These days, everyone is an expert on healthcare. Your job in writing a personal statement is not to teach your reader something they already know. No matter how great your clinical experiences are, an ad com reader assumes you really don’t know anything yet. You get to prove that in medical school and residency. For now, we just wants to get to know you better.
So, although you may be eager to share your eye-opening realizations about the state of the profession, or the insurance industry, or governmental bureaucracy, waxing philosophical on such subjects is a waste of characters in your personal statement. Rather, consider focusing on the personal qualities and experiences that will help you succeed in today’s world of medicine. For example, you might demonstrate how you’ve successfully problem-solved a tricky situation or overcome obstacles. Doing so will showcase your aptitude for facing down and rising above the inevitable challenges you will face as a physician.
Try thinking beyond traditional clinical, research, or academic settings. Let’s say you currently work a (lousy) hourly job as an insurance adjustor. Though often stressful and unpleasant, your interactions with all sorts of people probably have helped prepare you for some of what you may experience with future patients, administrators, and insurances. One of our clients with this very background found a perfect niche for himself as an ER doctor. His ability to deal with both the best and worst examples of human behavior proved he had the right stuff to adeptly handle all kinds of patients.
Not sure if your stories and examples are really driving home your best qualities? Our Personal Statement Package is designed to help move your essay from generic to compelling.
