MD/PhD Prompts 2013-2014

[mac2013]

If you are an MD/Phd applicant, please post all the questions for the secondaries you receive. I've been trying to collect them individually from the 2013-2014 MD Secondaries thread, but this seems more efficient. I'm including schools that have all the same prompts for MD/PhD as MD, so that people don't have to worry that they're missing the PhD questions if they look at the MD Secondaries thread. I'll update the list as often as I can.

Duke
"What is the most difficult obstacle you have faced? What resources did you marshal to confront it? How did the experience affect you and/or transform your life?"

University of Chicago
“At the University of Chicago in an atmosphere of interdisciplinary scholarship and discovery, the Pritzker School of Medicine is dedicated to inspiring diverse students of exceptional promise to become leaders and innovators in science and medicine for the betterment of humanity.” Essay Question 1. Our Mission Statement above is an expression of our core purpose and educational philosophy. In particular, it highlights the value we place on diversity since we regard the diversity of the entering class as essential for educational excellence. Please write an essay on how you would enhance diversity at Pritzker and advance the Pritzker mission. We suggest that you limit your essay to about 550 words.
Essay Question 2. Tell us about a difficult or challenging situation you have encountered and how you dealt with it. In your response, identify both the coping skills you called upon to resolve the dilemma, and the support person(s) from whom you sought advice. We suggest that you limit your essay to about 400 words.
Additional Information. Please feel free to use this space to convey any additional information that you might wish the Committee to know. We suggest that you limit your text to about 200 words.

University of Michigan
1. MSTP applicants: Instead of the above, briefly describe why you decided to apply to the University of Michigan MSTP. If you are interested in a specific department, program, or area of research for your Ph.D., please provide a brief explanation (we recognize that your interests may change). Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
2. At the University of Michigan Medical School, we are committed to building a superb educational community with students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions, and backgrounds. What would you as an individual bring to our medical school community? Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words)
3. Other Interests: We know you have many interests and passions beyond your pursuit of medical training. At Michigan we encourage you to continue to develop these talents. Please list three areas of interest (e.g., symphony orchestra, drawing/painting/ceramics, research in a specific area, joint degrees, athletic interests/running/softball, ballroom dance, Spanish language study, international travel/work/study, etc.) you would like to pursue while at Michigan. This will allow us to provide resources for you around these interests.
*3 blanks given*
4. Fun fact - We would like to know one fun fact about you. This may be shared with other applicants. Please answer the following question with up to four words:

University of North Carolina
Section F: Prompts (Applicants for the MD and MD/PhD Program)
*Respond to each prompt in no more than 1-2 paragraphs (150 words total).
Prompt 1: We have all tried something and failed, whether it was something big or something small. Describe a situation or an experience you had when you realized that you were not up to the task, and tell us what life-lessons you learned from this experience.
Prompt 2: Much of medical school education is based on team-learning. What important activity have you accomplished that required a team approach, what
was your role in the outcome, and what did you learn from it?
Prompt 3: Give an example of how you have made a difference in someone’s life whether it is a patient, friend, classmate, or a family member and explain what
this experience taught you about yourself.
Section G: Research Interests (MD/PhD Applicants Only)
Please list your top 5 areas of research interest below. This list will help us determine which research faculty you should meet if you are invited for an interview.

University of Pennsylvania (Perelman)
Indicate your intended area of specialization
(MSTP Only) Please use keywords or phrases, separated by commas, to identify your research more specifically. Do not use tabs or add lines by hitting the enter key. There is a limit of 500 characters.
Please explain your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine and limit your response to 1,000 characters.
Have you been nominated for or received an award from any state, regional or national organization? If so, please describe; each line allows 100 characters. (Please do not list awards from high school or earlier.)
(Each of the following 1000 chars)
Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation?
Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application?
Are there any special, unique, personal, or challenging circumstances that you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions (siblings/relatives at Penn, applying as a couple, educational environment, culture, ethnicity, etc.

WashU St.Louis
1. (optional) Do you have unique experiences or obstacles that you have overcome that were not covered in your application about which you would like to inform our Admissions Committee? (maximum 3000 characters including spaces)
2. If you have already completed your education, if your college or graduate education was interrupted, or if you do not plan to be a full-time student during the current year, describe in chronological order your activities during the time(s) when you were not enrolled as a full-time student. (maximum 1800 characters including spaces)
MSTP: Briefly describe (maximum of 1800 characters including spaces) the area of research you would like to explore in graduate school.

Yale
1. Please use this space to write an essay in which you discuss your interest in Yale School of Medicine. Please limit your response to 500 words.
2. This section should be used to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee any information not previously discussed throughout your Yale Secondary Application. Please limit your response to 500 words.
3. M.D. Ph.D Statement. Write a statement (approximately 500 words) concerning:
Your reasons for wishing to undertake the combined MD/PhD program, rather than the MD program alone.
The specific PhD program that you propose to follow at Yale.
The strengths and weaknesses of your preparation for graduate study in your proposed PhD field.

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[mynameistoolong]

Baylor
Indicate any special experiences, unusual factors or other information you feel would be helpful in evaluating you, including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, prevailing over adversity. You may expand upon but not repeat AMCAS application information. (2000 char)

Primary Research Interest(s) and Career Goals (Will not limit final research project selection). (2000 char)

Columbia
In what collegiate extracurriculars did you engage? (400 char)

Did you work for compensation during college during the year or the summer? If so, what did you do? How many hours a week did you work? (300 words)

What challenges do you expect to arise from living and working in a complex urban environment? How will you meet them? (300 words)

Is there anything else you would like us to know? (300 words)

MD/PhD specific
What academic honors have you received (e.g., prizes, scholarships, fellowships, honor societies)?

If proficiency was acquired by means other than course work, please describe (250 char):

What are your major research interests? (20 words)

PhD Goals (5000 char):

Additional Information (5000 char):

Cornell
Please write a brief statement giving your reasons for applying to Weill Cornell Medical College. (200 words)

Please describe a challenge you faced and how you addressed it. (200 words)

For MD-PhD applicants only: Please list the names of any Tri-Institutional faculty members with whom you'd like to do research. You do not need to list reasons; names are sufficient.

Dartmouth
Please indicate your plans for the 2013-14 academic year. If in school, please list your courses. If working, let us know something about the nature of your job. (no limit)

Please share with us something about yourself that is not addressed elsewhere in your application and which could be helpful to the Admissions Committee as we review your file. (no limit)

Indicate at least one and no more than three graduate programs in which you are interested.

Select at least eight and no more than twelve faculty members whose research interests align with your own and who are members of at least one of the three graduate programs you have selected above.

 

[ilikeargyle]

BAYLOR
-Indicate any special experiences, unusual factors or other information you feel would be helpful in evaluating you, including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, prevailing over adversity. You may expand upon but not repeat AMCAS application information. (2000 characters)
-Primary Research Interest(s) and Career Goals (Will not limit final research project selection). (2000 characters)

COLUMBIA
-In what collegiate extracurriculars did you engage? (400 char)
-Did you work for compensation during college during the year or the summer? If so, what did you do? How many hours a week did you work? (300 words)
-What challenges do you expect to arise from living and working in a complex urban environment? How will you meet them? (300 words)
-Is there anything else you would like us to know? (300 words)
-What academic honors have you received (e.g., prizes, scholarships, fellowships, honor societies)?
-If proficiency was acquired by means other than course work, please describe (250 characters):
-What are your major research interests? (20 words)
-PhD Goals (5000 characters):
-Additional Information (5000 characters):

DARTMOUTH
-Please indicate your plans for the 2013-14 academic year. If in school, please list your courses. If working, let us know something about the nature of your job. (no limit)
-Please share with us something about yourself that is not addressed elsewhere in your application and which could be helpful to the Admissions Committee as we review your file. (no limit)
-Indicate at least one and no more than three graduate programs in which you are interested.
-Select at least eight and no more than twelve faculty members whose research interests align with your own and who are members of at least one of the three graduate programs you have selected above.

DUKE
-What is the most difficult obstacle you have faced? What resources did you marshal to confront it? How did the experience affect you and/or transform your life?

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
-If applicable, please comment on significant fluctuations in your academic record which are not explained elsewhere on your application.
-If you have taken any time off from your studies, either during or after college, please describe what you have done during this time and your reasons for doing so.
-The Admissions Committee uses a holistic approach to evaluate a wide range of student qualities and life experiences that are complementary to demonstrated academic excellence, strong interpersonal skills and leadership potential. What unique qualities or experiences do you possess that would contribute specifically to the NYU School of Medicine community?
-The ultimate goal of our institution is to produce a population of physicians with a collective desire to improve health of all segments of our society through the outstanding patient care, research and education. In this context, where do you see your future medical career (academic medicine, research, public health, primary care, business/law, etc.) and why? Your answer need not be restricted to one category. If your plans require that you complete a dual degree program, please elaborate here.

Please answer only one of the following three questions:
1. The most meaningful achievements are often non-academic in nature. Describe the personal accomplishment that makes you most proud. Why is this important to you?
2. Conflicts arise daily from differences in perspectives, priorities, worldviews and traditions. How do you define respect? Describe a situation in which you found it challenging to remain respectful while facing differences?
3. Describe a situation in which working with a colleague, family member or friend has been challenging. How did you resolve, if at all, the situation as a team and what did you gain from the experience that will benefit you as a future health care provider?

STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY (MD questions can vary year to year)
10. Will your education be continuous between college and medical school matriculation?
-If YES, please tell us what you anticipate you will be doing professionally 15 years after graduating from medical school and why.
-If NO, please explain what you have done or plan to do during the gap period and why.

11. Describe an obstacle you’ve overcome and how it has defined you.
12. Describe an extracurricular experience that you have had which will help you become a compassionate physician and explain why.

-MSTP: Please describe the basic and/or clinical research fields that you think you might like to explore and/or develop expertise in during your MSTP training. To the extent that you have defined potential specific future clinical interests, please describe the type(s) of medicine that you might be interested in pursuing once you have completed the MSTP.

TRI-INSTITUTIONAL
-Please write a brief statement giving your reasons for applying to Weill Cornell Medical College. (200 words)
-Please describe a challenge you faced and how you addressed it. (200 words)
-For MD-PhD applicants only: Please list the names of any Tri-Institutional faculty members with whom you'd like to do research. You do not need to list reasons; names are sufficient.

UC IRVINE
-What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1500 characters)
-Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1500 characters)
-This essay is only for applicants that have already received their baccalaureate degree. Please clarify for the Admissions Committee your activities (school, work and/or volunteer, travel, etc.) since receiving your undergraduate degree. You may list them in chronological order or you may incorporate them into an essay, stating why you chose particular activities. (1500 characters)

UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
“At the University of Chicago in an atmosphere of interdisciplinary scholarship and discovery, the Pritzker School of Medicine is dedicated to inspiring diverse students of exceptional promise to become leaders and innovators in science and medicine for the betterment of humanity.”
-Essay Question 1. Our Mission Statement above is an expression of our core purpose and educational philosophy. In particular, it highlights the value we place on diversity since we regard the diversity of the entering class as essential for educational excellence. Please write an essay on how you would enhance diversity at Pritzker and advance the Pritzker mission. We suggest that you limit your essay to about 550 words.
-Essay Question 2. Tell us about a difficult or challenging situation you have encountered and how you dealt with it. In your response, identify both the coping skills you called upon to resolve the dilemma, and the support person(s) from whom you sought advice. We suggest that you limit your essay to about 400 words.
-Additional Information. Please feel free to use this space to convey any additional information that you might wish the Committee to know. We suggest that you limit your text to about 200 words.

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
(1800 characters for each response)
-Highlighting your experiences in the health care field, what insights have you gained about potential problems you will face as a physician? (Provide details of your health care experiences without providing actual patient names)
-Describe the activity (curricular or extracurricular) from which you gained the greatest personal benefit and insight.
-How will the University of Connecticut School of Medicine best serve your needs of becoming a physician or physician scientist?

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
Essay 1: Please limit your response to 250-500 words
-If you are not a full-time student during this application cycle, in particular at any time between September 2013 and May 2014, please detail your current and planned activities below.

Essay 2: Please limit your response to 250-500 words
- At the core of our profession are attributes sometimes called the three C’s; Competence (clinical excellence), Caring (a genuine desire to help others or “other centeredness”) and Character (personal integrity and honesty). In order to grow in these areas, the best practitioners are able to reflect upon who they are as individuals (self-assessment) and allow these insights to shape how they develop as physicians. The relationships we develop with patients and colleagues are among the most rewarding aspects of being a physician and provide the theatre in which the 3 C’s are both learned and practiced. We therefore have 2 short essay questions designed to help you explore these important topics. The first deals with self-assessment and the second deals with the experiences of 2 UF medical students facing the loss of a patient and its impact on them as young doctors.

Read the following description of introversion and extraversion from the Myers-Briggs foundation website. Most people, while seeing themselves to one degree or another in each description, are inclined towards either being introverted or extroverted. Both groups make wonderful physicians, but each personality type has some inherent strengths and weaknesses which need to be appreciated as individuals develop into practicing physicians. Do you see yourself as more of an extravert or an introvert and how will this impact how you learn to communicate with patients and colleagues?

Essay 3:
In the practice of medicine, we have the amazing privilege to not only help our patients, but also to learn from them in very unexpected ways. Read the following 2 essays, written recently by students at the University of Florida College of Medicine. In the first, a student had a major impact on a young patient on the pediatric surgery service. In the second, the student describes her care for a noncompliant patient. Both made a difference in their patients and both changed and grew through the experience. Pick one, and describe the skills of the author that you notice and think are helpful, then describe these stories relate to the kind of physician that you want to be.

Essay 4:
Consider three areas of integrity: personal, professional, and intellectual. Using an example, describe how these areas may be interrelated. In your response include why the connection between these areas is significant.

All graduates wish to be outstanding practicing physicians, but many also have other areas of interest as part of their careers. Pick one or two of the following areas that sound appealing as area of potential special professional interest:

Please limit your response to 250-500 words
Optional: If you think there is any additional information that would help the admissions committee in its review of your application please use the space below.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
1. MSTP applicants: Instead of the above, briefly describe why you decided to apply to the University of Michigan MSTP. If you are interested in a specific department, program, or area of research for your Ph.D., please provide a brief explanation (we recognize that your interests may change). Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
2. At the University of Michigan Medical School, we are committed to building a superb educational community with students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions, and backgrounds. What would you as an individual bring to our medical school community? Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words)
3. Other Interests: We know you have many interests and passions beyond your pursuit of medical training. At Michigan we encourage you to continue to develop these talents. Please list three areas of interest (e.g., symphony orchestra, drawing/painting/ceramics, research in a specific area, joint degrees, athletic interests/running/softball, ballroom dance, Spanish language study, international travel/work/study, etc.) you would like to pursue while at Michigan. This will allow us to provide resources for you around these interests. (3 blanks given)
4. Fun fact: We would like to know one fun fact about you. This may be shared with other applicants. Please answer the following question with up to four words:

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
Section F: Prompts (Applicants for the MD and MD/PhD Program)
*Respond to each prompt in no more than 1-2 paragraphs (150 words total).
-Prompt 1: We have all tried something and failed, whether it was something big or something small. Describe a situation or an experience you had when you realized that you were not up to the task, and tell us what life-lessons you learned from this experience.
-Prompt 2: Much of medical school education is based on team-learning. What important activity have you accomplished that required a team approach, what
was your role in the outcome, and what did you learn from it?
-Prompt 3: Give an example of how you have made a difference in someone’s life whether it is a patient, friend, classmate, or a family member and explain what
this experience taught you about yourself.

Section G: Research Interests (MD/PhD Applicants Only)
-Please list your top 5 areas of research interest below. This list will help us determine which research faculty you should meet if you are invited for an interview.

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA (PERELMAN)
-Indicate your intended area of specialization
-(MSTP Only) Please use keywords or phrases, separated by commas, to identify your research more specifically. Do not use tabs or add lines by hitting the enter key. There is a limit of 500 characters.
-Please explain your reasons for applying to the Perelman School of Medicine and limit your response to 1,000 characters.
-Have you been nominated for or received an award from any state, regional or national organization? If so, please describe; each line allows 100 characters. (Please do not list awards from high school or earlier.)

(Each of the following 1000 characters)
-Have you taken or are you planning to take time off between college graduation and medical school matriculation?
-Have you participated in any global activities outside of the U.S. prior to submitting your AMCAS application?
-Are there any special, unique, personal, or challenging circumstances that you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions (siblings/relatives at Penn, applying as a couple, educational environment, culture, ethnicity, etc.

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
-2 references must be submitted through MSTP application (AMCAS-sent will not count as complete)
-I spoke with one of the directors, and want to make note that it seemed they only look at the 2 submitted through MSTP and do not look at your MD secondary or AMCAS letters; choose wisely.
-Copy and paste your CV.

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
Preliminary MSTP:
-Indicate the area of research in which you are interested in pursuing an MD/PhD.
-Please list any publications or papers which have been submitted or are in preparation. Publications may be added throughout the application season.
-Please use this space to supplement your AMCAS Personal Comments. (MSTP will consider information provided here as well as your AMCAS Personal Comments):
-How did you find out about the University of Washington’s Medical Scientist Training Program?
-Describe your research projects.
-Describe your clinical experiences.

Secondary MSTP:
-Autobiographical Statement (optional): Use this opportunity to provide any autobiographical information which you feel would be helpful for the MSTP office.
-If you are not currently enrolled in coursework (nor planning to be enrolled throughout the application process), please describe your activities in this period.

WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS
1. (optional) Do you have unique experiences or obstacles that you have overcome that were not covered in your application about which you would like to inform our Admissions Committee? (maximum 3000 characters including spaces)
2. If you have already completed your education, if your college or graduate education was interrupted, or if you do not plan to be a full-time student during the current year, describe in chronological order your activities during the time(s) when you were not enrolled as a full-time student. (maximum 1800 characters including spaces)
3. MSTP: Briefly describe (maximum of 1800 characters including spaces) the area of research you would like to explore in graduate school.

YALE
1. Please use this space to write an essay in which you discuss your interest in Yale School of Medicine. Please limit your response to 500 words.
2. This section should be used to bring to the attention of the Admissions Committee any information not previously discussed throughout your Yale Secondary Application. Please limit your response to 500 words.
3. M.D. Ph.D Statement. Write a statement (approximately 500 words) concerning:
-Your reasons for wishing to undertake the combined MD/PhD program, rather than the MD program alone.
-The specific PhD program that you propose to follow at Yale.
-The strengths and weaknesses of your preparation for graduate study in your proposed PhD field.

 

[Member011]

Thank you! This is super helpful.

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
-If you are currently NOT enrolled in a degree granting program, please briefly describe your major activities since you received your college degree. (750 characters)
-Tell us about your research projects.
-Tell us about your qualifications as a candidate for the MD/PhD program, your future research interests, and your motivation for entering such a program.

 

[zippyziggy]

HARVARD
-If you are re-applying, briefly (4000 characters max) summarize your activities since your previous application.
-If you have already graduated, briefly (4000 characters max) summarize your activities since graduation.
-If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Many applicants will not need to answer this question. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, identification with a minority culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine. (4000 character maximum)
-Our interview season runs from mid-September through January. Please indicate any significant (three or more weeks) restriction on your availability for interviews during this period. If none, leave blank.

HST only:
-The HST MD program draws on the combined resources of Harvard and MIT to provide a distinct preclinical education tailored to preparing students for careers as physician-scientists. HST classes are small, commonly include graduate students and have an emphasis on quantitative and analytic approaches, centered on understanding disease mechanisms and exploring therapies. Please explain how your prior experiences, including research, have prepared you for this challenging opportunity. In lieu of identifying specific HST faculty or research opportunities, please focus on your interests, experiences and aspirations. Please limit your comments to the equivalent of one page of single spaced text with a font size of 10 or 12. (4000 chars)

MD/PhD:
-Briefly list your research interests/areas; use keywords only. This information is not binding. (100 character limit).

JOHNS HOPKINS
-Have you ever been subject to disciplinary action of any kind or placed on probation by a college or university?
-Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense, or are there criminal charges pending against you?
-If you have already received your bachelor's degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation, and your plans for the upcoming year. (700 characters)
-If you interrupted your college education for a semester or longer, please describe what you did during that time. (700 characters)
-List any academic honors or awards you have received since entering college. (600 characters)
-Briefly describe your single, most rewarding experience. Feel free to refer to an experience previously described in your AMCAS application. (900 characters)
-Are there any areas of medicine that are of particular interest to you? If so, please comment. (1100 characters)
-Briefly describe a situation where you had to overcome adversity; include lessons learned and how you think it will affect your career as a future physician. (900 characters)
-Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from this experience? (1100 characters)

MD/PhD:
-Please list your area(s) of interest in graduate study. These may be general and/or specific: (270 char)
-If you are planning to request a deferred admission, please elaborate on the reasons for this choice.
-Indicate which foreign language(s) you can read and level of proficiency (College equivalent: Elementary, Intermediate, or Advanced). Language proficiency is a requirement in some graduate programs.
-List names of those who will submit letters of recommendation in support of your application to the graduate program.

STANFORD
-Are there any current or pending disputes concerning your academic status? (If yes, please explain)
-Was your enrollment status ever interrupted during your undergraduate or graduate years, not counting summer term?
-The Committee on Admissions regards the diversity of an entering class as an important factor in serving the educational mission of the school. The Committee on Admissions strongly encourages you to share unique, personally important, and/or challenging factors in your background, such as the quality of your early educational environment, socioeconomic status, culture, race, ethnicity, or life or work experiences. Please discuss how such factors have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine. Please limit your answer to 2,000 characters including spaces.
-Why do you feel you are particularly suited for this practice scenario? What knowledge, skills and attitudes have you developed that have prepared you for this career path? Please limit your answer to 1,000 characters including spaces.
-How will the Stanford curriculum, and specifically the requirement for a scholarly concentration, help your personal career goals? Please limit your answer to 1,000 characters including spaces.
-If you have publications resulting from scholarly endeavors, please complete a citation for each of your publications in the space below using the following format: Author, Title, Journal, Volume, Pages, and Date of Publication. This section applies for papers that have been published or been accepted for publication. Please do not include abstracts or unpublished conference papers.

MD/PhD:
-MSTP 1. Describe your most significant research experience. Include the rationale, results, and conclusions, and the role you played in each of these components. Please be very specific, including the dates and amount of time you were so engaged. For publications or presentations that resulted or will result from this work, include a complete citation with the names of all authors and the status (e.g., submitted, in preparation). Please limit your answer to 2,500 characters including spaces.
-MSTP 2. Please describe in a short paragraph your educational and family background. e.g., I grew up in New York City, as the 3rd child of a high school principal and homemaker. I attended Mann High School where my major interests were boxing and drama. Please limit your answer to 500 characters including spaces.
-MSTP 3. Describe your reasons for pursuing medical scientist training in relation to your long-term career goals? Why are you applying to a combined degree program rather than graduate or medical school only? Please limit your answer to 800 characters including spaces.
-MSTP 4. Describe your current lab affiliation and the weekly time commitment required (e.g., I am working in the Griffin lab where I performed research in the summer following junior year for 20 hours per week). Please limit your answer to 800 characters including spaces.
-MSTP 5. Describe any other research experiences you think would be relevant to the MSTP Admissions Committee decision. Please limit your answer to 800 characters including spaces.
-MSTP 6. Describe any patient-related, teaching, and service-oriented activities relevant to the MSTP Admissions Committee decision. Please limit your answer to 600 characters including spaces.
-MSTP 7. Describe any other aspect of your background you think would be relevant to the MSTP Admissions Committee decision. Please limit your answer to 800 characters including spaces.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
-This should be a true autobiographical statement. Topics to be included are family, childhood, primary and secondary school years, undergraduate years, and, if applicable, what you've done since completing your bachelor's degree. You should also discuss the motivational factors which led you to a career in medicine including any disadvantages or obstacles which might put your accomplishments into context. A repeat of your AMCAS statement will not be acceptable. Please note: if you are applying to the MD/PhD program, please include why you are seeking the MD/PhD training at UCSD. (6000 chars)
-Enter a brief description of your future career goals (400 chars).

EMORY
-The interview season is September 2013 through late February 2014. Where will you be during this time? (Limit 1000 characters)
-Has anyone in your family (not including yourself) ever attended, worked for, or been affiliated with Emory School of Medicine or Emory University? Please list below their name(s), their affiliation to Emory, and their relationship to you.
-Have you ever been convicted of a crime, other than a traffic violation? Explain in detail with dates.
-List the names of additional mentors/advisors who will be writing letters of recommendation for you (letters from ALL research mentors are requested for MD/PHD applicants).
-Please indicate whether or not you have completed (or plan to complete) the minimum course requirements listed below. If you check "No" to any category, please be sure to explain in the space provided at the end of this section. Please note: all science coursework must be completed in the US or Canada at a regionally accredited institution. If you have checked "No" to any of the minimum course requirements listed above, please explain below.
-If it was not included on your AMCAS application, please list your entire curriculum plan for the 2013-2014 academic year. If you are not currently in school, please briefly describe (in 100 words or less) what you are doing now.
-Briefly describe (in approximately 100 words) your health-related experiences. Be sure to include important experiences that are in your AMCAS application, as well as any recent experiences.
-Do you have any updates or new information to report since you have submitted your AMCAS primary application? If so, please describe below. (100 words or less)

MD/PhD:
-List any relevant publications. If you do not currently have any publications, please answer "N/A":
-List any abstracts and/or conference presentations. If you do not currently have any abstracts or presentations, please answer "N/A":
-List in chronological order all of your significant research experiences (e.g. those experiences that were 8 weeks or longer). Make sure to include the dates, Mentor/PI, institution, and number of hours per week spent on the project. Additionally, briefly describe (in 250 words or less) your research projects, including goals and background, methodology, results, and related publications.
-Briefly describe your interest in Emory University and Emory's MD/PhD program.
-What do you consider to be the role of the Physician Scientist in healthcare?

MOUNT SINAI (ICAHN)
-Are any of your relatives alumni of any ISMMS program or faculty within the Icahn School of Medicine? If yes, please tell us who they are, what program they graduated from, and what department they are currently affiliated with, if applicable.
-Have you previously applied to Icahn School of Medicine? Have you, in past years, applied to any other medical school? If yes, please explain.
-Were there any gaps in time, post-secondary school, or greater than one month duration, except summer vacations, that are not accounted for anywhere else on your application? If yes, please explain.
-Were there any circumstances which you feel might have adversely affected your academic performance during college? If yes, please explain.
-What makes you special, someone who will add to the Mount Sinai community? (250 words)
-Indicate the reasons for your specific interest in Mount Sinai. (200 words)

MD/PhD:
-Provide a one sentence summary of your current research interest.
-Please list 8 (required) graduate research training faculty members whom you would like to meet if you are invited to interview at Mount Sinai. These should include individuals with complementary research interests whose labs you would consider for your research rotations and/or dissertation research. Please list them in order of preference, 1 being the highest.
-Please describe how the characteristics of Mount Sinai's MD/PhD program will help you to achieve your career goals. (200 words)

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA (UVA)
-Why are you interested in attending the University of Virginia School of Medicine? What factors will be most important to you in choosing a medical school? (350 words or less)
-How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and the University of Virginia School of Medicine? (350 words or less)
-What do you think will be your greatest personal challenge as a physician, and how will you address this? (350 words or less)

MD/PhD:
-What areas of biomedical research and clinical specialty interest you the most? Why? (350 words or less)

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
-Have any disciplinary actions/proceedings been initiated against you by any colleges or universities?
-Have you ever been charged with or convicted of any legal offense (other than minor traffic offenses, such as parking tickets) including offenses where the records have been sealed or expunged?
-The Admissions Committee takes many factors into consideration when reviewing your application. A successful applicant is frequently one who communicates what makes them special and why they will become an outstanding physician. You are invited but not required to provide additional information in this essay.
Some applicants tell us about hardships and challenges that they have faced in their lives and how these experiences have helped them become caring and compassionate individuals. Other applicants use this space to emphasize a passion they have for a particular field related to their future career in medicine. You may wish to tell us something unique about your interest in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health that you were not able to include in your general AMCAS personal essay. This may relate to our status as the only school of both medicine and public health and why this appeals to you and your future life as a physician.
Our goal is to gain insight into you as a unique applicant. You may include anything in this essay that you feel is relevant. Please limit your response to 500 words. (optional)

MD/PhD:
-Please describe the research that you would like to do as an MSTP student and how that research will prepare you for your career. (Limit response to 500 words.)

MAYO
MD/PhD:
-In the space below, write a brief paragraph explaining why you are specifically applying to the Mayo Clinic Medical Scientist Training Program. (~630 chars)

UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
None

 

[plumazul]

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
-Briefly describe your most important exposure to clinical medicine.
(1500 character max)
-Briefly describe your most satisfying experience related to community service.
(1500 character max)
-What does it mean to enter into a profession?
(1500 character max)
MSTP
-Please provide a list of any publications or abstracts from previous research experience.
-Please provide a list of any honors or prizes that you have received for research.

CASE WESTERN RESERVE
Has only a $25 fee for MSTP!!
-The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe the greatest personal challenge you have faced which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a time when you felt you were "in over your head," or a time when you felt personally criticized. You may also discuss a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you may have learned about yourself.
Please limit your response to 1 page (about 3,500 characters)
-the 2 mdphd questions from amcas
-Small Group Essay
If you were working on a small group project and you thought that another student wasn't carrying his/her load, how would you handle it?
Please limit your response to 300-1000 characters,

ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE had no essays
for mdphd
List Scientific Abstracts, Presentations and Publications:

 

[TheShaker]

Why does every school make you repeat your AMCAS essays??! It feels so damn pointless to just rephrase your essay while making the same exact point...

 

[OCDOCDOCD]

Why does every school make you repeat your AMCAS essays??! It feels so damn pointless to just rephrase your essay while making the same exact point...

Because their dirty little secret is that they don't actually read any of those AMCAS essays.

 

[Neuronix]

Because their dirty little secret is that they don't actually read any of those AMCAS essays.

I've been saying this for years. I applied disadvantaged with a very unique application, and it was very clear that the vast majority of interviewers never read any of my statements or essays. I like the closed file interviews, because then it can actually be the program's policy to be lazy instead of just appearing to be lazy.

Anwyay, It's kind of adcom and school dependent. Now that I'm on the other side of things to some extent, who has the time to read through a stack of those boring essays? In the end, the reality is that your essays need to look well polished, because a bad essay will strike your application immediately for those who do read them.

 

[zippyziggy]

I've been saying this for years. I applied disadvantaged with a very unique application, and it was very clear that the vast majority of interviewers never read any of my statements or essays. I like the closed file interviews, because then it can actually be the program's policy to be lazy instead of just appearing to be lazy.

Anwyay, It's kind of adcom and school dependent. Now that I'm on the other side of things to some extent, who has the time to read through a stack of those boring essays? In the end, the reality is that your essays need to look well polished, because a bad essay will strike your application immediately for those who do read them.

wow, even for md/phd applicants? i figured since the pool is smaller, and since investigators seem to be more invested in the future of their fields, that they would take the time to read the application (and also because most of them aren't surgeons, and do have more time in between their grant-writing and other stuff to read an app or two).

if they don't have the time to read a stack of boring essays, why is it assumed that we have the time to write this stack of boring essays? and be expected to write everything within two weeks? i'm not saying i'm as busy as they are, but if these essays aren't useful for anything, then why have them at all?

 

[Neuronix]

but if these essays aren't useful for anything, then why have them at all?

1) Some people do read them. I didn't say that nobody does.

2) You're jumping through hoops. I've jumped through far more meaningless hoops. You will be doing it for the rest of your career. Get used to it.

 

[zippyziggy]

1) Some people do read them. I didn't say that nobody does.

2) You're jumping through hoops. I've jumped through far more meaningless hoops. You will be doing it for the rest of your career. Get used to it.

yeah i understand. i'm just bitchin because it's inefficient.

 

[uniqenam]

i'm just bitchin because it's inefficient.

Welcome to science!

 

[zippyziggy]

what - the bitchin or the inefficiency?

 

[Member011]

NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
-If applicable, please comment on significant fluctuations in your academic record which are not explained elsewhere on your application.
-If you have taken any time off from your studies, either during or after college, please describe what you have done during this time and your reasons for doing so.
-The Admissions Committee uses a holistic approach to evaluate a wide range of student qualities and life experiences that are complementary to demonstrated academic excellence, strong interpersonal skills and leadership potential. What unique qualities or experiences do you possess that would contribute specifically to the NYU School of Medicine community?
-The ultimate goal of our institution is to produce a population of physicians with a collective desire to improve health of all segments of our society through the outstanding patient care, research and education. In this context, where do you see your future medical career (academic medicine, research, public health, primary care, business/law, etc.) and why? Your answer need not be restricted to one category. If your plans require that you complete a dual degree program, please elaborate here.

Please answer only one of the following three questions:
1. The most meaningful achievements are often non-academic in nature. Describe the personal accomplishment that makes you most proud. Why is this important to you?
2. Conflicts arise daily from differences in perspectives, priorities, worldviews and traditions. How do you define respect? Describe a situation in which you found it challenging to remain respectful while facing differences?
3. Describe a situation in which working with a colleague, family member or friend has been challenging. How did you resolve, if at all, the situation as a team and what did you gain from the experience that will benefit you as a future health care provider?

Do you know what amount of space is given? Word/character limit?

 

[Reckoner]

University of Illinois at Chicago
-Describe a situation in which you were really stressed. Tell us how you dealt with it. Please detail your reaction(s), and how it affected you. If this situation, or a similar one, were to happen again, how would you handle it? (Do not exceed 250 words)
-Describe a hobby or activity other than something in medicine, in which you have a keen interest. Why? (Do not exceed 250 words)
-(Optional) Describe any advantages and/or complications you encountered during your progression in education. Please include any noteworthy achievements and/or obstacles. (Examples: Acute or chronic illnesses, employment, financial difficulty, managerial role in household, etc.) (Don't exceed 150 words)

University of Iowa
-We understand you are probably applying to multiple medical schools. Please explain your reasons for applying to the Carver College of Medicine. (1500 characters, including spaces)
-Describe any unique personal characteristics and obstacles you may have overcome that will contribute to the diversity of, and bring educational benefits to, the entering class. (1500 characters, including spaces)
-Please list and provide a brief description of medically related experiences (paid or volunteer) in which you have participated over the past 5 years. (3000 characters, including spaces)
-If you are a reapplicant to the Carver College of Medicine, how have you strengthened your application? (1500 characters, including spaces)
-If you are not currently in a degree-seeking program, please indicate what you will be doing from the time you complete this secondary application to the start of medical school. (1500 characters, including spaces)
MD/PhD specific:
-Please upload and save your CV/Resume

University of California, Los Angeles
All sections have 800 character limits, including spaces
-Describe involvement in the ONE most important non-academic activity in your life?
-What has been the ONE most unique leadership, entrepreneurial or creative activity in which you participated?
-What has been the ONE most important volunteer work you have done and why was it meaningful?
-Has there been a gap greater than one year between achieving your baccalaureate degree, and/or
consecutive degrees before applying to medical school? (yes or no). If yes, please explain.
-What is the ONE most important honor you have received? Why do you view this as important?
-What has been your most scholarly project (thesis, research or field of study in basic or clinical science or in the humanities)? Describe one and give number of hours, dates and advisor.
-Describe a problem in your life. Include how you dealt with it and how it influenced your growth.
-List major paid work experience during (or since) college. Give dates, description, approximate hours worked (list the most recent first).
-If there is any hardship to which you would like the committee to give special attention in evaluating your application, then check the box labeled 'Hardship' and briefly explain why you are indicating a hardship. Include any geographic, language, economic, academic, physical, or mental factors.
-Where do you see yourself in 10 years? What experiences have led you to this goal?

 

[zippyziggy]

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
-The Ohio State University College of Medicine's mission is to "improve people's lives through innovation in research, education and patient care." Briefly describe how you aspire to further this mission, in whole or in part, as a medical student or as an alumnus of this College. (250 words or less)
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr made the following statement: "Of all the injustices in the world, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane." Describe how you would like to contribute to ensuring quality healthcare for all people. (250 words or less)

MD/PhD:
-Graduate program of interest (select a few)

OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE UNIVERSITY (OHSU)
-What experience have you had that has given you insight into the patients you hope to eventually serve? (1500 chars)
-What will be your greatest challenge in becoming a physician? (1500 chars)
-Give an example of a time when you tried your best to work with a person or a group but the problems still remained. What did you learn from the experience? (1500 chars)
-Describe a time when you did not receive what you felt you deserved, and how you reacted. (1500 chars)
-Give an example of personal feedback in the last few years that was difficult to receive. How did you respond? (1500 chars)
-Please discuss the diversity that you would bring to the OHSU School of Medicine and the profession of medicine. (2000 chars)
-Please describe the nature of the adversity. (optional, 4000 chars)

MD/PhD:
-Graduate Program Preference
-Please write a brief essay explaining your desire for admission to the OHSU MD/PhD Training Program that outlines your career development goals. Include any information that might be helpful for the MD/PhD Admissions Committee in the evaluation of your application. Include in this section highlights of your research experience relevant to your career development as a physician scientist including academic honors, awards, and publications on which you were an author.
Briefly describe what at OHSU, and the OHSU MD/PhD program, particularly interests you, including faculty you are interested in working with. This is very helpful in determining who you might interview with if you are invited for an interview. (4000 chars)

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA
MSTP supplemental:
-List 3-5 key phrases that best describe your science/research interests.
-UAB MSTP students can do PhD research in one of multiple thematic or departmental PhD programs. Please check all that might be of interest to you.
-Please list ~5 UAB Faculty members you would be interested in speaking with if you were invited for an interview. You may find a listing of potential mentors on the following UAB web site: https://www.uasom.uab.edu/FacultyDirectory/FacultyMain.asp
-If you have already graduated (or will graduate from college prior to May/June), please give a brief description of your activities following graduation.
-Please list any regional or national conferences you will be attending during this academic year. If you will be presenting your work, please list the title and authors of your presentation/poster (ABRCMS, ATS, EB, SFN, SACNAS, Biomed Eng Society, etc).
-If you have already graduated (or will graduate from college prior to May/June), please give a brief description of your activities following graduation. (no character limit?)
-What factors prompted you to apply for the UAB MSTP? (no character limit?)
-Optional: Please list any additional information that you would like us to consider when evaluating your application. (no character limit?)

UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
-None, if applying MD/PhD (cannot apply MD-only at the same time).

 

[ilikeargyle]

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
-The Ohio State University College of Medicine's mission is to "improve people's lives through innovation in research, education and patient care." Briefly describe how you aspire to further this mission, in whole or in part, as a medical student or as an alumnus of this College. (250 words or less)
-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr made the following statement: "Of all the injustices in the world, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane." Describe how you would like to contribute to ensuring quality healthcare for all people. (250 words or less)

MD/PhD:
-Graduate program of interest (select a few)

There are also other requirements for OSU:
-CV
-statement of interest for graduate program
-3 graduate program reference forms
-official transcripts

 

[zippyziggy]

There are also other requirements for OSU:
-CV
-statement of interest for graduate program
-3 graduate program reference forms
-official transcripts

great catch. i would've totally missed this.

 

[mynameistoolong]

Feinberg (Northwestern):
(MSTP applicants don't have the MD prompts)
-Why did you choose your undergraduate major? How does the subject appeal to you? (200 words)
-Name a scientific paper that you have read recently that had a strong impact on you and describe what impact it had. (200 words)
-Discuss a current unanswered question in biomedical research that you find particularly interesting and what research you would like to see done to address it. (200 words)
-What is the most gratifying research experience you have had to date and why? What was the greatest obstacle you had to overcome in research and how did you overcome it? (200 words)
-How do you envision your career after you complete your training, including residency and fellowship? What aspects of your life and career will be most satisfying? What frustrations can you envision in your future career, and how do you hope to handle them? (200 words)
-Please describe your current research interest as you plan your research training. (400 words)

 

[george86]

Thanks for posting this!

 

[VonBeethoven]

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Provide relatively brief (1000 character maximum) answers to the following questions.
1. What experiences have led to your decision to become a physician?
2. Describe examples of leadership experience in which you have significantly influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
3. Describe any of your special interests and how you have developed knowledge in these areas. Give examples of your creativity: the ability to see alternatives; to take diverse perspectives; to develop varied or original ideas; or the willingness to try new things.
4. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to address this challenge.
5. Give an example of what you have done to make your community a better place to live.
6. Describe your experiences facing or witnessing discrimination. Tell how you responded and what you learned from these experiences and how they have prepared you for your future in medicine.
7. What special life experiences and/or characteristics would you bring to KU School of Medicine?
8. What do you do for fun?
9. If you are not a Kansas resident, what is your specific interest in applying to the University of Kansas School of Medicine?
10. If necessary, update the information contained in your AMCAS application. Indicate grades earned, alterations in your proposed course work or graduation time, additions to your extracurricular activities, or other pertinent information.
11. If there are discrepancies in your application that have not been explained in your personal statement, use this space to clarify. Examples may include unexplained gaps in time, multiple undergraduate institutions attended, multiple course withdrawals, inconsistent academic performance, inconsistency between academic performance and MCAT scores.
12. If you are currently enrolled, or plan to be enrolled during the next academic year, in a graduate or professional degree program, please describe your status within the program and your intention to complete the program. You must also request a letter from your graduate program advisor or from the dean of your professional school. This letter must include acknowledgement of your application to medical school and a description of your status in the program.
13. If you are no longer a full-time undergraduate student, briefly describe your current employment, community, and/or post-graduate educational activities.
14. For Repeat Applicants Only: Since your last application, please note any relevant academic experiences that strengthened your candidacy.
15. For Repeat Applicants Only: Since your last application, please note any relevant employment and personal experiences that strengthened your candidacy.
16. For Combined MD/PhD Program Applicants: Do you also want to be considered as an "MD-only" applicant?
*17. Have you ever been convicted for violation of a regulation or law relating to controlled substances (answer YES or NO)? If yes, provide appropriate explanation(s), including the date(s) of conviction, case number(s), and the jurisdictional court(s) involved.
*18. Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony (answer YES or NO)? If yes, provide appropriate explanation(s), including the date(s) of conviction, case number(s), and the jurisdictional court(s) involved.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
Write a letter documenting your strong ties to the state of Arkansas.

 

[StutterSonnet]

Anybody know the word/char count for the duke secondary prompt?

This thread has been really helpful thank you

 

[Member011]

There is no limit.

 

[stannislaus]

quick question re: UW MSTP

does your AMCAS application need to be verified before you can start on the preliminary MSTP application? I entered my aamc id and birthday and it wouldn't let me make an account.

thank you!

and thanks for the prompts everyone! i was a relatively late submitter (7/19) and haven't been verified yet. but hopefully i can prewrite these and be ready when my verification bomb drops. :}

 

[emm3]

BOSTON UNIVERSITY
- Are you expecting to go on to medical school directly after completing your undergraduate degree?* (Post bac work is NOT considered undergraduate. If attending a post bac program prior to entering medical school, the answer is NO and should be explained.) If you took gap year(s), please use this space to explain what you have been doing prior to applying to medical school.
-Please provide a narrative or timeline to describe any features of your educational history that you think may be of particular interest to us. For example, have you lived in another country or experienced a culture unlike your own, or worked in a field that contributed to your understanding of people unlike yourself? Or, have you experienced advanced training in any area, including the fields of art, music, or sports? This is an opportunity to describe learning experiences that may not be covered in other areas of this application or your AMCAS application. It is not necessary to write anything in this section. (2000 Characters)
-Use the text box to explain any unusual circumstances, or to add additional information that you think may help us to understand your academic experience, including the following:
• If you have not met our prerequisite requirements
• If your undergraduate record is not based on a semester system**
• If you are making substitutions for prerequisite courses (i.e., using a writing intensive
humanities course as an English course)
• If using AP, CLEP, community college, junior college, foreign institution or
long-distance/on-line courses in fulfillment of requirements
• If you were exempted from the introductory level courses listed as requirements but
have taken advanced level courses in those areas
• If your school defines adequate lab experience for Chemistry, Organic Chemistry and
Biology as less than one full year of lab
-Optional Essay
-MD/PhD Essay: Please provide a statement, in the space below, detailing your interest in the MD-PhD program and how you envision it supporting your long term goals. In this statement, please describe your qualifications and the objectives of your educational program, report on your prior research activities, teaching experience, publications, research presentations, independent studies, and membership in academic, professional, or honorary societies. It is important that you detail your own role in the research activities you list. If this is covered in your AMCAS Personal Statement, you may simply write "See AMCAS Personal Statement".

TUFTS
1. Do you wish to include any comments (in addition to those already provided in your AMCAS application) to the Admissions Committee at Tufts University School of Medicine?
2. Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine?
3. Describe your research interests. If the research of a Tufts faculty member is of particular interest to you, identify the faculty member and describe your interest in his/her work (3000 characters or less).
4. If you have already completed your bachelor's degree, list in resume format your full-time activities since graduation. If you have not yet graduated, please list any activities or work experiences that you feel are relevant to your interest in our MD/PhD program (3000 characters or less).

 

[ImmunoLove]

1) Some people do read them. I didn't say that nobody does.

2) You're jumping through hoops. I've jumped through far more meaningless hoops. You will be doing it for the rest of your career. Get used to it.

jumping through hoops. No kidding. I feel like a thoroughbred racehorse. Bring it!

 

[Fencer]

You should also make a list of all MD/PhD programs without a secondary application. Each secondary costs $.

 

[jj2015]

Baylor

Primary Research Interest(s) and Career Goals (Will not limit final research project selection). (2000 char)

does anyone know what the format of this should be? Short independent paragraphs, essay? Also how detailed should these research interests be?

Thanks!