What is expected in the Personal Statement of an application

[Dreamstoo]

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I plan on writing a draft this weekend. Any tips would be greatly appreciated 🙂

 

[JPickos9989]

I plan on writing a draft this weekend. Any tips would be greatly appreciated 🙂

In general, answering the question "Why medicine?" with one or two specific experiences that you can elaborate on with some vivid detail. Experiences related to serving others, defining moments in your pursuit of medicine, and experiences that display compassion and care toward others.

 

[cabinbuilder]

In general, answering the question "Why medicine?" with one or two specific experiences that you can elaborate on with some vivid detail. Experiences related to serving others, defining moments in your pursuit of medicine, and experiences that display compassion and care toward others.

You want to be remembered. Make them want to meet you. Show you have resilience and something to offer. One of my many examples:

Wild Alaskan blueberries, the symbol of Arctic abundance, coveted by backpackers, tourists, grizzly bears, and the local summer hangout – Hot Licks Ice Cream. A product of swampy pockets of muskeg and alpine hillsides their bounty, or lack thereof, is the defining crop of how much rain the region receives and how long the winter stores will last. Locally grown, like myself, I cherish their distinct tartness compared to store bought berries, a welcome dessert during the long winter nights. Conservation of these blue pearls is ordinary and I hesitantly sacrificed by winter supply for the sake of science. Rich in vitamin C and high in antioxidant capacity, I was allured by the potential effect these gems had on preventing the onset and progression of neuroinflammation.

I first became interested in neuroscience during my undergrad research. Having studied in New Zealand, Hawaii, and Alaska, I realized those affected by conditions resulting in neuroinflammation are all around us. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and stroke can afflict any one of us, undetermined by race, sex, or political boundary. The public looks to the medical profession to prevent and cure these devastating conditions. A basic understanding of neuroscience allowed me to explore a field that is not completely understood and to gain an understanding of neurodegenerative disease in a more detailed fashion. I realized that I held the ability and knowledge to help those with these conditions and more importantly I wanted to use my education to benefit the health of others. It would seem that my obvious route would be to continue my path and develop a medication based on my berry research, be an unknown scientist in a large pharmaceutical lab forever behind closed doors. Shadowing changed all that.

Health care in Alaska is very unique; there is a huge shortage of physicians to provide care in a region mostly inaccessible by road. Preventative care is virtually non-existent in Native villages and specialists only visit once a month. My experience in the local Army hospital, Fairbanks memorial, and local Native villages sparked my interest in the overall health care crisis in Alaska and I learned disturbing details about the lack of health care providers in many of our villages. My biochemistry background is centered about the ideas of synergism, reciprocity, and co-operability of the human body and my research aspects have allowed me to see that I want my impact on the community to have immediate results in the field. I can see myself as a family physician, emphasizing my fascination in neurological and neurodegenerative disease, tending to patients of all ages.

I am excited about joining the ranks of other osteopathic physicians. Down to earth and personable, I love listening to patients and look forward to learning the whole body approach to patient care. My interest in global health programs and filling the need in rural parts of the country go hand in hand with the osteopathic philosophy. The more I learn about the health care dilemma in Alaska, the more I become aware of the need for physicians in villages in the Interior. I recognize the need for quality and progressive health care in these areas and see myself as a future part of healthcare in the Arctic. I respect the foresight and dedication that osteopathic schools have in providing quality physicians to fill the void in rural areas of our country. I see myself taking advantage of this unique opportunity to give back to a state that has given me so much.

Endeavors both inside and outside the state of Alaska have opened my eyes to the world as a whole, where in every culture people rely on each other for the betterment of themselves and their communities. Like my little blueberry, seemingly insignificant it packs the power to change the lives of so many, I hope to one day join the ranks of the many talented Alaskan physicians. Ready for anything and making a difference one patient at a time.

 

[StarFall]

You want to be remembered. Make them want to meet you. Show you have resilience and something to offer. One of my many examples:

Wild Alaskan blueberries, the symbol of Arctic abundance, coveted by backpackers, tourists, grizzly bears, and the local summer hangout – Hot Licks Ice Cream. A product of swampy pockets of muskeg and alpine hillsides their bounty, or lack thereof, is the defining crop of how much rain the region receives and how long the winter stores will last. Locally grown, like myself, I cherish their distinct tartness compared to store bought berries, a welcome dessert during the long winter nights. Conservation of these blue pearls is ordinary and I hesitantly sacrificed by winter supply for the sake of science. Rich in vitamin C and high in antioxidant capacity, I was allured by the potential effect these gems had on preventing the onset and progression of neuroinflammation.

I first became interested in neuroscience during my undergrad research. Having studied in New Zealand, Hawaii, and Alaska, I realized those affected by conditions resulting in neuroinflammation are all around us. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and stroke can afflict any one of us, undetermined by race, sex, or political boundary. The public looks to the medical profession to prevent and cure these devastating conditions. A basic understanding of neuroscience allowed me to explore a field that is not completely understood and to gain an understanding of neurodegenerative disease in a more detailed fashion. I realized that I held the ability and knowledge to help those with these conditions and more importantly I wanted to use my education to benefit the health of others. It would seem that my obvious route would be to continue my path and develop a medication based on my berry research, be an unknown scientist in a large pharmaceutical lab forever behind closed doors. Shadowing changed all that.

Health care in Alaska is very unique; there is a huge shortage of physicians to provide care in a region mostly inaccessible by road. Preventative care is virtually non-existent in Native villages and specialists only visit once a month. My experience in the local Army hospital, Fairbanks memorial, and local Native villages sparked my interest in the overall health care crisis in Alaska and I learned disturbing details about the lack of health care providers in many of our villages. My biochemistry background is centered about the ideas of synergism, reciprocity, and co-operability of the human body and my research aspects have allowed me to see that I want my impact on the community to have immediate results in the field. I can see myself as a family physician, emphasizing my fascination in neurological and neurodegenerative disease, tending to patients of all ages.

I am excited about joining the ranks of other osteopathic physicians. Down to earth and personable, I love listening to patients and look forward to learning the whole body approach to patient care. My interest in global health programs and filling the need in rural parts of the country go hand in hand with the osteopathic philosophy. The more I learn about the health care dilemma in Alaska, the more I become aware of the need for physicians in villages in the Interior. I recognize the need for quality and progressive health care in these areas and see myself as a future part of healthcare in the Arctic. I respect the foresight and dedication that osteopathic schools have in providing quality physicians to fill the void in rural areas of our country. I see myself taking advantage of this unique opportunity to give back to a state that has given me so much.

Endeavors both inside and outside the state of Alaska have opened my eyes to the world as a whole, where in every culture people rely on each other for the betterment of themselves and their communities. Like my little blueberry, seemingly insignificant it packs the power to change the lives of so many, I hope to one day join the ranks of the many talented Alaskan physicians. Ready for anything and making a difference one patient at a time.

Thank you for the insight into what a PS should be like and thank you for the read. I hope I can be as caring and passionate as you one day.

 

[Life Sucks]

Whatever you do, do not make it a sob story.

 

[cabinbuilder]

Thank you for the insight into what a PS should be like and thank you for the read. I hope I can be as caring and passionate as you one day.

You are welcome. The essay is the hardest part and one of my favorites. It's your time to shine and be noticed.

 

[StarFall]

Whatever you do, do not make it a sob story.

True. How do you separate a sob story from a story about hardship and then rising up and growing from that hardship though? Or maybe I just answered my own question..

 

[Chillywilly]

I can PM you my essay - I will have to erase people and location to remain anonymous, but maybe it will give you an idea of what to write. I agree, no sob stories..it doesn't work and it makes you look desperate. You definitely want a theme though.
My theme focused on how I became introduced to osteopathic medicine, and my experiences that solidified my decision to pursue it.
You also want to make sure you and your experiences match the school's mission statement and values. Granted this could vary from school to school, but most med schools have common values: compassion, community service, dedication to lifelong learning, diversity/inclusion, maturity and commitment to osteopathic principles. Make sure you let med schools know that you match their values by examples from your life.

You might be tempted to explain a low MCAT /subscore or a bad grade/GPA, but don't do it unless it ties in with your learning experience. I had a crappy verbal score and 2 C's. I was going to mention it in my essay, but thank God my editor talked me out of it. It was never mentioned during my interviews. If they don't mention it, don't bring it up.

 

[bionerd89]

I plan on writing a draft this weekend. Any tips would be greatly appreciated 🙂

I talked about my experiences that influenced my decision to choose medicine. I didn't specifically talk about osteopathic medicine because I saved it for my secondary applications. Just make sure not to sound cliché. Good Luck!

 

[Dreamstoo]

I can PM you my essay - I will have to erase people and location to remain anonymous, but maybe it will give you an idea of what to write. I agree, no sob stories..it doesn't work and it makes you look desperate. You definitely want a theme though.
My theme focused on how I became introduced to osteopathic medicine, and my experiences that solidified my decision to pursue it.
You also want to make sure you and your experiences match the school's mission statement and values. Granted this could vary from school to school, but most med schools have common values: compassion, community service, dedication to lifelong learning, diversity/inclusion, maturity and commitment to osteopathic principles. Make sure you let med schools know that you match their values by examples from your life.

You might be tempted to explain a low MCAT /subscore or a bad grade/GPA, but don't do it unless it ties in with your learning experience. I had a crappy verbal score and 2 C's. I was going to mention it in my essay, but thank God my editor talked me out of it. It was never mentioned during my interviews. If they don't mention it, don't bring it up.

I haven't taken the MCAT, I got 2 Cs in non science DO classes but did better in the last two. They were engineering based classes that I had to take for my major (weren't DO science though, thank god!)

 

[Dreamstoo]

I decided to write my draft based on a volunteer experience I had that stuck with me for a long time. Then again, it is just a draft. I still have plenty of time to work on it. 🙂 Thanks for all of your input guys!