Hi natureboy,
It sounds like you?re starting to prepare early, which is great! The time you spend on introspection can help you write a very focused essay when the time comes.
To start off, remember that your personal statement is your best opportunity to let the admissions committee know who you are. The topics are generally less important than what you reveal about yourself through the topic.
Having said that, the most common themes 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 their desire to be a doctor in other ways. 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 be your exact 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, personal qualities, 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. Then write about why you consider these things important.
I hope this helps you get started. Good luck!
Cydney Foote
Editor, Accepted.com
