The short answer: Probably not.
You may know exactly what sort of practice you’ll have someday. Still, resist the urge to announce it in your AMCAS, AACOMAS, or TMDSAS essay. This is especially true if you favor a very narrow, competitive field.
Why? Because it takes some serious chutzpah to declare that you will be a urologist or dermatologist before you’ve taken a single class. And who knows, your reader may have had the same dream as a fresh-faced first year med student! Yes, you might be a rockstar who realizes every goal, but your boldness will likely be taken with a grain of salt.
Remember high school graduation? How many of your peers said they were going to be doctors? How many changed their mind after Organic Chemistry? Same deal with medical school.
But there are exceptions to this rule. If you have great reasons for wanting to pursue a more general expertise—maybe you want to be a family physician or pediatrician or practice in a rural area—and you have a very personal investment in this path, then go for it! This is especially the case if you’re applying to programs that really focus on training primary care providers in high-need areas. However, be honest with yourself and your reader. No one’s going to believe that you’re perfect for rural practice just because you visited your cousin in Montana a few times.
Still a little unsure how detailed you should be about your future plans and aspirations? Our personal statement editing service can help you sort through questions like this!
