Personal Statement for SMP

[Southern_Weather]

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Dear SDN,
I am looking at applying to a couple SMPs and they are requiring a personal statement. So would it basically be the same thing as I would write if I were applying to medical school ( I want to be a doctor because......) or should it be more along the lines of talking about why I want to do the SMP. Just a bit confused as to what I should write and address.

Thank you

 

[caffeinemia]

Is there a prompt? That is generally a good place to start and may better enable us to help answer your question...

 

[Southern_Weather]

No, it just states that a one-page personal statement is required which is why I am not sure what to write about specifically.

 

[caffeinemia]

Hmm. As someone who's freelanced as writing tutor/personal statement editor/advisor for graduate and medical school admissions....I'm going to give you my honest view on this....

To me, SMPs are a trial run for the med schools to vet "maybe" candidates before actually letting them into medical school. In exchange they essentially give you a masters that may or may not be worth anything. If that's the case, the personal statement should assume your goal is to pass that trial and become a physician. I would address this, but also include why you would be a good doctor, but in addition, it should be explain why the preparatory education in an SMP would make you a better candidate for medical school/correct previous deficiencies/make you a better future physician.

 

[Southern_Weather]

Great! Thank you very much, that does seem quite appropriate considering a specific prompt is not given. I am applying to one SMP in particular because I am very interested in the medical school which it is tied to, should I address my interest in wanting to get accepted in their school? Would they like to see that I want to get into their SMP so that I can later have a shot at THEIR medical school (I attend undergrad at this school as well)?

 

[caffeinemia]

That would not be a bad idea. Good luck.