After submitting your primary application through AMCAS (or AACOMAS for DO schools), most medical schools send you a secondary application with school-specific essay prompts. These essays are your opportunity to demonstrate why you are a good fit for that particular school and to share aspects of your story that your primary application did not cover.
Most schools send secondaries to every verified applicant (regardless of stats), so you should expect to receive 15 to 25+ secondary invitations if you applied broadly. The essay prompts vary by school, but many fall into predictable categories.
The most common prompts
Why this school?
Nearly every school asks some version of this question. A strong response references specific aspects of the school: a particular research lab, a clinical training site, a community health initiative, a curricular approach, or a faculty member whose work aligns with your interests. A weak response could apply to any school. Spend 20 to 30 minutes researching each school before writing this essay.
Diversity
This prompt asks what unique perspective, background, or experience you bring to the class. Diversity includes (but is not limited to) race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, geographic origin, personal challenges, life experiences, intellectual interests, and career background. Be specific and connect your diversity to how it will enrich the learning environment and your future practice of medicine.
Challenge or adversity
Similar to the traditional interview question but in written form. Choose a genuine challenge (academic, personal, or professional), describe it honestly, and focus on what you learned and how you grew. Avoid trivializing real hardship, but also avoid presenting minor inconveniences as major obstacles.
Anything else?
Open-ended prompts give you space to address gaps, explain circumstances, or share experiences that did not fit elsewhere. Use this strategically: if there is something in your application that needs context (a low semester, a gap in activity, a career change), this is the place to address it. If your application is straightforward, use this to share a meaningful experience that adds depth.
Reapplicant essay
If you are reapplying, many schools ask what has changed since your last application. Be specific and concrete: “I improved my MCAT from 504 to 514, completed 600 hours as an emergency department scribe, and enrolled in a bioethics course.” Focus on actions taken, not just time passed.
The pre-writing strategy
Secondary prompts are largely predictable because they recycle from year to year. Starting in May (before you receive any secondaries), you can:
1
Compile prompts from previous cycles
Databases of prior-year secondary prompts are available online (search for “[school name] secondary prompts [year]”). Most schools change little from year to year.
2
Draft responses for the common categories
Write a strong “Why this school?” template, a diversity essay, a challenge essay, and an open-ended essay. These can be adapted for each school’s specific wording.
3
Research each school
For “Why this school?” essays, create a one-page notes sheet for each school covering their mission, curriculum, clinical sites, research strengths, and community programs. This takes 20 to 30 minutes per school but saves hours when writing.
4
Submit within two weeks
When you receive a secondary, customize your pre-written drafts and submit within 7 to 14 days. Schools with rolling admissions review applications as they arrive, so faster submission means earlier consideration.
Writing quality
Tip
Secondary essays should be concise, specific, and genuine. Most prompts have a 200 to 500 word limit. Every sentence should add new information. Do not repeat your personal statement. Do not use filler phrases. Have a trusted reader review your essays for clarity and typos, but do not over-edit to the point where your voice disappears.