Last Updated on December 28, 2022
To say the article below brings you the best information on what is wake forest medical school known for is an understatement as it brings you much more. Read on to discover the latest.
You will also find related posts on wake forest medical school ranking & wake forest university medical school ranking on infolearners.
About what is wake forest medical school known for
If you’re looking for a well-established medical school with a strong reputation for patient care, community service, and clinical research, you might consider applying to the Wake Forest School of Medicine. Located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina—a growing leader in the nanotech and biotech fields—Wake Forest Medical School offers students a chance to study medicine while surrounded by vibrant Southern culture.
The Wake Forest Medical School ranking—#48 in Research and #80 in Primary Care by U.S. News and World Report—places it among other renowned medical programs. It also lands in the top third of medical schools regarding its level of funding from the National Institute of Health.
The unique “Wake Ready” curriculum offered at the Wake Forest School of Medicine offers students a personalized approach to their medical training. Medical students begin their clinical rotations at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center after 18 months of foundational classroom training. After completing their core clerkships, students explore specialty areas during their final clinical rotations—including dermatology, infectious diseases, and neuroradiology, to name a few. This curriculum positions graduates to successfully match into competitive residency programs.
If you’re hoping to join a prestigious group of physicians and medical experts who are devoted to pushing the boundaries of medicine and healthcare, Wake Forest might be the place for you. Continue reading to explore the Wake Forest Medical School requirements, secondary essays, and interview format so you can increase your odds of getting in.
A number of our students get into Wake Forest Medical School each year. Want to learn how?
Get our free 102-page guide to help you with every step: Get Into Medical School: 6 Practical Lessons to Stand Out and Earn Your White Coat
First Name
Last Name
Email Address
SEND ME THE GUIDE
100% privacy. No spam. Ever.
Part 2: Wake Forest School of Medicine MD programs
The Wake Forest School of Medicine offers several paths for students to earn an MD:
The four-year, traditional MD
The MD/PhD Program
The MD/MS in Translational and Health System Science
The MD/MA in Bioethics
Wake Forest Medical School also offers an Early Assurance Program specifically for Wake Forest University undergraduates. Students can apply as sophomores if they meet minimum GPA of 3.5. If accepted, they must still take the MCAT and earn a score of 509 or above to matriculate into the Wake Forest School of Medicine immediately after completion of their senior year.
Wake Forest School of Medicine scholarships and tuition
The 2021–2022 base tuition at the Wake Forest School of Medicine is $61,200. The total cost of attendance, including room, board, supplies, transportation, and other indirect expenses, comes to $91,700.
While this cost is high, Wake Forest Medical School offers approximately 250 institutional scholarships to its medical students each year, based on financial need and merit. About 79 percent of students receive either federal or institutional aid.
Part 3: How hard is it to get into the Wake Forest Medical School?
Wake Forest Medical School admissions statistics
The Wake Forest Medical School acceptance rate is just 3.1 percent. Let’s take a closer look at the admissions statistics for the class of 2024:
Applicants: 9,248
Interviews: 476
Acceptances: 288
Matriculants: 145 (28% in-state)
Average GPA: 3.71
Average MCAT score: 512
(Suggested reading: Average GPA and MCAT Score for Every Medical School)
Wake Forest Medical School admissions requirements
While Wake Forest doesn’t require specific coursework in order to be admitted to its medical school, they do strongly recommend that applicants complete the following courses:
Biology: Introductory biology, molecular/cell biology, genetics, anatomy, physiology, neuroscience
Chemistry: Biochemistry, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry
Physics: Introductory physics
Mathematics: Algebra, statistics
Psychology: Introductory psychology, behavioral psychology, abnormal psychology
Sociology: Introductory sociology, coursework with a special emphasis on health disparities
Humanities: Foreign language (especially Spanish), philosophy (especially medical ethics), literature
Wake Forest Medical School sets minimum requirements in order for applications to be reviewed. Students must have a minimum 3.2 science GPA and a minimum 502 MCAT score to reach the admissions committee. The MCAT must have been taken within three years of application.
In addition, all applicants are required to take the online Casper test, as well as the accompanying Duet assessment, and submit their scores to Wake Forest Medical School.
Wake Forest does not accept applications from international students. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible to apply.
(Suggested reading: Medical School Requirements: The Definitive Guide)
Wake Forest Medical School application timeline
AMCAS applications must be submitted according to the following dates and deadlines:
May 3, 2021: AMCAS application opens
May 27, 2021: AMCAS application can be submitted
June 25, 2021: AMCAS applications transmitted to Wake Forest
Mid-July 2021: Wake Forest secondary application opens
August 2, 2021: Application deadline for Early Decision
August 2021–March 2022: Interviews conducted
October 1, 2021: Early Decision applicants notified
October 15, 2021: AMCAS application deadline
October 15, 2021–March 15, 2022: Regular Decision applicants notified
November 30, 2021: Wake Forest secondary application deadline
While you can apply to Wake Forest into October, submitting the AMCAS application and the supplemental materials as early as possible will improve your chances of getting accepted under rolling admissions. For the best possible odds, submit your AMCAS application in June and your secondary essays before the end of July. That way, you will be among the first round of applications reviewed by the admissions committee in August.
(Suggested reading: The Ideal Medical School Application Timeline)
Over 90% of our students get into med school—the first time.
Get our free 102-page guide to help you with every step: Get Into Medical School: 6 Practical Lessons to Stand Out and Earn Your White Coat
First Name
Last Name
Email Address
SEND ME THE GUIDE
100% privacy. No spam. Ever.
Part 4: Wake Forest secondary application essays
While meeting the academic Wake Forest Medical School requirements will ensure your application is reviewed, having traits and experiences that match Wake Forest’s mission will set you apart as a candidate.
The Wake Forest School of Medicine prioritizes students who demonstrate compassion, service, integrity, diversity, collegiality, and innovation through their extracurricular activities and secondary essays. The admissions committee wants to see you possess the potential to become a physician who leads the way in socially responsible healthcare.
With over 9,000 students applying to the Wake Forest School of Medicine every year, demonstrating impressive academic ability and a commitment to medicine is a must in order to stand out as an applicant. Your GPA and MCAT score can prove you’re a competitive academic candidate. But the greatest way to show you possess a strong passion for patient care is to write compelling secondary essays representing your experiences and extracurricular activities.
Below you’ll find the current secondary essay prompts for the Wake Forest School of Medicine, as well as strategies to approach them and sample essays.
Question 1: 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)
Note that the Wake Forest School of Medicine is looking for something different than a traditional diversity essay here. They’re not asking about your background, although you may want to briefly include it in your statement to offer context. Your answer should prove to Wake Forest Medical School that you’re capable of interacting positively with people who are different from you—an important quality for a physician to possess.
The danger some applicants might fall into with this essay is spending too much time describing the worldview that’s different from their own. This misses the purpose of the essay. You want to focus primarily on your thoughts, your actions, and how you’ve grown from this experience.
Don’t be afraid to share an experience where you initially responded poorly to the differences you found in someone else’s worldview. If you do, be sure to include how you realized it was a close-minded reaction and changed your perspective. For instance, you might have attended a religious service with a friend and found it stiff or oppressive at first. But after further conversation, you came to appreciate how many people can find that type of service beautiful and comforting. This approach will effectively demonstrate your growth and broadened worldview.
Here’s an example:
Spending three weeks of summer break attending conferences on public health was an amazing opportunity for pre-med freshmen. So I was shocked when my friend said she couldn’t go because her family needed her to help out with her siblings. “Can’t they find another option?” I said. “This will look great on your med school applications. Surely if you asked, someone else could help.” She refused to consider it, telling me this was her responsibility to her family.
I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t let it go. I kept arguing, convinced she was making the wrong decision. Eventually, we parted ways in frustration. As I reflected on the conversation later, I thought about the differences in our cultures—mine based on individualism and hers on collectivism. I prioritized what was best for my future. She balanced the priorities of pursuing her dreams and supporting her family’s well-being. I realized my way wasn’t “right,” and hers wasn’t “wrong.” They were different but equally worthy of respect. I immediately went to apologize for dismissing her worldview. Since then, our different perspectives have frequently led us to make opposite choices, but I highly respect the way she follows her personal and cultural values.
What’s successful about this essay?
It brings the reader into the internal conflict of the applicant.
It also demonstrates the applicant’s willingness to own up to and learn from their mistakes—a quality the Wake Forest School of Medicine values in its students.
Question 2: Describe a non-academic challenge you have faced and explain how you overcame it. (200 words)
Your answer to this adversity prompt doesn’t have to be about the worst thing that ever happened to you. Notice that Wake Forest Medical School is not looking for the biggest challenge you’ve faced, just any challenge you’ve overcome. So don’t think you’re in competition with the other applicants over who’s experienced the most adversity.
In fact, the Wake Forest Medical School admissions committees will care much less about the challenge you faced and much more about your response to it. In your essay, spend as little as two or three sentences describing the situation. Then spend the bulk of the statement outlining the steps you took to manage your stress and resolve the issue. In your closing, use another two or three sentences to summarize and reflect on what lessons you took away from the experience.
When deciding which anecdote to include in your essay, consider instances when your actions in response to a challenge demonstrated admirable qualities like persistence, creativity, resilience, resourcefulness, and maturity. And while you can include other characters in your essay, remember to keep the main focus on you.
Here’s an example:
At the end of my sophomore year, the plans I had for living on-campus as a junior fell through. My roommate and I had less than a month to find somewhere new to live. The stress of searching for openings and submitting rental applications was a lot to handle on top of preparing for finals. But my roommate and I kept each other in check. When one of us started to feel overwhelmed, the other stepped in with an anxiety-relieving activity, like a quick workout session or a funny video to watch. After a lot of persistence, we finally secured a room.
Even though it turned out to be a difficult living situation, complete with rats and an overbearing landlord, I’ve made the most of it, choosing to laugh instead of getting angry about the things I couldn’t control. This experience taught me that if I put in the effort and keep a positive attitude, I will always achieve what I set out to do. And even if a situation isn’t what I dreamed it would be, I possess the resilience to survive difficult circumstances and come out on the other side with a stronger sense of humor and gratitude.
What is working well here?
The essay’s main focus is on the applicant’s actions: those that demonstrate how she resolved the problem and those that show how she managed her own stress. Remember, you have a lot of challenges and difficulties awaiting you in medical school. The Wake Forest School of Medicine wants to know if you can navigate those in appropriate, mature ways.
Question 3: 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)
The key to writing this essay is making it distinct from the “most meaningful experience” description you included in your AMCAS Work and Activities section. You don’t want to repeat or reword the same information that’s already in your application and risk boring the Wake Forest Medical School admissions committee.
This is your chance to deepen your explanation of how a particular experience inspired you and prepared you to become a doctor. So don’t get caught up describing the experience or activity in too much detail—that should’ve been done in your Work and Activities section already. A brief recap will suffice for this essay’s purposes.
If you used an anecdote in your “most meaningful experience” description, choose a different one for this essay. Draw a clear connection between the stories or characters you recount and how they’ve motivated you to pursue a career as a physician.
Here’s an example:
While I was a CNA at Morningside Nursing Home, I witnessed the pain in the residents’ eyes as they watched their physical and mental capacities weaken. But everyone felt happier when Dr. Denfeld made her visits. Residents lit up when she walked into their rooms. She listened. She asked questions. She remembered details about their families. She fought to get the residents into clinical trials to improve their conditions.
Even when things got worse, she never gave up on caring for her patients. And I could see what an impact her compassion and determination made on the residents. I decided I wanted to be a physician while watching Dr. Denfeld be an advocate and a beacon of hope for the elderly under her care.
I want to do my part in fighting for the health and dignity of older adults. Working at Morningside made me all too aware of the challenges involved in practicing geriatric medicine, but I know it’s an area where I can make an important impact and improve the lives of many. That’s why I’m eager to study ambulatory care under the Section of Gerontology at Wake Forest and pursue a career as a geriatric physician.
Why does this essay work?
The applicant writing this essay gains an extra advantage by connecting their meaningful experience and medical career goals with a specific department of the Wake Forest School of Medicine. This shows how their background and aspirations make them uniquely suited for Wake Forest Medical School, as opposed to medical school in general.
Question 4: Tell us about any specific reason(s) (personal, educational, etc.) why you see yourself here at the Wake Forest School of Medicine. (150 words)
This is a typical “Why us?” question, so you’ll want to do your research and make sure your answer is highly specific to the Wake Forest School of Medicine. Find an aspect of Wake Forest—such as its mission, its research focuses, or its faculty—that matches your medical goals.
But don’t make the mistake of turning your essay into a mini-brochure for Wake Forest Medical School. The admissions committee already knows the unique features of Wake Forest. What they don’t know is how your experiences fit with what they offer and how you will uniquely contribute to their program.
Use stories and specifics to illustrate how the Wake Forest School of Medicine is the perfect place for you to thrive as a medical student.
Here’s an example essay:
One of my earliest memories is visiting my grandmother before she died due to diabetes-related complications. This experience sparked my desire to understand and treat this disease. In college, I worked as a research assistant studying the pathophysiology and treatment of type 2 diabetes. Assisting with clinical trials and the mentorship of my PI further motivated me to specialize in endocrinology.
Volunteering at a community clinic, I taught diabetes management techniques to newly diagnosed patients whose concerns and misconceptions gave me a unique perspective on the disease. I look forward to expanding my knowledge by studying endocrinology and metabolism at Wake Forest, where I hope to contribute to the ACCORD clinical trials. In my fourth year, I plan to participate in the endocrinology clerkship before applying to the endocrine residency program. Wake Forest’s unique research and clinical opportunities in this field will support my goals of becoming an endocrinologist.
What is successful about this essay?
The applicant uses their personal, research, and service experiences to support the reason why they want to attend the Wake Forest School of Medicine.
The applicant also lays out a clear plan of how they intend to make the most of the opportunities available—painting themself as the perfect candidate for Wake Forest Medical School.
Question 5: Please tell us an interesting fact about yourself that a casual acquaintance may find surprising or interesting. (50 words)
Your answer here can be anything you want it to be—and that’s the problem for many students preparing to write this essay. Having unlimited options makes it difficult to decide on which fact to share with the Wake Forest School of Medicine.
You don’t want to write anything directly related to your academics or love of medicine here. First, because that should already be covered in other parts of your application. But second, because the purpose of this question is to provide a better glimpse of you as a person, beyond your role as a medical student.
However, you can still be strategic when narrowing down which facts you use to answer this prompt. Write down several of the most interesting facts about you. You might ask a friend or family member to weigh in, too. Then consider what personal qualities are demonstrated by each of those facts. Do any show your diligence? Curiosity? Leadership? Humor?
Above all, it’s important to be authentic. And don’t overthink this question too much. This final brief essay should be the cherry on top of a well-crafted application that effectively communicates who you are and why you’re the ideal candidate for the Wake Forest School of Medicine.
Question 6: 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. (200 words, optional; do not repeat any information provided in your previous required responses.)
Let’s break down the intent of this prompt: it provides space to explain how the COVID-19 pandemic may have negatively impacted you, allowing you to be seen holistically in the event that the pandemic disrupted your education, test taking, application preparation, or other relevant circumstances.
While it’s highly likely that the pandemic has impacted you in one or more of these ways, keep in mind that this is an optional essay. As such, we don’t recommend using it to excuse relatively minor missteps or outcomes you wish had turned out differently, such as receiving a B in a virtual class when you believe you would have received an A in person.
Rather, an essays that responds to this prompt should discuss reasons why the pandemic has truly kept you from putting your best foot forward. For example, perhaps you were supposed to work in a lab during your gap year but the lab has been shut down. Or, to offer another example, maybe you were prevented from taking the MCAT because testing centers near you were closed and then booked solid for months.
Whatever the circumstances are that you believe merit explanation, keep your response concise and factual, remembering that your goal is to explain why the scenarios should not prevent you from being considered a strong applicant.
In our secondary essays guide, \we provide further guidance on how to write COVID essays, including an example essay.
Part 5: Wake Forest School of Medicine interview
If you impress the Wake Forest School of Medicine with your academic stats, extracurriculars, and impressive secondary essays, you have a chance to be among the 5 percent of applicants who receive an interview invitation. Interviews are conducted between August and February.
In the 2021–2022 application cycle, all interviews will be held virtually. You should be ready to discuss anything included in your application, whether it be an extracurricular activity or a personal story you used in your essays. Show the same level of enthusiasm for patient care and research that you weaved throughout your application.
In addition to the virtual interview, all invited applicants will also participate in a virtual session where they will have the chance to speak with faculty, students, and staff and ask questions about the program.
Remember, a little less than half of the students who interview won’t be accepted to the Wake Forest School of Medicine. But if you demonstrate your integrity, compassion, and commitment to medicine throughout the interview process, you’ll have a strong chance of impressing the admissions committee and earning an offer of acceptance.
Final thoughts
The Wake Forest School of Medicine attracts thousands of competitive, driven applicants every year. The most promising applicants show an impressive history of community service and commitment to patient care, as well as the capacity to succeed in an academically rigorous environment. By demonstrating how your qualities and experiences match the values of Wake Forest throughout your application—and particularly in your secondary essays—you can stand out as the ideal candidate who deserves a seat in Wake Forest Medical School’s next incoming class.
Wake Forest University School of Medicine was founded in Wake Forest, North Carolina, in 1902 as a two-year institution. The medical school slowly grew until it was gifted a $750,000 grant in 1939. With this grant in hand, Wake Forest relocated to Salem-Winston and became a four-year medical school. Since then, Wake Forest University School of Medicine has become a leader in teaching medical students to provide the highest possible quality of care to every patient with whom they cross paths.
As far as rankings go, U.S. News places Wake Forest at #52 for Best Medical Schools in its Research category and #68 for its Primary Care category.
Wake Forest University School of Medicine offers bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees to prospective students who want to make an impact in the medical community. If you think Wake Forest is where you want to attend school, then this is the perfect guide for you to read.
Here at International Medical Aid, we provide useful resources to help you on your medical school application journey. We understand how challenging it can be to navigate the application system, and we want to alleviate as much of your stress as possible. That’s why we offer definitive guides to get into different medical schools. In this guide, we’re going to show you the programs that Wake Forest University School of Medicine offers; the grades and test scores you’ll need to be considered; secondary essay questions with sample answers; and an overview of the interview process. By the end of this guide, you should have a good idea of whether Wake Forest University School of Medicine is right for you.
Additionally, International Medical Aid offers internships in South America, East Africa and the Caribbean. If you’re looking for experience to put on your AMCAS application or in a secondary essay, consider going on an international trip with us.
Part 2: Programs at Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Wake Forest University School of Medicine offers several different programs for prospective medical students.
MD Program
MD/PhD
MD/Master of Science in Clinical Population and Translational Science
MD/Master of Art in Bioethics
Physician Assistant (PA) Program
MD Program
A medical student’s experience at Wake Forest is split between the Bowman Gray Center for Medical Education and the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
The MD program focuses on:
Utilizing trainings and interactive settings to develop new skills
Working in small groups and solving problems together as part of an engaging curriculum
Engaging with faculty, advisors and mentors as you work towards becoming a doctor
Working hand-in-hand with students from the PA and CRNA programs, as well as graduate students, to develop the skills you’ll use in clinical settings
Learning how to be sympathetic, kind and caring in your leadership role as a doctor
On the Wake Forest University School of Medicine website, the school’s goal is clearly stated: outstanding doctors who are ready for residency and who will kindly and effectively treat patients.
MD/PhD Dual Degree Program
The MD/PhD dual degree program has students split their time between the School of Medicine and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences as they train to become physician-scientists. The MD/PhD program combines the knowledge of a medical doctor with that of a researcher, enabling these doctors to provide unique insights for medical treatment.
The program takes about seven years to complete. Some of the work that students complete in the MD program also satisfy PhD requirements, meaning that their degree won’t take quite as long. This is great news for prospective students who don’t want to spend a full decade in medical school!
MD/Master of Science in Clinical Population and Translational Science
The MD/Master of Science in Clinical Population and Translation Science program began in 2008. These students become doctors who are aware of populations, public health and how to work with science to create cures for diseases. Science and medicine go hand-in-hand to improve the quality of life. Wake Forest University School of Medicine is one of the few programs in the United States offering this program, making it highly competitive and selective.
MD/Master of Art in Bioethics
The MD/Master of Art in Bioethics program pairs medicine with the ethics behind it. This degree will prepare you to confidently help patients make tough choices. A bioethics degree would be useful for a doctor working with terminally ill patients.
Physician Assistant (PA) Program
One of the main differences between the MD and PA programs at Wake Forest University is the amount of training required. If you want to treat patients under supervision without the extensive medical training and residency that doctors go through, the Physician Assistant program might be perfect for you.
You’ll graduate in two years and earn your Master of Medical Sciences degree. The PA program at Wake Forest University began in 1969 and has become one of the best PA programs in the country for its commitment to patient care. PAs are trained to give each patient the same level of care, even if their ability to treat and diagnose isn’t as broad as that of a doctor. Class sizes are ideal with a total of 88 students in the program each year.
As you can see, Wake Forest University School of Medicine has quite a few options for prospective students who want to enter the medical field. Read on to find out how much it costs to attend Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Tuition
Tuition at Wake Forest University School of Medicine costs students $30,600 per semester or $61,200 per year. When you add in books, other university fees, housing and transportation, you’re looking at a little under $90,000 per year. While this is pricey, it’s not as expensive as some of the top-rated Ivy League schools, and Wake Forest University offers scholarships and financial aid. Additionally, almost 80% of students receive some form of help.
Part 3: The Grades, Numbers and Statistics: Getting into Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Class Statistics
Class of 2024
9,248 applicants
476 invitations to interview
288 accepted
145 new students
This puts Wake Forest University School of Medicine at a 3.1 percent acceptance rate, making it very difficult to be accepted.
Required Grades and Test Scores
The average student at Wake Forest University School of Medicine has an average GPA of 3.71 and an average MCAT score of 512. Students must score 502 or above on the MCAT to be considered. The test may only be taken twice. Students must also have an undergraduate science GPA of 3.2. Applying to Wake Forest University School of Medicine without these minimum scores will result in not being considered for any of the MD programs. In addition to the GPA and MCAT score requirements, prospective students must also take the CASPer test. Developed by McMaster University, this exam measures a student’s interpersonal and professional abilities. It analyzes how well they would work in a healthcare setting.
Application Timeline
If you’ve been reading our blog for a while, you’ll think we sound like a broken record when we say this: apply as quickly as possible! There are a few reasons for this.
The sooner you apply, the sooner you’ll know if you’re in, thanks to early admission programs and rolling admissions systems.
If the class fills up before the application deadline, there might not be room for you.
You’ll have more time to prepare to begin. Even if you already plan to start medical school, each school has a different matriculation process.
The next round of American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) applications opens up on May 4, 2021, and closes on October 15, 2021. This gives you plenty of time to submit a shining application. For medical school, two applications are submitted: primary and secondary. Your AMCAS application is your one and only primary application. While you’ll want to submit your AMCAS application as quickly as possible, don’t rush it. This is the application that every medical school will see before they look at your secondary essays. We recommend starting your AMCAS immediately after it opens and submitting it in early June.
The application you’ll submit directly to Wake Forest University School of Medicine is your secondary application. You’ll submit a secondary application to each medical school to which you’re applying. We recommend submitting your application to Wake Forest University by late July. That way, you’ll be in the first round of applicants who are considered for an interview.
If this confuses you, or if you have any questions, please reach out to us. We offer consulting services to guide you through your application process. We understand how daunting medical school applications can be!
Part 4: Secondary Essay Prompts with Examples
Secondary essays are important for every medical school application. The beauty is that you can recycle essays by changing up the details and tailoring them to each university. This is especially helpful when you have to submit sevenessays. Wake Forest University School of Medicine asks prospective students a lot of questions to get to know them.
Question #1
We want our students to become doctors who are able to treat patients from a variety of backgrounds. This could include a patient who has very different world views from you. Share an experience that increased your ability to work with patients in this type of setting. (200 words)
There are a few things to note here.
This isn’t your standard diversity essay. Instead of asking about your background, Wake Forest University School of Medicine is looking for an experience you’ve had. It’s diverse with a unique twist.
Don’t focus on what the differing backgrounds were. Focus on the situation that happened and how you responded to it. Then, describe what you learned.
Don’t worry about a situation that embarrassed you. Showing your growth through what you learned is exactly what Wake Forest University wants.
Here’s an example:
I’ve worked as a CNA at a pediatric office since I was 19. One day I was filling in at the front desk because our receptionist was out sick, and we were slow. A woman brought her daughter, Stella, in for an exam so that she could play soccer. Her mother worked full-time and thought the exam was unnecessary because “Stella clearly looked healthy.” Stella wanted to get through the exam so she could enjoy playing soccer with her friends. While her mother allowed her to (after all, she did bring her!), she started yelling very loudly. She was so loud that she could be heard in the waiting room. Imagine being in a doctor’s office with a mother practically screaming about her child’s care. I could see that the patients in our waiting room were uncomfortable, so I went to talk with the mother. My goal wasn’t to change how she felt, but rather to get her to lower her voice so that she wasn’t disturbing the rest of the office. I was never able to calm her down as much as I wanted to, but the provider told me that I helped.
Two hundred words isn’t a lot of space to describe what happened, which is part of the point. Wake Forest University School of Medicine wants to know how you handled the situation. They don’t need a lot of details to know that. This essay makes the cut at 194 words.
The essay appropriately answers the question without getting personal. This applicant’s goal wasn’t to change how the mother felt, but rather to control the overall setting of the office for the sake of their other patients. She wasn’t able to completely calm the mother down, but she was able to de-escalate the situation enough that the provider appreciated her efforts. Sometimes, the goal in medicine is to de-escalate a situation without proving any points.
Question #2
Outside of academic settings, tell us about a difficult situation you overcame. (200 words)
Again, you only have 200 words to explain what happened. We recommend finding a situation that challenged you. Then, very briefly describe what happened and how you responded to it. Steer clear of anything school-related to show that you understand how to follow directions.
Here’s an example:
For as long as I can remember, I’d shared a bedroom with my sisters. I have twin sisters, and we grew up in a two-bedroom apartment with our single mother. Even when we moved, there were still only two bedrooms for four people. I desperately wanted my own bedroom because there’s a six-year age gap between me and my sisters. When I turned 16, I “made” my own room. At first, I wanted to use the pantry as my room, but my mother said it was too small to fit my bed. So, I put up a curtain in our room. When the curtain was open, my sisters knew they could play with me. When the curtain was closed, they knew that I was working on homework, chatting with my friends or needing personal space. It wasn’t a perfect solution, but it gave me enough personal space to not lose my mind before I graduated from high school.
This response works because it’s a personal story about a very real problem that she worked through. Any teenager would want their personal space, but not every family living situation works in that favor. Her solution wasn’t perfect, but it was enough to get her through the situation until she moved out. This essay is 158 words, so it’s well within the 200-word limit.
Question #3
Review your answers from the “most meaningful experiences” on your AMCAS application. Pick the one that made you want to become a doctor, and explain why it positively affected you the way it did. (200 words)
While it’s great to be able to pull from your AMCAS application, make sure you follow these steps:
Don’t plagiarize yourself. Don’t just repeat what you wrote on your AMCAS application.
Elaborate on your experience. Put emotion and passion into it. Show the admission committee why this experience was so meaningful for you.
Here’s an example:
During my time volunteering as a CNA at the free clinic in my neighborhood, I met a woman who had broken her arm doing yard work. She was in excruciating pain, so much so that she couldn’t even answer the questions the doctor was asking her. He ultimately instructed me to give her an injection of pain-relieving medication so that he could properly treat her. While I’d given shots before, this woman was in so much pain that I was afraid of somehow making it worse. But after I administered the shot, I witnessed her calm down. Eventually, the tears stopped, and she explained what had happened. She thanked me for the shot and told me she had been in so much pain that she thought she would die. I knew the medication was working! This experience was meaningful to me because it taught me that I could make a difference long before I become a doctor. It gave me the passion I needed to be the best volunteer CNA I could be and to continue working toward medical school. It’s something I will never forget.
This response comes in at 185 words. With 15 words to spare, this student shared how an early experience taught him that he could make an impact sooner than he thought he could. It meets all the requirements and is heartwarming to read.
Question #4
Tell us why you’re applying to Wake Forest University School of Medicine. (200 words)
This is the classic “why us?” question that many college applications have. We can’t express this enough: tailor your essay to Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Look at the school’s history. Pay attention to their values as a school and their goals for their students, and incorporate those elements into your essay.
Here’s an example:
I was fifteen years old when my grandfather passed away from cancer. The hardest part was seeing the agony my mother went through deciding to turn off the machines. Even though Grandpa had been fighting for the cancer for several years, he had never been able to decide whether he wanted to be kept alive. He said that he wanted to be here for as long as he could to watch his grandchildren grow up, but he didn’t know if God would approve of that. He’d never put his decision in a legal document.
I want to be an oncologist, so I can help cancer patients like my grandpa. I want to enroll in your MD/MA in Bioethics program so that I can help guide others through the impossible decisions they must make when a loved one can no longer make decisions for themselves. Being a student at Wake Forest University School of Medicine would provide me with the opportunity to reach this goal in an environment where I’ll be pushed to become my best while caring for terminally ill patients. I firmly believe that Wake Forest University School of Medicine can give me this opportunity.
This essay response comes in at 197 words and is basically split in half. The first half details the personal experience that inspired this student’s desire to become a cancer doctor. The second half explains why they want to study at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.
Question #5
Pretend we’re playing a “get to know each other” type of game. Pick a random fact about yourself that you think would surprise others. (50 words)
We recommend sharing something personal without being vulnerable. Show the fun side of yourself without taking the admissions committee to the bar. Here are a few examples.
When I learned how to do my own laundry, my little sister threw a red hair tie in with my clothes to turn them pink.
I can spell supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, the famous adjective from Mary Poppins.
Both of my parents are chefs. My dad is from Italy while my mom is from Germany. I grew up eating lots of different kinds of foods.
Question #6
If you have received a grade below a C+, please tell us why. (200 words, optional)
If you haven’t received a grade below a C+, you can skip this question. However, if you did, this question is mandatory. We know it can be tough to answer because it shows how human you are, but the admissions committee already knows that. A solid answer will result in them respecting your circumstances.
Here’s an example:
I decided to take a summer biology course after I graduated high school. I wanted a head start. The course lasted for five weeks and was mostly spent in the lab, which is my favorite place to be. When we reached our third week of classes, I had a solid B. For how fast-paced the course was, I was happy with my grade. But on June 18, 2019, my second cousin passed away in a car crash. Even though a second cousin is a more distant relation, we were very close, and this was a loss I had not been expecting. I did my best to finish the five-week course, but my grade slipped down to a C-. I attended my cousin’s funeral and simply could not concentrate on school work. Unfortunately, it was after the course was over when I found out that I could have withdrawn from the class because of a family death and automatically have received an A. In the biology courses I have taken since then, I have earned B+ and higher grades. This gives me the confidence to state that this bad grade was due to bad timing with a family situation.
This essay answers the question in 199 words. It thoroughly explains what happened and what the student learned. They didn’t know they could withdraw from the class, but they have done much better in more recent classes, so they’re confident that their poor grade was a result of personal circumstances. That is a valid essay response that the admissions committee shouldn’t question. Remember, they know you’re human! Near perfection is required to get into some medical schools, but even the brightest student has a personal life that can affect them scholastically.
Question #7
Please describe any part of your medical school journey that has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Only include relevant information, and do not repeat information already shared in any other place on your application. (200 words, optional)
You only need to answer this question if COVID-19 has impacted you and you want the admissions committee to consider this as part of your application. Don’t talk about earning less-than-perfect grades because all classes were held virtually. Focus on having outdated test scores because testing centers weren’t open or not being able to submit your application on time because you relied on library WiFi. Genuine problems like that will be taken into consideration because they were not your fault, nor was there anything you could do about them.
Part 5: Interviewing at Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Being interviewed at Wake Forest University School of Medicine means that you’re doing everything right. Your grades and test scores are where they need to be, and you wrote great essays. You just have to get through the interview.
Interviewing at Wake Forest University School of Medicine looks a little different right now because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of going to the university for an in-person interview, you’ll talk with the admissions committee virtually. This means that the traditional Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) Format is temporarily being replaced by the Video Interview Tool for Admissions (VITA).
To help prepare students for the unique circumstances we face today, Wake Forest University School of Medicine recommends taking the following steps.
Make sure your technology works.
– Whether you’re participating in the interview via your phone, tablet or computer, make sure that your camera and microphone are working.
– Familiarize yourself with the platform being used for your interview. Find the mute and unmute buttons for your microphone.
Find a good place to set up for your interview.
– Find a quiet place to interview. You don’t want unnecessary background noise.
– Pick an appropriate background setting. Don’t interview with a messy background.
– Have good lighting.
Properly position your camera.
– If your camera is detachable, we recommend placing it at the rim of your monitor.
– Place your laptop slightly to the left or right for a more natural look.
Dress like you would for an in-person interview.
– As tempting as it can be, we don’t recommend dressing in a professional top with pajama bottoms. Dress exactly the same way as you would for an in-person interview. This will help it feel like you’re not interviewing in the middle of a pandemic.
Be yourself.
– Engage with your interviewer like you would if you were sitting across from them. Sit up straight, make eye contact and remain aware of your body language.
These five steps will ensure that the technology you use for your interview won’t negatively affect you.
Conclusion
Wake Forest University School of Medicine is an ideal medical school for students who want to focus on individualized patient care and community service. Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s rigorous curriculum will challenge you and prepare you to practice medicine.
As you apply to Wake Forest University School of Medicine, we recommend submitting applications to other medical schools, like Georgetown University School of Medicine, UCLA Medical School, NYU Medical School, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and Brown Medical School. Our list of guides is growing, so be sure to check our blog regularly for more advice on getting into different medical schools.
We wish you the best as you apply to medical school. Remember that we also offer consulting services. Should you find yourself needing someone to go over your applications or practice interviewing with you, head over to our website to schedule a time to meet with us. Your success is our #1 goal here at International Medical Aid. Good luck!
About IMA
International Medical Aid provides global internship opportunities for students and clinicians who are looking to broaden their horizons and experience healthcare on an international level. These program participants have the unique opportunity to shadow healthcare providers as they treat individuals who live in remote and underserved areas and who don’t have easy access to medical attention. International Medical Aid also provides medical school admissions consulting to individuals applying to medical school and PA school programs. We review primary and secondary applications, offer guidance for personal statements and essays, and conduct mock interviews to prepare you for the admissions committees that will interview you before accepting you into their programs. IMA is here to provide the tools you need to help further your career and expand your opportunities in healthcare.
Medical schools in North Carolina have consistently ranked top in primary care for years. It is also no coincidence that nearly 14% of all medical students from North Carolina choose family medicine as their specialty. For instance, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine ranked first for primary care in 2017 followed by other highly ranked medical schools in the country such as University of Washington, UC San Francisco, and Baylor College of Medicine.
Just how hard is it to get through the admissions process in North Carolina? Although it is fairly competitive, you’ll have a significant advantage if you apply as an in state student. For instance, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University accepts 100% of students from within the state. Similarly, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine interviews nearly half of its in-state applicants compared to a 2.6% out-of-state interview rate.
On the other hand, if you have a substantial research background, along with a highly competitive GPA and MCAT score, Duke University School of Medicine might be an excellent choice considering that they interview out-of-state applicants at a higher rate compared to other schools. Currently, Duke University School of Medicine ranks within the top fifteen best research medical schools in the nation and second in surgical residency as reported by US News and Report.
