University of Toledo Medical School Secondary Application Tips and Essay Prompts

University of Toledo College of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Prompts & Tips

University of Toledo Medical School Secondary Application Essay Tips & Prompts by Year
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    The University of Toledo College of Medicine is located in Toledo, Ohio, and is known for its community engagement. Crafting an excellent secondary application for the University of Toledo Medical School is imperative for getting an interview invite! A well-written University of Toledo Medical School secondary application not only highlights academic achievements, but also underscores personal attributes, clinical experiences, and reasons you want to serve the Toledo community.

    The University of Toledo is a popular medical school to apply to especially for students who reside in Ohio or the Midwestern University States. Drs. Rachel Rizal and Rishi Mediratta – your advisors at Cracking Med School Admissions – have helped their mentees get accepted to the University of Toledo! Get started and read our University of Toledo Medical School secondary application tips below. If you have any questions, feel free to leave us a question through the contact form below. 

    University of Toledo Secondary Application Questions: 2024 – 2025

    1.  We invite you to briefly discuss any connections you may have to the region of Northwest Ohio. (500 words max)
    2.  If you feel you have any aspects of your record that may potentially negatively influence your application to our medical school, we encourage you to use this space to discuss them in order to provide the admissions committee with further context about your application. (Examples of possible topics include MCAT scores lower than our class average, low grades, withdrawn course, institutional action/student conduct violation.) (500 words max)
    3. The Admissions Committee considers a wide variety of factors in evaluating applicants, including fit between applicants and our program’s mission, goals, and culture. In the essays below, we invite you to share information about yourself with regard to two aspects of our program. We encourage you to provide information and insights that may not be easily gleaned from other aspects of your medical school application. In responding to the essay prompts below, you should interpret the questions to the best of your ability.
      One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves cultural competence. The competency involves several distinct domains, including:
      • a. Demonstrating knowledge of socio-cultural factors that affect interactions and behaviors;
      • b. Showing an appreciation and respect for multiple dimensions of diversity;
      • c. Recognizing and acting on the obligation to inform one’s own judgment;
      • d. Engaging diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work;
      • e. Recognizing and appropriately addressing bias in selves and others;
      • f. Interacting effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.

        Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in one of the above domains. (Clearly indicate which of the six domains above that you are responding to.) As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will impact your future contribution to the culture of diversity and inclusion at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences and later in your career as a physician. (600 words max)

    4. One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves resilience and adaptability. This competency involves the ability to tolerate stressful or changing environments or situations and adapt effectively to them. Additional characteristics of this competency are persistence and the ability to recover from setbacks.
      Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in resilience and adaptability as described above. As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will help you meet new challenges you may face in medical school. (600 words max)
    5. (Optional) Please use the space below for anything you might wish to discuss related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health crisis. Possible topics might include, for example: your biggest lessons and insights from the pandemic; creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis; hardships you may have faced as a result of the virus or quarantine. (You will have an opportunity to specifically discuss impacts to your coursework/grades in a separate item). (600 words max)

    Tips to Answer University of Toledo Secondaries

    University of Toledo Secondaries Pre-writing Guidance: The University of Toledo is a state school and gives priority to students who are Ohio residents. If you are an Ohio resident, we strongly suggest pre-writing the University of Toledo College of Medicine secondary application essays, especially since the essay prompts don’t change annually.

    University of Toledo Medical School Secondary Application Tip #1: Be strategic when you choose which experience to write about for the first question regarding AAMC Core Competencies. If you note the 6 core competences, they are ALL about working with diverse individuals. We would strongly prioritize showing how you’ve either worked with a patient from a background different than your own OR how you’ve positively impacted a community member’s life (who also has a very different background from yours). Make sure to write a specific story and specific lesson. Do not write something generalized like “I will strive for being inclusive and promoting diversity as a physician” as explaining how your experience will impact your future contribution. 

    University of Toledo Medical School Secondary Application Tip #2: For the University of Toledo secondary application essay question, “One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves resilience and adaptability. This competency involves the ability to tolerate stressful or changing environments or situations and adapt effectively to them. Additional characteristics of this competency are persistence and the ability to recover from setbacks,” make sure you talk about a specific examples.

    Topics we would not recommend writing about:

    1. Not doing well on your first MCAT attempt
    2. Getting a bad grade in school

    While these topics are okay to write about, they will likely not allow you to stand out. The key is to show your resilience and adaptability in other aspects of your life outside of academics. 

    University of Toledo Medical School Secondary Application Tip #3: We definitely advise you to write about your insights from the COVID-19 pandemic in the University of Toledo Medical School secondary application question, “Please use the space below for anything you might wish to discuss related to the corona virus (COVID-19) public health crisis.Possible topics might include, for example: your biggest lessons and insights from the pandemic; creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis; hardships you may have faced as a result of the virus or quarantine. (You will have an opportunity to specifically discuss impacts to your coursework/grades in a separate item.)”

    If you can tie this essay to Ohio – whether it’s the work that you did to help Ohio residents or insights you have about Ohio residents’ health, that would be great! 

    University of Toledo Medical Schoo Secondary Application Tip #4: For the University of Toledo Medical School secondary essay question, “Please briefly describe what activities you are/have been engaged in during the period between undergraduate school and medical school” have a combination of clinical and non-clinical experiences.. Again, if you did some of your activities in Ohio, you should definitely mention that!

    University of Toledo Medical Schoo Secondary Application Tip #5: Get our help to edit your University of Toledo Medical School secondary application essays! We can help you through our secondary essay packages. Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below.

     

    [Read more secondary essay tips: Ohio State University, Wayne State, Case Western & Cleveland Clinic Medical School, University of Missouri – Columbia: Mizzou Medical School ]

    Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders

    We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With.

    Dr. Rachel Rizal

    Rachel Rizal, M.D.

    Changing the trajectory of people’s lives

    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

    Dr. Rishi Mediratta

    Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

    Advising students to attend their dream schools

    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

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    University of Toledo Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024

    1. One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves cultural competence. The competency involves several distinct domains, including:
      • a. Demonstrating knowledge of socio-cultural factors that affect interactions and behaviors;
      • b. Showing an appreciation and respect for multiple dimensions of diversity;
      • c. Recognizing and acting on the obligation to inform one’s own judgment;
      • d. Engaging diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work;
      • e. Recognizing and appropriately addressing bias in selves and others;
      • f. Interacting effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.

        Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in one of the above domains. (Clearly indicate which of the six domains above that you are responding to.) As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will impact your future contribution to the culture of diversity and inclusion at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences and later in your career as a physician. (600 words max)
    2. One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves resilience and adaptability. This competency involves the ability to tolerate stressful or changing environments or situations and adapt effectively to them. Additional characteristics of this competency are persistence and the ability to recover from setbacks.
      Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in resilience and adaptability as described above. As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will help you meet new challenges you may face in medical school. (600 words max)
    3. (Optional) Please use the space below for anything you might wish to discuss related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health crisis. Possible topics might include, for example: your biggest lessons and insights from the pandemic; creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis; hardships you may have faced as a result of the virus or quarantine. (You will have an opportunity to specifically discuss impacts to your coursework/grades in a separate item). (600 words max)
    Affiliations and Experiences
    1. We invite you to briefly discuss any other connections you may have to The University of Toledo, the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, the city of Toledo, or the region of Northwest Ohio or to provide additional information about the affiliations you noted above. (500 words max)
    2. Will one or more years have passed between your graduation from college/university (bachelor’s degree) and your expected matriculation to medical school? YES/NO?
      If ‘YES’, please briefly describe what activities you are/have been engaged in during the period between undergraduate and medical school. (300 words max)
    3. Are you a re-applicant to the MD program at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences?
      If you indicated ‘YES,’: Please briefly describe how your application has changed since applying previously to our program. (300 words max)
    4. If you feel you have any aspects of your record that may potentially negatively influence your application to our medical school, we encourage you to use this space to discuss them in order to provide the admissions committee with further context about your application. (Examples of possible topics include MCAT scores lower than our class average, low grades, withdrawn course, institutional action/student conduct violation.) (500 words max)

    University of Toledo Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023

    1. One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves cultural competence. The competency involves several distinct domains, including:
      • a. Demonstrating knowledge of socio-cultural factors that affect interactions and behaviors;
      • b. Showing an appreciation and respect for multiple dimensions of diversity;
      • c. Recognizing and acting on the obligation to inform one’s own judgment;
      • d. Engaging diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work;
      • e. Recognizing and appropriately addressing bias in selves and others;
      • f. Interacting effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.

        Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in one of the above domains. (Clearly indicate which of the six domains above that you are responding to.) As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will impact your future contribution to the culture of diversity and inclusion at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences and later in your career as a physician. (600 words max)
    2. One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves resilience and adaptability. This competency involves the ability to tolerate stressful or changing environments or situations and adapt effectively to them. Additional characteristics of this competency are persistence and the ability to recover from setbacks.
      Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in resilience and adaptability as described above. As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will help you meet new challenges you may face in medical school. (600 words max)
    3. (Optional) Please use the space below for anything you might wish to discuss related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health crisis. Possible topics might include, for example: your biggest lessons and insights from the pandemic; creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis; hardships you may have faced as a result of the virus or quarantine. (You will have an opportunity to specifically discuss impacts to your coursework/grades in a separate item). (600 words max)
    Affiliations and Experiences
    1. We invite you to briefly discuss any other connections you may have to The University of Toledo, the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, the city of Toledo, or the region of Northwest Ohio or to provide additional information about the affiliations you noted above. (500 words max)
    2. Will one or more years have passed between your graduation from college/university (bachelor’s degree) and your expected matriculation to medical school? YES/NO?
      If ‘YES’, please briefly describe what activities you are/have been engaged in during the period between undergraduate and medical school. (300 words max)
    3. Are you a re-applicant to the MD program at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences?
      If you indicated ‘YES,’: Please briefly describe how your application has changed since applying previously to our program. (300 words max)
    4. If you feel you have any aspects of your record that may potentially negatively influence your application to our medical school, we encourage you to use this space to discuss them in order to provide the admissions committee with further context about your application. (Examples of possible topics include MCAT scores lower than our class average, low grades, withdrawn course, institutional action/student conduct violation.) (500 words max)

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    University of Toledo Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022

    1. One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves cultural competence. The competency involves several distinct domains, including:
      • a. Demonstrating knowledge of socio-cultural factors that affect interactions and behaviors;
      • b. Showing an appreciation and respect for multiple dimensions of diversity;
      • c. Recognizing and acting on the obligation to inform one’s own judgment;
      • d. Engaging diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work;
      • e. Recognizing and appropriately addressing bias in selves and others;
      • f. Interacting effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.

        Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in one of the above domains. (Clearly indicate which of the six domains above that you are responding to.) As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will impact your future contribution to the culture of diversity and inclusion at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences and later in your career as a physician. (600 words max)
    2. One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves resilience and adaptability. This competency involves the ability to tolerate stressful or changing environments or situations and adapt effectively to them. Additional characteristics of this competency are persistence and the ability to recover from setbacks.
      Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in resilience and adaptability as described above. As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will help you meet new challenges you may face in medical school. (600 words max)
    3. (Optional) Please use the space below for anything you might wish to discuss related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) public health crisis. Possible topics might include, for example: your biggest lessons and insights from the pandemic; creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis; hardships you may have faced as a result of the virus or quarantine. (You will have an opportunity to specifically discuss impacts to your coursework/grades in a separate item). (600 words max)
    Affiliations and Experiences
    1. We invite you to briefly discuss any other connections you may have to The University of Toledo, the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, the city of Toledo, or the region of Northwest Ohio or to provide additional information about the affiliations you noted above. (500 words max)
    2. Will one or more years have passed between your graduation from college/university (bachelor’s degree) and your expected matriculation to medical school? YES/NO?
      If ‘YES’, please briefly describe what activities you are/have been engaged in during the period between undergraduate and medical school. (300 words max)
    3. Are you a re-applicant to the MD program at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences?
      If you indicated ‘YES,’: Please briefly describe how your application has changed since applying previously to our program. (300 words max)
    4. If you feel you have any aspects of your record that may potentially negatively influence your application to our medical school, we encourage you to use this space to discuss them in order to provide the admissions committee with further context about your application. (Examples of possible topics include MCAT scores lower than our class average, low grades, withdrawn course, institutional action/student conduct violation.) (500 words max)

    University of Toledo Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021

     
    1. The Admissions Committee considers a wide variety of factors in evaluating applicants, including fit between applicants and our program’s mission, goals, and culture. In the essays below, we invite you to share information about yourself with regard to two aspects of our program. We encourage you to provide information and insights that may not be easily gleaned from other aspects of your medical school application. In responding to the essay prompts below, you should interpret the questions to the best of your ability.
      One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves cultural competence. The competency involves several distinct domains, including:
      • Demonstrating knowledge of socio-cultural factors that affect interactions and behaviors;
      • Showing an appreciation and respect for multiple dimensions of diversity;
      • Recognizing and acting on the obligation to inform one’s own judgment;
      • Engaging diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work;
      • Recognizing and appropriately addressing bias in selves and others;
      • Interacting effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.

        Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in one of the above domains. As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will impact your future contribution to the culture of diversity and inclusion at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences. (600 words max)

    2. One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves resilience and adaptability. This competency involves the ability to tolerate stressful or changing environments or situations and adapt effectively to them. Additional characteristics of this competency are persistence and the ability to recover from setbacks. Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in resilience and adaptability as described above. As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will help you meet new challenges you may face in medical school. (600 words max)
    Affiliations And Experiences
    1. We invite you to briefly discuss any other connections you may have to The University of Toledo, the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, the city of Toledo, or the region of Northwest Ohio or to provide additional information about the affiliations you noted above. (500 words max)
    2. If you feel you have any aspects of your record that may potentially negatively influence your application to our medical school, we encourage you to use this space to discuss them in order to provide the admissions committee with further context about your application. (Examples of possible topics include MCAT scores lower than our class average, low grades, withdrawn course, institutional action/student conduct violation.) (500 words max)

    University of Toledo Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020

     
    1. The Admissions Committee considers a wide variety of factors in evaluating applicants, including fit between applicants and our program’s mission, goals, and culture. In the essays below, we invite you to share information about yourself with regard to two aspects of our program. We encourage you to provide information and insights that may not be easily gleaned from other aspects of your medical school application. In responding to the essay prompts below, you should interpret the questions to the best of your ability.
      One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves cultural competence. The competency involves several distinct domains, including:
      • Demonstrating knowledge of socio-cultural factors that affect interactions and behaviors;
      • Showing an appreciation and respect for multiple dimensions of diversity;
      • Recognizing and acting on the obligation to inform one’s own judgment;
      • Engaging diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work;
      • Recognizing and appropriately addressing bias in selves and others;
      • Interacting effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.

        Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in one of the above domains. As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will impact your future contribution to the culture of diversity and inclusion at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences. (600 words max)

    2. One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves resilience and adaptability. This competency involves the ability to tolerate stressful or changing environments or situations and adapt effectively to them. Additional characteristics of this competency are persistence and the ability to recover from setbacks. Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your level of competence in resilience and adaptability as described above. As part of your discussion, explain how you feel this experience will help you meet new challenges you may face in medical school. (600 words max)
    Affiliations And Experiences
    1. We invite you to briefly discuss any other connections you may have to The University of Toledo, the UToledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, the city of Toledo, or the region of Northwest Ohio or to provide additional information about the affiliations you noted above. (500 words max)
    2. If you feel you have any aspects of your record that may potentially negatively influence your application to our medical school, we encourage you to use this space to discuss them in order to provide the admissions committee with further context about your application. (Examples of possible topics include MCAT scores lower than our class average, low grades, withdrawn course, institutional action/student conduct violation.) (500 words max)

    University of Toledo Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019

    1. Briefly describe why you wish to attend medical school at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences. As part of this essay, please discuss, if applicable, any personal connection you may have to The University of Toledo, the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences/former Medical College of Ohio, the city of Toledo, or the region of Northwest Ohio. (300 words max)
    2. Discuss any important aspects of your personal background, identity, or educational journey that you feel would give the Admissions Committee greater insight into your medical school application. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation to pursue a career in medicine. Examples might include: challenges you’ve overcome in accessing education; identification with a minority culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity; unique pathways to medical school application via professional employment, military service, family caregiving, and other circumstances. (700 words max)
    3. One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves cultural competence: “Demonstrates knowledge of socio-cultural factors that affect interactions and behaviors ; shows an appreciation and respect for multiple dimensions of diversity; recognizes and acts on the obligation to inform one’s own judgment; engages diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work; recognizes and appropriately addresses bias in themselves and others; interacts effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.” Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your cultural competence. (700 words max)

    University of Toledo Secondary Application Questions: 2017 – 2018

    1. Briefly describe why you wish to attend medical school at The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences. As part of this essay, please discuss, if applicable, any personal connection you may have to The University of Toledo, the UT College of Medicine and Life Sciences/former Medical College of Ohio, the city of Toledo, or the region of Northwest Ohio. (300 words max)
    2. Discuss any important aspects of your personal background, identity, or educational journey that you feel would give the Admissions Committee greater insight into your medical school application. Briefly explain how such factors have influenced your motivation to pursue a career in medicine. Examples might include: challenges you’ve overcome in accessing education; identification with a minority culture, religion, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity; unique pathways to medical school application via professional employment, military service, family caregiving, and other circumstances. (700 words max)
    3. One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves cultural competence: “Demonstrates knowledge of socio-cultural factors that affect interactions and behaviors ; shows an appreciation and respect for multiple dimensions of diversity; recognizes and acts on the obligation to inform one’s own judgment; engages diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work; recognizes and appropriately addresses bias in themselves and others; interacts effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.” Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your cultural competence. (700 words max)

    University of Toledo Secondary Application Questions: 2016 – 2017

    1. One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves cultural competence: “Demonstrates knowledge of socio-cultural factors that affect interactions and behaviors; shows an appreciation and respect for multiple dimensions of diversity; recognizes and acts on the obligation to inform one’s own judgment; engages diverse and competing perspectives as a resource for learning, citizenship, and work; recognizes and appropriately addresses bias in themselves and others; interacts effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.” Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your cultural competence. (1,000 words max)
    2. One of the AAMC Core Competencies for entering medical students involves resilience and adaptability: “Demonstrates tolerance of stressful or changing environments or situations and adapts effectively to them; is persistent, even under difficult situations; recovers from setbacks.” Discuss a specific experience from your life that you feel demonstrates your resilience and adaptability. (1,000 words max)
    3. (Optional) Briefly explain any extenuating circumstances (e.g., poor grades, course withdrawals, etc.) which you feel may be pertinent to your application. (1,000 words max)

    University of Toledo Secondary Application Questions: 2015 – 2016

    1. The University of Toledo College of Medicine is committed to excellence in education which prepares graduates to deliver quality health care. Developing cultural competence is an important goal in our curriculum. Cultural competence is defined as an awareness, understanding and ability to use specific methods to deal effectively with cultural issues and its role in health and health care. Please discuss a life experience in which you feel you demonstrated cultural competence.

    University of Toledo Secondary Application Questions: 2014 – 2015

    1. (Optional) Briefly discuss any extenuating circumstances which you feel are pertinent to your application (poor grades, course withdrawals, etc).
    2. The University of Toledo College of Medicine is committed to excellence in education which prepares graduates to deliver quality health care. Developing cultural competence is an important goal in our curriculum. Cultural competence is defined as an awareness, understanding and ability to use specific methods to deal effectively with cultural issues and its role in health and health care. Please discuss a life experience in which you feel you demonstrated cultural competence.
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