2025-2026 Florida State

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chilly_md

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2025-2026 Florida State Secondary Essay Prompts:

1. Please provide a description of your family.

2. Please describe the geographic, economic, and social environment in which you were raised. How did these aspects of your upbringing shape who you are today or influence your goals?

3. Tell us what you do for fun and diversion (hobbies, special interests, etc.)

4. What is a unique trait, experience, or interest that we would not normally learn about you?

5. Were you employed during your college years? (Yes/No). If yes, describe why employment was necessary, how it impacted your college experience, and approximately how many hours per week you worked.

6. Is there anything in your academic record that you feel requires further explanation or context for the Admissions Committee? If applicable, please include information about any academic challenges, course withdrawals, or grades lower than a B.

7. Why are you choosing to apply to the FSU College of Medicine? Please be specific describing what is particularly attractive about FSU COM and why you believe FSU COM is right for you.

8. What do you feel are your personal and scholastic qualifications for the study of medicine?

9. How do you feel you will contribute to the success of the FSU College of Medicine and our unique mission?

10. If you are planning to take a gap year, are currently in a gap year, or have taken time off between college and medical school, please describe how you have spent (or are spending) this time. If you have applied previously, we ask that you describe any specific steps you have taken to strengthen your application.

11. Medical school requires significant personal commitment, including long hours, emotional challenges, and limited personal time. How have you prepared for these demands, and what strategies will you use to maintain a healthy work-life balance during your training? Please also share how your personal support system—family, friends, mentors, or others—will help you during this journey.

12. In what field/specialty of medicine do you envision yourself working ten years from now? Please LIST no more than three (3) specialties. Please do not include a narrative; simply list the specialties.

13. Write a short statement explaining how you envision using the specialty or specialties you listed above to advance the mission of the FSU College of Medicine. Please describe the patient population or community you are most passionate about serving and how your goals align with the College’s commitment to underserved and rural populations.

14. The FSU College of Medicine has 6 regional campus locations and 2 rural training sites across the state of Florida, serving multifaceted populations. Describe a time when you engaged with people from backgrounds different from your own. What did you learn from that experience, and how has it influenced the way you interact with populations that have differing values, customs, and life histories?

15. Please describe a community service experience, outside of direct patient care, in which you served an underserved or marginalized population. What drew you to this experience, and how did it contribute to your personal growth and learning? What aspects of your involvement did you find most meaningful or fulfilling?



Good luck to all applying!

Interview Feedback:

 
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would anyone who received a secondary be willing to send the prompts? thank you!
 
has anyone in state received a secondary yet?
 
Hi all,

We typically do not send out secondaries until this time each year. The only folks who receive secondary invitations earlier are our Early Decision Applicants.

Thanks!
 
Hi all,

We typically do not send out secondaries until this time each year. The only folks who receive secondary invitations earlier are our Early Decision Applicants.

Thanks!
If you don't mind me asking how differently are Early Decision applicants looked at compared to Regular Decision at FSU? How soon are they considered for interviews once their secondaries are completed and fees are paid for?
 
If you don't mind me asking how differently are Early Decision applicants looked at compared to Regular Decision at FSU? How soon are they considered for interviews once their secondaries are completed and fees are paid for?
Hello,

Typically, ED Applicants are expected to have average to above average academic metrics so for us that would mean 506 and above MCAT and a 3.7 overall and BCPM GPA, though each cycle, we have accepted lower metrics for someone who is an exceptional mission-fit. It is important to note that every single complete Early Decision application is thoroughly reviewed and no one is automatically screened out. ED applicants are notified of interview invitations in the last week of August/First week of September. The interviews will take place in late September and decisions are sent out no later than 10/01.

Hope that helps!
 
Had anyone figured out how to pay?
When I enter my assigned number into the payment portal I get a message saying “We have detected that you have an affiliation with the university. Please login using one of the secure links below.” When I enter my permanent FSUID, I receive a message telling me I have no charges at this time.
I am not a FSU alumnus but I days previously apply to their undergrad program (although I am unable to access my former account).
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
the directions said we would receive a separate email 1-2 weeks after our secondary where we can pay!
Had anyone figured out how to pay?
When I enter my assigned number into the payment portal I get a message saying “We have detected that you have an affiliation with the university. Please login using one of the secure links below.” When I enter my permanent FSUID, I receive a message telling me I have no charges at this time.
I am not a FSU alumnus but I days previously apply to their undergrad program (although I am unable to access my former account).
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
Hi All,

I have strong ties to Florida- my grandparents live there, we used to have a property there, and my brother goes to FSU for undergrad. Does anyone think these ties wouldn't be considered enough as an OOS Applicant? I'm not sure...
 
Hi All,

I have strong ties to Florida- my grandparents live there, we used to have a property there, and my brother goes to FSU for undergrad. Does anyone think these ties wouldn't be considered enough as an OOS Applicant? I'm not sure...
FSU is the only one of the many Florida schools that restricts OOS students. You will have to try your luck at the others
 
Oh boy...submitted my secondary today as an OOS..I guess I will see lol
last year, they interviewed 12 OOS but none matriculated 🙁
But everyone makes some wrong guesses when picking which med schools to apply to, there is a lot to research

Screenshot 2025-08-01 at 7.32.04 PM.jpg
 
I waited 5 days to get the app completion email after I payed the fee.
Did you apply ED? I completed my secondary 07/20 and submitted the payment 07/30 and haven’t gotten a complete email.
 
Quick question: I got an email from FSU saying that I will get an email to pay the for the secondary fee, but I already payed the fee weeks ago and my application is complete. Is this a mistake?
 
Quick question: I got an email from FSU saying that I will get an email to pay the for the secondary fee, but I already payed the fee weeks ago and my application is complete. Is this a mistake?
Hey there,

Yeah, unfortunately, AMCAS experiences a communication glitch and is resending lots of emails. In most cases, we are asking applicants to disregard this latest communication, especially if they have already received an application complete email.

We apologize for the confusion!
 
Hey there,

Yeah, unfortunately, AMCAS experiences a communication glitch and is resending lots of emails. In most cases, we are asking applicants to disregard this latest communication, especially if they have already received an application complete email.

We apologize for the confusion!
Aren’t the secondaries and their fees administered by the individual schools? I’m not sure how you are attributing the glitch to AMCAS here
 
If I recall correctly, they said II would me starting this month, but they never said specifically when in September. Either way, I would be patient and have hope!
 
Last year they sent invites on the 4th so I’m getting nervous 😬
Fair, and I think we all are, because we care—that's why we applied ED! But one difficult thing I've had to learn for myself is that worrying won't change the outcome (i.e., getting your MCAT score back after waiting a month), so do your best not to let it ruin your day 🙂
 
Aren’t the secondaries and their fees administered by the individual schools? I’m not sure how you are attributing the glitch to AMCAS here
Our secondary invitations are our discretion, but the application itself, is contained within AMCAS. The invitation email that all applicants receive, goes out through our AMCAS application. So when there is an issue with AMCAS, it affects certain aspects of our communication flow.

I can understand your confusion on the attribution, given that only our staff are privy to the inner workings of our internal systems.
 
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