It is important to focus on your leadership roles and the diversity of your experiences and activities in this secondary application. UCSF accepts students with highly competitive GPA’s and MCAT scores so it would be to your advantage to explain any decreases or irregularities in your academic records or test scores, if you have not already done so in your primary application. Be sure to highlight the qualities, experiences, awards and scholarships that set you apart from other applicants.
UCSF 2016 Secondary Application Essay Questions:
• One 500-word essay with additional information
• Two additional 500-word essays for students interested in applying to the Joint Medical Program, described below.
• Applicants should use single line spacing and 12 point size font.
• Responses should be constructed strategically to highlight all of an applicant’s strengths and research interests.
1. If you wish to update or expand upon your activities, you may provide additional information below. (500 word limit)
Use this essay as an opportunity to update the adcom on your current activities. Focus on the diversity of your commitments—in leadership, volunteering, tutoring, mentoring, as well as your academic, cultural, musical, athletic and professional interests. If you have long-term commitments to organizations, discuss your years of service and continued commitment. What sets you apart as an applicant? Strategically bring their attention on the strengths that you have not covered in the primary application.
JMP Program Only
1. Please describe the basis for your interest in and your preparations for the MS with research thesis. Given the opportunity to pursue such a degree, what topics, questions or areas of research might you be interested in addressing? (500 word limit)
The Joint Medical Program is hosted by UC Berkeley School of Public Health and UCSF. It is a five-year program that allows participants to earn a Master’s Degree in health and medical sciences (HMS) as well as a medical degree. Students are expected to complete at least 20 units of coursework and to write a thesis in addition to their medical education requirements. To see a list of recent research topics, please see the invitation to the sixth annual UC Berkeley—UCSF Joint Medical Program Research Symposium.
Be sure to discuss in detail any research experience that you have. Explain the projects that you participated in and the outcomes of your contributions—publications, poster discussions, panels, or workshops. What was the level of your responsibility in the lab? How long did you work on each project? What issues did you encounter in your research and how did you find solutions these problems either individually and/or collaboratively? If any of the topics that you covered are health-related, how could you further develop your ideas into a research project?
2. Please describe the basis for your interest and experience with small group, case-based problem oriented learning. (500 word limit)
You should focus on any experiences that you have working successfully in small groups in this essay response. This could range from athletics to clinical experiences. Describe the roles that you played within the teams you have participated on. What were you able to accomplish as a team? What did you as an individual contribute? How would you benefit from a program that uses a case-based learning model?
UCSF Application Timeline:
If you would like professional guidance with your UCSF application materials, please consider using Accepted’s Medical School Admissions Consulting and Editing Services, which include advising, editing, and interview coaching for the UCSF application materials.
Alicia Nimonkar is an Accepted.com advisor and editor specializing in healthcare admissions. Prior to joining Accepted, Alicia worked for five years as Student Advisor at UC Davis’ postbac program where she both evaluated applications and advised students applying successfully to med school and related programs. Explore Accepted.com’s services to see how Alicia can help you achieve your professional dreams in healthcare.
Related Resources:
• Applying to Medical School with Low Stats [Free Report]
• Getting Into Medical School: Advice from a Pro [Podcast]
• Successful Medical School Secondary Application Strategies
This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com.
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