Applying to Health Professions Programs: Personal Statements
Your personal statement should explain your motivation for the profession and provide evidence for your preparation, personal characteristics, and maturity to be successful in the field. It is your opportunity to tell programs something about you beyond what they can read in your application (e.g., GPA, coursework, test scores). It is not a narrative of your resume or a persuasive essay on why you should be admitted. The personal statement is not an academic essay. The tone should be authentic and personal. Tell your story about why you want to be a healthcare professional without oversharing, making excuses, or being grandiose or accusatory toward the medical field.
Personal Statement Resources from the AAMC
Webinars on Crafting Your Personal Statement
- Powerful Personal Statements with Dr. Sunny Nakae
- NexStep: Personal Statement Master Class
- ADEA: Creating a Great Personal Statement (Note: these tips are applicable to medicine as well as dental, pharmacy, and PT)
Personal Statement Advice from Med School Deans
- Tough Love for Your Personal Statement: Advice from a Medical School Dean (Sunny Nakae)
- US News: 2 Med School Essays That Admissions Officers Loved
- CWRU: All Access: Med School Admissions Podcast (Episodes 6, 13, 20 contain personal statement tips)