At present, applications to Medical School in the USA have opened on a rolling basis. Candidates are composing and polishing their Personal Statements, Essays, Work and Activities, Primary Applications, Background Information, and gathering the appropriate documentation, including Letters of Recommendation and Official Transcripts. Clearly, this involves a great deal of work, time and effort, as it should. However, it also engenders a great deal of anxiety and uncertainty. This is perfectly understandable, given the years of hard work candidates have invested in reaching their goal of acceptance to Medical School.

                The focus of this blog is on the Personal Statement. I have had the privilege of reading hundreds of Personal Statements of students who have indeed gained admission to Medical Schools in the USA, Canadians and Americans alike. I know a winner Personal Statement when I see it. All of these Personal Statements addressed the multi-factorial purpose. The purpose of the Personal Statement is for the Admissions Team to gain a sense of the candidate’s passion for Medicine; the reasons why he or she wishes to pursue this career; the relevant experiences which led to this passion; relevant skills and qualities; communication skills; and the potential to contribute to a particular Medical School. This is a tall order. Think of the Personal Statement as an Elevator Pitch: candidates have a few minutes to sell themselves as potential Medical School students. For this reason, the Personal Statement is an extremely important part of the Medical School Application.

                One of the things which candidates underestimate is the fact that medical schools look for what they can contribute to them. Gaining acceptance to Medical School is a two-way street: candidates look for what schools can give them, and schools look at what the candidates can contribute to them. The Personal Statement should highlight unique experiences which cultivated the skills relevant to the study of medicine, experiences which have given a candidate special skills and talents. What makes you stand out from others? What can you give the school that others may not be able to?

                For instance, I recall reading a Personal Statement which emphasized a candidate’s capacity for empathy. Her special skill was developed because she nursed her own mother as she was dying of cancer. Needless to say, this Personal Statement created a powerful and personal impact. The candidate ended her Personal Statement by writing about how much she wanted to study oncology in an effort to save lives because her own mother passed away. Her sincerity, sense of powerlessness, empathy, compassion and drive were resoundingly clear and memorable. This is precisely what candidates need to do: to create a Personal Statement which will leave an impression on the minds and hearts of the Admissions Committee. They read thousands of Personal Statements, but remember few: only the ones which create lasting images and impressions.

                For assistance in writing Personal Statements, contact us at 519 564 1016.