The personal statement for med school is basically, "Why do you want to attend medical school?". Don't write why you want to be a doctor, write why you want to go to medical school. These are very closely related but there is also a significant difference. It seems like an easy question to answer but the trick is obviously, standing out. So how do you write a killer personal statement when everyone else is writing about the same thing and has very similar experiences as you (unless you are really awesome and did 12 study abroads, saved the kids in Africa and found the cure to cancer -- in which case you should skip this post)?
It is a straight forward concept but an exercise we found super helpful. Start with the earliest experience you can think of that made you want to be a doctor/attend med school and then move forward chronologically. Be as specific as possible and think of every class, teacher, broken arm, etc. you can think of. Then once you have a long list of really specific experiences, pick the ones that matter most. Show how those experiences link together and how they got you to the application process. Tell stories but tell them with a purpose. Use stories that highlight your strengths and propel the essay forward. You may have similar experiences as other applicants, but when you use really personal examples that leave a lasting image, suddenly you personal statement is just that: personal.
Give yourself as much time as possible to write this! The first year we left this for after the MCAT and we really regretted it. Brainstorm all your experiences over Christmas break, talk to your family and get the first draft out of the way. Edits and changes are much easier to make when you have something to work off of. And most of all, enjoy writing this and reminding yourself why you really do want to go to med school!
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