Tips to Answer University of Rochester Secondaries

University of Rochester Secondary Application Pre-Writing Guidance: This is a great secondary to start pre-writing so you could submit it earlier. The prompts don’t change (although prompts are added every couple of years). Keep reading our tips below for question-by-question guidance!

• Download all our HIGH-YIELD tips for secondary essays: Cracking Med School Admissions Secondary Essay Guide

University of Rochester Secondary Application Tip #1: We encourage you to answer the optional question, and answers to this question can be personal. Topics that students have written about for the optional question:

• Disruptions in classes or fluctuations in grades
• Disruptions in research projects, including senior thesis work
• Sick family members
• Responsibility to take care of family members
• Being sick themselves, and how catching the coronavirus affected their health
• Major disruptions to extra-curricular activities

Wondering if you should answer this question? Contact us below and we’ll give you our opinion!

University of Rochester Secondary Application Tip #2: If you are a re-applicant during this medical school application cycle, it is important to discuss how your application has changed from the first time you applied to this current time you are applying. First, identify weaknesses in your previous application. Make sure to discuss how you have improved on those weaknesses. Then, if you have other significant extra-curricular activities or new work experiences, you should mention them. 

• If you improved your academic profile, discuss specifically your academic performance during your gap year(s) (include postbacc / Master’s Grade Point Average & performance)
• If you conducted clinical experiences and volunteer work during your gap years, it’s important to mention these as University of Rochester greatly values both of these types of experiences. 

University of Rochester Secondary Application Tip #3: To answer the University of Rochester secondary application question, “Tell us about a community you identify with and how you’re involved with it,” you have to understand why the admissions committee is asking this question. University of Rochester is a community-focused school and its aim is to serve the Rochester community. It is strong in both primary care and specialty medicine. Therefore, you should answer this question to convey to the University of Rochester Admissions Committee that you will actively participate in community service, research, and clinical experiences that serve the Rochester community. 

Tips for the essay: Make sure you identify ONE community (sometimes, we’ve seen students write about 2+ communities). Discuss what you have gained from that community and how that has motivated you to serve the Rochester community.

University of Rochester Secondary Application Tip #4: To understand the health issues that impact Rochester’s community, read local newspapers and the Monroe County Department of Public Health website. It’s good to know both the local and national healthcare current events 🙂 

• We have an entire healthcare current events blog post here, where you can read more about healthcare disparities and other current events. Our Cracking Med School Admissions team updates this each year!

[Read more: Medical Schools in New York: How to Get Accepted & School Profiles ]