Sample Personal Statement for Medical School

As a kid, haven’t all of us been asked what we would like to become when we grow up? The most common response is “I would like to be a doctor.” As children all of us have played with a toy stethoscope or a medical kit and pretended to be a doctor. Such is the craze behind the medical profession. Studying medicine is one of the most preferred choices. The field of medicine attracts several students worldwide, it is one of the most well-paid professions. Medical schools and colleges always witness a large number of applicants. It is not at all easy to get admission to a medical school. Good grades aren’t the only prerequisite, as medical schools and colleges pay a great deal of attention to your personality and worth as a student, which is why at times some of these schools/colleges may ask you to write a personal statement. In a medical school statement, you need to write about your experiences, skills, interests, qualifications, achievements, reasons for pursuing medicine, and what motivates you to be in this field. It is important to write this document as it is one of the ways through which you can show your potential for being a part of the medical school in front of its admissions committee. In this blog, we will give you an insight as to how you can write a medical school personal statement.

Composing a Personal Statement for a Medical School

If you are about to start writing a medical school personal statement, then at first you should get a basic idea of how it should be written. For this, search for a sample medical school personal statement online. By reading a sample, you will get to know the format, language, and tone used when writing. Going through the medical school personal statement outline will help you understand how you should frame your statement and compose your thoughts about your interest in pursuing medicine accordingly. This way, you will also be able to know what other successful medical school applicants have written.

You will always face intense competition while applying to a medical school, this may either be because of its rigorous curriculum, the technical nature of the subject, or due to limited seats, and a vast number of applicants. This makes it all the more important for you to write a personal statement that has a compelling narrative. 

• To begin with, you can write a quote or an anecdote that piques the readers’ interest. After this, start by writing how your initial interest in the field of medicine began. For instance, you can write as if there was someone in your family who had been a doctor or a nurse, whom you look up to, that made you decide to be in this profession. Briefly describe your academic qualifications, and if you have any work experience. You can also write how these experiences played a role in your decision to pursue medicine as a career. 
• Apart from this, you can also write what are the various aspects of medicine that are of interest, whether you would like to pursue higher studies, do research, or choose a particular specialty later on. When you go through some of the medical school personal statement examples, you will see how students have given a brief overview of the medical school’s curriculum. This is essential as this way you can show how much you have researched about the school, and your level of preparedness about the program you are applying for. 
• While reading a sample medical school personal statement, you will see how every detail has a proper explanation. It is always better when you include as many examples and experiences that describe your enthusiasm for studying medicine. Reflect upon your past experiences, challenges, or setbacks in life so that you can write about your skills, abilities, and how you deal with issues. This way, you can highlight the positive aspects of your personality that prove you have the caliber and potential to be a part of the medical school/ college. 
• You need to understand that the admissions committee has a keen interest in knowing you beyond your academic performance. They want a candidate who is passionate about the field of medicine and has the required skills and competencies needed to succeed in the medical world. So the more you reveal about yourself, you give the admissions committee reasons to select you for their institution. 
• Medical schools want students who are likely to make a positive impact on their institution. Now, how do you explain this in a meaningful way in a medical school personal statement? Well, you can do so by writing about your long-term goals and post-medical school plans. For instance, you can write about the specialty you will be selecting, its characteristics, relevance, and future scope, and why you are interested in this particular field of medicine. 
• Write in a way that your future aspirations align with the medical school’s curriculum. You can also mention if you would like to be a part of some of the school’s projects or help in organizing fests or programs. This way, it will demonstrate your active participation in the institution’s activities.
• Coming to the last part of the medical school statement, you need to have an appropriate ending. Sum up your thoughts about your interest in the program, and how being a part of the medical school will help you achieve your goals. Ensure that you end on a positive note and express that you look forward to embracing the experiences and challenges as a student of medicine. 

Below is the Personal Statement Sample for Medical School

Why you want to go to medical school

Coming from a religion, Sikhism,  that considers everyone equal, I have demonstrated the same emotion recurrently since my childhood. This emotion is called ‘Sewa’. Visiting the Gurudwara, ‘Sewa’ was the motivating factor.  ‘Sewa’ entails simple tasks like washing the dishes after the langar (community meal where everyone irrespective of the religion can come and eat) and serving food to the people. As I grew older, I began feeling a sense of gratitude while performing the ‘Sewa’ and feeding the hungry without any discrimination. Soon the intent to help others metamorphosed naturally into an eventful trajectory that has brought me to a platform where I am invariably ready to treat patients through the phenomenal medicines developed by the pharma.  I believe that my resolve to work toward humanity was strong as I could manifest a large part of that. I attribute this majorly to my family, observing whom I felt a sense of pride in doing what I did at the Gurudwara and now as a professional in the field of medicine.

It is also fortunate to have had the opportunity to display my admiration toward the community right from my school years. I clearly remember how in school I was eager to join teams like Student Council, Youth Safety Council, Cure for TB Club, and Leadership. At the intersection where I am, I feel all my choices of being a part of the aforementioned clubs stemmed from the ingrained sentiment of empowering others. This delights me as in the course I have developed intangible skills that are requisite for a medical professional. From showing empathy to convincing others to follow medical science in a certain way, at each point I have felt commissioned. All the exposure that I received has stimulated me and allowed me to fancy this to the extent that soon I am going to be a professional in the domain of medicine.

In the course, I discovered my personality traits. These made me distinguish the fact that I was a shoulder to many to bank upon their sad emotions, be it medical or otherwise. I saw people confiding in me and feeling comforted after a lengthy discussion. It was perhaps because I always lent my ears. This paved the way for me to proffer resolutions that made them feel better, mentally and physically. This was presumably the experience that naturally transitioned me to be the Undergraduate Academic Assistant throughout my Bachelor’s tenure. I completed my Bachelor of Science in Integrated Sciences, Physiology, And Pharmacology. I could easily fathom solutions and felt that the peer group often asked for suggestions on any given problem and not just academics.

Going beyond the academic realm and helping my friends and their families, I inadvertently began opening up to people of all ages, especially children. This was Pandora’s box and I realized the amplitude of giving is massive. Therefore, all my endeavors from being a secretary of YSC, to being the founder of the Betterment Society of Seattle reflected my passion for treating others for their issues.

The foundation of the Betterment Society of Seattle was laid during COVID-19 in 2021 to create awareness among the agglomeration. From having an open kitchen to mask drives, to beach cleanups, all this entailed hygiene and its impact on human health. It was also during the same time that I realized how medical science has advanced and that there are medicines available for treating an unknown virus. My passion and respect for medical science grew exponentially. Although I had studied Physiology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology, I could see in real-time how the study would be useful in treating the patients. With 6 core executives, 70+ volunteers, and 20 sponsors, through this initiative, we aided the homeless population including children, cancer patients, and our local community. It was at this time that we held a toy drive for Holy Angels Hospital and ended up raising ~$4000 worth of toy donations.  The smiles and joy expressed by the children upon receiving the gifts are engraved deeply in my heart and mind inclining me to the field of pediatrics.

Meanwhile, I had treated my mother who tested positive for Covid-19. This was the worst phase because fear was a dominant factor. I put rest to her fears by treating her with steam and asking her to think positively. No prescription was given to me, as it was mild, but to see her relying on me was a stepping stone to earmark my admiration for higher studies in medical science. Soon after the quarantine was over, I volunteered at ED at the Seattle General Hospital. This was a first-hand experience that accentuated my respect in manifold ways for the front-line workers.

Currently, I am working as a Research Assistant Volunteer, at the Injury Circumstances and Outcome Study in Seattle. Here I screen patients and collect their data. My research has supplemented my belief and passion to perpetuate my medical science journey. I intend to begin a new voyage by being a medical science student at your esteemed university and wish to attain my long-term goals for humanity. The academic learning complements my thought process and the holistic catalog of experiences is a testimony to my worth as a medical student.

Conclusion

We hope that you get a clear outline of how you should write a medical school personal statement by reading our blog. Remember, that a personal statement has a huge role in determining your chances of admission. You need to provide an insight into your skills, interests, qualities, experiences, achievements, career goals, and why you wish to enroll yourself in a medical school. This way the admissions committee will be able to determine whether you have the caliber and potential to be a part of their program. While writing, if you feel that you lack a decent writing style or are unfamiliar with the format of a personal statement, you can look for the best medical school personal statement examples. 

If you still need further assistance, then you can contact professional personal statement writers. Contentholic is known for providing the best personal statement writing services in India. Our writers are quite experienced and are familiar with the university guidelines and format. Once you provide us with essential details regarding your application, our writers will compose an impressive medical school personal statement that meets your expectations. So, if you have any issues regarding writing a personal statement, don’t hesitate to contact us. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)