a medical school personal statement writing service

a medical school personal statement writing service

The Art of Crafting a Compelling Medical School Personal Statement

1. Introduction to the Importance of the Personal Statement

The personal statement or statement of purpose has almost always been a part of the application process, irrespective of where one is applying. In the context of medical schools, especially those in the US, it is a pivotal part of your primary application to medical school and ranks only next to your MCAT scores, your GPA, and your letters of recommendation.

The personal statement goes by many other names, including those of “statement of experience”, “letter of intent”, “autobiographical letter,” “goals essay,” and the like. Irrespective of what it is named, it is the one piece of the applicant’s case that the applicant can control within their application. The purpose of the personal statement is to give you an opportunity to tell the reader something of interest or significance about yourself. In most cases, the information from other materials (letters, résumé, transcripts, and interviews) would be discussed within the personal statement, and it should be at a level of detail that a reader who has not had an opportunity to see such details elsewhere can understand. In addition to that, it should demonstrate the applicant’s mastery over the English language and make them comfortable with their verbal skills.

When you’ve spent years in class and countless hours volunteering or working in the medical field, the essay might seem unnecessary. But the reason why the essay is extremely important is because it is designed to accomplish many things. In essence, the essay is an interview. A compelling essay or a personal statement is your only opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants who might look good on paper. Chances are that if you have a GPA of 3.3 and are applying to medical school with a 3.2 and you applied to the Atom Bomb Officer School, you had an absolute right to decline writing the essay, and you will probably be fine without one.

2. Understanding the Key Components of a Successful Medical School Personal Statement

If you want to know how to write a great medical school personal statement, it’s wise to begin by assessing the key components that constitute the fundamental and integral qualities of a successful application essay. Admissions committees look for several qualities in a personal statement that denote a dedicated, caring clinician who is capable of rising to the challenge of medical education. Clear and cogent reasons for going to medical school, non-clichéd reflections on significant experiences, anecdotes about the work that demonstrate key qualities, smooth and vivid language, and writing that doesn’t dwell, but instead closes with a point are the general ingredients for a successful medical school personal statement. If you do not have the qualities mentioned in the first sentence and can’t demonstrate them through your writing, you won’t impress a medical school admissions committee. The findings generated from two recent surveys of medical school admissions committees provide a set of criteria generally agreed to be valuable in identifying the personal statements that move an application beyond a standard candidate. The criteria are as follows:

1. Compassion—This is the indispensable quality of a doctor. Experiences that demonstrate this quality must be at the core of the statement. 2. Motivation—Admissions committees look for candidates who have shown the will to make a difference in the quality of life in their communities. Discuss your commitment, depth, and breath in medicine based upon the amount of time you have spent confirming your decision. 3. Maturity—Applicants should build a case for why they are emotionally ready for a rewarding, but demanding, career. Maturity should be demonstrated through examples and anecdotes that involve the handling of risk, vulnerability, fear, frustration, and failure. Proof that personal growth occurred following these events and what contributed to this process should be discussed.

3. Strategies for Brainstorming and Outlining Your Personal Statement

Many individuals find the process of writing a personal statement to be a bit overwhelming. Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, crafting a narrative can be a daunting task. My advice? Start by breaking the ice. If you’re not sure how or where to begin, take some time to reflect on your experiences up to this point. Who are you? And more importantly, how have these experiences shaped your personal development and professional goals? Pepper yourself with questions. Dawdle unapologetically. Anything goes as long as you’re jotting something down. Then there are others who cannot seem to quiet their brainstorming endeavors. Where do you start, here? Anything control your pen. Follow your instincts.

Brainstorming strategies aside, the process of outlining your narrative is excessively helpful. By organizing your thoughts in advance, you put pen to paper with a clear vision in mind. If starting from the top feels daunting, it’s possible to begin anywhere. It can be depth-first, width-first, even dabble a little bit with the abstract! This outline will evolve quite a bit from its inception to its final iteration – expect it! Still a bit lost? Consider the following outline as a possible starting point if you have not written a personal statement before. It serves as a high-level look at your academic, extracurricular, and personal experiences: what they are, the overarching theme, and what you gained from your participation. If there’s a topic that doesn’t feel right, add sub-points that relate back to the header (or create a new header altogether!). In essence, no matter how you expand this roadmap, the following facets will guide you on your journey.

4. Writing Techniques and Tips for Creating a Standout Personal Statement

Applicants to medical school often struggle with writing a compelling and engaging personal statement. As the most important and overarching essay that students complete on the medical school application, the personal statement becomes the focal point of the application itself. There are countless advice columns and handouts intended to guide students through the writing process. However, much of the advice can be boiled down to a few very simple and easy-to-remember tips.

The best personal statements are often successful because they tell a story. They use the rhetoric of storytelling, with a beginning, middle, and end. Imagine your reader, let’s call her Jane, reading through hundreds of personal statements. By the time she gets to yours, she is likely quite bored. So, open with a story that immediately piques her curiosity. Use vivid and descriptive imagery, write creatively, and, most importantly, show your reader why you want to be a doctor rather than simply telling her. Quality personal statements engage the reader’s emotions, so try to draw them in from the very beginning and do whatever you can to put yourself in the shoes of your reader. Your language must be concise and easy to understand. Sentences should vary in structure and length, and it is advisable to use active voice as much as possible in order to keep your narrative engaging. Avoid clichés like the plague (pun intended) and do not use quotes from famous people unless that person is someone you know personally. You cannot fake personal connections in a personal statement. Do not shy away from humor, but use it wisely and naturally in your narrative. Finally, keep in mind that successful revision may require many drafts. Try not to get frustrated and seek help from writers and non-writers alike, though always remember that the most important attribute of the voice in your personal statement is your own.

5. Editing and Revising Your Personal Statement for Maximum Impact

Editing and revising your medical school personal statement to ensure maximum impact.

Content: The first step in revising a medical school personal statement is to check if it provides supporting details to the claims made in the introduction. The candidate should also check if the experiences shared in the essay are actually ‘showing’ rather than ‘telling’ the reader. This requires certain specific questions like, is the essay more about character and drive rather than perpetual accomplishment? And how were the hardships overcome, rather than simply acknowledging them? Can one topic in the checklist be discarded or combined with another to show a certain achievement both academically and in terms of valued traits?

Structure: In this stage, the candidate should look for bigger picture issues. This requires looking for answers to questions like, is the introduction interesting? It also helps to inquire if there is a good connection between the hero and the conclusion and if so, should there not also be validation? A question on whether or not the personal statement is noteworthy should also be answered. The candidate should also check if the essay flows well and if there was good use of transitions between each experience. Clearing the lists will also help. Ensure that the topic is unfolded through a unique structure, showing intelligence, creativity, and candor.

Proofreading for Grammar and Punctuation: The candidate will proofread the final draft of the personal statement to catch all errors, make it look professional and polished. Use language very carefully, punctuate in accordance with what sense is conveyed, not according to random rules. A candidate should not use one-word sentences or one-sentence paragraphs. A candidate should also ensure that they have submitted the latest draft of the personal statement and the correct number of essays.