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easykiss - 2008-5-14 14:06:00

A number of you are getting ready to apply to medical school this coming
summer. One of the challenges you will face is to write the one page
personal statement that is an important part of the AMCAS application. Now
is the time to start to think about what you want to include in the
statement. Here are my thoughts.
I often am asked what is the question that applicants are to address in the
statement. The printed directions are vague and general. To me, the
question is this: "Who are you who wants to be a physician?" From this
broad question one may next ask about what the schools are looking for in
applicants. I constantly refer to UCSF's general but wonderful statement
that "successful applicants tend to have strong academic records, firm and
clear motivation as reflected in their work experience, activities and
interests, and outstanding personal qualities." I have tried to explain the
UCSF statement in more detail in our handout "Pre-Medical Preparation at
Berkeley" , and I would refer you to it. Briefly, the schools want good
students--grades and scores. To me, however, there is more to strong
academic records than numbers. Intellectual abilities shown through
research and other academic interests are examples. Firm and clear
motivation means "a helping, caring person who knows what he or she is
getting into from having explored the field." The helping and caring can be
shown in any number of ways and not just through medically related work. But
don't forget that the schools want to know that applicants have explored
their intended field. Outstanding personal qualities include the personal
traits we look for in physicians. The schools seek interesting and
accomplished people. While this too is vague, we all know interesting and
accomplished people whether they be athletes, musicians, leaders, poets, or
artists and many others good at something worthwhile.
What's next? Keeping in mind what the schools are looking for what is it
that you want them to know about you? What have you done that makes you fit
the broad general framework of what the schools seek in applicants? Make
some notes to yourself and start to refine them. What is the evidence that
you, for example, are a helping and caring person? Note that I said
evidence. In the statement you want to write about what you have done in a
way that allows the reader to draw a conclusion about you. You do not want
to say, " My volunteer work shows I am helping and caring." You want the
reader to draw that conclusion, but you want the evidence to reveal it. You
do not want to tell the reader what the evidence means. It is showing and
not telling. You can say this experience made me realize something but
don't tell them what it shows them; let the reader draw that conclusion
based on your clear description of the situation.
While you could discuss only one topic in the one page statement, most
applicants write about 3-4. Too many topics turn the statement into a
list--not a good idea. Clearly then, the topics you choose to write about
are very important and deserve considerable thought.
Here are some common problems that I see in the large number of statements I
read( you are invited to attend one of our workshops on statement
writing--check our website-see below-- and then make an appointment to see
one of the pre-med advisors--remember we have our own ideas on the subject.
You may encounter different approaches just as you will practice medicine in
your own way). Often, applicants spend many words and lines of their
precious one page in an introduction which may reveal little about them; I
see this all the time. Get right at your job of revealing you. A word about
quotes-- Many start their statement with a quote. The admissions readers
have seen them all before. I tend to discourage quotes and roll my eyes at
many of them. Don't be vague--"my research project was challenging and
rewarding." What does that mean? Speaking of research--don't write about
it as you would in an abstract or science report. We care about you and not
that cells do this or that when exposed to something or other and this has
implications for some medical advance. What can we learn about you from
your research? That is the purpose. Don't tell them what physicians are or
should be. The readers already know and are not looking for you to inform
them. Again, they want to know how you match up with what they think is
important in a physician(UCSF's statement). The personal statement is all
about you. The statement is not an essay on medicine or the state of the
world. Don't be modest or boastful-reveal yourself honestly and positively.
You are your own salesperson. If you don't show them who you are nobody else
will either. Make you statement interesting and lively but not "cute." "I
want them to remember me" may lead to being remembered in a less than
favorable light. Make your ending a conclusion and not a summary. Just as
you should not start the statement by telling them what you are going to
write about the ending should not be a list of what you have told them.
These are my thoughts and are offered for your consideration and guidance.
Many different views exist on what is a good movie, book or personal
statement. What is above is the way I see it. Let me know if this is
helpful to you.
We also are anxious to help non-premeds with their statements whether they
be for graduate school or another health science.
Remember that it is important to apply in early June. We will receive AMCAS
applications in April. They will come in paper or on a disc. You can
download the AMCAS application from www.aamc.org. Contact non-AMCAS schools
for their applications. The MCAT application booklet lists non-AMCAS
schools or you may check in MSAR, the requirement book. The 1999-2000
version should be in stores by May. Secondary applications from AMCAS
schools will follow by early/mid July. At that time you will need your
letters of recommendations. I know that letters will be a concern for some
of you. I urge you to get going on them. Completing the secondary
application early is very important at most schools.
Good luck to all of you getting ready to take the MCAT.
Peter
Peter S. Van Houten, Ed.D.
Director, Graduate School Services
Career Center
University of California at Berkeley
2111 Bancroft Way, #4350
Berkeley, CA 94720-4350
Telephone 510 642 5706
Fax 510 642 6987

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