Lewis Katz School of Medicine (LKSOM) at Temple University accepts students are passionate not only about clinical medicine, but also about community enegagement. LKSOM has two campuses: North Philadelphia (main campus) and St. Luke’s in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Our students who has successfully been accepted have shown their commitment to community medicine, healthcare disparities, urban health, and medical innovation. These are values that Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University embodies, and it is evident in the Lewis Katz secondary essay prompts. Read more of our Temple University secondary application tips below. Contact us if you have questions about the Temple secondaries!
The Temple secondary application essay questions have not changed in the past couple of years. We highly recommend you pre-write this secondary so that you can submit it sooner. We recommend students to submit this secondary earlier.
Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a track record of helping our mentees receive acceptances to Lewis Katz School of Medicine. Get our help on your Temple University secondary application by asking us a question or through our secondary essay editing packages.
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Temple Secondary Application Questions: 2025 – 2026
- What is the nature of your interest in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine? (2,000 characters max)
- (New) The Admissions Committee would like to know more about you.
Katz seeks an engaged student body with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and interests to enhance the medical school experience for everyone. Please use the space below to describe:
what makes you unique as an applicant,
an obstacle that you had to overcome,
or how you will contribute to the Katz community. (2,000 characters max) - Tell us about your special interest in the campus you selected. (2,000 characters max)
- What are your plans for the current year – June 2025 until June 2026? (2,000 characters max)
- Have you completed a pathway/pipeline program offered through LKSOM or another medical school? These types of pathway/pipeline programs include Diversity Scholars, STEP-UP, Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) or other similar programs sponsored by a medical school. (Y/N)
Tips to Answer Temple Secondaries
Temple Secondary Pre-Writing Guidance: The Lewis Katz School of Medicine secondary application questions have not changed in the past couple of years. We highly recommend you pre-write this secondary so that you can submit it sooner. We recommend students to submit this secondary earlier.
- Download our Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples.
Temple University Secondary Application Tip #1: LKSOM values community health and commitment to serving Philadelphia residents. Students who have an affiliation with Philadelphia have a STRONG advantage. If you have any experiences, especially community service, research, and clinical work, in Philadelphia, make sure to mention them.
Temple University Secondary Application Tip #2: Other than ties to Philadelphia, Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine values:
- clinical experiences with patients from urban areas
- clinical experiences and volunteer experiences with individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds
- medical school applicants who engage in their communities, especially urban communities
Temple University Secondary Application Tip #3: It is extremely important to convey Why Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine in your secondary application. That’s why it’s the LKSOM Secondary Application’s essay #1 and essay #2! Make sure to discuss specific community organizations you want to be involved with throughout your medical school career.
- Read our HIGH-YIELD blog post Why this Medical School? Secondary Essay Example for more tips on how to answer “Why Lewis Katz School of Medicine.”
Temple University Secondary Application Tip #4: Highlight your leadership, passion to change healthcare, and impact on society. After reading your entire Temple secondaries, the reader should understand: what is your vision to improve healthcare?
discuss the research and urban community opportunities.
Temple University Secondary Application Tip #5: Now that you know what Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine values, you need to tailor your Temple secondaries towards the school’s values. Work with our Cracking Med School Admissions team to edit and strategize your Temple through our secondary essay packages. If you have questions about how you can stand out, contact us below.
Temple University Secondary Application Tip #6: If you have any personal connections or know alumni / current faculty at Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, or Philadelphia, mention the connections in your secondary essay.
Temple University Secondary Application Tip #7: For the COVID question, make sure to discuss what you did throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
- Students often think that they should only discuss disruptions, but we advise our students who work with us through our application packages to discuss what they accomplished during the pandemic.
- Read more about how to answer questions through our blog post – COVID Essay Medical School Example & Tips To Stand Out.
Temple University Secondary Application Tip #8: For the question, “Tell us about your special interest in the campus you selected,” most students will choose to apply to the main campus where the Health Science Center Campus is located. The Philadelphia campus and more urban health, healthcare disparities, and research opportunities for students. However, some medical students are open to applying to the other Lewis Katz clinical campus in suburban Pennsylvania to gain certain exposure to different populations and clinical opportunities. There is less of an emphasis played on urban health in the Bethlehem Temple campus. You can read about all the hospitals and clinical campuses here: Temple Clinical Rotation Sites
To answer the question, make sure you do thorough research and justify why you are applying to the specific campuses. Why do the student organizations, community opportunities, and clinical opportunities in each campus excite you?
[Read more secondary essay tips: New York Medical College, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Sidney Kimmel Medical College (Thomas Jefferson University) ]
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Use this essay guide and workbook to write standout secondaries.
Temple Secondary Application Questions: 2024 – 2025
- What is the nature of your interest in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine? (2,000 characters max)
- How do you plan on contributing to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine Community? LKSOM seeks an engaged student body with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and interests to enhance the medical school experience for everyone. Please use the space below to describe what makes you unique as an applicant, an obstacle that you had to overcome, or how you will contribute to the LKSOM community. (2,000 characters max)
- Tell us about your special interest in the campus you selected. (2,000 characters max)
- What are your plans for the current year – June 2024 until June 2025? (2,000 characters max)
- The Coronavirus pandemic has affected all of us. Please use this space to describe to us how you were impacted academically, personally or professionally by COVID-19. (2,000 characters max)
- Have you completed a pathway/pipeline program offered through LKSOM or another medical school? These types of pathway/pipeline programs include Diversity Scholars, STEP-UP, Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) or other similar programs sponsored by a medical school. (Y/N)
Temple Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024
- What is the nature of your interest in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine? (2,000 characters max)
- How do you plan on contributing to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine Community? LKSOM seeks an engaged student body with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and interests to enhance the medical school experience for everyone. Please use the space below to describe what makes you unique as an applicant, an obstacle that you had to overcome, or how you will contribute to the LKSOM community. (2,000 characters max)
- Tell us about your special interest in the campus you selected. (2,000 characters max)
- What are your plans for the current year – June 2023 until June 2024? (2,000 characters max)
- The Coronavirus pandemic has affected all of us. Please use this space to describe to us how you were impacted academically, personally or professionally by COVID-19. (2,000 characters max)
- Have you completed a pathway/pipeline program offered through LKSOM or another medical school? These types of pathway/pipeline programs include Diversity Scholars, STEP-UP, Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) or other similar programs sponsored by a medical school. (Y/N)
Temple University Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023
- What is the nature of your interest in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine? (2,000 characters max)
- How do you plan on contributing to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine Community? LKSOM seeks an engaged student body with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and interests to enhance the medical school experience for everyone. Please use the space below to describe what makes you unique as an applicant, an obstacle that you had to overcome, or how you will contribute to the LKSOM community. (2,000 characters max)
- Tell us about your special interest in the campus you selected. (2,000 characters max)
- What are your plans for the current year – June 2022 until June 2023? (2,000 characters max)
- The Coronavirus pandemic has affected all of us. Please use this space to describe to us how you were impacted academically, personally or professionally by COVID-19. (2,000 characters max)
- Have you completed a pathway/pipeline program offered through LKSOM or another medical school? These types of pathway/pipeline programs include Diversity Scholars, STEP-UP, Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) or other similar programs sponsored by a medical school. (Y/N)
Note: 2,000 character limit per essay question, including spaces.
Temple University Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022
- What is the nature of your interest in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine? (2,000 characters max)
- How do you plan on contributing to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine Community? LKSOM seeks an engaged student body with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and interests to enhance the medical school experience for everyone. Please use the space below to describe what makes you unique as an applicant, an obstacle that you had to overcome, or how you will contribute to the LKSOM community. (2,000 characters max)
- Tell us about your special interest in the campus you selected. (2,000 characters max)
- What are your plans for the current year – June 2021 until June 2022? (2,000 characters max)
- The Coronavirus pandemic has affected all of us. Please use this space to describe to us how you were impacted academically, personally or professionally by COVID-19. (2,000 characters max)
- Have you completed a pathway/pipeline program offered through LKSOM or another medical school? These types of pathway/pipeline programs include Diversity Scholars, STEP-UP, Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) or other similar programs sponsored by a medical school. (Y/N)
Note: 2,000 character limit per essay question, including spaces.
Temple University Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021
- What is the nature of your interest in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine? (2,000 characters max)
- How do you plan on contributing to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine Community? LKSOM seeks an engaged student body with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and interests to enhance the medical school experience for everyone. Please use the space below to describe what makes you unique as an applicant, an obstacle that you had to overcome, or how you will contribute to the LKSOM community. (2,000 characters max)
- Tell us about your special interest in the campus you selected. (2,000 characters max)
- What are your plans for the current year – June 2020 until June 2021? (2,000 characters max)
- The Coronavirus pandemic has affected all of us. Please use this space to describe to us how you were impacted academically, personally or professionally by COVID-19. (2,000 characters max)
- Have you completed a pathway/pipeline program offered through LKSOM or another medical school? These types of pathway/pipeline programs include Diversity Scholars, STEP-UP, Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) or other similar programs sponsored by a medical school. (Y/N)
Note: 2,000 character limit per essay question, including spaces.
Temple University Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020
- What is the nature of your interest in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine? (2,000 characters max)
- How do you plan on contributing to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine Community? LKSOM seeks an engaged student body with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and interests to enhance the medical school experience for everyone. Please use the space below to describe what makes you unique as an applicant, an obstacle that you had to overcome, or how you will contribute to the LKSOM community. (2,000 characters max)
- Tell us why you selected your first choice ranked Clinical/Regional Campus. (2,000 characters max)
- What are your plans for the current year – June 2019 until June 2020? (2,000 characters max)
Note: 2,000 character limit per essay question, including spaces.
Temple University Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019
- What is the nature of your interest in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine? (2,000 characters max)
- How do you plan on contributing to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine Community? LKSOM seeks an engaged student body with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and interests to enhance the medical school experience for everyone. Please use the space below to describe what makes you unique as an applicant, an obstacle that you had to overcome, or how you will contribute to the LKSOM community. (2,000 characters max)
- Tell us why you selected your first choice ranked Clinical/Regional Campus. (2,000 characters max)
- What are your plans for the current year – June 2018 until June 2019? (2,000 characters max)
Note: 2,000 character limit per essay question, including spaces.
Temple University Secondary Application Questions: 2017 – 2018
- What is the nature of your interest in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine? (2,000 characters max)
- How do you plan on contributing to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine Community? LKSOM seeks an engaged student body with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and interests to enhance the medical school experience for everyone. Please use the space below to describe what makes you unique as an applicant, an obstacle that you had to overcome, or how you will contribute to the LKSOM community. (2,000 characters max)
- Tell us why you selected your first choice ranked Clinical/Regional Campus. (2,000 characters max)
- What are your plans for the current year – June 2017 until June 2018? (2,000 characters max)
Note: 2,000 character limit per essay question, including spaces.
Temple University Secondary Application Questions: 2016 – 2017
- What is the nature of your interest in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine? (2,000 characters max)
- How do you plan on contributing to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine Community? LKSOM seeks an engaged student body with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and interests to enhance the medical school experience for everyone. Please use the space below to describe what makes you unique as an applicant, an obstacle that you had to overcome, or how you will contribute to the LKSOM community. (2,000 characters max)
- Tell us why you selected your first choice ranked Clinical/Regional Campus. (2,000 characters max)
- What are your plans for the current year – June 2016 until June 2017? (2,000 characters max)
Note: 2,000 character limit per essay question, including spaces.