Essay Topics (2024 - 2025)

The following questions allow the Admissions Committee to become acquainted with you as an individual. Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences. Each answer must be 65 words or less (max. 550 characters).

1. What is the most fun you’ve had lately?2. If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be?

3. What are three things you don't care about at all?

4. Describe a situation in which you didn’t get something you felt you deserved.

5. Have you previously applied to or attended medical school (M.D. , D.O., international)? Yes/No

6. If you answered yes, please provide an explanation on what occurred with your application process or previous matriculation to medical school.

7. Is there anything else you would like us to know? Please respond in 200 words or less (max. 1,400 characters)

MD/PhD applicants, extra questions:

1. List your publications and papers submitted including one or two sentences describing your role on each publication. (250 word, max. 1,800 characters)

2. Please indicate fields of study for which you have a special interest. For example: Anatomy, Biostatistics, Molecular Biology, Systems Biology, Epidemiology, Bioengineering, Human Genetics, Neurosciences, Biochemistry, Immunology Nutrition, Microbiology, Pathology, Pharmacology Biophysics, Physiology, Cancer, Other

3. Please provide the names of faculty with whom you would like to meet, if invited for an interview. For each faculty member suggested, provide a sentence or two explaining why you would like to meet that person. (250 word, max. 1,800 characters)

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Essay Topics ('23 – '24)

1. What is the most fun you’ve had lately? (65 word limit)

2. If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be? (65 word limit)

3. What are three things you don't care about at all? (65 word limit)

4. Describe a situation in which you didn’t get something you felt you deserved. (65 word limit)

5. Are you a member of a group that is under-represented in medicine? (If yes) Which Group? How does under-representation affect your community? (200 word limit)

6. Have you previously applied to medical school (M.D. , D.O., international)? (If yes) Upon reflection, what do you think went wrong? (200 word limit)

7. (Optional): Is there anything else you would like us to know? If yes, please answer the question in 200 words or less.

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Essay Topics ('22 – '23)

The following questions allow the Admissions Committee to become acquainted with you as an individual. Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences. Each answer must be 65 words or less.​

1. What is the most fun you’ve had lately?

2. If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be?

3. What are three things you don't care about at all?

4. Describe a situation in which you didn’t get something you felt you deserved.

5. Are you a member of a group that is under-represented in medicine?(Y/N) IF yes, Which Group? How does under-representation affect your community?6. Have you previously applied to medical school (M.D. , D.O., international)?(Y/N) IF yes, Upon reflection, what do you think went wrong?

Essay Questions:

1. What do you see as the physician's role in Public Health? Please answer the question in 150 words or less.

OPTIONAL QUESTION:

1. Is there anything else you would like us to know?(Y/N) If yes, please answer the question in 200 words or less.

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Essay Topics ('21 – '22)

1. What does health equity mean to you? (150 words max)

2. Describe a situation in which you did not get something you felt you deserved. (3-5 sentences)

3. If you had enormous wealth, how would you allocate your charitable donations? (3-5 sentences)

4. If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be? (3-5 sentences)

5. What is the most fun you’ve had lately? (3-5 sentences)

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Essay Topics (’20 – ’21)‍

1. What is the most fun you’ve had lately? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

2. If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

3. If you had enormous wealth, how would you allocate your charitable donations? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

4. Describe a situation in which you didn’t get something you felt you deserved. Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

5. What do you see as the physician's role in Public Health? Please answer the question in 150 words or less.

OPTIONAL QUESTION:

1. Is there anything else you would like us to know? If yes, please answer the question in 200 words or less.

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Essay Topics ('19 – '20)‍

1. What is the most fun you've had lately? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

2. If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

3. If you had enormous wealth, how would you allocate your charitable donations? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

4. Describe a situation in which you didn't get something you felt you deserved. Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

5. If you had the power to change anything, what would it be? Please answer the question in 150 words or less.

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Essay Topics ('18 – '19)‍

1. What is the most fun you've had lately? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

2. If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

3. If you had enormous wealth, how would you allocate your charitable donations? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

4. Describe a situation in which you didn't get something you felt you deserved. Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

5. If you had the power to change anything, what would it be? Please answer the question in 150 words or less.

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Essay Topics ('17– '18)‍

1. What is the most fun you've had lately? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

2. If you had to give yourself a nickname, what would it be? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

3. If you had enormous wealth, how would you allocate your charitable donations? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

4. Describe a situation in which you didn't get something you felt you deserved. Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

5. Write a sentence that is not true, then tell us why you wish it were. (200 words)

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Essay Topics ('16 – '17)‍

1. What is the most fun you've had in the last year? (3-5 sentences)

2. If you could give yourself a nickname, what would it be? (3-5 sentences)

3. If you had enormous wealth, how would you allocate your charitable donations? (3-5 sentences)

4. What aspect of the future of medicine causes you the most concern? (3-5 sentences)

5. Describe a situation in which you didn't get something you felt you deserved. (3-5 sentences)

6. Write a sentence that is not true, then tell us why you wish it were true. (200 words)

OPTIONAL QUESTION:

1. Do you consider yourself to be a member of a group that is underrepresented in medicine?

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Essay Topics ('15 – '16)‍

1. What is the most fun you've had in the last year? (3-5 sentences)

2. If you could give yourself a nickname, what would it be? (3-5 sentences)

3. If you had enormous wealth, how would you allocate your charitable donations? (3-5 sentences)

4. What aspect of the future of medicine causes you the most concern? (3-5 sentences)

5. Write a sentence that is not true, then tell us why you wish it were true. (200 words)

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Essay Topics ('14 – '15)‍

1. What is the most fun you've had in the last year? (3-5 sentences)

2. If you could give yourself a nickname, what would it be? (3-5 sentences)

3. If you had enormous wealth, how would you allocate your charitable donations? (3-5 sentences)

4. What aspect of the preparation for applying to medical school did you find most challenging? (3-5 sentences)

5. If you believe that you are a member of a group that is under-represented in medicine, describe what this designation means to you.

6. Write a sentence that is not true, then tell us why you wish it were true. (Please answer the question in 200 words or less.)

MD/PhD:

1. Briefly describe your reasons for pursuing a combined M.D./Ph.D. degree and your most relevant research or scholarly experiences that have influenced your decision.

2. List of publications and papers submitted including one or two sentences describing your role on each publication.

3. Please provide the names of faculty at USC and Caltech with whom you would like to meet, if invited for an interview.

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Essay Topics ('13 – '14)‍

1. What is the most fun you've had in the last year? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

2. What is the most beautiful sight you've ever seen? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

3. If you couldn't be a health professional, what occupation would you choose? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

4. If you could give yourself a nickname, what would it be? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

5. If you had enormous wealth, how would you allocate your charitable donations? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

6. What aspect of the preparation for becoming a physician did you find most challenging? Please answer the questions in 3-5 sentences.

7. Have you indicated that you represent a group that is Underrepresented in Medicine? If yes, what does this designation mean to you? Please answer the question in 250 words or less.

8. How will you be remembered by your medical school classmates 50 years from now? Please answer the question in 250 words or less.

9. Have you ever applied, been accepted, or matriculated to any medical school (M.D., D.O., international)? If yes, tell us about your previous cycle(s). Please answer the question in 300 words or less.