However, with a proper guide and step-by-step procedures backed up with a sample, the idea of drafting a medical school personal statement becomes hitch-free. Therefore, this article put together by the World Scholarship Forum will give you detailed insight backed up with examples of how to write a coherent and apt medical school personal statement. Stay with me! In this post, we’ll elaborate on the prerequisites to be found in a medical school personal statement with clear samples for your instant use. Therefore, read carefully to understand how to write a captivating med school personal statement that defines who you are and what you’re capable of. Strict adherence to the following tips will put you a step ahead as medical schools look to enlist bright, empathetic, communicative people. See the table of contents below for a quick glance.
What is a Personal Statement?
A PERSONAL STATEMENT IS a very important requirement in medical school admissions decisions. According to Dr. Stephen Nicholas, former senior associate dean of admissions with the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons,” The essay really can cause me to look more deeply at the entire application, so I do think it’s pretty important.” A medical Professor of medicine and microbial pathogenesis at Yale school of medicine, Dr. Barbara Kazmierczak opines that” a compelling medical school admissions essay can address nearly any topic the applicant is interested in, as long as it communicates the applicant’s personality.” With the above comments from top medical professionals, a well-written medical school personal statement conveys a student’s commitment to medicine. Thus, selling the student in a good light.
What Is A Medical School Personal Statement?
According to admissions experts, a medical school personal statement is a report of the events that inspired and prepared a Pre-med to apply to medical school. This personal essay aids admissions officers figure out the level of enthusiasm in the Pre-med, and it also interprets whether a Pre-med has a compelling rationale for attending med school. In other words, a personal statement bestows the opportunity to present a compelling picture of who you are, and perhaps why you want to be a doctor. This is more like a sales copy. It sells your personality, which determines whether you will be admitted or not. Do you now see why it is very important for your medical school personal statement is in great shape?
Why Do Medical School Demand For Personal Statements?
The goal of a personal statement is to describe why you want to study medicine and the factors that inspired you to apply to medical school. This personal essay helps in the proper selection of candidates. Furthermore, it clarifies whether a Pre-med has a compelling rationale for attending med school. In addition, a well-drafted medical school personal statement conveys a student’s commitment to medicine and also gives the admissions officers the opportunity to interact and feel the way the applicant feels through the choice of words, diction, and idea inherent in the personal statement. According to Glen Fogerty, an admission executive with the medical school at the University of Arizona—Phoenix, “The strongest personal statements are the ones that share a peculiar connection. One where a candidate shares a special moment, the spark that ignited their passion to become a physician or convinced them to choose medicine as a career.” Lastly, a great personal statement has an emotional impact on the admission process. Asides from your paper qualifications, the personal statement gives the medical school reasons why you’re a good fit for the profession. Therefore, before you begin, think of how yours will stand out, be unique, and different.
What Makes Up A Good Medical School Personal Statement?
When writing a medical school personal statement, there are three focal points to consider. These points help express and convey the right idea to the reader which in turn leads to the required result which is securing admission into a med school. Therefore, your personal statement should include the following three components: See Also: 30 Med School Scholarships for International Students In USA … Read more
How To Start A Personal Statement For Medical School
A personal statement should reflect an applicant’s past, present, and future by explaining how previous experiences have led to this point and outlining long-term plans to contribute to the growth of the medical field. Medical school admissions officers want to share in your understanding of the medical profession, your motivating factor, desires, and the direction he or she is going. That being said, the passion you have for the profession should come through in your writing, Here are the following points to consider while writing a medical school personal statement;
An intriguing introduction that is captivating.Anecdotes illustrate what kind of person the applicant is.Reflections about the significance and impact of medicine in various life experiences.A convincing narrative about why medical school is the reasonable next step.A satisfying and promising conclusion.
Fassas, a first-year medical student at the University of Maryland, suggests reflecting on the following questions:
Why can you really only see yourself being a physician?What is it about being a doctor that has turned you on to this field?What kind of doctor do you imagine yourself being?Who do you want to be for your patients?What are you going to do specifically for your patients that only you can do?
Succinctly put, applying the aforementioned points helps Pre-meds eloquently describe a noble mission. That is to say, prospective medical students, need to clarify and express why medicine is the most suitable profession for them. NOTE: Your medical school personal statement wields enough power to take you to where you want to be.
10 Tips on How To Write A Personal Statement Medical School
These personal statement tips outlined below help the admissions committee better understand you as a candidate.
1. Write and edit over and over
This gives you ample time to get your essay ready and in good shape. It helps review what you’ve written and re-work your draft.
2. Stay focused
Your personal statement should revolve around interesting aspects of your journey as it relates to the subject idea. Therefore, choose a theme, stick to it, and support it with precise examples. See Also: 27 Scholarship for Medical Students from Developing Countries |UPDATED … Read more
3. Be Personal and Specific
Adopting a more personal approach other than the general cliche will help you be more expressive in your writing.
4. Find your unique angle and keep it interesting
Always personalize your writing in an interesting manner, using the right expressions and semantics. Bring your own voice and perspective to your personal statement to give it a truly memorable tone. Moreso, endeavor to start with a “catch” that will create intrigue before launching into the story of who you are.
5. Be expressive of your writing
Instead of telling the admissions committee about your unique qualities (like compassion, empathy, and organization), express them through the stories, you tell about yourself. Don’t just say it, prove it with practical instances.
6. Embrace the 5-point essay format.
Here’s a trusty format that you can make your own:
1st paragraph: These four or five sentences should “catch” the reader’s attention.3-4 body paragraphs: Use these paragraphs to reveal who you are. Ideally, one of these paragraphs will reflect clinical understanding and one will reflect service.Concluding paragraph: The strongest conclusion reflects the beginning of your essay, gives a brief summary of you are, and ends with a challenge for the future.
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7. Keep it simple and also use the right transition words
Your essays should be easy to comprehend. Therefore, avoid the use of ambiguous ways as much as you can. In addition, modify your sentence structure to have a coherent flow. That is to say, your paragraphs should connect to each other.
8. Stick to the rules.
Watch your word count. That’s 5,300 characters (including spaces) for AMCAS applications, 5,000 characters for TMDSAS, and 4,500 characters for AACOMAS.
9. Seek multiple opinions.
Before you hit “submit,” ask for feedback on your personal statement from people who are good in the act. A professor or friend whose judgment and writing skills you trust are invaluable.
10. Double-check the details.
Always check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. This also applies to the rest of your application activities. A common oversight might be obviously inappropriate. Give yourself and your proofreaders the time this task truly requires. You May Want to Read: Best Med Schools in Texas
How Long Should A Personal Statement Be For Medical School?
The word count for a medical school personal statement differs according to application. However, for AMCAS applications, 5,300 characters (including spaces). for TMDSAS, 5,000 characters and 4,500 characters for AACOMAS.
Mistakes To Avoid In A Medical School Personal Statement
One thing Pre-meds should never do in an admissions essay is beg. According to Rankin, making requests of any type – including a plea for an admissions interview – does not belong in a personal statement. In the same light, try as much as possible to avoid controversial political subjects such as the death penalty or abortion. Furthermore, prospective medical students should not fail to closely proofread their personal statements. Else, the essay could end up being submitted with careless errors such as misspellings and grammar mistakes that could easily have been fixed. That is to say, drafting a compelling personal statement typically requires multiple revisions, so Pre-meds who don’t revise their essay end up submitting a poorly written essay. Here’s an outline of the things to avoid while writing a medical school personal statement.
Don’t exaggerate how passionate you are. Everyone applying to medical school can say they are passionate. Instead, show your readers something you have done that shows your passion.Avoid an overly confessional or sentimental tone. You need to sound professional.Note that a personal statement isn’t a piece of creative writing.Don’t put your resume in narrative form.Avoid the use of jargon, abbreviations, slang, etc.Try not to use too many qualifiers: very, quite, rather, really, interesting.Don’t write about yourself in an overly glorifying manner.Lastly, do not lie.
Examples Of Medical School Personal Statements
Here’s a quick look at well-written medical school statements that represent the characteristics mentioned earlier in this article.
Example 1:
Example 2:
Example 3:
Conclusion
In a nutshell, your medical school personal statement being a necessary prerequisite leaves a lasting impression on the minds of the admission officials. Therefore, be intentionally expressive, clear, and concise in your writing. Good luck! A medical school personal statement is a report of the events that inspired and prepared a Pre-med to apply to medical school. This personal essay helps in the proper selection of candidates to be admitted. The number of words expected in a medical school personal statement differs according to application. However, 5,300 characters (including spaces) for AMCAS applications, 5,000 characters for TMDSAS, and 4,500 characters for AACOMAS.
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