Personal Statement Basics

 What is the personal statement?

The personal statement is submitted as part of the centralized application for most health professional schools. It is your only opportunity to "speak directly to the Admissions Committee" about your character, your motivations, your values. Your letters of recommendation and interview come later in the process.

The personal statement must answer two questions: (1) Who are you - interests, skills, personality, uniquenesses, etc.; and (2) Why do you want to be a physician, dentist, etc.

Do:

• Understand the Admissions Committee perspective
• Choose "themes" and illustrate or demonstrate them (rather than state them)
• Use correct grammar, spelling, etc.
• Begin by writing down your themes (two or three)
• Write an outline
• Use narrative detail; tell a story
• Open the personal statement with a "grabber", but write the "grabber" after you have written the body of the statement
• Include (but don't dwell on) reasons for bad grades, withdrawals if you have more than two, time off from school, etc.
• Be "other directed"
• Demonstrate that you understand the "real life" world of working in health care
• Demonstrate your commitment to the profession
• Get editing assistance

Don't :

• Use cliches
• Spend too much time discussing your childhood decisions, goals, experiences
• Use flowery verbage
• Follow formulas or use someone else's statement as a template
• Stay in chronological order re: your life's experiences
• Repeat the "postsecondary experiences" section
• Overuse "I's" and "me's"

Helpful web site:

www.essayedge.com

click on "Admissions Essay 101 " and "Free Sample Essays"