Personal Statement Content

[yeehaw10]

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I'm currently trying to right our my personal statement. My thesis for my personal statement is the idea of "continuity." I worked as an EMT in the clinical setting, but every time we had to drop off a patient, I wanted to know why that patient was suffering and what their treatment plan would look like. I'd also like to include the concept of continuity in academia. For example, as an undergrad taking my first cell biology class I was incredibly amazed by the way cancer develops. This pushed me to shadow oncologists, and even pushed me to do a research internship at University of Pennsylvania, where I abstracted data of pediatric AML patients. I think this example of continuity outside of the clinical world is a good one. Obviously, at this point, I haven't decided that I would like to go oncology as a specialty. I'm still open to a myriad of fields. I'm nervous that this example will make it look like I have a predisposition to that field, which I am told that it is not a good idea to express an interest in a certain field before medical school. Does this sound like something I should include or skip altogether?

 

[Rachapkis]

Before you start writing, think more broadly about what you are trying to convey through your personal statement. In general, you want to show that you have: (i) a strong desire to pursue medicine; (ii) the experiences necessary to understand what it means to be a medical student and a doctor (i.e., you know what you are getting into); and (iii) the traits and experiences necessary to be an asset to medical schools, and a skilled and humane doctor. You are taking too long to get to the point and therefore are wasting valuable space. Focus on making these points and don't worry right now about the little things like exhibitng a predisposition for a given field of medicine. Many students have a passion for a particular field when they enter medical school, and many of them change their mind. Medical schools understand this and are fine with it.