Writing about Weaknesses in Your Essay

05-05

By http://accepted.com

When coming up with material for your personal statement, it』s

important that you ask yourself the following: Are there any weaknesses, any

holes in my information, or any questionable data that somebody may question

about my application?

You don』t want your admissions reader getting to the end of your

application and then asking, 「But why was his GPA so low?」 or 「How does she

think she』s competitive with no extracurricular activities?」 If you answer their

questions before they』re asked, then you』ll position yourself as a much stronger

and more confident candidate, despite any weaknesses.

Ask yourself: How can I anticipate their questions?

Get a friend, family member, or admissions consultant (like those

of us here at Accepted) to review your application and highlight any potential

weaknesses. Sometimes, as the subject of the application, you may not see these

blemishes – recruiting an outside critic may be just what you need to pinpoint

flaws so you can see them, and address them.

Then… tackle the issue!

Now you need to take a step back and be critical yourself. Was

there a quarter or semester that you got some poor grades? These issues need to

be explained. Was there a reason why you were too busy for an arm』s length list

of extracurricular activities? Explain what went wrong, what obstacle you faced,

and how you worked to overcome that challenge. Addressing the improvements you

made (boosting your GPA, retaking a class, etc.) is an excellent strategy for

your personal statement. You really do want to emphasize the steps you took and

the self-development and self-awareness that you gained as a result. Medical

schools love to see that level of maturity and self-reflection.

And remember… don』t be too negative!

Tread carefully! It』s a mistake to focus exclusively on your

perceived weaknesses. You want to give the admissions committee positive reasons

to accept you. Let them know why you』re going to make a great doctor as opposed

to only addressing the weaknesses in your profile that may keep you out. What

are the stories that you can tell? What experiences have you had that will tell

somebody, 「Hey, I have the qualities and the personal traits that will make me a

great doctor.」 Frame your weaknesses as stepping stones to increased strength.

Don』t be defensive; be confident that you were able to face your challenges and

overcome them.

以上內容摘自：

https://blog.accepted.com/writing-about-weaknesses-in-your-med-school-personal-statement/