Edward Via College - VCOM Secondary Application Essay Prompts

Edward Via College – VCOM Secondary Application Essay Prompts

Edward Via Secondary Application Essay Prompts by Year
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    The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is located on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia and now has multiple campuses.  The VCOM secondary is extremely long, and we strongly recommend our students to start early. Dr. Rishi Mediratta and Dr. Rachel Rizal have helped several students each cycle get accepted to MD and DO schools by helping students tailor their secondary essays towards their personal strengths and the medical school curriculum. For instance, in the VCOM secondary application, we advise students to write about their commitment for rural medicine and osteopathic medicine. Get help from our Cracking Med School Admissions team to edit your secondary essays!

    Because this secondary does not change often, we encourage students to pre-write this secondary application. This is a long secondary application with a lot of long essays!

    Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024

    1. Describe a significant challenge you have experienced in your life, share the strategies you employed to overcome the challenge, and what you learned from the experience. (500 words max)
    2. Professionalism and respect in the community in which you live is of utmost importance in medical school and as a physician. What three professional qualities do you believe a Student Doctor must demonstrate and describe how you will demonstrate these qualities as a medical student at VCOM? (500 words max)
    3. How do your professional ambitions align with osteopathic medicine? (500 words max)
    4. What influenced your decision to apply to VCOM? (e.g., personal or medical experiences; influences of friends/family/physicians/mentors; etc.) (500 words max)

    Tips to Answer VCOM Secondary Application Questions

    Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Pre-Writing Guidance: Because this secondary does not change often, we encourage students to pre-write this secondary application. This is a long secondary application with a lot of long essays! 

    Download our Cracking Med Secondary Essay Workbook and Examples.

    VCOM Secondary Application Tip #1: It is extremely important to explain why you want an osteopathic medical education. To get more history about osteopathic medicine and its values, read the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) website. First, it is important to note that osteopathic medicine values primary care.

    According to the AACOM website, the osteopathic medicine philosophy is the following:

    “DOs are trained to look at the whole person from their first days of medical school, which means they see each person as more than just a collection of organ systems and body parts that may become injured or diseased. This holistic approach to patient care means that osteopathic medical students learn how to integrate the patient into the health care process as a partner. They are trained to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds, and they get the opportunity to practice these skills in their classrooms and learning laboratories, frequently with standardized and simulated patients.”

    VCOM Secondary Application Tip #2: For the VCOM secondary application, “Professionalism and respect in the community in which you live is of utmost importance in medical school and as a physician. What three professional qualities do you believe a Student Doctor must demonstrate and describe how you will demonstrate these qualities as a medical student at VCOM?” there is no one, right way to answer this. BUT, remember that there is 500 words. Therefore, successful students we’ve helped through our secondary essay editing packages have written anecdotes about doctors / physician scientists / science faculty they’ve worked with. They tell stories of osteopathic physicians they aspire to be and how the osteopathic physicians interacted with patients. 

    VCOM Secondary Application Tip #3: When answering the VCOM secondary application question, “Describe a significant challenge you have experienced in your life, share the strategies you employed to overcome the challenge, and what you learned from the experience” make sure to include the following:

    • What was the challenge? Make sure to context of the situation. Write this like a story. 
    • How did you overcome the obstacle?
    • What did you learn from this experience? And how did the obstacle define you?
    • What will you do differently in the future?

    VCOM Secondary Application Tip #4: For the VCOM secondary application question, “What influenced your decision to apply to VCOM? (e.g., personal or medical experiences; influences of friends/family/physicians/mentors; etc.) ” put any affiliations you have with the University. The medical school will think you are more serious about matriculating to the medical school if you already have an affiliation with the medical school.

    What if you don’t have any connection to the medical school? Then, say something about the location, patient population, or the VCOM medical school curriculum. Link your desire to attend Edward Via College of Medicine with your previous work experience, community service, and clinical experiences. 

    VCOM Secondary Application Tip #5: You definitely need to include stories. The VCOM secondary application has a 500 max word limit, which means there is a lot of space to write stories! You can include a story in every single question, and we strongly advise our Cracking Med School Admissions students to include stories for a majority of the essays. 

    What makes a good story? It’s the level of specificity and detail. For example, instead of talking about working with underserved populations more generally, talk about a specific individual who is from a low socio-economic background and how you helped that individual. Painting a picture makes a big difference and the VCOM admissions committee will be able to visualize you in action through your passions. Stories throughout your VCOM secondary application will complement your AACOMAS primary application and letters of recommendation!

    VCOM Secondary Application Tip #6: Start early and get our help. The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine secondary application is long and tough. And, it is imperative to tailor your application towards the school’s mission. We can help you stand out through our secondary essay packages. If you have any questions about the VCOM secondary or other secondary applications, feel free to contact us!

    VCOM Secondary Application Tip #7: Given that Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine’s mission is to serve rural populations, you should discuss your previous experience and aspirations to serve rural communities. If you have specific experiences in the states where Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine is located, definitely write about your patient care, clinical experiences, and community service in these states. Here are all the locations of VCOM: Blacksburg, Virginia; Spartanburg, South Carolina; Auburn, Alabama connected with Auburn University; Monroe, Louisiana

    [Read more secondary essay tips: Lincoln Memorial – DeBusk , University of Alabama, Lake Erie College of Medicine (LECOM), University of North Carolina , East Tennessee (Quillen) ]

    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

    stand out from other applicants with our secondary essay edit packages

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    Use this essay guide and workbook to write standout secondaries.

    Secondary Essay Guide
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    Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023

    1. Describe a significant challenge you have experienced in your life, share the strategies you employed to overcome the challenge, and what you learned from the experience. (500 words max)
    2. Professionalism and respect in the community in which you live is of utmost importance in medical school and as a physician. What three professional qualities do you believe a Student Doctor must demonstrate and describe how you will demonstrate these qualities as a medical student at VCOM? (500 words max)
    3. How do your professional ambitions align with osteopathic medicine? (500 words max)
    4. What influenced your decision to apply to VCOM? (e.g., personal or medical experiences; influences of friends/family/physicians/mentors; etc.) (500 words max)

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    Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022

    1. Describe a significant challenge you have experienced in your life, share the strategies you employed to overcome the challenge, and what you learned from the experience. (500 words max)
    2. Professionalism and respect in the community in which you live is of utmost importance in medical school and as a physician. What three professional qualities do you believe a Student Doctor must demonstrate and describe how you will demonstrate these qualities as a medical student at VCOM? (500 words max)
    3. How do your professional ambitions align with osteopathic medicine? (500 words max)
    4. What influenced your decision to apply to VCOM? (e.g., personal or medical experiences; influences of friends/family/physicians/mentors; etc.) (500 words max)

    Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021

    1. Describe a significant challenge you have experienced in your life, share the strategies you employed to overcome the challenge, and what you learned from the experience. (500 words max)
    2. Professionalism and respect in the community in which you live is of utmost importance in medical school and as a physician. What three professional qualities do you believe a Student Doctor must demonstrate and describe how you will demonstrate these qualities as a medical student at VCOM? (500 words max)
    3. How do your professional ambitions align with osteopathic medicine? (500 words max)
    4. What influenced your decision to apply to VCOM? (e.g., personal or medical experiences; influences of friends/family/physicians/mentors; etc.) (500 words max)
    5. In the event you submitted an application to VCOM last year, what improvements have you made to your application? (500 words max)
    6. If you have not completed all the prerequisite coursework, please state how you intend on completing it prior to matriculation. (500 words max)
    7. Have you had any lapse of 2 years or greater in taking full time college-level coursework? (500 words max)

    Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020

    1. Describe a significant challenge you have experienced in your life, share the strategies you employed to overcome the challenge, and what you learned from the experience. (500 words max)
    2. Professionalism and respect in the community in which you live is of utmost importance in medical school and as a physician. What three professional qualities do you believe a Student Doctor must demonstrate and describe how you will demonstrate these qualities as a medical student at VCOM? (500 words max)
    3. How do your professional ambitions align with osteopathic medicine? (500 words max)
    4. What influenced your decision to apply to VCOM? (e.g., personal or medical experiences; influences of friends/family/physicians/mentors; etc.) (500 words max)

    Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019

    1. Describe the top three reasons you have chosen osteopathic medicine as your professional choice in becoming a physician (Please use your own description and not one that widely describes the profession). (500 words max)
    2. Professionalism and the ability to gain respect in the community in which you live is of utmost importance as you embark upon a career as a physician. What three professional qualities do you feel a Student Doctor must be able to demonstrate as he/or she makes the transition into the study and practice of medicine. How will you demonstrate those qualities as a medical student at VCOM? (500 words max)
    3. Please describe a volunteer or service activity that played a large part in your decision to become a physician. (500 words max)

    Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2017 – 2018

    1. Describe the top three reasons you have chosen osteopathic medicine as your professional choice in becoming a physician (Please use your own description and not one that widely describes the profession). (500 words max)
    2. Professionalism and the ability to gain respect in the community in which you live is of utmost importance as you embark upon a career as a physician. What three professional qualities do you feel a Student Doctor must be able to demonstrate as he/or she makes the transition into the study and practice of medicine. How will you demonstrate those qualities as a medical student at VCOM? (500 words max)
    3. Please describe a volunteer or service activity that played a large part in your decision to become a physician. (500 words max)
    4. In the event you submitted an application to VCOM last year, what improvements have you made to your application? (500 words max)
    5. If you have not completed all the prerequisite coursework, please state how you intend on completing it prior to matriculation. (500 words max)
    6. Have you had any lapse of 2 years or greater in taking full time college-level coursework? (500 words max)

    Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Secondary Application Questions: 2016 – 2017

    1. Describe the top three reasons you have chosen osteopathic medicine as your professional choice in becoming a physician (Please use your own description and not one that widely describes the profession). (500 words max)
    2. Professionalism and the ability to gain respect in the community in which you live is of utmost importance as you embark upon a career as a physician. What three professional qualities do you feel a Student Doctor must be able to demonstrate as he/or she makes the transition into the study and practice of medicine. How will you demonstrate those qualities as a medical student at VCOM? (500 words max)
    3. Please describe a volunteer or service activity that played a large part in your decision to become a physician. (500 words max)
    4. In the event you submitted an application to VCOM last year, what improvements have you made to your application? (500 words max)
    5. If you have not completed all the prerequisite coursework, please state how you intend on completing it prior to matriculation. (500 words max)
    6. Have you had any lapse of 2 years or greater in taking full time college-level coursework? (500 words max)
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