4 Things To Consider When Finalizing Your Personal Statement

The AMCAS application for the cycle is now open and accepts official submissions in June. While we're sure a good number of applicants may have finished their personal statements already, there
may still be a few with some finalizing to do.

Some applicants may have written a few drafts yet are looking for ways to polish their statements. The personal statement, after all, is one of the most important portions of an applicant's review.

As MSU College of Human Medicine (CHM) admissions advisor, Brian Ulrich, points out, "The personal statement is where applicants can demonstrate the personal characteristics and attributes that are required in medical school. Many applicants will have great MCAT scores and a solid GPA. The statement helps set people apart."

We hope that by now you've written a draft or two. So if you're looking to tighten it up or round it out, here are some things to consider to ensure you'll have a solid personal statement.

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Is it about you?
It goes without saying but make sure your statement is about you. Does it reflect enough of your character? Remember that you are creating a mental image of yourself for the reader.

Each reviewer is looking for sets of characteristics that differ from school to school. An attractive applicant is subjective to each school's philosophy, so the general consensus is simply not to try to be anything you're not.

Still, attributes like maturity, compassion, professionalism, and ambition are characteristics universally enjoyed. Lead the reader to draw these traits directly from your accomplishments and experiences.

There are many views and opinions on how your statement should best be written to showcase your character. Ulrich admits, "There's no cookie-cutter way to write it, but there are fundamental ways to effectively tell your story."

He insists that applicants not be overly formal in their writing, but do be aware of your colloquialisms. The goal is to share your own, personal voice with a professional tone.

Components of a Statement
Is your personal statement all over the place? Here are five components that can help bring it all together.

Structure
Structure refers to how you choose to present the information. Ensure your statement flows and enhances the ability to understand what you are trying to get across.

A good structure to your statement could mean having the first paragraph introduce you and your theme while the second, third, and fourth introduces experiences/lessons via a main story or anecdotes. The fifth and final paragraph can tie it all in, summarizing the theme while demonstrating what this all means—why you are interested in medicine.

Theme
The theme is the main point of your statement. As the underlying foundation for each paragraph, your theme is a general idea that provides perspective.

You may have heard a number of opinions on the importance of being unique. Rather than focusing so much on trying to be unique simply for the sake of being unique, it's important to tell a story that is personal and relevant.

Engage the reader from the start. Making sure each part of your essay helps tell your own story is key to creating a memorable application.

If your theme doesn't currently represent you or how you've come to be interested in medicine, perhaps it's a good ides to mold it to one that does. Your theme should do well to represent you because it's genuine, which can help you transition to other relevant aspects of your life.

Frame
While the theme is a general idea, the frame of your essay will shape the writing with details—places, people, reactions, etc. Many applicants will bring up stories upon stories of how they came to be interested in medicine. Yet it's better to choose one or two significant experiences to really elaborate on.

Depth is key.

"A big take-home for applicants to remember is that the statement is an opportunity for reviewers to know you on a deeper level. Without depth, it's hard to know why their story matters," said Ulrich.

The objective is to make sure the reader learns more about you rather than just what you've done. How have your experiences influenced you?

By framing the statement with an anecdote, you provide immediate access to your past and how you came to desire becoming a physician. Use strong verbs and an active voice. Paint a picture to make your statement as vivid as possible, as engaging as possible.

Strong descriptions and explanations show you've put thought into your experiences. Introspection is important, as we will get to further down in the post.

Strong Transitions
How well does your statement flow?

One way to check for clear transitions is to make sure the first sentence of every paragraph is somehow related to your last sentence in the previous paragraph. With a strong theme and frame, transitions should come easily.

Lead the reader through your enlightening, so they can understand, step-by-step, how you've come to desire a career in medicine.

Concluding Observation
"Applicants should have the ability to convey why medical school is a good fit for them based on experiences in their life and what they've gained," Ulrich points out. "It is of great benefit for the applicant to show an ability to reflect."

Does your statement offer some reflection? If not, it may be a good idea to restate your theme and show how it has evolved over time, perhaps from a specific lesson. How will these lessons continue to serve you in medical school? As a doctor?

Thoughtful and reflective decisions, not an instantaneous realization, should result in your current interest in medical school.

Your experiences and how you reflect on those experiences should help explain your passion for medicine. The journey of that growth will help set you apart. We mentioned you shouldn't concentrate on being unique simply for the sake of sounding unique. Again, depth is the key to being a memorable applicant.

Offering some reflection shows you've given serious thought to medical school

Proofread Before You Submit
Time should also be devoted to thoroughly proofreading your essay. The application does not have spellcheck so once you submit your application, the essays cannot be edited. Submit the essay with typos and medical schools will be able to see them.

Writing a solid statement may require some patience and that's perfectly okay.  Take your time to ensure you're putting the best foot forward, so to speak. Again, the majority of medical school applicants will have pretty good MCAT scores and a nice GPA. The written portion of the AMCAS is where you can make a big splash.

Good luck!

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