Wake Forest Secondary Application Essay Prompts

Wake Forest University School of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts & Application Tips

Wake Forest School of Medicine Secondary Application Essay Prompts by Year
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    The Wake Forest School of Medicine secondary application reflects the school’s mission in recruiting a diverse and compassionate medical school class. The Wake Forest secondary application has several medium-length essays.  The Wake Forest secondary prompts have not changed too much in the past few years and is not too long. Therefore, this is a great secondary to pre-write after finishing your AMCAS application!  Read below for more Wake Forest secondary application tips

    Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a track record of helping our mentees receive acceptances to Wake Forest School of Medicine. It is important to submit a Wake Forest secondary application that showcases who you are as a person and the values you embody. Get our help by asking us a question or through our secondary essay editing packages

    Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2024 – 2025

    1. New Question. The National Association of Colleges and Employers defines equity as recognizing that we do not all start from the same place and must acknowledge and make adjustments to imbalances. It is an ongoing process, requiring us to identify and overcome intentional and unintentional barriers arising from bias or systemic structures. Consider your abilities, insights, and previous experiences and then tell us about your ability to promote equity. (200 words max)
    2. Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words max)
    3. From your list of “most meaningful experiences” on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? (200 words max)
    4. Please share an experience that demonstrates how you have collaborated with others. (200 words max)
    5. Describe your future goal(s). Reflect on your past experiences and describe how these experiences will shape your goal(s). (200 words max)
    6. Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. (150 words max)
    7. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words max)

    Tips to Answer Wake Forest Secondaries

    Wake Forest University Pre-Writing Guidance: The Wake Forest secondary prompts have not changed too much in the past few years and is not too long. Work on the essays that have not changed in the past year. This is a great secondary to pre-write after finishing your AMCAS primary application!

    Wake Forest Secondary Application Tip #1: Tell stories. Stories show the impact you’ve had on individuals and the community around you. For example, if you worked in a free clinic, tell a story about a challenge you faced or a patient you met. Strive to include at least 2 stories in your Wake Forest secondary. 

    • For example, you should include a story from a clinical experience (like a patient story) in the Wake Forest secondaries question, “We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us one experience that enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from it” and the question “From your list of “most meaningful experiences” on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process?
    • You should include a SPECIFIC time and story in the Wake Forest secondaries question, “Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it.”

    Wake Forest Secondary Application Tip #2: Write any affiliations you have with Wake Forest and North Carolina. You can easily write about your previous work in North Carolina in the “Why Wake Forest School of Medicine” essay question. But, you can also includes North Carolina activities in literally any question.

    Wake Forest Secondary Application Tip #3: To answer the “Why Wake Forest School of Medicine” questions, remember to add specific reasons. If you see yourself practicing in the area in your future career, definitely mention that! 

    Wake Forest Secondary Application Tip #4: One frequent question our Cracking Med School Admissions advisors, Dr. Rishi Mediratta and Dr. Rachel Rizal, receive is if you have to give a specific specialty when discussing your future goals?

    Our response – You don’t have to list a specific medical specialty if you’re not sure what field of medicine you are interested in going. However, you can discuss aspects of your career that you envision. For example, some students say they want to work with rural patients throughout their medical careers. Other students discuss how they want to incorporate research into their medical careers.

    Another thing you can write about is what opportunities you will pursue as a medical student at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in order to pursue the type of career you want. For example, if you are interested in rural health, then you can discuss how you will pursue rural health community service and rural health clinical experiences & electives during your time as a medical student at Wake Forest University.

    Wake Forest Secondary Application Tip #5: We often get asked how to respond to the Wake Forest secondary question, “Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting.” Here are our thoughts: 1) Make sure it tells the committee something new about you that you haven’t discussed in your other Wake Forest School of Medicine secondary application essays. For example, if you’re written extensively about research in another question, don’t mention research again here; 2) The topic you write about does not have to be related to medicine! 

    Topics our medical school applicant advisees have written about:

    • Volunteering experience
    • Places they’ve lived in the world
    • Family values and influence
    • Unique skill
    • Activities they like to do for fun

    Get our help to edit your Wake Forest secondary questions. There is a wide diversity of questions and unique questions in this secondary – many students ask for our help in editing Wake Forest’s secondary application each year! We can help you through our secondary essay packages. Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below.

    [Read More Secondaries: University of Virginia, Eastern Virginia Medical School, University of North Carolina, University of Maryland]

    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

    download your secondary Essay Guide

    Use this essay guide and workbook to write standout secondaries.

    Secondary Essay Guide
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    Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024

    1. We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us one experience that enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from it. (200 words max)
    2. Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words max)
    3. From your list of “most meaningful experiences” on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? (200 words max)
    4. New Question. Please share an experience that demonstrates how you have collaborated with others. (200 words max)
    5. New Question. Describe your future goal(s). Reflect on your past experiences and describe how these experiences will shape your goal(s). (200 words max)
    6. Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. (150 words max)
    7. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words max)

    Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023

    1. We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us one experience that enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from it. (200 words max)
    2. Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words max)
    3. From your list of “most meaningful experiences” on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? (200 words max)
    4. Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. (150 words max)
    5. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words max)
    6. (Optional) If there is anything specific that you would like for us to know regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected you and your application you may do so here. (Please do not repeat any information provided in your previous required responses.) (200 words max)

    Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022

    1. We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us one experience that enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from it. (200 words max)
    2. Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words max)
    3. From your list of “most meaningful experiences” on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? (200 words max)
    4. Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. (150 words max)
    5. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words max)
    6. (Optional) If there is anything specific that you would like for us to know regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected you and your application you may do so here. (Please do not repeat any information provided in your previous required responses.) (200 words max)

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    Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021

    1. We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us one experience that enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from it. (200 words max)
    2. Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words max)
    3. From your list of “most meaningful experiences” on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? How did it prepare you for a career in medicine? (200 words max)
    4. Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. (200 words max)
    5. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words max)
    6. (Optional) Have you previously applied to any MD programs during a previous admissions cycle? (Yes/No)
    7. (Optional) Please describe if you have made any significant changes or improvements to your previous application. (If selected yes)
    8. (Optional) If you have received a C+ grade or lower in any coursework, please explain.

    Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020

    1. We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us about an experience that has broadened your own worldview or enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself. (200 words max)
    2. Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words max)
    3. From your list of “most meaningful experiences” on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? How did it prepare you for a career in medicine? (200 words max)
    4. Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. (200 words max)
    5. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words max)

    Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019

    1. The Committee on Admissions values diversity as an important factor in the educational mission of the Wake Forest School of Medicine. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and to the medical community in general? (400 words max)
    2. What obstacles or challenges have you experienced and how have you dealt with them? (400 words max)
    3. How has creativity helped you in your studies, work, activities, volunteering, or life in general? (400 words max)
    4. Briefly summarize your journey from the time you became interested in a medical career to filling out this secondary application. Do not focus on why you wish to pursue a medical career, but how you got to where you are now. (400 words max)
    5. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words max)
    6. (Optional) If you have already received your bachelor’s degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year. (200 words max)
    7. (Optional) Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina.

    Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2017 – 2018

    1. The Committee on Admissions values diversity as an important factor in the educational mission of the Wake Forest School of Medicine. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and to the medical community in general? (400 words max)
    2. What obstacles or challenges have you experienced and how have you dealt with them? (400 words max)
    3. How has creativity helped you in your studies, work, activities, volunteering, or life in general? (400 words max)
    4. Starting with the 2017-18 application cycle, the Wake Forest School of Medicine has gone from course requirements to recommendations. How has your academic work beyond the “traditional” pre-medical school requirements (i.e., introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, introductory physics) prepared you for medical school and for a career in medicine. (400 words max)
    5. (Optional) If you have already received your bachelor’s degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year. (200 words max)
    6. (Optional) If you have previously applied to Wake Forest School of Medicine MD program, please describe if you have made any significant changes or improvements from your previous application. (200 words max)
    7. (Optional) Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina. (200 words max)

    Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2016 – 2017

    Required Wake Forest Secondary Questions – Pick at least two:

    1. The Committee on Admissions values diversity as an important factor in the educational mission of the Wake Forest School of Medicine. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and to the medical community in general? (400 words max)
    2. What obstacles or challenges have you experienced and how have you dealt with them? (400 words max)
    3. How has creativity helped you in your studies, work, activities, volunteering, or life in general? (400 words max)
    4. Starting with the 2016-17 application cycle, the Wake Forest School of Medicine has gone from course requirements to recommendations. How has your academic work beyond the “traditional” pre-medical school requirements (i.e., introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, introductory physics) prepared you for medical school and for a career in medicine. (400 words max)
    5. (Optional) If you have already received your bachelor’s degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year. (200 words max)
    6. (Optional) If you have previously applied to Wake Forest School of Medicine MD program, please describe if you have made any significant changes or improvements from your previous application. (200 words max)
    7. (Optional) Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina. (200 words max)

    Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2015 – 2016

    Required Wake Forest Secondary Questions – Pick at least two:

    1. The Committee on Admissions values diversity as an important factor in the educational mission of the Wake Forest School of Medicine. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and to the medical community in general? (400 words max)
    2. What obstacles or challenges have you experienced and how have you dealt with them? (400 words max)
    3. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) lists 14 entry-level core competencies for medical school applicants: Service Orientation, Social Skills, Cultural Competence, Teamwork, Oral Communication, Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others, Reliability and Dependability, Resilience and Adaptability, Capacity for Improvement, Critical Thinking, Scientific Inquiry, Written Communication, Living Systems, and Human Behavior.
    4. Please pick ONE of the competencies and describe how your background and experiences highlights the competency and prepares you for medical school. Do not duplicate information provided elsewhere in the secondary application or in your AMCAS personal statement. (400 words max)
    5. (Optional) If you have already received your bachelor’s degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year. (200 words max)
    6. (Optional) If you have previously applied to Wake Forest School of Medicine MD program, please describe if you have made any significant changes or improvements from your previous application. (200 words max)
    7. (Optional) Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina. (200 words max)
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