writing your personal statement for medical school kim sauerwein dartmouth college career services
TRANSCRIPT
The Personal Statement
Admissions Committees view your Personal Statement as an opportunity to get to know you over and above the facts conveyed by other parts of the application
Personal Statement & Supplemental Application Essays
Serves almost the same purpose as a face-to-face interview
Should generate enthusiasm for your candidacy
Investigate thoroughly all schools of interest
Develop a method to reduce your list of medical schools to an appropriate number
Be serious about attending any school to which you apply
Preparation
The Admission Committee: Consider Your Audience
Often consider themselves gatekeepers of the profession Research scientists, clinicians, med
students, admissions officers
Often are conservative Overly creative and unusual essays will
receive a chuckle or two, but seldom receive serious consideration
MOST COMMON COMMENTS FROM 2008 STATEMENTS Make sure it answers the question “Why do
you want to be a doctor?” Don’t simply restate your resume Convey who you are as a person: your
thoughts, your fears, your motivations… Create an outline for your essay after it’s
written. Does it make sense? Look at the last paragraph. Does it sound
like you're rushing to finish? Are you introducing new material?
Some Desirable Attributes
Attributerealistic self-assessment
resourcefulaccountablecooperative
persistentresilient
supported (emotionally)focused
active learnerflexible
efficientorganized
PurposefulCapacity for work
As indicated by…acknowledging limitationsseeking help when appropriateaccepting responsibility for learningworking well with otherscompleting tasksaccepting disappointment and moving onnot isolating self from othersconcentrating on the task at handintegrating and applying new informationwillingness to changemaking good use of timesystematically taking care of businesssetting long-term and short-term goalsDemonstrating good or improved performance
The Writing Process: Content
Brainstorm possible topics – consider: What is important to you? Who are the most influential people in
your life? What did they do for you? What have been the pivotal moments in
your life? Looking back, what can you recall having changed you? How were you affected?
Do you feel a passion for medicine? What is the source of that passion?
The Writing Process: Content
Write your autobiographical sketch Pay attention to your emotions &
reactions while you write – weave it in if it demonstrates positive characteristics like compassion, resiliency, courage, etc.
The Writing Process: Content
Provide new information and details Convey YOUR personality Distinguish yourself
The Writing Process: Content
Future Plans - this topic only works if you can say something definitive that has some substantial basis If it is insincere, it will not fool anyone
Personal Philosophy - this topic can be risky If you have strong convictions and those
convictions reflect maturity and flexibility then it may be ok
If there is a possibility that it will create controversy, it may be brought up in an interview (if you get to the interview stage)
The Writing Process: Tone
Generate enthusiasm for your candidacy Be honest and sincere Use specific, vivid details that describe
experiences & lessons learned as a result Strike a balance between “I” statements
and the sense of accomplishment conveyed
Get feedback from a trusted, knowledgeable reader
Write and re-write until you are convinced that your statement is the best it can be
The Writing Process: Mechanics
Be clear and concise Solicit help from someone who will not be
concerned about hurting your feelings and who understands the purpose of the essay
Help your reader understand without having to struggle to make sense of what you have said
Remember to write an introduction and conclusion for each essay
Read your essays out loud and listen carefully to what you hear
Have someone proofread your essays to ensure that spelling & grammar are acceptable
Additional AMCAS Essays
Disadvantaged Status (1325 characters)
Felony (1325 characters)
Institutional Action (1325 characters)
Work/Activities (1325 characters)
MD/PhD Essay (3,000 characters)
Research Experience Essay for MD/PhD candidates (10,000 characters)
Get Organized: Supplemental Applications
Prepare a timeline to help you keep track of due dates
Keep all of your application materials in one place
Create one master chart that outlines all the requirements for each school’s application
Get Organized: Supplemental Applications
Respond and take advantage of essay questions or space for additional comments that are optional
Exercise caution by reading questions raised in the application before answering them
Supplemental Applications:Content
Think of 3-4 adjectives that describe you as a desirable candidate
Consider what evidence you could give your readers & make the argument
Evidence is likely to come from descriptions of events or reflections about experiences that illustrate what you have learned from having had the experience
Details and vocabulary you select in describing these instances will set your essay apart from all the others
Make a Favorable Impression
Make sure that supplemental applications are typed, error-free and aesthetically appealing
Pay special attention to the mechanics and organization of your essays
Make copies of everything before submission
Irregularities in Your Application
Withdrawals, incompletes, repeated courses, academic action, probation, below-average grades, non-traditional background, re-application, etc.
Schedule an appointment with me CALL 6-3377 (DO NOT BLITZ)
In Conclusion
Investigate schools before applying Consider readers of your application Reflect before you write Correct obvious errors Organize Restrain use of the unusual in the process Ask for help Submit well in advance of deadlines
Helpful Resources
Career Services – http://www.dartmouth.edu/~csrc/
RWiT – http://www.dartmouth.edu/~rwit/
University of Wisconsin’s Writer’s Handbook –http://www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/apessay.html
Purdue Writing Center –owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/pw/p_perstate.html
Review Sample Essays
A few are attached to your handout and the book is available in Career Services
Write for Success: Preparing a Successful Professional School Application (3rd edition) by Evelyn Jackson & Harold Bardo (National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions, Inc. 2005).