Northwestern University Feinberg Secondary Application

Northwestern University Feinberg Secondary Essay Prompts

(If you have updated prompts, please submit them at updatesecondaries.com)

Prompts have been updated November 2023. (Older essays, if available are below)

Prompts

• Describe which part (s) of Feinberg’s integrated curriculum you are most excited to engage in and best align with your learning style. (200 words)
• Describe specific steps you take to manage your stress and maintain wellness while balancing personal, educational, and professional responsibilities. (200 words)
• Feinberg’s mission is to train future leaders in medicine who will serve their patients, communities and society. Describe one specific goal within medicine and how FSM, located in Chicago, will help you achieve this professional goal. (200 words)
• If you have one year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe both your completed activities and future plans during the gap period. (200 words)
• If you are reapplying to medical school, please address steps taken to improve your application. (200 words)
• Do you or an immediate family member have an existing relationship with Feinberg School of Medicine? (200 words)
• The Feinberg School of Medicine values the totality of our students’ experiences. As everyone has their own narrative, please provide more detail about how your unique experiences would enrich the Northwestern community. (200 words)

Primary Deadline: Usually around Nov 1st
Secondary Deadline: Usually around Nov 15th
Secondary Fee: $95
FAP Waiver: Full Fee Waived
Casper Required: No
PREview Required:
Screens Applications: No
Accepts Application Updates: Yes/Email

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Mission:

Our mission is to impact the practice of medicine through discovery and education. 

The pursuit of excellence requires a learning organization grounded in leadership, innovation, and compassionate care that can translate new knowledge into better human health. These attributes are interwoven by professionalism dedicated to teamwork, collegiality, and social and intellectual diversity. Such values promote the best interests of medicine and further strengthen our social contract with the community we serve.

Older Essays:

MD Program

• Given the distinctive educational philosophy and integrated curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would fit the institution.
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• Describe the steps you take to reduce your personal stress when confronted with difficult situations.
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• Feinberg’s mission is to impact the practice of medicine through discovery and education. With consideration of FSM’s goal to train future leaders in medicine, please describe your career plans and goals. Be as specific as your current thinking will allow.
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• If you have (or expect to have) a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe your activities and/or plans. For REAPPLICANTS: Please also address steps taken to improve your application for medical school.
• Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about your selections above and how you would enrich the Northwestern community.

Dual Degree

• Why did you choose your undergraduate major? How does the subject appeal to you?
• Name a scientific paper that you have read recently that had a strong impact on you and describe what impact it had.
• Discuss a current unanswered question in biomedical research that you find particularly interesting and what research you would like to see done to address it.
• What is the most gratifying research experience you have had to date and why? What was the greatest obstacle you had to overcome in research and how did you overcome it?
• Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about your selections above and how you would enrich the Northwestern community.
• How do you envision your career after you complete your training, including residency and fellowship? What aspects of your life and career will be most satisfying? What frustrations can you envision in your future career, and how do you hope to handle them?
• Please describe your current research interest as you plan your research training.

Required

• Given the distinctive educational philosophy and integrated curriculum at FSM, describe how your personal characteristics and learning style would align with the institution. (200 words)
• Describe specific steps you take to manage your stress and maintain wellness while balancing personal, educational, and professional responsibilities. (200 words)
• Feinberg’s mission is to train future leaders in medicine who will serve their patients, communities and society. Describe one specific goal within medicine and how FSM, located in Chicago which is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country, will help you achieve this professional goal. (200 words)
• Describe how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your pathway to medical school. Include any academic, personal, financial or professional challenges, as well as any other relevant information (200 words)
• The Feinberg School of Medicine values diversity as a measure of excellence. We define diversity as the totality of the characteristics and experiences of our students. We believe that a diverse student body improves the educational environment and the ability of our graduates to serve an increasingly diverse patient population. Everyone has their own narrative. Please provide more detail about how your experiences would enrich the Northwestern community (200 words)

Optional

• If you have a year or more between college graduation and medical school matriculation, describe both your completed activities and future plans during the gap period. (200 words)
• If you are a reapplicant this cycle, please address steps taken to improve your application for medical school. (200 words)