Personal Statements For RN to MD/DO

[DreamBig88]

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Hello,
I believe that a strong personal statement is essential in an application. I was looking through sample personal statements and most of them are from traditional students with research experiences or volunteering abroad. I do not have any research experience, but I am working in acute, sub-acute, long term facilities and the community. In any rate, I just want to get an opinion from my fellow nurses as to how they wrote their personal statements. Was it just one particular patient that you focused on or multiple? Was it your passion for learning? Was it a passion to understand the diseases further? How did you incorporate the answer the question as to why you wanted to transition to medical school without saying it in just one sentence? What was your template? Is there a way you could please help me. Also do you have any sample essays? I really need your help. Thanks.

 

[Eccesignum]

RN here. My progression in healthcare was in two phases, so my essay was as well. I was in a non-healthcare field before nursing and so started off my essay with the experience that pulled me into wanting to do patient care in the first place, as it was a powerful time and laid a lot of groundwork. After that I wrote briefly about being a nurse. Then I went into a patient encounter that drove it home that I realized I wanted to become a physician -- there have been many more than one in my life but I chose the one I felt was most important and really encapsulated every contrast I wanted to express -- and spend a good chunk explaining exactly why medicine (what I could do as a physician that I can't as a nurse and why it's important to me). Wrapped up with a conclusion about going back to school, that challenge, my dedication, etc etc.

I'm a current applicant so it's yet to be seen whether this'll be successful, but there's how I did it. Your mileage will undoubtedly vary. If you want to read mine I don't mind, just shoot me a PM.

 

[Straw Hat]

I've written a few rough copies of my PS and took it in a different direction. I may totally change it though since these are very early phase drafts. I also wanted to keep it concise (1 page max) as that was a recommendation from a faculty member who was like a substitute dean for a med school while they were looking for an official dean. I addressed shortly and clearly why I didn't choose medicine in the first place. Then why I went into nursing. And then talked about how I haven't had some profound realization that medicine is my calling. It has just been a gradual buildup working with physicians, seeing what they do, and ultimately realizing that what they do is more in line with my interests and I never would have found that out if I hadn't gone into nursing. I'm not reaching for an awesome story here because I think it's difficult to successfully craft something like that, there isn't much these adcoms haven't already heard, and the majority of us are not fantastic writers. I just want it to be real, convey what I want to say, and easy to read.

I'm hoping this storyline will come off showing some maturity and growth and also imply that I've spent enough time in the hospital to know if I love it or hate it. So if you're reading my PS right now then you know you aren't taking a gamble on someone who might end up being miserable in healthcare. I give an example or two of what I'm talking about/why medicine which hopefully addresses why not nurse practitioner (this will surely be an interview question anyways). Hopefully something like this comes off strong.

 

[LAURA RAY]

RN here. My progression in healthcare was in two phases, so my essay was as well. I was in a non-healthcare field before nursing and so started off my essay with the experience that pulled me into wanting to do patient care in the first place, as it was a powerful time and laid a lot of groundwork. After that I wrote briefly about being a nurse. Then I went into a patient encounter that drove it home that I realized I wanted to become a physician -- there have been many more than one in my life but I chose the one I felt was most important and really encapsulated every contrast I wanted to express -- and spend a good chunk explaining exactly why medicine (what I could do as a physician that I can't as a nurse and why it's important to me). Wrapped up with a conclusion about going back to school, that challenge, my dedication, etc etc.

I'm a current applicant so it's yet to be seen whether this'll be successful, but there's how I did it. Your mileage will undoubtedly vary. If you want to read mine I don't mind, just shoot me a PM.

hey Eccesignum, I'm still new to this forum. Can't find how to send u a PM.

 

[Eccesignum]

hey Eccesignum, I'm still new to this forum. Can't find how to send u a PM.

Upper right side of your screen, click the Inbox tab.

 

[medPadawan]

I've written a few rough copies of my PS and took it in a different direction. I may totally change it though since these are very early phase drafts. I also wanted to keep it concise (1 page max) as that was a recommendation from a faculty member who was like a substitute dean for a med school while they were looking for an official dean. I addressed shortly and clearly why I didn't choose medicine in the first place. Then why I went into nursing. And then talked about how I haven't had some profound realization that medicine is my calling. It has just been a gradual buildup working with physicians, seeing what they do, and ultimately realizing that what they do is more in line with my interests and I never would have found that out if I hadn't gone into nursing. I'm not reaching for an awesome story here because I think it's difficult to successfully craft something like that, there isn't much these adcoms haven't already heard, and the majority of us are not fantastic writers. I just want it to be real, convey what I want to say, and easy to read.

I'm hoping this storyline will come off showing some maturity and growth and also imply that I've spent enough time in the hospital to know if I love it or hate it. So if you're reading my PS right now then you know you aren't taking a gamble on someone who might end up being miserable in healthcare. I give an example or two of what I'm talking about/why medicine which hopefully addresses why not nurse practitioner (this will surely be an interview question anyways). Hopefully something like this comes off strong.

How did this strategy go? I’m in the same boat.