Personal Statement tips for applying for Medicine

There is no one way to do a Personal Statement but here are things to consider. The information below is taken from the excellent medic portal website.

Reflect.

Reflection comes from thinking about what you’ve done and extrapolating learning points. You should follow a three step process when speaking about work experience to ensure you have reflected properly:

· Where were you and what did you do?

· What specific incident did you see? 

· What did this teach you?

Show that you understand what they are applying to.

Tutors don’t want to see statements that talk excessively about how amazing medicine is. There are times when medicine can’t help. People die, patients can be ungrateful and you might see suffering and not be able to stop it. You need to break bad news and hours are long and will take over evenings and weekends. You need to show that you understand all this, and still believe this is the right path for you! The best students manage to get across the fact that they appreciate the realities of medical school and recognise the challenges ahead.

Clarity in language and structure.

Always remember that your personal statement is one of a pile to an admissions tutor. They are busy and you are doing yourself a favour if you can show achievements clearly and concisely. Use short, sharp sentences, with straightforward language, and follow a logical progression, from motivation, to work experience, to volunteering, extracurricular activities and a neat conclusion. By making your credentials jump off the page, you avoid the risk of them being missed.

Honesty.

Don’t exaggerate the things you have done, especially in a medical context, this will be really obvious to admissions tutors, and don’t fabricate life-changing moments that meant you simply had to be a doctor. This can create a bit of suspicion, so if that is the case for you, make sure it is well backed up.

Tutors want people who are well-rounded human beings.

Medicine is a demanding degree but this does not mean that medical schools want you to give up all other interests. Rather, they want people with an outlet for stress, who are well-rounded with other interests, like sports, hobbies or regular activities. Try and state them in relation to key qualities like teamwork.