University of South Dakota

Supplemental essays

1. Given the mission statement of the school, please explain how your experiences and long term goals would help meet the mission.
2. Given the diversity statement of the school, explain how your background and experiences with diversity will bring value to the school.
3. Briefly describe a crisis or significant challenge in your life, how you have worked through the crisis or challenge, and what you have learned from this experience.
4. [For repeat applicants only.] Since your last application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? Please note any relevant academic, employment, clinical and personal experience.
5. For non-South Dakota residents applying to the regular MD program - please describe your ties to South Dakota.
6. Please use the space below for anything you might wish to discuss related to the corona virus (COVID-19) public health crisis. Possible topics might include, for example: your biggest lessons and insights from the pandemic; creative ways in which you were able to serve your community during the crisis; how the pandemic has affected your outlook on the role of medicine.
7. Please enter the city, state and date range you have resided in each location. Example: Vermillion, SD; 1/1/1990 - 7/31/2008 Sioux Falls, SD; 8/1/2008 - 5/31/2018. Enter your residency history below.

Copied verbatim from the school's official admissions page (2025-26 cycle).