2025-2026 Pittsburgh

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2025-2026 Pittsburgh Secondary Essay Prompts

1. The Three Rivers Curriculum features collaborative team based learning. Therefore, we value your perspective and experience working within teams. Describe a time you worked with others in a collaborative process, challenges encountered and how you overcame these challenges. Discuss any personal growth achieved through the experience.
(Limit your response to 250 words or less.)

2. Describe a difficult situation you faced, how you responded to this situation and how this helped shape the person you've become.
(Limit your response to 250 words or less.)

3. Respect for others of different backgrounds is integral to the successful practice of medicine, as is an understanding of social determinants of health. Describe a situation you observed between a patient and the health care system that illustrates the impact of social determinants of health on delivery of care. Describe what you learned from this situation.
(Limit your response to 250 words or less.)

4. Optional Essay: If you wish, use this space to tell the UPSOM Admissions Committee anything else about yourself.
(Limit your response to 250 words or less.)

Good luck to all applying!

Interview Feedback:

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine - Admission, Tuition, Ranking & Overview | Student Doctor Network

Detail information of University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine including admission, tuition, ranking, and overview.

www.studentdoctor.net

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Podcast

Episode 22: Cynthia Bonetti and The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Debunking Admissions Myths | MD University Program | Case Western Reserve University

We're featuring the medical school in our neighboring city of Pittsburgh - The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine with their Executive Direc...

case.edu

 

[diltiazemm]

+1 OOS, it was in my junk folder!

 

[anonymooseee]

+ 1 oos, i got it yesterday and just now realized it was in my spam folder...

 

[pushingp_remed]

+1 OOS, in spam as well.


What's the ideal turnaround time for Pitt? Heard their cycle is super early

 

[batmanpremed123]

Could y'all post the prompts please? Also, do y'all know if they send out in waves? I submitted my primary on day 1 and still have not gotten it.

 

[anonymooseee]

1. The Three Rivers Curriculum features collaborative team based learning. Therefore, we value your perspective and experience working within teams. Describe a time you worked with others in a collaborative process, challenges encountered and how you overcame these challenges. Discuss any personal growth achieved through the experience.
(Limit your response to 250 words or less.)
2. Describe a difficult situation you faced, how you responded to this situation and how this helped shape the person you've become.
(Limit your response to 250 words or less.)
3. Respect for others of different backgrounds is integral to the successful practice of medicine, as is an understanding of social determinants of health. Describe a situation you observed between a patient and the health care system that illustrates the impact of social determinants of health on delivery of care. Describe what you learned from this situation.
(Limit your response to 250 words or less.)

4. Optional Essay: If you wish, use this space to tell the UPSOM Admissions Committee anything else about yourself.
(Limit your response to 250 words or less.)

@wysdoc

 

[syrupedbacon]

+1 OOS, in spam as well.


What's the ideal turnaround time for Pitt? Heard their cycle is super early

They start sending interviews end of July so before then. I believe they roughly review chronologically.

 

[beepbeepboopbop02]

+1 OOS in spam folder (never happened before)

 

[protistfan]

Has anyone not received a secondary yet in their spam? Worried I may have accidentally deleted their email lmao

 

[as9]

+1 OOS in spam folder (never happened before)

+1 OOS, same thing.

 

[shortienova]

Has anyone not received a secondary yet in their spam? Worried I may have accidentally deleted their email lmao

I also haven't received it yet (OOS)

 

[batmanpremed123]

I emailed them, said its being rolled out in batches.

 

[samplam]

+1 OOS, came in my spam two days ago.

 

[meowsentry]

+1 OOS, just now. not in spam but i lowk work with upitt med at my job so that may be why

 

[Swiftlions]

+1 IS just came in my spam a couple of minutes ago

 

[sardinetoast]

+1 OOS in the ol spam box

 

[rosegold123]

+1 OOS in spam

 

[Kendo(c)]

+1 OOS in spam

 

[texco23]

+1 OOS in spam

 

[schildkröte]

+1 IS

 

[MetroCube2]

Bruh it was in my spam folder too that's so crazy 🤣, I would never have found it if y'all didn't point it out.

 

[SilentCavalier]

+1 OOS in spam

 

[medapplicant934834]

Submitted my app and paid the application fee; however, the status page still says that my application completion date is: INCOMPLETE. Anyone have the same issue? Also didn't get any emails indicating submission or complete application.

 

[SilentCavalier]

Submitted my app and paid the application fee; however, the status page still says that my application completion date is: INCOMPLETE. Anyone have the same issue? Also didn't get any emails indicating submission or complete application.

It said it can take 24 hours to update. Took mine 15 minutes. Also did not get an email, the portal just refreshes.

 

[hhxit92]

For the course requirements tab, are you deleting the courses that don't fall under any prerequisite category?

 

[TK1121]

+1 IS

 

[pyrosome]

+1 OOS, it was in my junk folder!

For me as well

 

[pyrosome]

For the course requirements tab, are you deleting the courses that don't fall under any prerequisite category?

I did not. Now I'm questioning whether I should have...

 

[hatty]

is anyone answering prompt 4? feel like we shouldn't just dump a Why Us essay in there... but what about gap year / upcoming plans essay here instead?

 

[saucyrabbit]

is anyone answering prompt 4? feel like we shouldn't just dump a Why Us essay in there... but what about gap year / upcoming plans essay here instead?

I did a shortened version of my diversity and tied it their mission and why I think I would be a good fit for Pitt. I don't think you should force something if you feel like every other essay hits on what you would want to tell the school

 

[anklelocktheworld]

+1 OOS Secondary

 

[katelynn]

They ask for Social Security Number???

 

[AlliesStardust]

Wow, I never would have looked in my spam. I'm so glad I saw everyone's messages lol.

 

[AlliesStardust]

They ask for Social Security Number???

Some schools that have financial aid consideration built into their application do. This is my 3rd school to ask for it. Most will let you put in all 9s or all 0s and give the number in-person if selected for an interview so they can build you an aid packet.

 

[bluwale]

Anyone else who hasn’t received the secondary invite? Submitted my primary on 06/27

 

[batmanpremed123]

Anyone else who hasn’t received the secondary invite? Submitted my primary on 06/27

check your spam and its also being sent out in waves.

 

[throwingthisinthemix]

It said it can take 24 hours to update. Took mine 15 minutes. Also did not get an email, the portal just refreshes.

Mine said complete the day I submitted (7/11) about an hour after, but when I checked today, the date changed to today (7/15). Did anyone else have this?

 

[Nancy d-26]

Haven't received secondary yet. Submitted primary on May 27th

 

[dahquinnz]

Received secondary today in my spam. OOS

 

[mallcat]

+1 OOS MSTP in spam

 

[blonolo]

+1 OOS MSTP in spam

+1 - same here. Doesn’t look like there are any other MD/PhD specific essays, just choosing PIs of interest and why they fit your interests, as well as a CV they have you fill out

 

[RouteCutterz80]

I did not. Now I'm questioning whether I should have...

On the prompt it says not to delete any courses that don't meet requirements. But does anyone know how to delete a course designation as a requirement. I accidentally added a course as a requirment now can't unassign it, but only change it to another category.

 

[mountaingoat23]

Should I have gotten an email saying my application is complete? I think I did for every other school but not for Pitt

 

[hhxit92]

Should I have gotten an email saying my application is complete? I think I did for every other school but not for Pitt

My portal says that my app is complete and under review, but I didn't receive an email, I think someone said they experienced something similar earlier in the thread!

 

[wisecactus]

Anyone else receive a text from Pitt saying that they received your primary app and that your secondary app was emailed to you? I got this text this morning and so far there's nothing in my inbox (including spam).

 

[ScoobyCat]

Anyone else receive a text from Pitt saying that they received your primary app and that your secondary app was emailed to you? I got this text this morning and so far there's nothing in my inbox (including spam).

I didn't get a text but I also still haven't received the secondary (in regular or spam inbox)

 

[hello0001]

Should I have gotten an email saying my application is complete? I think I did for every other school but not for Pitt

I didn't either and it still says it's awaiting payment but I already paid??

 

[doctor3214234]

anyone else not gotten the secondary yet. Not in spam either

 

[blonolo]

I submitted the secondary 24h ago; my portal currently says "Under Review" but also Application Completion Date: INCOMPLETE. Is anyone else having this issue? All my LoRs and MCAT score have been sent to them, so I'm not sure what other information they need to consider my application complete.