It that time of year when applicants to medical schools are feverishly writing and re-writing drafts of their personal statements for medical school in anticipation of applying in June.
To help our readers with this awesome task, Dr. William Higgins, Pre-professional Advisor with the OITE, has provided some suggestions that will help you to make a stronger case in favor of your admission to schools.
To write a persuasive statement, Dr. Higgins encourages applicants to think about two main questions,
“Why do I want to go into medicine?” and “How have I prepared myself to be successful?” In other words, applicants need to know that admissions committees are reading through thousands of essays looking for experiences that enabled you test the various roles (direct patient care, research, science, leadership, teamwork, service,) that a medical student and future physician will take on.
Then you can select your key experiences that will persuade the admissions committee members that you have a strong foundation that has prepare you to succeed in medical school and as a physician.
When you are sitting down to begin writing your statement, Dr. Higgins urges you to stop and recognize that “generation of the content is a separate process from generating the actual text and words.
Do not do them at the same time.” Spend some time writing down and organizing your ideas and insight first. Then and only then, begin composing the text. Forego the writing strategies that are used in creative writing where you were “encouraged to use free writing, flowery language, complex sentence structures, and unfamiliar and artificial style.
” For example, instead of writing write,
“McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup” you would simply and directly write that, “McBride fell 12 stories…
” Higgins suggests that a using logic and clearly worded statements to persuade your reader is appropriate because “medical or professional school essays must flow but don’t have to be a story.”
Dr. Higgins provides the following strategy to create a flowing and persuasive personal statement:
Step One: Do not write! Schedule time to generate the content.
- DO NOT attempt to simultaneously brainstorm and start to write!
- Find time when you are not under stress
- Jot down your various ideas/experiences on notes (post-it notes) and place them on the wall or a large white board.
- Use concrete examples from your life experiences that excite you
Step Two Choose key experiences and place them order that will create your argument
- Organize your post-it notes on the wall
- Select 1-2 themes of your essay
- Then re-organize them determine the flow to persuade your audience
- Start with the most important points (those that the admissions committees want to hear)
- Note key phrases and catch words
Step Three: Start Writing Your Essay
- Write an opening paragraph that forecasts what you are going to tell the reader during the statement.
- Focus on key experiences. You don’t have to include everything. Do not rewrite your activities list.
- Be clear and direct (i.e.: Tell them what you want them to know) No need for flowery language or many adjectives
- Use the active voice and strong verbs.
- Write often during scheduled times
- Write positive statements and avoid negative ones. For example, don’t write, “I didn’t want to attend medical school or be a medical doctor initially...”
- Eliminate unnecessary words such as, “Based on, In terms of, Studies have shown, Doctors are, It is thought to be, what happened was…”
- Use correct punctuation
- In the conclusion link back to your opening argument or thesis
Step 4 Proof Read and Edit
- Put the essay away for 2 days before re-reading and editing
- Read it aloud. TRUST YOUR EARS
- Check for linearity
- Underline the subject and verb in each sentence. Is the verb in the active voice, strong, appropriate for the subject?
- Check each paragraph for structure, transitions, etc.
- Check for continuity
- Use spell check.
- Schedule an appointment with a OITE advisor or counselor review your essay. Ask a peer.
Visit the OITE for all workshops and programs related to applying to professional schools. Seek similar services in your region or from your primary institution if you are part of our extended reading audience.
