**Key Elements to a Great Personal Statement**

[PREMEDWOAHS]

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Can anyone give me some key elements to include in your personal statement; some type of guideline or outline. Any information would be greatly appreciated to help set mine off.

 

[etf]

sure. the personal statement is essentially supposed to be the way that you convey your true interest in pursuing a career in medicine. what have you experienced that made you decide that you wanted to go along this path? as with all essays, you'll want a hook - something that makes the reader want to continue reading your essay, and compels them to invite you for an interview.

 

[Haemulon]

Can anyone give me some key elements to include in your personal statement; some type of guideline or outline. Any information would be greatly appreciated to help set mine off.

I think the most important thing is for you to really think out and be able to articulate why exactly you want to go to medical school, what experiences have come to bear in your decision, and why you think you would make a good physician/enjoy this career choice. There are many different approaches to this, but it is important to get across to the adcoms that you are serious and committed to this endeavor and that you know what you are getting yourself into. If you can sit down with someone face to face and explain these ideas in an articulate and compelling way, then you should be able to translate that in some form to the written page.

The personal statement is well, personal. So everyone's will likely be very differerent. Just be yourself. Sorry that I can't be of more help. But just make sure that when you do draft it, get many people to read and critique it for you so you can improve it with edits.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

The main things to worry about are always conveying reasons why you feel that the medical profession is the right choice for you. The essay needs to flow well so that the readers don't get bored and will hopefully remember the essay. That being said, hokeyness and grandeur are bad things in the PS, it needs to sound reasonable and unembellished. Also, watch out for wording that is either awkward or might give the reader the wrong feeling due to the use of words that do not quite connote what you are trying to say. This is why it is essential to have other people read the essay.

 

[pennybridge]

talk about your international health work, published research (include a copy of your most recent grant proposal) and also mention the classes you received your lowest grades in and the reason why you got those grades.

also if you're lucky enough to have doctor parents, include a short story about how they told you to go to medical school since you were in diapers.

other than that, and making every third line rhyme, its pretty straightforward.

 

[45408]

Talk about a dying loved one and how you were amazed at how kind and loving the doctors were, and how they convinced you to apply to medical school.

Mention that you're fascinated by the human body.

Talk about a dear old family practice physician who spends lots of time with all of his/her patients.

Make sure you comment on how much you enjoyed your experience delivering ice chips to patients in the ER.

If you went to Africa, talk about it the entire PS.