Medical School Secondary Applications: How to Answer Questions About Diversity and Cultural Competency
The medical school application process is a multi-step journey that requires dedication, planning, and self-reflection. It begins with the primary application, which is submitted through a centralized service such as AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service). In the primary applicaiton, applicants provide their personal information, academic records, and a personal statement. After the primary application is reviewed, selected candidates receive secondary applications from individual medical schools. Secondary applications often include essay questions that delve deeper into the applicant’s experiences, motivations, and understanding of diversity. Finally, the most promising applicants are invited to participate in interviews, where they have the opportunity to showcase their communication skills, maturity, and fit with the school’s mission and values. In this blog, we will focus on one crucial aspect of the secondary application: the diversity question, and how to effectively address it to strengthen your candidacy.
When applying to medical school, it is common to come across secondary applications that ask questions about your ability to meet the needs of a diverse patient population. Applicants commonly think this question refers to only ethnic, cultural, or socioeconomic status. Remember, however, that people hold many visible and hidden identities. When preparing your answer to this question, consider all of the identities that people have, including religion, immigration status, physical ability, mental health, and access to healthcare. The answer to this question will vary slightly depending on your identities and experiences.
Why do medical school ask questions about diversity during the application process?
Medical schools ask applicants questions about diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for several important reasons. First, they recognize that a diverse student body enriches the learning environment by bringing together individuals with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. This diversity fosters a more comprehensive understanding of healthcare challenges and helps prepare future physicians to serve an increasingly diverse patient population. Second, medical schools are committed to promoting health equity and reducing disparities in healthcare access and outcomes. By selecting applicants who demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to DEI principles, schools aim to train physicians who will actively work towards creating a more equitable healthcare system. Finally, DEI questions allow applicants to showcase their unique experiences, cultural competence, and ability to navigate and contribute to diverse environments, which are essential skills for success in both medical school and the medical profession.
Here are some tips on how to best answer questions about diversity on medical school secondary applications:
Educate Yourself:
Research and educate yourself about different cultures, beliefs, and practices. This will help you to answer diversity related questions. More importantly, understanding cultural diversity is essential in providing quality healthcare to patients from varied backgrounds.
Embrace Diversity:
Show your willingness to work with patients from different ethnicities and cultures. Remeber that diversity is about identity and experience. A person who grew up in a small midwestern town with one stoplight had a very different childhood experience than someone who grew up in a large apartment building in Manhattan. Reflect on your life expereinces and think about how they might differ from other applicants. Highlight any experiences you have had working or volunteering in communities that differed from the one you grew up in.
Communication Skills:
Each culture has its own communication style. Some cultures are direct, while others are indirect. Some are warm and expressive, while others are more reserved. Demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively with patients with different languages or communication styles. Connecting with patients on a personal level is crucial for building trust and rapport.
Respect and Empathy:
Show respect for cultural differences and demonstrate empathy towards patients regardless of their background. A compassionate and understanding approach can go a long way in providing quality care.
Continuous Learning:
Express your commitment to ongoing learning and professional development in cultural competence. Medical practice constantly evolves, and staying informed about cultural issues is crucial for effective healthcare.
Highlight Your Cultural Competency
Have you been exposed to diverse cultures, languages, and traditions? These experiences can enhance your ability to relate to patients from different backgrounds and understand their unique needs. Emphasize how your cultural competency can contribute to providing culturally sensitive care to a diverse patient population.
Discuss Your Connection to Healthcare:
Share personal anecdotes or stories illustrating how your background has influenced your passion for healthcare. Whether it was witnessing a family member’s struggle with a medical condition or growing up in a community with limited access to healthcare, these experiences can demonstrate your commitment to making a difference in underserved communities.
Highlight Your Resilience and Perseverance:
Have you faced unique challenges and obstacles on your journey to medical school as a result of one of the identities you hold? Are you a nontraditional medical school applicant? Diverse experiences are just as important as diverse identities. Discuss how overcoming adversity has strengthened your resolve and prepared you to navigate the complexities of a healthcare career. Highlight instances where you have demonstrated resilience, perseverance, and determination in pursuing your goals despite facing barriers.
Share Your Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:
If you are a premedical student with experience working in DEI, share it! Express your dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion in the field of healthcare. Discuss initiatives or experiences where you have advocated for underrepresented communities or worked to address healthcare disparities. Demonstrating your commitment to creating a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system can set you apart as a candidate who values diversity and social justice.
Conclusion
By effectively answering the question about how your background has prepared you to be a doctor, you can showcase your unique perspective and strengths. Use this opportunity to present yourself as a well-rounded candidate equipped to contribute to medicine in meaningful ways.
Are you a premed who needs help with with secondary applications or interview questions? Have you considered partnering with a coach? The Developing Doctor offers targeted coaching programs to prepare you.
