What’s your truth? What makes you different from every other person applying to professional school? Do your undergrad grades make a difference? Do your MCATs or DATs count?
Of course they do. Your GPA and aptitude test scores provide a baseline for every school you apply to. On the front end, its that simple. If you have the minimum GPA and test scores, your application lands in the possible pile; if you dont, it winds up in the impossible pile
for now.
That said, when you have the GPA and you have the MCAT or DAT scores everyone seeks, how do you separate yourself from the masses?
personal statement
Personal Statement Fine Tuning
If you want to become a physician, you have a job to do even before … Read more
Tales from an Insider: Personal Statement Failures
Expert tips to make your personal statement stand out.
The Crayon Box: Writing a Successful Personal Statement (PS) Part 2
Part two of a two part series exploring how to craft a personal statement that stands out from the rest
The Crayon Box: Writing a Successful Personal Statement (PS) Part 1
Part one of a two part series giving advice about how to craft a compelling personal statement.
Personal Statement Myths
You have read every thread on SDN about personal statements, but you still aren’t sure what you should or should not do. A ton of conflicting information is “out there” and whether you are applying to medical school, pharmacy school or anything in between, you need to be aware of some common myths about what you “must” do.
I hear about most of these myths from medical school applicants: “But my advisor said I should NEVER write about that!” “But, my fourth cousin once removed who is in medical school at a top 10 school said I shouldn’t do that.” Like everything else in the medical admissions process, personal statements have few absolutes or formulas so always take such definitive advice with a grain of salt. So, what are some of the myths I hear most often?
Essay Workshop 101: Lesson 1: The Audience
Medical school admissions committees comprise anywhere from a handful to two dozen members, and are … Read more
Essay Workshop 101: Lesson 2: The Admissions Essay
Updated December 1, 2021. The article was updated to correct minor grammatical errors. During that … Read more
Essay Workshop 101: Lesson 3: Brainstorming
These exercises are more focused on finding the specific points and details that you will … Read more
Essay Workshop 101: Lesson 4: Question Specific Themes
Please select from the following common medical school topics: Why I Want to Be a … Read more
Essay Workshop 101: Lesson 5: Introductions and How to Lead
The most important leading sentence of all, of course, is the first sentence of your … Read more
Essay Workshop 101: Lesson 6: Editing Checklist
Substance Substance refers to the content of the essay and the message you send out. … Read more
Before You Write Your Personal Statement, Read This
Essays and personal statements are an anxiety-inducing part of the application process for many postgraduate … Read more