Medical School Personal Statement
Conscientious use of black ink and careful attention to
instructions should get you through most of the application form
unscathed. However, the AMCAS application (and most non-AMCAS
applications as well) requires a personal essay, and you should
devote considerable time and effort to this section of the form.
Many medical school admissions committees place significant weight
on your personal comments; they use your essay both to improve their
understanding of you as an individual and to assess your ability to
communicate clearly and effectively. Your essay should also include
any information needed to clarify or explain answers given elsewhere
on the application form. If, for instance, you are a non-science
major, you might want to explain how your choice has better prepared
you to be a doctor. If you have dropped out of school for a period
of time, explain why you did so and what you did during that time.
If you flunked Organic Chemistry, you may need to get creative . . .
. The primary goal of your personal essay should be to establish
yourself as an individual, to make you distinguishable from the
thousands of other applicants besieging the gates. Discuss your
special interests and activities. Explain your background if it has
contributed to your knowledge of and dedication to the practice of
medicine. If you have done research work, discuss it briefly. If you
have hobbies that are important to you or any special talents,
mention them even if they don't seem particularly relevant to your
interest in a medical career. Medical schools are looking for
diverse, well-rounded human beings. You might mention contributions
you could make to medicine. Why would you be a good doctor? What
motivates you?
When writing your essay, be specific and avoid platitudes and
jargon. The admissions committee knows that "Doctors have to care
about people"; they don't know that you volunteered your time to
teach retarded children to ski. Don't say that you learned a lot
from your science courses; explain how genetics deepened your
understanding of inheritable diseases. Use simple, straightforward
language. Don't say "at this point in time" if you mean "now." Don"t
talk about your "significant employment experience" when you mean
you had a job. Use the active voice as much as possible and do not
be afraid to use the pronoun "I." You are the subject of the essay,
and you want your personality to come through. Simple, honest
language will make a far better impression than convoluted phrases
and technical jargon.
Good organization is essential; you only have one page with which to
make an impression. A careful outline will help you avoid repetition
and will insure that there is a clear, logical progression from one
paragraph to the next. You should, of course, be absolutely certain
that your essay is free of spelling, grammatical, and typographical
errors. It is advisable to have your Pre-Health Professions advisor
or someone whom he suggests go over your finished essay. It is an
important part of your application, and you want to make the best
possible impression.
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