Research Secondary Essay Prompts

How to answer Research prompts

Explain the question in plain words, your own part in it, and one thing that did not work. End with what research taught you about how you want to practice.

Most common limits: 500 words (2), 1000 characters (1), 1200 characters (1). Write the longest version once, then cut it to each school's limit.

Every Research prompt, by school

Collected from public applicant reports. Prompts occasionally change mid cycle, so confirm against your own secondary portal before you submit.

1. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

   Please tell us about ONE research project to which you made a significant contribution. In your essay, describe your role on the project, the hypothesis of your research and whether you contributed to hypothesis generation, why the methods were selected to answer that hypothesis, your results, and interpretation of your results with respect to future findings. In addition, please briefly share your motivation for pursuing this research project and reflect on how this experience affected your future career goals.

   3500 characters
2. Duke University School of Medicine

   Critical thinking involves a number of characteristics. Describe any research experience or similar experience in which you utilized critical thinking. How will critical thinking be important in your future career?

   400 words
3. Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center

   Advancing knowledge often begins with curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to question what is already known. Tell us about an experience, project, or question that demanded sustained inquiry from you. Where did it lead, and how did it shape the way you think about discovery, innovation, or lifelong learning?

   1000 characters
4. Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine

   What research experience have you had during the last three years?

   500 words
5. University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine

   Respond to the following and indicate how these areas of experience have impacted your progress toward your future career goals in relation to becoming an "Outstanding Physician, AND...". Describe your most scholarly project (thesis, research or field of study in basic or clinical science or in the humanities) and provide the total number of hours, dates and advisor.

   800 characters
6. University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences The Pritzker School of Medicine

   All MD students participate in our longitudinal Scholarship & Discovery research program, which offers protected curricular time, mentoring, and funding for students to pursue their scholarly interests. Please describe your research interests and share how our research opportunities will help you advance your career goals.

   450 words
7. University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences

   The UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences invests in the discovery of knowledge that benefits the people of this state and enhances the quality of their lives. Reflect on your personal experience with the process of scientific discovery. What aspect was most frustrating? Most rewarding? How might these lessons be transferable to the practice of medicine?

   1200 characters
8. University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville

   Use this space to provide clarification of your research experiences, if needed.

   No stated limit
9. Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest

   Have you participated in research? If yes, briefly describe your role and what skills you gained from participation in the research. Please provide us with the link to the publication or abstract if possible. Did you contribute to the published work as an author/coauthor?

   No stated limit
10. Yale School of Medicine

    Research is essential to patient care, and all students at Yale School of Medicine complete a research thesis. Tell us how your research interests, skills and experiences would contribute to scholarship at Yale School of Medicine.

    500 words

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