Personal Statements:
Completing your Medical School Application

What is a personal statement? Who reads medical school applications? Why do I have to write about myself? Getting Started Dealing with the Blank White Page Questions to Ask Yourself Before you Write

Personal Statement Format Revising Top 10 Rules to Write By Mistakes to Avoid with Your Personal Statement General Advice From the Professionals Sample Successful Personal Statements

What is a personal statement?

Medical school application requires two types of personal statements. As you write these statements, remember that this is your opportunity to describe who you are, in such a way that is not possible through your hard data, such as your MCAT score, GPA and college transcript.

1. The first personal statement is required by all schools and is available through the American Medical College Application Service. AMCAS requests a one page, 5,300 character essay and suggests applicants consider the following questions in their essays:

• Why have you selected the field of medicine?
• What motivates you to learn more about medicine?
• What do you want medical schools to know about you that hasn't been disclosed in another section of the application?

In addition, you may want to include information such as:

• Special hardships, challenges, or obstacles that may have influenced your educational pursuits
• Commentary on significant fluctuations in your academic record which are not explained elsewhere in your application

AMCAS website:
http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/start.htm

Other helpful links:
http://www.amsa.org
http://www.studentdoctor.net

2. You'll also be asked to write a personal statement for each of your medical school applications. Again, this is your opportunity to explain who you are as a human being, and an opportunity to elaborate on the information you provided in your AMCAS application. Be sure to avoid duplication of either the materials in your AMCAS data or the AMCAS personal statement. The more complete picture of yourself you can provide to the schools to which you apply, the better.

Techniques and tips that will help you write a unique, accurate, thorough and honest personal statement follow…have a look, and good luck!

Medical school application boards consist of both faculty and students. All medical schools are concerned with the student composition of each class and want to create a diverse student population-educational, economic, racial, and social diversity are all considered. You'll notice when you get to medical school that every student does not have the same background. Not everyone is a recent "traditional" college graduate with a science degree…because 21-year-old biology majors are not the only people who make good physicians.

Keep your audience in mind as you write your personal statements, always remembering that it is up to you to explain why you would be an important and necessary member in next year's matriculating class. Your enthusiasm about your own potential and the medical field are vital to both the profession of medicine and to entering medical school.

Though technical skill and intellectual ability are important in medicine, how you treat other people and yourself still matter when you work with other medical professionals and when you're treating patients. In part, the way you articulate who you are both on paper and at your interviews will determine for the medical school application board how you will relate with patients and the medical teams you will work with in hospitals and clinics. Medicine is about treating other people…and treatment still includes personal interaction.

William Nunley, Director of Student Programming, 2002-03 and Bernadette Dieker, AMSA Public Relations Director, 2002, presented the following information at the 2003 AMSA National Convention.

Note: The AMCAS website provides a thorough explanation for all that is required for its application. The following suggestions and advice refer to the personal statements required by applications to individual medical schools.

1) START EARLY - If you prepare your application early and give yourself time to work on it carefully and to proofread, your chances of writing a distinctive, professional essay increase dramatically. Give yourself a chance…don't procrastinate, and ask for help!

2) PREPARE YOUR MATERIALS - Before you sit down to write, do some preparation in order to avoid frustration during the actual writing process.

Have the following on hand:

• Application form
• Transcripts
• Résumés

Keeping them in front of you will make your job of writing much easier.

Make a list of important information:

• names and exact titles of former employers and supervisors
• titles of jobs you have held
• companies you have worked for
• dates of appropriate work or volunteer experiences
• duties involved

In this way, you will be able to refer to these materials while writing in order to include as much specific detail as possible.

Also have on hand your AMCAS application, which will include many details you won't want to duplicate unless required in the medical school application.

1) Brainstorm
There's no need to launch into your essay without any preparation. If you create a solid outline and come up with something personal and worthwhile to write, completing this essay may even be fun. If you brainstorm by writing everything down, free form, you'll most likely fill a few pages before you get to whatever it is you really want to say. Don't get nervous in front of the blank page…here are some tips….

List your SKILLS and how you've DEMONSTRATED them.

e.g. intuition in the lab, gifted with understanding elderly people, capable of managing many tasks in tandem, etc.

List your PERSONALITY traits.

e.g. enthusiastic student, positive attitude, honest, loyal, hard-working

List MAJOR INFLUENCES and MENTORS in your life.

List your GOALS, short term and long term

Principles for writing:

• A unifying theme is central. Organize your essay around the theme rather than merely listing your accomplishments.
• Give good examples and explanations. Don't just list; explain how and why an experience or person had an effect on you. These details show your enthusiasm and dedication far more effectively than just saying that you care about something does.
• Help your reader understand how the information is important and demonstrates your potential for this kind of advanced study as well as the soundness of your reasons for pursuing it.
• Respond to the question(s). Follow instructions carefully.
• Cover your bases. Make sure that you've called attention to your successes and relevant experience and that you've explained any discrepancies in your record.

• What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or impressive about you or your life story?
• What details of your life (personal or family problems, history, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants?
• When did you become interested in medicine and what have you learned about it (and about yourself) that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained?
• How have you learned about this field--through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
• If you have worked a lot during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has that work contributed to your growth?
• What are your career goals?
• Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain (great grades but mediocre MCAT scores, for example, or a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was only average in the beginning)?
• Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (for example, economic, familial, or physical) in your life?
• What personal characteristics (for example. integrity. compassion. persistence) do you possess that would improve your prospects for success in the field or profession? Is there a way to demonstrate or document that you have these characteristics?
• What skills (for example, leadership, communicative, analytical) do you possess?
• Why might you be a stronger candidate for medical school--and more successful and effective in the profession or field than other applicants?
• What are the most compelling reasons you can give for the admissions committee to be interested in you?

2) Write an Outline
After brainstorming, it is time to start researching and outlining.

As mentioned before, the requirements for personal statements differ, but generally a personal statement includes certain information and can follow this format:

Introduction

Many personal statements begin with a catchy opening, often a distinctive personal example, as a way of gaining the reader's attention. From there you can connect the example to the actual medical school program for which you are applying. Mention the specific name of the program, as well as the degree you are seeking, in the first paragraph. This paragraph becomes the framework for the rest of the statement.

Experts advise NOT to begin with a quote written by someone else. This technique is overused, and unless you honestly read the quote everyday of your life and it has changed your life dramatically, you're wasting two lines of space where you could say something about yourself, instead of writing down what someone else has said.

Detailed Supporting Paragraphs

Subsequent paragraphs should address any specific questions from the application, which might deal with the strengths of the program, your own qualifications, your compatibility with the program, your long-term goals or some combination thereof. Each paragraph should be focused and should have a topic sentence that informs the reader of the paragraph's emphasis. You need to remember, however, that the examples from your experience must be relevant and should support your argument about your qualifications.

The middle section of your essay might detail your experience in your particular field, as well as some of your knowledge of the medical field. Be as specific as you can in relating what you know about the medical field and use the language professionals use in conveying this information. Refer to experiences (work, research, etc.), classes, conversations with people in the field, books you've read, seminars you've attended, or any other source of specific information about the career you want and why you're suited to it. Since you will have to select what you include in your statement, the choices you make are often an indication of your judgment.

Conclusion

Tie together the various issues that you have raised in the essay, and reiterate your interest in this specific program. You might also mention how degree is a step towards a long-term goal in a closing paragraph.

3.) Writing a First Draft

The following is a list of concerns that writers should keep in mind when writing a personal statement/application letter.

Answer the Question: A major problem for all writers can be the issue of actually answering the question being asked. For example, an application might want you to discuss the reason you are applying to a particular program. If you spend your entire essay or letter detailing your qualifications with no mention of what attracted you to the field, your statement will probably not be successful. To avoid this problem, read the question or assignment carefully both as you prepare and again just prior to writing. Keep the question in front of you as you write, and refer to it often.

If you are applying to several schools, you may find questions in each application that are somewhat similar. Don't be tempted to use the same statement for all applications. It is important to answer each question being asked, and if slightly different answers are needed, you should write separate statements. In every case, be sure your answer fits the question being asked.

Avoid Unnecessary Duplication: Sometimes a writer has a tendency to repeat information in his or her personal statement that is already included in other parts of the application packet (resume, transcript, application form, etc.). For example, it is not necessary to mention your exact GPA or specific grades and course titles in your personal statement or application letter. It is more efficient and more effective to simply mention academic progress briefly ("I was on the Dean's List" or "I have taken numerous courses in the field of nutrition") and then move on to discuss appropriate work or volunteer experiences in more detail.

Make Your Statement Distinctive: Many writers want to make their personal statements unique or distinctive in some way as a means of distinguishing their application from the many others received by the program. One way to do this is to include at least one detailed example or anecdote that is specific to your own experience--perhaps a description of an important family member or personal moment that influenced your decision to pursue a particular career or degree. This strategy makes your statement distinctive and memorable.

Think in terms of showing or demonstrating through concrete experience. One of the worst things you can do is to bore the admissions committee. If your statement is fresh, lively, and different, you'll be putting yourself ahead of the pack. If you distinguish yourself through your story, you will make yourself memorable.

Be Specific: Don't, for example, state that you would make an excellent doctor unless you can back it up with specific reasons. Your desire to become a physician should be logical, the result of specific experience that is described in your statement. Your application should emerge as the logical conclusion to your story.

Find an Angle: If you're like most people, your life story lacks drama, so figuring out a way to make it interesting becomes the big challenge. Finding an angle or a "hook" is vital.

Don't Include Some Subjects: There are certain things best left out of personal statements. For example, references to experiences or accomplishments in high school or earlier are generally not a good idea. Don't mention potentially controversial subjects (for example, controversial religious or political issues). Medical school selection is highly subjective and if one person on the application board dominates with an opinion, you may lose your chance with that school. Save your argument for later, after you get in.

Do Some Research, if needed: If a school wants to know why you're applying to it rather than another school, do some research to find out what sets your choice apart from other universities or programs. If the school setting would provide an important geographical or cultural change for you, this might be a factor to mention.

Avoid Clichés: A medical school applicant who writes that he is good at science and wants to help other people is not exactly expressing an original thought. Stay away from often-repeated or tired statements.

Consider The "I" Problem: This is a personal statement; using the first person pronoun "I" is acceptable. Writers often feel rather self-conscious about using first person excessively, either because they are modest or because they have learned to avoid first and second person ("you") in any type of formal writing. Yet in this type of writing, using first person is essential because it makes your prose lively. Using third person can result in a vague and overly wordy essay. While starting every sentence with "I" is not advisable, remember that you and your experiences are the subject of the essay.

Keep It Brief: Usually, personal statements are limited to 250-500 words or one typed page, so write concisely while still being detailed. Making sure that each paragraph is tightly focused on a single idea (one paragraph on the strengths of the program, one on your research experience, one on your extracurricular activities, etc.) helps keep the essay from becoming too long. Also, spending a little time working on word choice by utilizing a dictionary and a thesaurus and by including adjectives should result in less repetition and more precise writing.

Because this piece of writing is designed to either get you an interview or a place in a graduate school program, it is vital that you allow yourself enough time to revise your piece of writing thoroughly. While some people work well under pressure, it is very important to leave yourself time to proofread and enlist the help of others to make sure that your essay is immaculate. Even giving time to let your mind rest one night can make a difference. What you've written the day before can look completely different the next morning, after a restful night's sleep.

Revision needs to occur on both the content level (did you address the question? is there enough detail?) and the sentence level (is the writing clear? are the mechanics and punctuation correct?). While tools such as spell-checks and grammar-checks are helpful during revision, they should not be used exclusively; you should read over your draft yourself and have others do so, again, checking for both content weaknesses and grammatical and spelling mistakes. Many admissions officers say that good written skills and command of correct use of language are important to them as they read these statements. Express yourself clearly and concisely. Adhere to stated word limits.

Helpful hints when revising

So your personal statement is returned to you filled with red marks and suggestions. Don't worry. You've given yourself enough time to consider the suggestions and to make necessary changes. Do not be afraid of or embarrassed by writing a second, third, fourth, or fifteenth draft. To avoid tiring your proofreaders, try a few tricks before handing over your drafts:

• Use your computer spellcheck. Spelling, typographical, and grammatical errors are the written equivalent of having wrinkled clothes and bad breath on a job interview. They immediately suggest a lack of professionalism to a reader who has to make quick judgments about potentially hundreds of candidates.
• Read your statement backwards, looking for misspelled words. Find homonyms and look them up, to make sure you are using the right word.
• Do not use contractions.
• Read through your statement with a highlighter in hand. Highlight each sentence or partial sentence that only you could say about your goals and life experiences. The more yellow, the better. Get rid of anything that is not specific to you, and work to provide enough details and personal anecdotes so that the majority of your statement can be highlighted in yellow.
• Ask a completely fresh proofreader to read your final draft. Proofreaders do get tired, and can skip over mistakes if they've read your statement many times. Proofread your essay one last time, working through a checklist to make sure your completed all application questions and requirements.

1. DO strive for depth rather than breadth; narrow your focus to one or two themes, ideas, or experiences.
2. DO tell the reader what no other applicant could honestly be able to say.
3. DO answer the questions posed in the application.
4. DO provide the reader with insight into what drives you--what makes you "tick."
5. DO be yourself rather than pretending to be the ideal applicant.
6. DO get creative and imaginative, particularly in your opening remarks.
7. DO address the particular school's unique features that attract you.
8. DO focus on the affirmative in the personal statement itself; consider using an addendum to explain deficiencies or blemishes.
9. DO evaluate your experiences rather than merely recounting them.
10. DO enlist others to proofread your essay for grammar, syntax, punctuation, word usage, and style.

1. DON'T fail to recognize the importance of the personal statement.
2. DON'T wait until just before your deadline to begin work on the statement(s).
3. DON'T submit a personal statement that is more generic than personal.
4. DON'T fill your statement with clichés.
5. DON'T submit an essay that does not reflect the maturity and sophistication that might be expected.
6. DON'T submit your essay with typos or grammatical errors.
7. DON'T merely repeat information that you've provided elsewhere in your application.
8. DON'T get on a soapbox and preach to the reader; while expressing your values and opinions are fine, avoid coming across as fanatical or extreme.
9. DON'T talk about money as a motivating factor in your plans for the future.
10. DON'T waste your personal statement opportunity with a hackneyed introduction or conclusion.
11. DON'T use a gimmicky style or format.
12. DON'T submit supplementary materials unless the admissions office requests them.

Dr. Daniel R. Alonso
Associate Dean for Admissions
Cornell University Medical College

We look for some originality because nine out of ten essays leave you with a big yawn. "I like science, I like to help people and that's why I want to be a doctor." The common, uninteresting, and unoriginal statement is one that recounts the applicant's academic pursuits and basically repeats what is elsewhere in the application. You look for something different, something that will pique your interest and provide I some very unique insight that will make you pay some l notice to this person who is among so many other qualified applicants. If you're screening 5,500 applications over a four- or six-month period, you want to see something that's really interesting. I would simply say: Do it yourself, be careful, edit it, go through as many drafts as necessary. And more important than anything: be yourself. really show your personality. Tell us why you are unique, why we should admit you. The premise is that 9 out of 10 people who apply to medical school are very qualified. Don't under any circumstances insert handwritten work or an unfinished piece of writing. Do a professional job. I would consider it a mistake to attempt to cram in too much information, too many words. Use the space as judiciously as possible. Don't submit additional pages or use only 1/20th of the space provided.

John Herweg
Chairman, Committee on Admissions
Washington University School of Medicine

We are looking for a clear statement that indicates that the applicant can use the English language in a meaningful and effective fashion. We frankly look at spelling as well as typing (for errors both in grammar and composition). Most applicants use the statement to indicate their motivation for medicine, the duration of that motivation, extracurricular activities, and work experience. So those are some of the general things we are looking for in the Personal Comments section.

We also want applicants to personalize the statement, to tell us something about themselves that they think is worthy of sharing with us, something that makes them unique, different, and the type of medical student and future physician that we're all looking for. What they have done in working with individuals--whether it's serving as a checker or bagger at a grocery store or working with handicapped individuals or tutoring inner city kids--that shows they can relate to people and have they done it in an effective fashion? What the applicant should do in all respects is to depict why he or she is a unique individual and should be sought after. Of course, if they start every sentence on a whole page with "I," it gets to be a little bit too much.

Copyright ©2008 American Medical Student Association
(800) 767-2266 • amsa@amsa.org

© All materials on this site are intended for the express use of health science students. Other use or reproduction of these materials requires written authorization from the American Medical Student Association.