Essay Topics (2024 - 2025)

1. The National Association of Colleges and Employers defines equity as recognizing that we do not all start from the same place and must acknowledge and make adjustments to imbalances. It is an ongoing process, requiring us to identify and overcome intentional and unintentional barriers arising from bias or systemic structures. Consider your abilities, insights, and previous experiences and then tell us about your ability to promote equity. (200 words)

2. Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words)

3. From your list of "most meaningful experiences" on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? (200 words)

4. Please share an experience that demonstrates how you have collaborated with others. (200 words)

5. Describe your future goal(s). Reflect on your past experiences and describe how these experiences will shape your goal(s). (200 words)

6. Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. (250 words)

7. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words)

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Essay Topics ('23-'24)

1. We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us one experience that enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from it. (200 words or less)

2. Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words or less)

3. From your list of "most meaningful experiences" on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? (200 words or less)

4. Please share an experience that demonstrates how you have collaborated with others. (200 words or less)

5. Describe your future goal(s). Reflect on your past experiences and describe how these experiences will shape your goal(s). (200 words or less)

6. Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. (150 words or less)

7. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words or less)

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Essay Topics ('22-'23)

1. We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us one experience that enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from it. (200 words or less)

‍2. Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words or less)

‍3. From your list of "most meaningful experiences" on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? (200 words or less)

‍4. Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine. (200 words or less)

‍5. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words or less)

‍6. If you have received a C+ grade or lower in any coursework, please explain. (200 words or less)

‍7. If there is anything specific that you would like for us to know regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected you and your application you may do so here. (200 words or less.) (Please note that this is optional. Also, please do not repeat any information provided in your previous required responses.)

8. Please list your CASPer testing date for the 2023 admissions cycle.

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Essay Topics ('21 – '22)

1. We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us one experience that enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from it. (200 words or less)

2. Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words or less)

3. From your list of "most meaningful experiences" on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? (200 words or less)

4. Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. (150 words or less)

5. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words or less)

OPTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1. If you have received a C+ grade or lower in any coursework, please explain. (200 words or less)

2. If there is anything specific that you would like for us to know regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected you and your application you may do so here. (200 words or less.) (Please note that this is optional. Also, please do not repeat any information provided in your previous required responses.)

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Essay Topics (’20 – ’21)‍

1. We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us one experience that enhanced your ability understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from it. 200 Word Limit

2. Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. 200 Word Limit

3. From your list of "most meaningful experiences" on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? 200 Word Limit

4. Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. 150 Word Limit

5. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. 50 Word Limit

OPTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1. If you have received a C+ grade or lower in any coursework, please explain. 200 Word limit

2. If there is anything specific that you would like for us to know regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected you and your application you may do so here.
(200 words or less.) (Please note that this is optional. Also, please do not repeat any information provided in your previous required responses.)

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‍Essay Topics ('19 – '20)‍

1. We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us about an experience that has broadened your own worldview or enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself. 200 words or less

2. Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. 200 words or less

3. From your list of "most meaningful experiences" on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? How did it prepare you for a career in medicine? 200 words or less

4. Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at Wake Forest School of Medicine. 200 words or less

5. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. 50 words or less

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Essay Topics ('18 – '19)‍

1. The Committee on Admissions values diversity as an important factor in the educational mission of the Wake Forest School of Medicine. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and to the medical community in general? (400 words)

2. What obstacles or challenges have you experienced and how have you dealt with them? (400 words)

3. How has creativity helped you in your studies, work, activities, volunteering, or life in general? (400 words)

4. Briefly summarize your journey from the time you became interested in a medical career to filling out this secondary application. Do not focus on why you wish to pursue a medical career, but how you got to where you are now. (400 words)

5. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words)

OPTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1. If you have already received your bachelors degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year. (200 words)

2. Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina.

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‍Essay Topics ('17 – '18)‍

1. The Committee on Admissions values diversity as an important factor in the educational mission of the Wake Forest School of Medicine. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and to the medical community in general? (400 words or less).

2. What obstacles or challenges have you experienced and how have you dealt with them (400 words or less)?

3. How has creativity helped you in your studies, work, activities, volunteering, or life in general? (400 words or less)

4. Starting with the 2016-17 application cycle, the Wake Forest School of Medicine has gone from course requirements to recommendations. How has your academic work beyond the traditional pre-medical school requirements (i.e., introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, introductory physics) prepared you for medical school and for a career in medicine. (400 words or less)

OPTIONAL ESSAYS:

1. If you have already received your bachelors degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year (200 words or less).

2. If you have previously applied to Wake Forest School of Medicine MD program, please describe if you have made any significant changes or improvements from your previous application (200 words or less).

3. Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina (200 words or less).

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‍Essay Topics ('16 – '17)‍

1. The Committee on Admissions values diversity as an important factor in the educational mission of the Wake Forest School of Medicine. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and to the medical community in general? (400 words or less).

2. What obstacles or challenges have you experienced and how have you dealt with them (400 words or less)?

3. How has creativity helped you in your studies, work, activities, volunteering, or life in general? (400 words or less)

4. Starting with the 2016-17 application cycle, the Wake Forest School of Medicine has gone from course requirements to recommendations. How has your academic work beyond the "traditional" pre-medical school requirements (i.e., introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, introductory physics) prepared you for medical school and for a career in medicine. (400 words or less)

OPTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1. If you have already received your bachelor's degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year (200 words or less).

2. If you have previously applied to Wake Forest School of Medicine MD program, please describe if you have made any significant changes or improvements from your previous application (200 words or less).

3. Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina (200 words or less).

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‍Essay Topics ('15 – '16)‍

1. The Committee on Admissions values diversity as an important factor in the educational mission of the Wake Forest School of Medicine. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and to the medical community in general? (400 words or less).

2. What obstacles or challenges have you experienced and how have you dealt with them (400 words or less)?

3. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) lists 14 entry-level core competencies for medical school applicants: Service Orientation, Social Skills, Cultural Competence, Teamwork, Oral Communication, Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others, Reliability and Dependability, Resilience and Adaptability, Capacity for Improvement, Critical Thinking, Scientific Inquiry, Written Communication, Living Systems, and Human Behavior. (See AAMC webpage for full definitions using hyperlink below)

4. Please pick ONE of the competencies and describe how your background and experiences highlights the competency and prepares you for medical school. Do not duplicate information provided elsewhere in the secondary application or in your AMCAS personal statement (400 words or less).

OPTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1. If you have already received your bachelors degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year (200 words or less)

2. If you are a re-applicant, please describe if you have made any significant changes or improvements from your previous application (200 words or less).

3. Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina (200 words or less).

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‍Essay Topics ('14 – '15)‍

1. The Committee on Admissions values diversity as an important factor in the educational mission of the Wake Forest School of Medicine. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and to the medical community in general? (400 words or less).

2. What obstacles or challenges have you experienced and how have you dealt with them (400 words or less)?

3. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) lists 14 entry-level core competencies for medical school applicants: Service Orientation, Social Skills, Cultural Competence, Teamwork, Oral Communication, Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others, Reliability and Dependability, Resilience and Adaptability, Capacity for Improvement, Critical Thinking, Scientific Inquiry, Written Communication, Living Systems, and Human Behavior. (See AAMC webpage for full definitions using hyperlink below)

4. Please pick ONE of the competencies and describe how your background and experiences highlights the competency and prepares you for medical school. Do not duplicate information provided elsewhere in the secondary application or in your AMCAS personal statement (400 words or less).

OPTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1. If you have already received your bachelor's degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year (200 words or less)

2. If you are a re-applicant, please describe if you have made any significant changes or improvements from your previous application (200 words or less).

3. Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina (200 words or less).

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‍Essay Topics ('13 – '14)

‍1. Wake Forest School of Medicine believes that the quality of an educational experience depends in part on the differences of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives of the students who comprise each class. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class? (400 words or less).

2. What obstacles or challenges have you experienced and how have you dealt with them (400 words or less)?

3. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) lists 14 entry-level core competencies for medical school applicants: Service Orientation, Social Skills, Cultural Competence, Teamwork, Oral Communication, Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others, Reliability and Dependability, Resilience and Adaptability, Capacity for Improvement, Critical Thinking, Scientific Inquiry, Written Communication, Living Systems, and Human Behavior. (See AAMC webpage for full definitions using hyperlink below).

4. Please pick ONE of the competencies and describe how your background and experiences highlights the competency and prepares you for medical school. Do not duplicate information provided elsewhere in the secondary application or in your AMCAS personal statement (400 words or less).

OPTIONAL QUESTIONS:

1. If you have already received your bachelor's degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year (200 words or less).

2. If you are a re-applicant, please describe if you have made any significant changes or improvements from your previous application (200 words or less).

3. Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina (200 words or less).