Many schools will require you to submit a supplemental application, along with a supplemental application fee. Most supplemental applications require you to write additional essays. These essays give you a chance to explain why you think you are a good fit for that particular school.

You should complete each of your supplemental applications within two weeks of being prompted to do so. If you take longer, the schools may get the impression that you are not seriously interested in them. (Note: Supplemental applications are part of the reason why you should not apply to too many schools! It takes time to complete your supplemental application essays thoughtfully and carefully.) A former CE pre-health advisee created this Supplemental Application Tracking spreadsheet for other students to use: review the tips on the "Overview" page, save a copy for yourself, and then use the spreadsheet to track the flow of your supplemental applications.

Note: If your common application includes a "Program Materials" section that includes each school's supplemental essays, list just one school at first. Once you've completed the entire primary application, submit it so that you can get in the queue to have your coursework entries verified. You can then log back into the application and add your remaining schools so that you can take more time to respond to their supplemental essay prompts. 

(Many thanks to Candice Eisenhauer, Director of Health Professions Advising at Wheaton College, for her valuable contributions to this section!)

Tips for responding to supplemental essay prompts

Where can I find a list of past supplemental application essay prompts?

If you are applying to medical (MD and DO) programs, you can get started on pre-writing your supplemental essays in advance by referring to one of the following lists of supplemental essay prompts: Medical School Headquarters website, MedEdits website (scroll down past all of the text on this page to find the list). 

To our knowledge, no such lists exist for the other health professions.

"Why do you want to attend our school?"

Your goal here is to convey your understanding of what they stand for, how they train their students, and their philosophies.  

Research each school thoroughly by reading all of the information on their website and in your profession's reference guide. If you can also talk with admissions directors in advance by participating in a virtual fair, CU's annual Health Professions Expo, or by physically visiting the school, all the better -- take notes so that you can refer back to them when you are completing your supplemental applications.

  • Indicate why you feel the program at this particular school is a good fit for your interests and learning style. Consider mentioning:
    • Approach to curriculum
      • Traditional vs. systems-based
      • Lecture vs. flipped classrooms vs. problem-based-learning
      • Special tracks that fit your interests, as demonstrated by your activity history (rural health, public health, global health, research, etc.)
    • Appealing aspects of their approach to clinical training
    • Support services available at that school, such as mentoring programs, assistance with test prep for licensing exams, or assistance with job placement
    • Student culture, especially any appealing opportunities to engage with their campus community (student groups, service groups, etc.)
  • Read the school's mission statement and explain how your strengths are in line with the school’s mission.
  • If you have talked with an admissions officer during a fair or have visited the school, say so and indicate what excited you about their particular program.
  • If you have spoken with one of their faculty members or current/former students and have learned more about their program that way, say so.
  • Find a copy of their latest newsletter so that you can talk about current events going on at that school. 
  • If you have family support in the area, you can mention that, but it shouldn't be the only reason you cite.
  • Likewise, if the location allows you to continue to engage in a favorite hobby for stress relief, you can also say so, but location should not be a primary part of your answer.
The "Diversity Question"

Think broadly about diversity. Diversity questions on supplemental applications typically are not only focused only on racial, ethnic, cultural, or socioeconomic diversity. You may find it helpful to refer to the figure on this AAMC document on Holistic Review for guidance on thinking about the many aspects of your background and identity that could help you contribute positively to the diversity of thought in professional school and your approach to caring for patients from a wide variety of backgrounds and belief systems.

When you talk about these aspects of your background and identity in this essay, share illustrative anecdotes and reflect upon the ways in which they have shaped you:

  • How have they impacted your awareness of certain factors and/or influenced the decisions you've made since then?
  • When reflecting on your experiences, ask yourself: 
    • What did I learn?
    • What did I realize I need to get better at?
    • What changes have I made as a result?

Possible topics to include in this essay, if they apply to you:

  • Formal, long-term activities that gave you insight into social justice issues. 
  • Your experiences with a different culture, outside of the U.S.
"What are some of your unique characteristics, abilities, or skills?"

Be aware: An essay prompt with this wording is not asking for you to discuss factors such as your religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, political beliefs, etc. Rather, they are interested in learning more about your experiences or personality traits that relate to your suitability for a career as a clinician. 

"Is there any additional information that you would like the admissions committee to consider?"

Topics that fit here:

  • Any autobiographical information, including formative experiences that have shaped who you are today or influences that impacted your career goals (e.g., could include where you grew up, family circumstances, obstacles, health challenges, etc.), that you have not already mentioned elsewhere in your application.
  • An explanation of any unusual aspects of your academic history that you have not addressed elsewhere in your common or supplemental application:
    • Periods of lower-than-normal grades (but note that one or two Cs is not worthy of mention here)
    • Pattern of withdrawals from courses (again, one or two Ws is not enough to warrant mention here)
    • Leaves of absence from school, etc.

... The key is to provide an explanation, not an excuse. Explain what happened, what you learned from the experience, and what you are doing differently now to avoid a repeat of the situation. Take personal responsibility; do not complain about other people's actions.

  

"Describe your current activities."

Although you have probably listed all/most of your current activities on your common application, this prompt on a supplemental application is asking you to provide a summary of all of your current activities in one paragraph or so. As you write this paragraph, state your rationale or motivations for being involved in each current activity. 

Include:

  • Any additional coursework to complete remaining prerequisites or to deepen your science knowledge
  • Current clinical/research/volunteer experiences
  • Current job (Note: It's okay to be working in an unrelated field so that you can pay your bills, but keep in mind that most jobs have some aspect that is relevant to your preparation for a clinical career. Wait staff in restaurants are using their interpersonal communication skills constantly, engineers must use their critical thinking skills, etc. Applicants to all types of professional programs may find it useful to review the AAMC's list of entry-level competencies for guidance on thinking about relevant skills you are using in your current work.
"Please tell us any additional information about yourself not already in your application."

This type of question is typically optional. Consider the following topic areas:

  • Information about new relevant experiences that you have started this summer.
  • Information about your background that you haven't mentioned elsewhere, particularly if this aspect of your background has informed your strengths, motivations, or goals.
  • Tell them more about what you do for fun and why you find it meaningful. This type of approach will help the reader get a sense of you as a real person and may help interviewers connect with you based on mutual interests.

However, if you really feel that you have nothing significant to add here, then do not feel pressured to write something trivial.

If applying to DO programs: "Why do you want to become an Osteopathic Physician?"

This essay needs to demonstrate that you have done your due diligence in learning about the work of an osteopathic physician. Review all of the information posted on this AACOM webpage and watch the two short videos posted on that page. Also read all of the information listed in this chapter of the Osteopathic Medical College Information Book.

When you answer this question, provide supporting examples from your shadowing experiences with an osteopathic physician. 

Do not say that you are applying to osteopathic programs this year because you applied to M.D. programs last year but didn't get in. (Is it crazy that we need to say this? Maybe, but admissions committees at D.O. schools see this type of answer all the time!)

If applying to PA programs: The autobiographical essay

Prompt: The autobiographical essay should be an account of the applicant's life history and experiences. Please note this is not a personal statement or a statement of reasons for applying to PA school.

Advice: Respond to this prompt in the same way you'd respond to the "Tell me about yourself" question at an interview. 

First, some guidelines:

  1. This is an intentionally open-ended question. Take it to mean, “What do you care about most, personally and professionally?" It is not a request for a chronological retelling of your academic and activity history.
    • It is not the same question as, “Tell me why you want to be a ______.”
  2. Tips for preparing for this question:
    • First think about the top 4-6 most meaningful aspects of your life: personally, academically, and extracurricularly.
      • For each item on this list, identify the top 2-3 reasons why you find it motivating/rewarding.
      • Now look through your lists of reasons. What are the common themes that keep coming up?
      • For example:
        • Mentoring/coaching others: TA, summer camp counselor, sports coach, volunteer at crisis hotline
        • Problem solving: working on my car, doing research,  crisis hotline
        • Creativity: cooking, doing research, explaining concepts to students as a TA
        • Building/maintaining community: sports, church

Tips for structuring your answer:

  • You can begin by sharing a bit about your background: where you were raised, where you went to school, etc.
  • If your upbringing had a profound effect on your reasons for wanting to become a clinician or has informed how you want to approach your future work, succinctly share this information.
  • Aim to convey your top 3-4 themes you identified above.
  • As always, your writing will be richer and more memorable if you tell several little illustrative stories within the essay.

Answers to common questions about supplemental applications

I am still waiting to receive my standardized test score. Should I wait to work on my supplementary applications until I know that I have a competitive score?

Great question! Please do not wait. Due to the aggressive timing of the rolling admissions process, the best strategy is to continue to proceed full-steam-ahead with the application process, even while you are waiting for your test score. This means completing and submitting each secondary application within two weeks of receiving it. (Many schools will track how long it takes for each applicant to send their secondary application in. If you are slow to return their secondary, that school will probably assume—correctly or incorrectly—that they are not high on your priority list, which can hurt your chance of getting an interview.)

I received supplementary applications from many of my schools soon after I submitted my application but haven't heard from many others yet. Should I worry?

Many professional schools automatically send all applicants a secondary application. Many others, however, conduct an initial screening of common applications before sending out secondary applications (think of this as a courtesy; they aren’t asking everyone to spend extra time and money on a secondary application). 

Bottom line: Expect to receive an initial flurry of secondaries. The rest will trickle in more slowly as schools conduct their initial screenings of the common applications.

What if several schools have similar supplemental essay prompts?

Although it will be tempting, avoid using the exact same essay in response to multiple schools' supplemental essay prompts. The wording is usually a little different, so you must be vigilant in making sure that you are responding to each specific prompt.  

Be incredibly careful when re-using essays to make sure you do not include the name of the wrong school!

What if a secondary application asks for information that is listed on my common application?

If a secondary application asks for information that strikes you as redundant, remember that they probably have a good reason for asking you to provide that information again now. Do not write, “See Primary Application” and do not simply copy-and-paste the information you provided in your common application. Instead, take a fresh approach to providing the information they are asking for in this section. They probably put high value on that information and want it provided here in an easy-to-reference way.

Do I have to get a professional photo taken for the schools that ask for a picture?  

No, but it should look like a professional photo - you should be dressed as you intend to be dressed for your interviews. The lighting should be good, the background neutral. The main focus should be your face. Remember, admissions committees use these to remember you after your interview. Look at the photo you plan to send and ask if it shows you the way you want them to remember you.