Writing Your Personal Statement

The term "Personal Statement" brings a shiver to the spine of many a potential medical student.

You should think of the personal statement, however, as an opportunity to show admissions officers what you're made of.

They want to know why you want to attend their medical school and this is your chance to tell them as clearly and compellingly as you can.


Two Basic Purposes

Personal statements can serve two basic purposes.

First, they show whether or not you can write a clear, coherent essay that's logically and grammatically correct.

Second, they provide you with the opportunity to present the admissions committee with more of a "three-dimensional" portrait of yourself as a deserving candidate than GPA and MCAT numbers possibly can.

What you choose to write sends clear signals about what's important to you and what your values are.

You can explain why you really want to pursue grad work and the career path it will enable you to follow.

Your essay also enables you explain things like a bad grade or term in an otherwise creditable record.

Read more about writing your personal statement here:

http://www.kaptest.com/Kaplan/Article/Pre-Med/Medical-School/Apply-to-Medical-School/Plan/PM_admiss_essays.html?cid=677E&pid=180540904