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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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Writing the Personal Statement

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  1. Writing the Personal Statement

  2. 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

  3. 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.

  4. 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?

  5. Possible Topics(Pick only a couple!!) • Motivation • Why a physician? • Why NOT a teacher, nurse, scientist, etc? • Family or Personal Background • What individuals or incidents shaped your life? • Extracurricular Activities and Work/Volunteer Experience • 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

  6. The personal statement can: • 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)

  7. Things to remember • 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

  8. Most common errors • 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

  9. 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.

  10. 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

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