Essay Topics (2024 - 2025)

*Note: All required questions appear to allow 1785 characters instead of the 250 word max indicated

1. Why have you chosen to apply to CNUCOM?

2. Did you have a Pre-Health Advisor at your undergraduate institution? If so, please tell us about your experience. How did it help you in your journey to to apply to medical school? If not, please let us know how you worked independently to find out more about applying to medical school and the path of your journey to apply?

3. In which direction would you like to see healthcare progress over the next decade?

4. If your education has not been continuous since high school, please explain why. Examples of discontinuities include time taken off while obtaining your undergraduate degree, in addition to gap years.

5. If you have previously applied to medical school, what have you accomplished since that time that would warrant your admission now?

6. Is there anything you would like the Admissions Committee to know that is not reflected elsewhere in your application?

7. How do you feel about standardized tests? How did you prepare for the MCAT? What tools or preparatory courses/material did you use and how did you study? Do you feel like your score reflects how you will perform in medical school? From what you have learned, do you think it will help you in the way you will study or prepare for USMLE exams? (1000 chars only, optional)

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Essay Topics ('23 – '24)‍

1. Why have you chosen to apply to CNUCOM? (250 words maximum)

2. In the medical profession, you will be exposed to students, faculty, colleagues, and patients of various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. How has your involvement with diverse populations prepared you for potentially four years in Elk Grove, the greater Sacramento area, and the rest of the Central Valley? (250 words maximum)

3. Did you have a Pre-Health Advisor at your undergraduate institution? If so, please tell us about your experience. How did it help you in your journey to to apply to medical school? If not, please let us know how you worked independently to find out more about applying to medical school and the path of your journey to apply?

4. In which direction would you like to see healthcare progress over the next decade? (250 words maximum)

5. If your education has not been continuous since high school, please explain why. Examples of discontinuities include time taken off while obtaining your undergraduate degree, in addition to gap years. (250 words maximum)

6. If you have previously applied to medical school, what have you accomplished since that time that would warrant your admission now? (250 words maximum)

7. Is there anything you would like the Admissions Committee to know that is not reflected elsewhere in your application? (250 words maximum)

8. How do you feel about standardized tests? How did you prepare for the MCAT? What tools or preparatory courses/material did you use and how did you study? Do you feel like your score reflects how you will perform in medical school? From what you have learned, do you think it will help you in the way you will study or prepare for USMLE exams?

Note: The prompts say 250 words max, but the text boxes have 1785 character limit and 1000 characters for the last one.

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Essay Topics ('22 - '23)

1. Why have you chosen to apply to CNUCOM? (250 words maximum)

2. In the medical profession, you will be exposed to students, faculty, colleagues, and patients of various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. How has your involvement with diverse populations prepared you for potentially four years in Elk Grove, the greater Sacramento area, and the rest of the Central Valley? (250 words maximum)

3. What has been your biggest challenge in pursuing medicine? What have you learned as a result? (250 words maximum)

4. In which direction would you like to see healthcare progress over the next decade? (250 words maximum)

5. If your education has not been continuous since high school, please explain why. Examples of discontinuities include time taken off while obtaining your undergraduate degree, in addition to gap years. (250 words maximum)

6. If you have previously applied to medical school, what have you accomplished since that time that would warrant your admission now? (250 words maximum)

7. Is there anything you would like the Admissions Committee to know that is not reflected elsewhere in your application? (250 words maximum)

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Essay Topics ('21 – '22)‍

1. Why have you chosen to apply to CNUCOM?

2. In the medical profession, you will be exposed to students, faculty, colleagues, and patients of various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. How has your involvement with diverse populations prepared you for potentially four years in Elk Grove, the greater Sacramento area, and the rest of the Central Valley?

3. What has been your biggest challenge in pursuing medicine? What have you learned as a result?

4. In which direction would you like to see healthcare progress over the next decade?

5. If your education has not been continuous since high school, please explain why. Examples of discontinuities include time taken off while obtaining your undergraduate degree, in addition to gap years.

6. If you have previously applied to medical school, what have you accomplished since that time that would warrant your admission now?

7. Is there anything you would like the Admissions Committee to know that is not reflected elsewhere in your application?

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Essay Topics (’20 – ’21)‍

1. Why have you chosen to apply to CNUCOM? (250 words maximum)

2. In the medical profession, you will be exposed to students, faculty, colleagues, and patients of various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. How has your involvement with diverse populations prepared you for potentially four years in Elk Grove, the greater Sacramento area, and the rest of the Central Valley? (250 words maximum)

3. What has been your biggest challenge in pursuing medicine? What have you learned as a result? (250 words maximum)

4. In which direction would you like to see healthcare progress over the next decade? (250 words maximum)

5. If your education has not been continuous since high school, please explain why. Examples of discontinuities include time taken off while obtaining your undergraduate degree, in addition to gap years. (250 words maximum)

6. If you have previously applied to medical school, what have you accomplished since that time that would warrant your admission now? (250 words maximum)

7. Is there anything you would like the Admissions Committee to know that is not reflected elsewhere in your application? (250 words maximum)

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Essay Topics ('19 – '20)‍

1. Why have you chosen to apply to CNUCOM? (250 words maximum)

2. In the medical profession, you will be exposed to students, faculty, colleagues, and patients of various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. How has your involvement with diverse populations prepared you for potentially four years in Elk Grove, the greater Sacramento area, and the rest of the Central Valley? (250 words maximum)

3. What has been your biggest challenge in pursuing medicine? What have you learned as a result? (250 words maximum)

4. In which direction would you like to see healthcare progress over the next decade? (250 words maximum)

5. If your education has not been continuous since high school, please explain why. Examples of discontinuities include time taken off while obtaining your undergraduate degree, in addition to gap years. (250 words maximum)

6. If you have previously applied to medical school, what have you accomplished since that time that would warrant your admission now? (250 words maximum)

7. Is there anything you would like the Admissions Committee to know that is not reflected elsewhere in your application? (250 words maximum)

8. Please share with us about a time when you needed to follow school instructions accurately. How do you ensure that you don't miss school instructions and your action is correct? (250 words maximum)

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Essay Topics ('18 – '19)‍

1. Why have you chosen to apply to CNUCOM? (250 words maximum)

2. In the medical profession, you will be exposed to students, faculty, colleagues, and patients of various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. How has your involvement with diverse populations prepared you for potentially four years in Elk Grove, the greater Sacramento area, and the rest of the Central Valley? (250 words maximum)

3. What has been your biggest challenge in pursuing medicine? What have you learned as a result?

4. In which direction would you like to see healthcare progress over the next decade? (250 words maximum)

5. Is there anything you would like the Admissions Committee to know that is not reflected elsewhere in your application? (250 words maximum)

OPTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1. If your education has not been continuous since high school, please explain why. Examples of discontinuities include time taken off while obtaining your undergraduate degree, in addition to gap years. (250 words maximum)

2. If you have previously applied to medical school, what have you accomplished since that time that would warrant your admission now? (250 words maximum)

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Essay Topics ('17 – '18)‍

1. Why have you chosen to apply to CNUCOM? (250 words maximum)

2. In the medical profession, you will be exposed to students, faculty, colleagues, and patients of various cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds. How has your involvement with diverse populations prepared you for potentially four years in Elk Grove, the greater Sacramento area, and the rest of the Central Valley? (250 words maximum)

3. What has been your biggest challenge in pursuing medicine? What have you learned as a result? (250 words maximum)

4. In which direction would you like to see healthcare progress over the next decade? (250 words maximum)

5. Is there anything you would like the Admissions Committee to know that is not reflected elsewhere in your application? (250 words maximum)

OPTIONAL QUESTION:

1. If you have previously applied to medical school, what have you accomplished since that time that would warrant your admission now? (250 words maximum)

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Essay Topics ('16 – '17)‍

1. If you were enrolled in less than 12 units/credits for more than 4 semesters/6 quarters during your undergraduate education, please provide a brief explanation:

2. Please explain why you want to become a physician. Provide any experiences you had that have led you to this pursuit. (250 word limit)

3. In the current state of medical care, teamwork is critical for success. Please explain your understanding of what teamwork is; and identify your experiences of teamwork. (250 word limit).

4. In the medical profession you will be exposed to students, faculty, colleagues and patients from varying cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. Please explain how diversity has played a role in your life and education, and how would you apply this to your profession? (250 word limit).

5. Summarize information that may provide the Admissions Committee with a deeper understanding of your personal strengths and/or accomplishments not previously reflected in your AMCAS application. (250 word limit).