After You Submit
More resources to help you after you've submitted your primary applications.
Updated 8/8/2023
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Secondary/Supplemental Essays & Requirements
Secondary/Supplemental Essays & Requirements
Make sure you check if schools have specific criteria in order to receive a secondary before you actually apply! After your verified applications are transmitted to schools, expect to receive secondary applications that are specific to each school and focus on their specific values/interests.
I would advise against "pre-writing" secondaries, as there is always the possibility that medical schools could change their essays from cycle to cycle, however, secondaries may have "themes" (diversity, adversity, why their specific institution, etc.) that you could brainstorm for.
In addition to finding prompts for specific schools, use these resources to help:
Recorded June 2021 (20 min) with tips and strategies before you start writing
Recorded August 2020 (30 minutes followed by Q&A) by the NIH OITE
Professional Headshots
Professional Headshots
If a school requests a headshot in their secondary application, here are some tips:
DO
Use a recent color photo in JPG format
Keep eyes open and visible
Use a solid, light-colored background
Center the photo and include a front view of your full face
Crop the image in a square just above the top of the head to the collarbone
Use good lighting
DON'T
Wear hats, graduation caps, sunglasses or other items that obscure your face
Include other objects or people in the photo submitted
Don't use patterns, texture, or scenic backgrounds for your photo
Use images that have glare from glasses or heavy shadows
Use images that are overexposed or underexposed
Use a selfie
Use photo filters
Additionally, the Career Center on Hawk Hill has a photo booth that would help you get the professional headshot needed! Schedule an appointment here.
Interviews
Interviews
If you've been invited for an interview, congratulations! That means the school already likes you on paper and wants to get to know you better in person. Be sure to check the schools' websites to see if they share about their interview format, what they look for, etc. We recommend completing a mock interview to feel even more confident as you step into your real interview. Schedule a 60 minute appointment with Brianna about 1 to 2 weeks before your interview.
Traditional Interviews
One-on-one interviews with a faculty, staff, and/or student may be open file (they have read your application) or closed file (they have not read your application). Be prepared to answer questions about who you are, your experiences, your motivation for the profession, and show your interest in the particular school. You want to find a balance between
Here's some general resources to get you started on your interview prep:
Learn about current events (the news section of the professional organization websites is a great starting point!)
NYT Opinion Piece: Stabbed. Kicked. Spit On. Violence in American Hospitals Is Out of Control. (PDF)
Research schools or pick questions to ask schools using this worksheet
AAMC: Medical School Interviews: do's and don'ts
The Princeton Review: 50 Common Medical School Interview Questions
Medical School Interview Tips by the Ohio State University College of Medicine
Guidelines for Premedical and Medical Students Providing Patient Care During Clinical Experiences Abroad: Read this if you have experiences abroad and are unsure of how to talk about them (consider the ethics, whether that would have been acceptable in the States, etc.)
Book: Premed Playbook: Guide to the Medical School Interview (available in the library)
Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI)
The school you're interviewing at may conduct Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). This interview format may consist of 6-10 interview stations, each focusing on a different question or scenario, to evaluate competencies (e.g. critical thinking, ethical reasoning, teamwork, etc.) Specific school websites may have more information regarding time limit, what they're looking for, etc. If you're unsure if the school you're interviewing at conducts MMIs, please contact that school's admissions department or review the website.
Preparing for MMI: Bioethics for Premeds (how to approach them, ethical principles,) from Columbia University
Book: Multiple Mini Interviews: Winning Strategies from Admissions Faculty (available at the campus library)
Free MMI Workshop (Fall 2021)
Communicating with Schools
Communicating with Schools
Not all schools perceive thank you notes after interviews and letters the same way (some may encourage them while others may explicitly tell you not to send them). Here's some links to help you get started if you decide to write one:
4 Must Haves in a Med School Letter of Interest - convey your continued interest in their school whether you have not yet received an interview invitation and it's later in the cycle OR after being waitlisted following an interview
How to Write a Medical School Letter of Intent - conveys your intention to attend the school if accepted (you should only write this to one school!)
General advice:
Don't exceed a page and include important information like your application ID #
Be mindful of how many times you're communicating with the school (and whether they will perceive it)
See if the school allows you to upload the letter to your application, accepts letters via email to a general admission email, etc. because it can vary by school
Reapplying
Reapplying
For some applicants, the cycle may not have the desired outcome. If you decide to reapply in a future cycle, you will want to self-assess how your previous cycle(s) went. This fact sheet from NAAHP is a great starting point to identify how to move forward.
Recording: Reapplying to Medical School (65 min) presented by NIH OITE's pre-med advising and career counseling team
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