Transcript Writing the Personal Statement

Writing the Personal
Statement
Purpose
Provides the committee with a “picture”
of you. What is your story?
 Demonstrates unique qualifications for,
and commitment to, medicine
 Your chance to promote yourself
beyond the MCAT & GPA numbers
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The predictable approach is for an
applicant to frame the essay as
Q: Why do I want to be a doctor?
A: Because I like people and science.
As a writer you should go beyond that
As an applicant you must go beyond
that:
Who are you as a person?
A communicator?
An activist?
A leader?
What motivates you during challenging times?
What or who has influenced your thinking about
your pending career?
Why should I trust you as a doctor-to-be?
Possible Topics
(Pick only a couple!!)
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Motivation
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Family or Personal Background
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What individuals or incidents shaped your life?
Extracurricular Activities and Work/Volunteer
Experience
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Why a physician?
Why NOT a teacher, nurse, scientist, etc?
What did you learn?
How did you contribute to getting the job done?
How have you matured as a result?
Future goals (long/short term)
Explain/Clarify any outstanding issues
The personal statement can:
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Explain how experiences have resulted in personal
growth (maturity)
Discuss the experiences, people and events that
influenced your decision to become a physician or
prepared your to enter this field (motivation)
Describe what you have learned from extracurricular and
work accomplishments. (skills)
Discuss any disciplinary actions during college (talk to
Dean Bassett about this if necessary)
Things to remember
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No inconsistencies between essay and
interview
Don’t just list things that are on AAMCAS
Use specific examples to show what has been
gained and will be brought to program.
Secondary essay provides supplementary
details; ties into themes and activities; answers
specific questions if any; add to what was on
application
Most common errors
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I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was 5 (or 4 or 8 or
10) years old
The sorrowful, yet predictable, death of a
grandparent
A prose résumé; More like a list than an essay – this
is a writing sample, not just a report of evidence
Excessive vocabulary, verbose, complex words; this
will not impress
Generic statements and platitudes; Show, don’t tell
Too heavy a hook: It was a dark and stormy night…
Something other than the whole truth and nothing
but the truth
Helpful Hints
Revise, revise, revise, hone to as near
perfection as you can get, eliminate as
many useless filler words to have space
for the important words.
 Use the Writing Center while you have
it!
 Carefully check spelling, punctuation,
grammar. Ask a friend to proof it.
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GET STARTED!
Brainstorm a list the things that you have
done that illustrate your:
 Desire to help people
 Knowledge of the profession, and
evidence of a fit
 Pursuit of excellence, which is not
the same as competitiveness