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KECK

Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA

Historical and predicted secondary essay prompts. Use these to understand how schools have framed their questions over time.

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15 prompts in the archive

What do you see as the physician's role in Public Health? Please answer the question in 150 words or less.

150 words or less2021-2022, 2022-2023Historical

What is the most fun you’ve had lately?

1000 characters2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-2026School Staple

Describe a situation in which you didn’t get something you felt you deserved.

1000 characters2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-2026School Staple

Please provide the names of faculty with whom you would like to meet, if invited for an interview. For each faculty member suggested, provide a sentence or two explaining why you would like to meet that person. (250 word, max. 1,800 characters)

250 word, max. 1,800 characters2024-2025Historical

If you had enormous wealth, how would you allocate your charitable donations?

3-5 sentences2021-2022Historical

What are three things you don't care about at all?

1000 characters2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-2026School Staple

Are you a member of a group that is under-represented in medicine? (Y/N) IF yes , Which Group? How does under-representation affect your community?

65 words or less2022-2023, 2023-2024Historical

Have you previously applied to or attended medical school (M.D. , D.O., international)?

65 words or less (max. 550 characters)2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025Historical

If you answered yes , please provide an explanation on what occurred with your application process or previous matriculation to medical school.

65 words or less (max. 550 characters)2023-2024, 2024-2025Historical

The following questions allow the Admissions Committee to become acquainted with you as an individual. Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences. (max. 1000 characters).

1000 characters2025-2026New

List your publications and papers submitted including one or two sentences describing your role on each publication. (250 word, max. 1,800 characters)

250 word, max. 1,800 characters2024-2025Historical

If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be?

1000 characters2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-2026School Staple

Is there anything else you would like us to know? Please respond in 200 words or less (max. 1,400 characters).

200 words or 1,400 characters2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-2026School Staple

Please indicate fields of study for which you have a special interest. For example: Anatomy, Biostatistics, Molecular Biology, Systems Biology, Epidemiology, Bioengineering, Human Genetics, Neurosciences, Biochemistry, Immunology Nutrition, Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology Biophysics, Physiology, Cancer, Other

No character/word limit2024-2025Historical

Which Group? How does under-representation affect your community? (200 word limit)

200 word limit2023-2024Historical