Thursday, December 23, 2010

Write A Personal Medical Statement

A strong personal statement will showcase your abilites as a doctor.








Completing the necessary coursework to even qualify for an acceptance to a medical school is a challenge in and of itself. Once you are ready to seek acceptance, though, to set yourself apart from the other applicants you will need a strong, well-written personal medical statement that details why you are dedicated to the field. A personal medical statement could also be useful if you are already an established doctor and would like to share with patients why you are especially qualified to provide their care.


Instructions


1. Pull in the reader with an attention-grabbing introduction. You do not need to start off with clich d jokes or statistics. Say something from the heart that will draw the reader in. Do not simply state your name or where you're from. Instead, perhaps offer an anecdote that gives the reader a sense of who you are.


2. Detail what being a doctor means to you. This detail will not only demonstrate your understanding of the profession,but it will also give the reader a sense of what you have to offer the community. Do not simply define "doctor," brainstorm some qualities you feel are essential to being a doctor and the role doctors play in their community. For example, if you prize bravery and assertiveness, explain why in the document.








3. Explain to the reader what makes you especially dedicated to the position. Do not rely on general statements; provide evidence that supports your claim. For example, don't say something like "I have cared about helping others since I was a child." Instead, provide an example of when in your past you helped someone in need and how that made you feel.


4. Put resume information, test scores and course work in context. Your supporting application documents will give the reader the hard numbers, but your personal statement is your chance to make that information shine. Do not simply restate the information. For example, instead of saying "I completed a microbiology degree" say something more to the effect of "While completing my degree in microbiology, I was afforded the opportunity to work hands-on in hospital and laboratory settings."


5. Omit any irrelevant biographical information. You want everything about your document to shout "qualified medical professional." While it's great that you might have experience outside of the field, only showcase this information if you can tie it back to why the experience would benefit you in the medical profession.


6. Edit and revise as needed. Never send a first draft out without careful review, possibly by multiple reviewers. Colleagues, professors and friends can provide a useful perspective on your statement, even though it pertains only to you. After all, while it is about you, the end readers will be from the outside and will review you based on their own viewpoints. Carefully remove any redundancies, grammatical errors or cluttered language that diminishes from your piece.

Tags: being doctor, give reader, medical statement, personal medical, personal medical statement, personal statement, reader sense