The term "Personal Statement" brings a shiver to the spine of
many a potential medical student. You should think of the
personal statement, however, as an opportunity to show admissions
officers what you're made of. They want to know why you
want to attend their medical school and this is your chance to
tell them as clearly and compellingly as you can.
Two Basic Purposes
Personal statements can serve two basic purposes. First, they
show whether or not you can write a clear, coherent essay that's
logically and grammatically correct. These days, students'
writing ability is often presumed deficient unless proven
otherwise.
Second, they provide you with the opportunity to present the
admissions committee with more of a "three-dimensional" portrait
of yourself as a deserving candidate than GPA and MCAT numbers
possibly can. What you choose to write sends clear signals about
what's important to you and what your values are. You can explain
why you really want to pursue grad work and the career path it
will enable you to follow. Your essay also enables you explain
things like a bad grade or term in an otherwise creditable
record.
A Three-Dimensional Picture of You
Essays are the best way for admissions officers to determine
who you are. So, don't hesitate to go beyond your current
experience for essay topics. Feel free to discuss other events
that help define who you are. If you have overcome significant
obstacles, say so. If you were honored with an award, describe
the award and what you did to achieve recognition.
Start early. Go over your goals and aspirations, write several
drafts, and talk to students and teachers. Then give some thought
to your goals. How will you accomplish them? What can you
contribute to the medical community? What can you contribute to
that particular school? If you can answer these questions in a
clear, concise manner, the statement will be a relative
breeze.
Some Guidance
Avoid the Rehashed Resume
The personal statement is not the time to recount all your
activities and honors in list-like fashion. Avoid writing "I want
to be a doctor because...."
Make It Personal
This is your opportunity to put a little panache into the
application. Show the admissions committee why you decided to go
into medicine. Was it an experience you had in school? Was there
a particular extracurricular that changed your way of thinking?
Did you find a summer lab job so exhilarating that it reconfirmed
your love for science? Try to use vignettes and anecdotes. Weave
a story and make the essay a pleasure to read.
Avoid Controversial Topics
If you do, definitely avoid being dogmatic or preachy. You
don't want to take the risk of alienating a reader who may not
share your politics.
Don't Get Too Creative
Now is not the time to write a haiku. Remember, the medical
establishment is still primarily a conservative one.
No Apologies
For instance, if you received a C in physics, you may feel
compelled to justify it somehow. Unless you believe that the
circumstances truly do merit some sort of mention, don't make
excuses. You don't need to provide them with a road map to your
weaknesses. If you had a bad year or semester because of illness,
family problems, etc., ask your pre-med advisor to explain the
details in his or her cover letter.
Write Multiple Drafts
Have your pre-med advisor and perhaps an English teaching
assistant read and edit it. Proofread, proofread, proofread.
Also, try reading it out loud. This is always a good test of
clarity and flow.
Think Ahead to Interviews
Interviewers often use your personal statement as fodder for
questions. Of course, if you've included experiences and ideas
that are dear to you, that you feel strongly about, you will have
no problem speaking with passion and confidence. Nothing is more
appealing to admissions folks than a vibrant, intelligent, and
articulate candidate. If you write about research you conducted
five years ago, you'd better brush up before your interviews.
Don't engage in hyperbole: You risk running up against an
interviewer who will see through your exaggerations.