What types of prompts are on the Albany Medical College secondary essays and how should I approach them?
I'm currently getting ready to work on my Albany Med secondary and wanted some early advice about what the essays usually ask for. I saw some old threads mention unique ethical scenarios or prompts about their Patient Physician Program, but I'm not sure if those are still relevant for this year.
If anyone applied recently, can you share what topics you had to write about? I'm a little nervous because I'm not the best at answering questions that are super open-ended or abstract. Also, are there any specific things Albany Med cares about in responses (like community service, research, etc.)? I want to give myself a head start since I’ll be juggling a few other secondaries at the same time.
Would appreciate any tips or insight into what they seem to want and how detailed you have to get!
If anyone applied recently, can you share what topics you had to write about? I'm a little nervous because I'm not the best at answering questions that are super open-ended or abstract. Also, are there any specific things Albany Med cares about in responses (like community service, research, etc.)? I want to give myself a head start since I’ll be juggling a few other secondaries at the same time.
Would appreciate any tips or insight into what they seem to want and how detailed you have to get!
1 week ago
•
13 views
Camille L.
• 1 week ago
Advisor
Albany Medical College’s secondary essays typically focus on a few key themes: ethical dilemmas, experiences with diversity, your connection to their unique Patient Physician Program, and your motivation for pursuing medicine at Albany specifically. While the exact questions can shift slightly each year, several classic topics remain consistent.
For example, in recent cycles, applicants were asked to:
- Describe a significant ethical dilemma you have faced. Explain how you faced it, what you learned, and how it will shape you as a physician.
- Comment on an experience with diversity and how it prepared you to work with people from backgrounds different from your own.
- Discuss why you want to attend Albany Med in particular and your interest in the Patient Physician Program.
When approaching these prompts, specificity is key. For the ethical dilemma question, avoid hypothetical scenarios and instead draw from a real situation you experienced. This doesn’t have to be a life-or-death medical issue—it could be as simple as navigating team conflict or advocating for fairness in a class setting. Focus on how you reasoned through the situation and what values guided your decisions. For example, you might write about standing up for a classmate being treated unfairly, and how that reinforced your commitment to equity and empathy—crucial traits for medicine.
For the diversity question, reflect on your personal experiences—whether it’s being part of a club that brought together students from different backgrounds, volunteering with a community organization, or even moments when you recognized your own implicit biases and worked to overcome them. Albany values applicants who are thoughtful about inclusivity and have direct exposure to varied perspectives.
The Patient Physician Program prompt is a chance to show you’ve researched Albany’s curriculum. Read about how this program integrates clinical contact from Year 1, and reflect on your readiness for early clinical responsibility. Draw parallels to your own experiences shadowing doctors or volunteering. For instance, you could mention that volunteering in a free clinic solidified your interest in clinical medicine, making the Patient Physician Program especially appealing.
Albany does value community service, a demonstrated commitment to serving others, and thoughtful self-reflection. Try to be concise but personal—about 250-300 words per essay is typical unless otherwise specified. Examples and specific details go a long way toward making your essays memorable.
If you’re nervous about open-ended prompts, try outlining your answer before you write. Identify one main point or anecdote per question, and build around that. Practicing this will help you be both focused and authentic!
For example, in recent cycles, applicants were asked to:
- Describe a significant ethical dilemma you have faced. Explain how you faced it, what you learned, and how it will shape you as a physician.
- Comment on an experience with diversity and how it prepared you to work with people from backgrounds different from your own.
- Discuss why you want to attend Albany Med in particular and your interest in the Patient Physician Program.
When approaching these prompts, specificity is key. For the ethical dilemma question, avoid hypothetical scenarios and instead draw from a real situation you experienced. This doesn’t have to be a life-or-death medical issue—it could be as simple as navigating team conflict or advocating for fairness in a class setting. Focus on how you reasoned through the situation and what values guided your decisions. For example, you might write about standing up for a classmate being treated unfairly, and how that reinforced your commitment to equity and empathy—crucial traits for medicine.
For the diversity question, reflect on your personal experiences—whether it’s being part of a club that brought together students from different backgrounds, volunteering with a community organization, or even moments when you recognized your own implicit biases and worked to overcome them. Albany values applicants who are thoughtful about inclusivity and have direct exposure to varied perspectives.
The Patient Physician Program prompt is a chance to show you’ve researched Albany’s curriculum. Read about how this program integrates clinical contact from Year 1, and reflect on your readiness for early clinical responsibility. Draw parallels to your own experiences shadowing doctors or volunteering. For instance, you could mention that volunteering in a free clinic solidified your interest in clinical medicine, making the Patient Physician Program especially appealing.
Albany does value community service, a demonstrated commitment to serving others, and thoughtful self-reflection. Try to be concise but personal—about 250-300 words per essay is typical unless otherwise specified. Examples and specific details go a long way toward making your essays memorable.
If you’re nervous about open-ended prompts, try outlining your answer before you write. Identify one main point or anecdote per question, and build around that. Practicing this will help you be both focused and authentic!
Camille L.
Nomadic
Stanford University, BAH in Urban Studies
Experience
5 years
Rating