‍Essay Topics (2025 - 2026)

150 word limit each

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in medicine, and how have your personal experiences or background shaped your desire to become a physician?

2. Tell us about a time when you faced a significant challenge or setback. How did you navigate it, and what did you learn from the experience that will help you succeed in medical school?

3. Describe an experience where you helped someone who was going through a difficult time. How did you approach the situation, and what did you learn about the importance of empathy in providing care?

4. Is there anything about yourself that you feel self-conscious about? How have you
addressed it, and what have you learned about yourself through this process?

5. What are two causes or activities you are most passionate about? How do these passions reflect your values and goals as a future physician?

6. Applicants may submit an optional statement that specifically addresses the following prompt: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science continuously strives to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Each applicant’s lived experience provides an opportunity to contribute to our mission. Please share the ways in which your personal experiences, values, qualities and perspectives will enrich RFU and our community.

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Essay Topics (2024 - 2025)

150 word limit each

1. How would you manage a situation where a family member or close friend made a sexist, racist, or prejudiced comment in your presence?

2. What has been your greatest self-discovery?

3. What event(s) from your youth still teaches you lessons today? How do you apply what you learned?

4. Give five reasons why you would make an excellent physician?

5. What is the greatest act of kindness you have ever performed for someone?

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Essay Topics ('23 - '24)

150 word limit each

1. Please specifically discuss how, if admitted to our program, your admission would contribute to the diversity of the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science community.

2. Briefly share your plans for the upcoming academic year. Do you plan to work, conduct research, volunteer in a health care setting, participate in community service, attend school, travel, participate in leisure activities or other activities?

3. Have you ever had a major setback? What was the cause and how did you overcome it?

4. What areas of your life needs the most improvement, and what plans have you made to improve it?

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Essay Topics ('22 - '23)

Applicants are asked to complete four optional essays to further inform our committee. Each essay answer should be no longer than 150 words.

‍1) Please specifically discuss how, if admitted to our program, your admission would contribute to the diversity of the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science community.

2) What creative/innovative ways have you found to continue to build upon the competencies for entering medical students during the pandemic?

3) Briefly share your plans for the upcoming academic year? Do you plan to work, conduct research, volunteer in a health care setting, participate in community service, attend school, travel, participate in leisure activities or other activities.

4) Has persistence ever paid off for you? Describe the situation.

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Essay Topics ('21 - '22)

1. Please discuss challenges in your journey thus far to medical school. (150 words)

2. Please specially discuss how, if admitted to our program, your admission would contribute to the diversity of the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science community. (150 words)

3. Create a superhero for your current city, town or municipality. What would they fight? Describe their appearance, name and special powers. (150 words)

4. What creative/innovative ways have you found to continue to build upon the competencies for entering medical students during the pandemic? (150 words)

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Essay Topics (’20 – ’21)

1. Please discuss challenges in your journey thus far to medical school. (150 words)

2. Please specially discuss how, if admitted to our program, your admission would contribute to the diversity of the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science community. (150 words)

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Essay Topics ('19 - '20)

1. Please discuss challenges in your journey thus far to medical school. (150 words)

2. Please specially discuss how, if admitted to our program, your admission would contribute to the diversity of the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science community. (150 words)

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Essay Topics ('18 - '19)

1. Please discuss challenges in your journey thus far to medical school. (150 words)

2. Please specially discuss how, if admitted to our program, your admission would contribute to the diversity of the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science community. (150 words)

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Essay Topics ('17 - '18)

1) In the space provided, please discuss challenges in your journey to applying to medical school. (100 words)

2) In the space provided, please include a statement that specifically address how, if admitted to our program, your admission would contribute to the diversity of the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science community. (100 words)

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Essay Topics ('16 - '17)

Why did you choose to apply to the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science? Please limit your response to 100 words or fewer.

Optional: We encourage you to submit an optional diversity statement that specifically addresses how, if admitted to our program, your admission would contribute to the diversity of the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Community. This optional statement may be considered for admission and/or scholarship purposes. Please limit your response to 100 words or fewer.

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Essay Topics ('15 - '16)

1. Why did you choose to apply to the Chicago Medical School at RFUMS? Please limit your response to 100 words or fewer.

2. We encourage you to submit an optional diversity statement that specifically addresses how, if admitted to our program, your admission would contribute to the diversity of the Rosalind Franklin University Community. This optional statement may be considered for admission and/or scholarship purposes. Please limit your response to 100 words or fewer.

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Essay Topics ('14 - '15)

1. Why did you choose to apply to the Chicago Medical School at RFUMS? Please limit your response to 100 words or fewer.

2. We encourage you to submit an optional diversity statement that specifically addresses how, if admitted to our program, your admission would contribute to the diversity of the Rosalind Franklin University Community. This optional statement may be considered for admission and/or scholarship purposes. Please limit your response to 100 words or fewer.

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Essay Topics ('13 - '14)

"We recommend essays to be approximately one page in length. We request no longer than two pages single spaced."

Describe your unique characteristics, a significant difficulty you have overcome or a major accomplishment you have achieved that will help to shape you into a physician who will pursue the CMS Admissions Vision.

How do you envision the physician role within interprofessional health care teams?