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The Adversity Essay for Medical School

Our team of editors have put together a step by step process on how to approach the most common secondary essays . Follow the below 6 step writing process for the adversity essay medical school secondary.

What is the Medical School Adversity Essay?

Writing the Adversity Essay

Adversity Essay Example Prompts

Medical School Adversity Essay Examples

Introduction

Adversity feels like an intense word, and in some ways, it is. Do a quick thesaurus search and you’re likely to find way more negative synonyms than positive ones. Bad luck, hardship, distress…and you have to write a secondary essay for your medical school application about it?

The adversity essay, sometimes known to applicants as the ‘challenge essay,’ is a common prompt on medical school secondaries . But contrary to the name, its purpose isn’t to make you rehash something terrible you’ve experienced, or list all the obstacles that have ever come onto your path. The adversity essay is actually a chance to infuse some positivity into your secondary application.

The key to demystifying and stunning your admissions committees with this essay is responding in a way that shows how you rose to meet a challenge…and why you’re better for it!

If you’re struggling to understand how to go about responding to an adversity essay prompt, don’t worry…we’ve got your back. With a clearer understanding of this secondary, as well as some tips and tricks to guide you, you’ll soon be well on your way to crafting an effective adversity essay; one that shows admissions committees how effectively you turn lemons into lemonade.

Why is the Adversity Essay a Secondary Prompt?

I’m going to let you in on a little secret…med school is tough. But you knew that! After all, your premed journey hasn’t always been easy. You’ve worked exceptionally hard to get to this place; the place where you’re writing a secondary essay for your dream medical school. But because medical education is a marathon , and because becoming a physician is a serious undertaking, medical schools want to know that you’re up to the task. They ask adversity questions to get a sense of how you react when faced with a challenge or obstacle. They want to know that when the going gets tough, you have a toolbox and a means to respond.

What the Adversity Essay is…and is not

Importantly, the adversity essay is a place to show how an experience you faced brought you to be the person you are today. It is not a place to complain about something that happened to you, nor is it a place to process emotional events. The adversity essay is an opportunity to show how you can evolve and change . It’s an essay that should be mature, thoughtful, and introspective. It’s not a place to bemoan past events, express grievances, or unpack situations that you haven’t fully processed for yourself.

Writing the Adversity Essay: Begin with the End in Mind

Just like our other secondaries we need to start this one with a solid outline. In fact, for the adversity essay, I argue that the end is even more important than the beginning. Because this essay is intended to build a narrative, show growth, and change, we need to be mindful of our structure. Like any good story, the adversity essay for medical school must have a beginning, middle, and an end. This sounds overly simplistic, but it can be exceptionally hard to do. We don’t often think about the things that happen to us as having a narrative arc…but when we write about them for admissions essays, this is what we must work hard to accomplish. Let’s explore my approach to the 6 steps of this process and see if we can make this act of storytelling a bit clearer.

Step 1: Choosing Your Situation

Some students feel they haven’t faced enough hardship to successfully tackle this essay. They wonder how to choose a scenario when nothing ‘that bad’ has really happened to them.

This is a misunderstanding about the adversity essay, most likely born of its unfortunate name. When choosing what to write about, remember; you’re thinking about a challenge, or a struggle…not necessarily a terrible memory or a life event that caused you pain.

To be honest, I was intentional about NOT writing about the worst things that had ever happened to me. That was a lot of pressure for a small essay and it was much harder to articulate the skills and attributes I used to meet challenges when writing about topics like trauma or grief. That isn’t to say that you can’t or shouldn’t write about these topics if you are comfortable doing so.

Vulnerability in your application is a very personal choice. You must be mindful though, that whatever you chose to write about has to be reflective, and demonstrate growth. It is also fair game to be asked about on the interview trail; if you can’t talk comfortably about the experience and its impact on you, you shouldn’t write about it in your essay.

When considering what to write for this essay, reflect on a difficult situation or experience ; maybe this was a class in school, or a tricky research problem. Maybe you had a problem to solve at work or a difficult family dynamic to address. Ask yourself:

What made this experience a challenge?
What happened?
Why was it meaningful?

As we start this essay, we begin by providing some context on the situation. I like to start with a little bit of background and storytelling. I will first introduce my setting and my characters before I move on to the next step: identifying the obstacle or explaining the problem.

Step 2: Identifying the Obstacle

Once we’ve picked a situation, the next step in writing this essay is identifying the obstacle for readers. In order to build this narrative, I have to explain what the problem was ; this is the key element that we will ‘overcome’ if you will, in our response. Think back to what you identified as being challenging in the experience you chose. Once you’ve named the problem that you needed to solve, for your readers, you’re ready to move on to the next step of the process.

Step 3: the “Uh-Oh” Moment

This is the part of the essay, after we’ve laid out the background and the problem, where we, as central actors in the story, realize we’ve got a problem. I like to think of the “uh-oh,” moment in the adversity essay as the place where the protagonist (that’s you!) recognized there was a challenge to surmount . Maybe there were some feelings of hopelessness, worry , or fear. Maybe you didn’t know what to do and panicked. This is when you recognized the setback that ultimately set you up for the comeback. Be honest about your emotions, and the reactions you experienced as well as the emotions and reactions of other people in the story

Step 4: The Turning Point

The turning point is where we explain how things changed . For example:

You were fearful, but you took a deep breath and kept going.
It was mile 22 of the marathon and you gave yourself a pep talk; it wasn’t easy but you kept putting one foot in front of the other.

This is the part of the essay where you indicate a change occurred . Tell readers how you made the pivot, and how you became more in that moment than you thought you could be. If we think about this in relation to our narrative arc, this is the climax of the story. All the action is building to this point; our hero (that’s you!) has finally realized how to solve their problem. Nothing can stop you now!

Step 5: Establishing Growth

As we wind down our essay, we want to consider;

What did the turning point teach you?
What lessons did you take away from the turning point?
How did overcoming this challenge make you feel?

Show us how far you’ve come in this essay; remind us where you started, and show the impact of this story on your life today.

Step 6: Reflecting and Looking Forward

As we bring this story to its conclusion, we want to end by reflecting on those big lessons learned by you, our protagonist, over the course of this story. We also want to look ahead and comment on how you will apply these skills to your future work as a member of the academic community to which you are applying, and even later on, as a physician.

Important Points to Remember

When finishing up this essay, you’ll want to make sure of a couple things.

Need help with this? Click here .
Another thing to check is that you’re centering yourself as the main focus of the action. This is, I’ll reiterate, not an essay about something hard you went through. This is an essay about how you responded, how you grew, and how this event shaped who you are today. This difference is distinct and important. Make sure your emotions, responses, and reactions are center stage, but in a way that shows you in control of the narrative. This is not a place to express victimhood or complain; it’s an essay of strength and positivity.
Finally, make sure that you’re connecting this essay to the skills that will be necessary in your medical career. What did this experience teach you about resilience? About persistence? How will your ability to transcend this obstacle serve you well in the future?

So while this might be an ‘intense,’ essay, it certainly does not have to be filled with hardship. You’re ready to write a strong, powerful essay about your ability to overcome…and get into a great medical school .

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Adversity Essay Medical School Example Prompts

Example 1: “What has been your biggest challenge in pursuing medicine? What have you learned as a result? (250 words maximum) “ (California Northstate University College of Medicine)

Example 2: “The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you learned about yourself as a result. Please limit your response to 1 page (about 3,500 characters), and leave a blank line between paragraphs. ” (Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine)

Example 3: “Please discuss challenges in your journey thus far to medical school. (150 words) ” (Rosalind Franklin University – Chicago Medical School Secondary)

Example 4: “Describe how you have dealt with a personal challenge or major obstacle that you have overcome. Focus on what you learned about yourself and how it will help you during the challenges you might face in medical school. (2000 characters ” (Creighton University School of Medicine)

Example 5: “We seek students who are self-aware, resilient and adaptable. Discuss a personal or professional challenge you’ve experienced and how you resolved it. Please include insight on what you learned about yourself as a result. ” (Rutgers New Jersey Medical School)

Example 6: “Describe a time when you suffered a setback. How did you respond to this challenge? (Persistence/Grit) ” (University of Massachusetts Medical School)

Example 7: “Describe a situation in which working with a colleague, family member or friend has been challenging. How did you resolve, if at all, the situation as a team and what did you gain from the experience that will benefit you as a future health care provider? ” (New York University School of Medicine )

Example 8: “Other than work-life balance, what will be your greatest challenge in becoming a physician? (1550 characters) ” (Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine)

Adversity Essay Examples

This specific prompt asked me to consider a time when I had failed at something. I used variations of this adversity essay for multiple medical school secondary applications, always making sure to make adjustments to be specific for what the prompt was asking.

My first task, at my new job on the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Community Health team, was to create a database for Community Health Workers (CHWs) to enter Protected Health Information (PHI) secure data. I had a background in monitoring & evaluation & I knew all about data collection from my years in sociology. The problem?

I had zero background programming. I struggle to program the microwave to bake a sweet potato.

I was going to need help.

I started first by meeting with the CHWs— to create a system that met their needs, we needed to understand what they needed. They told me stories about their patients. We identified our collection goals. I met scholars in Dartmouth academia, asking for their advice. I read forums, watched videos, & created the first draft.

It did not work.

When our CHWs tried to enter data, it felt clunky. We had to start again.

Thomas Edison once said that he learned many ways not to make a lightbulb. We did the same; for databases. I sought out my boss & her boss. I enlisted programmers & web experts to join our team. The CHWs & I met again & again. Five months later, we succeeded. Our system has been rolled out to three separate population health programs; CHWs report an improved ability to care for patients through reduced burden of data collection.

Over those months, we became great at making bad databases. We did not give up, in part, because I pushed forward. “Failure” is often a misnomer. Experience is not the sum of its parts. The same is true of people; in shared effort we create something far greater than we ever might have on our own. As a physician, I’ll apply this same spirit of collaboration to my team based care. If given the privilege of a ______Medical School education, I will bring this same problem solving ability to all my clinical and interpersonal endeavors.

View more Medical School Adversity Essay Examples Here.

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How to write about your biggest challenge or adversity

Your adversity statement, often called “the challenge essay,” has the potential to be a major contributor to your medical school application. The goal of the essay is not just to explain the adversities you faced or the challenges you experienced, but rather to demonstrate your ability to overcome them and grow from them. The specific challenge or adversity itself is often times the least important part of the essay! Instead, the majority of your limited word count will be dedicated to demonstrating your preparedness for the many challenges and adversities that you will face in medical school and beyond. Looking at the prompt from this angle may help it seem a bit less intimidating. Now, let’s tackle this essay in three simple steps:

Step One : Reread the prompt, and select the experience you want to talk about

Before you even begin brainstorming, reread the prompt! In your excitement (or nervousness) to get started, you may have missed a helpful detail that will narrow the scope of your essay. Depending on the school, you may be asked to discuss a professional challenge, a personal challenge, or even an academic one. Make sure that you understand which of these, if any, is being asked for. Once you have a sense of what type of experience is being requested, start to brainstorm the adversities you have faced, no matter how big or small. As you make a list, make sure each example fits the following criteria:

You have overcome the obstacle or have made meaningful progress towards the goal of overcoming it
You have completed the emotional processing of the obstacle/experience and are comfortable talking about it in writing and potentially in an interview

Once this is done, take a look at your list and see what experiences you are most confident in. Do those align with the narrative of the application you submitted in your primary application/personal statement? Is this an experience that you’ve discussed extensively in your 15 activities or personal statement already? Asking yourself these questions will help you narrow down the list further until you make a final selection that will complement your application and demonstrate your characteristics well. Examples include: losing a loved one, not succeeding in a class, navigating a health concern or diagnosis, overcoming a language barrier, navigating financial hardship, and more.

Step Two: Map out the essay by talking through exactly how you overcame the adversity/challenge

You have your experience selected, but before writing the essay, you need to be sure of the characteristics you wish to demonstrate. Knowing this before you write will help you frame the story in such a way that these characteristics shine through. Remember, you are only using a small amount of the essay to describe the event itself; most of the essay should focus on your journey overcoming the adversity/challenge, so you need to be direct and clear from the start! You can also use this time to get a sense of how long the essay will be. Do you find yourself taking 5 minutes or more to fully explain your story? You may need to be more succinct in order to condense that into an essay with a limited word count.

Step Three: Write, write, write

Dedicate a brief intro of the essay to describing the circumstances of the challenge/adversity you faced. No need to be too detailed, but give the reader enough information to understand what you were up against. Next, explain your feelings throughout the experience, how you were affected, and how you overcame. The key to this step is alluding to the qualities you are demonstrating without actually stating them. Rather than saying, “I was resilient,” simply explain the steps you took to keep pushing through despite the circumstances. Do this, and the key words and characteristics will leap off the page between the lines of your story! Once you’ve described the actions you took to overcome, close out the essay with a brief statement about how the experience changed you or gave you an opportunity to grow. This is a great opportunity to demonstrate your ability to reflect and use any experience as a learning experience.

When you are finished, be sure to go back to the prompt one last time and make sure that your essay answers it appropriately. Don’t be afraid to make adjustments, and keep in mind that the readers of your essay are looking to recruit their future students, colleagues, and patient care providers. What qualities would you be looking for if you were in their shoes?

Olivia attended the University of Rochester, studying Neuroscience and American Sign Language. She's pursuing her MD at Harvard Medical School, where she’s exploring her interests in pediatrics and neonatology.

Medical School Adversity Essay

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The medical school adversity essay also called the "challenge essay" by applicants, is a typical question on medical school secondaries. However, it is not meant to make you relive a terrible moment in your past or compile a list of all the challenges you have faced.

The medical school adversity essay is an opportunity to add optimism to your secondary application.

The secret to impressing your admissions committees with your medical school adversity essay is to react in a way that demonstrates how you met a challenge head-on and why it helped you become a better person.

This article focuses on a medical school adversity essay. You will soon be well on your way to writing a successful adversity essay demonstrating to admissions committees that you are worthy of entry.

What is a Medical School Adversity Essay?

You will need to write an adversity essay when completing your secondary applications , in addition to a diversity essay .

The medical school adversity essay is one of the most popular samples of secondary essays. Usually, the essay question will ask you to talk about a difficult time you have gone through and how you overcame it.

The question regarding your prior struggles is one that the admissions committees for medical school use to assess your ability to handle and handle adversity. In essence, they examine how you approach problems and move toward resolving conflicts in your life.

The admissions committee will evaluate your level of communication, resilience, and maturity based on how you handle moral and ethical quandaries.

The adversity prompt depends on whether you should write about a personal or professional experience. The prompt might, however, leave it up to your judgment.

Since your main application already delves into the specifics of your academic experiences, the adversity essay is a fantastic chance for you to share fresh and pertinent experiences.

Medical school adversity essays highlight your capacity to surmount challenges and cope with the pressure outside of the classroom.

5 Tips for Answering Medical School Adversity Essays

The purpose of asking about adversity is to help admissions committees for medical schools understand how you handle challenging circumstances. They want to know that you are resilient, responsible, and capable of improvement so that you may succeed in medical school.

In other words, medical schools are not attempting to establish a contest to see whose students have faced the most hardship. Instead, they would like to know who you are.

Here are the most effective tips on how to write a solid medical school adversity essay:

Read the Prompt Thoroughly

To start with, make sure you read the prompt carefully and comprehend what it is asking.

For example, the admissions committee may ask you to talk about a professional obstacle in some situations while they may be searching for a personal challenge.

If a certain kind of example is required for the med school adversity question, it will be noted in the prompt. Check the word or character limit next, and structure your response accordingly.

Start by thinking back on your past experiences when responding to various prompts, as you probably did when you prepared your personal statement for medical school .

Consider a period when you had to deal with a challenging circumstance.

Frequently, you will not have a lot of words or characters to respond to the question, so you must be sure that your response is concise and direct.

Start with the End in Mind

Like our other secondary assignments, you must begin this secondary with a strong framework. In fact, the conclusion of the adversity essay is much more significant than the start.

The medical school adversity essay aims to develop a story, demonstrate progress, and demonstrate change.

Adversity essays for medical school need a beginning, middle, and end, just like any excellent story. Although it may seem overly straightforward, doing this can be incredibly difficult.

You do not frequently consider the events in your life as having a narrative arc.

Still, when you write about them for admissions essays, you must make a concerted effort to achieve this.

Start your essay with a succinct description of the circumstance or experience. The least significant aspect of this essay is the description of what occurred and all the specifics surrounding the incident.

Avoid getting lost in the story, or you will not have enough words to express the crucial details in the body paragraph. This includes your feelings, how things affected you, and what you discovered.

The admissions committee will better grasp how you think when faced with difficulty and how you handle these circumstances if you talk about how you feel.

Focus on How and What You Learned

Describe your approach to the specific difficulty.

For instance, did you seek scholarships or land a job if you were writing about your struggles to make ends meet?

On the other hand, if you are writing about academic difficulties, have you improved your study techniques or humbly sought assistance from your peers or professor?

To get through your struggle, concentrate on your justifications and cognitive processes.

Whenever you think it is appropriate, express your emotions to the reader and let them enter your mental space. It is crucial to explain your thought process since admissions committees want to know how you approach conflict resolution.

Be Honest and Objective

Explain the circumstance that challenged you at the outset of your essay. Make sure to state facts when describing your challenge. This will demonstrate your ability to be objective to the reader.

However, if you describe your difficulty subjectively, it might sound like you are looking for pity.

As an illustration, the statement " My teacher talked to me about my poor performance in class " is objective, and " My teacher rolled her eyes and berated my performance in class " is subjective.

In a similar spirit, only include background material that advances the plot. For example, for some types of hardship stories, details like the precise date or the city you lived in might not be pertinent.

Medical School Adversity Essay Sample Prompts

A medical school adversity essay can be challenging to write. However, you must be humble while still making an impression on the admissions committee. Therefore, it would be beneficial if you gave creating a fantastic essay much thought.

Here are a few samples of medical school adversity essay prompts that you might see when applying to medical schools to get you started:

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

We are looking for students who are resilient, adaptive, and self-aware. Talk about a problem you've faced personally or professionally and how you handled it. Please elaborate on the lessons you took away from the experience regarding yourself.

New York University School of Medicine

Give an example of when working with a friend, family member, or coworker was difficult. What lessons did you learn from the event that will help you in your future work as a healthcare provider? How did you address the matter as a team, if at all?

University of Massachusetts Medical School

Tell us about a time when you faced a setback. What response did you have to this challenge?

California North State University College of Medicine

What has been your toughest obstacle in pursuing a career in medicine? What have you learned as a result?

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

The admissions committee is eager to learn more about you personally. Please give an example of a significant personal difficulty you have overcome that you believe has molded you. Examples could include a moral or ethical problem, a circumstance involving personal adversity, or a challenge you overcame. Please mention how you overcame the situation and what you discovered about yourself.

Sample Medical School Adversity Essays

Without a solid medical school adversity essay, your application to medical school will fall short of the mark. Remember that you are competing with a large number of other applications. Put forth your best effort.

Here are a few medical school adversity essay examples for you to reference.

Medical School Adversity Essay Sample 1:

At my new position on the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Community Health team, my first assignment was to build a database where Community Health Workers (CHWs) could enter secure PHI data. I have experience in monitoring and assessment and was well-versed in data collecting because of my time studying sociology. The issue?

I did not run any background programs. I have trouble getting the microwave set up to roast sweet potatoes. I would require assistance...

I began by meeting with the CHWs since we wanted to learn what they needed to design a system that satisfied those demands. They shared tales with me involving their patients. We determined what we wanted to collect. I sought the opinions of academics I met at Dartmouth. I wrote the first draft after watching videos and reading forums.

It was ineffective and felt awkward for our CHWs to enter data. It was time to start over.

As Thomas Edison famously remarked, he discovered numerous methods not to create a lightbulb. The same was done for our databases. After five months, we were successful. Our technology has been implemented in three different community health initiatives. CHWs indicate that the decreased workload associated with data gathering has enhanced their capacity to provide patient care.

In those months, we mastered the art of creating useless databases. I kept moving forward, which is partly why we didn't give up. "Failure" is frequently a misnomer. The total experience is not what it is. The same is true of humans; we do far more than we could have done separately through teamwork. As a doctor, I'll use this collaborative attitude to provide team-based patient care. If granted the opportunity to attend ______ Medical School, I will use the same problem-solving skills in my clinical and interpersonal pursuits.

Medical School Adversity Essay Sample 2:

I had trouble adjusting when I was diagnosed with vitiligo in my last year of college studies. I initially paid little attention to the first dim light spot near my eyes. That spot eventually turned whiter, and I saw two more small areas forming nearby and another one around my lips. At that moment, I started to worry about my health.

Peers started noticing the white blotches on my face at this point. People were looking at me strangely and making whispered remarks about what was on my face. I dismissed what was going on with my face as some skin rash. I was unsure of how to explain it to them. As I thought about my future and how my condition would affect my objectives of finding a partner and a job without being judged or discriminated against, my mind filled with self-doubt.

My primary care physician finally saw me and merely informed me that I had vitiligo without thoroughly inspecting my face or performing any extra tests to confirm the diagnosis. Hearing this verdict devastated me, and I was upset with myself for allowing this condition to become so bad in the first place. After my quick consultation with the primary care doctor and a little booklet explaining my problem and how to apply the cream, I was prescribed a steroid cream to treat my spots. I chose to get a second opinion from a dermatologist, Dr. Maggie, who meticulously examined my skin under a wood light because this made me doubt my diagnosis.

Once more, learning that I have vitiligo broke my heart. I was afraid that the disease would spread to other regions of my body or my entire face because the booklet I had initially gotten was not very informative. After receiving this diagnosis, my heart started to race with fear and panic as I thought about what my life would be like. I was worried that because of social shame and societal isolation, this issue would only worsen and may limit my chances. Dr. Maggie, on the other hand, thoroughly and carefully described my problem to me, unlike the first doctor I visited.

He added blood testing and numerous allergy tests to my treatment. He comforted me by saying there was a good chance my skin's pigmentation would come back naturally. He added that laser light therapy would be an option in the worst-case situation. He patiently answered all of my inquiries and assisted in developing a food strategy that would strengthen my immune system.

Following this reassuring consultation, I decided to continue being the same person I have always been, regardless of what other people thought of my vitiligo. With Dr. Maggie's assistance, I concluded that vitiligo does not impact me inside. Eventually, my condition shouldn't stand in the way of achieving my goals of starting a family and becoming a doctor.

After a few months, I saw that my face's pigmentation had improved, and the vitiligo had not migrated to other parts of my body. I could arm myself with the knowledge and awareness of my condition under Dr. Maggie's direction. She changed my life perspective and fortified my will to treat my vitiligo.

This first-hand experience demonstrated a doctor's beneficial impact on a patient's life when given the proper care and consideration. To soothe their concerns and assist them, I aim to one day comfort my patients in the same way and with the same level of care Dr. Maggie has shown me.

Medical School Adversity Essay Sample 3:

One of the biggest life lessons I've learned so far is how to live with a sister who has been diagnosed with autism. When my sister was just a few months old, her diagnosis was initially made public. I was just five years older than her, so I never thought her individuality was terrible. Not until I entered my teenage years.

We all tend to pay greater attention to other people's viewpoints as teenagers. That is what happened to me. I became increasingly ashamed to be around my sister when I started observing adverse reactions from the public and hearing disparaging remarks. Our relationship started deteriorating. Until I happened to read a book entitled Following Ezra. This turned out to be a mind- and heart-altering event; it persisted throughout my high school and college years.

After finishing the book, I continue to come to know and understand my sister, which makes me a stronger, more compassionate, and more self-assured person overall. And although if it still presents challenges occasionally, for me, it serves as a daily opportunity for learning and improvement.

Additional FAQs - Medical School Adversity Essay

Which essay should i work on first, how long are medical school adversity essays, you're no longer alone on your journey to becoming a physician.

Medical School Diversity Essay Examples and Tips

Cracking Med School Admissions

Diversity secondary essay questions are a common prompt in secondary medical school applications. Diversity essays are extremely open-ended and broad. Many premedical students struggle with this secondary essay prompt because it is broad. Each year, our Cracking Med School Admissions team receives hundreds of questions from applicants about how to write about diversity in your secondary essays? Our Cracking Med School Admissions team thinks you can use the broad nature of diversity essay prompts to your advantage! Use your response to your diversity essays as a way to discuss an aspect of your application you have not been able to elaborate on already in your other secondary essays for that specific school. Additionally, you can use diversity secondary essays to augment your awesomeness to admissions officers through discussing your passions in medicine and conveying your leadership experiences! If you want to read medical school diversity essay examples , skip down below!

This diversity essay medical school essay blog post will cover:

What are medical school diversity essays?
Sample diversity essay prompts from various medical schools
Tips on how to write about diversity in your secondary essays
FAQs about medical school diversity essays
* Medical school diversity essay examples*

What are Medical School Diversity Essays?

Medical school diversity essays are questions on medical school secondary applications that applicants write as part of the medical school application process. Medical schools value diversity in their student bodies because it leads to a more dynamic learning environment where students can learn from each other and benefit from diverse perspectives and experiences. Additionally, medical schools want to recruit students who aspire to improve healthcare in different ways. For examples, some applicants’ strengths lie in research. Other applicants thrive in creating public health programs to improve community health. Still other applicants are interested in narrative medicine and want to inspire others through future books they write about the human condition.

Diversity essays provide an opportunity for applicants to showcase their unique personal experiences, cultural background, educational experiences, extra-curricular activities, and perspectives. Applicants can express how they will contribute to the diversity of the medical school community.

As stated earlier, diversity essays are broad. Applicants are asked to describe how their culture background, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or any other characteristic that defines them has shaped their life experiences and perspective.

Topics you can discuss on your medical school diversity essay include:

Personal background – ethnicity, socioeconomic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion
Perspectives from your cultural background
Family background and life circumstances with regards to upbringing
Adversity and challenges
Healthcare experiences that reflect your motivation to pursue a career in medicine
Unique non-healthcare passions and activities
Courses that inspired you
Majors and minors in college
Summer internships
Gap year activities
Post-graduate degrees
Personal qualities, including leadership skills and your personal strengths

Remember that secondary application essays should complement your primary application essays.

Medical School Diversity Essay Prompts

Diversity secondary essay questions may be phrased in a multitude of ways. Diversity essays have a wide range of character limit; some medical schools only allow 1,000 characters while other medical schools have no word limit. Additionally, some diversity secondary prompts are optional while other diversity secondary prompts are mandatory.

To better understand what diversity essays are and how broad they can be, let’s take a look a sample medical school diversity essay prompts.

Harvard Medical School Diversity Essay Prompt

If there is an important aspect of your personal background or identity, not addressed elsewhere in the application, that you would like to share with the Committee, we invite you to do so here. Many applicants will not need to answer this question. Examples might include significant challenges in access to education, unusual socioeconomic factors, identification with a minority culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation for a career in medicine.

As listed in the Harvard Medical School prompt, you can write about:

Demographic variables, such as ethnic, racial, social, gender, religious, etc. diversity that have substantially shaped your life or your passion for medicine
Personal circumstances/hardships that have shaped your growth
A specific passion that you have cultivated and pursued over time (for example, sexual health, LGBTQ advocacy, etc.) You should further write about how this passion/activity that you have pursued has allowed you to develop qualities that you believe contribute to your individual diversity.

Note: You basically can write about anything.

In essence, these diversity secondary essay questions are asking you how your unique qualities/experiences will serve their medical community AND will help make you an excellent physician.

Let’s take a look and examine other medical school secondary essay prompts:

Yale School of Medicine Secondary Application Diversity Essay Prompt

Yale School of Medicine values diversity in all its forms. How will your background and experiences contribute to this important focus of our institution and inform your future role as a physician?

Read a Yale medical school diversity essay example below!

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Secondary Application Diversity Essay Prompt

Optional: The (Johns Hopkins) Admissions Committee values hearing about each candidate for admission, including what qualities the candidate might bring to the School of Medicine if admitted. If you feel there is information not already addressed in the application that will enable the Committee to know more about you and this has influenced your desire to be a physician, feel free to write a brief statement in the space below. You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first generation college student, or being a part of a minority group (whether because of your sexual orientation, religion, economic status, gender identity, ethnicity) or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. Please note that this question is optional and that you will not be penalized should you choose not to answer it.

A special point to notice here: This essay is optional. See our thoughts below in the FAQ section as to whether you should write this essay or not. Also, read an example Johns Hopkins diversity essay below!

And here are even more secondary essay prompts from various schools….

Baylor College of Medicine Secondary Application Diversity Essay Prompt

Indicate any special experiences, unusual factors or other information you feel would be helpful in evaluating you, including, but not limited to, education, employment, extracurricular activities, prevailing over adversity. You may expand upon but not repeat TMDSAS or AMCAS application information. This section is mandatory. Please make sure you submit an essay or your application will not be reviewed by the committee.

Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Diversity Essay Prompt

What else do you feel is important for us to know about you? You can use this space to highlight something not addressed in your application, including new experiences not in your AMCAS application. You can also talk about how COVID -19 impacted you. For example, it may have caused disruptions or changes in your plans. If there is something you would like to share regarding how this event impacted you, share that information here.

Duke University School of Medicine Secondary Application Diversity Essay Prompt

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.
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.
No word limit & Optional: Please let us know of any additional information that you would like us to consider while reviewing your application.

Special note: Duke University School of Medicine has THREE diversity essays. Applicants can really leverage this an opportunity to give a holistic and varied view about themselves!

Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth Secondary Application Diversity Essay Prompt

Please share with us something about yourself that is not addressed elsewhere in your application and which could be helpful to the Admissions Committee as we review your file.

Georgetown University School of Medicine Secondary Application Diversity Essay Prompt

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?

George Washington University School of Medicine Secondary Application Diversity Essay Prompt

What makes you a unique individual? What challenges have you faced? How will these factors help you contribute to the diversity of the student body at GW?

Stanford University School of Medicine Secondary Application Diversity Essay Prompt

The (Stanford) Committee on Admissions regards the diversity (broadly defined) of an entering class as an important factor in serving the educational mission of the school. The Committee on Admissions strongly encourages you to share unique, personally important and/or challenging factors in your background which may include such discussions as the quality of your early education, gender, sexual orientation, any physical challenges, and life or work experiences. Please describe how these factors have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine and may help you to uniquely contribute to the Stanford learning environment.
Optional: Please include anything else that will help us understand better how you may uniquely contribute to Stanford Medicine?

Note: Stanford University School of Medicine has multiple essays where you can write about your “diverse” experiences. Other than Stanford secondary essay questions about how you want to take advantage of Stanford’s curriculum, the rest of the Stanford University School of Medicine essay prompts are very open-ended!

The Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University Secondary Application Diversity Essay Prompt

How will your unique attributes (e.g., cultural or socioeconomic background, lifestyle, work experiences) add to the overall diversity of the Alpert Medical School community?

Tufts University School of Medicine Secondary Application Diversity Essay Prompt

Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine ?

Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine Secondary Application Diversity Essay Prompt

Feinberg’s mission is to train future leaders in medicine who will serve their patients, communities and society. Describe one specific interest in medicine and how FSM, located in Chicago which is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country, will help you achieve this professional goal
The Feinberg School of Medicine values diversity as a measure of excellence. We define diversity as the totality of the characteristics and experiences of our students. We believe that a diverse student body improves the educational environment and the ability of our graduates to serve an increasingly diverse patient population. Narrative Descriptions: Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about how your experiences would enrich the Northwestern community.

Note: Northwestern University has TWO diversity essays! In the first essay prompt, your essay topic should be more related to healthcare and medicine. But, in the second prompt, you can write about anything!

Washington University School of Medicine Secondary Application Diversity Essay Prompt

Optional: Is there anything else you would like to share with the Committee on Admissions?

How to Write About Diversity in Your Secondary Essays

Our goal at Cracking Med School Admissions when helping students strategize and edit their secondary application essays is to always help students stand out. Yes, that means, we want students to stand out in every single essay, including this open-ended diversity essay question.

It is incredibly important to do THREE THINGS when it comes to your diversity essays:

1. Include anecdotes.

You want to make sure that you show your readers how specific experiences and demographic factors have shaped you as an individual, rather than tell them.

Examples of anecdotes include:

Demographics – if you are going to discuss something from your demographic background, don’t just say where you are from. SHOW your culture through anecodotes and stories. For examples, premedical students in the past have talked about cooking a cultural meal with their grandparents. Other medical school applicants have talked about a grandparent’s or parent’s experience with the American healthcare systems.
Challenges – Give specific instances where you faced a challenge. What was the challenge? How did you overcome the challenge?
Patient care stories – Give anecodotes about memorable patient experiences. What were your interactions with a patient? Why was the patient in the hospital? What happened? What are your reflections about the human experience and human condition?
Leadership – give a specific challenge you faced as a leader or a specific event that you organized. Alternatively, you can talk about a time when you led a team or founded an organization / initiatives.

2. Connect your stories to medicine.

How will your experiences help you become a better doctor? That is the question that is relevant to almost every single prompt regardless of if it is explicitly worded as such or not. You absolutely must discuss how your past experiences and the qualities you have cultivated through these experiences will help you in medicine. For example, you can illustrate how your experiences with patient advocacy or within medical teams will help you as a future doctor; it is a good idea to include particularly challenging patient encounters and how you grew from such experiences. You should further write about leadership, teamwork, resilience, and other qualities learned from your experiences—make the explicit connection to how you will use these qualities as a doctor.

3. Tailor your diversity essays TO EACH MEDICAL SCHOOL.

Connect your stories and experiences to what you will do at the medical school. You can talk about how you want to do research with a specific professor or work with a specific club to pioneer a new initiative. Talk about how your presence at the medical school will enhance the community.

Different schools have different strengths. You must do your research on each school that you are applying to, and try to connect your experiences to the schools’ strengths.

Moreover, different schools have different needs. If there is a specific problem in the regional community that the school belongs to that you feel you are poised to solve (for example, homeless health, refugee health, etc.), you can further tailor your essay to a medical school by making that connection.

Be creative to show EACH INDIVIDUAL medical school that you would be a standout contributor to their community.

Frequently Asked Questions about Diversity Secondaries

We want to share with you frequently asked questions about diversity secondaries. Our responses below are here to help you strategize your secondary essay topics.

Again, our goal is to help you STAND OUT in every single part of your application, including your secondary applications!

Remember, the point of the diversity essay is to help you discuss the strengths of your application. Whatever you write should complement the other responses and other essays in each school’s secondary application. Each applicant will have his or her own unique strengths, stories, and experiences, so if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Mediratta and Dr. Rizal , who literally read thousands of secondary essays each year!

What is the biggest mistake you’ve seen on diversity essays?

This is our biggest advice for medical school diversity essays:

Applicants often think that they have to write about their personal background, specifically culture, ethnicity, race, and/or socioeconomic status. While there are some secondary applications that ask for specifically those topics, most diversity essay prompts are broad. We often encourage students to talk about other extra-curricular activities and passions UNLESS they their cultural background plays a significant role in their pursuit towards a career in medicine.

You can think about the following questions:

What will you bring to the medical school class?
How will you change healthcare (and how have you already started on that journey)?
What are your strengths as a person?

Can the topic of my secondary essay be the same as topics I wrote about in my primary application personal statement?

Yes! Absolutely! However, we would suggest that you write about a different angle.

For example, if in your primary application personal statement you talked about your research and what you did in your research, in your diversity essay medical school, talk about a challenge you faced in your research project. Or, talk about a different study or research lab your were involved with. Finally, premeds may write about teaching and mentoring younger individuals in their labs, again, to give a different angle in their diversity essays for medical school.

Can I “recycle” or “reuse” my diversity essay response for multiple schools?

Yes! What we typically advise students is to use most of the essay as a template or starting point. And then, tweak the essay as necessary based on the number of words or characters available. If applicable, you can tailor the diversity essay towards each school.

Many students will have 2-3 “diversity essay medical school topics and essays” that they draw from. And, depending on the medical school and other prompts, they will pick and choose which essay to use.

Can I talk about a challenge in my diversity essay?

Definitely. Make sure you did not use this essay for another essays like a “challenge” prompt for that specific school’s secondary. Discuss how overcoming the challenge has helped you grow, and what you will contribute to the medical school student body.

Can I talk about how COVID-19 impacted me and my application in my diversity essay?

Typically, talking about COVID-19 challenges isn’t the strongest topic for the diversity essay. But, if you faced a challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic and took action to improve society or healthcare, then you can definitely use those experiences! Also, another secondary application strategy to consider: make sure there is not another prompt that allows you to talk about COVID.

You can read about an ICU expererience during COVID down below in our diversity secondary essay examples!

Medical School Diversity Essay Examples

You can include multiple experiences in one diversity secondary essay, but make sure that your transitions are seamless. Furthermore, in such essays, you want to pay attention to your paragraph breaks to further communicate your strong attributes and diverse experiences with maximum impact. Remember—make it as easy as possible for your reader to understand your writing and to visualize you as a strong physician.

Below are 2 medical school diversity essay examples answers from a student who then received an interview at both Yale University School of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Yale Medical School Diversity Essay Example

Prompt: Yale School of Medicine values diversity in all its forms. How will your background and experiences contribute to this important focus of our institution and inform your future role as a physician?

When I first arrived at UPenn, I was made acutely aware of an issue that plagued our campus community: an extensive culture of sexual assault. I felt compelled to act in opposition. I joined Abuse and Sexual Assault Prevention (ASAP) in my first semester and later became a Sexual Assault Counselor.

A lesson I learned as Co-Chair of ASAP is that leaders must critically examine their communities to meet unfulfilled needs. I transformed our programming to better serve survivors with an intersectional lens. I held a workshop at UPenn with a community leader from the Movement for Black Lives and discussed how racial justice must inform our advocacy. This focus was integrated into our Take Back the Night advocacy event, as we spoke at length about how to serve the needs of black and trans survivors. I piloted the expansion of this event to being held with eight other schools.

Moreover, the Title IX reporting process at UPenn is quite complex and not readily accessible. Given the number of sexual trauma survivors at our university, I worked to clarify this process for our student community by directing an educational campaign, to be released in the next academic year. I played the leading role in a meeting with the Title IX Coordinator and Associate Vice President for Equity, as well as Directors and Associate Directors from various UPenn Centers—we discussed my vision for the project and dove into specifics of the campaign. I enjoyed collaborating with individuals who direct initiatives and policy changes for the safety of our campus community of 25,000 students.

As a physician, I will continue to lead the movement to build a world free of sexual violence and gender inequity. I strive to integrate clinics that offer primary, psychiatric, and gynecological care for sexual trauma survivors into national healthcare. These clinics will also offer forensic examinations led by Sexual Assault Forensic Examiners (SAFE), as well as social and legal support. By providing a centralized location for all of the care needs of survivors, I want to limit the difficulties of navigating the healthcare system often faced by this vulnerable population. I would love to work with Dr. Jubanyik to drive this initiative forward and promote health equity for survivors at Yale. Furthermore, statewide tracking of SAFE centers is inconsistent. I want to generate a national database to consolidate these programs and help survivors better access them. I would love to extend my advocacy for survivors as a member of the student group, Prenatal Partners, to be able to advocate for a trauma-informed approach to medical care for expectant mothers.

As a medical student and physician, I am eager to leverage my skill in storytelling to inform and strengthen healthcare. I believe that compelling stories can be important catalysts for change, particularly in the context of my aspirations to serve women and survivors. I would love to work with Dr. Reisman to write a journalistic novel on women’s sexuality and resilience deriving from my longitudinal patient relationships.

Johns Hopkins Medical School Diversity Essay Example

Optional: The Admissions Committee values hearing about each candidate for admission, including what qualities the candidate might bring to the School of Medicine if admitted. If you feel there is information not already addressed in the application that will enable the Committee to know more about you and this has influenced your desire to be a physician, feel free to write a brief statement in the space below. You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first generation college student, or being a part of a minority group (whether because of your sexual orientation, religion, economic status, gender identity, ethnicity) or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. Please note that this question is optional and that you will not be penalized should you choose not to answer it. 2500 characters

As a Neuro/COVID-19 ICU clinical volunteer operating at the center of the pandemic crisis, I encouraged patients who were suffering the worst of COVID-19 symptoms through our patient call bell system.

In public health emergencies, I understand how patients can feel detached from and misunderstood by their healthcare systems, causing them to refuse treatments or preventive measures like vaccines. I once had a conversation with an ICU patient who was approaching discharge and refusing to wear a mask. My team respectfully asked questions and listened to his supplication of answers and reasoning. I knew that convincing someone to let go of an entrenched opinion would be difficult. But I tried as hard as I could and felt him soften in conversation. He ultimately wore his mask. I left this interaction with a better understanding of how to approach and care for an individual with a radically different perspective from my own.

I take seriously my responsibility to listen carefully to my patient’s concerns and assure them that recommended measures are medically sound. To promote patient trust in medicine and to address health disparities exacerbated by the pandemic, I will work to leverage community partnerships, as I have done as an advocate for survivors. I will listen to what specific communities need and tailor health care delivery accordingly.

Throughout the coronavirus surge, I was able to have a more hands-on role with neurological care in the ICU. After caring for an unconscious patient with moyamoya disease and two ischemic strokes in the Neuro/COVID-19 ICU and learning of her poor prognosis from her physician, I pored through the medical literature. I hoped that studies would reveal something different. The patient’s antiplatelet therapy was proving ineffective. Yet surgery was not a safe option as her unstable moyamoya carried greater postoperative ischemic complication risk. I struggled, unable to find an alternative. Thereafter, I wrote “Between you and me,” excerpted below.

Her eyes are closed, a tube connecting her to her life.

They are draining her cerebrospinal fluid and it should

be yellow. But it’s pink. Like watermelon juice.

The act of writing brought me peace and helped me come to terms with my patient’s suffering.

Nikita’s work in the ICU was featured in U.S. News , “ What Premeds Can Learn in Intensive Care Units ”

We hope this blog post was a great starting point in giving you ideas for how to write a medical school diversity essay.

Check out our other helpful resources:

COVID-19 Secondary Essay Prompts
How to Write “Why This Medical School?” Secondary Essays
Medical School Secondary Essay Editing

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Greatest obstacle/challenge secondary essay

Thread starter gannicus89
Start date Jul 1, 2015

Applying to Med School? Get In Or Your Money Back

Full Member

Jul 1, 2015

reflecting still life

My initial impression is that #3 fits best. #1 could work, but doesn't seem too unusual or likely to show unique fortitude. #2 is not your personal challenge, but your roommate's. My bias here is that I lean toward topics of personal work and determination, and away from challenges centering on others (e.g. #2). However, #2 could work if you took actions or were involved beyond what most people would do in the situation.

ngc 2170 said: My initial impression is that #3 fits best. #1 could work, but doesn't seem too unusual or likely to show unique fortitude. #2 is not your personal challenge, but your roommate's. My bias here is that I lean toward topics of personal work and determination, and away from challenges centering on others (e.g. #2). However, #2 could work if you took actions or were involved beyond what most people would do in the situation. Click to expand...

Jul 12, 2015

Also wondering about this essay topic. I feel like a few of my challenges (figuring out an effective way to manage my depression, dealing with the repercussions of child abuse and an alcoholic parent) would be unprofessional to talk about in an application essay, but I do feel like these things have challenged me more than classes, research, etc. Should I write about them or would I get cast off as "high risk?"

gannicus89 said: I agree that #1 isn't very unique. In terms of my roommate... well, I had to stay up with him several nights, finally convinced him to go see one of the counselors on campus, made myself available for whenever he wanted to talk/vent. It felt like I was his caretaker or something. Hard to describe. I'm not sure if what I did is going beyond what someone else would have done in the situation. Click to expand...

Aug 8, 2016

question-which would be a topic? 1. dealing with a roommate who was not so considerate of personal space/privacy 2. adjustment to 4 year university from cc

When one door closes, you can still bust it down.

medbunny56 said: question-which would be a topic? 1. dealing with a roommate who was not so considerate of personal space/privacy 2. adjustment to 4 year university from cc Click to expand...

Maybe I can jump on this question as well. I come from a 3rd world country and from a bad area as well. Alot of my friends were in the life of crime and did some serious stuff. I want to talk about the struggle of turning your back to that life style and how it helped cement how I viewed myself. . I am worried about this because some people would just say I don't think that's a obstacle because one is expected to not be drawn to crime or the fact that I associated myself with such people would reflect badly on me. I never did any illegal activity so that's not a worry. . What you guys think? ?

Chelsea FC said: Maybe I can jump on this question as well. I come from a 3rd world country and from a bad area as well. Alot of my friends were in the life of crime and did some serious stuff. I want to talk about the struggle of turning your back to that life style and how it helped cement how I viewed myself. . I am worried about this because some people would just say I don't think that's a obstacle because one is expected to not be drawn to crime or the fact that I associated myself with such people would reflect badly on me. I never did any illegal activity so that's not a worry. . What you guys think? ? Click to expand...

GBCrzzyy said: the problem with #2 is it's a pretty common challenge for many students so it isn't very unique. Unless #1 was under extreme circumstances, I also don't find this to be a unique or extraordinary challenge. I would try to come up with some other topic ideas Click to expand...

LizzyM said: Schools may vary but I suspect that many are more interested in how did you overcome whatever it is. The whatever is not the important part of the essay. It is how you did what you did: trying again, asking for help or advice, analyzing what went wrong and working on that, meditationor prayer, finding a distraction, getting involved in a group, helping or comforting others. Click to expand...

Queen Tinfoil, types iwth a baby in her lap

DrChef94 said: I also lived with two roommates, one who had an eating disorder and the other generalized anxiety disorder, and became their caretakers for the 18 months I lived with them. I made sure they ate, exercised, stayed healthy, kept up with their schoolwork, saw their counsellor, etc. While it was a challenge in general to keep up with my own life at the same time I was making sure they were in a relatively good place, I personally don't feel like it was an adversity that I had to overcome and one that contributed to my own personal strengths. Unless you can figure out a way to write about that, and how that experience made you a better person/will enable you to be a better physician (rather than it sounding like you're writing about someone else's greatest obstacle), I would go with #3. Click to expand...

ready2go2 said: You should stop telling people their obstacle/challenge needs to be "unique/extraordinary." I mean its super nice if they have one, but your average applicant probably lived a very average life with not many difficult/captivating obstacles. I believe that ADCOMS are asking this question not because they are seeking out applicant's unique and extraordinary challenges, but rather they want to know how you handle said challenge/obstacle. And of course you don't have to listen to me (I'm just an applicant) but to quote LizzyM from a 2010 thread : Click to expand...

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Win $20,000 for med school tuition from Blueprint MCAT!

If you’ve faced adversity on your path to med school, you aren’t alone! Today, we’ll talk about how to discuss obstacles in the med school application process.

Today, we’ll look at a student with a 3.5 GPA who has overcome a ton in a better light than another student with a 3.5 GPA who hasn’t had to overcome anything.

Our episodes are recorded live on Facebook at 3pm ET on most weekdays. Like the page to be notified.

For more help on your medical school application, check out The Premed Years Podcast .

[00:45] The Best Way to Portray Yourself on Your Secondaries

“I am in the midst of applying to medical school, this cycle. My AMCAS verification went through on the 22nd of July. Okay, so I’m in the midst of secondaries.

I’m a bit of a nontraditional applicant. I graduated from my university in 2018. I wasn’t really sure I wanted to do medicine until about my junior year. And so a little bit later to this process. I haven’t known I wanted to be a doctor since I was in diapers or anything like that.

I am currently working full-time as a medical assistant. I’m supporting my husband as he finishes his undergraduate degree. I’m working full time to support our family. I am married with no children. I’m just about to turn 26. Not too old, but definitely a little more nontraditional in the sense that I didn’t really know I wanted to do this.

And so as of now, I’m just trying to figure out the best way to portray myself and my secondaries. I have a federal applicant waiver for the AMCAS (Fee Assistance Program). I’m just trying to figure out how to portray the obstacles that I’ve had to overcome without seeming too much like I’m making excuses but being realistic and authentic about the situation.”

[03:14] No Pity to Be Had

When you get to this stage in your application, there are questions in the secondaries like “Tell me about the biggest obstacle you’ve had to overcome.” And one of the biggest languages that I hear from students is they don’t want anybody to feel pity for them.

Well, this depends on how you write it. It depends on your frame of reference and the kind of perspective you’re bringing to the table when you’re writing about it.

You’ve obviously gotten at this stage of the game so there should be no pity taken. You’ve gotten to this point where you’ve overcome the obstacles, you’ve submitted your application, and now working on your secondaries. So there’s no pity to be had.

Admissions committee members really look at those stories. They’ll look at a student with a 3.5 GPA who has overcome a ton in a better light than another student with a 3.5 GPA who hasn’t had to overcome anything.

You just need to tell your story as truthfully and as honest as possible without exaggerating and without trying to limit it as well. So just let them know what you’ve been through, what it did to you, how it has made you stronger, and why you’re here today. So don’t worry about the pity party because there’s nothing to pity.

[06:09] Dealing with Impostor’s Syndrome

Nobody does as well as they want to on their MCAT. It’s all about perspective. You never want to compare.

If you’ve started prewriting your secondaries from secondaryapps.com . If you’ve seen the secondaries, a lot of them ask how did you have to work while you were a student? This is your opportunity for you to differentiate yourself. Because a lot of students don’t know what the percentages are of premeds who need to work and who don’t work.

You have to come from a point of view of, here’s your story, take it or leave it, and just lay it all out on the table.

However, if part of your story is you were a coke addict, then potentially, there’s some concern to lay all of that out on the table. Addiction is a potential big red flag in the application process.

[10:10] Finding the Balance Between Quality and Time Constraint

Obviously, most of the people on this journey are Type A premed students, so everything has to be perfect. But at some point, you have to let go of that mindset, otherwise, all you’re doing is hurting yourself at this point. I’m not saying don’t be a perfectionist, but just be less of a perfectionist. You just have to fully commit some time for your secondaries to get them done.

For example, Carle Illinois College of Medicine has a very unique secondary essay. Their whole application process is very different. They don’t even do interviews. So you need to be more unique with your secondary essay prompts. And if every school was like Carle Illinois, then the secondary essay process would be much harder. Because a lot of what you write for one won’t necessarily translate to another. There won’t be a lot of copy and pasting.

And right now, with some medical schools being a bit lazy with having a lot of repetitive questions, just take advantage of that.

[16:13] Prioritizing Which Schools for Your Secondaries

Sort according to whatever your top choice is. And that is determined through location, class size, curriculum, and all of those things that you need to consider when making your school list.

So as you get your secondaries every morning when you start to work on it, pick your top choice out of these 10 schools for instance. Then work on that one first. Then pick your next top choice out of the remaining 9. Then work from there.

[17:15] The Two-Week Turnaround Rule

Subscribe to the two-week turnaround rule. Of course, you need to submit it if you’re over two weeks but be sure to submit as soon as you can.

[18:48] “What Are Your Ties to This Area” Prompt

If you’re applying to a school that doesn’t specifically ask about your ties to the area, you can just say that really want to come to this school. And if the prompt isn’t specifically what are your ties to this area to want to come here, then you should focus more on the school and less on the location.

[20:10] Should You Bring Up Any C-?

If it’s just one C-, you really don’t have to bring that up, unless the secondary would ask you to explain for every class that you’ve got less than a B or less than a B-. Besides, everybody struggles with organic chemistry. But the question that would probably come up is why didn’t you retake it.

[23:30] How to Stand Out

Tell your story. You lean on the things that you’ve learned from your experiences, without looking at how different you are. Just talk about your journey . Talk about your experiences, how you’ve had to balance school, and being an athlete and working and all this other stuff.

[24:04] Doing Interviews with Limited Resources

First, check out The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview . Lean on your premed advisors if you have access to them.

If you have access to the physicians, where you’re a medical assistant, see if they’d be willing to do a mock interview with you. The interview book has around 600 questions that you could use. Or ask your husband to do the mock interview with you.

The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview

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Adversity Essay for Medical School: How to Overcome It

Featured Expert: Dr. Puja Laroia, DO

The adversity essay for medical school is one of the secondary essays that can stump you. Medical schools desire applicants that can effectively manage stress, overcome challenges, and navigate their way through life's curveballs. In this blog, I'll share how I approached this challenging secondary essay prompt , how to find your adversity and sample medical school adversity secondary essays.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

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Article Contents 10 min read

What is an adversity essay for medical school.

In addition to writing a diversity essay for medical school , an adversity essay for medical school is a common prompt among medical school secondary essays. Medical school secondary essays dive deeper into your unique characteristics that haven't already been covered elsewhere in your application. While there are many medical school secondary essay examples , the adversity secondary essay is among the most common. Typically, in the essay prompt, you'll be asked to discuss a challenging time you experienced as well as how you overcame that challenge.

Writing the adversity essay for my medical school application was a deeply introspective process. It required me to delve into one of the most challenging periods of my life and reflect on how it shaped me. I chose to highlight my struggle with the MCAT —a journey marked by multiple attempts, reapplications , and a lot of personal growth. The MCAT represented a substantial barrier, not only due to its notorious difficulty but also because it forced me to confront deeper insecurities and limitations. Initially, I underestimated the exam, assuming my strong academic background would suffice. However, my first attempt and resulting MCAT score proved otherwise, humbling me and making me realize that being a good student didn't necessarily make me a good test-taker for such a comprehensive and grueling exam.

My brainstorming process involved reflecting on significant challenges I had faced and their impact on my personal growth. I listed several potential adversities but ultimately chose the MCAT struggle due to its profound effect on my journey to medical school . Other potential adversities that I considered to reflect on included my grandma's death, who was an important role model in my life, and having to delay completion of my Bachelor’s degree. I then outlined key points I wanted to cover, ensuring I focused on both the challenge and the positive outcomes. I also consulted with mentors and peers, seeking feedback on which experiences would resonate most with the admissions committee.

The drafting process was iterative and introspective. I began with a rough outline, detailing the adversity, my response, and the lessons learned. My first draft was heavily focused on the difficulties I faced. However, through multiple revisions, I shifted the emphasis to my growth and resilience. I sought feedback from a medical school advisor and incorporated their suggestions to enhance clarity and impact. Each draft brought me closer to a narrative that was honest, reflective, and aligned with my journey to becoming a physician.

I structured my essay to ensure a clear and compelling narrative. I began with a straightforward statement of my adversity: my struggle with the MCAT. In the following sentences, I provided a brief overview of the situation— retaking the MCAT three times, applying twice, and enduring two gap years, putting off my medical school dreams. Then, I shifted the focus to the positive aspects, reflecting on what I learned and how I grew during this period. I highlighted how continuing my extracurricular activities , working full-time, and traveling contributed to my personal and professional development.

Adversity prompts often come in the form of an "overcoming challenges" question, such as these Cornell medical school secondary essay examples . These questions ask the applicant about a difficult situation they were faced with, an obstacle they encountered, or a hurdle they had to push past in order to succeed. Some prompts, like the UCLA secondary essay prompts , ask about your personal growth or lessons you've learned.

Discuss a time in your life in which you have failed at something other than an academic experience. How did you confront the failure and what did you learn from it? Please describe how you typically approach challenges that you face in your life.
What has been your biggest challenge in pursuing medicine? What have you learned as a result?
The admissions committee is interested in gaining more insight into you as a person. Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced, one which you feel has helped to shape you as a person. Examples may include a moral or ethical dilemma, a situation of personal adversity, or a hurdle in your life that you worked hard to overcome. Please include how you got through the experience and what you learned about yourself as a result.
Describe a major problem you have had to deal with at some time in your life. Include how you dealt with it and how it influenced your growth.
Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience.

How to Answer Adversity Secondary Essay Prompts

Relating my adversity to medical school was a crucial part of my essay. I wanted to convey how the challenges I faced and the lessons I learned would make me a better medical student and, ultimately, a better physician. The perseverance required to overcome my MCAT struggles mirrored the resilience needed in medical training. Managing stress, staying disciplined, and pushing through setbacks are skills that would serve me well in the demanding environment of medical school.

The MCAT was a difficult obstacle on my path to medical school. Despite rigorous preparation, I didn’t perform well on my first two attempts. The disappointment was crushing. I had always been a diligent student, and this setback was a blow to my confidence. Nevertheless, I was determined not to let this define my future.

After my second attempt, I applied to medical schools, hoping that other aspects of my application would compensate for my MCAT scores. I faced rejections and was waitlisted . This period was one of the most emotionally taxing times of my life. I found myself grappling with self-doubt and uncertainty about my future. Despite this, I decided to take a gap year to reassess my strategies, improve my application, and prepare for another attempt at the MCAT.

Moreover, the support and encouragement from mentors, family, and peers played a crucial role in my journey. They reminded me of the bigger picture and the reasons I embarked on this path in the first place. The challenges with the MCAT became opportunities for growth, teaching me perseverance, adaptability, and the importance of a growth mindset. These qualities are essential for a successful career in medicine, where setbacks and obstacles are inevitable. My commitment to becoming a physician, coupled with the lessons learned from my struggles, strengthened my resolve to continue pursuing my dream despite the hurdles.

Working full-time and engaging in various activities during my gap years honed my ability to balance multiple responsibilities—a critical skill for any medical student. These experiences also enhanced my empathy and understanding of patients’ struggles. Having faced significant challenges myself, I can relate to patients’ feelings of frustration and despair and provide the support and encouragement they need.

Check out our video for some adversity essay tips:

Some students struggle with the "overcoming challenges" prompt because they feel truly fortunate in life and don't feel that they've faced adversity. So, if you haven't faced adversity, what should you write in this section?

The truth is, everyone has faced adversity, the struggle that students face in answering this question is that they are categorizing the prompt incorrectly. Adversity simply means difficulty or misfortune, but students often take this term to the most extreme and feel that it only applies to a serious situation such as the loss of a loved one, a serious disability or a life-altering illness. While these are certainly hardships worth discussing, they are not the only hardships people face.

Everyone has overcome a difficult situation, but if you're having a hard time identifying such a time in your life, read these questions below to help determine a hardship that affected you personally. If you answered yes to any of the below questions, you likely have a good topic for discussion, as long as you can expand the topic and think about how it affected you and what you learned moving forward.

Also keep in mind, if a school doesn't have a specific adversity essay prompt, you can address personal difficulties in other places, like the UCSD secondary essays autobiographical sketch.

Adversity Secondary Essay Examples

Medical school adversity essay example #1, 1. please describe any significant barriers or challenges you may have overcome in the pursuit of your personal/professional goals..

My skin disorder began as a faint light spot near my eyes, something I barely noticed at first. Gradually, the spot grew whiter, and soon, two more small spots appeared near it, with others forming around my lips. I became concerned for my health. During my senior year of undergraduate studies, I found myself struggling to cope with my diagnosis of vitiligo.

During this time, peers began to notice the white spots on my face, leading to odd looks and whispered comments that I struggled to explain. This marked the beginning of a difficult period in my life. Unfortunately, I had to endure some distasteful jokes about the spots on my face. This was initially demoralizing to my self-esteem and made me feel embarrassed about something that I had no control over. As a result, I avoided social gatherings and even routine errands, fearing the judgement of strangers. My mind became full of self-doubt as I contemplated my future and how my condition would affect my goals of finding a potential spouse and securing a job for myself without being judged or discriminated against.

I had finally gone to my primary care physician who simply told me that I had vitiligo without fully examining my face or completing additional tests to confirm my diagnosis. I felt abandoned by the healthcare system, which only heightened my sense of despair. In denial and desperate for a more thorough examination, I sought a second opinion with a dermatologist, Dr. Maggie, who used a wood’s lamp to thoroughly examine my skin. I was crushed again to hear that I have vitiligo. I knew very little about this disease and was scared of the possibility of it spreading all over my face and body. My heart began pounding with anxiety and panic as I pondered what my life was going to be like with this diagnosis. I feared that this condition would worsen and potentially hinder my future opportunities due to social stigma and societal isolation. Unlike the first physician, Dr. Maggie carefully and meticulously explained my disorder. He ordered blood tests and conducted allergy tests to supplement my treatment. Dr. Maggie reassured me that there is a strong possibility the pigmentation in my skin would return naturally. He also explained that, in the worst-case scenario, laser light therapy could be an option. He thoroughly answered all of my questions and helped create a diet plan aimed at improving my immune system.

With Dr. Maggie’s support, I gradually began to accept my condition and focus on my overall well-being. Following a regimented treatment plan, including the use of steroid creams and dietary adjustments, I noticed significant improvements on my face and that the vitiligo did not spread anywhere else on my body. Through Dr. Maggie’s guidance, I was able to equip myself with the knowledge and understanding of my disorder in order to change my outlook on life and strengthen my determination to overcome my vitiligo. This direct personal experience exemplified how a physician can greatly affect a person’s life in a positive light given the right approach and consideration, reinforcing my own resolve to become a compassionate and knowledgeable physician who can provide the same level of care and reassurance to my future patients.

Medical School Adversity Essay Example #2

2. describe a time in your life that demonstrated resilience..

During my sophomore year of high school, my family’s financial situation had just begun to improve, allowing us to live comfortably with a steady income for the first time. However, on my 15th birthday, my dad accidentally sawed off three of his fingers while building a shed. He was rushed to the ER, where the doctors surgically reattached two of his fingers. The cost of the surgery and his inability to work for several months caused a major financial setback. I vividly recall helping my mom at our kitchen table, deciding which bills to pay, which created feelings of uncertainty that I had not felt since we immigrated to the US. To help my parents, I gave up driving and walked 1.5 miles to school each morning. I relinquished my cell phone, and cut down on spending, but it still was not enough. I considered dropping out of high school to work full time, but my parents insisted that I continue my education. I had to find a way to make money without sacrificing my education. I got creative and immersed myself in the sneaker culture of Portland, buying and selling rare Nikes to generate income. I gave up my social life to wait in line at shoe stores after school and on weekends. Even though I became one of the main breadwinners in my family, I managed to pay the bills and maintain a 4.0 GPA. Through this hardship, I learned to manage my time efficiently, prioritize tasks, and devise new solutions for seemingly impossible challenges.

Check out more medical school adversity essay examples:

An adversity essay for medical school is a personal statement where applicants describe a significant challenge or hardship they have faced, how they overcame it, and what they learned from the experience. It allows applicants to demonstrate resilience, problem-solving skills, and personal growth.

Medical schools ask for adversity essays to understand how applicants handle difficult situations, their ability to persevere, and how these experiences have shaped their character and motivation for pursuing a career in medicine. It helps admissions committees assess an applicant’s empathy, resilience, and ability to overcome obstacles, which are crucial qualities for future physicians.

You can write about a wide range of challenges, including personal, academic, financial, health-related, or family issues. The key is to choose an experience that had a significant impact on you, demonstrates your ability to overcome difficulties, and shows how it has influenced your desire to become a doctor.

Your adversity essay should have a clear structure with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Start by briefly describing the challenge, then discuss the actions you took to overcome it, and finally, reflect on what you learned from the experience and how it has prepared you for a career in medicine.

The length of your adversity essay will depend on the specific medical school’s guidelines. Generally, these essays range from 500 to 1,000 words. Always follow the word limit provided by the application instructions.

While it’s possible to mention multiple challenges, it’s usually more effective to focus on one significant adversity. This allows you to provide a detailed and compelling narrative, showcasing your depth of experience and personal growth.

Use a reflective and sincere tone in your adversity essay. Be honest about your experiences, but also positive and forward-looking. Highlight your strengths and resilience without sounding boastful, and focus on what you learned and how you grew from the experience.

To make your adversity essay stand out, be specific and personal. Share unique details about your experience and your emotional journey. Avoid clichés and generic statements. Instead, provide vivid examples and reflections that illustrate your growth and how the experience has shaped your perspective on medicine and your future career.

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Can i write in my hardship that i didnot match last year

BeMo Academic Consulting

Hello Ambresha! Thank you very much for your question. You can absolutely include this obstacle in your essay. Do not forget to discuss what you learned and how you worked to overcome this hurdle.

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It’s Life, by Maggie

blogging my journey from premed to md & all the little life things in between

Adversity Essay Medical School: What Medical Schools Actually Want to Know About You

May 1, 2024 · In: Applying to Medical School

As you work on your medical school application secondaries , the infamous adversity essay may be looming over you. I remember feeling the pressure to share my story in a positive light, all the while wondering if I had faced enough adversity to actually make an impression on the admissions committees.

If you’re feeling lost on how to approach this essay prompt (like you’re feeling adversity to writing about your adversity—LOL), I’ll walk you through it! I’m sharing all the insights I gained from successfully writing my adversity essay. Plus, you can take a look at what I wrote so you gain some inspo! By the end of this guide, you’ll be equipped with the tools and strategies to craft a compelling adversity essay that demonstrates your ability to turn setbacks into triumphs. Get ready to ace the adversity essay on your medical school application !

This post is all about adversity essay medical school.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure here .

All About Adversity Essay Medical School

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What’s the Adversity Essay?

Once you’ve finished your personal statement and handed in your primary application, you still have secondary essays to look forward to writing. It’s highly likely that one of them will include a prompt for the adversity essay. Usually, medical schools will ask you to talk about a tough situation you went through and how you managed to push through it.

What’s the purpose of the adversity essay?

Basically, this essay is your opportunity to show medical schools your skills at managing obstacles in your path and, well, your ability to overcome adversity . It’s a way for you to paint a more holistic picture of who you are as a person and as a future medical professional.

Medical schools understand that the road to becoming a physician is a challenging one. They want to see if you’ve got what it takes to handle the inevitable hurdles that come with a career in medicine. When they pose questions about adversity, they’re not trying to trip you up. They’re trying to gauge how you face challenges – do you crumble at the first sign of difficulty, or do you have the grit and resilience to push through?

What Medical Schools Want (and Don’t Want) You to Share on Your Adversity Essay

Medical schools aren’t just looking for straight-A students. They want resilient people who can handle the pressures of the medical field. The adversity essay, often called the “challenge essay,” is your opportunity to showcase your ability to conquer hurdles and come out stronger on the other side.

So what exactly resonates with admissions committees?

Your essay should be reflective and show what you’ve learned from your struggles. It’s about demonstrating your emotional maturity, problem-solving skills, and ability to persevere in the face of push-back. Think of it as an opportunity to demonstrate your strength in being able to navigate challenges.

Here are some specific qualities and attributes that medical schools are looking for in applicants through the adversity essay.

Resilience —Medical schools want to know that you can bounce back from difficult situations. They want to see how you’ve overcome obstacles and setbacks. How have you used those experiences to become a stronger, more determined individual?
Perseverance – Adversity essays are a way for you to demonstrate your commitment to your goals. Medical schools want to see that you have the drive and determination to keep pushing forward, even in the face of challenges.
Self-awareness —Medical schools want to see that you have reflected on your experiences, learned from them, and clearly understood how they have shaped you as a person.
Empathy and Compassion – This essay is your chance to show that you have a deep understanding of the struggles others face and how you can use your own experiences to connect with and support your future patients.
Growth Mindset —Are you open to learning from your experiences and constantly striving to improve yourself? Show them that you embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

What to Avoid in Your Adversity Essay

Your essay shouldn’t come with a trigger warning! Avoid these mistakes that will turn off admission committees and may limit your chances of getting into the medical school of your dreams.

The adversity essay is NOT :

About impressing the admissions committee with a perfect life story
A long list of every single bad thing that’s ever happened to you
A place to play the blame game or vent about your misfortunes
A space to wallow in self-pity
The time to air your grievances
Where you share situations that you’re still grappling to make sense of
A dumping ground to unload emotional baggage

What if I don’t feel like I’ve faced adversity in my life worth writing about?

So, you’re sitting down to write your adversity essay, and you’re thinking, “Wait… have I even faced any significant adversity in my life?”

It’s a common concern, but, actually, adversity can come in all shapes and sizes. Just because your challenges may not seem as dramatic as others, it doesn’t mean they are any less valid or impactful.

Here are a few tips to help you identify and reflect on personal challenges that can be used in your essay:

Broaden Your Definition of Adversity – Adversity doesn’t always have to be a major life trauma or hardship. It can be any situation or experience that has tested your resilience, character, or beliefs. Think about times when you felt overwhelmed, out of your comfort zone, or faced with difficult decisions.
Consider Personal Growth – Reflect on moments of personal growth or self-discovery. Maybe you overcame a fear, learned a valuable lesson from a mistake, or navigated a challenging interpersonal relationship. These experiences can also be examples of adversity.
Think Beyond the Obvious – Adversity can manifest in various aspects of your life, such as academic setbacks, family dynamics, health challenges, or cultural experiences. Don’t overlook the everyday struggles and obstacles you’ve faced, as they can provide valuable insights into your resilience and adaptability.

Seek Feedback from Others – Sometimes, it’s hard to recognize our own strengths and challenges. Consider talking to friends, family, or mentors who know you well. They may offer a different perspective on the adversities you’ve encountered and how you’ve handled them.

Tips on How to Best Approach the Adversity Essay

At this point, you may have a few topics in mind and are getting ready to start writing about a significant challenge you faced and how it shaped you positively. So, how do you get started? How do you go about telling your story? Follow these steps to write a strong essay about overcoming adversity for medical school.

Nail Down the Details of the Prompt

Before you start brainstorming and writing, make sure you understand the prompt . Take note of exactly what it’s asking so you can tailor your response accurately and effectively. Some prompts may specify the type of example they want, either a personal or professional challenge.

Also, double-check the word count and any instructions about the structure of your answer. You want it to fit within the specified constraints so you don’t raise red flags with the admissions committee.

Reflect on Past Experiences and Decide on the Situation You’ll Write About

Before you start writing, take some time to reflect on the adversity you’ve faced. What challenging situations have you encountered in the past? Consider what happened, the steps you took to overcome the obstacle, and the lessons you learned from the experience. Think about how it has shaped you as a person and what you have learned from the experience. This reflection helps you prepare a focused and concise response.

Outline and Structure Your Essay

Before you start writing, take some time to outline your essay. Having a clear outline will help you stay focused and keep your essay flowing smoothly.

First, list the key points you want to include, such as the challenges you faced. Take note how you navigated through them, and the lessons you learned. Then, organize these details into a narrative structure to tell your story. Starting with an engaging introduction that sets the scene, a body containing the challenges you faced. Then finishing with how you overcame them and the lessons you learned.

Write a Succinct Introduction That Identifies Your Situation

Present a brief overview of your adversity experience. You can start by setting the scene and providing some context for the challenges you will be discussing. Try to grab the reader’s attention and set the tone for the rest of your essay. But avoid getting caught up in unnecessary details, as the main focus should be on drawing the reader in.

Describe the Challenges

Once you have set the stage, dive into the challenges you faced. Be honest and reflective in discussing the obstacles you encountered. Whether it was a personal struggle, a difficult academic situation, or a setback in your journey to medical school, be open about the difficulties you faced.

Describe how the adversity made you feel and how it impacted you personally. Be honest and vulnerable. Don’t be afraid to open up about difficult experiences you’ve faced. Share your emotions, thoughts, and reflections genuinely. This emotional aspect provides valuable insights into your coping mechanisms and thought processes during difficult times.

Discuss How You Overcame Them

After sharing the facts and emotions created by your challenges, now shift the focus to how you overcame them. Describe in detail how you demonstrated resilience and the specific actions you took to rise up against the adversity you faced. Highlight the strategies you used , whether it was seeking support, developing new skills, or changing your mindset. Use this section to showcase your problem-solving skills and determination.

Share the Outcome and Reflect on Your Personal Growth

What happened as a result of the actions you took? And, in what ways has the experience changed you? Write about whether you have emerged stronger, more compassionate, or gained a deeper understanding of complex issues.

Admissions committees want to see how you have grown from this adversity . So also tie in how the experience has shaped your perspective, values, and goals. Give examples of how you were resilient and had the strength to overcome this particular challenge.

Use the Conclusion to Connect This Experience to Your Goals in Medicine

Finally, wrap up your essay by reflecting on the lessons you learned from overcoming these challenges. Discuss how these experiences have shaped you as a person and as a future medical professional. Tie your experience of adversity back to your motivation for pursuing a career in medicine. How has this experience influenced your desire to help others or your approach to patient care?

Never want to sit in front of a blank page again with no idea how to tackle your secondary essays?

Then you need The Ultimate Guide to Secondary Applications . It’s basically a start-to-finish course on secondaries for medical school applicants who want to share unique and compelling essays (within just a 2 week turnaround time). Inside, you’ll learn all the steps to make your essays stand out while staying fully organized in the jungle of to-dos.

This includes video lessons, writing frameworks, my own productivity tips and an extensive essay library with 70+ examples. Plus, you’ll learn the easily overlooked aspects of secondaries you don’t want to miss!

7 Example Prompts for the Adversity Essay

Secondary essay prompts on adversity often ask about difficult situations you’ve faced, obstacles you’ve had to overcome, or hurdles you’ve pushed past in order to succeed. Here are seven examples of the type of adversity prompts that you might come across when applying to medical school.

Can you share a major problem or adversity you have faced in life and explain how you navigated through it, as well as how it impacted your personal growth?
Reflect on a challenge you have successfully overcome and detail the insights about yourself that you gained during that experience.
In your journey towards medical school, what obstacles have you encountered, and how did you confront a personal challenge or significant barrier? What did you learn about yourself in the process, and how will this learning aid you in facing challenges as a future medical student?
Have you handled a personal or professional challenge that showcases your self-awareness, resilience, and adaptability? If so, can you describe the challenge and the lessons you learned from it?
Share a setback you’ve experienced and elaborate on how you responded to this setback.
Describe a situation where you faced challenges while collaborating with a colleague, family member, or friend. How did you manage to resolve the situation as a team, and what did you gain from the experience that you believe will benefit you as a healthcare provider in the future?
Aside from achieving work-life balance, what do you anticipate will be your biggest challenge in the pursuit of becoming a physician?

To give you a better picture of what exactly medical schools want to know about your experiences with adversity, I’m sharing the exact secondary essay that helped me secure ten acceptances to medical school.

My Own Adversity Essay Example for Medical School

Before moving to Seattle, I had various nanny jobs where all of the families had kids who were accustomed to nannies. When I moved to Seattle and became a nanny for three boys (3, 5, and7) the situation was very different. The boys were used to being picked up from school by their parents, not someone they viewed as a stranger. Ben and Jamie, the oldest and youngest respectively, adapted to the new situation relatively well. Marcus, the five year old, was more sensitive to the change though. Additionally, I started at the beginning of the school year and he had just switched from preschool to a new school for kindergarten.

My first week was filled with more tantrums and tears than I had experienced in all of my other nanny jobs put together. Marcus had a completely new schedule, one that did not include naps like he was used to in preschool. He was so tired after school he would almost immediately fall asleep in my car during the drive home. When we got to their house, Marcus would wake up and start crying and yelling because he did not want to go inside. He would yell at me to leave him alone in the car and that he wished his mom were there because he hated having a nanny. I was not accustomed to a kid who did not like having a nanny, but I did not take it personally. I could completely relate to Marcus because my “nanny” growing up was my Aunt Holly. If my mom hired a nanny, I am sure I would have acted just like Marcus. Also, I realized that if I were as tired as he was at the end of the day, I would not be in my best mood either. For these reasons, I was resilient and chose not to dwell on the day prior. Every day I picked up Ben and Marcus from school with a smile on my face and was happy to see them.

The next few weeks, I adapted to Marcus’ needs to help him cope with the new changes he was facing. The first strategy that helped was keeping him awake during the car ride home. Marcus was more likely to have tantrums after falling asleep, so Ben and I made a point to keep him engaged in conversation until we got home. This worked well, but the second event that caused daily tantrums was when we had to pick up Jamie from preschool. My next strategy was to tell Marcus well in advance about our daily plan. As soon as we walked in the door I would remind him, “Marcus, don’t forget we will leave in an hour to pick up Jamie!” Then fifteen minutes before we had to leave, I encouraged him to find a toy or something to entertain him for the drive.There was no way to completely avoid bad days, but each week we made progress and had more good days. After an especially good day, Marcus ran up to me before I left, hugged me and said, “I had so much fun with you today!”

This was a challenging experience that further strengthened my ability to handle stressful situations and setbacks. Between working as a nanny and my many experiences as an equestrian, I have developed into a person comfortable with adaptability and resilience. I am confident that when I am faced with challenges during medical school, I will have the tools necessary to stay motivated, keep things in perspective,and continue working towards my goals.

Final Takeaways About the Adversity Essay on the Medical Application

What’s important in your adversity essay is not how huge the challenge was that you faced but rather how you’ve approached it,. Also what you’ve learned from it, and how it’s shaped your journey toward becoming a future physician.

The admissions committee wants to know more about you as an individual, focusing on qualities like self-awareness, resilience, and adaptability. So, impress the medical schools you’re applying to with your ability to reflect on your experiences . Describe your personal growth, and articulate how adversity has influenced your motivations and aspirations.

Remember, the adversity essay isn’t about showcasing a single traumatic event. But rather about demonstrating your ability to overcome challenges and grow from them. So, take some time to introspect, identify those moments of resilience and growth. Share your authentic story in your essay. Everyone faces challenges in life. But what sets you apart is how you’ve navigated those challenges and grown from them. So, embrace the opportunity to share your unique story in the adversity essay and let your authentic self shine through. Good luck!

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Weekly Weigh-in: The Adversity Secondary Essay

Welcome to PDr’s Weekly Weigh-in! Each week, we ask medical students and physicians to weigh in on some of our most frequently asked pre-med questions. This week’s question: How did you approach “the adversity secondary essay” on your secondary applications? Edward Chang, DGSOM MS3 For the adversity question, I tried to talk about events in my life that I felt others could relate too. On most secondaries, I talked about a mistake I made as a leader of my club and how that affected the club. Basically, I forgot to re-register our club as an official group on campus, which prevented us from having general meetings. It was a minor mistake that unfortunately affected us significantly since we needed to meet every week. I focused on my thought process at the time and how it was a humbling experience that I learned from. I explained that I was embarrassed and felt incompetent as a leader, nevertheless my fellow leaders supported me and we came up with a solution together.

I think it’s important to let the readers gain insight into your thought process while you go through adversity. They want to see how you think, cope, and handle yourself in these stressful situations.

|| Read: Three Secondaries to Pre-Write ||

Brandon Brown, UCSF MS2 I interpret adversity to be a challenging or difficult situation or circumstances due to something beyond my control. While the severity may vary, everyone has experienced some form of adversity, so I don’t think it was particularly difficult for me to think of some periods of adversity in my own life. In my essays, I usually described some adversity I experienced as an adolescent (that is too personal to detail here), how I handled the situation, how I got through it, and what I learned from it. Those last 3 parts are the most important; the particular situation is the least important. The basic advice for this type of essay: don’t write a sob story, write a narrative of your resilience and maturity. || Read: Weekly Weigh-in: The Diversity Secondary Essay || Evan Laveman, DGSOM MS3 For the adversity question I focused on a situation where I was making a rescue as an ocean lifeguard on a drowning victim. A lot of it dealt with my own doubts. Ocean lifeguards are never supposed to let a situation get so far as to ever have a drowning, so during the entire rescue effort, and the period afterwards, I was left with a feeling of failure and guilt. I felt like this could have only happened because I missed something, or didn’t swim fast enough, or did something else wrong. I doubted whether this setting was right for me. I learned later that the victim was drunk and had been attempting a suicide, therefore absolving me of any real responsibility for the outcome. Despite learning that, the feelings of uncertainty and grief were still real for me in those moments. I felt like I got lucky, this one wasn’t my fault, but now I knew how it would feel if the next it was, and it was hard to handle for a 18 year old. My takeaway from this was that uncertainty and doubt will always live within me, and I have to learn to accept myself for my successes and failures. I can’t always hold myself to an unreasonable standard, and learning how to sacrifice achievement for health, balance and family has been an active and wonderful process for me. The key for these questions is to not get lost in your own narrative. It’s not about how interesting the situation is or really even how “adverse” it is, it’s your analysis of it. It’s how you matured through it, it’s how you show your ability to reflect on yourself and be aware of how you handle challenges. Don’t get sidetracked by trying to make an admissions committee feel bad for you. If you have had a blessed life, that doesn’t mean you have no good answer for this question- it can still be amazing if you show that you are grounded and self-aware. Likewise, I traumatic childhood doesn’t mean that you have this question squared away. An admissions committee cannot admit you because they feel bad for you, and you don’t want them to for those reasons either, so make sure they know the real reason you’re qualified for medicine- make sure they know they are dealing with an active thinker, a problem solver, and someone who can work their way through adversity, because there will certainly be a lot more coming. ||Read: Weekly Weigh-in: Prioritizing Secondary Applications || Emily Singer, DGSOM MS3 Why do admissions committees want to know about the “adversity” you’ve faced anyway? Well, as potential colleagues or future patients of yours, they want to know that you will be relatable, can manage stress, and can learn from tough personal situations. I took this prompt as an opportunity to explain why my grades dipped during my sophomore year. The essay I wrote was less about the period of “adversity” I was dealing with, and more about its resolution, what I learned, and how I applied what I learned to helping other people.

If you have any sort of gap in your resume or unexplained drop in grades, it is important to explain that period. This can either be done in your “adversity” essay or in your “anything else you’d like to tell us” one. My recommendation is to be really honest about adversity – if the hardest thing in your life has been disappointing your parents or having a falling out with a best friend – that’s okay. You don’t have to have overcome poverty or fled an oppressive regime to be a great candidate for medical school, and – in the same vein – adversity in itself doesn’t make you a good candidate. The important thing is that you communicate whatever hardship you have faced in a mature and thoughtful manner. What did you learn from fighting with the person closest to you? Or moving away from the people you grew up with? How did you deal with being the only “new” person in school? Try to think outside of strictly medical arenas too – “I have asthma” typically does not make for a compelling adversity essay, unless you started a running club for asthmatics and placed first in a 100-mile relay race. || Check out: PDr’s Secondary Essay Prompts Database to start pre-writing! ||

Evan Shih, DGSOM MS3

Since my own adversity essay topic is a bit personal for me to put on the internet, I’d like to reiterate my advice surrounding this popular prompt. The word “challenge” is found 38 times throughout the PDr secondary database in 2014. Indeed, a common theme that medical schools love to hear about is how their applicants have overcome a challenge, persevered through adversity, struggled with a moral dilemma, etc. However the prompt phrases it, the essay asks for three things:

What problem did you face?
How did you respond to the problem?
What did you learn from it?

And those questions are ordered in in increasing importance. Medical schools are interested in learning about how a specific challenge shaped your character, and how you will integrate this experience into your medical education. Let’s face it: Medical school is hard. It will be one of the toughest endeavors of your life – the stress, the criticism, the failure, it will add up. Medical schools want to know that they are accepting students who have dealt with this type of pressure before, and know how to handle themselves. Use this secondary to discuss the qualities that will help you persevere throughout your medical education and beyond.

Weekly Weigh-in: The University Secondary Essay
Weekly Weigh-in: The Diversity Secondary Essay
Weekly Weigh-in: AMCAS Application Advice
Navigating the Pre-Clinical Years in Medical School

Why go BS/MD: Pros of a BS/MD Program

Osteopathic vs Caribbean Medical Schools

Write About Your Hobbies on the Medical School Application

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History - American Museum of Natural History

Challenges of Minorities Entering Medicine

6 Medical School Diversity Essay Examples (Ranked Best to Worst!)

Most medical school diversity essay prompts give little away when it comes to helping you with ideas on what to write. Without seeing examples? It’s incredibly difficult to know where to get started!

As a medical student with an undergrad in English, I thought I’d run my eye over some of the web’s popular medical school diversity essay examples.

Ranking these six examples from best to worst, I’ll give a critique of each along the way.

All with the hope of better helping you craft your own diversity essays with a bit more ease and expertise!

Ready to get started? Let’s go.

Want some quick writing tips first? Check out this article; How To Write An Awesome Diversity Essay In Medical School (5 Quick Tips) .

I’ll be ranking each of these from, what I feel, is the worst to best.

Note : It’s not my intention to be disparaging (having any one of these examples is a huge plus), but rather entertaining. I hope it’ll be fun figuring out what I’d look for if I was part of a Med School Admissions Team!

Medical School Diversity Essay Examples

Make sure you click through the links on each of these essays. Not only does this help give credit to other people’s work, but you’ll also benefit from their own explanations and critique!

6. Diverse Backgrounds – Chronicles of a Medical Student

My father gave me two things when I was young: early exposure to diverse people and a strong desire to learn to work cross-culturally. But the most important thing he taught me was to be a life-long learner through interaction with people from diverse backgrounds. Our house was always a second home for international students studying at nearby universities. I can remember playing Jenga with Russian engineering students or seeing our kitchen taken over by Korean music students. During college, I continued to learn to relate to people from many backgrounds through an internship to Southeast Asia in 2006. I found that humility and a genuine desire to learn about someone’s culture opened doors to relationships that would have remained closed. If students fail to interact with people of different cultures, preferring to cluster where they are comfortable, the benefit of a diverse campus is lost. My cross-cultural experiences have prepared me to learn to embrace ethnic and cultural diversity. – Chronicles of a Medical Student

This is by no means a bad essay – and there’s a lot of personal relevance that shines through – it’s just that it misses the mark a little when it comes to drawing parallels between the past and the future.

Although the student shows they’ve had a range of experiences that’s brought them into contact with diverse peoples and cultures, it doesn’t really answer how this lends itself to medicine.

Personally, I find myself wanting to know more about how these experiences have shaped this person’s desire to become a doctor!

5. Connecting Through Cultures – BeMo

I am extremely fortunate to have a strong connection to my roots. Spending time in Italy throughout my life has allowed me to see how the ideology of this culture differs from that in the United States. The Italian society is often marred by the stereotype that they are lazy, or not willing to work. I believe that if one truly sees the society from an objective lens, they will see a society that derives their happiness less from material objects and more from love and companionship. Resultantly, there is a monumental emphasis placed on the health and well-being of others. There is always time for a family meal, a coffee with a friend, or an evening walk to clear one’s mind. Growing up my family always made sure everyone had enough to eat, and someone to talk to. I believe in this ideology and view the healthcare field as the opportunity to help others live a full, and fruitful life pursuing their own happiness. Throughout my life, healthcare professionals have consistently given my loved ones the ability to live autonomously and be present in my life. It is a service and a gift that they have given me and a gift I wish to spend my life giving others. My culture, upbringing, and life experiences have fostered my desire to purse medicine and my holistic approach to life. I will bring these elements of empathy and holistic care not only as a training physician, but as a fellow classmate who is there for others through the rigors of medical school. – BeMo

There’s a lot to like about this essay, especially the way they talk about a different culture (Italy) and how it fuels that desire to become a physician.

Where I feel it could be lacking is in drawing upon specific experiences (extracurriculars) diverse enough to pair well with an application.

They perhaps waste the second paragraph a little by repeating a similar sentiment; “a desire to pursue medicine and a holistic approach to life.”

It’s maybe just a bit too unspecific and uncreative.

4. Sharing Passions – Shemassian Consulting

There are many things a girl could be self-conscious about growing up, such as facial hair, body odor, or weight gain. Growing up with a few extra pounds than my peers, I was usually chosen last for team sports and struggled to run a 10-minute mile during P.E. classes. As I started to despise school athletics, I turned towards other hobbies, such as cooking and Armenian dance, which helped me start anew with a healthier lifestyle. Since then, I have channeled my passions for nutrition and exercise into my volunteering activities, such as leading culinary workshops for low-income residents of Los Angeles, organizing community farmer’s markets, or conducting dance sessions with elderly patients. I appreciate not only being able to bring together a range of people, varying in age, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity, but also helping instill a sense of confidence and excitement that comes with making better lifestyle decisions. I have enjoyed encouraging kids in the inner city to combat similar issues of weight gain and low self-esteem through after-school gardening and physical activity lessons. Now, I hope to share my love for culinary nutrition and fitness with fellow medical students at UCLA. As students, we can become better physicians by passing on health and nutrition information to future patients, improving quality of life for ourselves and others. – Shemassian Consulting

This is an example of just how creative you can get when it comes to essay writing – especially when you might not consider yourself “typically diverse” too!

The experiences of this applicant are ones that most of us, growing up in the West, are familiar with. Yet they expertly turn these “standard problems” into something personal that communicates to the reader why they got involved with volunteering and community projects in the first place (i.e. not just because med school admissions teams told them they had to!)

Even if the bottom line is a little generic; “passing on health and nutrition information to future patients”; it’s that honesty at the beginning that makes it seem like a genuine essay.

The way it addresses the school specifically is another nice touch.

3. Multiple Identities – Motivate MD

In Peace Corps training, we learned a metaphor for our service. If our home, America, was a circle, our new community could be described as a square. We, as volunteers, were triangles. The point? We were part of each; not quite one, nor the other, but able to recognize both as valid ways of being. Most of us have multiple identities. I also bring practice of inhabiting the middle; the boat in a channel between islands. In one of my favorite novels, Ann Patchett’s Bel Canto, the story of international diplomats held hostage at a party, the translator plays a central role. It is he who must interpret and communicate; give voice to space between characters. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, oldest child, and part of a mixed-race family, I’ve had many opportunities to translate; on behalf of my siblings (to my parents), my parents (to my siblings), Belizean villagers, & others in my health advocacy work. My “triangular” identity helps me approach problems differently. _______Medical School is a place for visionary thinking; a community of innovators. I want to be part of curiosity-driven inquiry; translating differences & supporting evidence based solutions to health problems. I see my role as one that can only be attempted through willingness to understand others. My greatest contribution to the medical school community at _________will be my ability to stand in two places, ears & heart open, facilitating dialogue & sharing my perspective from a place of collaborative appreciation. Growth cannot occur in a silo. It begins in learning from & with other people, recognizing the value of all identities. – Motivate MD

This is a really awesome example that’s formatted perfectly.

Compact, punchy, and making great use of metaphor, this does so many right things when it comes to putting together a strong diversity essay.

What I like most about it is the way it plays on the cultural background of the applicant to explain how they will contribute to the school’s community moving forward.

This is a really important thing to consider!

But what’s also neat is the way they link reading and literature to their own cross-cultural role. That’s a nice creative flourish.

2. Diversity Through Faith – University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

In the sweating discomfort of the summertime heat, I walked through Philadelphia International Airport with several overweight bags, tired eyes, and a bad case of Shigella. Approaching Customs, I noticed the intensity and seriousness on the faces of the customs officers whose responsibility were to check passports and question passengers. As I moved closer to the front of the line, I noticed someone reading a foreign newspaper. The man was reading about the Middle Eastern conflict, a clash fueled by religious intolerance. What a sharp contrast to Ghana, I thought. I had just spent three weeks in Ghana. While there I worked, studied their religions, ate their food, traveled and contracted malaria. Despite all of Ghana’s economic hardships, the blending of Christianity, Islam, and traditional religion did not affect the health of the country. When I reached the front of the line, the customs officer glanced at my backpack and with authoritative curiosity asked me, “What are you studying?” I responded in a fatigued, yet polite voice, “Religious studies with a pre-med track.” Surprised, the officer replied rhetorically, “Science and religion, interesting, how does that work?” This was not the first time I had encountered the bewildered facial expression or this doubtful rhetorical question. I took a moment to think and process the question and answered, “With balance.” Throughout my young life I have made an effort to be well-rounded, improve in all facets of my personal life, and find a balance between my personal interests and my social responsibility. In my quest to understand where I fit into society, I used service to provide a link between science and my faith. Science and religion are fundamentally different; science is governed by the ability to provide evidence to prove the truth while religion’s truth is grounded on the concept of faith. Physicians are constantly balancing the reality of a person’s humanity and the illness in which they are caring for. The physicians I have found to be most memorable and effective were those who were equally as sensitive and perceptive of my spirits as they were of my symptoms. Therefore, my desire to become a physician has always been validated, not contradicted by my belief system. In serving, a person must sacrifice and give altruistically. When one serves they sacrifice their self for others benefit. Being a servant is characterized by leading by example and striving to be an advocate for equity. As a seventh grade math and science teacher in the Philadelphia public school system, everyday is about sacrifice and service. I sacrifice my time before, during and after-school; tutoring, mentoring and coaching my students. I serve with vigor and purpose so that my students can have opportunities that many students from similar backgrounds do not have. However, without a balance my effectiveness as a teacher is compromised. In February, I was hospitalized twice for a series of asthma attacks. Although I had been diagnosed with asthma, I had not had an attack since I was in middle school. Consequently, the physicians attributed my attacks to high stress, lack of sleep, and poor eating habits. It had become clear to me that my unrelenting drive to provide my students with a sound math and science education without properly balancing teaching and my personal life negatively impacted my ability to serve my students. I believe this experience taught me a lesson that will prove to be invaluable as a physician. Establishing an equilibrium between my service and my personal life as a physician will allow me to remain connected to the human experience; thus enabling me to serve my patients with more compassion and effectiveness. Throughout my travels and experiences I have seen the unfortunate consequences of not having equitable, quality health care both domestically and abroad. While many take having good health for granted, the financial, emotional, mental, and physical effects illnesses have on individuals and families can have a profound affect on them and the greater society. Illness marks a point in many people’s lives where they are most vulnerable, thus making a patient’s faith and health care providers vital to their healing process. My pursuit to blend the roles of science and religion formulate my firm belief that health care providers are caretakers of God’s children and have a responsibility to all of humanity. Nevertheless, I realize my effectiveness and success as a physician will be predicated mostly on my ability to harmonize my ambition with my purpose. Therefore, I will always answer bewildered looks with the assurance that my faith and my abilities will allow me to serve my patients and achieve what I have always strived for and firmly believe in, balance. – University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

First things first, you’re incredibly unlikely to get the chance to write this much for a diversity essay.

Most of the prompts you’ll see from med schools are in the 500 words range. As evidenced in the following article…

Related : Medical School Diversity Essay Prompts (21 Examples)

What I love about this example here however is the narrative. This essay really paints a picture. And has an awesome hook in its opening about the writer experiencing shigellosis!

Other things it does excellently include discussing diverse experiences (teaching, preaching, illness, etc.) and showing a firm understanding of the roles doctors play across societies and cultures.

It shows real passion and drive, as well as someone struggling on a more personal level to make sense of their own journey.

I imagine this would stand out well from the crowd.

1. Exploring Narratives – Morgan (The Crimson)

I started writing in 8th grade when a friend showed me her poetry about self-discovery and finding a voice. I was captivated by the way she used language to bring her experiences to life. We began writing together in our free time, trying to better understand ourselves by putting a pen to paper and attempting to paint a picture with words. I felt my style shift over time as I grappled with challenges that seemed to defy language. My poems became unstructured narratives, where I would use stories of events happening around me to convey my thoughts and emotions. In one of my earliest pieces, I wrote about a local boy’s suicide to try to better understand my visceral response. I discussed my frustration with the teenage social hierarchy, reflecting upon my social interactions while exploring the harms of peer pressure. In college, as I continued to experiment with this narrative form, I discovered medical narratives. I have read everything from Manheimer’s Bellevue to Gawande’s Checklist and from Nuland’s observations about the way we die to Kalanithi’s struggle with his own decline. I even experimented with this approach recently, writing a piece about my grandfather’s emphysema. Writing allowed me to move beyond the content of our relationship and attempt to investigate the ways time and youth distort our memories of the ones we love. I have augmented these narrative excursions with a clinical bioethics internship. In working with an interdisciplinary team of ethics consultants, I have learned by doing by participating in care team meetings, synthesizing discussions and paths forward in patient charts, and contributing to an ongoing legislative debate addressing the challenges of end-of-life care. I have also seen the ways ineffective intra-team communication and inter-personal conflicts of beliefs can compromise patient care. By assessing these difficult situations from all relevant perspectives and working to integrate the knowledge I’ve gained from exploring narratives, I have begun to reflect upon the impact the humanities can have on medical care. In a world that has become increasingly data-driven, where patients can so easily devolve into lists of numbers and be forced into algorithmic boxes in search of an exact diagnosis, my synergistic narrative and bioethical backgrounds have taught me the importance of considering the many dimensions of the human condition. I am driven to become a physician who deeply considers a patient’s goal of care and goals of life. I want to learn to build and lead patient care teams that are oriented toward fulfilling these goals, creating an environment where family and clinician conflict can be addressed efficiently and respectfully. Above all, I look forward to using these approaches to keep the person beneath my patients in focus at each stage of my medical training, as I begin the task of translating complex basic science into excellent clinical care – Morgan, Harvard Med Matriculant; The Crimson

You can see why this student successfully made it into Harvard Med!

Again, they tell a story. They hook us in curiously with a statement that we want to know the answer to. And we continue reading while the greater narrative unfurls.

What this example does perfectly is interweaving the personal with the playful while showing a diversity of thought (writing about a local boy’s suicide etc) and a commitment to expanding her perspective.

Showing (not telling) how this pastime has enriched her staple extracurriculars (internships, research, clinical experience, etc.), it shows real thought as to the future of medicine and exactly where this future physician wants to take it.

The level of detail and specificity shows that she’s really thought about how she wants to develop her career based on her existing clinical experience.

This is the type of diversity essay I’d aspire to write!

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, in ranking these examples and discussing their finer points, you have some better ideas about how you might want to approach writing your own diversity essays.

While it’s impossible to really comment on the appropriateness of each example, namely because we don’t know the exact prompt, they still give plenty of food for thought.

Just remember to follow your own prompts where possible, and make sure to go over your school’s mission statements to help tailor your own essays.

I’m pretty confident you can write essays as effective as these!

How To Conclude Your Medical School Personal Statement

Born and raised in the UK, Will went into medicine late (31) after a career in journalism. He’s into football (soccer), learned Spanish after 5 years in Spain, and has had his work published all over the web. Read more .

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Greatest Challenge Essay

Sorry for another one of these posts lol.

I was looking for some advice on which essay topic I could use for this secondary. I was stuck between 2 ideas:

Talking about having too much on my plate during my sophomore year and dealing with repeatedly getting sick throughout the year. The challenge for me was balancing my personal needs with school/my other obligations to the clubs I was a part of. I feel like everyone goes through academic challenges, but I felt like being sick throughout an entire year might make it a little different?

When I was in HS one of my parents had to leave to take care of my very sick grandmother. Since my other parent was working 10+ hours a day, I had to step up and take care of myself and my younger brother. It was difficult managing that situation since I was younger, but it made me much more independent.

I would really appreciate any advice and suggestions. Thanks!

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How To: Master the Med School Secondary Essay (with examples) 2024

After you submit your primary applications , medical schools will ask you to submit secondary applications (most automatically) the majority of which require you to write secondary essays of varying lengths.

The essay prompts should serve as clues to the culture of the medical school and indicate what kind of information is important for them to know about applicants. As you research each school to apply to, begin to make notes about what draws you to that school so you can use these thoughts in your secondary essays.

You can prepare for these in advance by organizing notes in these areas: my accomplishments, obstacles I have overcome, challenges I have had and how I’ve handled these, why I want to attend this school, what kind of physician I want to be, what activities I’ve been most intimately involved with and what have I learned.

Secondary Essay Basic Guidelines

Write essays for your top choice and target schools first! You are likely to be overwhelmed by the tidal wave of secondary applications you will receive so don’t make the mistake of completing, for example, all of your reach schools first!
Do not rush your work. Unless a medical school specifies a return date, there is no “deadline” to complete your essays. Complete all of your essays, if possible by August 1st or by Labor Day at the latest.
Answer the essay prompts carefully. The biggest mistake students make is trying to squeeze a prewritten essay for an inappropriate prompt.
Some prompts will force you to repeat information that is in your primary application. This is okay!
Don’t feel that every topic you write about should be momentous. Sometimes writing about more personal details of your life can offer more insight into your values, ideals, and life decisions.

Most Common Essay Prompts

Greatest challenge/failure/adversity essay.

Essays that ask about personal challenges, failures or adversities are seeking information about your ability to manage conflict and challenge. They also want to know how you cope with conflict and that you can be objective when things don’t go your way.

Medical schools want to know that you are level headed, and that you won’t crumble when feeling vulnerable or faced with less than ideal situations. Students often immediately gravitate to academic or scholarly subjects for these essays, but, sometimes the most compelling topics are those that are personal. Why? These topics can often say much more about your character, values, ideals, and decision making. Ideally, you should also write about what you learned and how you grew or changed as a result of the challenge, failure, or adversity.

Students also consider writing about red flags for this topic such as a class failure, poor MCAT exam or institutional action. Generally speaking, we find that these topics are usually less interesting and don’t offer enough information about who you are as a person.

Essay Example:

I saw the Microsoft Word document on the screen of my roommate’s computer. It looked familiar. I realized that this essay my roommate had written on the works and life of Jane Austen contained the exact language I had seen elsewhere. Where had I seen it? Why was this so familiar? I also asked myself, “Do I have a right to be looking at this document?”

Then it dawned on me. When my roommate got this assignment for her literature class, we discussed it with our housemates from down the hall. One girl offered to give my roommate a paper she had written on this topic for an AP class in high school. She printed out the paper and gave it to me to give to my roommate. Curious about the topic, since I am a Jane Austen fan, I read it before handing it to my roommate. The document on the computer in front of me contained parts of this paper that were copied, verbatim.

The issues here were complicated. First of all, I was invading my roommate’s privacy. I should not have been looking at her computer even though we often shared our computers. But now that I was aware of what she had done, I felt an obligation to confront her.

That night, when my roommate returned home from studying, I first apologized for invading her privacy and explained that I had read the document on the screen. I then told her that I realized she had plagiarized and told her I thought this was wrong. She explained that she felt under tremendous pressure since she also had a big organic chemistry mid-term that week and it just seemed so easy to copy the paper even though she recognized it was not right to do so. With my urging, since she had not yet handed the paper in, she stayed up late into the night to compose an original essay and, in the end, she thanked me for noticing and for encouraging her to do the right thing. I realized that even confronting my roommate, which was uncomfortable and awkward for me, encouraged her to make a better choice and reinforced for me the importance of acting ethically even if these easier choice would have been to look away.

Diversity Essay

Medical schools have broadened their definitions of diversity and for essays like this you can write about your unique interests, talents, or experiences. Maybe you have a distinctive background, perspective, or outlook. Think outside the box when writing about diversity. Do you have a special hobby or accomplishment that sets you apart?

Or, you can also choose to write about your own experiences with diverse or minority populations to illustrate your cultural competence which most people think of as the more “traditional” approach to questions about diversity. We find that most applicants do not currently write about these more traditional topics. Sometimes it can be more impressive to write about topics that are more distinctive to you and your background.

Another Example:

I grew up in a diverse community even though my undergraduate college was quite homogeneous. During college, I sought out experiences beyond campus to immerse myself in more diverse communities. I volunteered in a free clinic, tutored children in Africa, and traveled during my vacations, when possible. I gained insights into the challenges facing others and how their backgrounds and experiences influenced their perspectives and attitudes. On a medical mission abroad the summer after my junior year, I worked in medical clinics helping to care for Mexican families, which helped me understand that such challenges and unfair inequalities in education and health care also exist internationally.

Through my experiences, I came to realize that all patients, regardless of their background, fare better when their unique circumstances, cultures, and outlooks are considered. To improve my ability to communicate with some of these populations, I minored in Spanish and became more proficient in the language through my studies in Spain. I have learned the importance of listening and seeing situations through the eyes of those I help. Throughout such experiences, apart from realizing that I hope to work with these populations as a future physician, I was continually reminded of the pervasive societal inequalities and injustices both locally and internationally.

Why XXXXX School Essay

Example essay:.

My interest in geriatrics and emergency medicine evolved as I worked clinically in these two departments last summer. Through my coursework in health policy, I also learned of the imminent need for geriatric specialized physicians to support the aging baby boomer generation. Through your hospital’s renowned telemedicine and information technology departments, I would be offered the unique opportunity to explore this interest further. I would also take advantage of the medical school’s summer research program to participate in research projects related to geriatrics or emergency medicine.

At the clinic where I worked, I gained first hand exposure to disease complications, which often were caused by lack of access to primary care. My travels and work in India have shown me how common these issues also are internationally. Your unique medical school program would allow me to continue my active community participation during my first year, while providing care to diverse populations who lack access to care. This endeavor also could be augmented through participation in research and study in South America, so I could pursue my interest in global health while caring for other underserved communities and improving my language skills.

Of supreme importance, the urban location and suburban hospitals affiliated with the medical school as well as the Level I trauma center would offer unparalleled exposure to novel academic and clinical opportunities. Apart from the school’s location in my favorite city of Great City, it is the superior curriculum, supportive medical educational environment, opportunity for community involvement, and team-oriented culture that would make your medical school a perfect fit for me.

What are you doing next year or what have you done since graduating from college?

For the upcoming academic year, I will continue my research on breast cancer at Outstanding Oncology Center, where I have been working for one year. Our findings last year have already provided evidence for the etiology of what receptor is involved in the development of tiny cell cancer, and we hope to build on these findings to continue our work. I have already become proficient in using the literature to design experiments, and I hope that this year I will learn how to analyze our findings. My hope is that our findings will be significant enough to lead to a publication on which I would be an author.

I will also shadow several doctors throughout the year to broaden my understanding of clinical medicine. Right now I have plans to shadow an internist, a surgeon, and an ophthalmologist.

My Saturday mornings will be spent volunteering at Inner City Clinic, where I will be promoted to the level of triage. I will be responsible for taking vital signs and basic intake histories on patients.

This year will be productive and, I hope, will provide the foundation I need to be an excellent medical student.

Secondary Essay Writing Tips

For each essay prompt you receive, pay attention to the character and word limits and use them as cues for how much information a medical school is seeking. A medical school that limits your responses to only 50 words, for example, is asking you for a simple, straightforward response. On the other hand, the school that allows 1,000 words per essay wants you to elaborate and go into some detail.

Secondary prompts vary, and I find that students can often recycle essays for multiple schools. But reading secondary prompts carefully is important. The most common mistake students make is providing a response that does not really address what is being asked. Even though writing secondary essays can get laborious, don’t try to make an essay you have already written “fit” for a prompt if it just doesn’t work. Remember, good secondary essays can help you earn a medical school interview.

Sometimes, especially if your primary application is comprehensive, responding to a secondary essay may force you to repeat information that is already in your primary application. That not only is okay but also suggests that you are in good shape; many schools determine prompts by identifying topics that applicants frequently leave out of primary applications.

I discourage applicants from writing a “one size fits all document” for various secondary essay themes. Since the character/word limit for secondary essays is so variable (50 – 3,000 words) it would be a waste of time to write an essay before knowing specific character limits for each prompt. Having an idea of what you would write about for each of the common themes is wise, however. Some schools’ secondary essay prompts do not vary from year to year, and you can often find these essay prompts and start working on them in advance. But, be warned, schools do change secondary essay prompts on occasion.

Above all, just as you did with your personal statement, write authentically and honestly and don’t try to spin your responses to tell admissions committees what you think they want to read.

A couple of additional tips:

Never quote others; your essays should be about you!
Optional secondary essays are truly optional. Don’t fill a space or recycle an essay unless you have a good reason to do so.
Unless medical schools specify a secondary essay “due date,” there are no real turn around rules. Submit your essays when they are ready and ideally within two to three weeks after receiving the secondary application.

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What are you "allowed" to write about for challenge essays ...
From combing through this sub and looking at Goro+LizzyM's answers on SDN, it seems like these things are off-limits: -Mental Health struggles (100% off-limits b/c of fears over burnout) -Physical health issues/disabilities, ESPECIALLY chronic issues (fears over coping in med school) -Academics or anything academic-related (You sound like a robot)
"Overcoming Challenges Essay" : r/premed
I'm having a lot of issues. The way I'm thinking about this essay to try and make me feel better is that the challenge itself is likely less important than how you maturely dealt with the problem and your logical thought process throughout the challenge, but I'm still struggling with things to write about. My biggest two challenges in life have ...
Case Western Greatest Challenge Essay : r/premed
For more information on secondary application essays, please visit our Essays Wiki. To find secondary essays for each school, check out the following links to SDN: 2025 Cycle: MD Schools and DO Schools. 2024 Cycle: MD Schools and DO Schools. I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically.
The "challenge" essay
Jun 6, 2009. #2. Losing my v-card. seriously though, they want to see how you overcame something tough you faced in your life. Jun 6, 2009. #3. I guess youre looking for ideas but seriously this question is so personal its going to be vastly different for everyone. Everyone has had to overcome something in life, even if you are some spoiled ...
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Step 1: Choosing Your Situation. Some students feel they haven't faced enough hardship to successfully tackle this essay. They wonder how to choose a scenario when nothing 'that bad' has really happened to them. This is a misunderstanding about the adversity essay, most likely born of its unfortunate name.
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Medical school diversity essay example. There are many things a girl could be self-conscious about growing up, such as facial hair, body odor, or weight gain. Growing up with a few extra pounds than my peers, I was usually chosen last for team sports and struggled to run a 10-minute mile during P.E. classes.
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The specific challenge or adversity itself is often times the least important part of the essay! Instead, the majority of your limited word count will be dedicated to demonstrating your preparedness for the many challenges and adversities that you will face in medical school and beyond. Looking at the prompt from this angle may help it seem a ...
Medical School Adversity Essay
The medical school adversity essay also called the "challenge essay" by applicants, is a typical question on medical school secondaries. However, it is not meant to make you relive a terrible moment in your past or compile a list of all the challenges you have faced. The medical school adversity essay is an opportunity to add optimism to your ...
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Greatest Challenge essay | Student Doctor Network. AMCAS Tracker Live for 2024-2025 Cycle. If you are applying to medical school this cycle, you can see how long AMCAS is taking to verify applications with the AMCAS tracker, based on updates from AMCAS and previous cycles. Forums.
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Topics you can discuss on your medical school diversity essay include: Personal background - ethnicity, socioeconomic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. Perspectives from your cultural background. Family background and life circumstances with regards to upbringing. Adversity and challenges.
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1. Juggling classes, research, and taking my father to physical therapy after he got into a car accident and broke his elbow. 2. My junior year with a clinically depressed, suicidal roommate. 3. Getting a tutoring club started, geared towards high school students.
Greatest challenge going into medical school
Greatest challenge going into medical school - secondary opinion. It's a secondary prompt. I was thinking of writing about how I want to do so much in this profession and i'm scared to be faced with the realization that I would have to choose a handful of things that I can actually accomplish in a singular lifetime.
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First, check out The Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview. Lean on your premed advisors if you have access to them. If you have access to the physicians, where you're a medical assistant, see if they'd be willing to do a mock interview with you. The interview book has around 600 questions that you could use.
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8. Share a notable personal challenge that has influenced your personal growth. Discuss the insights gained about yourself and how these lessons will assist you in navigating challenges in medical school and your future career as a physician. Describe the support systems or resources you relied on and their impact on your journey.
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Part 2: A step-by-step approach to writing an amazing medical school personal statement. Before writing, the typical applicant does two things: Pulls up their resume and attempts to identify the experience that is "most unique" or "most authentic" Searches for essay sample after essay sample, hoping to be inspired by someone else's ...
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Medical School Adversity Essay Example #2. 2. Describe a time in your life that demonstrated resilience. During my sophomore year of high school, my family's financial situation had just begun to improve, allowing us to live comfortably with a steady income for the first time.
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Think of it as an opportunity to demonstrate your strength in being able to navigate challenges. Here are some specific qualities and attributes that medical schools are looking for in applicants through the adversity essay. Resilience —Medical schools want to know that you can bounce back from difficult situations.
MCAT for Challenge essay topic? : r/premed
Reflect on any challenges in your life. Even if you were filthy rich and had an amazing life, I'm sure there's a time you were taken aback (outside of academics) This is an opportunity for you to stand out and reflect on your journey to medical school and how it will help you once you're there. 9. Award.
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31,117 5 minutes read. Welcome to PDr's Weekly Weigh-in! Each week, we ask medical students and physicians to weigh in on some of our most frequently asked pre-med questions. This week's question: How did you approach "the adversity secondary essay" on your secondary applications? Edward Chang, DGSOM MS3.
6 Medical School Diversity Essay Examples (Ranked Best to Worst!)
That's a nice creative flourish. 2. Diversity Through Faith - University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In the sweating discomfort of the summertime heat, I walked through Philadelphia International Airport with several overweight bags, tired eyes, and a bad case of Shigella.
Greatest Challenge Essay : r/premed
Greatest Challenge Essay. Sorry for another one of these posts lol. I was looking for some advice on which essay topic I could use for this secondary. I was stuck between 2 ideas: Talking about having too much on my plate during my sophomore year and dealing with repeatedly getting sick throughout the year. The challenge for me was balancing my ...
How To Master The Med School Secondary Essay 2022
Secondary Essay Writing Tips. For each essay prompt you receive, pay attention to the character and word limits and use them as cues for how much information a medical school is seeking. A medical school that limits your responses to only 50 words, for example, is asking you for a simple, straightforward response.
PDF Greatest Challenge Medical School Essay Examples
medical school has not been easy. I have faced numerous challenges along the way, but the greatest of these challenges has been my struggle with dyslexia. Growing up, I always struggled with reading and writing. It took me longer than my peers to read and comprehend texts, and I often misspelled words or transposed letters.