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The painful reality of applying to med school is that there are about 40,000 applicants for approximately 18,000 spots. You might be wondering how you can elbow your way to the top of such a talented pool of applicants. While your GPA and MCAT scores will play a large role in the admissions decision, they arent everything. Solid numbers are a good start, but medical schools are also quite interested in who you are, why you want to be a physician, and whether you have a clue about what being a doctor is like.
A well-written personal statement is one of the easiest ways to present yourself and your unique strengths in a way that mere numbers cant. Despite the odds, there are always large numbers of seemingly average applicants who dont get straight As or perfect MCAT scores who still manage to get accepted to great medical schools.
The Princeton Review has pulled together 42 real personal statements from applicants who got accepted into schools across the country in the book Medical School Essays that Made a Difference. In addition to guidance on how to construct a thoughtful and cohesive essay, there are also ideas about brainstorming and grammar refreshers.
And here are a few DOs and DONTs:
And when youre finished, let your personal statement sit a few days and then come back to it and read it again. A sentence or two might stand out as awkward, or you might even find where your storyline seems choppy or too confusing.
The personal statement on your med school application is a representation of who you are, and you want it to be the best it can be. You wouldnt show up to the interview without showering and dressing properly, would you? Now, go get to writing!
Good luck!
A well-written personal statement is one of the easiest ways to present yourself and your unique strengths in a way that mere numbers cant. Despite the odds, there are always large numbers of seemingly average applicants who dont get straight As or perfect MCAT scores who still manage to get accepted to great medical schools.
The Princeton Review has pulled together 42 real personal statements from applicants who got accepted into schools across the country in the book Medical School Essays that Made a Difference. In addition to guidance on how to construct a thoughtful and cohesive essay, there are also ideas about brainstorming and grammar refreshers.
And here are a few DOs and DONTs:
- DO focus on a single theme or thesis. Elaborate on your theme through details, opinions, and experiences.
- DO outline your theme and main points before you start writing. Aim for an organized, direct statement.
- DO tell a personal story rather than make generalizations.
- DO write something medically oriented.
- DO start your essay with a solid, attention-grabbing sentence.
- DO end your essay with a strong conclusion.
- DO maintain the proper tone.
- DO spend time on your personal statementit isnt a throw away part of the application.
- DO abide by the word limits.
- DO proofread carefully.
- DO spell check and spell check again.
- DO have three different reviewers, but not many more than that.
- DONT list all of your awards and achievements or try to include everything you have ever done on a single page.
- DONT be overly philosophical or abstract, which is a common mistake.
- DONT try to be funny unless what you have to say is actually funny.
- DONT be self-aggrandizing or try too hard to impress the admissions committee; tell a real story and let the details speak for themselves.
- DONT use clichés or resort to attention-grabbing gimmicks to stand out. Use real, honest detail to make your personal statement unique.
- DONT lie or exaggerate.
- DONT use too much detail. Aim to be succinct and direct.
- DONT be too controversial. Avoid topics that may raise eyebrows.
- DONT make negative statements unless you can show how they lead to a positive counter-argument.
- DONT use the word I too often. If you state an opinion, the reader will assume its yours. Tell a story and let the details speak for themselves.
And when youre finished, let your personal statement sit a few days and then come back to it and read it again. A sentence or two might stand out as awkward, or you might even find where your storyline seems choppy or too confusing.
The personal statement on your med school application is a representation of who you are, and you want it to be the best it can be. You wouldnt show up to the interview without showering and dressing properly, would you? Now, go get to writing!
Good luck!