University of Washington School of Medicine Secondary Application Tips and Deadlines [2021 – 2022]

By Mary Mahoney on September 2, 2021

University of Washington SOM Secondary Application Tips and Deadlines

Given UWSOM’s top ranking in primary care, they will be looking for applicants with a strong interest in patient education and community health. This secondary application will require that you provide an autobiographical essay and answer four to five short essay questions. In constructing your responses, focus on highlighting those life experiences that will demonstrate your commitment to community service and leadership and reveal the depth of your maturity, compassion and integrity. If you are from a rural background or Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, or Idaho, be sure to reference your life experiences in these areas since UWSOM has a special program called WWAMI that is designed to serve the needs of these states.

University of Washington School of Medicine secondary application writing prompts 2021-22

University of Washington Medical School essay #1

How have your experiences prepared you to be a physician? (250 words)

Since you have already submitted your personal statement, I recommend providing a “big picture” summary in response to this short essay prompt. I recommend providing a “big picture” summary in response to this short essay response. It will be important to cover the number of years you have of relevant experience—community service, research, and clinical experience. What did you learn from these experiences? How did these activities influence your decision to pursue a medical education? What did you learn about yourself as you became actively involved in community health?

University of Washington Medical School essay #2

What perspectives or experiences do you bring that would enrich the class? (250 words)

This essay is asking you to consider how you might contribute diversity to the class. You should consider diversity both in terms of background – cultural, ethnic or linguistic – as well as experience – dealing with mental illness or experiencing loss. Explain how your background will be of value to other students and what you will be able to contribute to the class. Your response should focus on emotional and mental maturity and reflect how that will enable you to work with or understand others.

University of Washington Medical School essay #3

What obstacles have you experienced and how have you overcome them? (250 words)

In answering this question, select obstacles or life experiences that will give you the opportunity to show how much you have grown and changed. Be sure to select challenges that you actively worked to overcome and maintain a positive focus. The bulk of the essay should explain how you overcame the challenge as well as how these new skills will help you in medical school. It can be helpful to establish a cause and effect relationship between your efforts and the net outcome. What approach did you take to address the issue(s)? What were the results? I recommend selecting challenges where the stakes were somewhat high either for yourself or for someone else.

University of Washington Medical School essay #4

How have societal inequities in the U.S. affected you or patients you have worked with? (250 words)

This question is asking for your experience working with people who are underserved OR whether you have been impacted as a member of an underserved community. My tip here is to provide a specific example from your life experience if you come from an underserved population or from your clinical or other volunteer/work experience. Then explain what social inequities you encountered in that scenario and how they impacted you or subjects of your story. You will also want to explain how you will handle these inequities as a physician and med student.

University of Washington Medical School essay #5

Please share how COVID-19 has impacted you, your family, your community, and/or the patients that you would like to serve. (NEW for the Fall 2022 cycle)

Most schools ask a COVID-19 question in their secondary essays. This U of Washington SOM prompt has a different spin to it. How were you, your family, or your community, or the patients you would like to serve, affected by COVID-19? Your answer could be practical, about school adjustments, isolation adjustments, or a story about rallying to support the more vulnerable in your community. Your answer could be a story of hardship, if you or your family struggled firsthand with the virus.

However, they are asking about your awareness of its impact on patients, the future patients in your area of interest also. How would a pediatrician understand what COVID-19 has done, is doing and still will do to kids – if you’re interested in pediatrics? How would an obstetrician understand what changes and challenges COVID-19 brings to the lives of pregnant women – if ob/gyn is your interest? How does COVID-19 affect patients in a family practice clinic? Knowing what you know from the past 18 months, what do you anticipate to be the new reality for a particular patient population that is dear to you? And how do you as a future physician respond to it?

University of Washington SOM reapplicant essay

From your most recent application until now, how have you strengthened your application? (250 words)

As a reapplicant, you are demonstrating the depth of your determination to attend medical school by reapplying. Reiterate that determination in your response to this question. Strategically focus on the improvements you have made to your application—your new GPA, MCAT score, and life experiences. Focus on how the time you have spent improving your application has made you a better and more focused applicant.

The CASPer test is also required.

Applying to UW School of Medicine? Here are some stats:

University of Washington School of Medicine average MCAT score: 511

University of Washington School of Medicine average GPA: 3.70

University of Washington School of Medicine acceptance rate: 4.7%

U.S. News ranks University of Washington SOM #7 for research and #1 for primary care.

Has this blog post helped you feel more confident about approaching your UW Medical School secondary application? We hope so. It’s our mission to help smart, talented applicants like you gain acceptance to your top choice medical school. With so much at stake, why not hire a consultant whose expertise and personalized guidance can help you make your dream come true? We have several flexible consulting options—click here to get started today!

University of Washington SOM 2021-22 application timeline

AMCAS Application Due	October 15; 11:59 pm, EST
Secondary Application Due	December 1; 11:59 pm, PST
MSTP Supplemental	December 30

Source: UWSOM website

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***

Dr. Mary Mahoney, Ph.D. has over 20 years of experience as an advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. She is a tenured English Professor with an MFA in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College and a PhD in Literature and Writing from the University of Houston. For the last twenty years, Mary has served as a grad school advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. Want Mary to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!