Health Professions Personal Statement Guide

THE PERSONAL STATEMENT 

The Personal Statement for the Institutional Letter should be between two and three pages in length.

You may end up using an identical or very similar statement in the “Personal Comments” section of the common application for medical school (AMCAS, AACOMAS, AADSAS, VMCAS), which you should submit in early June (or later depending on the health profession).

Your personal statement will provide admissions panel members and interviewers with an idea of why you are pursuing a career in medicine. This may be the first time you will sit down and write about your interest and qualifications. It should be a unique narrative about you.

Some topics you may want to cover are:

• Why are you interested in medicine? What contributions do you want to make to medicine?
• Describe or explain any circumstances that have affected your academic performance in college.
• Identify any talents, skills, and special interests, activities or jobs that may enhance your candidacy for medical school.
• Of your various activities, describe at least one that gave — or gives — you the greatest satisfaction and why.
• How have these experiences influenced you?
• How have you grown as a future health professional?
• Is there any specific area of medicine that you are planning to pursue or have a passion for?