2025-2026 Illinois

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wysdoc

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No character limit is indicated, brevity is typically appreciated by schools as rule of thumb
2025-2026 Illinois Secondary Prompts for Regular Decision applicants (questions 1-5 required, #6,7 if applicable) (#1 slightly changed from last year)

1. What characteristics, qualities, or attributes do you possess that have helped you navigate conflict, change, or unfamiliar situations? In your response, reflect on how you demonstrate resiliency and a growth mindset in your approach to personal and professional development.

2. Which characteristics, qualities, or attributes of UI COM attracted you to apply for medical school here?

3. An important part of UI COM’s identity is the concept of “one college, three campuses.” The curriculum is identical on each campus; however, each campus has unique characteristics. Please describe what you have learned about at least two of our three campuses.

4. Injustice can take many forms and impact individuals and communities in profound ways. Reflect on some of the causes and consequences of injustice you have observed or learned about. What does an individual’s response to injustice reveal about their values and character? How do you see your role—as a future physician and member of society—in recognizing and addressing injustice when you encounter it? (this is the one that was changed)

5. UI COM thrives when students bring a variety of perspectives, values, and ways of thinking to the learning environment. Describe an aspect of your perspective, value system, or experience that is especially meaningful to you. How would this shape your contribution to a collaborative and enriching learning environment at our medical school?

6. Have you applied for admission to medical school previously? Yes/No
If you are reapplying this year please describe what you have done during the past year.

7. Have you ever matriculated into and not completed a professional/graduate program? Yes/No
Please describe the circumstances of why you did not complete the program of study.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



Early Decision Secondary Questions (similar but not identical wording to RD)
(questions 1-5 required, #6,7 if applicable) Question 5 edited/corrected 7/25/2025

1. What characteristics, qualities, or attributes do you possess that have helped you to deal with conflict and change?

2. Which characteristics, qualities, or attributes of UICOM attracted you to apply for medical school here?

3. An important part of UICOM’s identity is the concept of “one college, three campuses.” The curriculum is identical on each campus; however, each campus has unique characteristics. Please describe what you have learned about at least two of our three campuses.

4. What are some of the causes and consequences of prejudice and injustice? What does an individual’s response to prejudice and injustice reveal about their character? What is the role of a bystander who witnesses prejudice or injustice?


5. Injustice can take many forms and impact individuals and communities in profound ways. Reflect on some of the causes and consequences of injustice you have observed or learned about. What does an individual’s response to injustice reveal about their values and character? How do you see your role—as a future physician and member of society—in recognizing and addressing injustice when you encounter it?

6. Have you applied for admission to medical school previously? Yes/No
If you are reapplying this year please describe what you have done during the past year.

7. Have you ever matriculated into and not completed a professional/graduate program? Yes/No
Please describe the circumstances of why you did not complete the program of study.


Good luck to all applying!

Interview Feedback:
 
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Podcast (note the date)
In addition to “note the date” of this podcast, Dr. Amiri is now the admissions dean at Vermont (Larner) and is no longer at Case.

The All-Access podcasts are great though, look up schools you are applying to in their podcast list and you will probably learn some helpful tips for your application.
 
+1 OOS @wysdoc

I don't see a word limit

1) What characteristics, qualities, or attributes do you possess that have helped you navigate conflict, change, or unfamiliar situations? In your response, reflect on how you demonstrate resiliency and a growth mindset in your approach to personal and professional development.

2) Which characteristics, qualities, or attributes of UI COM attracted you to apply for medical school here?

3) An important part of UI COM’s identity is the concept of “one college, three campuses.” The curriculum is identical on each campus; however, each campus has unique characteristics. Please describe what you have learned about at least two of our three campuses.

4) Injustice can take many forms and impact individuals and communities in profound ways. Reflect on some of the causes and consequences of injustice you have observed or learned about. What does an individual’s response to injustice reveal about their values and character? How do you see your role—as a future physician and member of society—in recognizing and addressing injustice when you encounter it?

5) UI COM thrives when students bring a variety of perspectives, values, and ways of thinking to the learning environment. Describe an aspect of your perspective, value system, or experience that is especially meaningful to you. How would this shape your contribution to a collaborative and enriching learning environment at our medical school?

6) If you are reapplying this year please describe what you have done during the past year.
 
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@wysdoc sorry, 5 is worded a little differently this year. 5 reads "Injustice can take many forms and impact individuals and communities in profound ways. Reflect on some of the causes and consequences of injustice you have observed or learned about. What does an individual’s response to injustice reveal about their values and character? How do you see your role—as a future physician and member of society—in recognizing and addressing injustice when you encounter it?"
 
@wysdoc sorry, 5 is worded a little differently this year. 5 reads "Injustice can take many forms and impact individuals and communities in profound ways. Reflect on some of the causes and consequences of injustice you have observed or learned about. What does an individual’s response to injustice reveal about their values and character? How do you see your role—as a future physician and member of society—in recognizing and addressing injustice when you encounter it?"
Thank you
Can someone else confirm what #5 is?

@NeuroticCalculator what did you get, or did you assume they were the same as last year?
 
@Asid999 @alyinaa

Please confirm what the wording of prompt #5 is on the secondary you received.
I'm trying to see if the question is different on the ED - vs - RD application.
RD #5: Injustice can take many forms and impact individuals and communities in profound ways. Reflect on some of the causes and consequences of injustice you have observed or learned about. What does an individual’s response to injustice reveal about their values and character? How do you see your role—as a future physician and member of society—in recognizing and addressing injustice when you encounter it?
 
#4 & #5 - seems redundant. Can somebody verify?

4. What are some of the causes and consequences of prejudice and injustice? What does an individual’s response to prejudice and injustice reveal about their character? What is the role of a bystander who witnesses prejudice or injustice?

5. Injustice can take many forms and impact individuals and communities in profound ways. Reflect on some of the causes and consequences of injustice you have observed or learned about. What does an individual’s response to injustice reveal about their values and character? How do you see your role—as a future physician and member of society—in recognizing and addressing injustice when you encounter it?
 
#4 & #5 - seems redundant. Can somebody verify?

4. What are some of the causes and consequences of prejudice and injustice? What does an individual’s response to prejudice and injustice reveal about their character? What is the role of a bystander who witnesses prejudice or injustice?

5. Injustice can take many forms and impact individuals and communities in profound ways. Reflect on some of the causes and consequences of injustice you have observed or learned about. What does an individual’s response to injustice reveal about their values and character? How do you see your role—as a future physician and member of society—in recognizing and addressing injustice when you encounter it?
yes this is wrong. #5 is actually supposed to be the fourth question listed on the secondary and the last question is: UI COM thrives when students bring a variety of perspectives, values, and ways of thinking to the learning environment. Describe an aspect of your perspective, value system, or experience that is especially meaningful to you. How would this shape your contribution to a collaborative and enriching learning environment at our medical school?
 
anyone else's portal say MCAT not received? planning on calling tmrw
 
If you are a reapplicant, but this is the first time applying for UI, do I need to answer the reapplicant question or is it if you're reapplying to the specific school?
 
anyone else's portal say MCAT not received? planning on calling tmrw
Called, my mcat is two months too old (may '23) fee is nonrefundable. Website is not updated for this cycle
 
I just spoke to their admissions office. If your MCAT is older than August 2023, you cannot move forward in the cycle. I am bummed, given my family's ties to the school. It is a no exception policy and I am withdrawing.
 
@wysdoc
Here are the essay questions as they appear for me as an OOS RD:


1. What characteristics, qualities, or attributes do you possess that have helped you navigate conflict, change, or unfamiliar situations? In your response, reflect on how you demonstrate resiliency and a growth mindset in your approach to personal and professional development. (slightly changed from last year)

2. Which characteristics, qualities, or attributes of UI COM attracted you to apply for medical school here?

3. An important part of UI COM’s identity is the concept of “one college, three campuses.” The curriculum is identical on each campus; however, each campus has unique characteristics. Please describe what you have learned about at least two of our three campuses.

4. Injustice can take many forms and impact individuals and communities in profound ways. Reflect on some of the causes and consequences of injustice you have observed or learned about. What does an individual’s response to injustice reveal about their values and character? How do you see your role—as a future physician and member of society—in recognizing and addressing injustice when you encounter it? (this is the one that was changed)

5. UI COM thrives when students bring a variety of perspectives, values, and ways of thinking to the learning environment. Describe an aspect of your perspective, value system, or experience that is especially meaningful to you. How would this shape your contribution to a collaborative and enriching learning environment at our medical school?

6. Have you applied for admission to medical school previously? Yes/No
If you are reapplying this year please describe what you have done during the past year.

7. Have you ever matriculated into and not completed a professional/graduate program? Yes/No
Please describe the circumstances of why you did not complete the program of study.
 
+1 OOS (received on 24th)
 
Interesting that there is no word/character count listed in the portal...How long are you guys making your essays?
 
For the aspect of your perspective, is everyone just talking about one specific life experience or talking about various things?
 
For the aspect of your perspective, is everyone just talking about one specific life experience or talking about various things?
Says experience so I just talked about one experience, I don't think they'd want me to dump my entire vanderbilt autobio essay into their app despite the lack of a word count.
 
Called, my mcat is two months too old (may '23) fee is nonrefundable. Website is not updated for this cycle
So glad I saw this and SO disappointed this is the case... it was one of my only real shots of getting into medical school
 
Does anyone know if students can pursue multiple scholarly concentrations? I've already written about one and don't want to write abt a second if I can't pursue both
 
Did anyone not get an email receipt after paying for the secondary
 
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