Writing Your Personal Statement for Medical School

Kim SauerweinDartmouth CollegeCareer Services

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)

IMPORTANT!!!

Plagiarismor

misrepresentationWILL prompt an

investigation

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).

Follow-Up

Personal Statement Review Service: Expect ~2 week turn-around (blitz Kim Sauerwein)

Appointments – Call 6-3377 Walk-in

– Mondays 2-4pm in Parkhurst 9B– Thursdays 1:30-4pm

(may call ahead to verify availability)