New York University Grossman School of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts

The 2026-2027 prompts

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

1. 01

   If applicable, please comment on significant fluctuations in your academic record.

   No stated limitOptional
2. 02

   If you have taken any time off from your studies - before, during, or after college - please describe what you did during that time and your reasons for doing so.

   No stated limitOptional
3. 03

   Please upload your most recent CV, ensuring it includes up-to-date publications, abstracts, and presentations.

   Not applicable
4. 04

   Tell us about a long-term goal you pursued over several years. What obstacles did you encounter, and what sustained your motivation when progress was slow?

   2500 characters
5. 05

   Medical training demands continuous improvement. Share an example of feedback you received that was difficult to hear. How did you act on it, and what changed as a result?

   2500 characters
6. 06

   Conflicts arise daily from differences in perspectives, priorities, worldviews and traditions. How do you define respect? Describe a situation in which you found it challenging to remain respectful while facing differences?

   2500 charactersOptional
7. 07

   Describe a situation in which you faced an ethical dilemma or pressure to compromise your values. How did you navigate the situation, and what guided your decision?

   2500 charactersOptional
8. 08

   Some of the most meaningful achievements are non-academic in nature. Describe the personal accomplishment that makes you most proud. Why is this important to you?

   2500 charactersOptional

How to write these well

• Turn secondaries around within 7 to 14 days of receiving them. Schools read speed as interest, and slow essays land in a bigger pile.
• Pre-write the universal question types (diversity, challenge, why us) once, then adapt per school. Adapting is rewriting the school specific half, not swapping the name.
• Name real programs. A why us answer that cites a specific clinic, track, or community partnership reads ten times stronger than praise for reputation or location.
• Stay under the limit without padding to reach it. Readers are working through thousands of these; a tight answer is a kindness they remember.

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