 Provides the committee a “ picture ” of you
 Demonstrates unique qualifications for and commitment to medicine
 Your chance to present yourself beyond the
MCAT & GPA numbers
 Essential that you convey passion for and understanding of what you are getting into

 Content-admissions deans view the essay as an opportunity to know the applicant beyond broad facts
 Mechanics-be yourself, but in proper English

 Remember that the PS is the most over-rated part of the application – don ’ t get bogged down
 Investigate schools before applying. Especially important for secondaries.
 Restrain use of the unusual or shock-value information.
 Consider your readers - conservative; people who are proud of their profession.

 Read before you write - answer the question.
Statement limits you to 5300 characters(MD),
4500 for DENT and DO.
 Correct obvious errors.
 Organize your whole process. Do your selfreflection first.
 If, as you begin to write, you discover you have nothing to say, take this as important information.

(Pick only a couple!!)
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Motivation
Life changing personal experience, medically or non-medically related
Experiences that have given you insight into medical practice, who you wish to serve, how you will contribute
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Family Background/influential mentor
What individuals or incidents shaped your life?
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Extracurricular Activities and Work/Volunteer Experience
What did you learn?
How did you contribute to getting the job done?
How have you matured as a result?
Examples - compelling personal stories

 Future Plans (long/short term)-especially if you have clarity that you plan to work in underserved communities or primary care
 Explain/Clarify any outstanding issues - but only if they are really issues

 Focus on a few illustrative incidents
 Unite with a theme or thesis
 Outline what you want to say and the order
 BE SPECIFIC! Use concrete examples that distinguish you from others
 Write about what interests & excites you. Make sure you leave the reader thinking you would be an interesting person to meet
 End your essay with a conclusion that refers back to the lead and restates the thesis.

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Use one or two specific incidents to show what has been learned from these experiences.
Discuss the experiences, people and events that influenced your decision to become a physician or prepared you to enter this field.
Discuss your motivation for medicine - if you can ’ t convince yourself of your passion for medicine, you won ’ t be able to convince a committee.
Describe what you have learned from extracurricular and work accomplishments.
Describe these clearly and succinctly .
Explain how any challenging experiences (read: those that have caused you to stumble academically) provided for personal growth.
Be personal/real, on topic and well organized

 Explain what makes you uniquely suitable for this professional school.
 Answer the specific questions that are asked
 Complement the personal statement
 Not be a copy and paste of your personal statement
 Be completed 2-3 weeks after receipt

 The goal is to demonstrate your ability to get your ideas across articulately and concisely
 You are not going to be unique to anyone who has been doing admissions for any amount of time
 No inconsistencies between essay and interview
 Don ’ t re-list things that are on your activities section
 Use specific incidents to show what has been gained and will be brought to program.

 Itinerary or resume prose
 Excessive vocabulary, verbose, complex words
 Generic statements and cliches
 No blaming others for misdeeds
 Too many “ I ” statements may indicate arrogance
 No sense of direction

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Writing Center
Wendy will review once with SII and provide feedback on content
Good editors who will not be afraid of hurting your feelings
Refer to writing guides:
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Write for success (Jackson and Bordot but do not copy!)
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Strunk and White – Elements of Style

 Revise, revise, revise, hone to as near perfection as you can get, eliminate as many useless filler words to have space for the important words.
 Carefully check spelling, punctuation, grammar.
 Make an effort to make it interesting by good use of language, a literary effort yet meaty - but don ’ t use
$20 words just to use them.

 Brody School of Medicine of East Carolina University
 Herbert House, Elon College

1. List the things that you have done that illustrate your:
• Desire to help people
• Knowledge of your profession
2. Decide on a theme
3. Outline a draft of a potential personal statement
4. Go home now and write a couple of paragraphs while fresh