Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine has a secondary application with several medium-length essays. The Feinberg Admissions committee wants to understand you as a holistic person; the committee even wants to know how you handle stress. Additionally, you have to convey how you will be a healthcare leader who will make a strong impact in medicine, research, or community health in your Northwestern secondaries. Read our Northwestern secondary application tips so you can learn how to stand out question by question!
The Northwestern Medical School secondary application is long AND the prompts have not changed over the past few years. We highly recommend students to pre-write this secondary application.
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Northwestern Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2025 – 2026
- Describe one specific aspect of the FSM integrated curriculum that will help you achieve your future goals within medicine and how FSM, located in Chicago, will help you achieve this professional goal. (200 word max)
- Describe a new hobby or activity you enjoy in your free time outside of school. (200 word max)
- (If applicable) FOR GAP YEAR: If you have a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe both your completed activities and future plans during the gap period. (200 words max)
- (If applicable) For REAPPLICANTS: Please also address steps taken to improve your application for medical school. (200 words max)
- (If applicable) Do you or an immediate family member have an existing relationship with Feinberg School of Medicine? (200 words max)
- The Feinberg School of Medicine values the totality of our students’ experiences. As everyone has their own narrative, please describe how your unique experiences would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 word max)
Northwestern Secondaries: MSTP Essay Prompts
Why did you choose your undergraduate major? How does the subject appeal to you? (200 words max)
Name a scientific paper that you have read recently that had a strong impact on you and describe what impact it had. (200 words max)
Discuss a current unanswered question in biomedical research that you find particularly interesting and what research you would like to see done to address it. (200 words max)
If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. (200 words max)
If you are a re-applicant this cycle, please address steps taken to improve your application. If not a reapplicant, please enter “N/A”. (200 words max)
What is the most gratifying research experience you have had to date and why? What was the greatest obstacle you had to overcome in research and how did you overcome it? (200 words max)
- Do you or an immediate family member have an existing relationship with Feinberg School of Medicine? (Y/N) 50 words if Y
- Please provide a brief statement explaining why you are specifically applying to the Northwestern University Medical Scientist Training Program. (200 word max)
- The Feinberg School of Medicine values the totality of our students’ experiences. As everyone has their own narrative, please describe how your unique experiences would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 words max)
Tips to Answer Northwestern Secondary Essays
Northwestern Secondary Application Pre-Writing Guidance: The Feinberg Northwestern Medical School secondary application is long AND the prompts have not changed over the past few years. We highly recommend students to pre-write their Northwestern secondaries.
- Download our Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples.
Northwestern Secondary Application Tip #1: In the question, “Describe which part (s) of Feinberg’s integrated curriculum you are most excited to engage in and best align with your learning style,”
- First, do your research on Northwestern Medical School’s curriculum. What makes it unique? Why will you thrive? Learn more about Northwestern Medical School’s curriculum and the med student culture in our “How to get into Northwestern Medical School” blog post.
- Second, discuss your learn style in detail. You may even given an example of how you have tackled academic challenges or how you have studied in college.
- Third, write specific aspects that you like about the Northwestern Medical School curriculum. Learn more about how to integrate Northwestern’s curriculum into your secondary essays by reading “How to Answer Why This Medical School?”
- People will usually touch on problem-based learning (PBL). However, in order to stand out, Dr. Mediratta and Dr. Rizal highly recommend you discussing other leadership activities and research you want to pursue at Northwestern. Include patient care and clinical opportunities, including electives and clinical rotations. The main mistake we see students make is to only discuss the pre-clinical curriculum and not other Northwestern opportunities. Contact us if you have questions.
Northwestern Secondary Application Tip #2: In the question, “Describe specific steps you take to manage your stress and maintain wellness while balancing personal, educational, and professional responsibilities,” be detailed when explaining how you handle stress. Previous students have talked about how they leaned on social support, paint a clear picture about how they organize their tasks, and discuss wellness techniques like meditation that are involved with. In the best essays our Dr. Rizal and Dr. Mediratta have read, we can literally visualize how somebody handles time management & stressful situations.
Northwestern Secondary Application Tip #3: For the Northwestern secondaries question, “The Feinberg School of Medicine values the totality of our students’ experiences. As everyone has their own narrative, please provide more detail about how your unique experiences would enrich the Northwestern community” Remember, diversity does not necessarily mean your ethnic diversity. We recommend students write about their strengths, including exceptional extracurricular activity endeavors. Because Northwestern is a top school and one of the best in the Midwest, the admissions committee wants to recruit medical students who are interested in improving healthcare. Pick a topic that will best showcase how you want to change healthcare and how you will be a healthcare leader.
There are two blog posts that will really help you out with this question:
- Read example diversity essay: Medical School Diversity Essay Examples and Tips
- Read tips to write an autobiography: How To Write An Autobiography For Medical School
Northwestern Secondary Application Tip #4: Talk about Chicago. If you have lived in Chicago or in nearby suburbs, discuss ways in which you have already been involved with the Chicago community. If you are interested in community health during medical school, write specific organizations you want to work with or research projects you want to conduct. Finally, if you plan on staying in Chicago in the long-term, definitely mention it! These tips are especially applicable for the essay prompt, “Feinberg’s mission is to train future leaders in medicine who will serve their patients, communities and society. Describe one specific goal within 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,” but you can incorporate Chicago involvement throughout other questions in the Feinberg secondary application.
Northwestern Secondary Application Tip #7: Do you need help with editing your Northwestern secondary essay? We can help you through our secondary essay packages. Feel free to ask us questions about how you can stand out by contacting us below!
Northwestern Secondary Application Tip #6: From our experience, many students with affiliations and personal connections to Northwestern receive interview invites. Utilize the large word limit for the question, “Do you or an immediate family member have an existing relationship with Feinberg School of Medicine?” Here’s how:
- If you are a student or alumnus of Northwestern University, discuss your favorite aspects about the campus, culture, and academics. What did you LOVE about student life and opportunities you pursued around campus? You can definitely include stories about your time at Northwestern University!
- If you have a family member who attended or taught at Northwestern University, then you should write about the AWESOME elements you heard about Northwestern from your family member. If you visited campus with your family member, you should definitely write about your experience.
- If you conducted any research, including high school or summer research, at Northwestern University, then you should discuss your research project in detail. Connect it to what you want to do at Feinberg School of Medicine.
Northwestern Secondary Application Tip #7: For the Northwestern secondaries prompt, “If you have a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe both your completed activities and future plans during the gap period” make sure you discuss both clinical experience and non-clinical activities that you are pursuing this year. The strongest applicants will be pursuing gap year activities that relate to their visions to change medicine (we discussed that this was important in the Northwestern secondary application tips above).
[Read More Secondary Essay Tips: Harvard, University of Chicago (Pritzker), Rush, University of Michigan ]
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Northwestern Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2024 – 2025
- Describe one specific aspect of the FSM integrated curriculum that will help you achieve your future goals within medicine and how FSM, located in Chicago, will help you achieve this professional goal. (200 word max)
- Describe specific steps you take to manage your stress while balancing personal, educational and professional responsibilities. (200 word max)
- (If applicable) FOR GAP YEAR: If you have a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe both your completed activities and future plans during the gap period. (200 words max)
- (If applicable) For REAPPLICANTS: Please also address steps taken to improve your application for medical school. (200 words max)
- (If applicable) Do you or an immediate family member have an existing relationship with Feinberg School of Medicine? (200 words max)
- The Feinberg School of Medicine values the totality of our students’ experiences. As everyone has their own narrative, please describe how your unique experiences would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 word max)
Northwestern Secondaries: MSTP Essay Prompts
Why did you choose your undergraduate major? How does the subject appeal to you? (200 words max)
Name a scientific paper that you have read recently that had a strong impact on you and describe what impact it had. (200 words max)
Discuss a current unanswered question in biomedical research that you find particularly interesting and what research you would like to see done to address it. (200 words max)
If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. (200 words max)
If you are a re-applicant this cycle, please address steps taken to improve your application. If not a reapplicant, please enter “N/A”. (200 words max)
What is the most gratifying research experience you have had to date and why? What was the greatest obstacle you had to overcome in research and how did you overcome it? (200 words max)
Personal Narrative: 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. Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about how your experiences would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 words max)
The Feinberg Admissions Committee removed the COVID-19 question from last cycle.
Northwestern Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2023 – 2024
- Describe which part (s) of Feinberg’s integrated curriculum you are most excited to engage in and best align with your learning style. (200 words max)
- Describe specific steps you take to manage your stress and maintain wellness while balancing personal, educational, and professional responsibilities. (200 words max)
- Feinberg’s mission is to train future leaders in medicine who will serve their patients, communities and society. Describe one specific goal within 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. (200 words max)
- (If applicable) FOR GAP YEAR: If you have a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe both your completed activities and future plans during the gap period. (200 words max)
- (If applicable) For REAPPLICANTS: Please also address steps taken to improve your application for medical school. (200 words max)
- 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. (200 words max)
- (If applicable) Do you or an immediate family member have an existing relationship with Feinberg School of Medicine? (200 words max)
Northwestern Secondaries: MSTP Essay Prompts
Why did you choose your undergraduate major? How does the subject appeal to you? (200 words max)
Name a scientific paper that you have read recently that had a strong impact on you and describe what impact it had. (200 words max)
Discuss a current unanswered question in biomedical research that you find particularly interesting and what research you would like to see done to address it. (200 words max)
If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. (200 words max)
If you are a re-applicant this cycle, please address steps taken to improve your application. If not a reapplicant, please enter “N/A”. (200 words max)
What is the most gratifying research experience you have had to date and why? What was the greatest obstacle you had to overcome in research and how did you overcome it? (200 words max)
Personal Narrative: 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. Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about how your experiences would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 words max)
The Feinberg Admissions Committee removed the COVID-19 question from last cycle.
Northwestern Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2022 – 2023
Northwestern Secondaries: MD Essay Prompts
- Given the distinctive educational philosophy and integrated curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would align with the institution. (200 words max)
- Describe specific steps you take to manage your stress and maintain wellness while balancing personal, educational, and professional responsibilities. (200 words max)
- Future Career Plans: Feinberg’s mission is to train future leaders in medicine who will serve their patients, communities and society. Describe one specific goal within 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. (200 words max)
- Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial or professional barriers, as well as any other relevant information. (200 words max)
- FOR GAP YEAR: If you have a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe both your completed activities and future plans during the gap period. (200 words max)
- For REAPPLICANTS: Please also address steps taken to improve your application for medical school. (200 words max)
- 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. (200 words max)
Northwestern Secondaries: MSTP Essay Prompts
Why did you choose your undergraduate major? How does the subject appeal to you? (200 words max)
Name a scientific paper that you have read recently that had a strong impact on you and describe what impact it had. (200 words max)
Discuss a current unanswered question in biomedical research that you find particularly interesting and what research you would like to see done to address it. (200 words max)
If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. (200 words max)
If you are a re-applicant this cycle, please address steps taken to improve your application. If not a reapplicant, please enter “N/A”. (200 words max)
What is the most gratifying research experience you have had to date and why? What was the greatest obstacle you had to overcome in research and how did you overcome it? (200 words max)
Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial or professional barriers, as well as any other relevant information. (200 words max)
Personal Narrative: 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. Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about how your experiences would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 words max)
Northwestern Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2021 – 2022
- Given the distinctive educational philosophy and integrated curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would align with the institution. (200 words max)
- Describe specific steps you take to manage your stress and maintain wellness while balancing personal, educational, and professional responsibilities. (200 words max)
- Future Career Plans: 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. (200 words max)
- Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial or professional barriers, as well as any other relevant information. (200 words max)
- (If applicable) Post-undergraduate experiences / Gap years: If you have a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe both your completed activities and future plans during the gap period. (200 words max)
- (If applicable) Reapplicants: Please also address steps taken to improve your application for medical school. (200 words max)
- 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. (200 words max)
Northwestern Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2020 – 2021
- Given the distinctive educational philosophy and integrated curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would fit the institution, and how Feinberg School of Medicine will help you achieve your professional goals. (200 words max)
- Describe the steps you take to manage your personal stress when confronted with difficult situations.
Feinberg’s mission is to impact the practice of medicine through discovery and education. With consideration of FSM’s goal to train future leaders in medicine, please describe your career plans and goals. Be as specific as your current thinking will allow. (200 words max) - (If applicable) If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. For REAPPLICANTS: Please also address steps taken to improve your application for medical school. (200 words max)
- Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about how your experiences would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 words max)
- Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial or professional barriers, as well as any other relevant information. (200 words max)
- (If applicable) Post-undergraduate experiences / Gap years: If you have a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe both your completed activities and future plans during the gap period. (200 words max)
- (If applicable) Reapplicants: Please also address steps taken to improve your application for medical school. (200 words max)
Northwestern Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2019 – 2020
Northwestern Secondaries: MD Essay Prompts
- Given the distinctive educational philosophy and integrated curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would fit the institution, and how Feinberg School of Medicine will help you achieve your professional goals. (200 words max)
- Describe the steps you take to manage your personal stress when confronted with difficult situations.
Feinberg’s mission is to impact the practice of medicine through discovery and education. With consideration of FSM’s goal to train future leaders in medicine, please describe your career plans and goals. Be as specific as your current thinking will allow. (200 words max) - (If applicable) If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. For REAPPLICANTS: Please also address steps taken to improve your application for medical school. (200 words max)
- Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about how your experiences would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 words max)
- 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. Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about how your experiences would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 words max)
Northwestern Secondaries: MSTP Essay Prompts
- Why did you choose your undergraduate major? How does the subject appeal to you? (200 words max)
- Name a scientific paper that you have read recently that had a strong impact on you and describe what impact it had? (200 words max)
- Discuss a current unanswered question in biomedical research that you find particularly interesting and what research you would like to see done to address it. (200 words max)
- What is the most gratifying research experience you have had to date and why? What was the greatest obstacle you had to overcome in research and how did you overcome it? (200 words max)
- Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about your selections above and how you would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 words max)
- How do you envision your career after you complete your training, including residency and fellowship? What aspects of your life and career will be most satisfying? What frustrations can you envision in your future career, and how do you hope to handle them? (200 words max)
- Please describe your current research interest as you plan your research training. (200 words max)
Northwestern Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2018 – 2019
- Given the distinctive educational philosophy and integrated curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would fit the institution.(200 words max)
- Describe the steps you take to reduce your personal stress when confronted with difficult situations.(200 words max
- Feinberg’s mission is to impact the practice of medicine through discovery and education. With consideration of FSM’s goal to train future leaders in medicine, please describe your career plans and goals. Be as specific as your current thinking will allow. (200 words max)
- (If applicable) If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. For REAPPLICANTS: Please also address steps taken to improve your application for medical school. (200 words max)
- Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about your selections above and how you would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 words max)
Northwestern Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2017 – 2018
- Given the distinctive educational philosophy and curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would fit the institution. (200 words max)
- Describe the steps you take to reduce your personal stress when confronted with difficult situations. (200 words max)
- Feinberg’s mission is to impact the practice of medicine through discovery and education. With consideration of FSM’s goal to train future leaders in medicine, please describe your career plans and goals. Be as specific as your current thinking will allow. (200 words max)
- (If applicable) If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. (200 words max)
- Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about your selections above and how you would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 words max)
Northwestern Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2016 – 2017
- Given the distinctive educational philosophy and curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would fit the institution. (200 words max)
- Describe the coping skills (not problem-solving skills) you use when confronted with difficult situations. (200 words max)
- Describe your career plans and goals. Be as specific as your current thinking will allow. (200 words max)
- (If applicable) If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. (200 words max)
- A section about diversity with check boxes then:
If you wish, use this space to provide more detail about your selections above and how you would bring diversity to the Northwestern community. (200 words max) - Do you or an immediate family member have an existing relationship with the Feinberg School of Medicine? Yes or No?
If Yes, please provide details. (75 words max)
Northwestern Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2015 – 2016
- Given the distinctive educational philosophy and curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would fit the institution. (250 words max)
- Describe the coping skills (not problem solving skills) you use when confronted with difficult situations. (250 words max)
- Describe your career plans and goals. Be as specific as your current thinking will allow. (250 words max)
- (If Applicable) If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and Medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. (250 words max)
- If you wish, use this space to provide more detail about your selections above and how you would bring diversity to the Northwestern community. Note: this is about your racial background, sexual identity, and social background. (250 words max)