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University of Michigan Medical School

Ann Arbor, MI

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

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10 prompts in the archive

(Optional, if you are a reapplicant) about 250 words

250 wordsOptional2025-2026New

Describe how your identity impacts the development of your values and attitudes toward individuals different from yourself and how this will impact your interactions with future colleagues and patients.

2500 characters2022-2023, 2023-2024Historical

The University of Michigan Medical School strives to be a place of empowerment, advocacy and change in health care. What experiences have you had in empowerment and advocacy for others that would help to advance this mission? Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).

1500 characters2025-2026New

Please describe the impact of your identity and experiences on your growth and development, and how it may impact your career as a physician. Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).

1500 characters2024-2025, 2025-2026School Staple

Outside of medicine, and beyond what we can read in your application, tell us what you are curious about or what you have chosen to explore. Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).

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

OR if applying to the Medical Scientist Training Program: Describe why you are applying to the University of Michigan MSTP. If you are interested in a specific department, program, or area of research for your PhD, please provide a brief explanation. We recognize that your interests may change. If relevant, please describe your gap/growth year plans. Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).

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

How do you hope to impact medicine and improve patient care in the future and why do you need a medical degree to fulfill these goals? Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).

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

How was your journey to medical school affected by the COVID pandemic? Please feel free to describe any positive or negative aspects.

2500 characters2022-2023, 2023-2024Historical

The University of Michigan Medical School strives to be a place of equity and belonging for diverse patients, learners, and healthcare professionals. Please describe your experience advancing inclusion and how you envision contributing to our community’s mission. (1500 characters)

1500 characters2024-2025Historical

If you recognize and/or represent a voice that is missing, underrepresented, or undervalued in medicine, please describe the missing voice(s) and how increased representation in medicine could impact the medical community.

2500 characters2022-2023, 2023-2024Historical