2024-2025 Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW)

[wysdoc]

2024-2025 MCW Secondary Essay Prompts


1. Explain how your unique background, identity, interests, or talents will contribute to the MCW community. (1000 characters)
2. How will MCW uniquely prepare you for your future goals? (1000 characters)
3. Recount a time when you made a decision you regret. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (2000 characters)
4. The Medical College of Wisconsin is committed to educating health professionals who are dedicated to improving health equity across the diverse populations we serve. Share with us what you have learned or how you have grown through working with or serving people from cultural backgrounds or groups different than your own. How do you believe you can contribute to improving health equity or reducing health disparities as a physician? (2000 characters)
5. Reapplicant: Please explain how your application has changed since your last application to MCW Medical School. How have you enhanced your preparation for medical school and future career as a physician (e.g., additional academic work, employment, volunteer experience, etc.)? You may wish to elaborate on the process you employed to critique your application’s strengths and weaknesses or share life changes or circumstances that have impacted your application. (2000 characters)

There are also additional demographic checkboxes (economic disadvantage, grew up in rural community, LGBTQ, Veteran). If you choose one or multiple, you have 2000 characters to elaborate.

Good luck to all applying!
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[Big Slime]

I'm prewriting my secondaries right now, and for the decision you regret essay, is it okay to write about something illegal I did? I'm thinking about the time I trespassed onto the roof of a school building during COVID, let a group of random girls who saw me come up as well, and got put on disciplinary probation. It really put the importance of my education into perspective as I got let off the hook but I also regret dragging the group of girls into it as well. I also wrote about this in the AMCAS application.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Remember to schedule your Casper exam.

2024-2025 list of schools and their SJTs

Updated July 2, 2024 (page updated June 11) on The AAMC PREview® Professional Readiness Exam Participating Medical Schools and MSAR reports Look at the 2023 list to see if your school(s) wanted you to take an SJT. PREview scores are automatically released to AMCAS. Examinees do not need to...

forums.studentdoctor.net

 

[dolephant]

I'm prewriting my secondaries right now, and for the decision you regret essay, is it okay to write about something illegal I did? I'm thinking about the time I trespassed onto the roof of a school building during COVID, let a group of random girls who saw me come up as well, and got put on disciplinary probation. It really put the importance of my education into perspective as I got let off the hook but I also regret dragging the group of girls into it as well. I also wrote about this in the AMCAS application.

I would not but that's just me. I feel like they're tricking us sorta in this essay, asking us to spin it in a positive direction?

 

[stew_md]

I'm prewriting my secondaries right now, and for the decision you regret essay, is it okay to write about something illegal I did? I'm thinking about the time I trespassed onto the roof of a school building during COVID, let a group of random girls who saw me come up as well, and got put on disciplinary probation. It really put the importance of my education into perspective as I got let off the hook but I also regret dragging the group of girls into it as well. I also wrote about this in the AMCAS application.

If you already wrote about it in amcas application I would try to figure out something else.

 

[Big Slime]

If you already wrote about it in amcas application I would try to figure out something else.

Thanks for your response. For the "I have overcome a significant hardship" secondary, it seems redundant when the AMCAS primary has an essay specifically for that. What would you say the difference between these two would be?

 

[dolephant]

Thanks for your response. For the "I have overcome a significant hardship" secondary, it seems redundant when the AMCAS primary has an essay specifically for that. What would you say the difference between these two would be?

I'm not sure honestly 🙁 they do seem redundant. Maybe if you have another significant hardship that was not mentioned in the AMCAS hardship essay, you have room to discuss it there.

 

[stew_md]

Thanks for your response. For the "I have overcome a significant hardship" secondary, it seems redundant when the AMCAS primary has an essay specifically for that. What would you say the difference between these two would be?

If you’re looking at the previous year’s secondary, that part is an optional prompt where you can write about if any of those list of experiences apply to you. If any of the other options in that list apply to you, you could write about that, or expand on your “other impactful experiences” essay to come at it from a different angle.

 

[justanaverageguy]

"How will MCW uniquely prepare you for your future goals? (1000 characters)"

1000 characters is like 150 words... would it be more strategic to talk about my deep interest in psychiatry and mental health advocacy or my experiences caring for marginalized individuals? I've tried to effectively mention both with applicable organizations at the school but it's so difficult

 

[stew_md]

"How will MCW uniquely prepare you for your future goals? (1000 characters)"

1000 characters is like 150 words... would it be more strategic to talk about my deep interest in psychiatry and mental health advocacy or my experiences caring for marginalized individuals? I've tried to effectively mention both with applicable organizations at the school but it's so difficult

From what I've read, you should answer "Why Us?" prompts by explaining how the school will uniquely prepare you to meet you career goals as a medical student. In other words, how does your mission as an aspiring physician intertwine with their mission? If you can highlight how MCW has programs, elements of its curriculum, and opportunities that align with your mission to become a psychiatrist then go for it.

 

[dolephant]

I got my CASPer score back today and I got a 3rd quartile score...not sure how to feel. Does anyone know how much value MCW places on this test? I have good LORs from people I have years worth of relationships with, and I hope that matters more than a test w no real merits.

 

[stew_md]

I got my CASPer score back today and I got a 3rd quartile score...not sure how to feel. Does anyone know how much value MCW places on this test? I have good LORs from people I have years worth of relationships with, and I hope that matters more than a test w no real merits.

Anyone please hop in and correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think anyone has knowledge on how any school utilizes casper in their process (other than Canadian schools). 3rd quartile means that you're an above average scorer. I've heard plenty of anecdotes of students getting accepted (to a variety of schools) with even 1st quartile scores. I wouldn't worry too much if the rest of your application demonstrates aptitude as a medical student.

 

[littlekj1999]

I got my CASPer score back today and I got a 3rd quartile score...not sure how to feel. Does anyone know how much value MCW places on this test? I have good LORs from people I have years worth of relationships with, and I hope that matters more than a test w no real merits.

Hi, current M1 here at MCW. I would not worry too much about your CASPer score if you tried your best during the session. I got into MCW early last cycle while scoring in the 1st quartile score. The fantastic thing about MCW is that they value every piece of your application, and CASPer is only one of those pieces.

 

[dolephant]

Hi, current M1 here at MCW. I would not worry too much about your CASPer score if you tried your best during the session. I got into MCW early last cycle while scoring in the 1st quartile score. The fantastic thing about MCW is that they value every piece of your application, and CASPer is only one of those pieces.

Thank you this makes me feel so much better haha. Could I ask you a couple more questions about the MD program at MCW?

 

[jasonbourne125]

OOS secondary received; same prompts as last year.

 

[sensorimotorstage]

OOS 2 Received

 

[jrlybob1]

OOS 2 Received

+1

 

[MVMed99]

OOS Secondary recieved 7/02

 

[pptf327]

for the demographic checkboxes, what is there to elaborate on?? like 2000 characters to say i’m kinda gay? lol idk what to put here. any advice?

 

[dolephant]

Didn't receive anything yet. Verified 06/21. Should I be worried?

 

[ecobio]

Didn't receive anything yet. Verified 06/21. Should I be worried?

No, they send in batches. Pretty sure they send secondaries to everyone, though they may have a very low screening threshold

 

[ClashRoyaleKing]

+1 OOS secondary.

 

[dolephant]

+1 OOS secondary verified 06/21

 

[jjh1233]

IS Secondary received

 

[crispr9cas9lol]

OOS secondary received

 

[palmtree13]

OOS received

 

[LilMJr]

Congratulations! for those who received secondary, is it the same as last year and are they additional prompts for mstp?

 

[work8888]

Congratulations! for those who received secondary, is it the same as last year and are they additional prompts for mstp?

Looks the same^^

1. Explain how your unique background, identity, interests, or talents will contribute to the MCW community. (1000 characters)
2. How will MCW uniquely prepare you for your future goals? (1000 characters)
3. Recount a time when you made a decision you regret. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? (2000 characters)
4. The Medical College of Wisconsin is committed to educating health professionals who are dedicated to improving health equity across the diverse populations we serve. Share with us what you have learned or how you have grown through working with or serving people from cultural backgrounds or groups different than your own. How do you believe you can contribute to improving health equity or reducing health disparities as a physician? (2000 characters)
5. Reapplicant: Please explain how your application has changed since your last application to MCW Medical School. How have you enhanced your preparation for medical school and future career as a physician (e.g., additional academic work, employment, volunteer experience, etc.)? You may wish to elaborate on the process you employed to critique your application’s strengths and weaknesses or share life changes or circumstances that have impacted your application. (2000 characters)

There are also additional demographic checkboxes (economic disadvantage, grew up in rural community, LGBTQ, Veteran). If you choose one or multiple, you have 2000 characters to elaborate.

@wysdoc

 

[McApple]

Does anyone know how many people apply to the regional campuses and how many they interview for them? I know it’s 20 and 25 for matriculation.

 

[juicy_scooby]

I feel like question 1 and 2 are kind of similar.
1 is "why you", 2 is "why us". Like, why would I split that into 2 essays? They are both asking about mission fit I'm not sure how to approach it. Any advice?

 

[MVMed99]

I feel like question 1 and 2 are kind of similar.
1 is "why you", 2 is "why us". Like, why would I split that into 2 essays? They are both asking about mission fit I'm not sure how to approach it. Any advice?

I also have been struggling with this because it feels like for #1 I talk about myself and how it relates to MCW, but then for #2 I talk about the school and how that fits with my mission, but in the end my answers kinda looked the same but just in opposite order LMAO

 

[stew_md]

I feel like question 1 and 2 are kind of similar.
1 is "why you", 2 is "why us". Like, why would I split that into 2 essays? They are both asking about mission fit I'm not sure how to approach it. Any advice?

I feel the second prompt is a "why us" combined with "future goals" essay, whereas the first prompt is simply a diversity essay.

 

[dolephant]

I feel like question 1 and 2 are kind of similar.
1 is "why you", 2 is "why us". Like, why would I split that into 2 essays? They are both asking about mission fit I'm not sure how to approach it. Any advice?

I had fun with question 1. I silently expounded on how I would contribute to MCW's learning community. You can answer that question without explicitly stating that, because you will explicitly dig into that in question 2.

 

[DDN908]

Hi, I took my Casper on 5/30, and I just submitted my secondary today on 7/12, yet on their status website it says they have no obtained my Casper results even though they've been delivered on the Casper website. Anyone else having this status as well?

 

[youngdumbandbroke]

Hi, I took my Casper on 5/30, and I just submitted my secondary today on 7/12, yet on their status website it says they have no obtained my Casper results even though they've been delivered on the Casper website. Anyone else having this status as well?

I took mine 6/11 and it shows it's received on the portal. For reference, my primary was verified 7/10 and I submitted my secondary today as well.

 

[DDN908]

I took mine 6/11 and it shows it's received on the portal. For reference, my primary was verified 7/10 and I submitted my secondary today as well.

Weird, okay. Thank you for the response. I've just emailed them about it.

 

[witchking]

for the demographic checkboxes, what is there to elaborate on?? like 2000 characters to say i’m kinda gay? lol idk what to put here. any advice?

No, same I'm not sure what is expected with this because there's no real prompt. I'm thinking of talking about either hardship I've experienced due to being queer, and how I have seen other queer people experience health-related struggles and/or volunteering for an STD clinic that worked exclusively with patients living with HIV or patients receiving gender-affirming care.

If anyone has any insight please share 🙂

 

[husky12345]

This might sound like a self-explanatory question, but regarding question 5: if we have never applied to MCW but have applied to other medical schools before, should we still answer the question? Also, if we choose not to answer it, would it be appropriate to respond with 'N/A' or similar wording?

 

[stroukumpo]

This might sound like a self-explanatory question, but regarding question 5: if we have never applied to MCW but have applied to other medical schools before, should we still answer the question? Also, if we choose not to answer it, would it be appropriate to respond with 'N/A' or similar wording?

nope, its only for mcw it says "since your last application to mcw medical school"

 

[husky12345]

nope, its only for mcw it says "since your last application to mcw medical school"

thank you! good luck!

 

[emerdc]

+1 OOS

 

[mintyrelish]

I submitted my secondary today, but it shows my MCAT as "not received", even though I already have two MCAT scores on my record. I did see that they would not mark my application as complete until my latest MCAT score comes in (taking the exam on 8/2/24).

To prevent delays, is there a way I can contact admissions to evaluate my app with the score I already have?

 

[Basalganglia4life]

I submitted my secondary today, but it shows my MCAT as "not received", even though I already have two MCAT scores on my record. I did see that they would not mark my application as complete until my latest MCAT score comes in (taking the exam on 8/2/24).

To prevent delays, is there a way I can contact admissions to evaluate my app with the score I already have?

so you told them to wait to review your app till your new mcat came out, but now you decided you dont want them to wait anymore?

 

[mintyrelish]

so you told them to wait to review your app till your new mcat came out, but now you decided you dont want them to wait anymore?

Nah, so on the primary, there's a question that asks if you have an upcoming exam date. I marked yes, but I didn't think that MCW wouldn't review my app until the new score came in.

 

[Basalganglia4life]

Nah, so on the primary, there's a question that asks if you have an upcoming exam date. I marked yes, but I didn't think that MCW wouldn't review my app until the new score came in.

most schools only review your app once, so if you mark that you have an upcoming mcat they will flag your app till that comes in. It isnt just MCW that does this. You will probably have to reach out to them if you want your app reviewed now. If they review it now they likely wont review it again when your new score comes in

 

[ClashRoyaleKing]

Hi, I took my Casper on 5/30, and I just submitted my secondary today on 7/12, yet on their status website it says they have no obtained my Casper results even though they've been delivered on the Casper website. Anyone else having this status as well?

Took on same day and my application became complete when I submitted the secondary. Did you designate MCW in Acuity?

 

[mintyrelish]

most schools only review your app once, so if you mark that you have an upcoming mcat they will flag your app till that comes in. It isnt just MCW that does this. You will probably have to reach out to them if you want your app reviewed now. If they review it now they likely wont review it again when your new score comes in

Ohh ok. Gotcha!

 

[DDN908]

Took on same day and my application became complete when I submitted the secondary. Did you designate MCW in Acuity?

Yea I'm all good now. It took them a couple of days to mark it as obtained.

 

[sensorimotorstage]

Yea I'm all good now. It took them a couple of days to mark it as obtained.

Mine got marked complete tonight after submitting on 7/3 because of Casper upload 🙂

 

[beluga whalez]

Mine got marked complete tonight after submitting on 7/3 because of Casper upload 🙂

Same here!