5 Dont』s for Your Personal Statement

05-06

5 Dont』s for Your Medical School Personal Statement

By: Alicia McNease Nimonkar

Alicia McNease Nimonkar is an Accepted advisor and editor

specializing in healthcare admissions. Prior to joining Accepted, Alicia worked

for five years as Student Advisor at UC Davis』 postbac program where she both

evaluated applications and advised students applying successfully to med school

and related programs.

The personal statement is the only place in the AMCAS,

AACOMAS and TMDSAS primary applications where you get to present yourself

directly to the admissions committee. Here, you can persuade them to give you an

interview, or – if you』re not careful – unknowingly reveal red flags that

undermine your entire application. Since it plays such a powerful role in how

you are viewed as an applicant, you』ll want to spend a significant amount of

time on getting it right.

With a decade of experience in medical school admissions, I would like to

share some of the most unsuccessful approaches that you must

avoid:

What NOT to do #1: DON』T use this space as a tell-all

Many students focus on their own or family members』 medical conditions in

their personal statements. The essay sometimes reads like a medical history.

Taking this approach can hurt your application for several reasons: It may alert

them to conditions that could impact your ability to perform in medical school,

indicate that you lack boundaries by oversharing, or suggest a lack of maturity

in focusing only on yourself and family – rather than on helping others or

serving the community.

What NOT to do #2: DON』T throw a pity party

Anything you share in your personal statement can be brought up in your

interview. If you share details of painful events, losses, or failures that you

have not yet processed or come to terms with, that disclosure could come across

as an invitation for the reader to pity you.

Accepting long-term changes in our lives transforms us; we are constantly

evolving through our experiences. Until you have integrated this information

into your identity, depending on how impactful it was, you may not be able to

use the experience to shed insight on yourself quite yet. Use negative

experiences that are at least a year or older depending on how long it takes you

to process and reflect. Most importantly, use them to show growth and resilience, not to create pity.

What NOT to do #3: DON』T demonstrate a lack of compassion or

empathy

One of the creepiest essays I』ve ever read – it still sends shivers down my

spine just thinking about it – was a student』s description of how much she

enjoyed anesthetizing and removing the brains of mice. Her intention was to

share her love of science, research, and learning but the feverish glee with

which she described these procedures lacked compassion for the creatures that

lost their lives for her research project. This lack of respect for the

sacredness of life made it an easy decision to reject her application. Research

was probably a better path for her, especially since she wasn』t able to gauge

the reaction her statements would have on her audience.

What NOT to do #4: DON』T bargain

The least fun essays to read are those that contain more promises than a

politician』s speech. They include statements like, 「If accepted into this

program, I will….」 The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. If

you really want to demonstrate what you are capable of achieving during your

medical education, give examples of what you have already accomplished. This

approach is far stronger than making hollow promises.

What NOT to do #5: Don』t complain

Criticizing or pointing out the failures of healthcare professionals who have

treated you or whom you have observed in the past will only reflect negatively

on you. Since your application will be reviewed by doctors, as well as

admissions professionals, it』s critical that you do not insult those from whom

you are seeking acceptance. While it is true that medical mistakes and lack of

access to care have devastating consequences for patients, their families and

communities, identifying ways to improve in these areas without pointing any

fingers would be more effective. By demonstrating your realistic knowledge of

patient needs and sharing potential solutions, you can present yourself as an

asset to their team.

There are more examples of bad personal statements than successful ones. Be

careful what you write. Create a personal statement that is honest (not bitter),

reveals your personality (not your medical history), and delivers a compelling

explanation for your motivations for entering medicine (not empty promises).

以上內容摘自：

https://blog.accepted.com/5-donts-for-your-medical-school-personal-statement/