To all great minds out there, What do you think medical schools are looking for when they ask the applicants to describe themselves as one of the questions on the secondaries? Do you think they wish to see a synopsis of how one's life experiences led him/her to medicine? If the kind of things one has done may be used as predictors of future performance in medical education and practice? Or may they want a person's side that has nothing to do with medicine? Without a doubt, most of us are so commited that our major personality trait is love for medicine. Would you chose to emphasize that fact to med. schools or would you opt for describing yourself as much as human person as possible? I am really struggling with that one! Any advise/opinion wii be very appreciated.
Usually in the school's catalog is a description of the qualities they look for in their students. Some of these might include the following: good judgment, maturity, adaptablity and working under stress. What I did was; look at what qualities the school wanted, then I wrote about experiences I had that demonstrated those qualities.
In my essays, I simply went thru all the reasons why I am focused on becoming an osteopathic Primary Care Physician: academic performance, professional experience, life experience (don't leave it out!), and various skills/abilities that may make me unique among the pack. I didn't go for the stylized, ultra-creative ?ber-essay: my guess is that the admissions personnel are looking for unique, well-qualified people. Yes, an out-of-the-ordinary approach to an essay may get you a second look, but have all of the pertinent info there to back you up, as clearly and concisely as possible.
Ont thing the schools are looking for is your maturity. Are you well prepare for the tough challenge of med school?
