insight needed for my amcas personal statement

[basha]

Hi everyone, I wanted to know, specially from those students who have been on the adcoms at thier schools, if my personal statement really needs to be concerned about why i want to be a doctor.

Because of the lack of space (amcas limits personal statement to a page), I focused my essay instead on character traits and qualities that I have (akin to a medical professional), personal hardships I had to overcome (working while at school, living in a poor neighborhood), how those experiences have shaped me (readied me for the rigors of medical school and beyond).
With my low gpa (3.4), I had to take all the space I needed to explain to adcoms why i had that gpa and how i am ready for med school even with that gpa. If i will mention why i want to be a doctor at all, i might tie it in with all the qualities mentioned by saying....because of these qualities, i know I'll be a good med student, and an even better doctor.

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[jmejia1]

I know you want info specifically from students that may have served as ad comm, but I'll give you my humble opinion in the interim.

" . . . [does] my personal statement really needs to be concerned about why i want to be a doctor."

The whole PS does not need to talk about why you want to be a doctor, but in my opinion you need to include your motivation for medicine.

"Because of the lack of space (amcas limits personal statement to a page), I focused my essay instead on character traits and qualities that I have (akin to a medical professional) . . ."

Make sure you back up what you say. You can't just say that you have these and that traits, qualities without giving concreate examples.

". . . [I write about my] personal hardships I had to overcome (working while at school, living in a poor neighborhood), how those experiences have shaped me (readied me for the rigors of medical school and beyond)."

Med schools want people like you that have had to overcome hardships becauses that lets them know you are a strong person, but be careful to not sound like a victim. sometimes theirs a fine line between sounding like "poor me" and a strong person that can be admired for getting throught what they did.

"With my low gpa (3.4), I had to take all the space I needed to explain to adcoms why i had that gpa and how i am ready for med school even with that gpa."

I strongly suggest against this--that is--don't allocate too much space if any explaining a 3.4gpa. Ad comms want to be moved and get bored to easily reading students expain why they have a 3.4.

Lastly, it sounds like you may be able to classify yourself as a "disadvantaged student" on AMCAS. If so, I think they allow you to write a small essay explaining any social, educational or economic hardship. So in this space you may be able to throw in your 3.4 gpa and also the hardships you mentioned.