Essay Topics (2024 - 2025)
Essay 1
How do you hope to impact medicine and improve patient care in the future and why do you need a medical degree to fulfill these goals? (1500 characters)
-OR - if applying to the Medical Scientist Training Program:
Describe why you are applying to the University of Michigan MSTP. If you are interested in a specific department, program, or area of research for your Ph.D., please provide a brief explanation. We recognize that your interests may change. If relevant, please describe your gap/growth year plans. (1500 characters)
Essay 2
Please describe the impact of your identity and experiences on your growth and development, and how it may impact your career as a physician. (1500 characters)
Essay 3
The University of Michigan Medical School strives to be a place of equity and belonging for diverse patients, learners, and healthcare professionals. Please describe your experience advancing inclusion and how you envision contributing to our community’s mission.
(1500 characters)
Essay 4
Outside of medicine, and beyond what we can read in your application, tell us what you are curious about or what you have chosen to explore. (1500 characters)
Essay Topics ('23-'24)
Essay 1
Comment on how you hope to impact medicine in the future. If examples are needed, feel free to refer to our seven Paths of Excellence. (1500 characters including spaces, about 250 words).
OR
If applying to the Medical Scientist Training Program: Describe why you are applying to the University of Michigan MSTP. If you are interested in a specific department, program, or area of research for your Ph.D., please provide a brief explanation. We recognize that your interests may change. (1500 characters including spaces, about 250 words).
Essay 2
Please respond to only one of the following two prompts. (2500 characters including spaces, about 400 words).
Essay 3
How was your journey to medical school affected by the COVID pandemic? Please feel free to describe any positive or negative aspects. (2500 characters including spaces, about 400 words).
Essay 4
Outside of medicine, and beyond what we can read in your application, please tell us what you’re curious about, or what you’re passionate about, or what brings you joy – and why. Some examples include listening to historical novels, exploring national parks, woodworking, baking cupcakes, podcasting, knitting, playing pickleball, filmmaking, making music, etc. (1500 characters including spaces, about 250 words).
Essay Topics ('22-'23)
Essay 1
Comment on how you hope to impact medicine in the future. If examples are needed, feel free to refer to our seven Paths of Excellence. Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).
OR, if applying to the Medical Scientist Training Program:Describe why you are applying to the University of Michigan MSTP. If you are interested in a specific department, program, or area of research for your Ph.D., please provide a brief explanation. We recognize that your interests may change. Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).
Essay 2
Please respond to only one of the following two prompts. Do not exceed 2500 characters including spaces (about 400 words).
Essay 3
How was your journey to medical school affected by the COVID pandemic? Please feel free to describe any positive or negative aspects. Do not exceed 2500 characters including spaces (about 400 words).
Essay 4
Outside of medicine, and beyond what we can read in your application, please tell us what you’re curious about, or what you’re passionate about, or what brings you joy – and why. Some examples include listening to historical novels, exploring national parks, woodworking, baking cupcakes, podcasting, knitting, playing pickleball, filmmaking, making music, etc. Do not exceed 2500 characters including spaces (about 400 words).
Essay Topics ('21 – '22)
1. Comment on how you hope to impact medicine in the future. If examples are needed, feel free to refer to our eight Paths of Excellence. Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).
2. Please respond to ONLY one of the following two prompts (select the question to which you are responding):
Describe your identity and how it has impacted the development of your values and attitudes toward individuals different from yourself and how this will impact your interactions with future colleagues and patients.
OR
If you recognize and/or represent a voice that is missing, underrepresented, or undervalued in medicine, please describe the missing voice(s) and how increased representation in medicine could impact the medical community.
Do not exceed 2500 characters including spaces (about 400 words).
3. How was your journey to medical school affected by the COVID pandemic? Please feel free to describe any positive or negative aspects. Do not exceed 2500 characters including spaces (about 400 words).
4. Tell us something you are passionate about and why. Do not exceed 1500 characters including spaces (about 250 words).
Essay Topics (’20 – ’21)
1. Comment on how you hope to impact medicine in the future. If examples are needed, feel free to refer to our eight Paths of Excellence. Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
2. At the University of Michigan Medical School, we are committed to building a superb educational community with students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions, and backgrounds. What would you as an individual bring to our medical school community? Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
3. Tell us something you are passionate about and why. Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
4. Describe your experience in a leadership position, the challenges that presented themselves in that position and what you did to contribute to the success of the team or project. Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
Please note you do not need to use the entire word count.
Essay Topics ('19 – '20)
1. Comment on how you hope to impact medicine in the future. If examples are needed, feel free to refer to our eight Paths of Excellence. Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
2. At the University of Michigan Medical School, we are committed to building a superb educational community with students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions, and backgrounds. What would you as an individual bring to our medical school community? Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
Essay Topics ('18 – '19)
1. Choose one of the following areas in which you have interest. Comment on how you would hope to impact medicine in this area. Please do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words). (Choose between biological and biomedical sciences, entrepreneurial medicine, and public health).
2. At the University of Michigan Medical School, we are committed to building a superb educational community with students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions, and backgrounds. What would you as an individual bring to our medical school community? Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
3. If you would like to comment in depth regarding your research background you may answer this optional question. How would your past experiences in laboratory-based research on fundamental problems in the biological and biomedical sciences motivate you to pursue similar efforts as a physician-scientist? Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
Essay Topics ('17 – '18)
1. Tell us something you are passionate about and why. Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
2. At the University of Michigan Medical School, we are committed to building a superb educational community with students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions, and backgrounds. What would you as an individual bring to our medical school community? Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
Essay Topics ('16 – '17)
1. Tell us something you are passionate about and why. Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
2. At the University of Michigan Medical School, we are committed to building a superb educational community with students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions, and backgrounds. What would you as an individual bring to our medical school community? Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
3. Please briefly describe your personal experience in a leadership position and the challenges that presented themselves in that position. Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
Essay Topics ('15 – '16)
1. Tell us something you are passionate about and why. Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
2. At the University of Michigan Medical School, we are committed to building a superb educational community with students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions, and backgrounds. What would you as an individual bring to our medical school community? Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
Essay Topics ('14 – '15)
1. Tell us something you are passionate about and why. Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
2. At the University of Michigan Medical School, we are committed to building a superb educational community with students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions, and backgrounds. What would you as an individual bring to our medical school community? Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
3. We know you have many interests and passions beyond your pursuit of medical training. At Michigan we encourage you to continue to develop these talents. Please list three areas of interest (e.g., symphony orchestra, drawing/painting/ceramics, research in a specific area, joint degrees, athletic interests/running/softball, ballroom dance, Spanish language study, international travel/work/study, etc.) you would like to pursue while at Michigan. This will allow us to provide resources for you around these interests. (Three blanks given)
4. Fun fact - We would like to know one fun fact about you. This may be shared with other applicants. Please answer the following question with up to four words:
"Most people don't know that I can ____________"
Essay Topics ('13 – '14)
1. Tell us something you are passionate about and why. Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words).
MSTP applicants: Instead of the above, briefly describe why you decided to apply to the University of Michigan MSTP. If you are interested in a specific department, program, or area of research for your Ph.D., please provide a brief explanation (we recognize that your interests may change).
2. At the University of Michigan Medical School, we are committed to building a superb educational community with students of diverse talents, experiences, opinions, and backgrounds. What would you as an individual bring to our medical school community? Do not exceed 1500 characters (about 250 words)
3. Other Interests: We know you have many interests and passions beyond your pursuit of medical training. At Michigan we encourage you to continue to develop these talents. Please list three areas of interest (e.g., symphony orchestra, drawing/painting/ceramics, research in a specific area, joint degrees, athletic interests/running/softball, ballroom dance, Spanish language study, international travel/work/study, etc.) you would like to pursue while at Michigan. This will allow us to provide resources for you around these interests.
4. Fun fact - We would like to know one fun fact about you. This may be shared with other applicants. Please answer the following question with up to four words.
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