The essay is a very difficult part of your application. Hardly anybody has ever learned to write personal stories or memoirs -- why would they, most people only use them to get admitted to med schools or other post-graduate programs.
The difficulty of writing this essay is compounded by the importance of it. Your personal statement is your first and best opportunity to let the admissions committee know who you are. the AAMC says, "Medical schools review candidates qualifications in four areas: personal qualifications, academic qualifications, communication skills, and motivation . . . Integrity and responsibility assume major importance . . . Medical schools also look for evidence of other traits such as leadership, social maturity, purpose, motivation, initiative, curiosity, common sense, perseverance, and breadth of interests.? The topics are generally less important than what you reveal about these areas through the topic.
Having said that, though, the most common theme I?ve seen for med school applicants include facing a medical situation in yourself or in
someone you know, closely followed by a desire to help people (often elaborated through
volunteer experiences). Although many people write about these subjects, mundane essays about wanting to help people in the abstract or facing a medical condition can become extraordinary when infused with your personality?both the big events and the nuances that make you who you are.
Other applicants explain why they want to be a doctor less explicitly. Their personal statements may address significant life-changing events?one successful applicant wrote about her experiences as a teenaged mother?or they may focus on the little things that make the applicants unique?a
love of travel, a
hobby or, in one case, a passion for ballet. Again, the topic matters less than the personal interest story that comes through.
Here are some writing exercises to help you start brainstorming?these won?t automatically turn into your personal statement, but they?re good to get the creative juices flowing:
* Complete the sentence: "I just wouldn't be me if it weren't for..." Then write about a person, place, or experience that has been crucial in making you who you are.
* Describe a scene from your childhood that you remember clearly. Explain why this scene has remained vivid in your memory and what it says about you as an adult.
* Make a list of everything that is unusual, different, or stands out about you ? achievements, experiences, other careers (if you're a
non-traditional applicant), personal qualities,
research interests, etc. How did these develop? And how do they affect the way you view the world?
* Make a list of the personal experiences that have had the most meaning for you: travel, people, national or world events, obstacles or difficulties you overcame, books or classes that shaped your ideas (especially the
non-science-related subjects that show your passion). Then write about why you consider these things important (when you realized their importance, what have you learned from them, etc.).
I hope this helps you get started. Good luck!
