teaching hospitals and health systems.

Based in Washington, DC, the AAMC was founded in 1876.

How Many People Take the MCAT?

More than 85,000 students who want to apply to medical schools take the MCAT exam every year.

There are many who sit for the graduate school entrance exam because almost all institutions in the US and several in Canada, too, whose curricula lead to medical or healthcare-related degrees require applicants to undergo the MCAT.

As a matter of fact, a lot of health profession schools and graduate programs accept MCAT scores in place of other required standardized tests such as DAT, OAT, PA-CAT and PCAT.

What is the MCAT Designed to Predict?

The MCAT exam is designed to predict a student’s likelihood to reap success in medical school.

According to AAMC research, students with higher MCAT scores, on average, perform better in their first-year courses than their peers with lower MCAT scores.

What’s more, it serves as a good predictor of how well students perform in second-year courses and also on Step 1 of the US Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE).

It’s a no-brainer why the MCAT can reveal whether or not students are likely to thrive as they work on a medical degree — the examination measures their determination, intellectual reasoning as well as subject-matter mastery.

However, it’s also important to point out that a 2015 study from Tiber Health found out that the acing the MCAT exam is not associated with success on clinical evaluations during the initial year of residency after finishing medical school.

Does the MCAT Have an Essay?

There is no section of the MCAT exam that requires test-takers to write their answers in essay. That’s because all MCAT questions are multiple-choice kinds, which means that students simply have to pick an answer from the available options — as earlier mentioned, each multiple-choice question has 4 answer options.

It goes without saying that individuals who sit for the MCAT will not find any free-response questions or short-answer questions, and they will definitely find no essay prompt to answer, such as on some other standardized tests.

Does the MCAT Provide Calculators?

Students who are sitting for the MCAT exam need not bring calculators to the test because their use is not allowed. Similarly, test-takers will have no access to any calculator tool while undergoing the computer-based examination.

The no-calculator policy is both a good thing and a bad thing.

It’s a bad thing because individuals who don’t consider math as one of their strongest suits will have no choice but to make computations mentally.

On the other hand, it’s also a good thing because it only means that the mathematical processes required are easy enough that they can be done without the help of a calculator.

Fortunately for MCAT test-takers, they are allowed to use scratch paper in the form of either wet-erase pages with a fine-tip marker or actual paper sheets — they will be provided by the moderators at MCAT test centers.

MCAT Changes

There are no planned changes to the MCAT as of this writing.

However, the standardized test had undergone a few changes in the past.

For instance, in 1991, it was revised by the AAMC to reflect the changes in science and medicine as well as to test students on not only what they know but how well they make use of what they know.

The current form of the MCAT came into being in 2015.

In the said year, the section Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior was added, turning the graduate school entrance exam’s number of sections from 3 to 4.

The old scaled scoring system of 3 to 45, during that time, also changed from 472 to 528.

From the time that the MCAT was launched in 1928 until 2006, the MCAT was a paper and pencil exam.

However, in 2007, all administrations of the examination were computer-based. And even though many college admissions tests have gone online, the MCAT exam must still be taken in person at designated test centers.

How to Study for the MCAT

An important part of gearing up for the MCAT exam is getting familiar with the standardized test’s structure, types of questions and completion time to minimize test anxiety and avoid surprises on the test date itself.

Needless to say, the best way to do this is by taking timed practice tests.

As with taking any other college entrance test, creating a study schedule and sticking to it is essential.

For best results, it’s recommended for test-takers to invest in reputable MCAT test prep materials and guidebooks, particularly the kinds that challenge one’s critical and problem-solving skills, both of which are essential for acing the MCAT examination.

Joining a study group with other medical school-bound individuals allows an examinee to share resources and discuss topics as well as stay motivated throughout the preparation for the MCAT.

Generally speaking, studying for the MCAT exam must be done at least 4 to 6 months before the test date.

MCAT Practice Test

In this part of the post, you will come across 5 sample questions to give you an idea of what it’s like to sit for the real deal so that you can prepare so much better for it.

1. Which of the following options best describes what the basal layer of the epidermis and the innermost lining of the small intestine have in common:

2. All of the following options are underlying assumptions/conclusions of the ideal gas law except:

3) Which of the following options most captures the author’s attitude towards museums that cater to the “modern museum-going experience”?

4) Which of the following options is most inconsistent with the idea of “unselfing” as discussed in the passage?

5) Which of the following options best expresses the main idea of the author?

Answer key:

The MCAT sample questions above are from the following sites:

• www.inspiraadvantage.com
• magoosh.com

Should I Take the MCAT?

Students who are planning on entering medical school after completing their undergraduate studies must take the MCAT if the universities they want to attend or the academic programs they wish to enroll in require an MCAT score.

Since the standardized test is a requirement in the vast majority of institutions offering health-related professional programs in the US and also in Canada, chances are that the medical school-bound student will have to take it.

Read Next: What is CLEP?

Independent Education Consultant, Editor-in-chief. I have a graduate degree in Electrical Engineering and training in College Counseling. Member of American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

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Jul 17, 2024

Admissions tips: How to write a graduate admissions essay

An admissions essay is a standard part of the admissions application. To help, we’ve curated our top tips on how to write a standout graduate admissions essay.

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Everyone has a unique narrative, and we firmly believe that your qualifications go beyond what can be captured on your resume. But the question is, how will you distinguish yourself from the competition when applying to Johns Hopkins Carey Business School?

What to consider when writing a graduate school application essay The essay portion of the application is your opportunity to broaden our admissions team’s understanding of your abilities beyond what they can see on your transcript and resume. Writing an essay is your chance to share your unique strengths, personal history, journey of growth, and any additional qualities that show you are a strong candidate.

Preparing to write your essay Prior to starting your essay, read all prompts carefully. Take a moment to reflect on your reasons for pursuing a graduate business degree. It may be beneficial to have a pen and notepad at your disposal for this reflective exercise. Think about your personal journey and pinpoint pivotal moments in your growth and learning, then take note of how those moments have shaped you and your experiences, and how they could help guide you through your business school journey. Be sure to also use the correct formatting and avoid adding lists and bullet points to your essays.

Outline your thoughts Once you have a solid understanding of how to convey your personal journey within the context of the essay prompts, the next step is to construct an outline. As you shape the direction and flow of your essay, always keep your audience in mind. Our admissions team reviews thousands of application essays, so it’s crucial to find a creative hook that will make your story stand out.

Don’t overthink As you begin to write your first draft, allow your ideas to flow freely. Don’t fixate on grammar or finding the perfect words at this stage–simply capture your thoughts on paper. You can refine your essay in the second draft.

Step away After finishing your first draft, set it aside for a day or two before returning to edit it. Revisiting your work with a fresh outlook allows for a new perspective. During this second review, tackle the details of grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary. You might find it helpful to read your essay in reverse order to catch any typos.

Ask for feedback Once you feel your essay is in good shape, it’s highly recommended that you share your draft with an advisor, professor, trusted colleague, friend, or even your recommender. Gaining insights from a trustworthy source can enhance the quality of your essay and assist in identifying any typos or minor adjustments. While editing is an important step, it should not cut out your authentic voice and tone. When identifying a proofreader, make sure to find someone who knows your authentic voice and tone and can edit your paper while still preserving your natural voice and tone.

Finalize and submit You’re almost done! Before finalizing your essay submission, do one last review. Run a spell check and read your essay out loud to yourself. This approach can help you pinpoint areas that might require clarification or fine-tuning. As you review your final draft, be sure that you thoroughly addressed the question on the application.

Keep in mind that the essay portion of the application is your chance to set yourself apart Admissions team members want to hear your authentic voice, with a style that sounds natural and genuine. By sharing your authentic self, and your transformative experiences, passions, goals, and voice, you can leave a lasting impression.

Best of luck with the rest of your application journey!

Upcoming Carey application deadlines

The Fall 2025 Full-time MBA application is now open. Applications for all other Fall 2025 programs will open this fall. Please visit our upcoming deadlines webpage to view all application, decision, and deposit deadlines.

Full-time MBA Fall 2025: Early action application deadline

September 11, 2024

Part-time programs Spring 2025: Round 1 application deadline

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October 23, 2024

The Case for Mark Kelly as Kamala Harris’ VP Pick

I n the blink of an eye on Sunday last, the 2024 presidential race was totally transformed by Joe Biden’s historic withdrawal , followed by his immediate “full support and endorsement” of running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris . Oddsmakers, insiders, and cable news pundits were suddenly confronted with a tantalizing new political calculus.

No longer a contest between two aging nominees—a current and a former POTUS—now Democrats changed their lineup, leaving open only the question of who would be Harris’ vice presidential candidate.

Swiftly, Democrats around the country—delegates, superdelegates, donors, and Congressional leaders—unified in support of Vice President Harris. Overnight, it seemed, nearly $100 million dollars rushed into her campaign coffers. Now, Democrats gather around the cooler for one thing—her decision on a Vice President .

Read More: Who Could Be Kamala Harris’ Running Mate? Here’s the Shortlist

Having a strong bench from which to choose, early speculation centered on the Party’s outstanding governors—Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro, Kentucky’s Andy Beshear, North Carolina’s Roy Cooper, Colorado’s Jared Polis—all from states crucial in Electoral College competition. California governor, Gavin Newsom, has dealt himself out of the deck, in recognition of the Constitutional prohibition against both members of the ticket being from the same state.

Some have thought Harris might look to a current Biden cabinet officer—most prominently mentioned are Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

But informed speculation on Capitol Hill and at Washington think tanks , spiked by a new burst of energy and excitement in the Democratic Party, has focused on Arizona’s junior Senator, Mark Kelly, whose credentials and compelling life story have made him a most appealing possibility. To some extent, Harris has been considering Kelly. Shortly after Biden endorsed Harris, she telephoned a number of vice presidential possibilities. Kelly was one of them. Shortly thereafter, he was being officially vetted.

The case for Kelly is shiny, authentic, and persuasive. Kelly comes with extensive military experience, helping Harris, who has none. Kelly is a decorated Navy pilot with combat experience. He is a seasoned astronaut who commanded the Space Shuttle Endeavor. He campaigned as a political moderate favoring stricter gun control and won a Senate seat from Arizona. After four years on Capitol Hill, a tough place for making friends, Kelly is highly regarded by colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Since 2011, when his wife, former Congress woman Gabby Giffords , was almost killed in an assassination attempt, Kelly has never left her side, organizing her recovery effort, and gaining a reputation for loyalty and kindness, sharing the unbearable and gruesome experience with her. Both—Gifford and Kelly—are seen as American heroes.

That he almost certainly puts Arizona’s 11 electoral votes in the Democratic column is a clincher for Harris-Kelly and a coup de grâce for Trump-Vance.

In a recent conversation with Kelly’s identical twin brother, Scott, another retired Navy captain and astronaut, the Senator was described as a person skilled in crisis management and scientific exploration, tough on border security and gun control (though he himself owns guns and supports the Second Amendment). During his Senate career, Kelly has been instrumental in several important public policy initiatives, including landmark legislation to reduce prescription drug prices and lower out-of-pocket costs for seniors; the $52 billion bipartisan package to increase domestic microchip manufacturing, and select proposals to ban stock trading by members of Congress, and eliminate corporate PACs.

Given the clear determination of Democrats to arrive at and depart from their Chicago convention next month in an animated, energetic, unified posture, Kelly’s story and stature, if attached to the Harris ticket, would strengthen the Democratic quest for an election victory on November 5, ushering in a new generation of political leadership.

Welcome aboard, Commander Kelly.

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‘One of the Truly Awful and Self-Indulgent Performances of Our Time’: The Best and Worst Moments From Night 4 of the Convention

By New York Times Opinion

Did the night help Trump?

Welcome to Opinion’s commentary for Night 4 of the Republican National Convention. In this special feature, Times Opinion writers rate the evening on a scale of 0 to 10: 0 means the night was a disaster for Donald Trump; 10 means it could lead to a big polling bump. Here’s what our columnists and contributors thought of the event, which culminated in Trump’s acceptance speech.

Best Moment

Kristen Soltis Anderson, contributing Opinion writer Donald Trump gave a compelling and moving description of what it was like to be under fire and pledged to represent all of America, not just half of America. That may be easier said than done.

David Brooks, Times columnist The first 20 minutes of the Trump speech. If he’d done the story about the assassination attempt and then added 15 minutes of policy, he would be cruising toward victory. He could have plausibly argued that he is a changed man.

Jane Coaston, contributing Opinion writer Hulk Hogan’s speech was his best performance since he beat Macho Man Randy Savage at WrestleMania V.

Matthew Continetti, fellow at the American Enterprise Institute Trump’s account of the attempt on his life was gripping. He displayed a vulnerability and humility that most people had never seen before. And when he kissed the fireman’s helmet of Corey Comperatore, the husband and father who was killed during last weekend’s shooting, Trump created yet another indelible image. It won’t be soon forgotten.

David French, Times columnist Trump’s tribute to Comperatore was touching and appropriate. Placing his uniform on the stage was a powerful visual reminder of the loss.

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