Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application

Virginia Tech Secondary Application Essay Prompts & Tips

Virginia Tech Secondary Application Essay Prompts by Year & Tips
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    Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine admits students who are strong in academics and research. The Admissions committee values research, critical thinking, and problem solving. Submitting an OUTSTANDING Virginia Tech Medical School secondary application is vital to receiving an interview invite. It’s important to discuss your previous research experience and future medical research ideas in your Virginia Tech secondaries. Read our Virginia Tech Medical School secondary application essay tips below!

    The Virginia Tech secondary application frequently changes prompts. We would STRONGLY advise to not pre-write these essays until the official prompts have been released.  

    Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a track record of helping several of our mentees receive acceptances to Virginia Tech and all other Virginia medical schools for the past 12 years. We can help you next! We want to stress that submitting a strong Virginia Tech secondary application is crucial and we can help you through our secondary essay editing packages. 

    Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2024 – 2025

    Note: The essay prompts for Virginia Tech’s secondary application change from last year’s application.

    1. Describe how AI could affect the integrity of medical professionals. (400 words max)
    2. What can a recovering addict who didn’t finish high school teach their physician? (400 words max)
    3. Discuss a recent time when you were wrong. What made you change your mind and what did you do about it? (400 words max)
    4. Who is your role model, and why? (400 words max)

    Tips to Answer Virginia Tech Secondaries

    Virginia Tech Secondaries Pre-Writing Guidance: The Virginia Tech secondary application frequently changes prompts. We would STRONGLY advise to not pre-write these essays until the official prompts have been released.  

    Virginia Tech Secondary Application Tip #1: Virginia Tech values patient care alongside teamwork, innovation, and problem-solving. Make sure you give stories and examples that reflect these values.

    Many of our successful Cracking Med School Admissions mentees who apply to Virginia Tech write about class projects, research, and engineering projects where they have exhibited teamwork, innovation, and problem-solving. What will be your personal contribution to advance medicine? Contact us below if you have questions about Carilion’s medical school secondary application. Need editing help on your secondary? We can help you through our secondary essay packages

    Virginia Tech Secondary Application Tip #2: It is extremely important to include stories in your Virginia Tech secondary application if you want to submit a strong application. Great Virginia Tech secondary application essays include stories in each essay. For example, for the prompts related to personal values (integrity, humility, etc.), you can give a life experience story that highlights how you reflect one or more of the values. Additionally, you can write about a clinical experience when talking about diversity (i.e. how you helped a patient from a different background). Finally, you can write a story related to your research. The essays have very long word limits, so we think it’s a MUST to write at least one story per essay. 

    Virginia Tech Secondary Application Tip #3: It is important to do your research on Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM), including its core values.

    Here are the core values of VTCSOM we found on the Virginia Tech website

    Collaboration and Excellence

    We commit to collaborative excellence in all facets of academic life.  We work within transdisciplinary and interprofessional teams as educators, clinicians, and scholars to deepen existing and forge new relationships with our health system and university partners, as well as community leaders and organizations.  We strengthen and preserve our commitment to a learning environment that emphasizes well-being and features supportive relationships between our learners and those who teach and mentor them.

    Innovation and Discovery

    We commit to a continuous process of innovation and discovery to build knowledge and paradigms for improved health and transformative health care.  We focus on excellence in scholarship including teaching, research, and the implementation of evidence-based delivery of care and lifelong learning.

    Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

    We commit to being a continuous learning organization that recognizes diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competency as essential to excellence.  While affirming our common humanity, we expect our learners, staff, and faculty to be sensitive to and respectful of the inherent dignity and worth of each individual in our community.  We embrace innovation in the pursuit of a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment that values open expression and mutual respect so that all may thrive.

    Humanism and Compassion    

    We commit to humanism and compassion as essential for achieving learner-centered education, patient-centered care, and the enhancement of well-being and success for all.  Using the art and science of medicine in the spirit of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), we commit to creating a more compassionate and just society.

    Virginia Tech Secondary Application Tip #4:  Other than how you align with VTCSOM’s core values, you can also discuss specific aspects the curriculum, research, and community projects you want to be involved with. Even if there are no VTCSOM essay prompts that ask specifically “Why do you want to come to Carilion?” you should still aim to add your interest to the school throughout the various secondary essay prompts. 

    Finally, put it all together. Discuss “Why Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine” and examples of how you exemplify the school’s core values through stories.

    Virginia Tech Secondary Application Tip #5: For the question, “Please describe something you deserved but didn’t get and how you felt about it” 

    Virginia Tech Secondary Application Tip #6:  Start early and get our help. The Virginia Tech Medical School secondary application not only has several essay, but the essays also have large word limits. 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 more secondary essay tips: University of Virginia School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University & Cleveland Clinic, Washington University in St. Louis, Emory University]

    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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    Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024

    Note: The essay prompts for Virginia Tech’s secondary application change from last year’s application.

    1. Explain why integrity is more important than intelligence and perseverance using an example from your life  From the following list of human qualities, choose the ONE you think is most important and explain your choice: intelligence, honor, humility, perseverance, optimism. (600 words max)
    2. Explain how your concept of diversity is both the same and different from the mainstream view. (600 words max)
    3. Choose one aspect about yourself, not already reflected in your application, that you are most proud of. Explain your choice below. (600 words max)
    4. Please describe something you deserved but didn’t get and how you felt about it. (600 words max)

    Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023

    Note: The essay prompts for Virginia Tech’s secondary application change from last year’s application.

    1. From the following list of human qualities, choose the ONE you think is most important and explain your choice: intelligence, honor, humility, perseverance, optimism. (600 words max)
    2. What advice would you give someone your age but from a different culture who is new to our country? (600 words max)
    3. What do you think your chances of being accepted into medical school are this year? Please explain your answer. (600 words max)
    4. Please describe something you deserved but didn’t get and how you felt about it. (600 words max)

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    Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022

    1. Tell us about constructive criticism you have received, or a personal challenge you have experienced, that you found particularly impactful. Please describe how that experience has advanced your development as a future physician thought leader. (600 words max)
    2. Explain how interactions with people who are different from you have shaped your world view and relate how you would enrich the VTC community. (600 words max)
    3. Describe three aspects of VTCSOM and how those align with your philosophy of medicine. (600 words max)
    4. Please describe a research passion: If funding were no object, what scientific study would you design? Please also describe a non-research passion. (600 words max)

    Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021

    1. Tell us about constructive criticism you have received, or a personal challenge you have experienced, that you found particularly impactful. Please describe how that experience has advanced your development as a future physician thought leader. (600 words max)
    2. Explain how interactions with people who are different from you have shaped your world view and relate how you would enrich the VTC community. (600 words max)
    3. Describe three aspects of VTCSOM and how those align with your philosophy of medicine. (600 words max)
    4. If funding were no object, describe how you would direct medical inquiry. (600 words max)

    Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020

    1. Tell us about constructive criticism you have received, or a personal challenge you have experienced, that you found particularly impactful. Please describe how that experience has advanced your development as a future physician thought leader. (600 words max)
    2. Explain how interactions with people who are different from you have shaped your world view and relate how you would enrich the VTC community. (600 words max)
    3. What, in your opinion, makes the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine different, and why is that important to you? (600 words max)

    Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019

    Note: The essay prompts for Virginia Tech’s secondary application change from last year’s application.

    1. Tell us about constructive criticism you have received, or a personal challenge you have experienced, that you found particularly impactful. Please describe how that experience has advanced your development as a future physician thought leader. (600 words max)
    2. Explain how interactions with people who are different from you have shaped your world view and relate how you would enrich the VTC community. (600 words max)
    3. What, in your opinion, makes the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine different, and why is that important to you? (600 words max)

    Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2017 – 2018

    1. VTC’s curriculum fosters a culture of compassion through its community service learning initiatives. Through their inter-professional learning group projects (IPL), students demonstrate leadership and innovation while making a positive difference in the community. Describe an event or a time when your personal contribution was instrumental to the success of a team or made a positive impact on someone else’s life. (600 words max)
    2. Each member of the VTC community has a unique and enriching life-story. Interactions with heterogeneous populations increase compassion, understanding, and the ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with others. Explain how your life experience has shaped your world view, describe your approach to people who see the world differently, and relate how you would enrich the VTC community. (600 words max)
    3. What, in your opinion, makes VTC different, and why is that important to you? (600 words max)

    Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2016 – 2017

    1. VTC’s curriculum fosters a culture of compassion through its community service learning initiatives. Through their inter-professional learning group projects (IPL), students demonstrate leadership and innovation while making a positive difference in the community. Describe an event or a time when your personal contribution was instrumental to the success of a team or made a positive impact on someone else’s life. (600 words max)
    2. VTC is committed to strengthening the diversity of its community. Through interactions with a heterogeneous population, people broaden their knowledge about other cultures and ultimately develop the ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with others. Tell us about how your life experience has broadened your perspective of the world and relate how you would add to the diversity of your class, if admitted to VTC. (600 words max)
    3. (Optional Essay) Essay to update VTCSOM on activities not mentioned on AMCAS.

    Virginia Tech Medical School Secondary Application Questions: 2015 – 2016

    1. VTC’s curriculum fosters a culture of compassion through its community service learning initiatives. Through their inter-professional learning group projects (IPL), students demonstrate leadership and innovation while making a positive difference in the community. Describe an event or a time when your personal contribution was instrumental to the success of a team or made a positive impact on someone else’s life. (600 words max)
    2. VTC is committed to strengthening the diversity of its community. Through interactions with a heterogeneous population, people broaden their knowledge about other cultures and ultimately develop the ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with others. Tell us about how your life experience has broadened your perspective of the world and relate how you would add to the diversity of your class, if admitted to VTC. (600 words max)
    3. (Optional Essay) Use this optional essay opportunity to update the information you provided in your AMCAS application on your recent experiences, such as medical volunteering, shadowing, community service, research, leadership, teamwork and/or work. Please do not repeat information already reported in your AMCAS application. For the optional essay, please limit your responses to approximately 600 words (1 page, 1-inch margins, 12-point, single-spaced) and leave one blank line between paragraphs.
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