Every medical school student and alumnus we have met from Drexel University College of Medicine has absolutely loved his or her experience there! Drexel is a very popular medical school students both from the east coast and California apply to. It is important to convey why you would be a great fit for the Drexel University community on your Drexel secondary application. Drexel is a community-oriented school, and it is important to talk about how you have been involved with your local community. Additionally, you should write how you want to contribute to Philadelphia, where Drexel is located, throughout your Drexel secondaries. We can also help you personalize your secondary through our secondary essay editing packages.
Read our other Drexel School of Medicine secondary application tips below for advice on how to answer each question. While Drexel previously did not have any secondary questions, the admissions office now gives students an opportunity to share additional information.
The Drexel Medical School changed its Drexel secondary application prompts last year (2023-2024 application cycle). We would advise students to NOT pre-write this in the 2024 medical school admissions cycle.
Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a strong track record of helping our mentees receive acceptances to Drexel Medical School for the past several years. Make sure to ask us any questions you have about what to emphasize on your Drexel secondaries.
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Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2025 – 2026
Note: The Drexel Secondary Essay Prompts changed this year
- Tell us about yourself and why you feel like you may be a good fit for Drexel University College of Medicine. (1,500 characters)
- We recognize that each applicant’s journey is unique. If there were any extenuating circumstances that limited your involvement in service, academic, or other preparatory experiences—including MCAT preparation/taking—please share them here. If none, simply type “N/A” in the response area. (1,500 characters)
- If you have applied to medical school before, reflect on any meaningful experiences, growth, or updates that you feel have enhanced your application since the last time you applied. If this is your first application cycle, simply type “N/A” in the response area. (1,500 characters)
Tips to Answer Drexel Secondaries
Drexel Pre-Writing Guidance: Because Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary essays changed in the 2023-2024 cycle, we would not recommend applicants to start pre-writing the Drexel Med secondaries prior to the official release of the Drexel secondary essay prompts.
- Download our Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples.
Drexel Secondary Application Tip #1: Take advantage of the essentially no word limit. No, that does not mean you have to submit 2 page answers for each question. But, we hear of students who submit a few sentences for their responses, and we think this is a wasted opportunity to stand out to the Admissions Committee!
Drexel Secondary Application Tip #2: For the Drexel secondary application question, “Please discuss all of your current and recent activities and engagements that have prepared you for medical school. Please be sure to include any traditional and/or non-traditional clinical exposures and volunteering experiences that you have done that are not already included in your application.“
- Because of Drexel’s mission and based on the students our Cracking Med School Admissions team observes getting interview invites during the admissions process, it is important to highlight: 1) Patient care and 2) Community service or community engagement in this essay.
- Make sure you don’t forget any of your activities in your Drexel secondaries. Some students think they should not write about non-clinical work experiences. But, we our Cracking Med School Admissions team absolutely encourages talking about non-clinical and clinical experiences.
- Read Dr. Rachel Rizal’s article in U.S. News: Link Premed Nonclinical Experiences to Medicine
- We typically recommend students to write at least 3 sentences about each activity.
- Highlight leadership and initiatives you have with each activity, if applicable.
Drexel Secondary Application Tip #3: Include stories. For example, you can discuss a memorable patient story from one of your activities in the last year. Or, if you helped somebody build a home through Habitat for Humanity in one of your community service activities, then talk about how you impacted a specific family. Or, if you are a science teacher in elementary schools, you can talk about one of your favorite classes to teach! The goal is to paint a story and allow the reader to visualize you in action making a difference in your community.
Drexel Secondary Application Tip #4: For the Drexel Med School secondary application prompt, “Why are you interested in Drexel? Please also explain how you meet various elements of our mission – compassionate care, diversity, spirited inquiry, collaboration, and opportunity” …. students often get confused about what makes each medical school’s mission unique. Yes, every medical school states that it cares about the community, intellectual curiosity, teamwork, patient centered care, and diversity.
From our experience, successful applicants discuss these aspects on the “Why Drexel Med School” secondary application essay:
- Interest in urban health and patient care in urban settings. If you have worked in Philadelphia, that is a plus!
- Community service experience and desire to serve the community surrounding Drexel College of Medicine.
- Creative or innovative ideas to improve healthcare, especially community health.
Our Cracking Med School Admissions team knows the nuances of each medical school and what admissions committees tend to look for. Work with us on your Drexel secondaries and all other secondary application packages so that you can stand out through our secondary essay packages.
- Read our HIGH YIELD blog post: Why this Medical School? Secondary Essay Example
Drexel Secondary Application Tip #5: Emphasize and highlight any life experiences, clinical care experiences, or commitment to community service in Philadelphia. We have heard from students at Drexel Med School that the Drexel University Admissions Committee wants to attract a student body who has had experiences in urban health so that they can contribute to the greater Philadelphia during medical school.
What if you don’t have experiences in Philadelphia? Then highlight any urban health experiences. Have questions? Contact us below.
Drexel Secondary Application Tip #6: Connect your Drexel secondaries to what you want to do as a medical student at Drexel. Remember, accepted students and matriculants often do community health, community health research, or community service projects throughout their time at Drexel University College of Medicine.
[Read more secondary essay tips from other medical colleges: New York Medical College, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn Perelman School of Medicine), George Washington, Lewis Katz Temple ]
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Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2024 – 2025
Note: The Drexel Secondary Essay Prompts changed this year
- Please discuss all of your current and recent activities and engagements that have prepared you for medical school. Please be sure to include any traditional and/or non-traditional clinical exposures and volunteering experiences that you have done that are not already included in your application. (2,000 characters)
- Why are you interested in Drexel? Please also explain how you meet various elements of our mission – compassionate care, diversity, spirited inquiry, collaboration, and opportunity. (1,500 characters)
- Please describe any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your medical or non-medical service experiences, including any circumstances that impacted your engagement in activities, academics, and MCAT that would have helped to prepare you for medical school. (1,500 characters)
Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024
Note: The Drexel Secondary Essay Prompts changed this year
- Please discuss all of your current and recent activities and engagements that have prepared you for medical school. Please be sure to include any traditional and/or non-traditional clinical exposures and volunteering experiences that you have done that are not already included in your application. (2,000 characters)
- Why are you interested in Drexel? Please also explain how you meet various elements of our mission – compassionate care, diversity, spirited inquiry, collaboration, and opportunity. (1,500 characters)
- (optional) Please describe any extenuating circumstances that may have affected your medical or non-medical service experiences, including any circumstances that impacted your engagement in activities, academics, and MCAT that would have helped to prepare you for medical school. (1,500 characters)
Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023
- If you are a recent graduate, please tell us what you have been doing since graduation. If you have not yet graduated, please discuss your current activities and engagements. We understand that it may have been difficult to obtain clinical or volunteer service experiences during the pandemic; therefore, be sure to discuss any traditional and /or nontraditional clinical exposures and volunteering experiences that you have done during this time. (no word limit)
- 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. (1,000 words max)
Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022
- If you are a recent graduate, please tell us what you have been doing since graduation. If you have not yet graduated, please discuss your current activities and engagements. We understand that it may have been difficult to obtain clinical or volunteer service experiences during the pandemic; therefore, be sure to discuss any traditional and /or nontraditional clinical exposures and volunteering experiences that you have done during this time. (no word limit)
- What else do you feel is important for us (Drexel Medical School Admissions Committee) 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 (primary 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. (1,000 words max)
Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021
- If you are a recent graduate, please tell us what you have been doing since graduation. You may answer “Not applicable”. (No word limit)
- What else do you feel is important for us (Drexel Medical School Admissions Committee) 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 (primary 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. (500 words max)
Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020
- If you are a recent graduate, please tell us what you have been doing since graduation. You may answer “Not applicable”. (No word limit)
- (Optional) What else do you feel is important for us (Drexel Medical School Admissions Committee) to know about you? Please use this space to highlight something not addressed in your application, including new experiences not in your AMCAS application (primary application). (200 words max)
Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019
- We at Drexel University College of Medicine have a rich history and a valued mission. Each individual contributes to, supports and enriches our community. Please share with us how you plan on contributing to our College. (200 words max)
- (Optional) What else do you feel is important for us (Drexel Medical School Admissions Committee) to know about you? Please use this space to highlight something not addressed in your application, including new experiences not in your AMCAS application (primary application). (200 words max)
Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions 2017 – 2018
- We at Drexel University College of Medicine have a rich history and a valued mission. Each individual contributes to, supports and enriches our community. Please share with us how you plan on contributing to our College. (200 words max)
- (Optional) What else do you feel is important for us (Drexel Medical School Admissions Committee) to know about you? Please use this space to highlight something not addressed in your application, including new experiences not in your AMCAS application. (200 words max)
Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions 2016 – 2017
- We at Drexel University College of Medicine have a rich history and a valued mission. Each individual contributes to, supports and enriches our community. Please share with us how you plan on contributing to our College. (200 word character limit)
- (Optional) What else do you feel is important for us (Drexel Medical School Admissions Committee) to know about you? Please use this space to highlight something not addressed in your application, including new experiences not in your AMCAS application. (200 word character limit)
Drexel University College of Medicine Secondary Application Questions 2015 – 2016
There were no essay prompts in the Drexel Medical School secondary application for the 2015-2016 cycle.