University of Michigan Medical School Secondary Essay Examples

If you’re applying to the University of Michigan Medical School, one of the best medical schools in Michigan, then you should read University of Michigan medical school secondary essays. Secondary essays give you an opportunity to show the admissions committee who you are, what your goals are, and how you can contribute to the school community. The aim of your secondary essays is to show the school that your attributes align with their mission. Secondary essays can be difficult and stressful, so in this article, we go over each secondary essay for Michigan medical school and provide sample answers.

Disclaimer: Please note: although we have made every effort to provide the most accurate information, admissions information changes frequently. Therefore, we encourage you to verify these details with the official university admissions office. You are responsible for your own results. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any official universities, colleges, or test administrators and vice versa.

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What Are Medical School Secondary Essays?

Before you start writing your secondary essays, it’s a good idea to review examples of medical school secondary essays. Secondary essays are an opportunity for admissions committees to get to know you better. Remember, because you’ve already submitted a medical school personal statement in your primary application, schools already know some of your background information, so your secondary essays need to be distinct. Each essay will require you to address a topic within a specified word or character limit.

Admissions Statistics

Because most schools will send secondary essay prompts to applicants regardless of their stats, applicants will be wondering how to get into medical school with a low GPA. Here’s some information regarding admissions statistics for the University of Michigan Medical School:

Class Profile

GPA average: 3.92

MCAT percentile: 94

Total applicants: 9338

Total number of medical students: 775

Strategies for University of Michigan Medical School Secondary Essays

At the University of Michigan Medical School, there are four mandatory essays. Some essays have two prompts that you can choose from. Here’s a list of the following topics you must address (these aren’t the prompts themselves):

Let’s look at what each topic means and how you can approach the secondary essays:

University of Michigan Medical School Secondary Essay #1

“How do you hope to impact medicine and improve patient care in the future and why do you need a medical degree to fulfill these goals?” Do not exceed 1,500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).

Example Response:

My goal is to improve current approaches to achieving patient autonomy; specifically, I want to address commonplace classifications of what is considered beneficence and non-maleficence in a rapidly evolving medical context. I believe the balance between justice and freedom of choice remains a point of contention within medical ethics due to the advancement of technologically sophisticated and personalized treatment. As such, I believe that there are ways to enhance patient autonomy without interfering with due process in clinical settings.

When I was writing for the student medical journal at X university, I was involved in a research project investigating mental health disparities among minority groups. What we noticed was that Black residents in most American states were significantly less likely to access counselling services for mental health issues, despite no evidence to suggest a lower incidence of mental illness compared to other racial groups.

An effective compromise between autonomy and due process can be made by improving accessibility. At Michigan Medical School, the path of excellence that I would like to pursue is ethics, as I would like to explore the dimension of health care accessibility dealing with ethical implications. I would also like to participate in an independent study at the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine emphasizing the elimination of disparities in health care.

Characters: 1,433

OR, if applying to the Medical Scientist Training Program:

Prompt 2: “Describe why you are applying to the University of Michigan MSTP. If you are interested in a specific department, program, or area of research for your PhD, please provide a brief explanation. We recognize that your interests may change.” Do not exceed 1,500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).

Example Response:

I am applying to the University of Michigan MSTP because I’m interested in pursuing research in the field of genetics. My grandfather suffered from early onset Alzheimer’s, and while he was receiving treatment, he participated in a study focusing on the role of dopamine in Alzheimer’s progression. My experience with the emotional toll of witnessing my grandfather’s pain motivates my desire to contribute to alleviating the suffering associated with this type of disease.

What appeals to me the most about the Medical Scientist Training Program are the research rotations. The area that aligns with my goal of becoming a neuroscience researcher is sensory and computational neuroscience, a topic that receives a surfeit of attention from faculty members, which are at present focused on the genetic dissection of neural circuits that underlie the processing of sensory stimuli.

In addition to specific research interests, the MSTP seminars are another aspect of the program that excites me. During my pre-med studies, I was a member of an association in which students gather with guest speakers to discuss current research. It was in this association that I built a cursory understanding of epigenetics and neuroplasticity as it relates to neurodegenerative disorders. I know that the value of discourse cannot be overstated, which is why scientific seminars are something I’d like to continue to be a part of and eventually contribute to as I pursue my medical degree.

Characters: 1,470

University of Michigan Medical School Secondary Essay #2

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

Example Response #1:

At 19, I was diagnosed with autism. Until then, I saw my anxiety, sensory overwhelm, and social missteps as personal failures. Therapy helped me identify patterns in emotional regulation and taught me strategies like scripting social interactions and setting sensory boundaries. As a result, I rebuilt relationships I had distanced myself from, improved my academic group work, and began advocating for myself in unfamiliar settings.

I also learned how autism often goes unrecognized in women and girls who mask symptoms. This realization reframed my past and motivated me to help others avoid similar confusion. In undergrad, I joined the Autism Student Alliance and co-led a campus panel called “Unmasking Autism,” where students—mostly women—shared stories of late diagnosis. Afterward, several attendees approached us saying they planned to seek evaluations or support services, and we helped connect them with campus resources.

Autistic voices are rare in medicine—not from lack of ability, but due to barriers and limited support. As a future physician, I aim to advocate for neurodivergent patients and colleagues. With the right tools, autistic individuals can thrive in medicine and bring needed perspectives to care, communication, and representation.

Characters: 1259

Example Response #2:

I am a Black woman raised in a supportive, middle-class household with two present parents and two younger brothers. From an early age, I aimed to model resilience and ambition for them. Growing up in a predominantly white suburb, I learned early how perceptions shaped by bias could distort reality. Once, while walking home from a friend’s house, a neighbor confronted me outside my own home, questioning what I was doing there. He backed off only after I explained I lived there.

Experiences like this taught me how implicit bias operates quietly, but harmfully. The most impactful example came during a visit to the doctor for foot pain. I described significant discomfort and suspected a fracture, but the physician brushed it off as a sprain. I insisted on an X-ray—only then did he find a fracture. That experience made me realize how easily symptoms can be dismissed, especially for Black women. I later led a student-led discussion group on racial bias in pain management, where peers shared similar stories. We compiled resources for students and pushed for more inclusive case studies in our pre-med curriculum.

As a future physician, I’m committed to listening deeply, validating patient experiences, and fighting clinical bias. Quality care begins with trust—and trust begins when patients feel seen and heard.

Characters: 1,321

University of Michigan Medical School Essay #3

Prompt: “The University of Michigan Medical School strives to be a place of equity and belonging for diverse patients, learners, and healthcare professionals. Please describe your experience advancing inclusion and how you envision contributing to our community’s mission.” Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).

Example Response:

As a first-generation college student and the child of immigrants, I’ve long understood the impact of feeling like an outsider. These experiences shaped my commitment to fostering inclusion in academic and healthcare settings. In college, I led a student organization that partnered with local high schools to mentor underrepresented students pursuing STEM careers. Through this, I witnessed how creating accessible pathways can inspire confidence and change lives.

Later, while volunteering in a free clinic, I worked with patients from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. I collaborated with staff to translate educational materials and advocate for culturally responsive care, ensuring patients felt seen and respected. These moments taught me that equity in healthcare goes beyond access—it requires trust, representation, and empathy.

At Michigan, I’m excited to contribute to an environment where diversity is not just valued but actively cultivated. I hope to engage with initiatives like the LEAD program and the Health Equity Visiting Clerkship, and to support efforts that amplify underrepresented voices in medicine. I believe creating a sense of belonging begins with listening, showing up, and using one’s position to open doors for others. My goal is to help every patient and peer feel that they truly belong.

Characters: 1,490

Want to know how to write a successful medical school secondary essay? Watch this video:

University of Michigan Medical School Essay #4

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

Example Response:

When I was completing my undergraduate degree, a hobby that I stumbled upon was creative writing. Growing up, I was never too interested in English classes, and I was never enthusiastic about my writing assignments or assigned readings until I reached university. However, in my freshman year, I began journaling to manage stress. It was recommended to me by a wellness coach that I was seeing regularly from the campus student resource center, but eventually, it turned into writing fiction. I’ve always been interested in books, primarily thrillers and horror novels, because I enjoy the suspense. I’m also fond of a good mystery novel, as I enjoy playing detective and trying to figure out who the culprit of the crime is.

I find reading such an enriching experience because you’re immersing yourself in the world and experience of someone or something completely different and hitherto unexplored. Reading is also a good measure of compassion and critical thinking, and I think it’s a fun and practical exploration of the human mind and what people can accomplish. When it comes to creative writing, I find that designing worlds with my own physics and limitations satisfies the often-neglected creative side of me. I also enjoy the challenge that creative writing entails – setting goals and actualizing them is something I’ve been able to apply to my life in other ways and having small writing accomplishments shows me that I’m capable of achieving bigger things.

Characters: 1,469

FAQs

1. What are the formatting requirements for the University of Michigan medical school secondary essays?

Each prompt has its own requirements. In this case, each prompt allows for up to 1,500 characters (including spaces), or 250 words. We encourage you to confirm these instructions in your own application as well.

2. How do I discuss my identity in a secondary essay?

Your identity is about how you define yourself. Consider how your background, interests, beliefs, and experiences shape who you are. You may incorporate your long-term goals as a physician and what you hope to achieve based on how you define yourself.

3. How can I write about why I’m applying to the Michigan Medical Scientist Training Program?

This prompt is specifically about the MSTP program, so you will want to discuss aspects of the program that appeal to you. Be specific; for example, you might write about a research interest that you can tackle through this program, and perhaps some of the faculty who can help you do so.

4. Where can I find out more about current faculty research interests?

You can visit the researcher profiles at the University of Michigan Medical School website. Read about what they’re actively working on and think about how your research goals will align with their interests.

5. How should I relate my goals to the school’s mission?

Familiarize yourself with the strategic plan for the University of Michigan Medical School, which has 5 relevant sections: people, discovery, education, care, and service. Then, identify areas that resonate with your experiences, interests, and objectives.

6. How should I organize my secondary essays?

First, reflect on what the prompt is asking you to demonstrate. Consider what specific experiences of yours not only tell but show what you understand the prompt to be asking for. Then, research the program, including the curriculum and special activities. This will help you connect your previous experiences, current interests, and future goals with the school’s mission. Finally, create an outline for each essay using information from your research before you start writing the first draft.

7. What if my research interests change?

The University of Michigan Medical School recognizes that your research interests can change. However, for the purposes of your secondary essays, you should be prepared to discuss potential research areas that appeal to you, even if they might change in the future.

8. Should I discuss my extracurriculars for the essay prompt regarding personal interests, passions, or joys?

You can, but you don’t have to. Applicants should view this prompt as more open-ended. There isn’t a strategic way to answer this question besides being direct and honest.

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Your friends at BeMo