Here are Carle Illinois College of Medicine’s secondary questions.
2024-2025
In the three artifacts we ask you to SHOW US how compassion, curiosity, and creativity have played out in your life, and how you exemplify these values. Each artifact should be uploaded as a PDF (one page for each value, formatted no larger than 8.5″ x 11″). No hyperlinks or embedded videos are allowed. We encourage you to make your artifacts image focused but captions or other brief notes can be included on the artifact to help us understand the context of your images. Your artifacts will be most powerful if you include multiple activities for each and clearly indicate the quality and depth of your experience, but only include that which is meaningful for the value. The artifacts should be somewhat reflective in nature so share your thoughts and insights. You may repeat experiences listed on your AMCAS application and/or include new ones. Our screeners will evaluate your portfolio independently BEFORE they evaluate your AMCAS application so do not assume the screeners are aware of any of the information in your AMCAS. Please do not include activities from high school or earlier unless they are of very high quality or impact (an example would be achieving Eagle Scout rank). Family interactions/relationships (“spending time with family”) are unlikely to score well unless you can show how they are unusual or significant (an example would be full-time caregiver for a family member for a period). Please make your role clear. Was the activity you are presenting part of a class for credit or something you did on your own? Was this part of a team? If so, what was YOUR role?
For example, if you did or are still doing work in a research lab, we are less interested in a detailed description of the science and more interested in learning what you did, how YOU contributed, and if you were able to be innovative. While the content of your portfolio is of primary importance, our reviewers are also evaluating your presentation. This does not mean you have to be “artistic”, but it is valuable to show an innovative approach. Instead of thinking about what WE want, include what YOU want to share. What drives you? What do you want us to know? Show us who you are, and why you are uniquely suited to our school.
In the impact statement we ask you to TELL US more. This statement will provide meaningful context and scope for your artifacts and tell us the impact of what you are showing us. The impact statement is not intended to explain your artifacts, but rather to expand on and supplement them; to demonstrate the impact of the experiences you included. Think of this statement being like an abstract, a synopsis, or a legend for a figure in a paper. You have a maximum of 250 words.
Compassion
We believe in creating physicians who, in addition to solving healthcare’s most complex problems, are also tender, kind, and warm. From day one, you will be working with patients.
Show Us – How have you changed the lives of others? What have you experienced that has fostered a deep sense of compassion? For example, have you had a moving volunteer experience? Have you learned through adversity and shared those lessons with others in need? Share with us the ways you’ve impacted a larger population and help us see how you will be the type of physician we would entrust with our most beloved community members.
Curiosity
Carle Illinois College of Medicine values lifelong learners. We want to see your passion for learning and growing!
Show Us – How have you explored new interests, cultures, or people? Have you identified a need and taken the initiative to respond to that need? For example, is there a research project or work experience you’d like to share? Has your curiosity fostered a deeper sense of vulnerability, resilience, or life-long learning? If so, how? Let us see where your curiosity has taken you.
Creativity
The dictionary tells us that innovation is a new method, idea, or product. Often there is an outcome, a clearly defined result, or a new thing is discovered. The introduction of something new requires dynamic thinking and creative solutions. Creativity is key to innovation. Help us see your creativity and potential for innovation!
Show Us – What are the ways you demonstrate you have an active mind? What are you really proud of? For example, have you used technology in novel or distinct ways? What innovative solutions have you employed in your work, healthcare, or hobbies? Have you taken a risk to respond to a problem, to express yourself, or to achieve your goals? Describe how you live and lead a creative life.
Impact Statement
Tell Us – In 250 words or less, create an abstract-style narrative describing the impact of the experiences you included in your portfolio artifacts and how they have shaped your understanding of and connection to the Carle Illinois values of Compassion, Curiosity, and Creativity. The narrative should provide context and scope to the stories told in your artifacts and the value and impact these Carle Illinois values have in your life.
2023-2024
Note: Carle uses a unique format for its secondary. Please read the instructions carefully. There is a video response that you have to do in addition to the below.
Carle Illinois is looking for everything most other medical schools are looking for – and something more. If you are completing our secondary application, you have already passed the threshold for our competency checklist. Well done. Now we want to find out more about you.
Our secondary application is unique. We are looking for physician-innovators. Does that describe you? Our secondary application is your chance to demonstrate that you have the compassion, curiosity and creativity we believe a physician-innovator needs. We are asking you to complete a portfolio comprised of three artifacts and three very short essays (100 words each). The portfolio provides an opportunity to SHOW US and TELL US how compassion, curiosity, and creativity have played out in your life through visual artifacts and short essays. How do you exemplify these values? How have you grown in these areas? Show us and tell us the connections between these values and your experience. The artifacts should be somewhat reflective in nature so share your thoughts and insights. For example, if you did or are still doing work in a research lab, we are less interested in a detailed description of the science and more interested in learning what you actually did, how YOU contributed, and if you were able to be innovative. Was the activity you are presenting part of a class for credit or something you did on your own? Was this part of a team? If so, what was YOUR role? Show us and tell us who you are, and why you are a strong applicant for our program.
Each artifact should be uploaded as a PDF (one page for each value, formatted no larger than 8.5″ x 11″). No hyperlinks or embedded videos are allowed. We encourage you to make your artifacts image focused. Your artifacts will be most powerful if you include multiple activities for each and clearly indicate the quality and depth of your experience, but only include that which is meaningful for the value. You may repeat experiences listed on your AMCAS application and/or include new ones. Please do not include activities from high school or earlier unless they are of very high quality or impact (an example would be achieving Eagle Scout rank). Family interactions/relationships (“spending time with family”) are unlikely to score well unless you can show how they are noteworthy or significant (an example would be full-time caregiver for a family member for a period). As you are completing your portfolio, please keep in mind that our screeners will evaluate your portfolio independently BEFORE they evaluate your AMCAS application so do not assume the screeners are aware of any of the information in your AMCAS.
Captions or other brief notes can be included on the artifact to help the screener understand your images. Don’t provide an essay in place of a visual artifact unless you are an extraordinarily skilled writer! In addition to any notes included on your artifact, each artifact will be accompanied by a very brief essay (maximum 100 words) to give context to your artifact. While the content of your portfolio is of primary importance, our reviewers are also evaluating your presentation. This does not mean you have to be “artistic”, but it is valuable to show an innovative approach.
Compassion
We believe in creating physicians who, in addition to solving healthcare’s most complex problems, are also tender, kind, and warm. From day one, you will be working with patients.
Show Us – How have you changed the lives of others? What have you experienced that has fostered a deep sense of compassion? For example, have you had a moving volunteer experience? Have you learned through adversity and shared those lessons with others in need? Share with us the ways you’ve impacted a larger population and help us see how you will be the type of physician we would entrust with our most beloved community members.
Upload Compassion PDF artifact.
Tell Us – In 100 words or less, explain how this artifact reflects Carle Illinois College of Medicine’s value of Compassion.
Curiosity
Carle Illinois College of Medicine values lifelong learners. We want to see your passion for learning and growing!
Show Us – How have you explored new interests, cultures, or people? Have you identified a need and taken the initiative to respond to that need? For example, is there a research project or work experience you’d like to share? Has your curiosity fostered a deeper sense of vulnerability, resilience, or life-long learning? If so, how? Let us see where your curiosity has taken you.
Upload Curiosity PDF artifact
Tell Us – In 100 words or less, explain how this artifact reflects Carle Illinois College of Medicine’s value of Curiosity.
Creativity
The dictionary tells us that innovation is a new method, idea, or product. Often there is an outcome, a clearly defined result, or a new thing is discovered. The introduction of something new requires dynamic thinking and creative solutions. Creativity is key to innovation. Help us see your creativity!
Show Us – What are the ways you demonstrate you have an active mind? What are you really proud of? For example, have you used technology in novel or distinct ways? What innovative solutions have you employed in your work, healthcare, or hobbies? Have you taken a risk to respond to a problem, to express yourself, or to achieve your goals? Describe how you live and lead a creative life.
Upload Creativity PDF Artifact
Tell Us – In 100 words or less, explain how your artifact reflects Carle Illinois College of Medicine’s value of Creativity.
2021-2022
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Please upload one, 1-page artifact (as a PDF; formatted no larger than 8.5×11″) per value (Compassion, Curiosity, Creativity). While images, certificates, text or other visual options are allowed, hyperlinks and embedded videos are prohibited. You are encouraged to include multiple examples (i.e. a collage) to demonstrate your qualifications and achievements, and you may repeat experiences listed on your AMCAS application or include new ones.
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Compassion: We believe in creating physicians who, in addition to solving healthcare’s most complex problems, are also tender, kind, and warm. From day one, you will be working with patients.
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Show Us: How have you changed the lives of others? What have you experienced that has fostered a deep sense of compassion? For example, have you had a moving volunteer experience? Worked in a difficult environment? Taken care of others? Have you learned through adversity and shared those lessons with others in need? Help us see how you will be the type of physician we would entrust with our most beloved community members.
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Tell Us: In 100 words or less, explain how this artifact reflects Carle Illinois College of Medicine’s value of Compassion. For your time commitment in hours please tell us the time spent on the activities presented in the artifact, not the time to create the artifact itself. For your level of commitment were you a group participant, a project leader, an idea initiator, doing this activity independently?
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Curiosity: Carle Illinois College of Medicine values lifelong learners. We want to see your passion for learning and growing!
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Show Us – Curiosity is a strong desire to know or learn something. Have you explored new interests, cultures, or people? Or has your curiosity grown in a particular area? Did your curiosity lead to a research project? or a hobby? or a change at work? Let us see where your curiosity has taken you.
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Tell Us: In 100 words or less, explain how this artifact reflects Carle Illinois College of Medicine’s value of Curiosity. For your time commitment in hours please tell us the time spent on the activities presented in the artifact, not the time to create the artifact itself. For your level of commitment were you a group participant, a project leader, an idea initiator, doing this activity independently?
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Creativity: Have you approached complex problems with dynamic thinking and creative solutions? Or do you show your creativity through hobbies, or artistic interests? or something else entirely? Help us see your creativity!
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Show Us: Creativity is the use of the imagination or original ideas. What are you really proud of? Have you used technology in novel or distinct ways? What innovative solutions have you employed in your work, healthcare, hobbies, life. Describe how you live and lead a creative life.
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Tell Us: In 100 words or less, explain how your artifact reflects Carle Illinois College of Medicine’s value of Creativity. For your time commitment in hours please tell us the time spent on the activities presented in the artifact, not the time to create the artifact itself. For your level of commitment were you a group participant, a project leader, an idea initiator, doing this activity independently?
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There is also a video essay: After our faculty reviewers have thoroughly examined all of your other application materials (portfolio, letters of recommendation, AMCAS application) they will turn to your video essay. Answering questions through a video platform may be new to you. Don’t worry. While we take your responses very seriously, this is a small portion of the evaluation process. The purpose of the video essay is to pose questions to you that allow you to share more about yourself, including how you think “on your feet”, and to give us an opportunity to learn more about your style, thought process, and personality.
You will have just one opportunity to record your answers. When the recording starts, the questions will remain on the screen and you will have five minutes (300 seconds) to provide responses for each realm. In order to pace your response, you will see a countdown clock (in seconds) running in the bottom right corner of the video capture. You will respond to all questions in one recording, so please state the question number before each answer. If you finish early, you may click “Stop Recording,” or the recording will stop at five minutes. Your video will automatically attach to your secondary application.
In summary, you will have:
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One question in each of three separate realms
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Five minutes of preparation time
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Five minutes to record one video for all questions
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