Transcript Headline

Michigan Medical Education Day
October 8, 2011
Personal Statement Workshop
The Personal Statement…
• …is a revelation of your personality.
• …includes your strengths, beliefs, & values.
• …uses concrete, vivid details to demonstrate
the qualities & characteristics you possess.
• …is your first (and perhaps only) opportunity
to sell yourself.
Things to keep in mind
• Applications use character count NOT word
count
• AMCAS – 5300 characters with spaces MAX
• AACOMAS – 4500 characters with spaces MAX
• You cannot run spell check & you cannot cut and
paste.
• Once it is submitted, it cannot be changed.
• Plan on multiple rough drafts before you reach
the finished product
Most importantly….this is your space to tell the medical
schools things that you have not already told them.
Example A:
In the fall of 2004, I enrolled at Michigan State
University’s Lyman Briggs College and began
to pursue my major of physiology and minor
in Spanish with a specialization in Bioethics,
Humanities, and Society. I was excited about
the challenges ahead but also apprehensive.
Most importantly….this is your space to tell the medical
schools things that you have not already told them.
Example A:
In the fall of 2004, I enrolled at Michigan State
University’s Lyman Briggs College and began
to pursue my major of physiology and minor
in Spanish with a specialization in Bioethics,
Humanities, and Society. I was excited about
the challenges ahead but also apprehensive.
273 characters with spaces
Most importantly….this is your space to tell the medical
schools things that you have not already told them.
Example B:
When I entered college, I was excited about the
challenges ahead but also apprehensive.
87 characters with spaces
Your statement must be personal.
It is your initial opportunity to address the
admissions committee.
This statement might lead to an interview IF
you express your commitments, motivations,
and values.
It should be a reflection of the unique
individual that you are.
Opening Paragraph Examples
Example A:
In a certain sense, I am a terrible example of a premedical student. Pre-med students are known for our
competitive natures. We are stereotyped as being
students who claim to "want to help people" but who
in the end really only care about ourselves and our
eventual financial success. I am a terrible pre-medical
student because I do not fit into this mold. Although I
do value hard work and academic success, experience
has taught me that the values of compassion,
communication, and personal respect are of even
greater importance in my life.
Opening Paragraph Examples
Example B:
A friend once told me “Everything you do, you do to
the max”, and I feel like that was the greatest
compliment that I have ever received. Throughout my
life I have had many different goals and interests, but
one thing that has remained constant is that I always
strive to become better. If there was something that
interested me that I wasn’t good at I would put all of
my energy into becoming better at it. Some might say I
have an “obsessive personality”, but I would say that I
know what I want and I will do everything in my power
to get it. I am an extremely competitive person who
strives for recognition and to see myself growing.
Opening Paragraph Examples
Example C:
Growing up in a small rural area of a third world country the dream to
become a physician seemed fictional and even absurd. The educational
system was destitute and difficult to afford. The health care system was
poor and expensive to afford. Physician, lawyer, and scientist, were not
familiar words in the society. However, the small clinic next to my house
opened the door for me to familiarize with the world of medicine. There
was only one doctor in my town with a population of more than 10,000.
Dr H was my first role model since my adolescence because I was greatly
inspired and impressed by his passion and performance for the health of
others. I always imagined how significant our health would have
improved if we had more doctors like Dr H. I learned through him the
value and importance of humanity and the care for others. My dream to
become a physician has been rooted there.
ELABORATE…
…upon extracurricular activities and/or
volunteer work experiences that you have
listed elsewhere in your application. Do NOT
merely relist these activities. Focus on
noteworthy activities….describe the depth of
your involvement in a fashion that implies you
have certain characteristics necessary to be a
good physician.
ELABORATE on activities…
Example A:
Also in college, I have been instrumental in starting a new group for
students interested in learning more about the health professions. I
am currently serving as president of this group. As president of a
new group, my most pressing concern was to establish a strong
interest at my school for such an organization. I have been
successful in building up the membership in this group and must
credit my vice-president as well for her assistance. I organized all
the meetings and contacted students. I also received an award
from the Dean’s Office in recognition for my hard work and
dedication to interested students. However, my most rewarding
accomplishments thus far include arranging for students to attend
medical school classes and observe other health professionals, but
this is the first year, I have limited the exposure to medicine
ELABORATE on activities…
Example A:
Also in college, I have been instrumental in starting a new group for
students interested in learning more about the health professions. I
am currently serving as president of this group. As president of a
new group, my most pressing concern was to establish a strong
interest at my school for such an organization. I have been
successful in building up the membership in this group and must
credit my vice-president as well for her assistance. I organized all
the meetings and contacted students. I also received an award
from the Dean’s Office in recognition for my hard work and
dedication to interested students. However, my most rewarding
accomplishments thus far include arranging for students to attend
medical school classes and observe other health professionals, but
this is the first year, I have limited the exposure to medicine
ELABORATE on activities…
Example B:
I became a volunteer counselor at Camp X, a camp for children with
cancer and their siblings. The camp is devoted to providing an
environment that is worry free so that the children may have as much fun
as possible. However lighthearted the environment may be, these
children are still coping with serious problems and are emotionally
unstable. I do my best to respond to their needs and promote
conversation. Often I am approached by children who are scared of dying,
overwhelmed with grief, or just lonely. Though challenging, these
encounters have strengthened my confidence and enabled me to
effectively and sensitively communicate with others who are in stress or
pain. My experiences at Camp X are extremely rewarding, knowing that I
am making a direct and positive impact on the lives of children that I
counsel. I believe that I will be able to genuinely communicate with
patients, not only because I have had a lot of practice interacting with
others on various emotional levels, but because I truly enjoy it.
Your personal statement could…
• …include any personal hardships or
disadvantages
• …include any special individuals or incidents
that have shaped your life
• …discuss a non-traditional background
Personal hardship…
Example A:
My undergraduate years started out a little rocky my freshmen & sophomore years
because of personal difficulties. After only one week of college my freshmen year,
my mom called to say that she & my dad had separated. Needless to say, I was
devastated & unable to concentrate in my classes at all that first semester. After
receiving my report card, I was shocked to realize just how poorly I had done in all
my classes. I was very depressed about my grades which affected my progress the
following semester. A few weeks into the 2nd semester, my mom called again only
to say that she and my dad were getting a divorce. I was devastated! I returned
home most weekends to comfort and care for my siblings, but being home made
the divorce so real. Perhaps I would have been better to stay at school and
concentrate on my studies, but at the time, that was not an option. The divorce
was messy and lasted through most of my sophomore year which explains my poor
performance that second year as well. My parents divorce is now final, & we are
all trying to continue with our lives. I am prepared for the challenges that lie
ahead. While my academic career has not always been stable due to personal
problems, my desire and motivation for this profession has never wavered and is
actually stronger today because of the setbacks I have faced. I look forward to the
challenges that medical school will bring.
Personal hardship…
Example B:
A sense of "disorderly chaos" depicts most of my
childhood. My parents became pregnant with me and
started their lives together at eighteen years old. At such a
young age, the stress of marriage and a baby made it
difficult and they soon divorced. Neither of my parents
went to college because they had to work very hard to just
be able financially to support themselves and a baby. As
time passed, each of my parents started new families so my
high school years became more stable. Our dual family
structure offers me stability and support. I am grateful that
I now have two groups of people that create the essential
fabric of my family, and I am the thread that binds us all
together.
You MUST explain WHY you are
pursuing medicine
Example A:
A third step in my journey that led to applying to medical school was job
shadowing at my family physician's office. I was able to observe how the doctor
was able to get information from the patient by asking targeted, polite questions.
This job shadowing experience allowed me to see the kind of work that a physician
does on a day-to-day basis and reassured for me that I would enjoy such work.
Although this clinical experience was helpful, I do feel that I would like to have
more clinical experience under my belt. The principal reason I have not done more
clinical volunteer work is because of my employment history. Due to my family's
financial position, it has been a necessity for me to work full time jobs every
summer and part-time jobs during my college classes in order to pay for my
education and additional costs such as food and books. Though all of this paid
work deprived me of a good deal of clinical experiences, it also gave me a wide
range of experiences in following directions, making decisions, and dealing with
both coworkers and the general public. Working some rather unpleasant servicesector jobs has taught me the values of humility and hard work. These skills will be
very useful if I am accepted to medical school and begin practicing medicine.
You MUST explain WHY you are
pursuing medicine
Example B:
Only midway through my undergraduate work did I narrow my
focus to osteopathic medicine, although my past experiences with
doctors and my choice of major made it an easy decision. Growing
up I had long term relationships with primary care doctors. In time
trust grew and they were concerned about the whole life of the
patient. They often acted as therapists, experiencing the tragedies
of their patient’s lives with them. To me, this is the ideal doctorpatient relationship and it is the kind I hope to facilitate as a
physician. This more holistic philosophy best suits health
interactions and gives a fuller view of patient health that a focus
limited to disease processes cannot offer. Given a depressed
patient, a strong relationship could tell the physician that she is
recently embroiled in an ugly divorce and needs support rather
than medication.
You MUST explain WHY you are
pursuing medicine
Example C:
In terms of academics, I have spent my entire undergraduate career pursuing my passionate
interest in science. Overall, I have genuinely enjoyed my research opportunities, & I am
extremely grateful that I was able to participate in them, as they allowed me to discover that
I truly love science. Something was missing from these experiences, however. The only
people with whom I interacted were my colleagues present in the labs, & I was never able to
witness my work actually better the lives of others.
My time working for a physician really showed me just how important this missing facet can
be. Dr. X generously hired me as his research assistant in his practice during one summer
break and two winter breaks. I worked for him full time & assisted him with his research in
personalized molecular oncology. My time with Dr. X granted me many insights into the field
of medicine, but most importantly, it revealed that I do not need to choose between my love
of science & my drive to serve others; the goals are not mutually exclusive. Indeed, he
showed me that many doctors successfully combine these passions, with their love for
science allowing them to offer even better care to their patients. He was both an inquiring
scientist & a compassionate caregiver. Science without patient interaction seems empty at
times because I never have a connection to the ultimate beneficiaries of the research. The
opportunity to apply my scientific talents to real people that genuinely need my help is my
ultimate motivation to study medicine. Without the presence of these patients, scientific
research for me is too abstract with no emotional aspects.
Final thoughts
• Do NOT invent a hardship
• Do NOT “over-share” – realize that anything
you write about can be discussed in an
interview & may also influence admissions
decisions
• Do NOT wait until May/June to start writing it
• This statement goes everywhere – be school
specific in your secondaries