7-27-2026 09:00:00 AM
Optional secondary essays are a conundrum because it’s hard to know if they are truly non-mandatory: Will an institution see a non-response as lazy or truly discretionary?
How to approach these essays depends on two things – the prompt itself and your candidacy.
The beauty of a generic “additional comments” section is that it is intentionally vague. It’s your chance to provide details, context, or qualifications that the structure of the application didn’t allow you to present. For that reason, if you have a candidacy without any red flags, I lean toward using a nonspecific “additional comments” space to both highlight who you are and any exceptional aspects of your candidacy that you’d want a reader to know before making an interview decision. One good option in this circumstance is... ...»
7-20-2026 09:00:00 AM
I’ve received several questions recently asking in what time frame secondary essays need to be submitted.
Frankly, this is a hard question to answer because the sooner you can get secondaries in, the better, but if you don’t do quality work, you could bomb your candidacy.
The question reminds me of one I get frequently: What MCAT scores should I target? Well, the higher the better, but there are downsides to fixating on a number.
So, while you might have heard the popular belief that you must get your secondary applications submitted within two weeks, that’s completely arbitrary. What you want is to do outstanding work as efficiently as possible. ...»
7-13-2026 09:00:00 AM
I’ve been getting a ton of questions about secondary essays. As many of you know, I’m not a fan of the entire secondary application requirement. (See my piece, “The Medical School Admissions Process is Falling Short.”) Having said that, most pre-med candidates will have to complete several – if not many – secondary essays and do so on an expedited timeline.
Secondary essay prompts vary, but there are a few that are standard fare, and one of the most important is “Why do you want to attend our school?”
Medical school admissions officers want to be assured you know their institution, are seriously considering it, and will fit in well. In approaching the “why-our-school” question, do your research on the institution and link something specific about you with the school’s philosophy, curriculum, patient population, and/or extracurricular programs. ...»
7-6-2026 09:00:00 AM
1) Future residency applicants, the USMLE recently announced a significant change to the Step exam calendar – moving from near continuous availability to limited testing dates starting in 2028. There will only be a 45-day window to test. USMLE posits that this change will improve the integrity of the exams. They say they will expand the number of testing centers to mitigate fewer exam dates.
Of note, this will make strategic timing around clerkships, the application season, and the Match more difficult for students.
2) For IMGs applying to residency this year, please note that ERAS tokens are now available through the Intealth portal. If you are applying through ResidencyCAS instead of ERAS (obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine), you do not need an ERAS token. ...»
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