“Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” This is a common medical school essay prompt that oftentimes seems obvious. “I see myself as a nurse/doctor/researcher, duh!” It’s a bit like answering the common job application question, “why do you want this job?”

I don’t want to starve! Why else?

In order to answer the “where do you see yourself in 10 years” question, it’s important to take a step back and deconstruct this question. After all, answering this question well –and better than everyone else– will make or break your chances of getting to the medical program of your dreams.

Without further ado, let’s deconstruct this. Here is the ultimate guide to the medical school essay prompt, “where do you see yourself in 10 years?”

Table of Contents

1. Deconstructing the Medical School Essay Prompt.
2. Show Them That Medicine is an Inevitable Future.
3. Prove To the Admissions Office That You Truly Want to Go Into Medicine.
4. Look at the Question From a New Perspective.
5. Refer to Your Background Experience and Environment.
6. Draw Relevant Links to Your Passion for a Future in Medicine.

How to Answer the “Where Do You See Yourself in 10 Years?” Med School Essay Prompt.

Deconstructing the Medical School Essay Prompt.

Okay, first let’s try to figure out why people ask this seemingly banal question.

If you really think about it, this question is actually rather genius in its utility. The medical programs know that the people applying for their program want to get into, well, medicine. It’s like saying the ground is made of the floor!

The reason medical programs ask this question is that they want to sort through applicants by determination. Everyone is going to say that they want to be in medicine within the next 10 years, sure. However, some people will go about it differently than others.

For instance, some applicants are not passionate about their journey to medicine. They entered medicine because they were told by their peers and teachers that they were smart in Science and Math. Some were even pushed by their parents. On the other hand, other applicants have found a meaningful passion for medicine. The ability to take care of people and even help them through fatal injuries is something that is profound to them.

When we really look into this question, it is really asking how our passion has manifested a clear vision for the future. The more strong and genuine your passion for medicine is, the more likely you are to have a vivid and clear image of your future in 10 years.

So, in other words, get specific enough such that the admissions officers will know you thought your future through. One does not simply waltz into a future in medicine blindly. It takes many years of dedication and passion, so show them that you mean business through your essay!

Show Them That Medicine is an Inevitable Future.

Another rule of answering the “where do you see yourself in 10 years” question: show the admissions officers that you’re serious.

For some people, they’re quite smart and talented in anything they do. Not only that but they were made for many high-level professions. If it wasn’t medicine, it would have been engineering. If not that, then computer science. If not that, then investment banking in finance. You get the point!

Unlike those people who can choose any field, there are those who believe medicine is their calling.

Some people are agreeable, empathetic, conscientious, talented in Science and Math, and had a passion for medicine all their lives. With these factors, it would make sense that medicine is the field that fits better than any other.

When answering this question, make sure to emphasize how medicine is the field that best fits you. Maybe your past experiences funneled you into medicine. Perhaps you truly have a passion for it that has gripped you since childhood. If your personality also fits the field, then you should show that too!

Prove To the Admissions Office That You Truly Want to Go Into Medicine.

One of the types of people medical programs are most afraid of: the parents. More often than not, it’s the parents who shove their children into medicine. This is typically to fulfill some arbitrary vanity factor.

Medical schools don’t need this. What they need is people who are truly passionate about their field. They don’t want people led by external factors.

So, how do you prove that you’re truly passionate about medical school? Think back to the past: when did you first have a love for the field? You can also ask yourself this question: “If I could do this job for a meager salary, why would I still pursue it?”

More often than not, the clients we worked with had success thinking about the philosophy tied to medicine. Medicine is tied to helping people through unnecessary suffering. Not only that, but it is a monument to human endeavor. It is the fruit of scientific labor that helps humanity transcend the grotesque suffering of illness and disease.

There is an equalizing factor too! It is unfair that certain people are born with physical deformities that negatively affect their lives. The world of reconstructive surgery is humanity’s defiance of destiny. It serves to help those born with unfair disadvantages live a second life in spite of mother nature’s cruelty. Equity and Equality in revolution against the forces of nature, if you will!

Look at the Question From a New Perspective.

Now, let’s look at the question from a new perspective.

“Where do you see yourself in 10 years”

Med School Essay Prompt

This doesn’t only have to include medicine. Of course, since you’re applying to med school, you’ll have to consider adding a future in medicine at least somewhere.

However, also consider the fact that the question is rather open. They only ask where you see yourself in the future. That can also involve whether you plan to do research in medicine or not, where you want to live while practicing your field, etc.

Perhaps you see yourself expanding your field in medicine into creating a startup in healthcare. Some people see the inefficiencies in nursing and plan to create a new product that will help make everyday work for nurses easier and more pain-free.

You may even talk about the future projects you plan to undertake or start related to medicine. Will you bring your knowledge to your home country and help educate others in modern medicine practices? Don’t be afraid to share more for this essay question!

Refer to Your Background Experience and Environment.

Some people feel that there is an experience in the past that has driven them into medicine. They may have had an emotional, transcendent experience after seeing a family member get out of a severe accident okay because of the work of a surgeon.

Your experiences are a valid reason to be inspired to pursue medicine for the next 10 years. Just remember to use strong word choice and imagery to describe the connection between your past experiences and your future goals.

For others, their environment played a major role in their career choice in medicine.

If you used to live in an area that did not have good access to health services, you may have a strong reason to pursue medicine in the next 10 years. Some grew up in a family environment with a unique culture. Oftentimes Chinese culture, for instance, does not believe in mental health. A family environment that refuses to believe in the existence of mental health issues may have driven you to pursue the field.

Draw Relevant Links to Your Passion for a Future in Medicine.

This is perhaps one of the most common mistakes made when answering the “where do you see yourself in 10 years” essay prompt.

Most people do not draw relevant links to their passion for medicine. They may say that they were experienced in working in customer service, conducted non-profit projects planting trees, or worked as a tutor for their university.

However, mentioning experiences such as these may work against you.

The reason for that is because you need to answer the “where do you see yourself in 10 years” with relevant experiences. If you cannot draw relevant parallels between medicine and your experiences, then it would just look like you’re picking straws. You don’t want to appear like you’re just trying to beef up your application as much as possible. That just shows you’re trying to game the system to get accepted into medical school.

Instead, see your past experiences and work. How do they relate and funnel you into medicine? If you had experience as an engineer, maybe you 3D printed masks during the pandemic with your Auto CAD skills. This experience could have shown you the beauty of helping underprivileged people and shifted you into aiming the next 10 years to medicine.

If you are still struggling to answer the “where do you see yourself in 10 years” medical school essay prompt, you may want to consider speaking to an expert. Don’t be afraid to contact us for a free consultation! Here at PenningPapers, we can advise you on your essays mistakes. We can also help you edit and optimize your essays to stand out amongst the rest of the admissions pool!