UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts by Year
Add a header to begin generating the table of contents
Many Californians apply to UC Irvine School of Medicine because of its fantastic location in Orange County, California. It’s important to note that the UCI medical school campus is not on the undergraduate campus, it’s about 10-20 minutes North in the city of Orange, California. UC Irvine School of Medicine serves an extremely diverse patient population, which is a big attraction to premedical students. Additionally, the medical school is forward-thinking, being one of the first medical schools to give each of its med students and iPad and a hand-held ultrasound. Therefore, your UCI secondary application should working with diverse populations and thinking “outside-the-box.” Read more UCI secondary application essay tips below!
UCI secondary essay prompts don’t change so this is a great secondary to pre-write and submit early.
Our Cracking Med School Admissions team can help you craft a strong UCI secondary application. We have a track record of helping our mentees receive acceptances to UC Irvine School of Medicine for the last 10 years.
To learn more about student life and curriculum, read our UC Irvine Medical School Admissions: Insider’s Perspective to Get Accepted.
- Personally Tailored Essays
- Edits by Stanford & Harvard-trained Doctors
- We study your application strengths to see what unique attributes we’ll bring to the medical school
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2025 – 2026
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD Essays
- What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1,500 characters max)
- (New) Have you ever had difficulty accessing quality education or healthcare? If so, please describe how this impacted you and others in your community.(1,500 characters max)
- (New) Have you completed your Bachelors Degree (B.A/ B.S). Please clarify for the Admissions Committee your activities (school, work, and/or volunteer, travel, etc.) since receiving your undergraduate degree. You may list them in chronological order or you may incorporate them into an essay, stating why you chose particular activities. If you have just received or will receive your undergraduate degree this year, please discuss your plans for current year. (1,500 characters max)
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD/PhD Essays
- What research accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a research challenge you have overcome and what you learned from that experience.
- What does it mean, to you, to be an MD/PhD?
- Please list all posters, manuscripts (published or planned) you would like the Admissions Committee to consider.
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD/PhD Essays Prime-LC Essays
- Do you wish to be considered for the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community? (Y/N)
- Please describe how you have served your community (school, neighborhood, city, etc.) and how these experiences have prepared you for PRIME-LC. (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe the reason for your interest to be trained as a physician leader for the Latino community. In addition, explain how you intend to utilize the PRIME-LC specialized training to impact community health and health services for the Latino community. (1,500 characters max)
Tips to Answer UC Irvine Secondaries
UCI Secondaries Pre-Writing Guidance: UCI School of Medicine has not changed its secondaries for years. This is a great secondary to pre-write. We would also submit this earlier in the cycle (aim to submit by early August, if not sooner).
>> Get all our Cracking Med School Admissions tips for secondary essays: Download our Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples.
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Tip #1: UC Irvine School of Medicine is a very community-oriented medical school. Talk about how you want to engage at UCI and around Southern California. Many medical students at UCI do community service projects throughout medical school, such as volunteering at local health fairs.
- Learn more about UCI’s curriculum and culture in our well-researched UCI Medical School Profile.
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Tip #2: The UCI secondary application question “What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why?” is one of the most difficult for students to answer. Most students write something meaningful and personal.
Examples include:
- An award for best “Teaching Assistant”
- A thank you letter from a mentee
- Helping a youth sports team win a championship
Contact us if you have questions about your personal accomplishment response.
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Tip #3: For the UCI secondary application question about an applicant’s upcoming year or what applicants have been doing in their gap years, many students undersell what they will be doing in the upcoming year. Don’t forget to write both clinical and non-clinical activities. For example, if you will be volunteering in your community, that’s important to include! Finally, if you are doing any of your activities or clinical experiences in Orange County, definitely mention that!
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Tip #4: Get our help to edit your UC Irvine secondary application essays. We can help you through our secondary essay packages. Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- Does UCI screen for secondaries?
- Typically, UCI screens AMCAS primary applications and then decides whether to send a medical school applicant a secondary or not.
- Is my ______ [insert accomplishment] a good accomplishment for the UCI secondary?
- Please contact Dr. Rizal and Dr. Mediratta and we’ll let you know!
Read More Secondary Essay Tips: University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA); University of Southern California (USC); University of California – San Francisco (UCSF) ]
We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With.
Undergraduate
Princeton University, cum laude
Medical School
Stanford School of Medicine
Residency
Harvard, Emergency Medicine
Awards & Scholarships
Fulbright Scholar
USA Today Academic First Team
Tylenol Scholarship
Undergraduate
Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa
Medical School
Stanford School of Medicine
Residency
Stanford, Pediatrics
Awards & Scholarships
Marshall Scholar
Tylenol Scholarship
Global Health Scholar
download your secondary Essay Guide
Use this essay guide and workbook to write standout secondaries.
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2024 – 2025
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD Essays
- What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1,500 characters max)
- (Optional) Do you identify as being part of a marginalized group socioeconomically or in terms of access to quality education or healthcare? If so, please describe how this inequity has impacted you and your community. (1,500 characters max)
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD/PhD Essays
- What research accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a research challenge you have overcome and what you learned from that experience.
- What does it mean, to you, to be an MD/PhD?
- Please list all posters, manuscripts (published or planned) you would like the Admissions Committee to consider.
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD/PhD Essays Prime-LC Essays
- Do you wish to be considered for the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community? (Y/N)
- Please describe how you have served your community (school, neighborhood, city, etc.) and how these experiences have prepared you for PRIME-LC. (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe the reason for your interest to be trained as a physician leader for the Latino community. In addition, explain how you intend to utilize the PRIME-LC specialized training to impact community health and health services for the Latino community. (1,500 characters max)
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD Essays
- What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1,500 characters max)
- (Optional) Do you identify as being part of a marginalized group socioeconomically or in terms of access to quality education or healthcare? If so, please describe how this inequity has impacted you and your community. (1,500 characters max)
- This essay is only for applicants that have already received their baccalaureate degree. Please clarify for the Admissions Committee your activities (school, work, and/or volunteer, travel, etc.) since receiving your undergraduate degree. You may list them in chronological order or you may incorporate them into an essay, stating why you chose particular activities. If you have just received or will receive your undergraduate degree this year, please discuss your plans for current year. (1,500 characters max)
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD/PhD Essays
- What research accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a research challenge you have overcome and what you learned from that experience.
- What does it mean, to you, to be an MD/PhD?
- Please list all posters, manuscripts (published or planned) you would like the Admissions Committee to consider.
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD/PhD Essays Prime-LC Essays
- Do you wish to be considered for the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community? (Y/N)
- Please describe how you have served your community (school, neighborhood, city, etc.) and how these experiences have prepared you for PRIME-LC. (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe the reason for your interest to be trained as a physician leader for the Latino community. In addition, explain how you intend to utilize the PRIME-LC specialized training to impact community health and health services for the Latino community. (1,500 characters max)
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD Essays
- What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1,500 characters max)
- (Optional) Do you identify as being part of a marginalized group socioeconomically or in terms of access to quality education or healthcare? If so, please describe how this inequity has impacted you and your community. (1,500 characters max)
- This essay is only for applicants that have already received their baccalaureate degree. Please clarify for the Admissions Committee your activities (school, work, and/or volunteer, travel, etc.) since receiving your undergraduate degree. You may list them in chronological order or you may incorporate them into an essay, stating why you chose particular activities. If you have just received or will receive your undergraduate degree this year, please discuss your plans for current year. (1,500 characters max)
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD/PhD Essays
- What research accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a research challenge you have overcome and what you learned from that experience.
- What does it mean, to you, to be an MD/PhD?
- Please list all posters, manuscripts (published or planned) you would like the Admissions Committee to consider.
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD/PhD Essays Prime-LC Essays
- Do you wish to be considered for the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community? (Y/N)
- Please describe how you have served your community (school, neighborhood, city, etc.) and how these experiences have prepared you for PRIME-LC. (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe the reason for your interest to be trained as a physician leader for the Latino community. In addition, explain how you intend to utilize the PRIME-LC specialized training to impact community health and health services for the Latino community. (1,500 characters max)
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD Essays
- What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1,500 characters max)
- (Optional) Do you identify as being part of a marginalized group socioeconomically or in terms of access to quality education or healthcare? If so, please describe how this inequity has impacted you and your community. (1,500 characters max)
- This essay is only for applicants that have already received their baccalaureate degree. Please clarify for the Admissions Committee your activities (school, work, and/or volunteer, travel, etc.) since receiving your undergraduate degree. You may list them in chronological order or you may incorporate them into an essay, stating why you chose particular activities. If you have just received or will receive your undergraduate degree this year, please discuss your plans for current year. (1,500 characters max)
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD/PhD Essays
- What research accomplishment are you most proud of and why?
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a research challenge you have overcome and what you learned from that experience.
- What does it mean, to you, to be an MD/PhD?
- Please list all posters, manuscripts (published or planned) you would like the Admissions Committee to consider.
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD/PhD Essays Prime-LC Essays
- Do you wish to be considered for the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community? (Y/N)
- Please describe how you have served your community (school, neighborhood, city, etc.) and how these experiences have prepared you for PRIME-LC. (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe the reason for your interest to be trained as a physician leader for the Latino community. In addition, explain how you intend to utilize the PRIME-LC specialized training to impact community health and health services for the Latino community. (1,500 characters max)
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD Essays
- What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1,500 characters max)
- Do you have a baccalaureate degree? (Y/N) This essay is only for applicants that have already received their baccalaureate degree. Please clarify for the Admissions Committee your activities (school, work, and/or volunteer, travel, etc.) since receiving your undergraduate degree. You may list them in chronological order or you may incorporate them into an essay, stating why you chose particular activities. If you have just received or will receive your undergraduate degree this year, please discuss your plans for current year. (1,500 characters max)
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application
Prime-LC Program Essays
- Do you wish to be considered for the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community? (Y/N)
- Please describe how you have served your community (school, neighborhood, city, etc.) and how these experiences have prepared you for PRIME-LC. (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe the reason for your interest to be trained as a physician leader for the Latino community. In addition, explain how you intend to utilize the PRIME-LC specialized training to impact community health and health services for the Latino community. (1,500 characters max)
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD Essays
- What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1,500 characters max)
- Do you have a baccalaureate degree? (Y/N) This essay is only for applicants that have already received their baccalaureate degree. Please clarify for the Admissions Committee your activities (school, work, and/or volunteer, travel, etc.) since receiving your undergraduate degree. You may list them in chronological order or you may incorporate them into an essay, stating why you chose particular activities. If you have just received or will receive your undergraduate degree this year, please discuss your plans for current year. (1,500 characters max)
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application Prime-LC Program Essays
- Do you wish to be considered for the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community? (Y/N)
- Please describe how you have served your community (school, neighborhood, city, etc.) and how these experiences have prepared you for PRIME-LC. (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe the reason for your interest to be trained as a physician leader for the Latino community. In addition, explain how you intend to utilize the PRIME-LC specialized training to impact community health and health services for the Latino community. (1,500 characters max)
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD Essays
- What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1,500 characters max)
- Do you have a baccalaureate degree? (Y/N) This essay is only for applicants that have already received their baccalaureate degree. Please clarify for the Admissions Committee your activities (school, work, and/or volunteer, travel, etc.) since receiving your undergraduate degree. You may list them in chronological order or you may incorporate them into an essay, stating why you chose particular activities. If you have just received or will receive your undergraduate degree this year, please discuss your plans for current year. (1,500 characters max)
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application Prime-LC Program Essays
- Do you wish to be considered for the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community? (Y/N)
- Please describe how you have served your community (school, neighborhood, city, etc.) and how these experiences have prepared you for PRIME-LC. (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe the reason for your interest to be trained as a physician leader for the Latino community. In addition, explain how you intend to utilize the PRIME-LC specialized training to impact community health and health services for the Latino community. (1,500 characters max)
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2017 – 2018
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD Essays
- What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1,500 characters max)
- Do you have a baccalaureate degree? (Y/N) This essay is only for applicants that have already received their baccalaureate degree. Please clarify for the Admissions Committee your activities (school, work, and/or volunteer, travel, etc.) since receiving your undergraduate degree. You may list them in chronological order or you may incorporate them into an essay, stating why you chose particular activities. If you have just received or will receive your undergraduate degree this year, please discuss your plans for current year. (1,500 characters max)
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application Prime-LC Program Essays
- Do you wish to be considered for the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community? (Y/N)
- Please describe how you have served your community (school, neighborhood, city, etc.) and how these experiences have prepared you for PRIME-LC. (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe the reason for your interest to be trained as a physician leader for the Latino community. In addition, explain how you intend to utilize the PRIME-LC specialized training to impact community health and health services for the Latino community. (1,500 characters max)
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2016 – 2017
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application MD Essays
- What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1,500 characters max)
- Do you have a baccalaureate degree? (Y/N) This essay is only for applicants that have already received their baccalaureate degree. Please clarify for the Admissions Committee your activities (school, work, and/or volunteer, travel, etc.) since receiving your undergraduate degree. You may list them in chronological order or you may incorporate them into an essay, stating why you chose particular activities. If you have just received or will receive your undergraduate degree this year, please discuss your plans for current year. (1,500 characters max)
UC Irvine Medical School Secondary Application Prime-LC Program Essays
- Do you wish to be considered for the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community? (Y/N)
- Please describe how you have served your community (school, neighborhood, city, etc.) and how these experiences have prepared you for PRIME-LC. (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe the reason for your interest to be trained as a physician leader for the Latino community. In addition, explain how you intend to utilize the PRIME-LC specialized training to impact community health and health services for the Latino community. (1,500 characters max)
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2015 – 2016
- What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1,800 characters max)
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2014 – 2015
- What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1,800 characters max)
UCI Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2013 – 2014
- What personal accomplishment are you most proud of and why? (1,500 characters max)
- Please describe to the Admissions Committee a challenge or disappointment you have overcome and what you learned about yourself from that experience. (1,800 characters max)
- This essay is only for applicants that have already received their baccalaureate degree. Please clarify for the Admissions Committee your activities (school, work and/or volunteer, travel, etc.) since receiving your undergraduate degree. You may list them in chronological order or you may incorporate them into an essay, stating why you chose particular activities. (1,800 characters max)