duke med school secondary essays

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Prompts & Tips

• Cracking Med School Admissions

Getting accepted to Duke University School of Medicine is hard. Very hard. Submitting an OUTSTANDING Duke Medical School secondary application is vital to receiving an interview invite, which ultimately can lead to an acceptance. Duke secondaries are notorious because the Duke secondary application is one of the longest secondary applications. If you look below at the year-over-year Duke secondary prompts, the Duke secondary application gets longer and longer over time! Because our Cracking Med School Admissions team has no word limits when it comes to our secondary essay editing , it is one of the most common secondary applications that we read each year. The Duke Med School Admissions committee gets an intimate look into each applicant. Duke secondaries are extremely personal and open-ended, allowing applicants to write about their passions and their backgrounds. 

We want to note a few things for applicants who are starting to write the Duke secondary.

• There have been a lot of changes in the Duke secondaries prompts the last few years – each year, there are changes in word limit, optional essay prompts, and essay prompts. This would NOT be a secondary application we would suggest pre-writing before the official prompts are released by the medical school admissions office.
• Duke cares a lot about your personal background and how you relate (work with) diverse individuals. 

Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a track record of helping our mentees receive acceptances to Duke School of Medicine year after year.  Get started and read our  Duke Medical School secondary application tips  below. To learn more about student life, read our  Duke Med School Profile, “How to get into Duke Medical School.”

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Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2023-2024

• Tell us more about who you are. You may provide additional information that expands your self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics that define who you are as you contemplate a career that will interface with people who are similar AND dissimilar to you. You will have the opportunity below to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (400 words max)  – character limit it decreased from past years
• New Question: Working with Others: Trust and rapport are essential in your day-to-day interactions with people. How do you cultivate a relationship with a person who may be very different from you?  (400 words)
• Advocacy: Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define your view of advocacy.  What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words)
• Coping with Disappointment: Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you learned/gained from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking? (400 words)
• New Question: Leadership: What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis? (400 words)
• Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career? (400 words)
• New Question: Understanding the Need for Healthcare Changes: Potential sources of health inequities exist. Duke’s Moments to Movement (M2M) is a collective stand to address these issues. Discuss your experience with disparities in health, health care and society.(400 words max)
• COVID-19 Implications: How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words max)
• (Optional) Further Information: Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application. (no word limit)

Tips to Answer Duke Secondary Essays

Duke Secondary Application Pre-Writing Guidance: We want to note a few things for applicants who are starting to write the Duke secondary.

• There are a lot of changes in the Duke secondary recently. This would NOT be a secondary application we would suggest pre-writing before the official prompts are released by the medical school admissions office. Additionally, writing 10 long essays is super intimidating. Work on some shorter secondaries first, and then you’ll be able to use those essays to help you finish this one! From our extensive experience, Duke is not a time-sensitive medical school, so you do not need to rush to submit this secondary.
• Additionally, many students feel overwhelmed and burned out if the Duke secondary application is one of the first few secondaries they tackle. Therefore, our Dr. Rishi Mediratta’s and Dr. Rachel Rizal’s advice is to work on your Duke secondaries once you’ve tackled (and finalized) many other medical schools’ secondaries. 
• The Duke University School of Medicine secondary is extremely long. Therefore, read all our secondary application essay tips our Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples .

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #1: Answer as many questions as possible on the Duke Med secondary. Our Cracking Med School Admissions team does not view any Duke secondary essay as optional.  Additionally, use the space allotted. Try not to submit 50-100 word essays.

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #2: Highlight your leadership, passion to change healthcare, and impact on society.   Your past experiences are often the best source for great answers.  Tell stories to convey your impact and leadership through your Duke secondaries. For example, if you conducted research over a gap year, tell a story about a challenge you faced or a patient you met while conducting a clinical trial. 

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #3: Duke is an innovative school. Reflect how you’ve been innovative in your endeavors, whether it’s through writing composition or your research.

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #4: For the teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking essays, you will be judged on how well you communicate. Make sure you explain your the context you are writing about. We also strongly suggest giving specific examples that show your leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. Don’t talk in generalities about your extracurricular activities. Instead, tell a specific story in each of these long word limit essays. Each essay is about the length of a primary application personal statement!

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #5: Be detailed and rigorous with how you describe your research. Your research essay will reflect how you critically think through a problem. Make sure to discuss a specific research problem you tackled; our Cracking Med School Admissions team often finds it less effective when a med school applicant writes about his or her research broadly.

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #6: For the health inequities question / healthcare disparities, incorporate your personal experiences as well as healthcare current issues. We have an entire healthcare current events blog post here , where you can read more about disparities in health.

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #7:  Write something for the last essay. It can be your “Why Duke Medical School” essay. Yes, we know this is a SUPER long secondary. But, Duke carefully considers its applicants and wants a diverse student body. Therefore, the more perspective you can give them about your background, the better!

• Read this HIGH YIELD blog post:   Medical School Diversity Essay Examples and Tips

You won’t realize this working on your Duke secondaries, but Duke’s interview is Multiple Mini Interview and the Duke University School of Medicine admissions committee often does not accept update letters.

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #8: Because you have the space, don’t forget to incorporate a little bit about “Why Duke Medical School” throughout the essays. Read our Cracking Med School Admissions advice and an example for answering   why this medical school ? Talk about projects, programs and research you want to do at Duke. Learn more about Duke Med’s unique curriculum in our Cracking Med School Admissions school profile  Duke School of Medicine.  

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #9: Start early and get our help. The Duke secondary not only has several essay, but the essays also have large word limits. Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below. Need editing help on your secondary? Dr. Mediratta and Dr. Rizal can personally help you through our secondary essay packages . 

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #10: For the Duke secondaries prompt, “ Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours “

Duke secondary essay examples for advocacy based on previous EXCELLENT secondary essays edited by Dr. Rachel Rizal and Dr. Rishi Mediratta :

• Advocated for an individual with disabilities
• Taught / tutored / coached a group of children and advocated for one of the quieter children
• Advocated for a team member in a club or a sports team
• Advocated for an individual from a disadvantaged background. This includes personal experiences in patient care – advocated for a patient in a free clinic who did not have resources fo follow-up care

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #11: For the Duke secondaries prompt, “ How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? “

• Read our helpful blog post: COVID Medical School Secondary Examples and Tips

Many students we’ve mentored also write about their reflections on innovation, research, health public policies, and disparities in health.

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Tip #12: There are many similarities between the variety of questions between the Duke Medical School secondary essay prompts and the Duke Multiple Mini Interview. Read our tips for the Duke MMI here !

[ Read more secondary essay tips: University of North Carolina , Stanford , Mount Sinai (Icahn), Cornell  ]

Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders

We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With.

Rachel Rizal, M.D.

Changing the trajectory of people’s lives.

Undergraduate Princeton University, cum laude

Medical School Stanford School of Medicine

Residency Harvard, Emergency Medicine

Awards & Scholarships Fulbright Scholar USA Today Academic First Team Tylenol Scholarship

Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

Advising students to attend their dream schools.

Undergraduate Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa

Residency Stanford, Pediatrics

Awards & Scholarships Marshall Scholar Tylenol Scholarship Global Health Scholar

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Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2022-2023

• Tell us more about who you are. You may provide additional information that expands your self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics that define who you are as you contemplate a career that will interface with people who are similar AND dissimilar to you. You will have the opportunity below to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words max)
• (Optional)  In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future.  (200 words max)
• New Question (worded slightly differently): Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define your view of advocacy.  What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words max)
• Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you learned/gained from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking? (400 words max)
• New Question: Describe a situation in which you had to utilize your values to interact with people from different backgrounds.  How did those values impact the relationship? (400 words max)
• Leadership, teamwork, and communication flow synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis? (400 words max)
• Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career? (400 words max)
• Potential sources of health inequities include race, gender, education, income, disability, geographic location, and sexual orientation. Moments to Movement (M2M) is Duke’s collective stand against systemic racism and injustice. The name signifies going beyond passive moments of reflection and becoming more active as we build to make lasting change for our patients, their loved ones and each other. Describe your understanding of race and its relationship to inequities in health and health care. (400 words max)
• How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words max)
• Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application.  (no word limit)

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Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2021 – 2022

• (Optional)  In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future.  (200 words max)
• Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define advocacy as you view it. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate?  (400 words max)
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? (400 words max)

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2020-2021

• (Optional) In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future. (200 words max)
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words max)
• Success can arise from failure. What have you gained from your failed experiences and how does this translate in your current way of thinking? (400 words max)
• Leadership, teamwork, and communication operate synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and member of a team? What attributes do you possess as a leader and how will you apply them every day? (400 words max)
• Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience either enhances or perfects critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. Why is research or critical thinking important to your future career? (400 words max)
• Describe your understanding of race and its relationship to inequities in health and health care? (400 words max)

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2019 – 2020

• (Optional) If one of the above identities do not best describe you, then what identity do you feel most comfortable with? I self-identify as… (50 words max)
• (Optional) Race/Ethnicity/Geographic Origin/Socioeconomic Status/ Advantage/Disadvantage/ Religious Affiliation
• In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future. (200 words max)
• Describe the community in which you were nurtured. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions you hope to make in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the community better? (500 characters max)
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (500 words max)
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? (500 words max)
• Success can arise from failure. What have you gained from your failed experiences and how does this translate in your current way of thinking? (500 words max)
• Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics including creativity, innovation, discernment, emotional intelligence, application and analysis. Describe a situation in which you utilized critical thinking. Why is critical thinking vital in your future? (500 words max)
• Leadership, teamwork, and communication operate synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and member of a team? What attributes do you possess as a leader and how will you apply them every day? (500 words max)
• Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application:

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2018 – 2019

• Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? (500 words max)
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (500 words max)
• Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. (500 words max)
• Critical thinking involves many aspects including curiosity, comprehension, application and analysis. Describe a time when you have utilized critical thinking. How do you anticipate critical thinking being used as part of your career? (400 words max)
• Many view medical care as an undeniable right. What responsibility does the medical profession have in taking care of all persons? (400 words max)
• (Optional) Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application:

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2017 – 2018

Md essay prompts:.

• Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? (600 words max)
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (600 words max)
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? (600 words max)
• What qualities will you bring to the practice of medicine? (600 words max)
• Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. (600 words max)
• What role has research had in your preparation for medicine? (250 words max)

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2016 – 2017

• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients?  (600 words max)
• Describe an experience when you were confronted with an individual or group whose values differ from yours? How did you resolve the conflict/ challenge? Describe at least one outcome that the experience created. (600 words max)
• Describe a successful leader. What type of leadership skills do you want to cultivate in your training experience and how do you envision doing that? (250 words max)
• Have you engaged with the community in the past? How do you hope to understand and impact communities in the future? (250 words max)

Duke Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2015 - 2016

• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate?  (600 words max)
• What will challenge you the most in your life career as a health care provider when you have to deal with people unlike yourself (e.g. gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, social background, and other difference)? How do you plan to address these? What resources do you plan to use to address these? (600 words max)
• (Optional) Giving Back To Your Community: What is the value of giving back to your community? Is it a more important attribute of a physician than of others performing other roles within a community? 
• (Optional) Toughest Feedback: What is the toughest feedback that you ever received? How did you handle it and what did you learn from it? 

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Duke School of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts

These are the secondary application essay prompts for Duke University School of Medicine. To put your best foot forward and maximize your chance of an interview invitation, visit our secondary application editing page .

About duke university school of medicine

Secondary Deadline : November 15, 2023 Secondary Fee : $100 FAP Waiver : Full Fee Waived CASPer Required : No Screens Applications:  No Accepts Application Updates:  Yes

Advocacy Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define your view of advocacy. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words)

Coping with Disappointment Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you learned/gained from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking? (400 words)

Value Systems Describe a situation in which you had to utilize your values to interact with people from different backgrounds. How did those values impact the relationship? (400 words)

Leadership Leadership, teamwork, and communication flow synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis? (400 words)

Critical Thinking Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career? (400 words)

Understanding the Need for Health Care Changes Potential sources of health inequities exist. Duke’s Moments to Movement (M2M) is a collective stand to address these issues. Describe your experience and reflection with race and its relationship to disparities in health, health care and society. Consider the values of justice, diversity, inclusion and equity (400 words)

COVID-19 Implications How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words)

Tell Us Who You Are Tell us more about who you are. This is your opportunity to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words)

Race/Ethnicity/Geographic Origin/Socioeconomic Status/ Advantage/Disadvantage/ Religious Affiliation Use the text box below to provide additional information on how these parameters have/will influence you.(Optional, 200 words)

For PCLT (Primary Care Leadership Track) applicants:

Community Engagement PCLT values community engagement. What is your understanding of community engagement and its value? How does community-engagement impact either research or working in a community to improve health outcomes? (250 words)

Why PCLT What distinguishes you from other applicants to the PCLT program? (250 words)

1.Tell us more about who you are. You may provide additional information that expands your self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics that define who you are as you contemplate a career that will interface with people who are similar AND dissimilar to you. You will have the opportunity below to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words)

2.Optional stuff on gender, sexuality, race, etc.

If one of the above identities do not best describe you, then what identity do you feel most comfortable with?(optional) I self-identify as… (50 words)

3.In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future. (optional) (200 words)

4.Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words)

5.Success can arise from failure. What have you gained from your failed experiences and how does this translate in your current way of thinking? (400 words)

6.What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? (400 words)

7.Leadership, teamwork, and communication operate synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and member of a team? What attributes do you possess as a leader and how will you apply them every day? (400 words)

8.Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience either enhances or perfects critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. Why is research or critical thinking important to your future career? (400 words)

9.Describe your understanding of race and its relationship to inequities in health and health care? (400 words)

10.How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words)

1. Tell us more about who you are. You may provide additional information that expands your self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics that define who you are as you contemplate a career that will interface with people who are similar AND dissimilar to you. You will have the opportunity below to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. 500 words

Choose 1-3 components of this prompt (self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics) which are particularly unique for you and help define you as a person. Brainstorm how these unique traits affect your personal values and influence your desire to be a physician. One component of this question which is crucial to answer is how will these traits help you interface with similar and dissimilar people. Answer this specifically. It may be helpful to use examples of each during which you have been successful in the past, or times that you have been unsuccessful and learned a lesson.

2. (Optional) In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future. 200 words

This question is difficult to answer without overlap with question #1 above. One way to do this would be to answer in #1 how these traits inform your ability to interact with diverse people such as patients and colleagues. On the flip side, you can answer in #2 how your personal values or defining characteristics influence your overall desire to become a physician and your goals within the medical world.

3. Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? 500 words

To answer this question, first describe your background and living environment. Paint a picture of the people and circumstances surrounding you in your youth, perhaps with an anecdote. Then choose 1-2 key values which were influential to you and help inform your desire to be a doctor. Consider the following core values: togetherness and family connection, compassion for those in need, interpersonal connection, hard work, discipline, altruism, curiosity and passion for learning. The last component which may be the hardest to answer is what to improve about the environment. Try to think of a shortcoming of your environment which did not allow you or those around you to grow and flourish as you might in another scenario. How might one correct this If you are able to identify a possible improvement, you can transform this answer into a positive one.

4. Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? 500 words

Duke demonstrates with this question that they really value diversity and being a champion for diverse and underrepresented populations. Think back to an experience which may fit this scenario. Perhaps you worked with homeless or underpriveleged communities and have a clear answer. If not, you may have to be more creative. Was there a time during which you had to stand up for someone whom you might not otherwise interact with? Use this anecdote to discuss the physician role as educator and advocate for the patient. This is a large responsibility for a doctor, to use their knowledge and resources to empower their patients and help them better themselves.

5. What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? 500 words

Brainstorm experiences or accomplishments which were particularly formative. Think of a scenario in which you overcame particular adversity. Tie the experience to what lesson it taught you and how it made you encounter your own limitations, and was thereby humbling. Then focus on what skill or trait you gained that made you a stronger person. Be humble; do not emphasize our tout your personal excellence but rather show your introspection and personal growth.

6. Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. 500 words

Choose an experience during which you worked hard and strived for greatness but did not achieve the outcome you desired. Focus on an experience that can demonstrate a learning experience or growth as a person. Make sure this does not overlap with #5 above.

7. Critical thinking involves many aspects including curiosity, comprehension, application and analysis. Describe a time when you have utilized critical thinking. How do you anticipate critical thinking being used as part of your career? 400 words

Strong answers to this question may include experiences in the following categories:

• Working with a team on a project which required collaboration, and finding a way to bridge the gap between different opinions on how to solve a problem
• A unique idea or method to study and answer a research question in your lab or clinical research
• Crafting a solution to a problem or improving on existing system that are in place in a previous job, student organization, etc. This would be analogous to the concept of quality improvement which is very important in medicine

Connect an experience in this category to a skill it helped you develop which will allow critical thinking as a physician, which is important for team collaboration, research, quality improvement (all fields similar to the experiences listed above).

8. Many view medical care as an undeniable right. What responsibility does the medical profession have in taking care of all persons? 400 words

Medicine is a unique field in that we strive to care for any and all persons in need, regardless of any ethnic, educational, or socioeconomic factor. This is something all physicians should likely at least believe in principle, so try to coincide with this opinion in your answer. Relevant economic and philosophy concepts to look into to craft your answer might include social justice and resource allocation. Focus on benefiting patients and providing to those in need.

9. (Optional) Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application:

Answer this question as appropriate with a unique paragraph that does not repeat any of your prior answers.

1. Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? 600 words

2. Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? 600 words

3. What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? 600 words

4. What qualities will you bring to the practice of medicine? 600 words

5. Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. 600 words

6. What role has research had in your preparation for medicine? 250 words

1. Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? (600 words)

2. Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (600 words)

3. What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? (600 words)

4. Describe an experience when you were confronted with an individual or group whose values differ from yours? How did you resolve the conflict/ challenge? Describe at least one outcome that the experience created.

5. Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. (600 words)

Additional prompts for those pursuing the Primary Care Leadership Track: 6. Describe a successful leader. What type of leadership skills do you want to cultivate in your training experience and how do you envision doing that? 250 words

7. Have you engaged with community in the past? How do you hope to understand and impact communities in the future? 250 words

Disclaimer: The information on this page was shared by students and/or can be found on the medical school’s website. Med School Insiders does not guarantee the accuracy of the information on this page.

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Duke University School of Medicine Secondary Questions

Here are Duke University School of Medicine’s secondary questions.

1. Tell us Who You Are: Share with us your story. This is your opportunity to allow us to know how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. ( 500 words )

2. Working with Others: Trust and rapport are essential in your day-to-day interactions with people. How do you cultivate a relationship with a person who may be very different from you?  (400 words)

3. Advocacy: Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define your view of advocacy. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate?  (400 words)

4. Coping with Disappointment: Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you discovered from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking?  (400 words)

5. Leadership: What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis?  (400 words)

6. Critical Thinking: Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or similar experience in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career?  (400 words)

7. Understanding the Need for Healthcare Changes: Potential sources of health inequities exist. Duke’s Moments to Movement (M2M) is a collective stand to address these issues. Discuss your experience with disparities in health, health care and society.  (400 words)

8. COVID-19 Implications: How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society?  (400 words)

9. Further Information: Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application

• Tell us more about who you are. You may provide additional information that expands your self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics that define who you are as you contemplate a career that will interface with people who are similar AND dissimilar to you. You will have the opportunity below to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words)
• Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define advocacy as you view it. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words)
• Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you learned/gained from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking? (400 words)
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? (400 words)
• Leadership, teamwork, and communication flow synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis? (400 words)
• Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career? (400 words)
• Potential sources of health inequities include race, gender, education, income, disability, geographic location, and sexual orientation. Moments to Movement (M2M) is Duke’s collective stand against systemic racism and injustice. The name signifies going beyond passive moments of reflection and becoming more active as we build to make lasting change for our patients, their loved ones and each other. Describe your understanding of race and its relationship to inequities in health and health care. (400 words)
• How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words)
• In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future. (optional) (200 words)
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words)
• Success can arise from failure. What have you gained from your failed experiences and how does this translate in your current way of thinking? (400 words)
• Leadership, teamwork, and communication operate synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and member of a team? What attributes do you possess as a leader and how will you apply them every day? (400 words)
• Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience either enhances or perfects critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. Why is research or critical thinking important to your future career? (400 words)
• Describe your understanding of race and its relationship to inequities in health and health care? (400 words)
• Tell us more about who you are. You may provide additional information that expands your self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics that define who you are as you contemplate a career that will interface with people who are similar AND dissimilar to you. You will have the opportunity below to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (Words left: 500)
• If one of the above identities do not best describe you, then what identity do you feel most comfortable with?(optional)
• I self-identify as… (Words left: 50)
• Race/Ethnicity/Geographic Origin/Socioeconomic Status/ Advantage/Disadvantage/ Religious Affiliation(optional)
• In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future. (Words left: 200)
• Describe the community in which you were nurtured. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions you hope to make in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the community better? (Words left: 500)
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (Words left: 500)
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? (Words left: 500)
• Success can arise from failure. What have you gained from your failed experiences and how does this translate in your current way of thinking? (Words left: 500)
• Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics including creativity, innovation, discernment, emotional intelligence, application and analysis. Describe a situation in which you utilized critical thinking. Why is critical thinking vital in your future? (Words left: 500)
• Leadership, teamwork, and communication operate synergistically. What do you value most as a leader and member of a team? What attributes do you possess as a leader and how will you apply them every day? (Words left: 500)
• Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application:
• Tell us more about who you are. You may provide additional information that expands your self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics that define who you are as you contemplate a career that will interface with people who are similar AND dissimilar to you. You will have the opportunity below to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. 500 words
• (Optional) In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future. 200 words
• Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? 500 words
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? 500 words
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? 500 words
• Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. 500 words
• Critical thinking involves many aspects including curiosity, comprehension, application and analysis. Describe a time when you have utilized critical thinking. How do you anticipate critical thinking being used as part of your career? 400 words
• Many view medical care as an undeniable right. What responsibility does the medical profession have in taking care of all persons? 400 words
• (Optional) Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application:

Regular MD prompts:

• Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? 600 words
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? 600 words
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? 600 words
• What qualities will you bring to the practice of medicine? 600 words
• Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. 600 words
• What role has research had in your preparation for medicine? 250 words
• Good luck to everyone applying!
• Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better?
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate?
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients?
• Describe an experience when you were confronted with an individual or group whose values differ from yours? How did you resolve the conflict/ challenge? Describe at least one outcome that the experience created.
• Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience.
• *All above are 600 word limit
• Additional prompts for those pursuing the Primary Care Leadership Track: Describe a successful leader. What type of leadership skills do you want to cultivate in your training experience and how do you envision doing that? (250 words)
• Have you engaged with community in the past? How do you hope to understand and impact communities in the future? (250 words)

*All have 600 word limit

• What will challenge you the most in your life career as a health care provider when you have to deal with people unlike yourself (e.g. gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, social background, and other difference)? How do you plan to address these? What resources do you plan to use to address these?
• Pick one optional essay:
• Giving Back To Your Community: What is the value of giving back to your community? Is it a more important attribute of a physician than of others performing other roles within a community? (Optional)
• Toughest Feedback: What is the toughest feedback that you ever received? How did you handle it and what did you learn from it? (Optional)

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Application

Applications for admission must first begin with the common application submitted to the  American Medical College Applications Service  (AMCAS).

The Duke Supplemental Application

• Applications are received by AMCAS from late-July until October 15 at 11:59 pm EST.
• Keep in mind once you submit your application to AMCAS, six to eight weeks may pass before it is verified. Verified applications are uploaded to the Duke University School of Medicine admissions office database.
• After receiving the verified application materials from AMCAS, the Duke Admissions office will contact you via email and invite you to complete our online  supplemental application .
• The deadline for all completed supplementary applications is November 15 at 11:59 pm EST.
• Once your application is submitted, you will not receive any further correspondence from our office regarding your status. To check if your application has been submitted or the status of your application, log in to your Duke Supplemental Application here:  https://admissions.duhs.duke.edu/  
• Your application materials will be evaluated holistically by two or more screeners to determine if a virtual interview will be offered.
• If your application is considered for a virtual interview you will receive an email with further details.
• Each applicant must submit a minimum four (4) letters of recommendations. We would prefer that the letters have a significant level of familiarity with the applicant, whether it is from the academic, research, clinical or community service environments.
• Letters should not be a reiteration of academic achievements or course grades.
• If your school submits a committee letter, this satisfies the four-letter rule. In other words, if you have a committee letter, you won't need to submit four letters of recommendation.
• Letters should be on letterhead, dated and signed.
• Letters must be received by the deadline of November 15 th .

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How to get into duke medical school: the complete guide.

Reviewed by:

Luke Hartstein

Former Admissions Committee Member, NYU Grossman School of Medicine

Reviewed: 10/06/23

Interested in joining a top-ranking medical school to make your dream of becoming a doctor a reality? Read on to learn everything you need to know about getting into Duke Medical School.

Dedicated to “preparing the next thought leaders in medicine, research, and patient care,” the Duke University School of Medicine is a respectable choice for aspiring doctors. Ranking as the fifth-best medical school for research , this university is well-known as a prestigious med school giant.

If you’d like to attend this impressive school known for producing excellence, this comprehensive guide will tell you everything you need to know about getting into Duke University Medical School.

Get The Ultimate Guide on Writing an Unforgettable Personal Statement

Duke Medical School Programs

If you’re certain you’d like to join the medical field but aren’t completely set on becoming a doctor, you can explore your options at Duke. Here’s a list of their various medical programs :

• Doctor of Medicine (MD) : A traditional four-year MD program
• Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) : Students are trained as physician-scientists and complete an MD and PhD
• Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) : A three-year program for students interested in physical therapy
• Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD ): A three-year program for students interested in occupational therapy
• Physician Assistant Program (PA, MHS) : A three-year program for students interested in practicing advanced medicine under a licensed physician
• Other Master programs : Biostatistics, Biomedical Sciences, Population Health Sciences, and Management in Clinical Informatics
• Medical Physics Graduate Program : A two-year graduate program for students interested in gaining more training in medical and health physics
• Pathologists’ Assistant Program (MHS) : A two-year program where graduates can work closely with pathologists and other pathology lab personnel
• Biomedical PhD Programs: In numerous specialties

Depending on where you are in your journey to becoming a doctor, it’s important you explore your options.

Duke Medical School Acceptance Rate

You might wonder how many people make it past the application process and how hard it is to get into Duke University Medical School. The Duke School of Medicine acceptance rate is 2.9%.

Duke Medical School Requirements

If you’re set on joining Duke Medical School’s MD program, the next step is submitting your application. You’ll need to meet the following Duke School of Medicine requirements to apply :

Source: Duke School of Medicine

Coursework and Competency Prerequisites

While Duke doesn’t require any prerequisite courses in prospective students’ undergraduates, they strongly recommend students have these courses and competencies to better prepare them for a rigorous medical curriculum:

• Biochemistry
• Cellular Biology (Molecular Biology or Genetics are acceptable too)
• An understanding of Statistics/Biostatistics
• Physics/Biophysics
• An understanding of the principles of Sociology
• An understanding of the basic principles of Psychology
• Coursework in Expository Writing may be fulfilled by numerous courses (Philosophy, English, History, Public Policy, Political Science, Religion, etc.)

Duke Medical School GPA Requirements

If you’re wondering how hard it is to get into Duke Medical School, it’s useful to check GPA requirements . The average GPA range of admitted students is approximately 3.8 to 3.98!

While these high ranges were the average GPAs, there were students admitted with much lower GPAs; students were admitted with GPAs as low as 3.45! 

So, hope isn’t lost if you have a lower-than-average GPA – it just means you’ll have to make up for it in other parts of the application.

Duke Medical School MCAT Requirements

Duke University School of Medicine expects high MCAT scores . The average MCAT score range of Duke students who matriculated is 514 to 522. 

Regardless, it is important you get well-prepared for the MCAT so that you have a competitive advantage.

Duke Medical School Letters of Recommendation

Along with your application, you must submit at least four letters of recommendation from people who can attest to your character. Two of these must be from science faculty members.

Duke Medical School Secondary Essays

One of the most important Duke Med School requirements is the supplemental application. In this application, you can expect to answer multiple short essay prompts.

The essay prompts work to humanize applicants by giving the admissions committee deeper insight into students’ character, values, and experiences. As such, these essays are extremely important to help you stand out! 

So, if you want to know how to get into Duke Medical School, the answer is learning to write some incredible essays . 

Luckily, we’ll review Duke Medical School’s essay questions and provide tips on how to properly answer them to ensure your individuality shines through!

“Tell us more about who you are. This is your opportunity to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. (500 words)”

What to Consider Before Writing

As you only have 500 words to tell the committee about yourself, you’ll want to condense all of your ideas and consider the following before answering the question:

• What matters the most to you?
• What makes you unique?
• How do you identify?
• What type of person do you consider yourself to be?
• What type of person do you want the committee to consider you?
• What are your top three experiences that have shaped who you are? Which one stands out the most?

Tips on How to Answer

This essay question is a combination of a “tell us about yourself” and a diversity essay prompt. Stick to only one or two relevant experiences when discussing your diversity. This is a great place to talk about challenges or obstacles you have faced that make you a diverse candidate and how you overcame these challenges.

Remember, you don’t necessarily have to prove how these experiences will make you a better physician. Instead, you should use this essay to talk about the life you have led, your passions, and your ability to persevere. You may also talk about how this experience inspired you to become a doctor or ignited your interest in medicine.

“Trust and rapport are essential in your day-to-day interactions with people. How do you cultivate a relationship with a person who may be very different from you?”

This question focuses on your empathy and interpersonal skills. Answering these questions can help you formulate your writing: 

• How do you go about forming relationships with others?
• Can you think of times you’ve interacted with others from different backgrounds? 
• Was there a conflict? If so, how was it resolved? 

Tips on How to Answer 

You only have 400 words to write your answer, so you’ll need to keep your writing concise. Describe a relationship you have or have had with someone who is different from you and discuss how that relationship impacted you. You’ll need to demonstrate cultural awareness and compassion in your answer. 

“Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. Define your view of advocacy. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? (400 words)”

To make your answer concise and to the point, ask yourself the following:

• When have you stood up for someone?
• What does advocacy mean in your own words?
• What role does advocacy have in medicine?
• Why is it sometimes difficult to be an advocate?

Your act of advocacy can be as small as addressing discrimination within your own friend group or family. Regardless, focus on a realistic experience you had; even if it was a relatively small interaction, you might have still learned a lot from it.

Remember to answer all aspects of this question! When defining advocacy, don’t use a definition you found online (and on that note, don’t start this essay with “the dictionary defines advocacy as…” as it’s overdone).

Think about what advocacy means to you, use a dictionary definition as a foundation if you’re stuck, and build on it to make it more personal. Don’t forget to mention potential risks – this is a three-part question. 

“Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you learned/gained from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking? (400 words)”

Humans fail all the time. We’re imperfect, and that’s what helps us grow and become better people. To narrow down your setbacks/disappointments, consider the following:

• Setbacks/disappointment can be a feeling and not always a “truth.”
• Which setback sticks out the most to you?
• What does it mean to feel disappointed?
• What is the importance of setbacks in your life?

Again, be honest. Focus on a real setback or time you’ve been disappointed in yourself without trying to just list a failure you can turn into a strength.

It’s okay to show some vulnerability and humility here; just be sure you show how your setback helped you grow. 

Question 5 

“What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis? (400 words)”

Answering these questions will help you answer this prompt: 

• What qualities do you value in a leader? 
• What qualities do you value in teammates when you’re in a leadership position? 
• Describe a time you’ve been a leader. 
• Describe a time you’ve been a team member. 

This prompt asks you to reflect on both sides of the coin – the purpose is to show that you’d be a stellar addition to the Duke class as both a leader and a team member. Remember to emphasize your answer on the last point of this question – Duke wants to see how you apply your qualities on a daily basis. Give examples! 

“Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or another situation in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career? (400 words)”

These are some guiding questions to ask yourself before writing: 

• What does critical thinking mean in your own words?
• What are your most impactful research experiences? 
• What have you been curious about? How did you use your critical thinking to learn more about this curiosity?

You don’t have a lot of wiggle room on the word limit here to go in-depth on more than one or two anecdotes. Ensure you don’t spend most of your answer only describing this experience! The second part of the question is equally, if not more, important than the first.

Question 7 

“Potential sources of health inequities exist. Duke’s Moments to Movement (M2M) is a collective stand to address these issues. Describe your experience and reflection with race and its relationship to disparities in health, health care and society. (400 words)”

What to Consider Before Writing 

These are some things you should do and consider before writing: 

• Learn more about Duke’s Moments to Movement collective. 
• Consider the relationship between race and disparities in health care. 
• Reflect on your values and the idea of care for all. 

You’ll definitely need to read more about Duke’s Moments to Movement collective and its goal. Reflect on either your own experiences, a friend’s, or a family member’s; this will lay the foundation for a response rooted in your values and beliefs. 

Question 8 

“How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society? (400 words)”

Here are some things to think about for this question: 

• Consider the impacts that COVID-19 personally had on you.
• Reflect on how your thoughts and feelings surrounding medicine may have changed.
• How might you respond, as a healthcare worker, to another worldwide pandemic? 

The COVID-19 pandemic affected all of us in some way or another. Be authentic and sincere about the effects it has had on your life. As someone aspiring to work in healthcare, this question likely strikes a chord with you. 

Question 9 

“Please let us know of any additional information tha you would like us to consider while reviewing your application.” 

Here is what you consider in advance: 

• Do you have any accomplishments or interests that you are unable to discuss on your application as it is? 
• Are there any areas of your application that you want to expand on? 
• What are other aspects of your life, background, or personality that would be helpful for the admissions committee to know? 

This question is completely up to you to respond to as you wish. It’s a great chance for you to give your application a boost by expanding on reasons why you’re a great candidate. 

Duke Medical School Interview Format

The last step is your interview. Duke calls this their “fit” day, as applicants are reviewed to see if they would be a good match and fit.

These virtual interviews take the Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format . The MMI is a series of 8-10 interview stations or encounters that last approximately 9 minutes and are actually centered on a "scenario."

These questions are intended to assess your thinking process and provide more insight into your empathy, problem-solving skills, insight and integrity, and compassion. While we’ve all attended virtual meetings in our pajamas, you’ll want to take care to dress professionally and be prepared for this interview to make a good impression!

Duke Medical School Tuition & Fees

Obtaining an MD from Duke doesn’t come cheap. Students can expect to pay at least $72,757 in Duke School of Medicine tuition and fees in their first year of medical school. However, here’s a breakdown of the total cost of attending Duke School of Medicine as a first-year student:

Fortunately, there are various medical school scholarships that can ease the financial burden of medical school! These scholarships offer full and partial funding for tuition.

Duke Medical School also offers selective needs-based financial aid through grants and low-interest loans.

Duke Medical School Application Timeline

Be sure to pay attention to the following dates to ensure you apply to Duke med school in a timely manner:

Tips for Getting Into Duke Medical School 

Ready to boost your chances of acceptance at the Duke University School of Medicine? These tips can help you increase your odds. 

Take All Recommended Courses 

Although Duke doesn’t have course requirements, taking recommended courses can help you learn skills and knowledge you’ll need for med school and show you’re ready to handle the rigorous curriculum Duke offers. Consider taking: 

• Cellular Biology, Molecular Biology, or Genetics 
• Statistics/Biostatistics
• Any courses that are writing-intensive

While you don’t need to take all these courses, doing so helps you prepare for the road ahead! 

Pre-Write Your Secondaries for a Quick Turnaround Time 

You’ll need to write at least seven short essays as part of your Duke secondary application. Each of these essays has a word limit of between 400 and 500 words. Many sources recommended quickly turning around secondaries to demonstrate interest in the school. 

As such, you may find value in pre-writing your secondaries before you receive your application. While prompts may change, they usually maintain the same theme or idea – this also gives you more time to write! 

Commit Yourself to Patient Care Experiences

Duke University’s Patient First MD curriculum means you’ll develop patient care skills from day one, condense science knowledge into one year instead of two, and care for patients a year earlier than at other med schools. Showing your commitment to patient care through clinical experiences can help demonstrate your fit. 

FAQs: How to Get Into Duke Medical School

If you still have questions about how to get into Duke University Medical School, read on to find the answers.

1. What GPA Do You Need to Get Into Duke Medical School?

The average GPA range of admitted students is 3.8 to 3.98. However, some applicants with lower GPAs were offered admission.

2. Is it Hard to Get Into Duke Medical School?

As a prestigious medical school with a low acceptance rate of 2.9%, Duke Medical School is competitive! 

3. How Do I Get Into Duke Medical School?

Do your best to maintain a high undergraduate GPA, gain experience that will make you stand out, study hard for the MCAT, learn how to write excellent essays, and prepare for your interview.

But most importantly, ask for help if you need it! Inspira Advantage gives you the necessary resources and support to significantly increase your chances of getting into Duke Medical School or any other school you’re interested in!

4. What MCAT Score Do I Need to Get Into Duke?

You should aim to score between 516 and 522, but getting into Duke with lower scores is still possible.

5. What is the Interview Format for Duke Medical School?

The interview consists of eight to ten virtual multiple mini interviews.

6. When Should I Write My MCAT to Get Into Duke Medical School?

Duke accepts MCAT scores that are less than five years old. However, at the latest, you must take the MCAT in September of the cycle you’re applying in. We recommend taking the MCAT earlier to provide an opportunity for a potential retest if needed. 

7. Does Duke Med School Require Prerequisite Courses? 

No, but Duke does recommend students take courses such as Biochemistry and Cellular Biology. 

Final Thoughts

This guide has provided all the information you need to know about how to get into Duke Medical School. Despite the stats of admitted students and the low acceptance rate, if you put in the work and are dedicated, you too can become a Duke Blue Devil and take the first big step toward realizing your dream of practicing medicine at Duke! 

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Duke University School of Medicine - Secondary Essay Prompts

Access our complete list of all Secondary Essay Prompts from Duke University School of Medicine in Durham , NC for the 2018 - 2023 admissions cycles.

1 . Tell us Who You Are: Share with us your story. This is your opportunity to allow us to know how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated.

2 . Working with Others: Trust and rapport are essential in your day-to-day interactions with people. How do you cultivate a relationship with a person who may be very different from you?

3 . Advocacy: Describe a situation in which you chose to advocate for someone who was different from you or for a cause or idea that was different from yours. Define your view of advocacy. What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate?

4 . Coping with Disappointment: Not achieving a goal or one’s desire can sometimes be disheartening. What have you discovered from your setbacks and disappointments and how does this translate to your current way of thinking?

5 . Leadership: What do you value most as a leader and as a contributor? What attributes do you possess as a leader and as a team member and how do you apply them on a daily basis?

6 . Critical Thinking: Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Research experience enhances critical analysis skills. Describe any research experience or similar experience in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career?

7 . Understanding the Need for Healthcare Changes: Potential sources of health inequities exist. Duke’s Moments to Movement (M2M) is a collective stand to address these issues. Discuss your experience with disparities in health, health care and society.

8 . COVID-19 Implications: How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced your journey to medical school? Have these events changed your outlook on medicine’s role in society?

9 . Further Information: Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application

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• Medical School Application

Medical School Secondary Essay Examples from Accepted Applicants!

Plus tips for answering the 5 most common med school secondary essay prompts.

Before we jump into medical school secondary essay examples, you need to know that the main purpose of the secondary medical school application is to determine whether you are a good “fit” with the mission and values of the school you are applying to. Medical schools send out secondary essays to further assess the unique characteristics of each applicant that have not been addressed in the  AMCAS Work and Activities  section or your medical school personal statement . This post will go over medical school secondary essay examples from students who were accepted, and tips for writing strong essays that application committees will love. 

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Article Contents 16 min read

Medical school secondary essays: "why our school" prompt.

The most important component of answering this prompt is doing your research. Do you have a thorough understanding of the school's mission statement and values? What population or populations are they most interested in serving? How do they describe their student body? What curriculum-enriching activities are available to their students? Do they have a strong research program? Is their curriculum a good fit for your learning style? Are all of these things in line with your own values, career goals, and learning needs?

Being informed will demonstrate an interest in the program, allowing you to write a response showing that you will be a genuinely good fit for the school.

“Questions like these are an opportunity for you to shine and show the faculty what sets you apart from the other candidates … In your response, it is important to highlight things that are relevant to the institution’s mission and values while also explaining qualities that would make you a great asset to the program … it is important to always tailor your response to the school and program you are applying to, including for this question.” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD, University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine.

Would you like us to help you with your medical school secondary essays ","buttontext":"free strategy call","buttoncolor":"#ffffff","addtrustpilot":"false","bannerundertext":" ","belowbuttontext1":null,"belowbuttontext2":null,"trustpilot":false}" :url=""https:\/\/bemoacademicconsulting.com\/contact-schedule-free-strategy-call"" code="banner1" background-color="#000066" button-color="#ffffff" banner-image> to answer this prompt, it can be useful to think about how to choose a medical school and what you’re looking for. “my main priority [in choosing a med school] was location. since i knew i was going to spend four years there, i wanted it to be in a location that i could see myself having support and enjoying. beyond that i looked at opportunities for research support, patient population diversity, and locations where students matched. i also thought about where rotations occur during third year as i wanted to focus on hospitals where rotations were not scattered and centralized to a main hospital center.” – dr. monica taneja, md, university of maryland school of medicine..

What are you most excited about when you think of attending this school? Research? Global health? Community outreach? "}]" code="timeline1">

Medical School Secondary Essay Example: Why Our School?

Write a critical analysis of your personal and scholastic qualifications for the study of medicine, the realization of your professional ambitions, and why you are choosing to apply to our school.

When I was in kindergarten, I was playing tag with my friends when I noticed a kid sitting on the bench. He seemed visibly anxious and left out of the fun so I felt compelled to invite him to play with us. This sense of compassion lay the foundation for my desire to study medicine. As I grew older, I became more inquisitive about the natural world and wanted to know how everything worked and fit together. I started to become passionate about chemistry, mathematics and biology, finding that those subjects gave me the tools to understand my surroundings. I felt empowered with every new concept I would learn; however I never quite felt as though I knew enough. It was only when my friend asked for help with her mental illness that I realized just how much I did not know and how unequipped I was to help someone in this situation. The clash between my sense of compassion and my lack of knowledge and ability to help drove me to want to study medicine.

As I ventured into college, my knowledge-seeking tendencies manifested in an interest in biomedical engineering. I chose this degree for its ability to teach me about the design and manufacturing of groundbreaking medical technologies such as skin-grafts, medical imaging devices, and prostheses. I dreamt of pushing clinical innovations and finding the next technology to revolutionize patient care. Aside from educating myself in medical technology, my college years gave me a lasting perspective and understanding of the Hispanic community’s struggles. I once accompanied my friends to volunteer in a mobile clinic. It was early in the morning when a nurse told me to put up a sign that read: “We do not check IDs.” At first, I was confused, but after careful consideration, I realized that it was to not deter illegal immigrants from seeking medical aid. As the day went on and patients came in, I noticed that most did not have the means to afford regular health and dental care. Most of them prayed that their illnesses would go away on their own because they did not have the means to get professional help. This experience really opened my eyes to the plight of underserved communities and reinforced my decision to pursue medicine so that I could help serve those who were unable to help themselves.

I applied to X University for its opportunities to allow me to work with underserved communities and develop the technical and interpersonal skills to provide patients from these communities the best care. I hope to combine my experience within medicine and engineering to push clinical technologies and advancements further to provide cheap and effective alternatives to current medications and treatments to drive down the cost of healthcare so that it can become available to more people.  

Questions surrounding cultural competency delve into your ability to interact with people whose culture, beliefs, or values are different from your own. Are you able to help people in a way that is in line with their values and belief system, even if these values and beliefs are not in line with your own? It is also important to realize the vital role that effective communication plays in bridging cultural differences.

Similar to the TMDSAS personal characteristics essay, your essay should focus on the barriers you encountered, the communication strategies you employed to overcome these barriers, how you helped the person in a way that respected their beliefs, and how you will apply this lesson in the future.

Great ideas for narratives that could address the diversity secondary essay prompt include:

• A time when you used your problem-solving skills to help someone from a socio-cultural background different from your own.
• A time you advocated for someone from a different socio-cultural background from your own.
• How you used your communication skills to overcome a language barrier and help someone.
• A reflection on what you learned from working with people with a different background from your own.
• A reflection on communicating with people with a different background from your own.
• A reflection on learning about and accepting the difference in beliefs of people with a different background from your own.
• A reflection on an interaction with an individual whose values were different from your own.

Medical School Secondary Essay Example: Diversity Essays

A. Describe how you relate to someone who is very different from you. Examples of differences may be cultural, racial, religious, economic, gender/sexual orientation, lifestyle.

The world is so diverse and it can be easy to resign to only care for and be informed of one’s own personal interests. To connect with someone else is to choose to forgo ignorance and aim to understand other people and their backgrounds. This is a choice that is made every day when we decide how to interact in society.

In my first year of university, I roomed with a person who immigrated from Colombia. I saw how difficult it was for her to transition to a new country and to overcome cultural barriers. Instead of accepting the fact that our cultures rendered us incompatible, I decided to educate myself on her culture. I started to read of the political unrest in Colombia, I found Latin music we could listen to, and I utilized my basic Spanish to try to make her feel at home. Five years later, we still live together and are the best of friends. It's clear that a little effort trying to understand the life and journey of someone else can go a long way to building connections and trust.

Would you rather watch a video? Here are the most common medical school secondary essay prompts:

B. Please discuss the diversity that you would bring to our school of medicine and the profession of medicine.

The challenges I faced as a first-generation immigrant has taught me several valuable lessons, which have influenced my pursuit of medicine. Here in the States, I am granted liberties that are otherwise unattainable in Vietnam- specifically access to quality healthcare and opportunities for growth and enrichment. My first exposure to medicine did not transpire in a hospital but instead took place in a small tent affiliated with a roaming clinic.

The significant gap in healthcare accessibility, advancement, and quality between the States and the developing countries were increasingly apparent when I returned to Vietnam to visit my family. In time, I also realized that these similar circumstances and situations exist in my local community as well. This has inspired me to advocate for the underserved population because I, myself, can identify with their struggles. During our financial crisis, my family received overwhelming support and generosity from several neighborhood communities. I wish to return the kindness. Now more than ever, in a time where immigrants are restricted access, I must fight to give them a voice.

I also bring with me the traditions and culture of a Vietnamese American. I have developed my own understanding of the diverse facets of the Asian American identity and the ripple effect it has on the community. Through lion dancing and partnering with the Vietnamese and Chinese communities, I grasped the important role that communities play in providing resources. To become one of the few Vietnamese doctors in the area would allow me to address the needs of the community and give me a platform to collaborate with other communities of color. One of my goals is to break down the language barriers and stigmas surrounding the older Asian community and help them achieve their health goals.

I bring a steadfast mindset of advocating for the underserved in my community and as an immigrant Vietnamese American, I aim to use my position to influence decisions that will benefit the entire community.

Medical School Secondary Essays: "Overcoming Challenges" Prompt

This prompt is looking at what medical schools typically refer to as “resilience”. The reality is that you will be faced with a wide variety of challenges during your medical training. Medical schools are looking for candidates who are equipped with mature coping strategies, enabling them to proficiently navigate whatever life, or medical school, decides to throw at them.

You can use any example from your own life to address this prompt. Ideas include:

• A time when things did not go according to plan.
• Overcoming a setback.
• Overcoming an illness or injury.
• Dealing with the illness of a loved one.

The important thing to remember with this prompt is to keep it positive. Focus on the strategies you used to overcome the hurdle that presented itself to you, and what you learned from the situation. Review some adversity essays for medical school for inspiration.

“It is not only important to highlight the situation in detail but to also reflect on your actions. Drawing upon lessons from this experience and how you used what you learned to make changes the next time around is key to demonstrating a growth mindset.” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD.

Describe a challenging situation you faced and what you did to address it.

My sister was diagnosed with epilepsy at 3 months old, and it has been a continual learning experience. She never qualified for an autism diagnosis, but her behaviors resembled an autistic or neurodivergent individual. As an 8-year-old, I did not notice public reactions to my sister’s behaviors.

But, as we both grew older, I became embarrassed when people would stare at her, or notice her behavioral differences. Behavioral incidents continued to occur throughout my time in high school and college. However, I have grown into a more empathetic person who better understands the difficulties my sister faces. I won’t deny that sometimes it is still embarrassing, but I remind myself that she struggles to control her behaviors and it is not her fault.

The best way I can help her as a sister is to be there for her and try to help her through the emotions she may not be able to express all the time. Understanding my sister has made me into a stronger, more confident and empathetic woman.

Medical School Secondary Essays: "Future Goals" Prompt

It’s okay not to know exactly what kind of doctor you want to be or what medical specialty you want to pursue. For this prompt, reflect on the experiences that cemented your decision to pursue medicine.

• What was it specifically about these experiences that made you want to become a doctor?
• What fascinated you the most? Why?
• What patient population did you enjoy working with the most? Why?

You can then go on to say what kind of doctor you would like to be, or, if you haven't decided, suggest more generally which direction you would like to see your career take (i.e. mention a patient population you think you would like to work with). Many students change their minds once having been in medical school a couple of years, so it’s reasonable to say that you will keep your eyes open and continue to explore every opportunity!

Medical School Secondary Essay Example: Your Future Goals

Professionalism and the ability to gain respect in the community in which you live is of utmost importance as you embark upon a career as a physician. What three professional qualities do you feel a Student Doctor must be able to demonstrate as he/or she makes the transition into the study and practice of medicine? How will you demonstrate those qualities as a medical student at RowanSOM?

There are many valuable attributes a student doctor must possess, but the three of which I consider the most valuable are self-discipline/reflection, open-mindedness/sensitivity, and teamwork skills.

Possessing self-discipline and self-reflection skills are key for any student doctor planning on tackling the arduous medical courses that will come their way. Through my undergraduate career, I have constantly improved upon my academic study strategies to adapt to the rigors of upper-level biological courses. I realize that when one way does not work it is crucial to consult peers, advisors, and professors to improve my approach. Such changes included recording my lectures, attending more office hours, and even seeking resources outside of my lecture material to supplement my knowledge. I use this principle in my personal health goals as well. For example, my favorite hobby that I use to keep me grounded is going to the gym, where I attempt to break my fitness plateaus by researching and consulting peers. It is this drive to constantly improve myself that will allow me to overcome the many obstacles that will come my way during my medical pursuit.

In addition, it is important for student doctors to be open-minded and sensitive when understanding patients from diverse backgrounds. My research experience at the Center for Addiction, Personality, and Emotion Research enriched my understanding of the socioeconomic and environmental factors that are involved in developing addiction disorders. Learning about the neurobehavioral and psychological processes that underlie addictive behavior reinforced my awareness of the health disparities that arise from environmental and social systems in my local community. It is imperative to understand the patient outside of their symptoms in order to realize the other factors involved in their diagnosis. I aim to one day use this knowledge to inform my future patients of preventative measures and how to overcome their environmental strains.

Lastly, it is crucial for student doctors to develop teamwork skills when entering the field of medicine. Physicians have to be prepared to engage and work within different teamwork structures or environments with other specialists to provide high-quality care for their patients. My experiences as an EMT taught me firsthand how critical it is to build long-lasting relationships based on trust with your team. I have spent countless hours getting to know my EMS crew to ensure that we built a sense of camaraderie that would allow us to work well together during calls. I remember one occasion when my partner was flustered during a stressful call and could not remember the next step in delivering a treatment protocol to a patient. I noticed he was frustrated and subtly reminded him of the next step. Based on our relationship and trust, he acted on my advice and later thanked me for the assistance. Knowing that we always had each other’s back gave us the reassurance and confidence we needed to handle the many unpredictable calls that came our way. I hope to strengthen this same sense of teamwork as a future physician.

If you have an academic lapse or took a break that you wish to explain to the admissions committee, you may want to prepare this prompt in advance. The most important things to focus on are:

• Clearly, yet briefly, explain the situation that led to the break or lapse.
• Outlining how you moved past the situation.
• Outlining what you learned from the situation, and how you will manage similar situations going forward.

“The best way to address red flags is to be open and honest … and provide open reflection on how you grew from the experience.” – Dr. Monica Taneja, MD.

“what i would do in these situations is talk about the red flag/gap in an open and honest way without sounding closed off or confrontational about it … essentially, you are taking something that would normally be considered a negative and spinning into a positive.” – dr. jaime cazes, md, university of toronto temerty faculty of medicine., medical school secondary essay example: academic lapses or breaks.

If you have taken a gap year(s), please explain what you have been, or will be, doing since graduating from your undergrad institution. 

I threw myself into the medical school application process during my final year of my undergrad degree. Realizing that my application was lacking, I have spent the time since graduation gaining volunteer and leadership experience, improving my MCAT score, and taking science prerequisite courses.

Taking post-baccalaureate classes proved advantageous. I was thrilled when my MCAT score improved significantly, going from 505 to 517. My score was a testament to the hard work and dedication I put into my organic chemistry and molecular biology courses, and to the time management, accountability, and work ethic I refined in studying for the MCAT.

While pursuing post-baccalaureate science courses improved my academics, volunteering at a seniors’ care center has opened my eyes to the issues facing seniors and those who care for them. Once, upon entering the facility, I heard a patient calling for help; he had fallen and could not get back into his wheelchair. Per volunteer protocol, I cannot physically assist the residents into their chairs. However, after determining that he was not physically hurt, I calmly reassured him that I was getting help and informed the nurses of his situation. This incident and other experiences at the center allowed me to develop and practice skills such as enforcing appropriate boundaries, working with others, and handling unexpected and stressful circumstances with poise.

From my various experiences, I have developed and refined my belief system and skill set. I've developed a greater sensitivity to those facing physical or mental limitations, and a dedication to serving my community in overcoming such challenges. I’ve learned the value of being empathetic and showing compassion in the process. I've developed the critical traits and values that I am certain this school would be proud of, whether as a student or as a physician.

Pre-writing your secondaries for med school is key! Here's how:

Medical School Secondary Essays: Tips from Our Experts and Students

1. submit your essays as soon as you can.

Submitting your essays early means you can take advantage of medical schools’ rolling admissions process. As soon as medical school secondary essays are received, decisions about interview invites are made. Submitting early means a better chance of securing an interview, and therefore an acceptance letter. Being delayed with your secondaries can cost you both! One of our students, Rishi, had to reapply after submitting his secondaries too late and receiving zero interview invites.

“[One of] the things that really I think prevented me from getting in the first time around is I was just very delayed with my secondaries … I didn't even get any interviews that first cycle because I was so late on my secondaries.” – Rishi, current student at Carver College of Medicine.

Planning your secondaries well ahead of time also ensures you’re not rushing to write, proof, rewrite and finalize your essays.

“It is advisable to start preparing for secondaries as early as possible so that you have enough time to revise and go through multiple iterations of edits prior to submitting. Also, getting a fresh pair of eyes to have a look is never a bad idea.” – Dr. Neel Mistry, MD.

2. pre-write your med school secondary essays.

Some of you may be realizing at this point that you’ve applied to 10-20 schools and that each will likely send somewhere between 2-10 prompts. That’s a lot of essay writing! To get on top of this, we recommend pre-writing your secondary essays.

“Secondaries were a lot of work especially after completing all of the primary application materials. I tried to pre-write secondaries starting in mid-June as there aren’t many changes year to year in prompts, which are easily found online. For each school I read their mission statement and tailored my answers to their priorities. Since many essays also overlap between schools, I was able to morph different essays based on length to reduce overall writing. Pre-writing allowed me to have [less than] 1 week turn around on all of my secondary application returns.” – Dr. Monica Taneja, MD.

If you check out our comprehensive list of medical school secondary essay prompts , you can pull out common themes for the schools you are most interested in applying to. You should then create an essay outline or rough essay that addresses each of these themes.

“A lot of these prompts, they might be worded a little bit different … but there's some broad [question] types. If you compare a couple of schools, there will be some overlap and that's helpful because you can write what are these common skeletons that will allow you to be more efficient.” – Rishi, BeMo student.

Though schools may change their prompts from year to year, pre-planning at least some of your essays will make you much more efficient with your writing, allowing you to create consistently well-thought-out essays. 

Just like with your medical school personal statement, your personal stories will help your secondary essays stand out and be more memorable to the admissions committee.

“These application readers are reading a large volume of essays and sometimes they're not spending as much time as you might think. They are kind of glancing over every word so you have to think like what they are going to remember from this when they read it.” – Rishi, BeMo student.

As part of your pre-writing plan, start brainstorming personal experiences or influences you can talk about in your secondaries to make your points and keep your readers’ attention.

Medical school secondary essays are meant to provide medical school with more specific information about your candidacy and fit for their programs. The questions are geared towards the missions, requirements, and goals of each program. They are usually sent out once primary applications have been submitted.

Some schools will list a deadline (UCLA secondary essays are due after fifteen days). If the school does not specify a deadline, you should aim to submit your secondaries no later than 2 weeks after receiving the invites to complete them.

Some of the most common med school secondary prompts include "Why our school?", "Cultural Competency", "Overcoming Challenges", and "Future Goals". Pay attention to the wording of the prompts, as they may not include this direct terminology, but you should approach them with specific strategies to answer them.

Each medical school will have its own secondaries requirements. Some may ask for 1 or 2 essays, while others may require 10. Check the requirements of your schools of choice to make sure.

Yes, there are some medical schools without secondary essays , but these are rare. Check with the programs of your choice to make sure.

Many med schools recycle their secondary prompts from year to year. Plus, there are some common themes that all secondaries explore. Check out the old prompts from your schools of choice to start planning general outlines for your essays.

Most likely, you will be eliminated from the applicant selection pool right away. Med schools will want to see your dedicated and commitment to their school, which secondaries demonstrate. If you are late or do not submit them at all, you will no longer be considered for a position in their medical school.

If you applied to many med schools, there is a chance you will have trouble completing all the secondaries on time. If this is your position, you should certainly try to complete all of them on time and of good quality. Focus on the schools you want to attend and where you have the highest chance of acceptance and complete their secondaries first.

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Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions.

Wynne Milhouse

Hello! Would it be okay to write about how not getting into medical school the first time was a time of adversity, even if it was on a secondary for a school I didn't apply to last time (or if it was)? I feel as if this prompt may show up for schools that I did and did not apply to two years ago, but not getting into medical school the first time WAS a big hurdle, and I have made significant changes to combat this. Is it okay to talk about that, or will that reflect poorly on me? Thanks! Best, Wynne Milhouse

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello Wynne! Thank you very much for your question. Absolutely, you should write about not getting into med school the first time even if you are writing secondaries for a school you did not apply to last time. You can even mention that you are now applying to this school because you improved your research and found that this would be a more suitable choice for you. Let us know if you have any other questions!

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October 16, 2018

Duke University Medical School 2016 Secondary Application Tips

Duke University’s 2016 Secondary Application Essay Questions:

• No word count. We suggest aiming for about 500-1000 words.

• Applicants should use single-spacing and 12-point font.

Secondary Application Essays: 1.  Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics.  What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine?  What improvements do you think might make the described community better?

This question asks you to look at your own experience and examine your values. Make a list of the communities to which you belong and what you have learned from each one. Then, ask yourself how these lessons apply to your motivation to pursue medicine. Finally, step back and look at the big picture – how does you community fit into the larger scope of the world? What can you say about your own community with some objective perspective and informed outlook?

2.  Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself.  What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed?  How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate?

For this prompt, make a list of times you have either helped someone express his or her needs or obtain a needed service or acknowledgement. The prompt asks for an individual example, but you can also think about an individual you have worked with who represents a broader group of people. This question is asking you to think about your role as a physician-advocate, someone who will represent her patient in the quest to obtain fair and adequate healthcare. The question also addresses Duke’s emphasis on the physician as a member of the community with a duty to improve care for all.

3.  What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients?

This prompt requires that you address an experience where things did not go as planned. You should give an example honestly while avoiding any response that implies you did something illegal or immoral. Your answer should emphasize what you did after this experience – how did you recover? What lesson did you learn ? What would you do differently next time?

Duke Application Timeline :

If you would like professional guidance with your Duke University application materials, please consider using Accepted’s Medical School Admissions Consulting and Editing Services , which include advising, editing, and interview coaching for the GWSMHS application materials.

Related Resources:

• Five Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Med School Essays  [Free Guide] • The Doctor as Renaissance Man  [Podcast] •  Boost Your GPA for Medical School Acceptance

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• Secondary Essay Prompts

Secondary Essay Prompts – Duke University School of Medicine

Secondary Essay Prompts for the Duke University School of Medicine

Below are the secondary essay prompts for the Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC.

2019 – 2020

• Word limit 500
• If one of the above identities do not best describe you, then what identity do you feel most comfortable with?(optional)
• Race/Ethnicity/Geographic Origin/Socioeconomic Status/ Advantage/Disadvantage/ Religious Affiliation(optional)
• Word limit 200
• Words left: 500
• Word limit: 500
• Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application.

2018 – 2019

• Tell us more about who you are. You may provide additional information that expands your self-identity where gender identification, racial and/or ethnic self description, geographic origin, socioeconomic, academic, and/or other characteristics that define who you are as you contemplate a career that will interface with people who are similar AND dissimilar to you. You will have the opportunity below to tell us how you wish to be addressed, recognized and treated. 500 words
• (Optional) In addition to the broad categorization of race, ethnicity, geographic origin, socioeconomic status as provided through your AMCAS application, you may use the text box below to provide additional clarifying information that may reflect the impact of any of these parameters on your development thus far as well as the impact that these may have had on your path to a career in medicine and your plans for the future. 200 words
• Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? 500 words
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? 500 words
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? 500 words
• Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. 500 words
• Critical thinking involves many aspects including curiosity, comprehension, application and analysis. Describe a time when you have utilized critical thinking. How do you anticipate critical thinking being used as part of your career? 400 words
• Many view medical care as an undeniable right. What responsibility does the medical profession have in taking care of all persons? 400 words
• (Optional) Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application:

Below are the secondary essay prompts for the Duke University School of Medicine.

2017 – 2018.

• The Duke University School of Medicine strives to ensure that its students become respectful physicians who embrace all dimensions of caring for the whole person. Please describe how your personal characteristics or life experiences will contribute to the Duke University School of Medicine community and bring educational benefits to our student body. (1000 characters)
• Is there any further information that you would like the Committee on Admissions to be aware of when reviewing your file that you were not able to notate in another section of this or the AMCAS Application? (1000 characters)
• Why have you chosen to apply to the Duke University School of Medicine and how do you think your education at Duke University School of Medicine will prepare you to become a physician for the future? (1 page, formatted at your discretion, upload as PDF)
• Describe the community in which you were nurtured or spent the majority of your early development with respect to its demographics. What core values did you receive and how will these translate into the contributions that you hope to make to your community as a medical student and to your career in medicine? What improvements do you think might make the described community better? 600 words
• Describe a situation where you have chosen to advocate for someone who is different from yourself. What does advocacy mean to you and how has your advocacy developed? How do you see it linked to your role as a physician/leader? What risks, if any, might be associated with your choice to be an advocate? 600 words
• What has been your most humbling experience and how will that experience affect your interactions with your peers and patients? 600 words
• What qualities will you bring to the practice of medicine? 600 words
• Describe a situation where you failed. What did you learn from the experience? Describe at least one functional impact of the experience. 600 words
• What role has research had in your preparation for medicine? 250 words

Secondary essay webcast with Dr. Jessica Freedman, founder and president of MedEdits Medical Admissions.   Read more about Dr. Freedman.

Duke University School of Medicine Secondary Application

Topics covered in this presentation:.

• When should I submit my secondary essays?
• Pay attention to the word/character limits.
• Can I recycle secondary essay prompts for multiple schools?
• Identify topics that you left out of your primary application.
• And, much more.

Duke University School of Medicine Admissions Requirements

Learn more about this school:

(919) 684-2985

Secondary Essay Prompts for Other Schools

Do you want to see secondary essay prompts for other medical schools?

Select a school below:

Secondary Essay Prompts By School

*Data collected from MSAR 2022-2023, 2022 Osteopathic Medical College Information Book, and institution website.

Disclaimer: The information on this page was shared by students and/or can be found on each medical school’s website. MedEdits does not guarantee it’s accuracy or authenticity.

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Secondary Essay Prompts – Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN

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Personal Essay

The Personal Statement is your opportunity to introduce yourself to admission committees. It can explain your motivation and why you have made the decision to apply. It can bring out your personal attributes and competencies and weave together all of your experiences. A sincere, thoughtful, and introspective personal statement may make the difference to committee members as they decide whether to interview or admit an academically qualified applicant.

Composition

Your 5300-character essay (the character limit for AMCAS) requires focus. Your essay should be an invitation to know you, tell the story of who you are, and present an argument of why you will make an excellent physician.

• You may want to start with a "hook" - an anecdote or statement that engages the reader and draws them into your essay. This should be short, snappy, clear and grab the attention of the reader. And it will introduce your overall theme or focus.
• Your essay should be a story. For example, you might explain (a) a particular interest that spans both your academic achievements and your extracurricular experiences, (b) a unique background, or challenges that have shaped who you are, (c) particular health care issues that have been of interest to you and why or (d) how you have developed your interest in medicine over time. You could end your essay with your long-term professional goals, what you will be doing in the coming year, or tie your ending to your beginning.
• Write with depth and evaluation, feeling and reflection, not broadly and vaguely.
• Your essay should show your value, your qualities, experiences and competencies that will make you an excellent physician.
• Write with personal details.
• You can include short examples and anecdotes (but no more than 2 or 3 of these).
• Remember that the meaning you found in an experience is as important as that experience.
• Writer's block and don't know where to start? Start somewhere, start in the middle and not the beginning, write on paper, close the computer screen and type, verbally compose your story and record it, and/or consult with the Writing Studio for help.
• Don’t write an English essay, academic paper, or summary of your resume.
• Don't be wildly creative, gratuitous, cute, theatrical or dramatic.
• Don’t use cliches and vague phrases.
• Don’t list items and don't quote others.
• Don’t list an experience without context or reflection.
• Don’t over inflate your accomplishments/activities or include inaccuracies.
• Don't begin your essay with how you wanted to be a doctor at age 4 when you received your first Fisher Price doctor kit, the moment when you decided to be a doctor, or how heroes wear white coats.
• Don't spend all of your space talking about someone else (this essay is about you).
• Don't repeat what you've said in your 15 experiences, although you may choose to elaborate more fully on one experience, begin with a meaningful experience, or discuss how your experiences interact in a manner that the 15-experience format doesn’t allow for.
• Use simple and clear English.
• Use action verbs and active voice rather than passive. Not “I was given the opportunity to volunteer in”, but rather "I volunteered in ... " 
• Write as though you were talking with someone in person.
• Include personal details on people, places, what you saw and did... so the reader can form a picture and distinguish you from other applicants.
• For every anecdote or experience, explain why it was meaningful and relevant to you. Don't make a reader guess at your intent.
• Consider that if someone else could have written your essay, it's not personal enough. 
• Expect to do multiple rewrites.
• Expect it will take longer than you think.
• For first draft(s), disregard character limits; it’s more important to get your thoughts down. Later you can trim words and phrases to meet the limit.
• It often helps to step away from your essay for a few days, then go back to it.
• Ask others to read your essay for content, especially those individuals who know you well to ensure that your authentic voice is coming through.
• If you aren’t totally pleased, write 2 or 3 different statements from different angles and then wait a few days and evaluate them.
• Circle all the times you use the word "I" and if there are too many, rewrite some sentences.
• Check for typos and remember that spell checkers don’t catch all errors (“there” vs. “their”).
• Save all drafts in case you want to go back to them.  Some of your reflections might be useful for secondary applications or for reviewing before interviews.

NOTES: See the current   AMCAS guide .

There are a wide variety of sample essays online (google: sample essay questions medical school). These might provide ideas, but remember that this is your personal statement and it needs to be written from the heart and be about you.

If you are applying to an MD-PhD program, you will write and include two other essays, one on why you are applying to these programs and one on your research experience. 

You can utilize the Personal Statement Resources that the  TWP Writing Studio  offers.