Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine Secondary Questions

2025-2026 Oakland University William Beaumont Secondary Essay Prompts: (different than last year)

1. Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform healthcare delivery and reduce health disparities. Considering the diverse population and health equity challenges in Oakland County, how could you use AI in a responsible and innovative way to address one key obstacle healthcare professionals face when caring for these communities? (400 words)
2. At OUWB, we put an emphasis on humanism in medicine—compassion, empathy, and respect for the dignity of every patient. Describe a time when you demonstrated compassion or empathy in a meaningful way. How did this experience shape your understanding of what it means to be a humanistic physician? (400 words)
3. How do you identify your own help seeking behaviors and describe a time you were resilient. (400 words)
4. Optional: Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your qualifications for medical school that are not already represented in your application materials? For example, if you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation. Note: This space is provided for new information only, not to promote qualifications already highlighted in your other materials. (400 words)
5. (Optional): Why did you choose to apply to OUWB’s Early Decision Program (EDP)? Please explain your ties to OUWB. Please only complete this question if you applied through the Early Decision Program.

2024-2025

1. Oakland County has a diverse patient population with a health equity divide that has resulted in a vulnerable group of patients that are underserved. Select an obstacle that primary care physicians face that work in these types of communities and discuss possible solutions. (400 words)

2. Please select one or more of OUWB’s values and describe any experiences (personal, clinical, and/or service) you’ve had that align to those values. The values of OUWB are integrity, innovation, inclusion, excellence, accountability, and respect. (400 words)
“Please select one or more of OUWB’s values and describe any experiences (personal, clinical, and/or service) you’ve had that align to those values. The values of OUWB are Collaboration, Compassion, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Excellence, Professionalism.” 400 words This prompt updated July 5 based on applicant reports

3. In clinical bioethics you will learn how we all have to make complex decisions that sometimes do not match our personal beliefs. Accordingly, is it important to do what you believe is right or what you have been instructed to do? How would you approach this dilemma? (400 words)

4. Optional: Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your qualifications for medical school that are not already represented in your application materials? For example, if you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation. Note: This space is provided for new information only, not to promote qualifications already highlighted in your other materials. (400 words)

2023-2024

All are 400-word limits.

1. Oakland County has a diverse patient population with a health equity divide that has resulted in a vulnerable group of patients that are underserved. Given your understanding of social determinants of health, how would you go about addressing these inequities?

2. Describe how OUWB’s mission and values align with your professional goals and objectives.

3. Master adaptive learners in medicine represent a combination of both efficient problem-solvers and possess the ability to learn and innovate when faced with a novel challenge to deliver high quality healthcare. Think back to your educational journey and describe how you embodied the definition of a master adaptive learner.

4. Optional: Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your qualifications for medical school that are not already represented in your application materials? For example, if you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation. Note: This space is provided for new information only, not to promote qualifications already highlighted in your other materials.

5. Optional: If you are a reapplicant to OUWB, please describe improvements you have made to your current application from previous cycles (please include academics, experiences, etc.).

2021-2022

• How have your experiences serving others contributed to your personal growth, and how would your experiences contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in our community? (400 words)
• Describe your motivation to attend OUWB. (250 words)
• (Optional): Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your qualifications for medical school that are not already represented in your application materials? For example, if you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation. 
• Note: This space is provided for new information only, not to promote qualifications already highlighted in your other materials. (400 words)
• (Optional): If you are a re-applicant to OUWB, please describe improvements you have made to your current application from previous cycles (please include academics, experiences, and/or personal characteristics). (400 words)
• Please describe how you have overcome obstacles or adapted during the COVID-19 epidemic to continue to show your commitment to serving the community and gaining meaningful medical experience. (400 words)

2020-2021

• How have your experiences serving others contributed to your personal growth, and how would your experiences contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in our community? (400 words)
• Describe your motivation to attend OUWB. (250 words)
• Optional: Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your qualifications for medical school that are not already represented in your application materials? For example, if you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation. Note: This space is provided for new information only, not to promote qualifications already highlighted in your other materials. (400 words)
• Optional: If you are a reapplicant to OUWB, please describe improvements you have made to your current application from previous cycles (please include academics, experiences, and/or personal characteristics). (400 words)
• Please describe how the COVID-19 epidemic has impacted your preparation for medical school (positively and/or negatively). (400 words)

2019-2020

• How have your experiences serving others contributed to your personal growth?
• Describe your motivation to attend OUWB.
• Optional: If applicable, please describe any connections you have to the OUWB communities.
• If you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation.
• Optional: Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your qualifications for medical school that is not already represented in your application materials? Note: This space is provided for new information only, not to promote qualifications already highlighted in your other materials.
• 400 word limit on all prompts.
• Also 2 questions on preferred pronouns and how you found out about OUWB.

2018-2019 

• Optional: If applicable, please describe any connections you have to the OUWB communities.
• How have your experiences serving others contributed to your personal growth?
• If you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation.
• Optional: Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your qualifications for medical school that is not already represented in your application materials? Note: This space is provided for new information only, not to promote qualifications already highlighted in your other materials (all 400 words)

2017-2018

• How have your experiences serving others contributed to your personal growth?
• Optional: Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your qualifications for medical school that is not already represented in your application materials? Note: This space is provided for new information only, not to promote qualifications already highlighted in your other materials.
• If you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation.
• Good luck to everyone applying!

2016-2017

Limit each essay to 400 words.

• How have your experiences serving others contributed to your personal growth?
• Optional: Is there anything you want the admissions committee to know about your qualifications for medical school that is not already represented in your application materials? Note: This space is provided for new information only, not to promote qualifications already highlighted in your other materials.
• If you have already graduated, briefly summarize your activities since graduation.