The University of Washington secondary application is not too long and difficult, but it is hard to stand out. The University of Washington secondary essay prompts don’t change too much year to year, so this is a great secondary to pre-write and submit early! The admissions office removed the infamous autobiography essay, which was incredibly tough for premedical students. Now, the UW secondary application essays are open-ended in nature. It is your job to incorporate your experiences in a personal, non-generic way. University of Washington favors in-state residents of students who have worked & lived in Washington state throughout their premed careers. They also like students who live in the Pacific Northwest United States. Read our tips on how to stand out in your University of Washington secondary application.
Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a track record of helping our mentees receive acceptances to the School of Medicine at University of Washington year after year. To learn more about UW medical school interviews, opportunities, and the curriculum, read our Cracking University of Washington Medical School Admissions page.
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University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2024 – 2025
- The UWSOM aims to build a diverse class of students to enrich the field of medicine. What perspectives, identities, and/or qualities would you bring? (250 words max)
- What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them? (250 words max)
- How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or patients you have worked with? (250 words max)
- Demonstrated competency – Social sciences, Humanities or “Human Condition”
- Entering medical students should understand the social forces that shape the health of the individuals and communities they will serve. This includes understanding how social contextual factors and policy operate at the community and national level to impact the health of individuals. Students should be familiar with disparities in health currently present in society and their underlying etiologies. Candidates seeking acceptance to UWSOM can establish competency in this area through course work in the social sciences, humanities or related interdisciplinary fields such as public health or ethnic and gender studies, clinical and/or population health research, service learning, lived experience or a combination of thereof. Examples of social science/humanities coursework to consider: Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Religion, History, Philosophy, Literature.
- Describe your competency by explaining how you have explored and come to understand issues in the social sciences and humanities as they relate to the practice of medicine. (250 words max)
Out-of-region applicants must have one of the following WWAMI ties in order to be eligible for consideration:
- Member of a federally recognized tribe whose traditional and customary tribal boundaries include portions of the states of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and/or Idaho
- Born in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho
- Graduated from high school in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho
- Have a parent who currently lives in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and/or Idaho
- Currently live and/or have lived in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and/or Idaho FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR
- Active military member who is stationed in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho
Tips to Answer University of Washington Secondary Application Essays
University of Minnesota Secondaries Pre-Writing Guidance: The University of Washington secondary essay prompts don’t change too much year to year, so this is a great secondary to pre-write and submit early!
- Download all our HIGH-YIELD tips for secondary essays: Cracking Med School Admissions Secondary Essay Guide
University of Washington Secondary Application Tip #1: To make your University of Washington secondary essays memorable, write as many stories as possible. 250-300 words is enough space to incorporate stories. For example, in the question, “How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician,” you can include a memorable patient encounter. We would also recommend prioritizing stories from community service and clinical experiences in the Washington State region.
University of Washington Secondary Application Tip #2: Include stories and experiences in Washington state. Can’t emphasize this enough!
University of Washington Secondary Application Tip #3: Convey your knowledge about Washington state’s and the Pacific Northwest’s healthcare issues and current events. For example, you can write the COVID-19 issues you witnessed in Washington state. Stronger essays will include how you tried to improve these healthcare disparities or health issues during the pandemic.
- Read all our curated healthcare current events here: Top 10 Current Events You Need To Know For Your Medical Interview
- You can also read different perspectives about the current events there, helping you to answer the University of Washington secondary application essays!
University of Washington Secondary Application Tip #4: Don’t forget to incorporate a little bit about “Why University of Washington” throughout the essay(s) you respond to. Talk about specific projects, community volunteering, and research you want to do at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Read our University of Washington Medical School Admissions information to answer why this medical school?
University of Washington Secondary Application Tip #5: Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below. Need editing help on your secondary? We can help you through our secondary essay packages.
[Read Tips For Other Schools’ Secondary Essays: University of Wisconsin, Oregon Health & Sciences University, University of Utah, University of Arizona – Tucson & Phoenix]
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Use this essay guide and workbook to write standout secondaries.
University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2022 – 2023
- We recognize that the world has changed significantly due to the global pandemic. Please share how COVID-19 has impacted you, your family, your community, and/or the patients that you would like to serve. (250 words max)
- What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class? (250 words max)
- What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them? (250 words max)
- How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or patients you have worked with? (250 words max)
- Demonstrated competency – Social sciences, Humanities or “Human Condition”
- Entering medical students should understand the social forces that shape the health of the individuals and communities they will serve. This includes understanding how social contextual factors and policy operate at the community and national level to impact the health of individuals. Students should be familiar with disparities in health currently present in society and their underlying etiologies. Candidates seeking acceptance to UWSOM can establish competency in this area through course work in the social sciences, humanities or related interdisciplinary fields such as public health or ethnic and gender studies, clinical and/or population health research, service learning, lived experience or a combination thereof. Examples of social science/humanities coursework to consider: Anthropology, Sociology, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Religion, History, Philosophy, Literature.
- Describe your competency by explaining how you’ve explored and come to understand issues in the social sciences and humanities related to the “human condition”.
Out-of-region applicants must have one of the following WWAMI ties in order to be eligible for consideration:
- Member of a federally recognized tribe whose traditional and customary tribal boundaries include portions of the states of Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and/or Idaho
- Born in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho
- Graduated from high school in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho
- Have a parent who currently lives in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and/or Idaho
- Currently live and/or have lived in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and/or Idaho FOR AT LEAST ONE YEAR
- Active military member who is stationed in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho
University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2021 – 2022
- Use this opportunity to provide any autobiographical information which you feel would be helpful for the MSTP office. (250 words max)
- If you are not currently enrolled in coursework (nor planning to be enrolled throughout the application process), please describe your activities in this period. (250 words max)
- Please use this space to supplement your AMCAS Personal Comments. (MSTP will consider information provided here as well as your AMCAS Personal Comments) (250 words max)
- How did you find out about the University of Washington’s Medical Scientist Training Program? (250 words max)
University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2020 – 2021
- Use this opportunity to provide any autobiographical information which you feel would be helpful for the MSTP office. (250 words max)
- If you are not currently enrolled in coursework (nor planning to be enrolled throughout the application process), please describe your activities in this period. (250 words max)
- Please use this space to supplement your AMCAS Personal Comments. (MSTP will consider information provided here as well as your AMCAS Personal Comments) (250 words max)
- How did you find out about the University of Washington’s Medical Scientist Training Program? (250 words max)
University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2019 – 2020
- Autobiographical Statement Addendum
- Your AMCAS personal statement and experiences are already on file with our office.
If your primary AMCAS application hasn’t discussed the origin and development of your motivation to be a physician including insights you’ve gained from exploring a career in medicine, and how your personal attributes would make you a good physician, please discuss those here. If you’ve already written about these items, don’t repeat what you wrote. Instead, use this autobiographical statement addendum to let us know more about who you are in addition to being someone who wants to be a physician. This is another opportunity for you to express what you want the Admissions Committee to know about you. (250 words max)
- Your AMCAS personal statement and experiences are already on file with our office.
- How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or patients you’ve worked with? (250 words max)
- How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician? (250 words max)
- What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class? (250 words max)
- What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them? (250 words max)
University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2018 – 2019
- An autobiographical statement which should include (250 words max):
- The origin and development of your motivation to be a physician
- Your prior experiences in health care
- Steps taken to explore a career in medicine
- Your eventual goals as a physician
- Personal attributes that would make you a good physician
- Remember: Please do not repeat what you wrote in your AMCAS Personal Comments (this will already be on file with our office). If you have already covered all of the above topics in your AMCAS application, use this space to let the Admissions Committee know who you are in addition to being someone who wants to be a physician.
- Four Additional Short Essays (250 words max each):
- How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician?
- What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class?
- What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them?
- How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or patients you have worked with?
- For Re-Applicants Only: From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application? (250 words max)
University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2017 – 2018
- If your primary AMCAS application hasn’t discussed the origin and development of your motivation to be a physician including insights you’ve gained from exploring a career in medicine, and how your personal attributes would make you a good physician, please discuss those here. (250 words max)
- If you’ve already written about these items, don’t repeat what you wrote. Instead, use this autobiographical statement addendum to let us know more about who you are in addition to being someone who wants to be a physician. This is another opportunity for you to express what you want the Admissions Committee to know about you. (250 words max)
- How do you see historical and structural inequities affecting the patients you have worked with and will work with, and how do you as a student and physician address these broader causes of health disparities? (250 words max)
- How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician? (250 words max)
- What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class? (250 words max)
- What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them? (250 words max)
University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2016 – 2017
- An autobiographical statement which should include (250 words max):
- The origin and development of your motivation to be a physician
- Your prior experiences in health care
- Steps taken to explore a career in medicine
- Your eventual goals as a physician
- Personal attributes that would make you a good physician
- Remember: The Personal Comments section of the AMCAS application may be used to satisfy this requirement, or an additional autobiography may be submitted with your secondary materials. Your AMCAS personal statement will already be on file with our office.
- Three Additional Short Essays (250 words max each):
- How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician?
- How do your experiences match the mission and values of the University of Washington School of Medicine?
- What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class?
- What obstacles to your goals have you experienced and how have you dealt with them?
- For Re-Applicants Only: From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application?
University of Washington Medical School Secondary Application Essay Prompts: 2015 – 2016
- An autobiographical statement which should include (250 words max):
- The origin and development of your motivation to be a physician
- Your prior experiences in health care
- Steps taken to explore a career in medicine
- Your eventual goals as a physician
- Personal attributes that would make you a good physician
- Remember: The Personal Comments section of the AMCAS application may be used to satisfy this requirement, or an additional autobiography may be submitted with your secondary materials. Your AMCAS personal statement will already be on file with our office.
- Three Additional Short Essays (250 words max each):
- How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician?
- How do your experiences match the mission and values of the University of Washington School of Medicine?
- What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class?
- What obstacles to your goals have you experienced and how have you dealt with them?
- For Re-Applicants Only: From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application?