UCSF Secondary Essays: Real Prompts From 2025-2026

If you're nearing the application cycle and starting to think about prewriting, you’ve probably heard the warnings: UCSF secondary essays are no joke. These prompts are layered, reflective, and built to separate the genuinely mission-aligned from the generic. And if you wait until they hit your inbox to figure out what they’re asking, or worse, to start writing, you’ll be behind.

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In this guide, we’ll walk through every single 2025–2026 UCSF prompt, including PRIME-US if that’s on your radar. You’ll get insight into what UCSF is really looking for in each response, how to avoid the recycled-answer trap, and the common mistakes that keep strong applicants out. 

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And if you’re serious about making this upcoming cycle your last, don’t try to navigate secondaries alone. Premed Catalyst’s Application Cycle Advising gives you personalized help crafting powerful essays, staying on deadline, and submitting secondaries that actually make AdComs take notice. We only take four students each month.

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See if you qualify here.

Should You Pre-Write UCSF Secondaries?

The wait for UCSF’s secondary application can feel brutal. After you hit submit on your AMCAS, you might be refreshing your inbox for weeks, 8 to 12 weeks, to be exact, before you even hear anything from them. 

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It’s not a mistake. That’s how UCSF does things.

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And here’s why: UCSF doesn’t send secondaries to everyone. Unlike many schools that automatically flood your inbox with a secondary the second AMCAS verifies your app, UCSF actually screens. They take a hard look at your primary application before they decide whether you’re a good fit for their secondary round. That means if you do get the secondary, you’ve already cleared a major hurdle.

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So, should you pre-write your UCSF secondaries?

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Here’s the verdict. If UCSF is your dream school and you know you’re a strong applicant (think: near their average stats, rich clinical and service experiences, and a clear alignment with their mission), then yes, pre-writing makes sense. You’ll want to be ready to hit submit as soon as that secondary hits your inbox because time is a factor with secondaries.

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But if you’re unsure if you’re a good fit or if you applied more broadly, you might be better off waiting and prepping differently. That means: read through previous UCSF prompts (they don’t change much year to year), draft bullet points or rough outlines, and keep your materials organized. Don’t pour hours into perfecting essays you might never send.

The 2025–2026 UCSF Essay Prompts, Decoded

UCSF doesn’t send secondaries to everyone, which means they expect thoughtful, focused responses. This isn’t the place for fluff. Each prompt is designed to evaluate your fit with their mission, your readiness for medical school, and how you think. 

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Here’s what each question is really asking:

Interview Availability (300 characters)

“Applicants are interviewed by invitation only. Interviews are scheduled from October to mid‑February (days vary). For the 2025‑26 interview season, we will conduct interviews via zoom. If you will be out of the country – provide additional info below (e.g. dates, best way to contact, etc.)” (300 characters)

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How to approach it:

• This is a logistics question, not an essay, but still treat it with care. Use the 300 characters to succinctly state when and how you're reachable, especially if you anticipate travel or time-zone issues.
  
  
• If you expect to be abroad or have limited connectivity, give exact dates, your time zone, and preferred contact methods (email, phone, Zoom availability).
  
  
• Make sure what you write is true and realistic. This isn’t a place to be flashy, just provide clarity. Being easy to schedule can only help in a competitive interview pool.

Update / Expand Upon Activities (500 words)

“If you wish to update or expand upon your activities, you may provide additional information below.” (500 words) 

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How to approach it:

• Use this prompt to add meaningful work, volunteering, research, leadership experiences, or personal growth that weren’t yet in your AMCAS primary application or were only briefly described.
  
  
• Focus on impact and reflection. Don’t just list what you did, but what you learned; how you changed; how those experiences shaped your motivations for medicine (or your values, goals, worldview).
  
  
• If you have a few new activities, you could structure the essay as short vignettes (one paragraph per activity), each with a “so what?” describing what difference you made or what you learned.
  
  
• If instead you've had a theme (e.g., working with underserved populations, or research + community health), you can group activities by theme and reflect on how they build toward your broader mission/vision.
  
  
• Because 500 words is a lot, lean into stories and specifics. Concrete examples stand out more than abstract statements.

What You’ve Done Since Graduation (350 words)

“If you are a 2024 or earlier college graduate, please use the space below to tell us what you have done since completing your undergraduate degree.” (350 words) 

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How to approach it:

• This prompt matters if you have already graduated. It’s your chance to show that your post‑undergrad time was purposeful and growth‑oriented (not just “waiting to apply”).
  
  
• Describe any work, research, service, volunteering, further education, travel, personal development, or life experiences you’ve had since graduation, but focus on growth, intention, and relevance to medicine.
  
  
• Highlight things that show maturity, responsibility, initiative, especially leadership, community engagement, clinical exposure, research, or anything aligning with your future medical goals.
  
  
• If you had a gap year or time off, be transparent. Use this space to explain what motivated you, what you did, and what you learned. Turn a “gap” into a statement of deliberate growth.

PRIDE Values Essay (500 words)

“UCSF PRIDE* values serve as a guiding light for institutional life and activities. Briefly describe how you will contribute to and support our PRIDE values consistent with your goals or life experience.” (500 words) 

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*PRIDE refers to the core values of UCSF (Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, and Excellence).

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How to approach it:

• First, know what UCSF is actually asking. PRIDE stands for Professionalism, Respect, Integrity, Diversity, and Excellence. These aren’t buzzwords. They’re the standards UCSF expects from every student, faculty member, and clinician on campus.
  
  
• Start by choosing 1–3 of these values that authentically align with your experiences. Then show, with real examples, how you’ve already lived them. Don’t just say you believe in integrity. Describe the moment you were tested. Don’t say you value diversity. Show how you’ve stood up for or supported others from different backgrounds.
  
  
• End with how you’ll continue to uphold these values at UCSF and in your future practice. Make it clear that you’re not just a good fit; you’re already part of the culture they’re building.

Ethics / Disclosure Statement (no word‑limit)

Candidates and current students must meet the ethical and legal standards to be licensed to practice medicine in the State of California … Accordingly, candidates … must acknowledge and provide written explanation to the School of Medicine of any felony offense, misdemeanor offense, and institutional action taken against them prior to matriculation. This disclosure is required of all charges and convictions, including expunged and diverted offenses that have not already been reported in the primary AMCAS application. 

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How to approach it:

• If you have no disclosures, simply check the box acknowledging your compliance. Keep it clean, honest, and straightforward.
  
  
• If you do have a history (even expunged/diverted), you must disclose. Lying or omission could result in dismissal. Treat this with utmost seriousness.
  
  
• If writing an explanation: be honest, brief, and factual. Provide context (what happened), reflection (what you learned), and evidence you’ve grown/changed. Use a humble and responsible tone. Medical schools value honesty and integrity.
  
  
• Don’t over‑explain or sound defensive. Stick to facts, own your mistakes, and show accountability.

State of Residence

“Please list all states of residence including where you have had an official address within the past 10 years.” 

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How to approach it:

• This is a simple factual question. Just list each state where you’ve had a legal or mailing address in the past 10 years.
  
  
• Be accurate. Schools examine residency history for demographic or in‑state considerations.
  
  
• If you moved a lot (e.g., undergrad, gap years, different homes), make sure you include every state. Don’t skip short-term addresses (e.g., summer internships, moving between semesters) if they were official addresses.

Bonus Round: PRIME-US Essays (If Applicable)

If you’re applying to UCSF’s PRIME-US track, this is your chance to show your commitment to underserved communities, especially urban, low-income, and marginalized populations.

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PRIME-US is a five-year MD program with additional training, mentorship, and community-based experience aimed at producing physician leaders in health equity. If that’s your mission, these essays are where you prove it.

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You’ll get three additional prompts. These aren’t just “why medicine” essays. They’re “why you, why this mission, and what have you actually done” essays. 

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Here are prompts that recent applicants to PRIME‑US at UCSF School of Medicine have reported:

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• Commitment to Urban Underserved Communities (≈ 500 words):
• How will you balance PRIME‑US with your academic responsibilities and personal life? (≈ 250 words) 
• What will you bring to PRIME‑US? (≈ 250 words) 
• What do you hope to get out of PRIME‑US? / What are your goals for PRIME‑US? (≈ 250 words) 

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When writing these essays, be sure you cover these three points:

• Balance: Show you understand the challenges ahead: long hours, emotionally heavy work, real systemic barriers. You’re not naïve; you’re prepared.
  
  
• Passion: Don’t just say you care about underserved communities. Prove it. Use real experiences: who you served, what you did, and how it shaped you.
  
  
• Contribution: How will you show up as a PRIME-US student? What unique lived experiences, skills, or insights do you bring? Think about the program as a team. What’s your role on that team?

Themes That Win at UCSF

UCSF isn’t looking for perfect applicants. They’re looking for purpose. And in every essay, interview, and story you share, there are themes that show you understand what UCSF is about. Here’s what works and why:

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Leadership as service, not ego

Don’t tell them you were president of five clubs. Show them how you built something that helped someone other than yourself. At UCSF, leadership means lifting others up, not collecting titles.

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Health equity as more than a buzzword

Anyone can say they care about underserved communities. What UCSF wants to see is whether you’ve actually done something about it, like volunteered, advocated, mentored, or researched. Show up in action, not just intention.

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Research with real-world application

UCSF is research-heavy, but that doesn’t mean bench-only. They value research that solves problems that matter, whether that’s community health, health policy, or clinical outcomes. Connect your research to real people, not just publications.

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Community as a verb

UCSF trains doctors who do community, not just talk about it. Whether it’s organizing a health fair, mentoring first-gen students, or showing up consistently at a free clinic, community means rolling up your sleeves and getting involved.

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Grit wrapped in humility

They want to see the hard things you’ve pushed through. But they also want to see how it shaped you, not made you self-congratulatory. You’ve worked hard. Good. Now tell them what it taught you, how it changed your lens, and how it’s made you more ready to serve.

Common Mistakes That Kill Promising Apps

Even strong applicants get passed over when they miss the mark on the secondaries. Here are the most common ways people sink their UCSF application:

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Writing safe instead of writing what’s real

Generic essays get you nowhere. If your response could be copied and pasted into a dozen other schools’ applications, it’s not strong enough. UCSF wants to know who you are, not your polished LinkedIn version. Be honest, be specific, and don’t be afraid to show what actually matters to you.

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Ignoring word limits or failing to use them well

Word limits are part of the evaluation. Going over looks sloppy. Writing way under makes it seem like you don’t have much to say. Don’t ramble, but don’t leave empty space either. Plan, outline, and use every word to add value.

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Not tailoring responses to UCSF’s mission

This one kills more apps than you’d think. UCSF is crystal clear about what they care about: public service, health equity, diversity, inclusion, and community impact. If your essays don’t reflect those values, they’ll assume you’re not a fit. Always link your experiences back to their mission.

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Forgetting to connect your story to their values

You’ve done cool things that’s great. But if you don’t show why those things matter to UCSF, they lose impact. Every story you tell should answer two questions: What did you do? And why should UCSF care? If that second part is missing, you’re leaving points on the table.

Why UCSF? (And Why You?)

UCSF never asks “Why us?” as a direct essay question, but make no mistake, it’s baked into every prompt they send you. Whether you’re writing about your activities, your values, or your post-grad experiences, they’re scanning for fit. So don’t waste the opportunity.

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Embed your “Why UCSF” strategically.

You don’t need a separate paragraph titled “Why UCSF.” Instead, drop your alignment with their mission, values, and community into your examples. Show that you’ve done your homework and that you’re not just applying to another top-ranked school. You’re applying to this one for specific reasons.

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Be specific. Mention programs like PRIME-US, the HEAL Initiative, or the Program in Medical Education for the Urban Underserved (PME-UU). Talk about research that’s happening at UCSF that actually excites you. Name a faculty member doing work that connects to your goals. Bring up UCSF’s partnerships with San Francisco’s underserved communities. Let them know: you see them, and you belong there.

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Show mutual fit. The goal isn’t just to show that UCSF is a great place; it’s to show that you would thrive there. If you’ve worked in community health, done research that has public health relevance, or led equity-focused initiatives, connect the dots, let UCSF see that admitting you isn’t a risk; it’s a continuation of a path you’re already on.

Don’t Let the Secondaries Be Where Your App Dies. Get Support.

UCSF’s secondaries are designed to filter out anyone who doesn’t fully understand what the school stands for. Which means you need to prove it in every answer you submit.

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You need clarity, strategy, and writing that doesn’t just check boxes, but tells your story in a way UCSF actually cares about.

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That’s where we come in. Through Premed Catalyst’s Application Cycle Advising, we work with just four students per month to build applications that cut through the noise. You’ll get one-on-one support on everything from secondaries to submission timelines, plus detailed feedback that actually helps you stand out in a school-specific way.

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No fluff. No templates. Just guidance that gets real results.

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See if you qualify for personalized support here.