Admissions committees place significant weight on the personal statement. The most important question you need to answer is “Why medicine?” If you don’t get it right in your personal statement, you might not get the chance to answer it again. Think of your personal statement as an argument for why you’re ready to go into medicine and why you genuinely want to. Here’s what you should focus on.
The Story
Humans respond well to stories, so include an anecdote or a series of anecdotes that admissions committees can connect with. Start early, even before the application process begins, so you have plenty of time to revise and adjust. Before looking at example personal statements, jot down the moments in your life that made you want to go into medicine. Expand on them with as many details as possible and compile them into a long essay.
Best Practices
Starting early - Bad writing is better than no writing, and that’s what rough drafts are for.
Showing change and growth - Your story should demonstrate what you’ve learned from your experiences.
Describing your path towards medical school - Explain your journey and motivations.
Being realistic - Don’t chase perfect personal statements. Focus on making yours genuine and reflective of who you are.
Writing multiple drafts - Revisions improve clarity and impact.
Reading your final draft out loud - This helps catch grammar errors and awkward phrasing.
Key Points to Cover
Why medicine?
What experiences led you to pursue medicine? - Include family stories, hardships, educational experiences, or anything unique to you.
What are your motivations for medicine? - If applying to DO schools, explain why you chose that path.
How to Start Writing
Begin - Starting is the hardest part, but it’s crucial.
Outline - If you find it helpful, outline your essay first. If not, consider your rough draft as your outline.
Write a rough draft - Emphasis on rough.
Revise repeatedly - Multiple revisions are essential. Get feedback from peers or professionals. We offer affordable editing services, cheaper than reapplying, with a money-back guarantee if your essay is already strong.
Ensure you’ve answered key questions - Check if you’ve covered all essential points.
Avoid red flags - See below for details.
Stick to character counts - Ensure your essay fits the limits for AACOMAS, AMCAS, and TMDSAS.
Red Flags to Avoid
Overly artistic writing - Keep it straightforward and genuine.
Mentioning disabilities or mental health conditions - These can unfortunately trigger biases.
Going off on tangents - Stay focused on impactful content.
Discussing battles with addiction - Best left out.
Copying popular personal statements - Your essay should be unique to you. Avoid blending in.
Convincing them you’ll be a good doctor - They need to see your motivation, not a guarantee.
Clichés like “I love science and helping people” - They already know this.
Listing events without a narrative - Create a coherent story with character development.
Overexplaining unnecessary details - Stay concise.
Sounding overly negative or defeatist - Keep a positive tone.
Excessive detail in trauma descriptions - Focus on strengths and positive outcomes.
Hopefully, this guide helps you get started on your personal statement. Take it seriously because admissions committees value it highly. Start early, write rough drafts, avoid using AI, get your edits done, seek feedback, and do it right the first time.
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