College Essays

[Hopes2BMD]

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So, I've been reading college essays on the web, but there does not seem to be any particular pattern to follow when writing one...
I was wondering if there are any specific things which need to be mentioned when somebody who plans on studying medicine writes a college essay.
What should a college essay look like for someone who later wants to get into medical school?

If anyone has some useful links on writing successful college essays, please post.

Thanks.

 

[Mopp22]

Go to your school or public library and find some books on writing college essays. When writing your essay do not put a lot on emphasis on the fact that you want to go to medical school - this will not set you apart from the many other applicants who also want to go to medical school. You can put it in as one of your goals, but the focus of the essay is YOU. Essays are what admissions uses to get to know you, without actually meeting you. Make your personality show in a way that will make you stand out from every other applicant, but be honest. Get as many people as you can (teachers or counsellors, etc....not friends) to proofread and give you some feedback.

 

[linkin06]

think about the one thing you want to demonstrate to schools.

then write an essay conveying that.

but to be honest, unless you're going for HYP, you can get into a lot of top places w/ just a solid sat and gpa

 

[fabricated]

I wrote my college essay (or a few of them actually) and have been around a lot of materials to supposedly "help" you but really, your college essay is all about you. It should be something that lets your personality shine through. It can really be about anything unless you're given a specific topic. Make a list of things/topics/events/people that mean a lot to you. Surely enough there has to be something worth being written about.

 

[linkin06]

just remember, if you're applying really highly, everyone will have the same #'s, same extracurriculars, same letter of recs. so what makes you different, you want to convey that in your essay. i know easier said than done, but that's the end goal.

 

[schrizto]

I don't think I even mentioned medical school on some of my college applications.

 

[Hopes2BMD]

Ok, thanks...but since I'm not from the US like the majority of you guys here (I assume) and since I recently started informing myself on writing college essays, I'm still a little bit confused...😕

At collegeboard.com's website, it says that for example "Many colleges ask for an essay that..."
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills/108.html

What I want to make clear is do I pick the topic for the college essay and send this essay to all the colleges where I wish to apply (so far, I thought that it function's this way) or does the college give me a topic?
Does the topic for a college essay differ from college to college and once again, do I choose the topic or does the college decide which topic I should write on?

 

[fabricated]

It depends on the college. I would have to know all of the colleges you're applying to to know that. If it's through the common application, you can write about pretty much anything you want. If it is through the specific college and they ask you a specific question, that is different. You have to check with each college.

 

[Mopp22]

I wrote my college essay (or a few of them actually) and have been around a lot of materials to supposedly "help" you but really, your college essay is all about you.

Maybe you just didn't find the the right materials because there are a few good books out threre to help write these. I used one and they do tell you that your essay is all about you.

 

[Hopes2BMD]

Which books do you recommend as the best?

 

[Mopp22]

Which books do you recommend as the best?

College essays for dummies

But really, go look around in ur school or public library like I said or ask the librarian for some help finding them. I don't remember the name because it was a while ago, but I do remember what I read and still have my notes from it. Also look it up on the internet. College Board.com has some good tips and samples on how to write a college essay....but i see you've already been there.

 

[oran berry]

Your personal statement is supposed to be a reflection of aspects of yourself that cannot be clearly extrapolated from just your application. Ideally, you should demonstrate that you are aware of the school philosophy and why you would not just fit in at the school, but why you are different from other students and therefore could impact it in a positive way. You must illustrate your worth as a potential student at that institution. Your personal statement should show a different side to you.

I catered each of my admissions essays to the specific college to match their school atmosphere. For example, when I applied to the LAC that I'm currently attending I emphasized my creative side; the admissions essays were all very poetic and pictures were drawn all over the application, all stuffed into a giant pink envelope featuring some of my artwork on it. In my acceptance folder, the adcom wrote me a nice letter telling me how well I wrote in my essays and how my uniqueness showed through in my application.

In the end, when you're applying to a top-ranked school the personal statement could make a difference in distinuishing you from other students that have the same exact numbers and probably more meaningful extra curricular activities.

 

[abdur]

Go to your school or public library and find some books on writing college essays. When writing your essay do not put a lot on emphasis on the fact that you want to go to medical school - this will not set you apart from the many other applicants who also want to go to medical school. You can put it in as one of your goals, but the focus of the essay is YOU. Essays are what admissions uses to get to know you, without actually meeting you. Make your personality show in a way that will make you stand out from every other applicant, but be honest. Get as many people as you can (teachers or counsellors, etc....not friends) to proofread and give you some feedback.

yeah we all know , honesty is the best policy , actually there is no need to put extra emphasis on your wish to go to medical college and then just circulating around that in whole essay which will surely make it meaningless...i agree with you Mopp👍