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UAB

University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine

Birmingham, AL

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

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16 prompts in the archive

What factors prompted you to apply to UAB for MD/PhD training?(1500 Characters)

1500 Characters2021-2022Historical

You have a separate page to add any experiences that you did not have listed on your AMCAS application

No character/word limit2023-2024Historical

Where do you see yourself in your medical career fifteen to twenty years from now? (750 characters)

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

If the area you spent most of your life before college differs from where you currently consider your permanent address, please explain. (1500 characters)

1500 characters2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-2026School Staple

If you are not a resident of Alabama, please describe any ties or meaningful experiences you have had related to the state of Alabama or UAB Medical Center. (1500 characters)

1500 characters2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-2026School Staple

Describe a situation where you had to adjust your behavior or response based on new information or changing conditions. (750 characters)

750 characters2025-2026New

Describe a fulfilling or challenging community service experience and how you grew personally from the experience. Examples of community service include, but are not limited to, face-to-face activities volunteering in a healthcare setting, nursing home, school, crisis center, food bank, or shelter. (750 characters)

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

OPTIONAL: Please share any information you want us to know about you that is not included in your AMCAS application or in this secondary application (e.g., provide an explanation of any gaps in education or work or poor academic performance, a meaningful leadership or community service experience tied to healthcare). (750 characters)

750 charactersOptional2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025, 2025-2026School Staple

UAB Medicine provides quality health care and compassionate service to every patient, every time, regardless of their individual differences or circumstances. Our academic medical center attracts patients from across the world who represent many cultures, religions, lifestyles, and economic backgrounds. Why are you specifically interested in beginning your medical education in this environment, and how do you feel that your previous experiences will prepare you for this unique learning environment?

750 characters2023-2024, 2024-2025Historical

Are you applying to the Primary Care Track? Yes/No

No character/word limit2025-2026New

Learning from others is enhanced in educational settings that include individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Please describe your personal characteristics or experiences that would add to the educational environment for your classmates.

750 characters2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025Historical

If you have already graduated (or will graduate from college prior to May/June), please give a brief description of your activities following graduation. ( 1500 Characters )

1500 Characters2021-2022Historical

OPTIONAL: Describe your identity and how it has impacted the development of your values and attitudes toward individuals different from yourself and how this will impact your interactions with future colleagues and patients

750 charactersOptional2023-2024, 2024-2025Historical

Please describe if and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected your preparation for applying to medical school.

750 characters2021-2022, 2022-2023Historical

Describe a patient interaction with the healthcare system. This could be a direct patient observation (in person or virtual) during a shadowing/clinical experience or a personal experience within the healthcare system. What did you learn from this experience? (750 characters)

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

Describe what experiences have led you to apply to the Primary Care Track. (1500 characters)

1500 characters2025-2026New