Writing a personal statement:

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Writing a personal statement

• Its not as bad as you think

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So whats the point?

• The personal statement is your opportunity to
  stand out!
• Let your personal statement work for you

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Questions to ask yourself before you start

• What's special, unique, distinctive, and/or
  impressive about you or your life story?

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Questions

• What details of your life (personal or family
  problems, history, people or events that have
  shaped you or influenced your goals) might help
  the committee better understand you or help set
  you apart from other applicants?

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Questions

• Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or
  hardships (for example, economic, familial, or
  physical) in your life?

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Questions

• What personal characteristics (for example.
  integrity. compassion. persistence) do you
  possess that would improve your prospects for
  success in the field or profession? Is there a
  way to demonstrate or document that you have
  these characteristics?

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Questions

• Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your
  academic record that you should explain (great
  grades but mediocre MCAT scores, for example, or
  a distinct upward pattern to your GPA if it was
  only average in the beginning)?

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Questions

• When did you become interested in this field and
  what have you learned about it (and about
  yourself) that has further stimulated your
  interest and reinforced your conviction that you
  are well suited to this field? What insights have
  you gained?

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Questions

• What skills (for example, leadership,
  communicative, analytical) do you possess?

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Other tips for writing your personal statement

• Tell a story Use a story to illustrate the
  point that you really want to express. Stories
  are easier to remember than straight facts and
  this will make the committee members remember
  you.
• Give supporting details If you mention in your
  personal statement that you will be a great
  doctor because you are hard working, then youll
  have to provide proof!
• Dont be afraid to show them how much you know!

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Personal Statement Donts

• Do not use the same answers as other applications
• Do not include high school achievements (unless
  they are absolutely remarkable!)
• Do not touch on controversial or political topics
• DO NOT LIE!!!
• Avoid clichés

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Grammatical Tips

• As with writing any essay remember these tips
• Always make the introduction pop. You want to
  draw them in!
• Use the funnel approach in your introduction
• Remember the basic structure of an essay
  introduction, body, conclusion
• CHECK FOR SPELLING AND GRAMMATICAL ERRORS!!

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Examples

• Jake Arians jogged on to the field to kick
  anything but an ordinary field goal. He was the
  place kicker for the University of Alabama at
  Birmingham (UAB) Blazers. Although I was a
  senior linebacker, all I could do was cheer to
  help Jake make the kick. Jake succeeded and
  delivered an overtime win over Tulane in my last
  senior game. While I was celebrating with my
  teammates, a bittersweet feeling came over me.
  For the past thirteen years, academics and
  football had been my life my football career had
  ended.
• I entered Auburn University with an academic
  scholarship and chose to walk-on to the football
  team. Throughout my football career, I was never
  the fastest, strongest or the largest the
  majority of the time, I was one of the smallest.
  Success came by discipline to play with the
  correct techniques learning the opposing teams
  tendencies fearlessness to meet any oncoming foe
  head on and refusing to lose. I earned the
  chance to play on special teams and was awarded a
  varsity letter. In my junior year I transferred
  to UAB to complete my undergraduate degree and to
  play football. Although I completed my
  undergraduate education and was accepted to
  medical school, something within me was missing.
• After I completed the basic science portion of
  medical school, I rotated through the required
  specialties. One rotation appealed to the side
  of me that was missing. In Orthopedic Surgery, I
  found myself in a room with colleagues discussing
  the presenting problems of the previous day. We
  were accompanied by experienced physicians who
  gave advice and made sure that we were correctly
  applying the knowledge we had gained from reading
  about each patients problems. Game plans were
  developed and executed.

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I practiced suturing and other techniques that
allowed me to help the team address various
problems. I read and studied the pathological
basis for these problems and the multiple ways to
approach specific problems. While working long
hours with the Orthopedic team, I felt part of a
team with a specific role to play. Whether
retrieving films from radiology or helping to
close after surgery, I felt I had helped my team
achieve a victory when a patients problem was
corrected. I realize that many of the skills
and talents had helped me succeed in football are
inherent in Orthopedic Surgery specifically,
obtaining knowledge of the opponent or patients
disease, psychomotor skills, adjusting the game
plan to fit each patients problems, available
resources, and the most important, teamwork. As
I look to future and residency training, I seek a
program that can provide four elements
experienced physicians from whom I can learn to
apply the knowledge gained through patient
contact volume and variety of surgical cases
resident teams that work together to improve
their knowledge and skills and a program that
encourages its residents to be active
participants in treatment planning so they can
become competent and successful team leaders.
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Brainstorm