wake forest medical school secondary essays

Wake Forest University School of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts & Application Tips

Cracking Med School Admissions

The Wake Forest School of Medicine secondary application reflects the school’s mission in recruiting a diverse and compassionate medical school class. The Wake Forest secondary application has several medium-length essays. The Wake Forest secondary prompts have not changed too much in the past few years and is not too long. Therefore, this is a g reat secondary to pre-write after finishing your AMCAS application! Read below for more Wake Forest secondary application tips !

Our Cracking Med School Admissions team has a track record of helping our mentees receive acceptances to Wake Forest School of Medicine. It is important to submit a Wake Forest secondary application that showcases who you are as a person and the values you embody. Get our help by asking us a question or through our secondary essay editing packages .

Cracking Med School Admissions - 1 School Secondary Essay Edits

Personally Tailored Essays
Edits by Stanford & Harvard-trained Doctors
We study your application strengths to see what unique attributes we’ll bring to the medical school

Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2023 – 2024

We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us one experience that enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from it. (200 words max)
Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words max)
From your list of “most meaningful experiences” on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? (200 words max)
New Question. Please share an experience that demonstrates how you have collaborated with others. (200 words max)
New Question. Describe your future goal(s). Reflect on your past experiences and describe how these experiences will shape your goal(s). (200 words max)
Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. (150 words max)
Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words max)

Tips to Answer Wake Forest Secondaries

Wake Forest University Pre-Writing Guidance: The Wake Forest secondary prompts have not changed too much in the past few years and is not too long. Work on the essays that have not changed in the past year. This is a g reat secondary to pre-write after finishing your AMCAS primary application!

Download all our HIGH-YIELD tips for secondary essays: Cracking Med School Admissions Secondary Essay Guide

Wake Forest Secondary Application Tip #1: Tell stories. Stories show the impact you’ve had on individuals and the community around you. For example, if you worked in a free clinic, tell a story about a challenge you faced or a patient you met. Strive to include at least 2 stories in your Wake Forest secondary.

For example, you should include a story from a clinical experience (like a patient story) in the Wake Forest secondaries question, “ We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us one experience that enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself and what you learned from it” and the question “ From your list of “most meaningful experiences” on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? “
You should include a SPECIFIC time and story in the Wake Forest secondaries question, “Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it.”

Wake Forest Secondary Application Tip #2: Write any affiliations you have with Wake Forest and North Carolina. You can easily write about your previous work in North Carolina in the “Why Wake Forest School of Medicine” essay question. But, you can also includes North Carolina activities in literally any question.

Wake Forest Secondary Application Tip #3: To answer the “Why Wake Forest School of Medicine” questions, remember to add specific reasons. If you see yourself practicing in the area in your future career, definitely mention that!

Read our blog post for tips on how to write a compelling “Why Wake Forest School of Medicine:” Why this Medical School? Secondary Essay Example

Wake Forest Secondary Application Tip #4: One frequent question our Cracking Med School Admissions advisors, Dr. Rishi Mediratta and Dr. Rachel Rizal, receive is if you have to give a specific specialty when discussing your future goals?

Our response – You don’t have to list a specific medical specialty if you’re not sure what field of medicine you are interested in going. However, you can discuss aspects of your career that you envision. For example, some students say they want to work with rural patients throughout their medical careers. Other students discuss how they want to incorporate research into their medical careers.

Another thing you can write about is what opportunities you will pursue as a medical student at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in order to pursue the type of career you want. For example, if you are interested in rural health, then you can discuss how you will pursue rural health community service and rural health clinical experiences & electives during your time as a medical student at Wake Forest University.

Wake Forest Secondary Application Tip #5: We often get asked how to respond to the Wake Forest secondary question, “ Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting .” Here are our thoughts: 1) Make sure it tells the committee something new about you that you haven’t discussed in your other Wake Forest School of Medicine secondary application essays. For example, if you’re written extensively about research in another question, don’t mention research again here; 2) The topic you write about does not have to be related to medicine!

Topics our medical school applicant advisees have written about:

Volunteering experience
Places they’ve lived in the world
Family values and influence
Unique skill
Activities they like to do for fun

Get our help to edit your Wake Forest secondary questions. There is a wide diversity of questions and unique questions in this secondary – many students ask for our help in editing Wake Forest’s secondary application each year! We can help you through our secondary essay packages . Have questions about how you can stand out? Contact us below.

[Read More Secondaries: University of Virginia , Eastern Virginia Medical School , University of North Carolina , University of Maryland ]

Your medical school application Coaches, Mentors, & Cheerleaders

We Personally Advise Every Student We Work With.

Rachel Rizal, M.D.

Changing the trajectory of people’s lives.

Undergraduate Princeton University, cum laude

Medical School Stanford School of Medicine

Residency Harvard, Emergency Medicine

Awards & Scholarships Fulbright Scholar USA Today Academic First Team Tylenol Scholarship

Rishi Mediratta, M.D., M.Sc., M.A.

Advising students to attend their dream schools.

Undergraduate Johns Hopkins University, Phi Beta Kappa

Residency Stanford, Pediatrics

Awards & Scholarships Marshall Scholar Tylenol Scholarship Global Health Scholar

stand out from other applicants with our secondary essay edit packages

Download your secondary essay guide.

Use this essay guide and workbook to write standout secondaries.

First Name *
Best Email *
Year Applying to Medical School *
Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2022 – 2023

(Optional) If there is anything specific that you would like for us to know regarding how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected you and your application you may do so here. (Please do not repeat any information provided in your previous required responses.) (200 words max)

Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2021 – 2022

Our students successfully receive interviews at their reach schools.

Stand Out From Other Applicants

wake forest medical school secondary essays

School Secondary Editing Packages

Why choose us.

Your acceptance can be just one essay away…

Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2020 - 2021

From your list of “most meaningful experiences” on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? How did it prepare you for a career in medicine? (200 words max)
Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. (200 words max)
(Optional) Have you previously applied to any MD programs during a previous admissions cycle? (Yes/No)
(Optional) Please describe if you have made any significant changes or improvements to your previous application. (If selected yes)
(Optional) If you have received a C+ grade or lower in any coursework, please explain.

Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2019 – 2020

We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us about an experience that has broadened your own worldview or enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself. (200 words max)

Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2018 – 2019

The Committee on Admissions values diversity as an important factor in the educational mission of the Wake Forest School of Medicine. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and to the medical community in general? (400 words max)
What obstacles or challenges have you experienced and how have you dealt with them? (400 words max)
How has creativity helped you in your studies, work, activities, volunteering, or life in general? (400 words max)
Briefly summarize your journey from the time you became interested in a medical career to filling out this secondary application. Do not focus on why you wish to pursue a medical career, but how you got to where you are now. (400 words max)
(Optional) If you have already received your bachelor’s degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year. (200 words max)
(Optional) Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina.

Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2017 – 2018

Starting with the 2017-18 application cycle, the Wake Forest School of Medicine has gone from course requirements to recommendations. How has your academic work beyond the “traditional” pre-medical school requirements (i.e., introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, introductory physics) prepared you for medical school and for a career in medicine. (400 words max)
(Optional) If you have previously applied to Wake Forest School of Medicine MD program, please describe if you have made any significant changes or improvements from your previous application. (200 words max)
(Optional) Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina. (200 words max)

Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2016 – 2017

Required Wake Forest Secondary Questions – Pick at least two:

Starting with the 2016-17 application cycle, the Wake Forest School of Medicine has gone from course requirements to recommendations. How has your academic work beyond the “traditional” pre-medical school requirements (i.e., introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, introductory physics) prepared you for medical school and for a career in medicine. (400 words max)

Wake Forest Secondary Application Questions: 2015 – 2016

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) lists 14 entry-level core competencies for medical school applicants: Service Orientation, Social Skills, Cultural Competence, Teamwork, Oral Communication, Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others, Reliability and Dependability, Resilience and Adaptability, Capacity for Improvement, Critical Thinking, Scientific Inquiry, Written Communication, Living Systems, and Human Behavior.
Please pick ONE of the competencies and describe how your background and experiences highlights the competency and prepares you for medical school. Do not duplicate information provided elsewhere in the secondary application or in your AMCAS personal statement. (400 words max)

Contact Us With Questions

We'll answer any and all your questions about medical school we typically respond within 1 business day..

Your Name *
Your Email *
Phone (optional)
Leave us a Message or Question! We will email and call you back. *
Phone This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Start typing and press enter to search

Secondary Essay Prompts

Secondary Essay Prompts – Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Secondary Essay Prompts for the Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

Below are the secondary essay prompts for the Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC.

2019 – 2020

We seek to train physicians who can connect with diverse patient populations with whom they may not share a similar background. Tell us about an experience that has broadened your own worldview or enhanced your ability to understand those unlike yourself. (200 words)
Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words)
From your list of “most meaningful experiences” on the AMCAS application, choose one that has been the most formative in terms of your desire for a career in medicine. Why did that experience have such meaning for you in your decision-making process? How did it prepare you for a career in medicine? (200 words)
Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. (200 words)
Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words)

2018 – 2019

The Committee on Admissions values diversity as an important factor in the educational mission of the Wake Forest School of Medicine. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and to the medical community in general? (400 words)
What obstacles or challenges have you experienced and how have you dealt with them? (400 words)
How has creativity helped you in your studies, work, activities, volunteering, or life in general? (400 words)
Briefly summarize your journey from the time you became interested in a medical career to filling out this secondary application. Do not focus on why you wish to persue a medical career, but how you got to where you are now. (400 words)
If you have already received your bachelor’s degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year. (200 words)
Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina.

Get expert guidance on the secondary essay listed below. Contact MedEdits at: (914) 909-3915 or sign up for a FREE 15 minute consultation.

How has creativity helped you in your studies, work, activities, volunteering, or life in general?

Below are the secondary essay prompts for the Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.

2017 – 2018.

The Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center strives to ensure that its students become respectful physicians who embrace all dimensions of caring for the whole person. Please describe how your personal characteristics or life experiences will contribute to the Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center community and bring educational benefits to our student body. (1000 characters)
Is there any further information that you would like the Committee on Admissions to be aware of when reviewing your file that you were not able to notate in another section of this or the AMCAS Application? (1000 characters)
Why have you chosen to apply to the Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and how do you think your education at Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center will prepare you to become a physician for the future? (1 page, formatted at your discretion, upload as PDF)

2016 – 2017

Required Essay Questions (Pick at least two):

The Committee on Admissions values diversity as an important factor in the educational mission of the Wake Forest School of Medicine. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and to the medical community in general? (400 words or less).
What obstacles or challenges have you experienced and how have you dealt with them (400 words or less)?
How has creativity helped you in your studies, work, activities, volunteering, or life in general? (400 words or less)
Starting with the 2016-17 application cycle, the Wake Forest School of Medicine has gone from course requirements to recommendations. How has your academic work beyond the “traditional” pre-medical school requirements (i.e., introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, introductory physics) prepared you for medical school and for a career in medicine. (400 words or less)

OPTIONAL ESSAYS

If you have already received your bachelor’s degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year (200 words or less).
If you have previously applied to Wake Forest School of Medicine MD program, please describe if you have made any significant changes or improvements from your previous application (200 words or less).
Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina (200 words or less).

Secondary essay webcast with Dr. Jessica Freedman, founder and president of MedEdits Medical Admissions. Read more about Dr. Freedman.

Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Secondary Essay and Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center secondary application

Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Secondary Application

Topics covered in this presentation:

When should I submit my secondary essays?
Pay attention to the word/character limits.
Can I recycle secondary essay prompts for multiple schools?
Identify topics that you left out of your primary application.
And, much more.

Wake Forest School of Medicine of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Admissions Requirements

Learn more about this school:

Secondary Essay Prompts for Other Schools

Do you want to see secondary essay prompts for other medical schools?

Select a school below:

Secondary Essay Prompts By School

*Data collected from MSAR 2022-2023, 2022 Osteopathic Medical College Information Book, and institution website.

Disclaimer: The information on this page was shared by students and/or can be found on each medical school’s website. MedEdits does not guarantee it’s accuracy or authenticity.

Secondary Essay Prompts – Baylor College of Medicine

Secondary Essay Prompts – University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine

Secondary Essay Prompts – University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine

Secondary Essay Prompts – Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Secondary Essay Prompts – Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN

Be Memorable. Claim an interview spot. Get Accepted.

Our team of physician and medical student editors had the pleasure of helping students craft the following medical school secondary essays.

“Why This School” Essay

Adversity essay, diversity essay, “how will you contribute to our school” essay, “future goals” essay, “academic lapses or breaks” essay, “why d.o.” essay, why are secondaries important, tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the wake forest school of medicine..

The ending of the motto of the Moravian church, which has a strong historical connection with Winston-Salem, is “…in all things, love.” This concluding statement is an apt description of how I attempt to live my life. Wake Forest upholds such values of inclusion and love through the Lovefest tradition and programs such as the student-run DEAC Clinic. After working at free clinics in rural areas, I am committed to becoming a physician that will promote systems of care in the community. With my exposure to rural primary care, I want to use the Rural/Underserved Health experience offered to Wake Forest students through the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians to further my understanding and training in this career path. Furthermore, as an extension of working in primary care, I am interested in being a geriatrician. Wake Forest, as one of the best geriatric hospitals in the country, has a curriculum that aligns with my interests. I am confident that through research, service, and patient care, Wake Forest will shape me into a leader of rural health care for the geriatric community.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Wake Forest School of Medicine | Class of 2024

More Examples and Writing Tips for a Convincing Medical School “Why Us” Essay | Click Here

Describe a significant challenge you have experienced in your life, share the strategies you employed to overcome the challenge, and what you learned from the experience.

One personal adversity I have overcome is my lack of self-confidence. I was always a quiet child who grew up with two older sisters doing most of the talking. As I aged, I came out my shell to an extent and became more outgoing. I have always struggled in one particular area: public speaking. My passion for medicine grew early as I observed my eldest sister work alongside physicians during her nursing training. However, my shy nature led me to select pre-nursing as my major, since nursing does not require the ability to speak publicly like being a physician often does. I did not truly consider a career as a doctor until my anatomy and physiology professor suggested I do so after recognizing my drive, aptitude, and passion. Even so, it took introspection and time to recognize that I held the potential to become a successful physician.

Over my undergraduate career, I have participated in many group presentations during classes without the benefit of being taught how to successfully prepare. On every occasion, I would become so nervous that I was unable to sleep the entire night prior. By the time I presented, I would be so distracted that I could not think straight, let alone get my point across clearly. This went on until I had the opportunity to participate in a class called Peer Instruction in Laboratory Occupational Training (PILOT), which was an extension of a class that I had succeeded in, Quantitative Biological Methods.

PILOT was designed to expose students to research articles and assist with laboratory techniques and homework. A large part of the grade for the class consisted of teaching a laboratory section of around 40 students for 15 minutes. I almost opted out of the class because of this requirement, but ultimately decided it was a great opportunity to work through my personal fear of public speaking and build my self-confidence.

I set a schedule six weeks ahead of the presentation to begin preparing. A few helpful peers offered advice, telling me that knowing what I wanted to say verbatim was a good way to improve confidence. Thus, I practiced daily until three weeks before the class. I found another tip online: practicing in the actual location of the presentation can help reduce nerves. Subsequently, I approached one of my laboratory teaching assistants and asked if he would let me practice in the laboratory. He was an excellent teaching assistant and took the time to watch me practice and provide feedback.

Ultimately, I felt that I was able to present eloquently and received an excellent grade. Life is full of challenges, and I learned that preparation is key to success. I planned and prepared early, pulled from available resources, and implemented advice from faculty and peers. This experience taught me that I do have the aptitude, strength, and drive to succeed in medical school and overcome any obstacle that I might face. I am eager to embrace more personal growth and realize my full potential as I continue on to medical school.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Nova Southeastern University College Of Osteopathic Medicine | Class of 2024

More Examples and The 6 Steps for Writing the Medical School Adversity Essay | Click Here

“Do you consider yourself a person who would contribute to the diversity of the student body of Tufts University School of Medicine?” If yes, briefly explain why.

I am a Muslim, Saudi woman, but I am not the preconceived notions of being close minded, uncultured, or oppressed. I’m a passionate helper, an open-minded extrovert, and a curious explorer of the world.

Though I grew up attending a school that taught me to be a leader and encouraged competition, and though travelling the world allowed me to explore new cultures, homogeneity was the ‘norm’ everywhere I went until I attended school in the US. George C. Marshall High School showed me how enriching diversity is. There, in a mixture of backgrounds and ethnicities, I was an ‘other’ among many ‘others’. The following year in Nebraska was different, and I experienced the damage of prejudice when I was the only ‘other’. My experiences drove me to work to bring different people together to give back. Years later, at NYU, this personal passion pushed me to create a volunteer tutoring nonprofit organization.

I believe the ‘other’ in me, with the uncommon background, the unique experiences, and the interesting perspectives, will contribute to the diversity of the student body at Tufts.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Albert Einstein College of Medicine | Class of 2024

Click here for More Examples and Steps on How to Write an Effective Medical School Diversity Essay

Explain how interactions with people who are different from you have shaped your worldview and relate how you would enrich the VTC community.

From my academic and work experiences, I have frequently worked with people who are different from myself. Working with students and professors from different backgrounds through college helped me appreciate different viewpoints, especially during my bioethics training. Listening to my classmate, who was a Catholic hospice nurse, explain her differing stance on end-of-life care showed me to appreciate the legitimacy of different opinions. Likewise, I learned from sociology graduate students about the issue of the medicalization of mental illness, which I had not had to consider prior to speaking and working with them. These experiences will help me contribute to the community by enabling me to approach problems from multiple lenses and to listen to and value the input of experts in different fields.

My experiences engaging with different individuals will help me to enrich the community at Virginia Tech. As a tutor, I have been able to work with students of different ages and backgrounds with unique learning goals. For example, my student, Danny, was an adult student taking classes at a community college and had failed his statistics course three times before meeting with me. Even though I had excelled in math classes during school, I was able to listen to his frustrations and identify different ways to help him learn the content and be able to apply it for quizzes and exams. I helped him navigate through the material, and he ended up passing the course comfortably. By working with a wide variety of students like Danny, I have been able to understand the importance of listening actively to individuals’ struggles and unique experiences to learn about how to best help them and I am excited to apply this skill to help future individuals.

In addition to my experiences tutoring, I have been able to interact with individuals different from myself through volunteering. For example, at Judson Park, I volunteered by helping one resident, Ron, participate in art therapy. Ron had suffered two prior strokes and was wheelchair-bound and hemiplegic. I was able to help bring him down to the art room and organize supplies for him. Ron was unique in his needs, which was why he required individualized care to be able to participate in the art therapy. He also struggled with communicating verbally due to deficits from his prior strokes. I adapted by patiently waiting for him to respond at his own pace and looking for body language cues for what he needed at the moment. He was able to make incredible art creations, showing me the resilience of differently abled individuals.

These experiences have shown me the importance of valuing everyone’s unique perspectives and utilizing that consideration and compassion to help others. I can enrich the VTC community by providing this diverse perspective to help my peers and ultimately serve the greater community as a physician.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: University of Virginia School of Medicine | Class of 2024

Need help writing your secondary essays?

After residency, describe the community in which you see yourself practicing medicine.

Currently, I can see myself practicing medicine in a variety of clinical settings: a private specialty care system, a nonprofit medical facility, individual practice, or a different setting. I am open to all of the new experiences that medical school will bring, including exposure to a variety of clinical settings.

I have worked as a medical scribe at the largest non-profit health care provider in Seattle and have also volunteered for a private specialty hospital. Both of these experiences have exposed me to a different type of medical practice, and I have enjoyed both although in different ways. I loved the diversity of patients I encountered at the nonprofit and enjoyed experiencing different clinic visits whether for constipation or throat pain. At the specialty hospital, I was able to encounter unique and rare medical cases that I’ve only read about in books such as spina bifida or hydrocephalus. I was also able to witness the very specialized and personalized care. I am excited to explore the various clinical setting options in medical school and residency, and figure out which environment best suits my strengths and interests!

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Stanford School of Medicine | Class of 2024

Use this space if you’d like to address any identified deficiencies in your application.

When I suddenly lost my father to pancreatic cancer shortly before starting college, I was confused and frustrated about my loss. Although I had dreamt of becoming a doctor since I was a little girl, I was newly unsure of whether medicine was right for me. Because I lacked a tangible goal and motivation, my studies and grades suffered during my first years of college. However, once I began volunteering at the Children’s Hospital during my sophomore year, I developed a renewed sense of appreciation and passion for medicine. I started to care a lot more about school and enjoyed learning again. I began working extremely hard in my classes, and slowly but surely, my GPA rose.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine | Class of 2024

How do your professional ambitions align with osteopathic medicine?

My professional ambitions have always aligned with a medical career, ever since I observed my childhood hero and oldest sister, Brittany, work alongside physicians as a registered nurse. At the time, I was only eight years old and not yet privy to the nuances of allopathic versus osteopathic medicine.

Throughout my experiences with the medical profession as a patient and mother, I have found myself disappointed with some of the allopathic medical treatments. I have myself been treated pharmaceutically with medications and became non-compliant with my treatment due to side effects. Several years ago, I was diagnosed with herpetic neuralgia. My neurologist prescription Neurontin, which helped with the symptoms but left me in a fog. I found myself questioning whether there could be a better method.

As an undergraduate student, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to listen to a presentation by a doctor of osteopathy from Lake Eerie College of Medicine in Bradenton, FL. The speaker discussed osteopathic medicine, its principles, and manipulative medicine (OMM). He talked about a time when he bumped into an old friend who had been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. His friend’s condition was so severe that he needed a cane to ambulate independently. The D.O. performed OMM for his friend and provided him with a set of exercises to perform daily at home. Ultimately, the friend did not require the surgery his allopathic physician had recommended.

After listening to his presentation, I felt as though I had a breakthrough. I realized that I wholeheartedly supported these principles as the better solution that I had been looking for. With osteopathic medicine, I could practice medicine in a traditional manner while wielding a valuable skill set that could spare patients from invasive surgeries and pharmaceutical therapeutics causing undesired side effects.

Furthermore, while studying for the MCAT a year ago, I developed a constant waxing and waning neck pain that would radiate to my right shoulder and down my arm. This worsened over a period of four weeks, and I took increasing amounts of ibuprofen to calm the symptoms. A good friend of mine is a physical therapist who manipulated my spine and sent me home with instructions for an exercise plan. She also taught me how to self-evaluate my posture, which has been valuable in preventing additional episodes. I was incredibly impressed with the outcome of the treatment that used my own body and its muscles to treat the pain without using pharmaceuticals or leaving me with residual deficits. As such, my personal trust in natural treatments has emphasized to me that osteopathic medicine is the path I am meant to follow.

The more I learn about osteopathic medicine, the more excited I am to incorporate its principles into my future practice. I am thrilled to learn and practice medicine with a holistic approach to evaluate and treat patients. As a healthcare partner to my future patients, I feel inspired to encourage the implementation of prevention, maintenance, and natural remedies into their treatment plans.

Application Status: Accepted |School of choice: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine | Class of 2024

Why are secondary essays important?

Schools ask these questions for a specific reason
It’s your final chance to make a strong impression
When they’re done right, you will lockdown an interview spot

Join over 1,500 of our accepted med school applicants by using Motivate MD's review service.

Rachel G., M.D.

Dermatology Resident Medical School: Saint Louis University

Khaila R., M.D.

OBGYN Resident Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine

Akosua O., M.D./MPH

OBGYN Resident Medical School: Pritzker School of Medicine

Jackie M., M.D.

Internal Medicine Resident Medical School: Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine

Emma F, D.O.

Internal Medicine Resident Medical School: Burrell

Sam C., M.D.

Pediatric Resident Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

Yale School of Medicine

Harvard Medical School

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences

California Northstate University College of Medicine

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

what others are saying about our essay reviews...

917-994-0765
[email protected]
Medical School Admissions
Residency Application
The PreMed App
MCAT Vitals
Meet Our Team
Testimonials
Join the Team

All-In-One Packages
Personal Statement Editing
Essay Brainstorming Session
Activities Section Editing
Secondary Essays Editing
Admissions Consulting
Interview Preparation
CASPer Test Prep
ERAS Common Application Editing
Interview Prep
Essay Editing
MCAT Question of the Day
List of Medical Schools
Medical School Map
Tools for Applying to Medical School
Medical School Application Timeline
2024 Medical School Personal Statement Examples
FAQs about Medical School Interviews
Medical School Interview Common Questions & Answers
Motivate MD Team
Free Consultation

Medical School Secondary Application Prompts

Secondary Essays by School/Program

The Med School Insiders Secondary Application Database is updated for the 2023 application cycle! Medical schools are sorted alphabetically below.

Each school’s prompts are accompanied by expert tips and strategies to help you craft a more effective secondary application. To take your secondary applications to the next level, take a look at our secondary application packages !

A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P R S T U V W Y

Albany Medical College (Albany, NY)

Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University (Bronx, NY)

Baylor College of Medicine (Houston, TX)

Boston University School of Medicine (Boston, MA)

Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University (Greenville, NC)

Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School (Providence, RI)

California Northstate University College of Medicine (Elk Grove, CA)

California University of Science and Medicine (Colton, CA)

Carle Illinois College of Medicine (Urbana, IL)

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine (Cleveland, OH)

Central Michigan University College of Medicine (Mount Pleasant, MI)

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (Los Angeles, CA)

Chicago Medical School – Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science (North Chicago, IL)

Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine (Cleveland, OH)

Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (New York, NY)

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (Camden, NJ)

Creighton University School of Medicine (Omaha, NE )

CUNY School of Medicine (New York, NY )

Dartmouth Medical School (Hanover, NH)

Drexel University College of Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)

Duke University School of Medicine (Durham, NC)

East Tennessee State University – James H. Quillen College of Medicine (Johnson City, TN)

Eastern Virginia Medical School (Norfolk, VA)

Emory University School of Medicine (Atlanta, GA)

Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine (Boca Raton, FL)

Florida International University College of Medicine (Miami, FL)

Florida State University College of Medicine (Tallahassee, FL)

Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine – Quinnipiac University (North Haven, CT)

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (Scranton, PA)

George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences (Washington, DC)

Georgetown University School of Medicine (Washington, DC )

Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine (Nutley, NJ)

Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA)

Hofstra University Zucker School of Medicine (Hempstead, NY)

Howard University College of Medicine (Washington, DC )

Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis, IN)

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Baltimore, MD)

Loma Linda University School of Medicine (Loma Linda, CA)

Louisiana State University HSC – School of Medicine at New Orleans (New Orleans, LA)

Louisiana State University HSC – School of Medicine in Shreveport (Shreveport, LA)

Loyola University Chicago – Stritch School of Medicine (Maywood, IL)

Marshall University – Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine

Mayo Clinic School of Medicine – Minnesota (Rochester, MN)

Mayo Clinic School of Medicine – Arizona (Scottsdale, AZ)

Medical College of Georgia – School of Medicine (Augusta, GA)

Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee, WI)

Medical University of South Carolina – College of Medicine (Charleston, SC)

Meharry Medical College (Nashville, TN)

Mercer University School of Medicine (Macon, GA)

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (East Lansing, MI)

Morehouse School of Medicine (Atlanta, GA)

Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine (New York, NY)

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (Old Westbury, NY)

New York Medical College School of Medicine (Valhalla, NY)

New York University School of Medicine (New York, NY)

Northeastern Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) (Rootstown, OH)

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine (Chicago, IL)

Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (Rochester, MI)

Ohio State University College of Medicine (Columbus, OH)

Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine (Portland, OR)

Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine (Hershey, PA)

Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) (Ponce, Puerto Rico)

Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center (Chicago, IL)

Rutgers University New Jersey Medical School (Newark, NJ)

Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (Piscataway, NJ)

Saint Louis University School of Medicine (St. Louis, MO)

San Juan Bautista School of Medicine (Caguas, Puerto Rico)

Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota (Sioux Falls, SD)

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (Springfield, IL)

Stony Brook School of Medicine at University Medical Center (Stony Brook, NY)

Stanford University School of Medicine (Stanford, CA)

SUNY Downstate Medical Center – College of Medicine (Brooklyn, NY)

SUNY Upstate Medical University – College of Medicine (Syracuse, NY)

Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)

Texas A & M Health Science Center – College of Medicine (College Station, TX)

Texas Tech University HSC – Paul L. Foster School of Medicine (El Paso, TX)

Texas Tech University HSC School of Medicine (Lubbock, TX)

Thomas Jefferson University — Sidney Kimmel Medical College (Philadelphia, PA)

Tufts University School of Medicine (Boston, MA)

Tulane University School of Medicine (New Orleans, LA)

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences – F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine (Bethesda, MD)

Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine (Bayamon, Puerto Rico)

University at Buffalo – School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (Buffalo, NY)

University of Alabama School of Medicine (Birmingham, AL)

University of Arizona College of Medicine (Phoenix, AZ)

University of Arizona College of Medicine (Tucson, AZ)

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences – College of Medicine (Little Rock, AR)

University of California Davis School of Medicine (Sacramento, CA)

University of California Irvine School of Medicine (Irvine, CA)

University of California Los Angeles (UCLA David Geffen) (Los Angeles, CA)

University of California Riverside School of Medicine (Riverside, CA)

University of California San Diego School of Medicine (San Diego, CA)

University of California San Francisco School of Medicine (San Francisco, CA)

University of Central Florida College of Medicine (Orlando, FL)

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (Chicago, IL)

University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (Cincinnati, OH)

University of Colorado School of Medicine (Denver, CO)

University of Connecticut School of Medicine (Farmington, CT)

University of Florida College of Medicine (Gainesville, FL)

University of Hawaii at Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine (Honolulu, HI)

University of Illinois College of Medicine (Chicago, IL)

University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine (Iowa City, IA)

University of Kansas School of Medicine (Kansas City, KS)

University of Kentucky College of Medicine (Lexington, KY)

University of Louisville School of Medicine (Louisville, KY)

University of Maryland School of Medicine (Baltimore, MD)

University of Massachusetts School of Medicine (Worcester, MA)

University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine (Miami, FL)

University of Michigan Medical School (Ann Arbor, MI)

University of Minnesota Medical School – Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN)

University of Minnesota Medical School – Duluth (Duluth, MN)

University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine (Jackson, MS)

University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine (Kansas City, MO)

University of Missouri–Columbia School of Medicine (Columbia, MO)

University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Medicine (Omaha, NE)

University of Nevada–Reno School of Medicine (Reno, NV)

University of Nevada–Las Vegas School of Medicine (Las Vegas, NV)

University of New Mexico School of Medicine (Albuquerque, NM)

University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill School of Medicine (Chapel Hill, NC)

University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences (Grand Forks, ND)

University of Oklahoma College of Medicine (Oklahoma City, OK)

University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine (Philadelphia, PA)

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (Pittsburgh, PA)

University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine (San Juan, Puerto Rico)

University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry (Rochester, NY)

University of South Alabama College of Medicine (Mobile, AL)

University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine (Tampa, FL)

University of Southern California (USC) Keck School of Medicine (Los Angeles, CA)

University of Tennessee HSC College of Medicine (Memphis, TN)

University of Texas Austin Dell Medical School (Austin, TX)

University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) School of Medicine (Galveston, TX)

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine (Edinburg, TX)

University of Texas Houston McGovern Medical School (Houston, TX)

University of Texas San Antonio School of Medicine (San Antonio, TX)

University of Texas Southwestern (UTSW) Medical School (Dallas, TX)

University of Toledo College of Medicine (Toledo, OH)

University of Utah School of Medicine (Salt Lake City, UT)

University of Virginia School of Medicine (Charlottesville, VA)

University of Vermont College of Medicine (Burlington, VT)

University of Washington School of Medicine (Seattle, WA)

University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (Madison, WI)

Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (Nashville, TN)

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (Richmond, VA)

Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (Roanoke, VA)

Wake Forest University School of Medicine – Bowman Gray Campus (Winston-Salem, NC)

Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine (Spokane, WA)

Washington University in St. Louis – School of Medicine (St. Louis, MO)

Wayne State University School of Medicine (Detroit, MI)

Weill Cornell Medicine Medical College (Manhattan, NY)

West Virginia University School of Medicine (Morgantown, WV)

Western Michigan University School of Medicine (Kalamazoo, MI)

Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine (Dayton, OH)

Yale University School of Medicine (New Haven, CT)

Join the Insider Newsletter

Receive regular exclusive MSI content, news, and updates! No spam. One-click unsubscribe.

Customer Note Premed Preclinical Med Student Clinical Med Student

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts Database

Updating for 2023-2024 as Secondaries Come in!

ProspectiveDoctor has compiled a database of past and current medical school secondary essay prompts from past years to help you get a head start on your secondary applications. Select a school to discover their essay prompts.

Baylor College of Medicine Secondary Questions
East Tennessee State James H. Quillen College of Medicine Secondary Questions
Florida International University College of Medicine Secondary Questions
Wake Forest School of Medicine Secondary Questions

Wake Forest University School of Medicine – Bowman Gray Campus Secondary Essay Prompts

Below are the secondary prompts for Wake Forest University School of Medicine – Bowman Gray Campus. Want to maximize your chances for an interview invite? Work with our expert medical school admission consultants to put your best foot forward through our secondary application editing services .

1. The Committee on Admissions values diversity as an important factor in the educational mission of the Wake Forest School of Medicine. How will you contribute to the diversity of your medical school class and to the medical community in general? (400 words)

2. What obstacles or challenges have you experienced and how have you dealt with them? (400 words)

3. How has creativity helped you in your studies, work, activities, volunteering, or life in general? (400 words)

4. Briefly summarize your journey from the time you became interested in a medical career to filling out this secondary application. Do not focus on why you wish to pursue a medical career, but how you got to where you are now. (400 words)

5. Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words)

1. If you have already received your bachelor’s degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation and your plans for the upcoming year. (200 words)

2. Describe any connection you have to Wake Forest School of Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, or North Carolina.

Application Academy closes this week! Sign up and save now!

Leave a Review

What are your chances of acceptance?

Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

Your chancing factors

Extracurriculars.

How to Write the Wake Forest University Essays 2023-2024

Wake Forest University has one required short essay prompt and four optional short essays for all applicants. While you aren’t required to submit the additional three essays, we strongly recommend you submit these essays to demonstrate your full interest in the school and help the admissions officers get to know you even better.

With thousands of strong applicants applying to Wake Forest each year with similar GPAs and test scores, admissions officers value what they learn in an applicant’s essay, as it helps them distinguish between students to decide who they want at their school. In this post, we’ll share tips for writing the best Wake Forest essays possible to boost your chances of admission.

Wake Forest University Supplemental Essay Prompts

All applicants, required.

Prompt 1: Why have you decided to apply to Wake Forest? Share with us anything that has made you interested in our institution. (150 words)

All Applicants, Optional

Prompt 2: List five books you’ve read that intrigued you.

Prompt 3: Tell us what piques your intellectual curiosity or has helped you understand the world’s complexity. This can include a work you’ve read, a project you’ve completed for a class, and even co-curricular activities in which you have been involved. (150 words)

Prompt 4: Dr. Maya Angelou, renowned author, poet, civil-rights activist, and former Wake Forest University Reynolds Professor of American Studies, inspired others to celebrate their identities and to honor each person’s dignity. Choose one of Dr. Angelou’s powerful quotes. How does this quote relate to your lived experience or reflect how you plan to contribute to the Wake Forest community? (300 words)

Prompt 5: Give us your Top Ten list. (The choice of theme is yours.)

Why have you decided to apply to Wake Forest? Share with us anything that has made you interested in our institution. (150 words)

This is a standard “Why This College?” prompt . You are only given 150 words to express why you want to attend this University, so make the most of your limited space by being as specific as possible.

You want to establish a tangible connection to Wake Forest. Examples of tangible connections might be the Theater in Education class you’re excited to take because it perfectly combines the passion for theater you developed in high school with your dream of being an English teacher. Another connection could be a beloved campus tradition you are aching to participate in, like Project Pumpkin or Lovefeast.

You could also discuss the campus culture you observed when you went for a tour, where you saw students collaborating and helping each other study on Hearn Plaza (Something like this also answers the part of the prompt asking about contact you’ve had with the school!).

Keep these tips in mind when you’re writing about tangible connections:

Choose reasons that are unique to Wake Forest. Every school has an Introduction to Economics class or study abroad program. However, classes like The Italian Experience in America or Psychology of Memory are far less common.
You will have more of an impact if you actually establish a connection. If you want to participate in the Wake ‘N Shake dance marathon, explain how you planned fundraisers for organizations in high school, and how you now want to give to the Wake Forest community.
Don’t name-drop! Probably the most important tip is to elaborate on the connections you make to the University. Explain why you are interested in joining this specific club, or how studying with this professor will enhance your overall college experience.
Quality over quantity is everything. The admissions committee will learn far more about you if you discuss two or three things that relate to your interests and experiences, rather than list ten different classes and clubs you want to join without any elaboration on any of them.

Prompt 2 (Optional)

List five books you’ve read that intrigued you..

This prompt gives the admissions officers insight into your interests and perspectives through literature.

Before you just list the first five books that pop into your head, take some time to consider the importance of choosing the right books. This is an easy way for you to express your personality—simply by picking books that show you’re an experienced reader with intellectual drive, nuanced passions, and specific interests—to help you stand apart from all the other applicants. That being said, picking the books you were required to read in your AP Literature class might not accomplish everything you want.

The prompt asks you to pick books that have intrigued you. What does this mean? Well, you could pick a book you read that sparked your interest in the topic you want to major in. Perhaps you read a book about bioengineering that influenced your decision to pursue a career in that field. Or maybe you read Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s autobiography and that motivated you to become a public servant.

It’s important that you choose books that tie into your interests and aspirations—doing this demonstrates your personality, the types of people you look up to, and what kind of person you might become.

You don’t just have to pick books that are over 500 pages long and seem “impressive” for a high school student to have read. Don’t put down War and Peace if you struggled to get through the book and didn’t enjoy it. Consider including books that are meaningful to you and hold a special place in your heart. Maybe Green Eggs and Ham was the first book you ever read by yourself and it was the reason you started reading. If there is a book you used to read with your parents every night when you were little, you can also include that in your list.

When you’re compiling the list of five books, the most important thing to remember is that each book should reveal something about your personality. If you don’t feel a book is an accurate representation, try picking a different one.

Prompt 3 (Optional)

Tell us what piques your intellectual curiosity or has helped you understand the world’s complexity. this can include a work you’ve read, a project you’ve completed for a class, and even co-curricular activities in which you have been involved. (150 words).

This prompt gives you two options to choose from. On the one hand, you could write an essay about a topic that interests you—but on the other hand, you can choose something that helps you make sense of the world around you. These things aren’t mutually exclusive though; something can both pique your interest and help you cope with the complexities of life.

Despite what you choose, the important thing is to demonstrate your intellect and broader way of thinking. Whether you’re sharing something you are passionate about or something that shapes your perspective, you need to make sure the admissions officers walk away knowing that you are a thoughtful student.

Intellectual Curiosity

If you choose to write about something that piques your intellectual curiosity, the topic you pick is incredibly important.

Think about what interests you—something you could talk about for hours on end, or something you desperately want to find the answer to. Asking yourself these questions will help you come up with a topic that you can delve deeper into. You want to be sure your topic is not only exciting to you, but also that it can be connected to something more personal and intellectual.

For instance, a student who is fascinated by Latin American culture could discuss her interest in the Carnival celebrations of Brazil and how learning about these celebrations has helped her to connect with her Brazilian roots, as well as to the world history surrounding those roots.

Alternatively, a student could use this essay as an opportunity to discuss his favorite hobby. For example, a student who loves to collect coins could discuss how the sheer volume of coins produced fascinates him, how he’s gotten to meet people across the country because of his collection, and how coins have helped him develop a deeper understanding of the financial underpinnings of America.

Whatever route you decide to take in this essay, make sure you truly express the nuances of your fascination with the topic. As long as you can show how the topic sparked your desire to continue learning, whether that be about yourself or the world, you will be in good shape.

World’s Complexities

While “understanding the world’s complexity” might sound confusing, think about it in terms of any book you’ve read or academic concept you’ve researched that you think about in your daily life and use to cope when reality gets challenging.

If there’s a certain character who faced similar challenges to yourself and found a way to persevere, you might write a personal story about how that character inspires you. Or maybe you read a dystopian novel like The Hunger Games or 1984 that helped you see parallels between a fictional society and your own.

Just be careful—remember that if you choose a mainstream pop-culture text, your essay has to be very personal to show how the book affected you in a way different from anyone else. For example, anyone can say that Katniss from The Hunger Games helped you understand the importance of standing up for what is right.

Instead, you could consider talking about how the rebellion against the government in the novel made you look into injustices in your own country, and after seeing what Katniss was able to accomplish, you found the courage in yourself to reach out to local officials, or start a club in your school to demand change.

You might not approach this prompt with a book, but instead a topic or concept you’ve learned in school or independently that has stuck with you and influenced your worldview. Maybe you are fascinated by architecture so you approach global problems and societal issues the way you would a building by assessing the stability of the foundations, how well the materials mesh together, and so on.

Or, perhaps studying social psychology on your own has helped you understand the psychological factors that make social media addictive so you can detach yourself from the digital world more easily.

Prompt 4 (Optional)

Dr. maya angelou, renowned author, poet, civil-rights activist, and former wake forest university reynolds professor of american studies, inspired others to celebrate their identities and to honor each person’s dignity. choose one of dr. angelou’s powerful quotes. how does this quote relate to your lived experience or reflect how you plan to contribute to the wake forest community (300 words).

One of the benefits of this prompt is it allows you to choose any quote from Maya Angelou, giving you freedom to take your essay in any direction you want. If you aren’t familiar with Maya Angelou already, we recommend you spend some time learning about her incredible life and impact so that you’ll be able to better understand some of the context behind her quotes.

While you can find plenty of quotes online, you might also consider reading some of her books and poems to find more unique quotes ( I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a great place to start). It’s important that you choose a quote that will allow you to discuss your experiences and connect them to Wake Forest. Don’t just pick a quote that just sounds “deep”—pick what resonates with you the most.

We’ll now go through some sample quotes and the types of essays students might write in response to this prompt.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”

A student who loves to write might choose this quote to describe his desire to share the stories inside of him with the world. He could start the essay by explaining his wild imagination and how he is always coming up with fantasy worlds inside his head. However, he felt like no one would want to hear his made-up stories, so he kept them to himself and never shared them. He understood the agony Angelou wrote about, the agony of feeling like his voice wouldn’t be heard.

However, when his English teacher praised his creativity in a poem he wrote for class, it gave him the confidence to start writing short stories and to share them with his teacher. When he finally started telling the stories inside of him, he felt fulfilled. He experienced an overwhelming sense of pride when other people enjoyed his stories. He can’t wait to submit short stories to the Old Gold and Black (Wake Forest’s student newspaper) and share his imagination with his peers in Short Story Workshop and Advanced Fiction Writing at Wake Forest.

“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”

A student who is very bubbly and optimistic could pick this quote and describe her attitude towards negative situations. Maybe she tells a story about a close friend who lost a parent and how it broke her heart to see her friend experience so much pain. She could describe how she was there for her friend to cheer her up and take her mind off of her grief.

For this type of essay, it’s important to note that the focus is still on the student herself and on how she was affected and responded to her friend’s pain—after all, she’s the person applying to Wake Forest, not her friend.

Her experience with her friend taught her that sometimes optimism doesn’t work in every situation and occasionally, the best way to help someone is to just be a shoulder to cry on. Although deep down she will still be high-spirited, she will take what she learned with her to Wake Forest and support her friends and peers in a variety of ways depending on the context.

“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back.”

A student who has engaged in activism might like this quote because it allows them to discuss their approach to fighting for what they believe in. They might write about how their school was planning on cutting funding for the band, which was devastating to this student, who had found a community in band and who didn’t want younger students to be denied the opportunity to find friends through band.

While most of their friends shrugged off the news saying they couldn’t do anything, the student decided to stand up and fight back against the decision. They wrote a petition and gathered hundreds of signatures, which they then brought in front of the school board in the form of a presentation. When the school board refused to allocate money for the band, the student organized their peers to campaign against the passing of the school budget.

Although they were ultimately unsuccessful at overturning the decision, the act of fighting for what they believed in was extremely fulfilling and motivated the student to get involved with local politics, which they are planning to continue by joining the Wake Forest Student Government.

Prompt 5 (Optional)

Give us your top ten list. (the choice of theme is yours.).

The final prompt is where applicants get to use all their creativity, so don’t hold back! Like the first optional prompt, this one asks students to make a list. Unlike that prompt, however, Wake Forest doesn’t provide any specifications as to what the list should include.

The first few things that come to your head will probably be generic—favorite movies, bucket list destinations, favorite singers, favorite foods. However, we urge you to give this prompt some thought and come up with a really creative list that is distinctively you.

Instead of your favorite movies, try top 10 scenes you rewatch
Instead of bucket list destinations, try top 10 places to watch the sunset
Instead of your favorite singers, try top 10 songs about the summer
Instead of your favorite foods, try top 10 best kitchen utensils

You might also consider something even more personal, such as:

Top 10 ways that people have misspelled your name
Top 10 moments that you knew you were the middle child
Top 10 phrases you say all the time
Top 10 times you cried while watching a movie

While these examples are fun and more creative, the bottom line is that this question is all about you and your personality. Just be cautious and don’t pick things that require more than a few words—you’re only allotted 100 characters per response. Picking your top 10 quotes might be a cool idea, but you may not have the space for it.

At the end of the day, admissions officers are using this question to see how creative you are and what interests you, so make sure that your personality shines through, no matter what you choose to write about.

Where to Get Your Wake Forest University Essays Edited

Do you want feedback on your Wake Forest essays? After rereading your essays countless times, it can be difficult to evaluate your writing objectively. That’s why we created our free Peer Essay Review tool , where you can get a free review of your essay from another student. You can also improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

If you want a college admissions expert to review your essay, advisors on CollegeVine have helped students refine their writing and submit successful applications to top schools. Find the right advisor for you to improve your chances of getting into your dream school!