| Getting into medical school is a rigorous | | | | reasoning is based solely on geography or |
| procedure that requires many steps. For | | | | school rating. - Where you envision yourself |
| instance, whereas other graduate school | | | | in ten years - Some medical schools may also |
| programs require only one personal statement, | | | | ask about your long-term career goals. These |
| many medical school applications require that | | | | admission boards are looking for personal |
| the student write two personal statements: an | | | | statements that reflect the writer's ambition |
| AMCAS application essay, and a secondary | | | | and career focus. A student who has not |
| application essay. How does AMCAS work? AMCAS | | | | given a lot of thought to their career path |
| is an application processing service that | | | | is more likely to fail to complete the |
| allows you to put together just one | | | | program, so be sure that you convey your |
| application, which is then submitted to all | | | | passion and dedication to your chosen career. |
| of the medical schools of your choice. One | | | | - The specific clinical experiences that |
| of the pieces of your AMCAS application is | | | | influenced your decision - If you are asked |
| your primary personal statement. Because your | | | | this question, do not interpret it as a |
| AMCAS application essay is submitted to | | | | request to repeat information given in your |
| multiple schools at once, it focuses on the | | | | AMCAS personal statement. Instead, use it as |
| applicant, leaving out the school-specific | | | | an example to provide information that you |
| information that many graduate school | | | | didn't have space for in your primary |
| personal statements include. As a result, | | | | application essay, or fill in the gaps that |
| many medical schools require prospective | | | | your other anecdotes have left. What Else Do |
| students to submit a secondary application | | | | I Need to Know about Writing a Medical School |
| essay, which is written with that specific | | | | Personal Statement? Regardless of whether you |
| school in mind. What Does My AMCAS Personal | | | | are writing a primary (AMCAS) or secondary |
| Statement Need to Include? Most graduate | | | | personal statement, you need to be sure your |
| schools require that your personal statement | | | | essay will stand apart from all the rest. |
| address your interest in that school, as well | | | | For instance, you should be sure to: - Use |
| as answering a range of questions about | | | | anecdotes to illustrate your points. |
| yourself. When you use AMCAS to apply for | | | | Personal stories not only make your personal |
| medical school, however, you will need to | | | | statement unique and memorable, but also |
| omit the school-specific information in order | | | | illustrate your qualifications and |
| to create a primary personal statement that | | | | personality to the admissions board. - Avoid |
| can be submitted to all of your chosen | | | | generalizations. Although stating - either |
| schools. The AMCAS personal statement or | | | | in your thesis or your title - that you have |
| primary application essay should always | | | | always wanted to be a doctor may seem to |
| answer two different types of questions: - | | | | answer the question concisely, this does not |
| Why do you want to be a physician? As with | | | | really convey anything about you, either as a |
| any personal statement, this question should | | | | student or as a prospective doctor. - Avoid |
| not be answered by stating that you have | | | | clichés. Almost all the personal |
| always wanted to be a doctor. Likewise, you | | | | statements the admissions board reads will |
| should avoid espousing a desire to "help | | | | contain at least one cliché - and probably |
| people." These are clichéd responses that | | | | more. By avoiding clichés in your |
| not only fail to convey anything concrete | | | | application essay, you will ensure that your |
| about you, but also have been undoubtedly | | | | writing is not only unique, but also more |
| used by many other applicants. Instead, you | | | | interesting than the competition. - Be |
| should use anecdotes of your personal | | | | concise. Although it is important to avoid |
| experiences to show, rather than tell, your | | | | generalizations and add personal detail in |
| interest in the field of medicine. - Why are | | | | your application essay, you also don't want |
| you qualified to be a physician? Your | | | | to bore your readers. Make sure that your |
| personal statement also needs to demonstrate | | | | writing is as concise as it can be without |
| the qualities that will make you a dedicated | | | | losing important detail. - Proofread your |
| medical student and a skilled physician. For | | | | work. The last thing you want to do is to |
| example, you can discuss other interests that | | | | give the admissions board the impression of a |
| you have, describing the qualities that have | | | | hastily thrown-together personal statement. |
| helped you to excel, and explaining how those | | | | To avoid typos, grammatical errors, and other |
| qualities will benefit your education and | | | | problems in your essay, be sure to proofread |
| career. Other examples of material for your | | | | and revise your work several times before |
| personal statement include stories from your | | | | submitting it. Writing a Winning Medical |
| hospital experiences that demonstrate how you | | | | School Personal Statement Applying to medical |
| interact with patients, or stories from your | | | | school can be an intimidating process. The |
| laboratory experiences that demonstrate your | | | | stakes are high, the competition is fierce, |
| insight and dedication in a research | | | | and the application itself can be quite |
| environment. How is the Secondary Personal | | | | length and complicated. Writing both an |
| Statement Different? Some medical schools | | | | AMCAS application essay and at least one |
| require a secondary personal statement, in | | | | secondary personal statement can be quite an |
| addition to your standard AMCAS application. | | | | alarming prospect, as well. However, it is |
| This application essay is meant to give the | | | | important to remember that writing your |
| school a closer look at each applicant, | | | | personal statements for medical school is not |
| particularly more individualized information | | | | that much different than for other graduate |
| such as why you are interested in that | | | | programs: The information is simply broken up |
| school. Secondary personal statements usually | | | | into primary and secondary application |
| are focused on answering specific questions. | | | | essays, instead of all being contained in |
| Examples of questions that many medical | | | | one. With the right information and mindset, |
| schools ask include: - Why you want to attend | | | | writing your medical school personal |
| that school - As with a personal statement | | | | statement doesn't have to be difficult at |
| for any other graduate school, you may be | | | | all! |
| asked to indicate that you are familiar with | | | | |
| the specific program. Research the school | | | | Jason Kay contributes to education related |
| and take note of any professors whose work | | | | websites such as Sample Personal Statement - |
| you admire. Your essay can also mention | | | | which provides sample personal statement |
| factors such as location and other program | | | | essays for medical, business, graduate, and |
| advantages, but don't make it sound like your | | | | law school. |