University of Pittsburgh Medical School Secondary Application Essay Tips [2021 – 2022]

University of Pittsburgh 2021-2022 secondary application essay questions

UPSOM places special emphasis on their collaborative problem-based curriculum and the fact that their medical students begin interacting with patients in their first year of medical school. Providing the best care to patients through research, education, leadership and diversity is central to their mission. In your own background, how can you demonstrate your commitment to service? Have you experienced the patient side of medicine yourself or through family members? How have these unique life experiences and the communities you have served contributed to your unique development and identity?

Pitt Med secondary essay #1

Tell us about a challenging problem you faced and how you resolved it. (Limit your response to 250 words or less.)

Given UPSOM’s focus on one-on-one patient interactions, use an experience in which you were able to resolve a professional conflict. Emphasize the role that you played in finding a solution and the skills you employed to identify and implement a positive outcome that was mutually beneficial for all parties involved. I recommend using an issue that has a clear positive resolution and one that is not personal in nature.

Pitt Med secondary essay #2

UPSOM is committed to building a diverse and talented community that will train physicians in delivering culturally competent, person-centered care, and promoting a supportive, collaborative learning environment. To achieve this, we want our fellow students to recognize health disparities and advocate for health equity. We are interested in combating all forms of systemic barriers, and would like to hear your thoughts on opposing specifically: systemic racism, anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination, and misogyny. How will you contribute? (Limit your response to 250 words or less.)

This prompt replaces a broader prompt about diversity. This prompt is quite specific. Racism, anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination and misogyny can all be systemic: a self-reinforcing, discriminatory component built into an institution’s structure, policy, procedures, or organizational heirarchy, whether intentionally or unintentionally. How do you view your role in combating this problem? Have you advocated for someone who was the subject of discrimination? What did you do? What can be done to create inclusive, culturally competent healthcare? Some workplaces, including hospitals and universities, have begun hiring Diversity and Inclusion Officers to precisely assess and change how things get done and how people are hired, creating action steps that dismantle systemic discriminatory processes, establishing new, equitable priorities when hiring and promoting people. Where do you fit in with these values? What can someone expect from you?

Pitt Med secondary essay #3

Please write about anything else you would like to add to your application, or anything you would like to emphasize to the Admissions Committee. (Limit your response to 250 words or less.)

Applicants may write about a hardship they encountered, if it is not addressed in another part of the application. Some applicants might explain a circumstance associated with an aberrant grade on a transcript, without blame, without complaining. Other applicants may write about a job opportunity or volunteer commitment that arose since submitting their AMCAS application. You may even respond with a positive situation. Perhaps explain some aspect of your talent that is not represented in the primary application: will you judge a 4H competition, ride a bull, officiate at a wedding, play in a summer orchestra, run a marathon, have paintings displayed at a gallery opening, publish a short story, travel to provide humanitarian relief?

Applying to University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine? Here are some stats:

UPSOM average MCAT score: 516

UPSOM average GPA: 3.80

UPSOM acceptance rate: 4.6%

U.S. News ranks UPSOM # for research and #34 for primary care.13

Has this blog post helped you feel more confident about approaching your UPSOM 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!

UPitt School of Medicine application timeline 2021 – 2022

AMCAS deadline	October 15th
Supplemental application deadline	November 15th

Source: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s 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!

 

Alicia McNease Nimonkar worked for 5 years as the Student Advisor & Director at the UC Davis School of Medicine's postbac program where she both evaluated applications and advised students applying successfully to med school and other health professional programs. She has served Accepted's clients since 2012 with roughly a 90% success rate. She has a Master of Arts in Composition and Rhetoric as well as Literature. Want Alicia to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

• How to Create Successful Secondary Applications, a free webinar
• Writing About Overcoming Obstacles in Your Application Essays
• Who Gets Accepted to Medical School?

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