2024-2025 USC (Keck)

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wysdoc

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2024-2025 USC (Keck) Secondary Essay Prompts: (questions 5 and 6 are different than last year)

The following questions allow the Admissions Committee to become acquainted with you as an individual. Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences. Each answer must be 65 words or less (max. 550 characters).
1. What is the most fun you’ve had lately?
2. If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be?
3. What are three things you don't care about at all?
4. Describe a situation in which you didn’t get something you felt you deserved.
5. Have you previously applied to or attended medical school (M.D. , D.O., international)? Yes/No
6. If you answered yes, please provide an explanation on what occurred with your application process or previous matriculation to medical school.
7. Is there anything else you would like us to know? Please respond in 200 words or less (max. 1,400 characters)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

MD/PhD applicants, extra questions:
1. List your publications and papers submitted including one or two sentences describing your role on each publication. (250 word, max. 1,800 characters)
2. Please indicate fields of study for which you have a special interest. For example: Anatomy, Biostatistics, Molecular Biology, Systems Biology, Epidemiology, Bioengineering, Human Genetics, Neurosciences, Biochemistry, Immunology Nutrition, Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology Biophysics, Physiology, Cancer, Other
3. Please provide the names of faculty with whom you would like to meet, if invited for an interview. For each faculty member suggested, provide a sentence or two explaining why you would like to meet that person. (250 word, max. 1,800 characters)


Good luck to all applying!
Interview Feedback:

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Last edited:
Members don't see this ad :)
This was one of the last secondaries I submitted last year. They have some pretty fun ones though, so prewrite away!
 
Does anyone know how heavily they presecreen? Debating whether or not to keep prewriting this one
 
When USC asks, "Are you a member of a group that is under-represented in medicine?" do they give the groups that are under-represented or should we just base it off the AAMC's definition?
 
When USC asks, "Are you a member of a group that is under-represented in medicine?" do they give the groups that are under-represented or should we just base it off the AAMC's definition?
They sent out secondaries?
 
Members don't see this ad :)
The following questions allow the Admissions Committee to become acquainted with you as an individual. Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences. Each answer must be 65 words or less (max. 550 characters).
1. What is the most fun you’ve had lately?
2. If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be?
3. What are three things you don't care about at all?
4. Describe a situation in which you didn’t get something you felt you deserved.
5. Have you previously applied to or attended medical school (M.D. , D.O., international)? Yes/No
6. If you answered yes, please provide an explanation on what occurred with your application process or previous matriculation to medical school.
7. Is there anything else you would like us to know? Please respond in 200 words or less (max. 1,400 characters).

@wysdoc
 
the 65 words or less but with a character limit is tripping me up, I'm just going to follow the word limit (although it is like 200 characters under)
 
Please share the Secondary essay prompts when available and tag a moderator.

Good luck to all applying!
Interview Feedback:
The following questions allow the Admissions Committee to become acquainted with you as an individual. Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences. Each answer must be 65 words or less (max. 550 characters).
1. What is the most fun you’ve had lately?
2. If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be?

3. What are three things you don't care about at all?

4. Describe a situation in which you didn’t get something you felt you deserved.

5. Is there anything else you would like us to know? Please respond in 200 words or less (max. 1,400 characters).
 
Should we be using the character count (550) or word count (65) as the actual requirement? My 65 word responses are all within 400 characters so would it be cool to use the extra 150 to build onto it even if I exceed 65 words?
 
Should we be using the character count (550) or word count (65) as the actual requirement? My 65 word responses are all within 400 characters so would it be cool to use the extra 150 to build onto it even if I exceed 65 words?
I would not seeing as though it explicitly states it must be less than 65 words
 
Should we be using the character count (550) or word count (65) as the actual requirement? My 65 word responses are all within 400 characters so would it be cool to use the extra 150 to build onto it even if I exceed 65 words?
Up to you and what you think is best. I personally am following the word count because they explicitly asked for it.
 
Should we be using the character count (550) or word count (65) as the actual requirement? My 65 word responses are all within 400 characters so would it be cool to use the extra 150 to build onto it even if I exceed 65 words?
I would adhere to the word count and NOT the character count because it's explicitly written like that. I'm thinking that they included a cap to the character count this time around so that people can't put an infinite amount of line breaks.
 
What are you guys writing for the optional essay? Wondering if I should use my diversity essay or gap year essay.
 
Can someone please confirm the questions? One person has listed 5 questions and another has listed 7
Thanks
The other person left out the questions that pertain to previous applications for some reason
 
Can someone please confirm the questions? One person has listed 5 questions and another has listed 7
Thanks
They are both correct, the extra two questions just only apply to some people and are optional
 
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