2025-2026 Cincinnati

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2025-2026 U Cincinnati Secondary Essay Prompts (edited to add more questions, most will not need to write 1-4)

1. Were you ever the recipient of any institutional action (e.g., disciplined, probation, suspended, dismissed or other action) by any college, university or medical school for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation, even though such action may not have interrupted your enrollment or required you to withdraw? If 'Yes' please explain fully in the space below. (750 characters)

2. Have you ever participated in a pre-conviction program, or been convicted of a felony or other criminal offense, or pled guilty or no contest to a felony or other criminal offense? Include information even if charges have been dropped, dismissed, or otherwise mitigated. If yes, please explain below. (1000 characters)

3. Have you ever been convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to, any moving traffic violations (moving violations include speeding tickets)?
If yes, please explain fully below (include information even if charges were dropped, dismissed, or otherwise mitigated). (750 characters)

4. Have you ever matriculated at or attended any medical school as a candidate for the M.D. degree? If yes, please explain below. (750 characters)

5. (If you are not currently a full time student) Provide a thorough explanation of all activities planned between now and your matriculation into medical school. (1000 characters)

6. Are you a UCCOM re-applicant? Explain how you and your application have changed since your previous submission, and tell us what you have learned along the way. (2000 characters)

7. Discuss any elements of your application that you feel might be concerning to the Admissions Committee. (This could include explanation of metric trends, institutional actions, legal violations, etc.). Please enter N/A if you have no concerns to report. (2000 characters)

8. What is your specific interest in the UCCOM program? What opportunities would you take advantage of as a student here? Why?
(2000 characters)

9. Do you have a personal connection to Ohio? If 'yes' Please describe. (2000 characters)

Good luck to all applying!

Interview Feedback:

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine - Admission, Tuition, Ranking & Overview | Student Doctor Network

Detail information of University of Cincinnati College of Medicine including admission, tuition, ranking, and overview.
www.studentdoctor.net www.studentdoctor.net
 
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SpongeBob79447 said:
Their website has 3 secondary questions, which are different from the previous year's prompts. Does anyone have an idea if that means they updated them or so?
Click to expand...
Yeah they switched them up. Their webpage says "By sharing UCCOM's secondary application prompts early, we hope to create a more supportive application experience that allows you to thoughtfully prepare your responses while managing other application components such as the AMCAS application or MCAT testing." Secondary Application Questions | UC Cincinnati Medicine

Thanks for the heads up on this! I was just about to start prewriting the old ones lol.
@wysdoc Not sure if you're the moderator to tag or not.
 
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MikeyMPH said:
Yeah they switched them up. Their webpage says "By sharing UCCOM's secondary application prompts early, we hope to create a more supportive application experience that allows you to thoughtfully prepare your responses while managing other application components such as the AMCAS application or MCAT testing." Secondary Application Questions | UC Cincinnati Medicine

Thanks for the heads up on this! I was just about to start prewriting the old ones lol.
Click to expand...
This school has such good vibes, just from their transparency alone. Can't say I ever wanted to live in Ohio, but I'd consider it for this school
 
ridebiker said:
This school has such good vibes, just from their transparency alone. Can't say I ever wanted to live in Ohio, but I'd consider it for this school
Click to expand...
1750249043910.png

They don't heavily favor in-state applicants so you could totally apply!
 
MikeyMPH said:
Yeah they switched them up. Their webpage says "By sharing UCCOM's secondary application prompts early, we hope to create a more supportive application experience that allows you to thoughtfully prepare your responses while managing other application components such as the AMCAS application or MCAT testing." Secondary Application Questions | UC Cincinnati Medicine

Thanks for the heads up on this! I was just about to start prewriting the old ones lol.
@wysdoc Not sure if you're the moderator to tag or not.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't be surprised if their secondary questions are the same from last year with some twists. Best of luck
 
TrafalgarDLaw said:
The website makes it seem like the three they have posted are what they will be this year, why would they not include other prompts for this year on the website?
Click to expand...
ya idk what these people are saying. UCincy literally said they are posting these secondaries out of kindness to help us applicants prepare. the 3 that are posted will be the only final secondaries. why would they bait applicants by adding more essays, backtracking and being hypocrites?
 
Caloriesindefitic said:
Those are not the only secondary questions. There are more questions from last year. Check last year's secondaries.
Click to expand...
Schools can update, change, or remove essays. The ones on the website are for this years and the ones from last year are outdated
 
PickaGodnPray said:
Schools can update, change, or remove essays. The ones on the website are for this years and the ones from last year are outdated
Click to expand...
Yeah I know. I'm just saying they aren't the only essays we have to write. They would also alter the essays from last year like some other schools is what I'm implying.
 
PickaGodnPray said:
No, the ones on the website are literally the only required ones
Click to expand...
I think you should double-check this. There is nothing about those being the only required ones. You said that "schools can update, change, or remove" essays. Ucincy added more essays on top of the anticipated essays posted on the website.

Usually, optional essays tend to be prompts that may/may not be applicable to every applicant. Some of the additional prompts from last cycle could be applied to every applicant, and there was nothing that suggested "optional".

You are right that these essays are guaranteed to be on this cycle, but there are more essays than just those.
 
Caloriesindefitic said:
I think you should double-check this. There is nothing about those being the only required ones. You said that "schools can update, change, or remove" essays. Ucincy added more essays on top of the anticipated essays posted on the website.

Usually, optional essays tend to be prompts that may/may not be applicable to every applicant. Some of the additional prompts from last cycle could be applied to every applicant, and there was nothing that suggested "optional".

You are right that these essays are guaranteed to be on this cycle, but there are more essays than just those.
Click to expand...
he said update, change, or remove essays in regards for year-to-year changes, not within the current cycle only. if you look on admit . org you'll see last year's prompts include a lot that are clearly required to every applicant (like the teamwork and upcoming plans essay). it doesn't make sense for them to just fck everyone and switch up prompts or add more after they clearly said they wanted to be transparent
 
Caloriesindefitic said:
You are right that these essays are guaranteed to be on this cycle, but there are more essays than just those.
Click to expand...
The only other essay they may have would be in relation to a check box, like "Are you enrolled in classes for this academic year? If not, explain what your plans are for this cycle." They didn't publish their essays online last year, which makes me think they are trying to be transparent, but if there is one thing med schools love, it is inconveniencing applicants as much as possible.
 
PickaGodnPray said:
The only other essay they may have would be in relation to a check box, like "Are you enrolled in classes for this academic year? If not, explain what your plans are for this cycle." They didn't publish their essays online last year, which makes me think they are trying to be transparent, but if there is one thing med schools love, it is inconveniencing applicants as much as possible.
Click to expand...
Eh, not really. If you check 2024 - 2025 Cincinnati post on sdn, it shows the secondaries UC went with for last cycle.
 
Caloriesindefitic said:
Eh, not really. If you check 2024 - 2025 Cincinnati post on sdn, it shows the secondaries UC went with for last cycle.
Click to expand...
I don't want to clutter this thread any further and I am just trying to save you time wasted writing essays they aren't using this year. UC didn't post them here last year, a user did, as it is for most schools. UC this year put them online before secondaries have even been sent in an attempt to be transparent, which they have not done before. Most schools also change their essays each year and expect many essays to be different to reflect changes from this administration to DEI and science.
 
+1 OOS, ties
@wysdoc
There are a couple additional prompts (if relevant):

1. Were you ever the recipient of any institutional action (e.g., disciplined, probation, suspended, dismissed or other action) by any college, university or medical school for unacceptable academic performance or conduct violation, even though such action may not have interrupted your enrollment or required you to withdraw? If 'Yes' please explain fully in the space below. (750 characters)
2. Have you ever participated in a pre-conviction program, or been convicted of a felony or other criminal offense, or pled guilty or no contest to a felony or other criminal offense? Include information even if charges have been dropped, dismissed, or otherwise mitigated. If yes, please explain below. (1000 characters)
3. Have you ever been convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to, any moving traffic violations (moving violations include speeding tickets)? If yes, please explain fully below (include information even if charges were dropped, dismissed, or otherwise mitigated). (750 characters)
4. Have you ever matriculated at or attended any medical school as a candidate for the M.D. degree? If yes, please explain below. (750 characters)
5. Provide a thorough explanation of all activities planned between now and your matriculation into medical school. (1000 characters)
6. Are you a UCCOM re-applicant? Explain how you and your application have changed since your previous submission, and tell us what you have learned along the way. (2000 characters)
7. Discuss any elements of your application that you feel might be concerning to the Admissions Committee. (This could include explanation of metric trends, institutional actions, legal violations, etc.). Please enter N/A if you have no concerns to report. (2000 characters)
8. What is your specific interest in the UCCOM program? What opportunities would you take advantage of as a student here? Why? (2000 characters)
9. Do you have a personal connection to Ohio? If 'yes' Please describe. (2000 characters)
 
wysdoc said:
5. Provide a thorough explanation of all activities planned between now and your matriculation into medical school. (1000 characters
Click to expand...
This is only a question if you are not enrolled in classes for the academic year.

"I will be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program between August 2025 and July 2026." (Y/N)
 
Last edited:
I'm confused by this "EVERY job (paid and volunteer) that you have worked" phrasing -- are jobs not distinct from volunteering? If we list every volunteering position, does this even include random one-off volunteering experiences even from high school? Would seem a little excessive.
 
LambAndWolf said:
I'm confused by this "EVERY job (paid and volunteer) that you have worked" phrasing -- are jobs not distinct from volunteering? If we list every volunteering position, does this even include random one-off volunteering experiences even from high school? Would seem a little excessive.
Click to expand...
where do you see this wording on a question?
 
wysdoc said:
where do you see this wording on a question?
Click to expand...
One of the pages says this:
Employment Entry
Please include EVERY job (paid and volunteer) that you have worked. If you have never been employed, please leave employer and dates blank and click on the designated checkbox.


It is not necessarily an essay prompt, but like a mini-form where you fill out the employer name, start date, and end date for each entry.
 
LambAndWolf said:
One of the pages says this:
Employment Entry
Please include EVERY job (paid and volunteer) that you have worked. If you have never been employed, please leave employer and dates blank and click on the designated checkbox.


It is not necessarily an essay prompt, but like a mini-form where you fill out the employer name, start date, and end date for each entry.
Click to expand...
I just realized (after submission) that I did not include any non-paid "job" that I had. I only included those I received compensation for... I think I'm cooked.
 
Polyketide said:
I just realized (after submission) that I did not include any non-paid "job" that I had. I only included those I received compensation for... I think I'm cooked.
Click to expand...
By non paid job, does that include volunteer activities?
 
for the speeding violation one, do we disclose if we got a written warning? idk how that worked i didnt have to do anything with courts like plead guilty or pay a fine
 
LambAndWolf said:
I'm confused by this "EVERY job (paid and volunteer) that you have worked" phrasing -- are jobs not distinct from volunteering? If we list every volunteering position, does this even include random one-off volunteering experiences even from high school? Would seem a little excessive.
Click to expand...
im also confused ^do we just copy our work and activities section from amcas ?
 
chummyplum said:
for the speeding violation one, do we disclose if we got a written warning? idk how that worked i didnt have to do anything with courts like plead guilty or pay a fine
Click to expand...
A written warning is not a conviction as it does not go through the court system.
 
this is lowk sad now the secondary is just a why us essay. I thought last year's prompts rlly gave a chance to showcase ur own experiences and such. but appreciate the transparency nonetheless!
 
AnonymousBunny said:
this is lowk sad now the secondary is just a why us essay. I thought last year's prompts rlly gave a chance to showcase ur own experiences and such. but appreciate the transparency nonetheless!
Click to expand...
agreed! i really liked last years prompts and enjoyed pre-writing them before I realized they all changed
 
As a trad applicant with no ties to Ohio (and no disciplinary stuff), I feel I can only really respond to 1 prompt: the "Why us?" prompt. I think the only other prompt I could answer is #7 about elements of the application that could be concerning, regarding my low CARS score lol, but that's still kinda just pulling straws.

Basically, does it look bad, or make me look like a less nuanced applicant, to only be answering 1 prompt? Even tho I really don't feel the other prompts apply to me
 
UC is getting rid of MMI this year. They were the first MD school to implement MMI. I wonder what that might mean for other schools, and how much different/harder it will be to get accepted post-interview here. There is supposed to be a KIRA (asynchronous) situational judgement test/interview, and then a 1:1 faculty interview.
 
Does the following question apply if we went to school in Ohio or are from Ohio?

Do you have a personal connection to Ohio? If 'yes' Please describe. (2000 characters)
 
SpongebccbSquarepants said:
Does the following question apply if we went to school in Ohio or are from Ohio?

Do you have a personal connection to Ohio? If 'yes' Please describe. (2000 characters)
Click to expand...
assuming you feel something for ohio as a result of living/going to school there, yes
 
bojanglesss said:
As a trad applicant with no ties to Ohio (and no disciplinary stuff), I feel I can only really respond to 1 prompt: the "Why us?" prompt. I think the only other prompt I could answer is #7 about elements of the application that could be concerning, regarding my low CARS score lol, but that's still kinda just pulling straws.

Basically, does it look bad, or make me look like a less nuanced applicant, to only be answering 1 prompt? Even tho I really don't feel the other prompts apply to me
Click to expand...
I think they may be more so relying on your AMCAS application. I also found it confusing that there was not much bulk to the secondary.
 
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