• (888) 381-9509
  • [email protected]
  • Book a Meeting
  • student login
  • Student Login
  • Our Services
  • Our Story How it started
  • Our Team Meet Our Advisors & Tutors
  • Our Services How we can help you
  • Our Difference Learn why we stand out
  • Success Stories & Testimonials Hear the stories
  • For Parents Learn why you should trust us
  • In the News Read Our Stories
  • Frequently Asked Questions Find answers
  • MCAT Tutoring One-on-One Personalized Help
  • MCAT Go An Audio Learning Experience
  • MCAT Practice Exams Boost Your Score
  • MCAT Prep App Videos, Flashcards & Q-Bank
  • MCAT CARS Mastery Top-Rated CARS Video Course
  • Pre-Med Coach Early High School Roadmap Planning
  • College Admissions 11th & 12th Grade Pre-Med Consulting
  • Direct Med Advising BS/MD Application Support
  • Interview Preparation BS/MD Candidates
  • Pre-Med Coach Pre-Application Development
  • Application Advising Med School Admissions Support
  • Personal Statement Editing Refine Your Narrative
  • AMCAS Editing Application Editing
  • Secondary Editing Secondary Application Editing
  • Interview Preparation Realistic Practice
  • CASPer Preparation Simulation & Coaching
  • Ontario Application Support OMSAS Application
  • Residency Advising Complete Match Support
  • Residency Interview Preparation
  • ERAS Personal Statement Refine Your Story
  • USMLE STEP 1 Pass Your First Step
  • Shelf Exams Ace your rotations
  • USMLE STEP 2 Shine on your boards
  • USMLE STEP 3 Conquer your final hurdle
  • COMLEX LEVEL 1 and 2 Score higher
  • Institutional Partners Enhance your student offering
  • Organizational Partners Provide value to your students
  • For High School Students Plan Your Future
  • For MCAT Preparation Boost Your Score
  • For Med School Admissions Secure Your Acceptance
  • For Board Exam Prep Sharpen Critical Knowledge
  • For Residency Matching Secure Preferred Placement
  • Extracurricular Activities Apply now!
  • Guidebooks Learn at Your Own Pace

The Only 3 Medical School Personal Statement Examples You Need to Read

personal statement medicine tutor

Posted in: Applying to Medical School

personal statement medicine tutor

Table of Contents

The personal statement is one of the most important parts of the med school application process because t his mini-essay is a critical opportunity for you to stand out from other prospective medical students by demonstrating your passion and personality, not just your grades.

Admissions committees receive hundreds or more AMCAS medical school applications , so yours should be unique and captivating. Your medical school personal statement shows admissions officers who you are beyond your high school or pre-med GPA , extracurriculars , and MCAT score . 

The best personal statements are… well, personal . This is your chance to share what life experiences have compelled you toward a career in healthcare or the medical field , and how those experiences shape the picture of your ideal future.

MedSchoolCoach has crucial advice for writing your personal statement . 

Read these examples of personal statements for prospective med students.

Writing a great medical school personal statement is a lot easier with the right support. We’ve helped numerous med school applicants craft top-notch personal statements and can do the same for you.

But first: 7 steps to writing an engaging personal statement.

Before you read these excellent examples, you need to understand the process of writing a personal statement.  

Include these in your medical school personal statement:

  • Why you’re passionate about becoming a doctor
  • Your qualities that will make you a great physician
  • Personal stories that demonstrate those qualities
  • Specific examples of the communities you want to serve as a member of the medical field

What are the most important things to remember when writing a medical school personal statement ?

  • Begin the writing process early: Give yourself plenty of time for brainstorming and to revisit your first draft, revising it based on input from family members and undergrad professors. Consult the application timeline for your target enrollment season.
  • Choose a central theme: An unfocused essay will leave readers confused and uninterested. Give your statement a clear thesis in the first paragraph that guides its formation.
  • Start with a hook: Grab the reader’s attention immediately with your statement’s first sentence. Instead of opening with a conventional introduction, be creative! Begin with something unexpected.
  • Be the you of today, not the you of the future: Forecasting your future as a physician can come across as empty promises. Don’t get caught up in your ambitions; instead, be honest about your current situation and interest in the field of medicine.
  • Demonstrate your passion: It’s not enough to simply state your interest in becoming a doctor; you have to prove it through personal stories. Show how your perspectives have been shaped by formative experiences and how those will make you an effective physician.
  • Show, don’t tell : Avoid cliches that admissions committees have heard hundreds of times, like “I want to help people.” Make your writing come alive with dynamic, persuasive storytelling that recounts your personal experiences.
  • Tie everything together: Conclude by wrapping up your main points. Reiterate your passion for the medical profession, your defining personal qualities, and why you’ll make a good doctor.

You can read more about our recommended method in our step-by-step guide , but those are the major points.

Example 1 — From the Stretcher to the Spotlight: My Journey to Becoming an Emergency Medicine Physician

Another siren shrieks as the emergency room doors slide open and a team of EMTs pushes a blood-soaked stretcher through the entrance. It’s the fifth ambulance to arrive tonight — and only my first clinical shadowing experience in an emergency medicine department since my premed education began.

But it wasn’t my first time in an emergency room, and I knew I was meant to be here again.

In those crucial moments on the ER floor, many of my peers learned that they stumble in high-pressure environments. A few weeks of gunshot wounds, drug overdoses, broken bones, and deep lacerations in the busiest trauma bay in the region were enough to alter their career path.

They will be better practitioners somewhere predictable, like a pediatrician in a private practice where they choose their schedules, clients, and staff.

Every healthcare provider has their specialties, and mine are on full display in those crucial moments of lifesaving care. Why am I pursuing a career in Emergency Medicine? Because I’ve seen firsthand the miracles that Emergency Medicine physicians perform.

12 years ago, I was in an emergency room… but I was the one on the stretcher.

A forest-green Saturn coupe rolled into my parent’s driveway. The driver, my best friend Kevin, had just passed his driving test and was itching to take a late-night run to the other side of town. I had ridden with Kevin and his father many times before when he held his learner’s permit. But this time, we didn’t have an adult with us, and the joyride ended differently: with a 40-mph passenger-side collision, T-boned by a drunk driver.

I distinctly recall the sensation of being lifted out of the crumpled car by a paramedic and laid onto a stretcher. A quick drive later, I was in the care of Dr. Smith, the ER resident on call that night. Without missing a beat, he assessed my condition and provided the care I needed. When my mom thanked him for saving my life, he simply responded, “It’s what he needed.”

Now I’m watching other doctors and nurses provide this life-saving care as I observe as a premed student. I see the way the staff works together like a well-oiled machine, and it reminds me of my time in high-school theater.

Everyone has a role to play, however big or small, to make the show a success. All contributions are essential to a winning performance — even the technicians working behind the scenes. That’s what true teamwork is, and I see that same dynamic in the emergency department.

Some actors freeze during performances, overcome by stage fright. Other students are too anxious to even set foot in front of an audience; they remain backstage assisting with split-second costume changes.

Not me. I felt energized under the spotlight, deftly improvising to help my co-stars when they would forget their lines. Admittedly, I wasn’t the best actor or singer in the cast, but I provided something essential: assurance under pressure. Everyone knew me as dependable, always in their corner when something went awry. I had a reputation for remaining calm and thinking on my feet.

My ability to stay unruffled under pressure was first discovered on stage, but I can use it on a very different platform providing patient care. Now, when other people freeze under the intensity of serving public health on the front lines, I can step in and provide my calm, collected guidance to see them through.

As an ER doctor, I will have to provide that stability when a nurse gets flustered by a quarrelsome patient or shaken from an irreparably injured infant. When you’re an Emergency Medicine physician, you’re not following a script. It takes an aptitude of thinking on your toes to face the fast pace and unpredictable challenges of an emergency center.

During my time shadowing, I saw experienced physicians put those assured, gentle communication skills to use. A 13-year-old boy was admitted for a knife wound he’d received on the streets. He only spoke Spanish, but it was clear he mistrusted doctors and was alarmed by the situation. In mere minutes, one of the doctors calmed the patient so he could receive care he needed.

Let me be clear: I haven’t simply gravitated toward Emergency Medicine because I liked it most. It’s not the adrenaline or the pride that compel me. I owe Emergency Medicine my life, and I want to use my life to extend the lives of other people. Every person brought into the trauma bay could be another me , no matter what they look like.

People are more than their injury, health record, or circumstances. They are not just a task to complete or a challenge to conquer.

My childhood injury gave me an appreciation for the work of ER doctors and a compassion for patients, to foster well-being when people are most broken and vulnerable. I already have the dedication to the work and the heart for patients; I just need the medical knowledge and procedural skills to perform life-saving interventions. My ability to remain calm, think on my toes, be part of a team, and work decisively without making mistakes or overlooking critical issues will serve me well as an Emergency Medicine physician.

Some ER physicians I spoke with liked to think that they’re “a different breed” than other medical professionals — but I don’t see it that way. We’re just performing a different role than the rest of the cast.

Breaking It Down

Let’s look at what qualities make this a great personal statement for med school.

  • Engaging opening: The writer painted a vivid scene that immediately puts the reader in their shoes and leaves them wanting more.
  • Personal examples: The writer demonstrated his ability to stay calm, work as a team, and problem-solve through theater experience, which he also uses as a comparison. And, he explained his passion for Emergency Medical care from his childhood accident.
  • Organized: The writer transitions fluidly between body paragraphs, connecting stories and ideas by emphasizing parallels and hopping back and forth between time.
  • Ample length: Makes full use of the AACOMAS and AMCAS application personal statement’s character limit of 5,300 characters (including spaces), which is about 850-950 words.

Unsure what traits and clinical or research experience your preferred medical school values ? You can research their admissions requirements and mission statement using the MSAR .

Example 2 — Early Clinical Work For Empathetic Patient Care

The applicant who wrote this personal statement was accepted into University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, and Tufts University School of Medicine.

As I walked briskly down the hall to keep up during our daily rounds in the ICU, I heard the steady beeping of Michelle’s cardiac monitor and saw a ruby ornament twinkling on the small Christmas tree beside her. She was always alone, but someone had decorated her room for the holidays.

It warmed my heart that I wasn’t the only one who saw her as more than a patient in a coma. I continually felt guilty that I couldn’t spend more time with her; her usual companions were ventilators, IV bags, and catheters, not to mention the golf ball-sized tumors along her spine. Every day, I thought about running to Michelle’s bedside to do anything I could for her.

Thus, I was taken aback when my advisor, who was visiting me that day, asked me if I was okay. It never crossed my mind that at age 17, my peers might not be able to handle the tragedies that healthcare workers consistently face. These situations were difficult, but they invoked humanity and compassion from me. I knew I wanted to pursue medicine. And I knew I could do it.

From my senior year of high school to my senior year of college, I continued to explore my passion for patient interaction.

At the Stepp Lab, I was charged with contacting potential study participants for a study focusing on speech symptoms in individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. The study would help future patients, but I couldn’t help but think: “What are we doing for these patients in return?” I worried that the heart and soul behind the research would get lost in the mix of acoustic data and participant ID numbers.

But my fears were put to rest by Richard, the self-proclaimed “Parkinson’s Song & Dance Man,” who recorded himself singing show tunes as part of his therapy. Knowing that he was legally blind and unable to read caller ID, I was always thrilled when he recognized my voice. The spirit in his voice indicated that my interest in him and his journey with Parkinson’s was meaningful. Talking with him inspired me to dive deeper, which led to an appreciative understanding of his time as a sergeant in the U.S. military.

It was an important reminder: my interest and care are just as important as an effective prescribed treatment plan.

Following graduation, I began my work as a medical assistant for a dermatologist. My experience with a patient, Joann, validated my ability to provide excellent hands-on patient care. Other physicians prescribed her painkillers to relieve the excruciating pain from the shingles rash, which presented as a fiery trail of blisters wrapped around her torso. But these painkillers offered no relief and made her so drowsy that she fell one night on the way to the bathroom.

Joann was tired, suffering, and beaten down. The lidocaine patches we initially prescribed would be a much safer option, but I refused for her to pay $250, as she was on the brink of losing her job. When she returned to the office a week later, she held my hand and cried tears of joy because I found her affordable patches, which helped her pain without the systemic effects.

The joy that pierced through the weariness in her eyes immediately confirmed that direct patient care like this was what I was meant to do. As I passed her a tissue, I felt ecstatic that I could make such a difference, and I sought to do more.

Since graduation, I have been volunteering at Open Door, a small pantry that serves a primarily Hispanic community of lower socioeconomic families. It is gut-wrenching to explain that we cannot give them certain items when our stock is low. After all, the fresh fruits and vegetables I serve are fundamental to their culturally-inspired meals.

For the first time, I found myself serving anguish rather than a helping hand. Usually, uplifting moments strengthen one’s desire to become a physician, but in this case, it was my ability to handle the low points that reignited my passion for aiding others.

After running out of produce one day, I was confused as to why a woman thanked me. Through translation by a fellow volunteer, I learned it was because of my positivity. She taught me that the way I approach unfavorable situations affects another’s perception and that my spirited attitude breaks through language barriers.

This volunteer work served as a wake-up call to the unacceptable fact that U.S. citizens’ health suffers due to lack of access to healthy foods. If someone cannot afford healthy foods, they may not have access to healthcare. In the future, I want to partner with other food banks to offer free services like blood pressure readings. I have always wanted to help people, but I now have a particular interest in bringing help to people who cannot afford it.

While the foundation of medicine is scientific knowledge, the foundation of healthcare is the word “care” itself. I never found out what happened to Michelle and her Christmas tree, but I still wonder about her to this day, and she has strengthened my passion to serve others. A sense of excitement and comfort stems from knowing that I will be there for people on their worst days, since I have already seen the impact my support has had.

In my mind, becoming a physician is not a choice but a natural next step to continue bringing humanity and compassion to those around me.

How did this personal statement grab and sustain attention so well?

  • Personalization: Everything about this statement helps you to understand the writer, from their personal experiences to their hope for how their future career will look.
  • Showing, not telling: From the first sentence, the reader is hooked. This prospective medical student has plenty of great “on paper” experience (early shadowing, clinical experience, etc.), but they showed this with storytelling, not by repeating their CV.
  • Empathy: An admissions committee reading this personal statement would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this student cares deeply about their patients. They remember first names, individual details, and the emotions that each patient made them feel.
  • A clear path forward: The writer doesn’t just want to work in the medical field — they have a passion for exactly how they want to impact the communities they serve. Outside of strictly medical work, they care about the way finances can limit access to healthcare and the struggle to find healthy food in food deserts around the US .

Read Next: How Hard Is It to Get Into Medical School?

Example 3 — Beyond the Diagnosis: The Importance of Individualized Care in Medicine

The applicant who wrote this personal statement was accepted into Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and Nova Southeastern University College Of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Haywood sighs and shakes her head upon opening the chart. “I was worried about her A1C. It’s up again. Hypertension, too. Alright, let’s go.”

As we enter the patient’s room, I’m expecting the news about her blood sugar and pressure to fill the room. Instead, Dr. Haywood says, “Roseline! How are you doing? How’s your girl, doing well?”

Dr. Haywood continues to ask questions, genuinely interested in Roseline’s experience as a new mother. If not for the parchment-lined examination chair and anatomy posters plastered to the wall, this exchange could be happening in a grocery store. What about her A1C? Her blood pressure? Potential Type II diabetes?

As I continue to listen, Dr. Haywood discovers that Roseline’s mother moved in with her, cooking Haitian meals I recognize as high on the glycemic index. Dr. Haywood effortlessly evolves their conversation to focus on these. Being Haitian herself, she knows some traditional dishes are healthier than others and advises Roseline to avoid those that might exacerbate her high blood sugar and blood pressure. Dr. Haywood also suggests Roseline incorporate exercise by bringing her baby on a walk through her neighborhood.

During my shadowing experience, I observed one of the core components of being a physician through several encounters like this one. By establishing a relationship with her patient where Roseline was comfortable sharing the details of new motherhood, Dr. Haywood was able to individualize her approach to lowering the patient’s A1C and hypertension. Inspired by her ability to treat the whole person , I began to adopt a similar practice as a tutor for elementary kids in underserved areas of D.C.

Shaniyah did not like Zoom, or math for that matter. When I first met her as a prospective tutee online, she preferred to keep her microphone muted and would claim she was finished with her math homework after barely attempting the first problem. Realizing that basing our sessions solely on math would be fruitless, I adapted my tutoring style to incorporate some of the things for which she had a natural affinity.

The first step was acknowledging the difficulties a virtual environment posed to effective communication, particularly the ease at which distractions might take over. After sharing this with Shaniyah, she immediately disclosed her struggles to share her work with me. With this information, I found an online platform that allowed us to visualize each other’s work.

This obstacle in communication overcome, Shaniyah felt more comfortable sharing details about herself that I utilized as her tutor. Her love of soccer gave me the idea to use the concept of goal scoring to help with addition, and soon Shaniyah’s math skills and enthusiasm began to improve. As our relationship grew, so did her successes, and I suspect the feelings I experienced as her tutor are the same as a physician’s when their patient responds well to prescribed treatment.

I believe this skill, caring for someone as a whole person , that I have learned and practiced through shadowing and tutoring is the central tenet of medicine that allows a doctor to successfully treat their patients.

Inspired by talking with patients who had received life-altering organ transplants during my shadowing experience, I created a club called D.C. Donors for Georgetown University students to encourage their peers to register as organ donors or donate blood. This experience taught me that to truly serve a person, you must involve your whole person, too.

In starting this club to help those in need of transplants, I had to dedicate my time and effort beyond just my physical interactions with these patients. For instance, this involved reaching out to D.C.’s organ procurement organization to inquire about a potential partnership with my club, to which they agreed. In addition, I organized tabling events on campus, which required significant planning and communication with both club members and my university.

Though exciting, starting a club was also a difficult process, especially given the limitations the pandemic imposed on in-person meetings and events. To adapt, I had to plan more engaging meetings, designing virtual activities to make members more comfortable contributing their ideas. In addition, planning a blood drive required extensive communication with my university to ensure the safety of the staff and participants during the pandemic.

Ultimately, I believe these behind-the-scenes actions were instrumental in addressing the need for organ and blood donors in the D.C. area.

From these experiences, I have grown to believe that good medicine not only necessitates the physician cares for her patient as a whole, but also that she fully commits her whole person to the care of the patient. Tutoring and starting D.C. Donors not only allowed me to develop these skills but also to experience such fulfilling emotions: the pride I had in Shaniyah when her math improved, the gratefulness I felt when she confided in me, the steadfast commitment I expressed to transplant patients, and the joy I had in collaborating with other passionate club members.

I envision a career as a physician to demand these skills of me and more, and I have confirmed my desire to become one after feeling so enriched by practicing them.

Here’s what makes this personal statement such a good example of what works:

  • Desirable qualities: The student clearly demonstrates qualities any school would want in an applicant: teachability, adaptability, leadership, organization, and empathy, to name a few. This again uses the “show, don’t tell” method, allowing the readers to understand the student without hand-holding.
  • Personalized storytelling: Many in the healthcare profession will connect with experiences like the ones expressed here, such as addressing patient concerns relationally or the lack of blood donors during the recent pandemic. The writer automatically makes a personal link between themselves and the admissions committees reading this statement.
  • Extensive (but not too long): Without feeling too wordy, this personal statement uses nearly all of the 5,300 characters allowed on the AMCAS application. There’s no fluff left in the final draft, only what matters.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

You can learn a lot from those personal statements. They avoid the most common mistakes that med school applicants make when writing the medical school personal statement.

Here are some things you should avoid in your personal statement if you want to be a doctor:

  • Name-dropping: Admissions counselors won’t be impressed when you brag about your highly regarded family members, associates, or mentors. You need to stand on your own feet — not someone else’s.
  • Dishonesty: Lies and exaggerations can torpedo your application. And they’re bad habits for anyone entering the medical field. Don’t do it.
  • Unedited AI content: Artificial intelligence can help you edit and improve your writing, but don’t let it do the work for you. Your statement needs to be authentic, which means in your voice! A chatbot can’t feel or adequately convey your own empathy, compassion, trauma, drive, or personality.
  • Grammatical errors and typos: Have someone reliable proofread your essay and scour it for typos, misspellings, and punctuation errors. Even free grammar-checking apps can catch mistakes!
  • Telling without showing: I’ll reiterate how important it is to prove your self-descriptive statements with real-life examples. Telling without showing won’t persuade readers.
  • Too many examples: Have 3-4 solid personal stories at most; only include a few that are crucial for providing your points. The more experiences you share, the less impact they’ll make.
  • Fluff and filler: Cut all fluff, filler words, and irrelevant points. There are many other places you can include information in your application, such as secondary essays on your clinical experience, volunteer work, and research projects . 

You can find more valuable do’s and don’ts in our in-depth guide to writing your best personal statement .

Need extra help? We’ve got you covered.

Schedule a meeting with medschoolcoach for expert support on writing and editing your personal statement. we’re here to help you impress medical school admissions committees .

Picture of Renee Marinelli, MD

Renee Marinelli, MD

Dr. Marinelli has practiced family medicine, served on the University of California Admissions Committee, and has helped hundreds of students get into medical school. She spearheads a team of physician advisors who guide MedSchoolCoach students.

See How We Can Help

Search for:, recent posts, medschoolcoach, recent blog posts.

Female student writing a medical school personal statement

Table of Contents The personal statement is one of the most important parts of the med school application process because[...]

March 4, 2024

diverse doctors clipart

Writing a Diversity Secondary Essay for Medical School

Table of Contents As you prepare to write medical school secondary essays, plan to see a question about diversity on[...]

January 3, 2018

The North Carolina state flag

Medical Schools in North Carolina

Check our our list of the medical schools in North Carolina to find median GPA and MCAT, and tuition rates[...]

October 21, 2023

The Pre-Med Journey

The Pre-Med Journey: What it Takes to Get into Medical School

Thinking about applying to medical school? Discover what high school students need to know about obtaining a career in medicine.

Successfully Planning for the USMLE Step 1 and 2 CK

Successfully Planning for the USMLE Step 1 and 2 CK

Get ready for the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 with this free guide to study planning and resource utilization.

100 MCAT Study Tips

100 MCAT Study Tips

Taking the MCAT? These 100 tips and tricks will help you ace the MCAT.

Call us at (888) 381-9509

Call Us Now

Or, Schedule a Meeting Below

personal statement medicine tutor

Medicine Personal Statement Tutoring

I had a great experience with MedicHut, they have helped me a lot with my personal statement from Ikrah and Sherzah who gave me tons of feedback on my personal statement. I fully recommend Medichut as the best option for the personal statement and any kind of tuition.

Get expert support with your medical school personal statement

Do you need a hand with your medicine personal statement ? The great news is that MedicHut offers medicine personal statement tutoring with tutors that can help you every step of the way – whether you’re just starting off, stuck somewhere in the middle, or just want a bit of time to discuss your finished personal statement. Our methods have proven successful for medical school applications all over the country, including Oxbridge. Wherever you’re applying for medicine, we’re here to help!

Here are some scenarios to show what your personal statement tutor can help you with:

Gcse students.

You’re a GCSE student with a keen interest in medicine. You want to get a head start and would like to make a thorough plan of what you should do over the next couple of years to get ready. Your medicine personal statement tutor will help you prepare the foundations of your personal statement. They will help you to secure good quality and quantity of medical work experience in clinical settings as well as discuss your personal extracurricular activities and how you can improve them for your medical school application . At this stage, you will not start writing your medical school personal statement, but it’s the perfect time to speak to a personal statement tutor and ensure you’re highly prepared.

Applying to medicine this year and unsure where to start

Your medical school application deadline is approaching but you have limited medical work experience , have never volunteered, don’t do any extracurricular activities, and you’re panicking! Your medicine personal statement tutor will help you draw out your previous, seemingly mediocre experiences and form excellent content for your personal statement. You will also be given very practical tips on what you can do to get some quick experience that will be very beneficial for your personal statement and medical school application. Further, your personal statement tutor will help you form your personal statement from start to finish and conduct edits and checks as required.

You have already started your personal statement

You’ve started your personal statement and it seems to be going well. You have a lot of ideas and need to narrow them down. You want someone to look over your list of experiences and help you decide which can form the best content for your personal statement for medical school.

When you already have an idea of how to form your personal statement, a MedicHut personal statement tutor will be extremely beneficial. They’ll teach you exactly how to draw out the most remarkable parts of your experiences, how to structure your paragraphs, and how to really sell yourself. They’ll also help you save a lot of time researching endlessly, and save you the trouble of potentially using the wrong advice. Our tutors have all of the expertise and experiences needed to write an excellent medicine personal statement, with proven methods and strategies.

Sessions are all conducted via online platforms.

If you’re unsure if a personal statement tutor will be right for you, request a callback or  email us  to discuss your requirements.

Learn now, pay later, with up to 4 months of 0% interest instalment plans. Select an instalment plan under ‘Payment’ when you click ‘Book Now’!

Frequently asked questions, how do i schedule personal statement tutoring once booked.

Please ensure you use your WhatsApp contact number on booking. You can contact us on WhatsApp at +44 7851 862356 with your booking confirmation, or you can wait for us to contact you on WhatsApp to schedule tuition.

Where are the tuition sessions held?

Medicine personal statement tutoring sessions are held virtually, via Zoom, Teams, or Google Meets.

Can my tutor help write my personal statement?

Your tutor will support you to write and perfect your personal statement for you medical school application. Your personal statement tutor cannot write your personal statement for you.

Can I split the cost of payments for medicine personal statement tutoring?

If you’d like to split the cost of payment, you can do so over a period of 2, 3, or 4 months. If you’d like to register for this, simply select your desired payment plan under ‘Payment’ when booking. This will charge you for the first instalment, and all future instalments will go out of your account automatically on the same day each month until the balance is settled. For example, if purchasing 10 hours over 2 monthly instalments, you’ll pay £175 up front, then will be charged another £175 one month later.

This is not a finance option, and as such, there aren’t prerequisites for approval. However, you would be under contract to complete your payments and be liable for any unpaid services, which you can find more information about in our terms and conditions .

Please note that when you’re splitting the cost of payments, you’re limited to a maximum number of tuition hours per month. For example, if you’re splitting the cost of 40 hours of tuition over 4 months, you can use up to 10 hours per month of tuition.

Can I get a bursary for personal statement tutoring?

We currently offer bursaries for our live courses and MMI circuits . We don’t have any bursaries at the moment for one-to-one support. Please see our bursary page for more details.

Speak to an admissions expert today!

Some of our partners.

personal statement medicine tutor

Make a Secure Purchase

Awaiting product image

£ 45.00 – £ 1,400.00

— OR —

If you have a coupon code, please apply it below.

Apply coupon

Billing details

Name  *

Email address  *

Product Total
Cart Subtotal 0.00
Order Total 0.00
  • Credit or debit card

Application

By placing an order on  www.medichut.com , you are agreeing to be bound by the Terms and Conditions outlined here. Should you have any queries about the terms outlined, please contact us on 02034 888644 or  [email protected] .

  • The description of the services and any goods is as set out on our website, emails, social media, or other form of advertisement. Any description is for illustrative purposes only and there may be small discrepancies actual services or goods supplied.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure that any information or specification you provide is accurate.
  • All services which appear on the website are subject to availability.
  • We can make changes to our services which are necessary to comply with any applicable law or safety requirement. If changes are made after your purchase, we will notify you of these changes.

Customer Responsibilities

Virtual goods and services.

  • The goods and services provided to you must not be shared with another party without explicit consent from MedicHut, the provider.
  • Any virtual goods, such as PDF book files, are for the personal viewing of the customer who has purchased the good. The customer has a legal responsibility not to share such files with other parties.
  • Any virtual classes, held via Zoom or any other medium, must be attended solely by the customer who has registered for that session. There should not be more than a single viewer (i.e. the customer) except with explicit consent by MedicHut, the provider.
  • Any individual found to be sharing their purchased goods or services is liable to fees at least equivalent to the cost of the good or service, multiplied by the number of people it is found to be shared with. MedicHut reserves the right to obtain these fees from the customer.

Payment Plans (NOT through Knoma)

  • When entering a payment plan (i.e. the payment of a good or service in parts, rather than in whole), the customer enters a contract whereby the full payment must be completed in the timeframe agreed upon.
  • Payment will be taken automatically from the payment card used for the initial instalment.
  • If the automatic payment fails, the system will retry collection of payment. 
  • If you expect payment to be late, you must inform MedicHut via email or WhatsApp at least 1 day before the due date. You will then be granted a 7-day grace window for the payment to be completed. 
  • In the event that payment is not completed by the invoice due date, or by the late payment date if notified before the due date, the payment will be classified as late.
  • Late payments will incur a late payment fee of £10 which will be taken as an automatic charge. If our provider is unable to charge your card, an invoice will be sent for the late payment fee, which must be cleared by the due date of the next invoice. 
  • If the customer’s final payment is late, and the card cannot be charged, the late payment fee will be due 1 month after the final invoice date. 
  • Late payment fees are taken as a separate charge, or a separate invoice. 
  • In the event that the monthly payment is not paid in full within 1 month of the invoice date, a further £10 late payment fee will be added to the due balance. Every 14 days following this, a further £10 will be added in late payment fees. All late payment fees are due by the next month’s invoice due date. 
  • All services will be paused until the balance is cleared, including late payment fees. 
  • Failure to make payments can result in immediate termination of the contract, and MedicHut reserves the right to immediately cease any service provision to the customer and charge a fee equivalent to the goods and services used by the customer that have not been paid for in full. This may include an increase in the agreed rate of a service. For example, the cessation of hourly tuition at 5 hours, when purchased at a 40-hour rate, will result in the increase of the rate to that of 5 hours and any additional sums must be paid by the customer.
  • For orders placed with payment plans that are NOT processed through Knoma (i.e. processed through MedicHut directly), tuition hours cannot be used faster than the rate of pay. For example, for tuition at a rate of £30/hour, to use 10 lessons a month, the payment must be equal to, or more than, £300 in the month. If a customer requires more lessons than the agreed rate of payment, the provider is able to adjust the payment terms to a larger sum in order to cover the number of tuition hours being used. The provider may approve the use of a reasonably larger number of tuition hours than the rate of pay. It is the customer’s responsibility to discuss the need for any alterations.

Payment Plans through Knoma

  • The customer has a right to withdraw from the product for any reason within 14 days of the initial agreement with Knoma. Using any of the services within the product nullifies this right. Please see point 26 below for the full refund policy.
  • If you wish to withdraw from your contract with Knoma, you will need to pay the entire outstanding balance within 30 days of giving notice of withdrawal.
  • Any cancellations are subject to a 10% cancellation fee + the original cost of any product used. For example, if a package is purchased for £500, and a £100 product is used, the cancellation fee will be £50 (10% of the total) + £100 for the original cost of the product used. If a cancellation is made within 14 days of the initial agreement with Knoma and no products are used bar the ebooks sent on purchase, the student must make a payment to MedicHut equivalent to the original cost of the ebooks and no other fees will apply.
  • Should you cancel your purchase with us, any refund will be processed directly to Knoma to contribute to your remaining balance on your loan. Your remaining due balance must be paid directly to Knoma.
  • Knoma abides by their own terms and conditions which you must agree to before signing your finance agreement.
  • Students are responsible for monitoring their own tuition hours. Any additional hours used above the total number booked will be invoiced at the standard tuition rate and must be paid within 14 days. Any queries about remaining tuition hours should be emailed to [email protected] .
  • Failure to pay invoice(s) for any extra hour(s) used can result in a card charge from MedicHut for the due amount.
  • Non-attendance of a lesson without prior notice will result in the lesson being deducted from the total number of tuition hours, as a standard hour. The notice period required is set by each individual tutor. If a notice period is not provided by the tutor, non-attendance is defined as failing to attend within 10 minutes of the scheduled lesson, without giving notice prior to the start time of the lesson.
  • If a student is late to a lesson, the tutor reserves the right to complete the lesson at the allocated time and deduct the total scheduled lesson time from the student’s hours.
  • The student has the right to request a change of tutors for any reason. Such requests should be sent to MedicHut on WhatsApp at +44 7851 862356 .
  • The refund policy will apply as found here .

Personal information

  • We retain and use all information strictly under our  Privacy Policy .
  • We may contact you by using e-mail or other electronic communication methods and you expressly agree to this.

Basis of Sale

  • The description of the Services and any Goods in our website does not constitute a contractual offer to sell the Services or Goods. When an Order has been submitted on the Website, we can reject it for any reason, although we will try to tell you the reason without delay.
  • Each step of the order process allows you to check and amend any errors before submitting the Order. It is your responsibility to ensure that an order is carried out as intended by yourself.
  • A legally-binding contract will be formed for the services ordered only when you receive an email from us confirming the order. You must ensure that the order confirmation is complete and accurate and inform us immediately of any errors. We are not responsible for any inaccuracies in the order placed by you. By placing an order, you agree to us giving you confirmation of the contract by means of an email with all information in it (ie the order confirmation). You will receive the order confirmation within a reasonable time after making the contract.
  • No variation of the contract, whether about description of the services, or otherwise, can be made after it has been entered into unless the variation is agreed by the consumer and the supplier in writing.

Delivery of Goods and Services

  • We aim to deliver all of our goods and services to you within a reasonable time frame, or as what is set out on our website. If we do not deliver the goods or services to you on time, you can contact us to request a cancellation of your order, should you wish.

Circumstances Beyond the Control of Either Party

  • the party will advise the other party as soon as reasonably practicable; and
  • the party’s obligations will be suspended so far as is reasonable, provided that that party will act reasonably, and the party will not be liable for any failure which it could not reasonably avoid, but this will not affect the Customer’s above rights relating to delivery (and the right to cancel below).

Right to Cancellation

  • You are bound by the terms outlined in our  Returns and Refunds  policy when requesting a cancellation of contract or refund of a good or service.
  • Your privacy is critical to us. We respect your privacy and comply with the General Data Protection Regulation with regards to your personal information.
  • These Terms and Conditions should be read alongside, and are in addition to our policies, including our Privacy Policy .

Work Experience

  • All users must be 16 years or older when starting a residential programme unless specifically agreed otherwise. Consent from a legal parent or guardian is necessary under the age of 18.  If 18 years of age or older, no parental consent is necessary.
  • You and we are expected to show reasonable flexibility in arranging your hours of work. The nature of working in a hospital or university environment means sometimes it can be impractical to stick to a rigid pattern of fixed working hours. When you join a work experience programme you may be expected to work different hours depending on the working hours of the appointed healthcare professional. Your hours will typically be spread over a five-day working week, and should not normally exceed 8 hours a day. You should never be required to work for more than a maximum of six days a week.
  • We must obtain permission from and register you with local Police and immigration authorities to enable you to stay in local accommodation during your placement. It is a condition of their permission that you should not invite guests (either local or foreign) to stay overnight at your accommodation without prior approval from the relevant authority. Failure to adhere to this condition will be a disciplinary matter and will be dealt with accordingly.
  • Due to the extremely limited nature of work experience availability, the cancellation and amendment policy is strictly outlined.
  • Our charge for an amendment is normally £45 plus any costs incurred by us. If the total cost is going to exceed £95, we will provide you with a quotation before proceeding.
  • For residential events, the cancellation charge with more than 180 days notice is £395. Cancellation with less than 180 days notice results in no refund.
  • For one-day events, the cancellation charge is £95 when requested, in writing, more than 30 days before the event date. You may potentially transfer your booking of a one-day event to a future date for a fee of £45 at our discretion and subject to availability.
  • Occasionally, given the nature of our work, we may be forced to make a change to the advertised projects or elements within them. It is necessary for a flexible approach to be adopted by participants with regards to this as items such as activities, schedules, itineraries, facilities and modes of transport may be subject to change without prior notice due to local circumstances or Force Majeure. We reserve the right to make these changes for the benefit of the project, most of which will be very minor and we will advise you of these at the earliest opportunity.
  • Except where expressly stated in these booking conditions, we will not be liable or pay you compensation if our contractual obligations to you are affected by any event which we or the supplier(s) of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. These events can include, but are not limited to war, threat of war, civil strife terrorist activity and its consequences or the threat of such activity, riot, the act of any government or other national or local authority, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, chemical or biological disaster and all similar events outside our or the supplier(s) concerned’s control.
  • Very rarely, we may be forced to terminate or suspend an activity forming part of a Placement or a Placement itself due to Force Majeure. In these circumstances, we may decide it is necessary to evacuate participants from the location of the activity or the placement Location, or take such other measures as it shall deem (in its sole discretion) necessary in order to ensure each participant and our staff’s safety and security.
  • Dates, schedules, programme details and cost are given in good faith, based on information available and in force at the time they are given and are subject to change and revision in the event of a change of circumstances. In the event that we are unable to provide a suitable placement of the type requested, we will instead offer an alternative placement and will refund any difference between the price paid for the project placement and the price charged for the alternative placement in the country in question.

For any enquiries, please contact  [email protected] .

I have read and agree to the website terms and conditions , privacy policy and the returns/refund policy .   *

  • Medical School Application

Medical School Personal Statement Examples That Got 6 Acceptances

Featured Admissions Expert: Dr. Monica Taneja, MD

Medical School Personal Statement Examples That Got 6 Acceptances

These 30 exemplary medical school personal statement examples come from our students who enrolled in one of our medical school admissions consulting programs. These examples led to multiple acceptance for our student’s dream schools. In this article we'll also provide you a step-by-step guide for composing your own outstanding personal statement from scratch. If you follow this strategy, you're going to have a stellar statement whether you apply to the most competitive or the easiest medical schools to get into .

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

Listen to the blog!

Article Contents 31 min read

Stellar medical school personal statement examples that got multiple acceptances, medical school personal statement example #1 – six acceptances.

I made my way to Hillary’s house after hearing about her alcoholic father’s incarceration. Seeing her tearfulness and at a loss for words, I took her hand and held it, hoping to make things more bearable. She squeezed back gently in reply, “thank you.” My silent gesture seemed to confer a soundless message of comfort, encouragement and support.

Through mentoring, I have developed meaningful relationships with individuals of all ages, including seven-year-old Hillary. Many of my mentees come from disadvantaged backgrounds; working with them has challenged me to become more understanding and compassionate. Although Hillary was not able to control her father’s alcoholism and I had no immediate solution to her problems, I felt truly fortunate to be able to comfort her with my presence. Though not always tangible, my small victories, such as the support I offered Hillary, hold great personal meaning. Similarly, medicine encompasses more than an understanding of tangible entities such as the science of disease and treatment—to be an excellent physician requires empathy, dedication, curiosity and love of problem solving. These are skills I have developed through my experiences both teaching and shadowing inspiring physicians.

Medicine encompasses more than hard science. My experience as a teaching assistant nurtured my passion for medicine; I found that helping students required more than knowledge of organic chemistry. Rather, I was only able to address their difficulties when I sought out their underlying fears and feelings. One student, Azra, struggled despite regularly attending office hours. She approached me, asking for help. As we worked together, I noticed that her frustration stemmed from how intimidated she was by problems. I helped her by listening to her as a fellow student and normalizing her struggles. “I remember doing badly on my first organic chem test, despite studying really hard,” I said to Azra while working on a problem. “Really? You’re a TA, shouldn’t you be perfect?” I looked up and explained that I had improved my grades through hard work. I could tell she instantly felt more hopeful, she said, “If you could do it, then I can too!” When she passed, receiving a B+;I felt as if I had passed too. That B+ meant so much: it was a tangible result of Azra’s hard work, but it was also symbol of our dedication to one another and the bond we forged working together.

My passion for teaching others and sharing knowledge emanates from my curiosity and love for learning. My shadowing experiences in particular have stimulated my curiosity and desire to learn more about the world around me. How does platelet rich plasma stimulate tissue growth? How does diabetes affect the proximal convoluted tubule? My questions never stopped. I wanted to know everything and it felt very satisfying to apply my knowledge to clinical problems.

Shadowing physicians further taught me that medicine not only fuels my curiosity; it also challenges my problem solving skills. I enjoy the connections found in medicine, how things learned in one area can aid in coming up with a solution in another. For instance, while shadowing Dr. Steel I was asked, “What causes varicose veins and what are the complications?” I thought to myself, what could it be? I knew that veins have valves and thought back to my shadowing experience with Dr. Smith in the operating room. She had amputated a patient’s foot due to ulcers obstructing the venous circulation. I replied, “veins have valves and valve problems could lead to ulcers.” Dr. Steel smiled, “you’re right, but it doesn’t end there!” Medicine is not disconnected; it is not about interventional cardiology or orthopedic surgery. In fact, medicine is intertwined and collaborative. The ability to gather knowledge from many specialties and put seemingly distinct concepts together to form a coherent picture truly attracts me to medicine.

It is hard to separate science from medicine; in fact, medicine is science. However, medicine is also about people—their feelings, struggles and concerns. Humans are not pre-programmed robots that all face the same problems. Humans deserve sensitive and understanding physicians. Humans deserve doctors who are infinitely curious, constantly questioning new advents in medicine. They deserve someone who loves the challenge of problem solving and coming up with innovative individualized solutions. I want to be that physician. I want to be able to approach each case as a unique entity and incorporate my strengths into providing personalized care for my patients. Until that time, I may be found Friday mornings in the operating room, peering over shoulders, dreaming about the day I get to hold the drill.

Let's take a step back to consider what this medical school personal statement example does, not just what it says. It begins with an engaging hook in the first paragraph and ends with a compelling conclusion. The introduction draws you in, making the essay almost impossible to put down, while the conclusion paints a picture of someone who is both passionate and dedicated to the profession. In between the introduction and conclusion, this student makes excellent use of personal narrative. The anecdotes chosen demonstrate this individual's response to the common question, " Why do you want to be a doctor ?" while simultaneously making them come across as compassionate, curious, and reflective.

This person is clearly a talented writer, but this was the result of several rounds of edits with one of our medical school admissions consulting team members and a lot of hard work.

If your essay is not quite there yet, or if you're just getting started, don't sweat it. A good personal statement will take time and editing. 

I was one of those kids who always wanted to be doctor. I didn’t understand the responsibilities and heartbreaks, the difficult decisions, and the years of study and training that go with the title, but I did understand that the person in the white coat stood for knowledge, professionalism, and compassion. As a child, visits to the pediatrician were important events. I’d attend to my hair and clothes, and travel to the appointment in anticipation. I loved the interaction with my doctor. I loved that whoever I was in the larger world, I could enter the safe space of the doctor’s office, and for a moment my concerns were heard and evaluated. I listened as my mother communicated with the doctor. I’d be asked questions, respectfully examined, treatments and options would be weighed, and we would be on our way. My mother had been supported in her efforts to raise a well child, and I’d had a meaningful interaction with an adult who cared for my body and development. I understood medicine as an act of service, which aligned with my values, and became a dream.

I was hospitalized for several months as a teenager and was inspired by the experience, despite the illness. In the time of diagnosis, treatment and recovery, I met truly sick children. Children who were much more ill than me. Children who wouldn’t recover. We shared a four-bed room, and we shared our medical stories. Because of the old hospital building, there was little privacy in our room, and we couldn’t help but listen-in during rounds, learning the medical details, becoming “experts” in our four distinct cases. I had more mobility than some of the patients, and when the medical team and family members were unavailable, I’d run simple errands for my roommates, liaise informally with staff, and attend to needs. To bring physical relief, a cold compress, a warmed blanket, a message to a nurse, filled me with such an intense joy and sense of purpose that I applied for a volunteer position at the hospital even before my release.

I have since been volunteering in emergency departments, out-patient clinics, and long term care facilities. While the depth of human suffering is at times shocking and the iterations of illness astounding, it is in the long-term care facility that I had the most meaningful experiences by virtue of my responsibilities and the nature of the patients’ illnesses. Charles was 55 when he died. He had early onset Parkinson’s Disease with dementia that revealed itself with a small tremor when he was in his late twenties. Charles had a wife and three daughters who visited regularly, but whom he didn’t often remember. Over four years as a volunteer, my role with the family was to fill in the spaces left by Charles’ periodic inability to project his voice as well as his growing cognitive lapses. I would tell the family of his activities between their visits, and I would remind him of their visits and their news. This was a hard experience for me. I watched as 3 daughters, around my own age, incrementally lost their father. I became angry, and then I grew even more determined.

In the summer of third year of my Health Sciences degree, I was chosen to participate in an undergraduate research fellowship in biomedical research at my university. As part of this experience, I worked alongside graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, medical students, physicians, and faculty in Alzheimer’s research into biomarkers that might predict future disease. We collaborated in teams, and by way of the principal investigator’s careful leadership, I learned wherever one falls in terms of rank, each contribution is vital to the outcome. None of the work is in isolation. For instance, I was closely mentored by Will, a graduate student who had been in my role the previous summer. He, in turn, collaborated with post docs and medical students, turning to faculty when roadblocks were met. While one person’s knowledge and skill may be deeper than another’s, individual efforts make up the whole. Working in this team, aside from developing research skills, I realized that practicing medicine is not an individual pursuit, but a collaborative commitment to excellence in scholarship and leadership, which all begins with mentorship.

Building on this experience with teamwork in the lab, I participated in a global health initiative in Nepal for four months, where I worked alongside nurses, doctors, and translators. I worked in mobile rural health camps that offered tuberculosis care, monitored the health and development of babies and children under 5, and tended to minor injuries. We worked 11-hour days helping hundreds of people in the 3 days we spent in each location. Patients would already be in line before we woke each morning. I spent each day recording basic demographic information, blood pressure, pulse, temperature, weight, height, as well as random blood sugar levels, for each patient, before they lined up to see a doctor. Each day was exhausting and satisfying. We helped so many people. But this satisfaction was quickly displaced by a developing understanding of issues in health equity.

My desire to be doctor as a young person was not misguided, but simply naïve. I’ve since learned the role of empathy and compassion through my experiences as a patient and volunteer. I’ve broadened my contextual understanding of medicine in the lab and in Nepal. My purpose hasn’t changed, but what has developed is my understanding that to be a physician is to help people live healthy, dignified lives by practicing both medicine and social justice.

Want to hear more medical school personal statement examples that got accepted?

28 More Medical School Personal Statement Examples That Got Accepted

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t I pursue medicine sooner?\u201d Is the question that now occupies my mind. Leila made me aware of the unprofessional treatment delivered by some doctors. My subsequent activities confirmed my desire to become a doctor who cares deeply for his patients and provides the highest quality care. My passion for research fuels my scientific curiosity. I will continue to advocate for patient equality and fairness. Combining these qualities will allow me to succeed as a physician. ","label":"Med School PS Example #10","title":"Med School PS Example #10"}]" code="tab4" template="BlogArticle">

" It was the middle of the night when I received the call that my friend was trying to jump off the 30th floor of an apartment building. When I got to her, all I could see was anguish and fear in her eyes as she looked back at me from the balcony. I was eventually able to talk her down, but this was only one of many times I came to her aid as she struggled with mental illness."

Medical school personal statement example: #12

" I lost my brother before I had the opportunity to meet him. Technology was not advanced enough in my hometown in India for my mother to know she had lost her child before it laid still in her arms."

Medical school personal statement example: #13

" After six years of being in the closet, I came out to my parents as bisexual in the middle of a family dinner, blurting out the confession as I couldn’t hold it in anymore ... To me, this was just one small piece of me and my identity that was different but for some, it makes all the difference."

Medical school personal statement example: #14

" While shadowing primary care physicians, neurologists and a laryngologist however, I realized just how untrue the idea of doctors failing to feel helpless can be ... Looking back now, I didn’t yet comprehend that doctors were human and didn’t always have all of the answers. This was my first encounter with the limitations of medicine."

Medical school personal statement example: #15

" Having been both a patient and a teacher, I have experienced the importance of paying attention to brief moments that can offer great transformation."

Medical school personal statement example: #16

" “Who are you?” At 20 years old, I stood face to face with my abuela, but I was now a stranger. Our relationship had been erased with those three simple words. My abuela, as I had known her, was gone."

Medical school personal statement example: #17

" As a child growing up, I faced signs in Mandarin and Hindu scriptures with a mixture of curiosity and frustration. Across the street from my childhood home, I saw the effect of misunderstanding played out in reverse at the hospital ... I could not hear the conversations, but I recognized the expression on the receptionist’s face each time she spoke to a Hindi-speaking patient—wrinkled nose and a raised eyebrow with a look of confusion. At a young age, I understood how discouraging even simple communication could be across a language barrier."

Medical school personal statement example: #18

" The high pitched siren broke silence in a frosty winter morning. Stationed on the curbside was an ambulance with flashing red and white lights with my mother inside. Not long ago, our car skidded on ice and hit a tree ... In the next few days, I sat alongside my mother in the hospital, praying that her pain would ease and she would recover soon."

Medical school personal statement example: #19

" Coping with my mother’s visual hallucinations, amnesia, and overall emotional instability was frustrating and exhausting. I was heartbroken watching the strong, independent woman who raised me struggle to be herself. Nevertheless, I witnessed the necessity of having faith and proper support in overcoming hurdles such as these."

Medical school personal statement example: #20

" While it was devastating to learn that there was no treatment for NCL, it highlighted the importance of medical research ... The connection the doctors developed with my family, the way they taught us about NCL, and the hope their research on NCL gave us helped drive my curiosity and love for medicine."

Medical school personal statement example: #21

" We were passing through the blinding lights of New York City when the incident happened. It happened slowly, like in a movie. Shuffling along the crowded sidewalk, holding my mother’s hand, I suddenly felt her fingers slip from my grasp."

Medical school personal statement example: #22

"W hen I was ten years old, I had an uncle I’d never met before come to visit. When my mother introduced him to us, she told us that he was a travelling physician for doctors without borders ... He told us that his job was to provide care for people in need, regardless of race, nationality, class, or creed. 'One day, maybe you can join me,' he said."

Medical school personal statement example: #23

" When I was young, I wanted to be just like my father ... As I got older, the veil of importance I always viewed him with began to lift – the smoke in front of my eyes swept away in a cold gust of wind. On my 16th birthday, he gave me the only advice he would ever give before he died."

Medical school personal statement example: #24

" As I watched smoke curl around my grandfather’s chapped hands, I often wondered if the burning red tip of the cigarette kept him warm in the cold prairie winter ... Cigarettes were bad for you, he'd say, yet he continued the ritual every workday. Adults always told us they were bad for your health. But nobody told Grandpa he shouldn’t smoke."

Medical school personal statement example: #25

" To me, being a psychiatrist is like dropping a few coins in a cup. It doesn’t seem like enough, but little by little, those coins start to add up."

Medical school personal statement example: #26

" I wasn’t supposed to live past the age of 25. Growing up in a neighborhood where drug use was commonplace and crime rates were high, every young person could see what their future held every day on the walk home from school."

Medical school personal statement example: #27

" When we returned home after the mission trip, that sense of pride hung around. I reflected on my trip, and I realized ... while dentistry still didn’t spark my passions, my interest in medicine had been ignited."

Medical school personal statement example: #28

"' People like Annie have problems that won’t go away,' Dr. Dean said, 'but that doesn’t mean we can’t help.'"

Medical school personal statement example: #29

" We were out on patrol one night and heard shouting. We called it in and ran over, fearing the worst. What we found was a small boy – one of the local kids – who had tripped and scraped his knee. Well, didn’t Jeff patch him up with his field kit, showing a great bedside manner for a guy in full tactical gear."

Medical school personal statement example: #30

" I’m not decrying loud music, but ... a series of bad decisions and ignored warnings may have condemned me to a future of obnoxious background noise."

Are you a medical school reapplicant? Check out some medical school reapplicant personal statement examples. ","label":"NOTE","title":"NOTE"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

Tips to Create Your Exemplary Medical School Personal Statement

Your med school personal statement is one of the most important medical school requirements . It tells your story of why you decided to pursue the medical profession. Keep in mind that personal statements are one of the key factors that affect medical school acceptance rates . A well-written personal statement can mean the difference between acceptance and rejection!

“Personal statements are often emphasized in your application to medical school as this singular crucial factor that distinguishes you from every other applicant. Demonstrating the uniqueness of my qualities is precisely how I found myself getting multiple interviews and offers into medical school.” – Dr. Vincent Adeyemi, MD

Personal statements remain one of the most challenging parts of students' journeys to medical school. Here's our student Melissa sharing her experience of working on her personal statement:

"I struggled making my personal statement personal... I couldn't incorporate my feelings, motives and life stories that inspired me to pursue medicine into my personal statement" - Melissa, BeMo Student

Let's approach this step-by-step. Here's a quick run-down of what we'll cover in the article:

#1 Review What Makes a Strong Medical School Personal Statement

Before discussing how to write a strong medical school personal statement, we first need to understand the qualities of a strong essay. Similar to crafting strong medical school secondary essays , writing a strong personal statement is a challenging, yet extremely important, part of your MD or MD-PhD programs applications. Your AMCAS Work and Activities section may show the reader what you have done, but the personal statement explains why.

This is how Dr. Neel Mistry, MD and our admissions expert, prepared for his medical school personal statement writing:

"The personal statement is an opportunity for you to shine and really impress the committee to invite you for an interview. The personal statement is your chance to be reflective and go beyond what is stated on your CV and [activities]. In order to stand out, it is important to answer the main questions [of medical school personal statements] well: a bit about yourself and what led you to medicine, why you would make an ideal medical student and future physician, what attracts you to [medicine], and what sets you apart from the other candidates. The key here is answering the last two questions well. Most candidates simply highlight what they have done, but do not reflect on it or mention how what they have done has prepared them for a future medical career." - Dr. Neel Mistry, MD

A personal statement should be deeply personal, giving the admissions committee insight into your passions and your ultimate decision to pursue a career in medicine. A compelling and introspective personal statement can make the difference between getting a medical school interview and facing medical school rejection .

As you contemplate the task in front of you, you may be wondering what composing an essay has to do with entering the field of medicine. Many of our students were surprised to learn that medical school personal statements are so valued by med schools. The two things are more closely related than you think. A compelling personal statement demonstrates your written communication skills and highlights your accomplishments, passions, and aspirations. The ability to communicate a complex idea in a short space is an important skill as a physician. You should demonstrate your communication skills by writing a concise and meaningful statement that illustrates your best attributes. Leaving a lasting impression on your reader is what will lead to interview invitations.

#2 Brainstorm Ideas to Make Your Medical School Personal Statement Stand Out

Personal statements for medical school often start by explaining why medicine is awesome; but the admission committee already knows that. You should explain why you want a career in medicine. What is it about the practice of medicine that resonates with who you are? Here are some additional questions you can consider as you go about brainstorming for your essay:

  • What motivates you to learn more about medicine?
  • What is something you want them to know about you that isn't in your application?
  • Where were you born, how did you grow up, and what type of childhood did you have growing up (perhaps including interesting stories about your siblings, parents, grandparents)?
  • What kinds of early exposure to the medical field left an impression on you as a child?
  • Did you become familiar with and interested in the field of medicine at an early stage of your life? If so, why?
  • What are your key strengths, and how have you developed these?
  • What steps did you take to familiarize yourself with the medical profession?
  • Did you shadow a physician? Did you volunteer or work in a clinical setting? Did you get involved in medical research?
  • What challenges have you faced? Have these made an impact on what you chose to study?
  • What are your favorite activities?
  • What kinds of extracurriculars for medical school or volunteer work have you done, and how have these shaped who you are, your priorities, and or your perspectives on a career in medicine?
  • What was your "Aha!" moment?
  • When did your desire to become a doctor solidify?
  • How did you make the decision to apply to medical school?

You shouldn't try to answer all of these in your essay. Try a few main points that will carry over into the final draft. Start developing your narrative by prioritizing the most impactful responses to these prompts and the ideas that are most relevant to your own experiences and goals. The perfect personal statement not only shows the admissions committee that you have refined communication skills, but also conveys maturity and professionalism.

Here's how our student Alison, who was a non-traditional applicant with a serious red flag in her application, used her brainstorming sessions with our admissions experts to get a theme going in her medical school personal statement and her overall application package:

"I think it was during my brainstorming session that we really started talking about... what the theme [was] going to be for my application. And I think that was really helpful in and of itself. Just [reflecting] 'Hey, what's your focus going to be like? How are we going to write this? What's the style going to be?' Just to create an element of consistency throughout..." Alison, BeMo Student, current student at Dell Medical School 

After brainstorming, you should be able to clearly see two to four key ideas, skills, qualities, and intersections that you want to write about.

As you begin thinking about what to include in your personal essay, remember that you are writing for a specific audience with specific expectations. The admissions committee will be examining your essay through the lens of their particular school's mission, values, and priorities, as well as the qualities of an ideal physician.

"Make it easy for the reader to be able to work [their] way through [your personal statement]. Because, at the end of the day, I think one thing that helped me a lot was being able to think about who was going to be reading this application and it's going to be these people that are sitting around a desk or sitting at a table and [go] through massive numbers of applications every single day. And the easier and more digestible that you can make it for them, gives you a little bit of a win." - Alison, BeMo student, current student at Dell Medical School

You should think about your experiences with reference to the AAMC Core Competencies and to each school's mission statement so that you're working toward your narrative with the institution and broader discipline in mind. The AAMC Core Competencies are the key characteristics and skills sought by U.S. medical schools.

You are not expected to have mastered all of these competencies at this stage of your education. Display those that are relevant to your experiences will help demonstrate your commitment to the medical profession.

#4 How to Answer the Prompt, Without a Prompt

Your personal statement is, in essence, an essay prompt without a prompt. They give you free rein to write your own prompt to tell your story. This is often difficult for students as they find it hard to get started without having a true direction. However, you can think of this question as essentially having the prompt “why do you want to become a doctor?” . Here are some questions to guide your self-reflection:

  • The moment your passion for medicine crystallized
  • The events that led you toward this path
  • Specific instances in which you experienced opportunities
  • Challenges that helped shape your worldview
  • Your compassion, resilience, or enthusiastic collaboration
  • Demonstrate your commitment to others
  • Your dependability
  • Your leadership skills
  • Your ability to problem-solve or to resolve a conflict

These are personal, impactful experiences that only you have had. Focus on the personal, and connect that to the values of your future profession. Do that and you will avoid writing the same essay as everyone else. Dr. Monica Taneja, MD and our admissions expert, shares her tip that got her accepted to the University of Maryland School of Medicine :

"I focused on my journey to medicine and opportunities that I sought out along the way. Everyone’s path and validation is unique, so walking the reader through your growth to the point of application will naturally be different, but that's what I wanted to share in my personal statement." - Dr. Monica Taneja, MD

#5 reflect on your theme.

Admissions committees don't want your medical school resumé in narrative form. All that stuff is already in the activities section of the application. This is where you should discuss interesting or important life events that shaped you and your interest in medicine (a service trip to rural Guatemala, a death in the family, a personal experience as a patient).

“The essay is not about what you have been through; it's about who it made you into.” – Dr. Vincent Adeyemi, MD

One suggestion is to have an overarching theme to your essay to tie everything together, starting with an intriguing personal anecdote. Alternatively, you can use one big metaphor or analogy through the essay.

Dr. Jaime Cazes, MD encourages you to be creative when it comes to the theme of your personal statement:

"It is very easy to make the 'cookie-cutter' personal statement. To a reviewer who is reading tens of these at a time it can become quite boring. What I did was [tell] a story. Like any good novel, the stories' first lines are meant to hook the reader. This can be about anything if you can bring it back and relate it to your application. It could be about the time your friend was smashed up against the boards in hockey and you, with your limited first aid experience helped to treat him. It is important that the story be REAL." - Dr. Jaime Cazes, MD, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine

Your personal statement must be well-organized, showing a clear, logical progression, as well as connections between ideas. It is generally best to use a chronological progression since this mirrors your progression into a mature adult and gives you the opportunity to illustrate how you learned from early mistakes later on. Carry the theme throughout the statement to achieve continuity and cohesion. Use the theme to links ideas from each paragraph to the next and to unite your piece.

#1 Review Medical School Personal Statement Structure

Writing the first draft of your essay, it is important to keep an outline in mind: The essay should read like a chronological narrative and have good structure and flow. Just like any academic essay, it will need an introduction, body content, and a conclusion. 

Introduction

The introductory sentence of your essay will most certainly make or break your overall statement. Ensure that you have a creative and captivating opening sentence that draws the reader in. The kinds of things that inspire or motivate you can say a lot about who you are as a person.

“ Like any good novel, the stories' first lines are meant to hook the reader. This can be about anything if you can bring it back and relate it to your application. It could be about the time your friend was smashed up against the boards in hockey and you, with your limited first aid experience helped to treat him.” – Dr. Jaime Cazes, MD

That is a lot of work for a single paragraph to do. To better help you envision what this looks like in practice, here is a sample introduction that hits these main points.

I was convinced I was going to grow up to be a professional chef. This was not just another far-fetched idealistic childhood dream that many of us had growing up. There was a sense of certainty about this dream that motivated me to devote countless hours to its practice. It was mostly the wonder that it brought to others and the way they were left in awe after they tried a dish that I recall enjoying the most creating as a young chef. But, when I was 13, my grandfather was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, and I realized that sometimes cooking is not enough, as I quickly learned about the vital role physicians play in the life of everyday people like my family and myself. Although my grandfather ended up passing away from his illness, the impact that the healthcare team had on him, my family, and I will always serve as the initial starting point of my fascination with the medical profession. Since that time, I have spent years learning more about the human sciences through my undergraduate studies and research, have developed a deeper understanding of the demands and challenges of the medical profession through my various volunteer and extra-curricular experiences, and although it has been difficult along the way, I have continued to forge a more intimate fascination with the medical field that has motivated me to apply to medical school at this juncture of my life. ","label":"Sample Introduction","title":"Sample Introduction"}]" code="tab3" template="BlogArticle">

Check out our video to learn how to create a killer introduction to your medical school personal statement:

In the body of your essay, you essentially want to elaborate on the ideas that you have introduced in your opening paragraph by drawing on your personal experiences to provide evidence.

Depending on the details, a selection of volunteer and extracurricular experiences might be discussed in more detail, in order to emphasize other traits like collaboration, teamwork, perseverance, or a sense of social responsibility – all key characteristics sought by medical schools. Just like an academic essay, you will devote one paragraph to each major point, explaining this in detail, supporting your claims with experiences from your life, and reflecting on the meaning of each plot point in your personal narrative, with reference to why you want to pursue a medical career.

The conclusion is just as important as the introduction. It is your last chance to express your medical aspirations. You want to impress the reader while also leaving them wanting more. In this case, more would mean getting an interview so they can learn more about who you are!

Your final statement should not be a simple summary of the things you have discussed. It should be insightful, captivating, and leave the reader with a lasting impression. Although you want to re-emphasize the major ideas of your essay, you should try to be creative and captivating, much like your opening paragraph. If you can link your opening idea to your last paragraph it will really tie the whole essay together.

#2 Show, Don't Tell

The narrative you construct should display some of your most tightly held values, principles, or ethical positions, along with key accomplishments and activities. If you see yourself as someone who is committed to community service, and you have a track record of such service, your story should feature this and provide insight into why you care about your community and what you learned from your experiences. Saying that you value community service when you've never volunteered a day in your life is pointless. Stating that your family is one where we support each other through challenge and loss (if this is indeed true), is excellent because it lays the groundwork for telling a story while showing that you are orientated towards close relationships. You would then go on to offer a brief anecdote that supports this. You are showing how you live such principles, rather than just telling your reader that you have such principles:

"Remember to use specific personal examples throughout your statement to make it more impactful and memorable for the readers. Often, painting a picture in the reader’s mind in the form of a story helps with this." - Dr. Neel Mistry, MD

A lot of students make the mistake of verbalizing their personal attributes with a bunch of adjectives, such as, "This experience taught me to be a self-reliant leader, with excellent communication skills, and empathy for others..." In reality, this does nothing to convey these qualities. It's a mistake to simply list your skills or characteristics without showing the reader an example of a time you used them to solve a problem. The person reading the essay may not believe you, as you've not really given them a way to see such values in your actions. It is better to construct a narrative to show the reader that you possess the traits that medical schools are looking for, rather than explicitly stating that you are an empathetic individual or capable of deep self-reflection.

While it may be tempting to write in a high academic tone, using terminology or jargon that is often complex or discipline-specific, requiring a specialized vocabulary for comprehension. You should actually aim to write for a non-specialist audience. Remember, in the world of medicine, describing a complex, clinical condition to a patient requires using specific but clear words. Use words that you believe most people understand. Read your personal statement back to a 14-year-old, and then again to someone for whom English is not their first language, to see if you're on the right path.

Ultimately, fancy words do not make you a good communicator; listening and ensuring reader comprehension makes you a good communicator. Show them your communication skills through clear, accessible prose, written with non-specialists in mind. A common refrain among writing instructors is: never use a $10 word where a $2 word will suffice.

#4 Display Professionalism

Professionalism may seem like a difficult quality to display when only composing a personal statement. After all, the reader can't see your mannerisms, your personal style, or any of those little qualities that allow someone to appear professional. Professionalism is about respect for the experience of others on your team or in your workplace. It is displayed when you are able to step back from your own individual position and think about what is best for your colleagues and peers, considering their needs alongside your own.

One easy way to destroy a sense of professionalism is to act in a judgmental way towards others, particularly if you perceived and ultimately resolved an error on someone else's part. Sometimes students blame another medical professional for something that went wrong with a patient.

They might say something to the effect of:

"The nurse kept brushing off the patient's concerns, refusing to ask the attending to increase her pain medications. Luckily, being the empathetic individual that I am, I took the time to listen to sit with the patient, eventually bringing her concerns to the attending physician, who thanked me for letting him know."

There are a couple of things wrong with this example. It seems like this person is putting down someone else in an attempt to make themselves look better. They come across as un-empathetic and judgmental of the nurse. Maybe she was having a busy day, or maybe the attending had just seen the patient for this issue and the patient didn't really need re-assessment. Reading this kind of account in a personal statement makes the reader question the maturity of the applicant and their ability to move past blaming others and resolve problems in a meaningful way. Instead of allocating blame, identify what the problem was for the patient and then focus on what you did to resolve it and reflect on what you learned from the whole experience.

One last note on professionalism: Being professional does not mean being overly stoic, hiding your emotions, or cultivating a bland personality. A lot of students are afraid to talk about how a situation made them feel in their personal statement. They worry that discussing feelings is inappropriate and will appear unprofessional. Unfortunately for these students, emotional intelligence is hugely important to the practice of medicine. Good doctors are able to quickly identify their own emotions and understand how their emotional reactions may inform their actions, and the ability to deliver appropriate care, in a given situation. So, when writing your personal statement, think about how each experience made you feel, and what you learned from those feelings and that experience.

Step 3: Write Your First Draft of Your Personal Statement

As you can see, there is a LOT of planning and consideration to be done before actually starting your first draft. Properly brainstorming, outlining, and considering the content and style of your essay prior to beginning the essay will make the writing process much smoother than it would be you to try to jump right to the draft-writing stage.

“I wrote scores of essays at my desk in those few weeks leading up to application submission. I needed it to be perfect. Do not let anyone tell you to settle. There was no moment when I had this shining light from the sky filtering into my room to motivate me. The ultimate trick is to keep writing. It is impossible to get that perfect essay on the first try, and you may not even get it on your fifteenth attempt, but the goal is to keep at it, keep making those edits, and never back down.” – Dr. Vincent Adeyemi, MD

As you're getting started, focus on getting content on the page, filling in your outline and getting your ideas arranged on the page. Your essay will go through multiple drafts and re-writes, so the first step is to free write and start articulating connections between your experiences and the characteristics you're highlighting. You can worry about flow, transitions, and perfect grammar in later drafts. 

#1 Did You Distinguish Yourself From Others?

Is your narrative unique? Our admissions expert Dr. Monica Taneja, MD, shares how she got the attention of the admissions committee with her personal statement:

"I found it helpful to give schools a 'punch-line'. As in I wanted them to remember 1-2 things about me that are my differentiators and I reiterated those throughout [the personal statement]." - Dr. Monica Taneja, MD

Use your narrative to provide a compelling picture of who you are as a person, as a learner, as an advocate, and as a future medical professional. What can you offer?

Remember, you will be getting a lot out of your med school experience, but the school will be getting a lot out of you, as well. This is a mutually beneficial relationship, so use this opportunity to highlight what you bring to the table, and what you will contribute as a student at their institution. Make them see you as a stand out from the crowd .

#2 Does My Essay Flow and is it Comprehensible?

Personal statements are a blessing and a curse for admission committees. They provide a better glimpse of who you are than MCAT scores or GPAs. But they are long and time-consuming to read. And often, they sound exactly alike.

Frankly, if your personal statement is pleasant to read, it will get read with more attention and appreciation. Flow is easier to craft through narrative, which is why you should root the statement in a story that demonstrates characteristics desirable to medical schools . You want this to be a statement that captures the reader's interest by creating a fluid, comprehensible piece that leads the reader to not only read each paragraph but want to continue to the next sentence.

#3 Did You Check Your Grammar?

It is always important to carefully edit your medical school personal statement . Read your statement out loud to yourself and you will almost certainly find an error (and likely several errors). Use fresh eyes to review the statement several times before you actually submit it, by walking away from it for a day or so and then re-reading it.

This step can make or break your essay. Do not waste all the effort you have put into writing, to only be discarded by the committee for using incorrect grammar and syntax.

#4 Did You Gather Feedback From Other People?

While the tips above are all very useful for writing a strong draft, nothing will benefit you more than getting an outside appraisal of your work. This may sound obvious, but it's still an absolute necessity.

“It was very helpful for two of my mentors to review my statements before submitting my application. Ensure you trust the judgement and skills of the person to whom you would be giving your personal statement for review.” – Dr. Vincent Adeyemi, MD

Avoid having people too close to you read your work. They may refrain from being too critical in an effort to spare your feelings. This is the time to get brutal, honest feedback. If you know someone who is an editor but do not feel that they can be objective, try and find someone else.

Want more examples? Check out our video below:

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Med School Personal Statement

Part of your essay's body can include a discussion of any discrepancies or gaps in your education, or disruptions in your academic performance. If you had to take time off, or if you had a term or course with low grades, or if you had any other extenuating circumstances that impacted your education, you can take time to address these here. You can approach this in your essay similarly to the question “what is your greatest weakness” that may get asked during interviews.

You will also be able to address weaknesses or setbacks in your AMCAS Statement of Disadvantage or your adversity secondary essay , so make sure there is not too much overlap between these and your personal statements.

Use your personal statement to emphasize your ability to persevere through whatever life has thrown your way. Most of all, if you feel like you have to explain yourself, take accountability for the situation. State that it is unfortunate and then redirect it to what you learned and how it will make you a better doctor. Always focus on being positive and do not lament on the negative situation too much.

Mistakes to Avoid in Medical School Personal Statements

Here are some mistakes that may raise a red flag in your personal statement:

Check out this video on the top 5 errors to avoid in your personal statement!

FAQs and Final Notes

This Ultimate Guide has demonstrated all the work that needs to be done to compose a successful, engaging personal statement for your medical school application. While it would be wonderful if there was an easy way to write your personal statement in a day, the reality is that this kind of composition takes a lot of work. As daunting as this may seem, this guide lays out a clear path. In summary, the following 5 steps are the basis of what you should take away from this guide. These 5 steps are your guide and sort of cheat sheet to writing your best personal statement.

5 Main Takeaways For Personal Statement Writing:

  • Brainstorming
  • Content and Theme
  • Multiple Drafts
  • Revision With Attention to Grammar

While a strong personal statement alone will not guarantee admission to medical school, it could absolutely squeeze you onto a  medical school waitlist , off the waitlist, and onto the offer list, or give someone on the admissions committee a reason to go to battle for your candidacy. Use this as an opportunity to highlight the incredible skills you've worked and studied to refine, the remarkable life experiences you've had, and the key qualities you possess in your own unique way. Show the admissions committee that you are someone they want to meet. Remember, in this context, wanting to meet you means wanting to bring you in for an interview!

Your personal statement should tell your story and highlight specific experiences or aspects of your journey that have led you to medicine. If your first exposure or interest in the medical field was sparked from your own medical struggles, then you can certainly include this in your statement.

All US medical schools require the completion of a personal statement with your AMCAS, TMDSAS or AACOMAS applications. Medical schools in Canada on the other hand, do not require personal statements but may have essay prompts that are similar in nature.

Think about whether or not that bad grade might reflect on you poorly. If you think it will, then it's best to address the academic misstep head-on instead of having admissions committees dwell on possible areas of concern. 

No! Students arrive to medicine in all sorts of ways, some change career paths later in life, some always knew they wanted to pursue medicine, and others slowly became interested in medicine through their life interactions and experiences. Your personal statement should address your own unique story. 

While your entire statement is important, the opening sentence can often make or break your statement. If your opening sentence is not eye-catching, interesting, and memorable, you risk your statement blending in with the large pile of other statements. 

Having your statement reviewed by family and friends can be a good place to start, but unfortunately they will often not be able to provide unbiased feedback and may not have the expertise necessary to understand nuance in statements.

If you have enough time set aside to write your statement without juggling multiple other commitments, it normally takes at least 6-8 weeks to write your statement. 

The goal is to show as many of them as you can in the WHOLE application: this includes your personal statement, sketch, reference letters, secondary essays, and even your GPA and MCAT (which show critical thinking and reasoning already). So, you don’t need to address them all in your essay.

Yes, you can. However, if you used an experience as a most meaningful entry, pick something else to talk about in your essay. 

The reality is, medical school admission is an extremely competitive process. In order to have the best chance of success, every part of your application must be stellar. 

The ones that honestly made the most impact on you. You'll need to reflect on your whole life and think about which experiences helped you grow and pushed you to pursue medicine. Ideally, experiences that show commitment and progression are better than one-off or short-term activities, as they usually contribute more to growth.

Dr. Lauren Prufer is an admissions expert at BeMo. Dr. Prufer is also a medical resident at McMaster University. Her medical degree is from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. During her time in medical school, she developed a passion for sharing her knowledge with others through medical writing, research, and peer mentoring.

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

Apple Podcasts

Like our blog? Write for us ! >>

Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions.

Jack Weaver

I have been reading posts regarding this topic and this post is one of the most interesting and informative one I have read. Thank you for this!

Hello Jack! Thank you very much for your comment. We glad you find this helpful!

Get Started Now

Talk to one of our admissions experts

Our site uses cookies. By using our website, you agree with our cookie policy .

FREE Training Webinar: How To Make Your Med School Application Stand Out

(and avoid the top 5 reasons that get 90% of applicants rejected).

personal statement medicine tutor

Medical School Personal Statement Storytelling Guide [With Examples]

Typical medical school personal statements list qualities and accomplishments in paragraph form and can be boring to read for admissions committee members. But the best personal statements demonstrate qualities through engaging stories. Those stories reveal insights into your personality, as well as interests outside healthcare and medicine (especially those that align with the medical schools you’re applying to ).

Medical school admissions committees want to learn who you uniquely are and why you want to become a medical professional. They also want to know what you are going to contribute to their school and the larger medical field.

Our in-depth guide will help you explore unique personal topics and stories to capture admission committee members’ attention and help you stand out in a sea of ordinary med school personal statements.

Table of contents

1. brainstorm topics, 2. choose stories that show your character, show, don’t tell, stay on topic, common medical school personal statement mistakes, get an expert’s opinion.

The first step in the personal statement writing process is to decide what stories and facts are most important to reveal and how to weave in your motivation for applying to a school of medicine.

When you’re ready to brainstorm, don’t just sit down to stare at a list of your premed activities like research experiences, volunteering, or shadowing. Instead, compile the fundamental personal experiences and people that helped shape you. These stories will likely translate beyond your personal statement into interviews , so be picky to choose only the most transformative.

When brainstorming your personal statement for medical school, consider these topics:

Significant or formative life experiences: something that changed the course of your life, your outlook on the world, or made you think differently about your future

  • Learning to do something that leads you to excel/teach others/make a contribution (e.g., sports, science, foreign language, special skills)
  • Being given a second chance
  • Connecting with someone who made an impact on you
  • Being out of your comfort zone (experiences with people of different backgrounds, travel, moving, doing something for the first time)

Challenging life experiences: something that forced a lesson upon you

  • A mistake you made
  • An event that was out of your control that nonetheless caused you suffering or loss
  • Overcoming an obstacle

People that shaped your life:

  • Mentor, family member, friend
  • Author, actor, speaker, personal hero

Think about what each element on your list taught you or how it changed your thinking. Answer for yourself why the event or person is important. Then brainstorm how one or two medically related activities can be tied in.

With this strategy, your personal statement will develop around a narrative that is unique to you. It will also communicate to admissions officers who you are and why you want to provide medical care.

To further your thought processes, ask yourself these questions:

  • What is distinct or unique about you/your life story?
  • What are some specific details about your personality, values, or experiences you can share to help them get a better understanding of who you are?
  • In what ways have your experiences contributed to your growth?
  • Have you overcome any obstacles or difficult circumstances in your life?
  • What valuable personal characteristics (integrity, compassion, diligence, etc.) do you have?
  • What soft skills (leadership, teamwork, communication skills, etc.) do you have?

Next, connect those answers to medicine-specific questions:

  • How and when did you become interested in medicine?
  • What have you learned so far about medicine?
  • Why do you want to become a doctor?
  • How do you know you want to be a doctor?
  • How have your experiences and your understanding of yourself confirmed your desire to do medicine?
  • In what ways have you shown that you have the characteristics necessary to succeed in the field of medicine?
  • How will your skills translate into being a good doctor?
  • Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that need explaining? This can be an obstacle or difficult circumstance.

Though you don’t want to include the answers to all these questions in your personal statement, knowing the answers to these questions is a good starting point.

You should highlight a few unique experiences, skills, or personal characteristics and make those the focal point of your essay.

Ordinary personal statements focus on the experiences that applicants think will make them seem impressive. The best personal statements focus on the qualities that make applicants truly special.

Instead of choosing their standout qualities — character, personality traits, attitudes — many applicants simply choose experiences they think will help them stand out to admissions committees. Then, they try to force those qualities into the experiences they’ve already chosen.

Why is this an issue? Imagine you have participated in the following extracurricular activities:

  • Biochemistry research for 2 years
  • Clinical experience shadowing for 3 years
  • Math tutor for underserved youth for 2 years
  • Trombonist in the high school band and trombone instructor for 3 years
  • International medical mission trip volunteer for 3 summers
  • Premed organization member for 3 years (vice president for 1 year)

At face value, which of these experiences do you think would make you seem the most impressive to an admissions committee? Given these choices, most students would choose to write about clinical shadowing (2) or medical mission trips (5).

Most students who choose one of those two topics will take a very similar approach, such as starting off the essay describing some interaction with a very ill patient or one with whom they experienced a language barrier.

Typical Applicant Personal Statement Example:

“Mary was well known at our clinic by all of our doctors, nurses, and medical staff. Based on her sharp intellect and cheerful pattern of making our staff feel like we were her best friends, it would be difficult to tell why she frequently visited the hospital. Besides her use of a walker, her Parkinson’s disease diagnosis had not slowed her down much. Throughout my interactions with Mary, I wondered how she maintained such a positive attitude despite her ailments. She seemed to give our staff more joy with her beaming smile than receiving care. I wanted to give her the best care possible, whether through asking our great nurses to check in on her or offering an extra blanket or favorite snack to ensure comfort throughout her stay. However, I was simultaneously frustrated that my ability to help Mary ended there. This lingering lack of fulfillment has served as a great motivator to find ways to do more for patients like her.”

What’s wrong with this example?

Although the above example provides some insights about the applicant’s motivations (“…find ways to do more for patients…”), it is written about a common topic (a realization that came during clinical shadowing) with a typical delivery —  written broadly about interactions with a particular patient.

The best personal statement writers, on the other hand, first think of the personal qualities they want to demonstrate in their essay before choosing a situation or event to write about. Next, they think of an experience that best highlights these qualities, regardless of whether or not it seems most “impressive” at face value. Finally, the best personal statements zero in on a particular event or situation to capture the reader’s attention with a detailed personal story.

By taking this approach, the best personal statement writers are better able to demonstrate their qualities because their story was chosen expressly for that purpose. After all, schools are attracted to particular candidates because of their qualities and not a specific experience they’ve had.

Let’s suppose this same applicant wanted to highlight her community involvement and commitment to serving underprivileged groups. Returning to the list of extracurriculars above, she could choose to write about working as a math tutor (3) or being a trombonist in the school band and trombone instructor (4). By choosing the latter and zooming in on a particular event, this same student could write the following personal statement introduction:

Better Personal Statement Example:

“My palms had never been as sweaty as when I walked on stage with my trombone in front of a 500-plus member audience on June 9th, 2015. Sure, I was pretty good. But I would like to think that being invited to play Curtis Fuller’s “Along Came Betty” at the Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame had as much to do with the music skills I had honed over the past decade as it did with training the 8-member band of 10 to 13 year-olds from the inner city to join me on that same stage. I was nervous because this performance was for them; I needed to be at my best.”

Why is this example better than the one before it?

This introduction would likely stand out because it is about an uncommon topic (a musical performance) and seamlessly demonstrates the writer’s community involvement, especially with underserved youth. As a bonus, it captures the reader’s attention in 382 fewer characters.

Typical personal statements could have been written by any applicant. Good personal statements are those that can only be written by a specific applicant. The example of a typical introduction could have been written by any number of medical students who volunteered in a hospital. There simply aren’t enough unique insights and details about the applicant. On the other hand, the second introduction could have only been written by that individual.

So, how do you avoid a dull introductory paragraph? Use the approach above — first, list your unique qualities, then identify situations where you’ve expressed those qualities, and finally, zoom in to tell a detailed story.

Want to improve your chances of acceptance? Get world-class coaching from former admissions committee members for a more compelling personal statement and polished application. Students who work with us double their chances of getting accepted!

You’ve likely heard the adage “Show, don’t tell” enough already. Rarely do we receive practical advice on exactly how to demonstrate our qualities, rather than list them. When you can do this, you provide a more authentic glimpse of who you really are.

If you read the following sentences from two different applicants, which one would you think was more giving?

  • Applicant #1: I am a very giving person.
  • Applicant #2: I volunteer 4 hours every week to work at the homeless shelter.

You’d probably choose applicant #2, even though they never used the word “giving” in their sentence. As a reader, we extrapolate how giving that applicant is.

Going back to the intro paragraphs above, we can see that the typical one “tells” about the applicant’s qualities, whereas the better paragraph “shows” the applicant’s qualities.

More Medical School Personal Statement Examples :

Typical introductions:

  • “I wanted to give the best patient care possible…” (giving)
  • “This lingering lack of fulfillment has served as a great motivator to find ways to do more” (motivated)

Better introductions:

  • “…the music skills I honed over the past decade…” (dedicated)
  • “…training the 8-member band of 10-13 year-olds from the inner city to join me on that same stage.” (giving, empowering)
  • “I was nervous because this performance was for them; I needed to be at my best.” (selfless, motivated)

Strive to let your accomplishments, approaches, and insights speak for themselves. Describe your work in an engaging way and let the reader do the complimenting for you.

Some applicants make the mistake of putting the focus on supporting characters, like a parent or patient, making them more compelling than themselves or sharing the limelight. But the best personal statements maintain the focus on the applicant.

Like any great story, your personal statement should highlight a compelling character. But that character, the star of your story, should always be YOU. There is nothing wrong with including another character in your personal statement’s story. But other characters should only be used to demonstrate your qualities, whether through an interaction you had or an insight you gained after.

Returning to our examples above:

In the typical paragraph, Mary and the applicant are co-leads in the story. We don’t even read about the applicant or her insights until the fourth sentence. Mary seems just as impressive as the applicant.

The better paragraph is all about the applicant — her concerns, dedication, and motivations. Even though she mentions the inner-city youth, they serve only to demonstrate the applicant’s qualities.

Your opportunity to impress med school admissions committees with your personal statement is limited to 5,300 characters. Strive to keep the focus nearly entirely on you.

Know ahead of time that your first draft is just that — a first draft. Once you get something on the page, you can start rewriting and revising it into the perfect statement.

Explaining the answer to “Why I want to be a doctor” can be overwhelming. Many applicants end up making the mistake of answering a different question: “What have I done that qualifies me for medical school?” The result is a tedious list of GPAs and MCAT scores that make personal statements read like a resume.

A better approach is not to focus on the question that your essay will answer, but on the personal aspects of your experiences on earth that shaped who you are — a person whose goals and values align with entering the medical profession.

More common mistakes to avoid:

  • Not being concise
  • Using clichés
  • Breaking character limits
  • Not using transitions between paragraphs and topics
  • Not getting a second opinion or consulting an expert

There are some red flags to keep in mind as well. Admissions experts will not be impressed with:

  • Arrogance or narcissism
  • Self-deprecation or lack of confidence
  • Unexplained gaps in education
  • Generalizations
  • Poor grammar
  • Lack of passion

Read Next: A Guide To Medical Schools That Don’t Require The MCAT

What is the AMCAS personal statement prompt?

The AMCAS personal statement prompt is: Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to medical school.

How many characters are allowed in the medical school personal statement?

You can use up to 5,300 characters in the medical school personal statement sections of the AMCAS and AACOMAS applications . Spaces count as characters. You’ll have roughly 500 words to write.

How long should a personal statement be for medical school?

A personal statement for medical school should be approximately one page. It should be long enough to take a deep look at a transformative experience or concept.

What personal statement topics should I avoid?

There are no specific topics that you should completely avoid in your personal statement outside of openly offensive topics. You may receive advice to steer clear of topics like mental health, having a parent who’s a doctor, or volunteer work. But it’s not these topics themselves that are a problem; how you use these stories and experiences to show your personality and character is what matters.

Your personal statement is one of the few times in the medical school application process where your personality, experiences, and uniqueness can shine through. It’s too important to leave it to guesswork, particularly if you’re reapplying !

Work with experienced Writing Advisors and Physician Advisors to give your personal statement the X factor sure to be noticed by admissions committees. Many of our advisors are former AdComs !

Related posts:

  • Why I Picked UC Denver
  • Finding the Perfect Research Project
  • How to Succeed on Medical School Interview Day
  • How to Answer “What is the Biggest Healthcare Problem” During an Interview

Photo of Sahil Mehta

Sahil Mehta

Related articles.

Colic Pain - stock.xchng

Diversity in Medical Secondary Applications

Infant - Neonate

One Fateful Day

Stock photography - Student

Spotlight Series – Recent Medical School Admits

Blood donation - Clip art

How a Pre-Med Can Impact Medicine

loader-wheel

  • UCAS Guide >
  • Personal Statement >

Medicine Personal Statement Examples

Writing a medicine personal statement has been a part of the lives of medical applicants for many years and is a fundamental part of the selection criteria. The way in which the UCAS personal statement is structured and written is changing for 2026 with the process shifting to a short answer format. However, for all 2025 entry students, the UCAS personal statement will remain the same. 

Table of Contents

medicine personal statement

In this article, we will explore a range of different personal statement examples with explanations of their ranking to help you in the process of writing your own medicine personal statement. 

What Makes a Good Medicine Personal Statement?

  • Unique and personal 
  • Reflection on experience, weakness, and strengths
  • Showing realistic insight into the medical profession with a coherent narrative based on genuine experience and reflection
  • Discussion of extra-curricular activities with an emphasis on the characteristics, skills, and personal traits that will serve you well in a career in medicine 

Medicine Personal Statement Example 1:

My decision to pursue a career in medicine stems from a longstanding interest in the human body and the science of healthcare. Over the years, I have engaged in various activities and studies that have prepared me for this path, and I am eager to contribute to the medical field.

My first significant exposure to healthcare was during my time volunteering at a local care home. This role involved assisting elderly residents with their daily activities and supporting the nursing staff. This experience provided me with a clear understanding of the practical aspects of patient care, particularly in managing chronic illnesses and providing support to those in need. My time at the care home taught me the value of being detail-oriented and the importance of providing consistent care to maintain the well-being of patients.

In addition to volunteering, I completed a placement at a local hospital where I had the opportunity to observe various medical professionals in action. I shadowed doctors in different departments, including general medicine and surgery, which allowed me to gain insights into the workings of a hospital. I observed doctors carrying out surgeries which ranged from a simple appendectomy to a complex bypass surgery, this was fascinating. I also enjoyed watching doctors talk with patients.  One notable experience was observing a complex surgical procedure, which highlighted the technical skills required in the medical field and the importance of maintaining composure in high-pressure situations.

Academically, I have focused on subjects that provide a strong foundation for a career in medicine. My studies in Biology and Chemistry have given me a solid understanding of the scientific principles essential to medical practice. Through coursework, I have developed strong analytical skills which would be useful in medicine. I have also participated in various group projects that required collaboration and communication which would be useful in medicine.

Outside of my formal studies and medical-related experiences, I have also been involved in extracurricular activities that have developed my leadership and organisational abilities. For example, I have been a member of the student council, where I played a role in organising events and representing my peers. 

My work experience has also included a part-time job in a pharmacy, where I gained further insight into the healthcare system from a different perspective. Working in a pharmacy involved interacting with patients and working on the till and answering patients’ questions. This experience reinforced my interest in the pharmacological aspects of medicine and the critical role that pharmacists play in patient care.

I am committed to pursuing a career in medicine because it combines my interest in science with the opportunity to make a tangible difference in people’s lives. The experiences I have gained thus far have equipped me with a strong foundation in patient care, a solid understanding of the healthcare environment, and the necessary academic background. I am eager to continue my education in medicine and look forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in this rewarding profession.

What could this medicine personal statement do better?

  • This statement is slightly too descriptive in nature with a focus on recounting the details of placements and is a statement of fact. This statement would be improved by making it more reflective in nature and through linking it to future clinical practice. 
  • This statement does not have a strong conclusion and is too focused on the activities that were done as opposed to the skills or insight gained throughout the process
  • This statement could go further to reflect on work experience and reference future aspirations and self-development which could follow this placement. It is always a fantastic idea to discuss how you would take this learning forward in your future development as a medical student and a future doctor.

What does this medicine personal statement do well?

  • This statement has a strong conclusion which summarises the reflective elements of the statement. It brings together the core themes and relates them to a future clinical practice and uses this to indicate a readiness for a future career in medicine. 

personal statement medicine tutor

Medicine Personal Statement Example 2: 

Graduate medicine applicant .

In studying a degree in politics, I have developed, flourished and remain undeterred in my desire to pursue a career in medicine. My scientific fascination with the body and its functions has remained secure throughout and I am drawn to follow the vocation that is the complex and nuanced role of a doctor. 

Shadowing a GP, I learnt about best practices and the importance of consistent process in improving the quality of modern GP consultations. Participating in a role play and ethical decision-making seminar with two junior doctors helped me realise that learning, personal development and complex ethical questions remain key components of a doctor’s life. Sitting in on practice meetings highlighted the intricacies of medicine as a business and the ultra-medical roles of doctors. Through volunteering at —— Children’s Hospital, the experience of assisting nurses, comforting parents and distracting children has taught me that small acts of kindness can improve hospital environments for parents and children simply by reassuring and understanding their difficulties. Observing the relationship between doctors and nurses also taught me about the importance of multi-disciplinary teams and strong communication in the functioning of an effective medical service. Recognising a gap in my knowledge of social services, I volunteered for a homeless outreach organisation. I worked with clients to provide services like showers, food and access to housing schemes. I also spent time with the outreach nurse. This taught me about the essential services provided and the necessity for judgement-free consulting, reinforcing to me the fundamental connection between poverty, illness and the wide variety of social circumstances surrounding homelessness. It has developed my understanding of the complex and nuanced role of a medical professional and the importance of strong coordination between medical and social services to provide the best patient care possible. 

On my gap year, I travelled the US. Whilst the experience developed my ability to manage stress, organise time and maintain relationships, I was most heavily impacted by my first-hand knowledge of the North American Opioid Crisis, driving my scientific curiosity throughout my university life and strongly influencing my dissertation. I explored the role of the over prescription of opioid medications in the North American Opioid Crisis and its political influences. During my research, I have formulated clear links between politics and medicine by breaking down complex questions into component sections, independently researching pharmaceutical knowledge and studying the importance of socio-political factors in medicine. This scientific curiosity builds on my EPQ in which I explored the possibility of using stem cells to repair damaged cardiac muscle following myocardial infarction. I have developed a wide array of life skills through my participation in team sports, music, part-time work and Camp America. At University, I am the 1st Team Football Captain, and this involves managing and maintaining the morale of my players, ensuring the health and safety of my team, and assisting with their time management. Through understanding the different needs of individuals, I have adapted my approach and techniques and developed the ability to accept my failures and learn from them. Through my music and part-time work, I have learnt to prioritise, work long hours and engage in skills workshops in order to progress. Through Camp America, I further developed my ability to support sick children, manage my positivity and to recharge my energy in a healthy and constructive way. 

I recognise the complex difficulties of the medical profession, and I do not underestimate the necessary commitment. I believe that I have been developing the skills and personal traits required in a successful doctor and I remain dedicated to working to the best of my ability throughout a medical career .

medicine personal statement examples

  • This statement addresses the background of the applicant well and explores how the motivation for medicine remained consistent throughout the process of the first degree. As applicants pursuing Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) this is important as it allows you to build upon your additional experience from the undergraduate but also allows you to demonstrate a long term and thoughtful process of reflection that leads to a career in medicine. 
  • This statement cleverly draws the link between the previous degree and a career in medicine and does not depart from the previous study but instead illustrates how this study was formative and key to their development. 
  • This statement has a strong reflective element when discussing work experience and uses this in a future forward manner whereby they are demonstrating how their experience has shaped them and how they will use this in a future career in medicine

What could this medicine personal statement improve?

  • This statement could have a stronger introduction with a clearer direction for the statement established in that first line

Medicine Personal Statement Example 3: Poor Personal Statement

Ever since I was young, I’ve wanted to be a doctor because it seems like a good job where you get to help people. I think medicine is really interesting, especially when people are sick and doctors make them better. My uncle is a doctor, and he says it’s a great job with lots of rewards, so I thought it would be a good idea to do the same.

I haven’t done much in terms of work experience, but I once visited a hospital when my friend broke his leg. It was amazing to see how the doctors worked and how they fixed his leg. The nurses were also very nice, which made me think that hospitals are positive places to work. I also visited a few doctors’ offices as a patient, which gave me an idea of what it’s like to be a doctor.

In school, I have done well in most subjects, although I find some of them quite boring. I think science subjects are the most useful for becoming a doctor, so I have tried to focus on those. I got good grades in Biology and Chemistry, but I am not really interested in Physics because it’s too hard and not very relevant to medicine. However, I am confident that I will do well enough in my exams to get into medical school.

Outside of school, I haven’t really done much that relates to medicine, but I do like watching medical TV shows. They show a lot of what it’s like to be a doctor, and I find that really inspiring. I am also part of the school chess club, which has nothing to do with medicine, but I think it shows that I am good at strategy and thinking ahead, which could be useful in medicine.

I think I would be a good doctor because I care about people and want to make a lot of money while doing something important. I think doctors are respected and have good lives, and that is something I want for myself. I also like the idea of being in charge and making decisions that affect other people, which seems like something doctors do a lot.

In conclusion, I think medicine is a good career choice for me because it seems like a stable and rewarding job. I haven’t had a lot of direct experience, but I am sure that I will learn everything I need to know in medical school. I am excited about the idea of becoming a doctor and hope to get into a good medical school that will set me on the path to success.

Key Issues with this Medicine Personal Statement:

  • Vague Motivation : The motivation for wanting to become a doctor is not well articulated. The statement begins with a generic and unconvincing reason (“it seems like a good job where you get to help people”).
  • Lack of Relevant Experience : There is little to no relevant work experience mentioned. The writer relies on a brief visit to a hospital as a visitor, which does not demonstrate a real understanding or commitment to the field of medicine.
  • Irrelevant Information : The mention of watching medical TV shows and being part of a chess club are irrelevant to the application. These points do not contribute to the applicant’s suitability for a medical career.
  • Poor Academic Focus : The statement mentions a dislike for Physics and a general lack of interest in certain subjects, which could raise concerns about the applicant’s commitment and academic readiness for the challenges of medical school.
  • Misguided Motivation : The desire to make a lot of money and be in charge are not appropriate primary motivations for entering the medical field. These motivations may reflect poorly on the applicant’s understanding of the profession.
  • Lack of Structure and Coherence : The statement is disjointed and lacks a clear structure. It jumps from one topic to another without a coherent flow, making it difficult to follow.
  • Overconfidence : The applicant expresses unwarranted confidence in their ability to succeed in medical school without demonstrating the necessary preparation or understanding of what the course entails.
  • Lack of Personal Insight : The statement lacks personal reflection and does not convey the applicant’s genuine interest or dedication to the field of medicine.

This example illustrates how a poorly constructed personal statement can fail to make a compelling case for admission to medical school. It’s important to be reflective, specific, and focused when writing a personal statement to ensure it effectively communicates your suitability for the field.

medicine personal statement tutor

In summary, writing a personal statement is exactly that, the process is an inherently personal process and therefore should be honest and deliberate in its approach. Our medicine personal statement guides and blog posts are there to provide inspiration and common pitfalls to avoid but in the end the medicine personal statement should be a true reflection of you and your motivation for medicine. If you would like to explore your statement further with a medicine personal statement tutor , then our personal statement service may be the perfect fit for you.  

1 Star

Cancel reply

Related links.

  • FREE Applying for Medical School Course
  • FREE Applying to Dentistry Course
  • FREE Applying to Vet School Course
  • FREE UCAT Past Papers

With UCAS guidance and application advice, personal statement feedback, UCAT/BMAT support, interview coaching, and more!

A unique opportunity to explore the world of healthcare through interactive simulations and real-life case studies. Run by senior physicians

5-day programme with insights into the medical profession. Includes accommodation and ALL meals!

5-day programme with insights into the dental profession. Includes accommodation and ALL meals!

personal statement medicine tutor

Please provide the mobile number of a guardian/parent

If you're ready and keen to get started click the button below to book your first 2 hour 1-1 tutoring lesson with us. Connect with a tutor from a university of your choice in minutes. (Use FAST5 to get 5% Off!)

Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

University of Oxford, Medical Sciences Division

  • Accessibility
  • Pre-clinical
  • Medicine: How to Apply

Medicine: Anatomy of a Personal Statement

Download this page as a pdf document

Below is a personal statement from a recent applicant for A100 Medicine at Oxford. It is not perfect and it may not be suited to every medical school. There is no single template for success in terms of an application to Oxford. Other styles can be equally effective: we encourage individuality and diversity in our students. This statement is however a good example for an Oxford application because it helps us see that the applicant is attempting to match our selection criteria .

An applicant's personal statement is likely to be discussed by tutors during interview.

A well-written statement will not in isolation gain you an interview or a place. It forms one part of an application from a gifted applicant that can be considered alongside other information - academic record, BMAT score, school reference, interview performance - in the selection process at Oxford.

Statement & comments

Choosing to study medicine is not a decision I have taken lightly. It isn't a career I have wanted to do since a particularly young age, nor did a life changing event prompt my choice. I have thought very long and hard before deciding to apply.

At first glance, this might seem like a down-beat opening paragraph. Although you may think that an arresting opening statement will impress, admissions tutors may be sceptical of exaggerated descriptions of a revelatory moment or lifelong desire to become a doctor. This introduction shows honesty and a degree of introspection. Throughout the statement, the applicant works hard to show that they have a realistic view of medicine. You won't prove that you have the motivation for medicine by simply saying that you do: it is what you have done to inform yourself about the career - and the views that you have formed - that will convince us that you really know what being a doctor is like and that this is what you want to do.

Various periods of work experience have taught me much about the career. A local hospital placement gave me the opportunity to visit A&E, Radiology and Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

You won't prove that you have the motivation for medicine by simply saying that you do.

Whilst fleeting, these visits to the departments highlighted the variety and diversity of the fascinating specialities medicine encompasses. A placement shadowing a clinic staff was hugely informative regarding daily life as a doctor. During the day I sat in on consultations ranging from routine post natal checkups to discussions of treatment for young people with diabetes and overactive thyroid glands.

This student describes their experiences of healthcare that have helped them decide that they want to study and practise medicine. We understand that opportunities to obtain experience vary, so you won't be judged on what you've done: we want to know what you learned from doing it. The description of the placements here isn't over-exaggerated, and the applicant takes care to explain what they have seen and done and the insight each opportunity afforded them. The relatively detailed account of the infant's check-up conveys the impression of engagement during the placement and suggests an intellectual curiosity to understand the infant's condition and its treatment. The applicant also takes care to point out an example of the importance of good communication skills and argues how their sales position has helped them develop such skills.

Throughout my time there the doctor's genuine interest in his cases and unfaltering motivation highlighted to me the privilege of having such a stimulating profession. This, together with the ever advancing nature of a career in medicine, was brought to the fore by an infant who was having a check up as a result of her being put on an ECMO machine after her birth with Meconium Aspiration Syndrome. The ease with which the doctor broached and dealt with sensitive subject matter also emphasised the importance of a warm, approachable manner and an ability to communicate to a person on their level of understanding. I believe I have honed these skills and gained invaluable experience of the eccentricities of the general public myself in my job as a salesperson.

It is important to convey an impression of engagement and intellectual curiosity when talking about any work experience/placement/voluntary work.

Since February of this year I have volunteered in a care home for a couple of hours each week. I assist with serving meals to the residents as well as feeding one of the more infirm ladies. My time there has brought to my attention the more unpleasant side of medicine and has proved by far the most useful work experience I have had; preparing me for the stark realities of physical ageing and senility. In spite of this, I genuinely enjoy my time there; giving residents, some of whom go months without visitors, 10 minutes of my time to chat can be very rewarding in the obvious enjoyment they get from it. The experience has shown me very clearly the importance of caring for the emotional as well as the physical needs of patients.

This paragraph reaffirms the applicant's motivation for medicine. They admit that working in a nursing home is not glamorous but explain how rewarding it has been. There is evidence of analytical skills here and there is no doubt that the applicant has become well-informed about the realities of healthcare. Empathy comes across as well, with the applicant recognising that a brief interaction can have such a positive effect on the overlooked residents of the home.

Outside of my lessons I enjoy orienteering with a local club. As part of an expedition I took part in, we walked 80km over 4 days in torrential rain. The challenging conditions demanded teamwork and trust to maintain morale and perform effectively as a group; as well as calm rational thought in stressful situations. Also, through this activity and the people I met, I have become a member of the SJA which has enabled me to gain first aid qualifications and go out on duties.

Although the bulk of a personal statement should be academic-related, it is important to show a life outside of studying. The involvement in a club or association demonstrates wider spare time interests, and the description of the challenging walking expedition provides evidence that the student can work with others and can cope in an arduous situation, obliquely suggesting that they might have the capacity for sustained and intense work . The student also shows that they understand that taking time out to relax and manage any stress is important, and conveys the impression of good time management. The passing reference to the drama group reinforces the impression that this applicant is a team-player. It is useful to describe sporting or musical interests although, as, this applicant shows, these non-academic interests don't need to be particularly high-powered ones.

Other activities I enjoy include drama - I was a member of a local group for 6 years - cycling and playing the guitar and piano which allow me to relax.

Non-academic interests don't need to be particularly high-powered.

I know that medicine is not a "9 to 5" job and is by no means the glamorous source of easy money it is often perceived to be. I understand the hours are long and potentially antisocial and that the career can be physically exhausting and emotionally draining. It is apparent that becoming a medic will involve inherent sacrifice.

However medicine is also a deeply gratifying and fascinating career path. I want to be a medic because my passion and aptitude is foremost scientific and to me 5 or 6 years more of formal education followed by a lifetime of further learning sounds like a stimulating career option and, thankfully, a far cry from the monotony some jobs pose. Nevertheless, as an intrinsically social person, I would relish a career requiring the development of strong empathic relationships with patients too. Crucially, I know I have the enthusiasm, capacity for hard work and the open and enquiring mind needed to succeed in such a fulfilling vocation.

In the concluding paragraphs, the statement is emphasising that, although aware of the negative aspects associated with the practice of medicine, fact-finding placements have given the applicant the insight and motivation to be certain that it is the right career for them. The applicant ends by summarising the key personal attributes that they believe make them well-suited to medicine.

Verdict and advice for improvement

Of course, there is room for improvement with this statement. No reference is made to the scientific subjects that are being studied at school or to particular modules that the applicant has found particularly exciting: this could have helped convey enthusiasm and curiosity in science. Although the applicant asserts that they have an 'open and enquiring mind', there is no description of any extracurricular project or reading that the applicant might have undertaken, perhaps to help them understand a highly-charged ethical issue.

Despite those omissions, this is an effective personal statement. It is well constructed, connects with the reader, and the material flows in a logical sequence. It further conveys the impression that the applicant has done the research and knows exactly what is in store: they are not applying with a naive view or because that is what is expected of them. Writing a statement along these lines would provide a good foundation for a competitive applicant and offers lots of material that can be discussed at an interview.

  • Course Structure
  • Academic Entry & Age Requirements
  • Selection Criteria
  • Health & Fitness to Practise
  • Application Checklist
  • Application Process
  • Introductory Reading
  • Writing your Personal Statement
  • Anatomy of a Personal Statement
  • Graduate Applicants
  • Mature Applicants
  • International Applicants
  • Mitigating circumstances
  • Shortlisting Process and Admissions Statistics
  • Fees and Funding
  • [email protected]
  • +44 (0) 333 050 7764 (Mon-Fri (9AM-5PM)
  • Award-Winning Medicine Application Support
  • +44 (0) 333 050 7764 (Mon-Fri 9AM-5PM)

All UCAT Support

All Interview Support

  • Medical School Reviews
  • PS Free Resources
  • UCAT Free Resources
  • Interview Free Resources
  • Book A Free Consultation

Medicine Personal Statement Tutor

The most effective one-to-one Personal Statement tutoring, delivered by awesome tutors who know how to make your Personal Statement attractive to admissions tutors – earning their prestigious Sensei title.

Use your hours on Personal Statement live redrafts, expert feedback, reducing word count , creating a strong opener , improving content and more.

Combine your tuition hours with our crash courses and extensive resources – also included in our Medicine Mastery Bundles – to write an impressive Personal Statement. 

  • Expert 1-1 PS Tuition
  • Tutors Assigned In 2 Working Days
  • Flexible Sessions Planning
  • Part Of Medicine Mastery Bundles

Get a Personal Statement tutor for Medicine, Vet Med or Dentistry.

Our Super Sensei tutors are available for all medicine and related courses. Your tuition will always be with an awesome tutor who knows the course , and more importantly, what the university is looking for!

  • UCAS Statement tuition for all med courses.
  • get expert tips & tricks to make your statement stand out.

Expert tutors who have assessed tons of Personal Statements and know what to write.

You’ll be assigned an expert medical tutor within two working days of booking . All of our tutors are highly experienced medics and know exactly what admissions tutors and universities are looking for in their applicants’ Personal Statement.

  • Experts in Medicine UCAS Statements
  • Many Hours of Tutoring Experience

What Makes A Super Sensei Tutor

  • Experienced in 1-1 tutoring
  • Always Friendly & Approachable
  • Scored In The Top 10% In Their Admissions Tests
  • Amazing Academic Records
  • Truly care about Your success
  • Current & former students from prestigious universities

Meet A Selection Of Our Expert Personal Statement Tutors

How does personal statement tuition work.

Our Personal Statement Tuition is easy, hassle-free access to one-to-one tuition with medical school experts. Out tutors quickly identify problem areas and get to work on them straight away, instead of wasting time on areas you already perform well on .

Getting started is easy – all it takes is  5 quick steps below.

Select your Medicine Mastery Bundle .

Fill in the pre-tuition form we send you.

You’ll be matched with your Sensei within 2 working days.

Arrange your first tuition session with your tutor.

Watch your Personal Statement rapidly improve!

Each tutoring session will be specific to your personal needs.

Every student has their own strengths and weaknesses. Tons of students struggle with getting all of the content into the stringent 4,000 character limit. Many also battle with using the best language for the job, or talking about work experience in the right way.

That’s why all of our Super Sensei tuition is tailored to your specific requirements – we’ll help you where you actually need the support to make efficient use of the time left until the UCAS Statement deadline. If there’s ever any part of your statement you’re especially worried about, your tutor will work on that section with you.

  • Lesson plans are personalised for you.
  • Use your hours on Interview or Admissions Tests.

What’s included in the Medicine Mastery Bundle?

Alongside your one-to-one tuition hours, our Medicine Mastery Bundles provide access to our live Crash Courses and extensive suite of preparation materials . It doesn’t just cover your Personal Statement though; you’ll receive support for the whole of your application, including the UCAT and Interviews . 

Discover the contents from each tier of the Medicine Mastery Bundle:

Until 01/07

Teaching Hours: 68h | Resource Hours: 76h

  • 36h 1-1 PS, UCAT & Interview Tutoring You'll be assigned a personal tutor.
  • 4x Mock Interviews Realistic mock interviews held with different tutors.
  • UCAT Live Course An 8-hour live UCAT course.
  • Interview Live Course An 8-hour live Interview course.
  • MMI Live Course A half-day course with 2x full MMI circuits.
  • Personal Statement Live Course A live 8-hour PS course.
  • Detailed UCAT Revision Notes 80+ written guides taking you through the exam.
  • 15,000 UCAT Practice Questions Every question has fully worked solutions.
  • 6 Mock UCAT Papers Non-specimen UCAT papers to test your skills.
  • PS, UCAT & Interview Workbook Get 3x e-books for the PS, UCAT & Interview.
  • PS, UCAT & Interview Online Course Pre-recorded courses for the PS, UCAT & interview.
  • Pro Masterclass Online Course A pre-recorded course to get you ahead of the pack in medical school.

Extra Support

  • Medicine Application Consultation A 30-minute session with one of the 6med team.
  • 2x Personal Statement Redrafts Expert feedback delivered by a tutor.
  • Unlimited Course Attendance Join for an unlimited number of course dates!
  • Guaranteed Place Or Continue Free If you don't get a place, we'll work with you for free!

Teaching Hours: 108h | Resource Hours: 86h

  • 72h 1-1 PS, UCAT & Interview Tutoring You'll be assigned a personal tutor.
  • 8x Mock Interviews Realistic mock interviews held with different tutors.
  • 10x Personal Statement Redrafts Expert feedback delivered by a tutor.

Discover The Medicine Mastery Bundle

See everything that comes with your Medicine Mastery Bundle and discover why unified preparation is the most effective way to get your medical school offer.

See what our past students have had to say about their experience with Super Sensei:

Got some questions you’d like answered?

The Medicine Mastery Bundle combines all of our medicine applications into one, comprehensive collection. 

The Medicine Mastery Bundle includes:

  • 80+ hours of personalized tutoring
  • 4 mock interviews
  • 4 live courses (UCAT, Personal Statement, Interview, and MMI)
  • Full UCAT Ninja Question Bank access (revision notes, practice questions, full mock papers)
  • 3 workbooks (Personal Statement, UCAT, Interview)
  • Online courses for the Personal Statement, UCAT, and Interview
  • Pro Masterclass to get ahead in your first year of medical school
  • Medicine application consultation
  • Unlimited course attendance
  • Guaranteed place or continue for free

Unfortunately, you cannot access our Personal Statement as a standalone option. All of our Personal Statement support options are exclusive to our Medical Mastery Bundles. 

Of course, you can, the hours are totally flexible and you can use them on the UCAT or Interview as you see fit.

You hours will be available to you until you’ve used all of them.

We use zoom as our platform to deliver this tuition. This gives you the flexibility of when you can get sessions and helps us allocate the best tutor, not just the closest tutor.

Yes, they’ve all been through the process before and emerged at the top of their cohort. They’re really well placed to help you.

Head over to our Help Centre which has just about every answer to the questions you might have. Or if you prefer, you can give us a call on 0333 050 7764 .

Application Support

  • Personal Statement
  • Crash Courses
  • 1-1 Tutoring

Free Resources

  • Personal Statement Free Resources
  • Medicine Application Guides

Other Stuff

  • UCAT.Ninja™
  • Exams.Ninja
  • School Support
  • Tutor With Us
  • Medical School Success Calculator
  • Help Centre

Pay with confidence

The Aspiring Medics

Cambridge medicine personal statement (zute).

In this series of blogs, medical students and medicine offer holders share and explain their personal statements so that you can learn from our experiences and reflections. Zute is an undergraduate medical student at the University of Cambridge.

Disclaimer: Please do NOT be tempted to use our personal statements as a model/foundation/plan. UCAS is very strict about plagiarism, more information can be found here .

Please remember that there is no such thing as a model personal statement. By definition, it is supposed to be unique and there is no "golden formula".

In an overcrowded and understaffed ward, I joined the only junior doctor on her ward round. With a compassionate bedside manner, she won over the trust and gratitude of her patients despite the high volume of demands. This resilience under stress, while remaining compassionate, exemplified the meaning of being a doctor for me. My experiences have highlighted the personal fulfilment I could have in delivering effective healthcare, and it has become clear that medicine is my vocation.

personal statement medicine tutor

This paragraph details my motivation for why I want to do medicine. It’s very important to show admissions tutors that going for medicine is something you’ve thought about thoroughly – a clear motivation helps with this. Opening with an anecdote is a good way to make your personal statement sound interesting and most of all personal. I made sure to appropriately reflect on what I thought about that doctor-patient interaction by extracting traits desirable in doctors

e.g. resilience and compassion .

Eager to explore my interest further, I shadowed an orthopaedic surgeon for a week, which exposed the problem-solving and practical nature of medicine. By observing him analyse the presence of osteophytes and cartilage degeneration from a knee X-ray, I learned how acute analytical skills are vital in making correct diagnoses. Moreover, seeing first-hand the interplay between each member of the team during the knee arthroplasty stressed the value of strong teamwork and communication skills, which I have developed as a pastoral prefect.

It's good to have a transition between your paragraphs to build a narrative of how you’ve found out more about what medicine entails. Here, I didn’t just say I did work experience, but I gave an example of specific skills I deemed important such as teamwork and analytical skills. I furthered this by giving an example of where I demonstrated these skills i.e. as a pastoral prefect. Teamwork is essential to medicine, so I wanted to reflect on where I saw this in action during my work experience.

Additionally, volunteering weekly in a urology ward over the past year has deepened my insight into how other healthcare professionals work in tandem with doctors, all of whom are integral to the holistic treatment of patients. From feeding to offering a listening ear for patients' worries, I have been confronted with the emotional demands of caring for the sick. From this, my communication skills have matured by adopting an empathic approach to patients and their families; I learned that alleviating their concerns can enhance patient recovery.

I decided to talk about my volunteering because it showed that I had a long-term commitment to medicine. I also made sure to show that other members in the healthcare profession have an important role to play in patient care – it’s good to get across that you understand doctors don’t do everything. It’s also important to show that you understand the emotional challenges associated with being a doctor. Following this up with why you still want to do medicine is a good way to show you’ve come to a reasoned conclusion .

A placement in a fast-paced A&E department gave an enlightening contrast. The doctors handled sensitive issues professionally, allowing me to appreciate the utility in being composed in the face of emotionally challenging clinical situations, such as ineffective CPR delivery. Whilst it is frustrating that not everyone can be saved, reading Henry Marsh's ‘Do No Harm’ helped me realise that doctors must reflect on their limits, and palliating symptoms instead of attempting curative treatment may at times be the best plan.

personal statement medicine tutor

Adding your thoughts from a book is a good way to reflect on things you haven’t physically experienced. It doesn’t have to be long, just choose one main takeaway from the book and explain what you learnt from it. I chose to talk about the idea of choosing when and when not to operate as this was something I didn’t fully appreciate before.

Intrigued by the neurological cases from the book, I researched more into the brain and evaluated the evidence behind differences between teenage and adult brains, which gained me a national finalist place in a national essay competition. From this, I sharpened my critical thinking skills and engagement with scientific research, equipping me with essential tools for practising evidence-based medicine in the future. Following a lesson on stem cells, I investigated the use of them in epidermal sheet transplants as treatment for epidermolysis bullosa for a young boy. I found the pathology behind the disease fascinating, which inspired me to write an article on how the insertion of LAMB3 cDNA into cells regenerated his epidermis. The drastic improvement to his quality of life physically and psychologically showed me how medical research is critical in improving patient care.

Since I was applying to Cambridge, I wanted to put more emphasis than most personal statements on how much I was interested in the science behind medicine. Firstly, I was proactive by entering an essay competition and then saying which skills I gained from it. The foundation of all treatments and guidelines in medical practice is evidence so I wanted to show I understood that aspect. If you have a specific example of where you’ve gone beyond your A Level specification to research something, then definitely put that in. However, don’t just leave it in a vacuum, try to link it back to medicine to show that ultimately all the science you learn is to benefit patients in some way.

As a keen scientist, I enjoy problem-solving, especially in novel scientific contexts, evidenced through achieving a Gold award in the Cambridge Chemistry Challenge and Intermediate Biology Olympiad. Alongside my academics, I tutor KS2 children weekly which has refined my ability to effectively convey complex information to others, a useful skill in discussing diagnoses and clinical decisions with patients. From tutoring six children at a time and giving tailored feedback to their parents, I have managed the high workload by prioritising tasks. As a dedicated athlete, I have competed regionally for my athletics club for the past three years which has taught me the value of perseverance during difficulty.

It's easy to forget to mention what things you do outside of medicine. I made sure to include my hobbies and other passions , not to tick a box but because it’s useful for admissions tutors to know that you have a life outside medicine. Burnout is real! If you have something that you do on the side then keep on doing it, your entire life doesn’t have to be devoted to medicine. For me, athletics is something that I still take seriously while at university because it helps me to maintain a good balance between studying and having fun.

Informed by my experiences, my drive to study medicine is stronger than ever and I embrace both the emotional and intellectual challenge it brings. Crucially, I aim to embark on a lifetime of learning, equipped with the tenacity, diligence and compassion needed to be a successful doctor.

For my conclusion, I chose 3 qualities that would summarise the traits I have that make me a suitable applicant. This made sure the ending was concise and impactful enough. There isn’t necessarily a right way to write one, but I intentionally kept it short so I could use most of my characters in the main body to talk about other more important things.

  • 📝Personal Statement

Related Posts

Oxford Medicine Personal Statement (Yusuf)

Cambridge Medicine Personal Statement (Ayanfe)

Oxford Medicine Personal Statement (Aaron)

  • Search Menu

Sign in through your institution

  • Advance articles
  • JALM Talk Podcasts
  • Special Issues & Special Collections
  • ADLM Guidance Documents
  • Author Guidelines
  • Submission Site
  • Call for Papers
  • Self-Archiving Policy
  • Why Publish?
  • Open Access
  • About The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine
  • Editorial Board
  • Advertising & Corporate Services
  • Journals on Oxford Academic
  • Books on Oxford Academic

Issue Cover

  • < Previous

A Trainee’s Guide: Crafting a Personal Statement for Laboratory Medicine Fellowship Applications

ORCID logo

  • Article contents
  • Figures & tables
  • Supplementary Data

Ria C Fyffe-Freil, Joesph R Wiencek, A Trainee’s Guide: Crafting a Personal Statement for Laboratory Medicine Fellowship Applications, The Journal of Applied Laboratory Medicine , Volume 9, Issue 5, September 2024, Pages 1091–1094, https://doi.org/10.1093/jalm/jfae067

  • Permissions Icon Permissions

There are many unique paths that can lead an individual to the field of laboratory medicine. For some, the profession may be a natural sequence from their current work or research, and for others, the trail might be much more challenging at first to locate. Common paths to the field usually fall into 2 categories: medical doctors (MD, DO, MBBS) and doctorate-degree holders (PhD, DCLS, etc.). For medical doctors, a pathology residency is completed; then subspecialization can be pursued. Doctoral trainees, on the other hand, may be required to use an online tool such as myIDP to explore scientific career options based on aptitude and values ( 1) or may uncover the field by word-of-mouth. Regardless of route, once a prospective trainee commits to a vocation in lab medicine, there is ultimately no reversing course. Fortunately, to help navigate prospective trainees through the process, there are countless individuals in academic, private, and industry job settings who are ready to inspire the next generation by paying it forward. In this laboratory reflection, the goal is to provide some practical advice for one of the most critical aspects of the process—the laboratory medicine fellowship application stage, specifically the personal statement (or letter of intent). And while this piece focuses on clinical chemistry fellowships (as this is what both authors completed), the personal statement “do’s and do not’s” apply more broadly to any clinical laboratory medicine fellowship. Of note, aside from clinical chemistry, there are clinical fellowship opportunities in microbiology, biochemical genetics, laboratory genetics and genomics, as well as clinical immunology/human leukocyte antigen specialties.

AACC members

Personal account.

  • Sign in with email/username & password
  • Get email alerts
  • Save searches
  • Purchase content
  • Activate your purchase/trial code
  • Add your ORCID iD

Institutional access

Sign in with a library card.

  • Sign in with username/password
  • Recommend to your librarian
  • Institutional account management
  • Get help with access

Access to content on Oxford Academic is often provided through institutional subscriptions and purchases. If you are a member of an institution with an active account, you may be able to access content in one of the following ways:

IP based access

Typically, access is provided across an institutional network to a range of IP addresses. This authentication occurs automatically, and it is not possible to sign out of an IP authenticated account.

Choose this option to get remote access when outside your institution. Shibboleth/Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institution’s website and Oxford Academic.

  • Click Sign in through your institution.
  • Select your institution from the list provided, which will take you to your institution's website to sign in.
  • When on the institution site, please use the credentials provided by your institution. Do not use an Oxford Academic personal account.
  • Following successful sign in, you will be returned to Oxford Academic.

If your institution is not listed or you cannot sign in to your institution’s website, please contact your librarian or administrator.

Enter your library card number to sign in. If you cannot sign in, please contact your librarian.

Society Members

Society member access to a journal is achieved in one of the following ways:

Sign in through society site

Many societies offer single sign-on between the society website and Oxford Academic. If you see ‘Sign in through society site’ in the sign in pane within a journal:

  • Click Sign in through society site.
  • When on the society site, please use the credentials provided by that society. Do not use an Oxford Academic personal account.

If you do not have a society account or have forgotten your username or password, please contact your society.

Sign in using a personal account

Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. See below.

A personal account can be used to get email alerts, save searches, purchase content, and activate subscriptions.

Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members.

Viewing your signed in accounts

Click the account icon in the top right to:

  • View your signed in personal account and access account management features.
  • View the institutional accounts that are providing access.

Signed in but can't access content

Oxford Academic is home to a wide variety of products. The institutional subscription may not cover the content that you are trying to access. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian.

For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more.

Short-term Access

To purchase short-term access, please sign in to your personal account above.

Don't already have a personal account? Register

Month: Total Views:
September 2024 63

Email alerts

Citing articles via.

  • Recommend to Your Librarian
  • Advertising and Corporate Services
  • Journals Career Network

Affiliations

  • Online ISSN 2475-7241
  • Copyright © 2024 Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine
  • About Oxford Academic
  • Publish journals with us
  • University press partners
  • What we publish
  • New features  
  • Open access
  • Rights and permissions
  • Accessibility
  • Advertising
  • Media enquiries
  • Oxford University Press
  • Oxford Languages
  • University of Oxford

Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide

  • Copyright © 2024 Oxford University Press
  • Cookie settings
  • Cookie policy
  • Privacy policy
  • Legal notice

This Feature Is Available To Subscribers Only

Sign In or Create an Account

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

For full access to this pdf, sign in to an existing account, or purchase an annual subscription.

Category : Births in Voronezh

Instance of
Category combines topics
Category contains ( )
Voronezh
 image   flag image   coat of arms image   locator map image 
   
Pronunciation audio
Instance of (1920s–) (1586–) (2013–)
Location
Head of government
Inception
Population
Area
Elevation above sea level
Different from
Authority file
 

Subcategories

This category has the following 107 subcategories, out of 107 total.

  • Alexander Samoylov ‎ (1 F)
  • Grigorij Baklanov ‎ (2 F)
  • Nikolay Bocharov ‎ (2 F)
  • Igor Boev ‎ (3 C, 2 F)
  • Boris Chernyshov ‎ (10 F)
  • Aleksandr Borodyuk ‎ (7 F)
  • Alexander Bugaev ‎ (1 C, 3 F)
  • Ivan Bunin ‎ (12 C, 1 P, 47 F)
  • Anton Buslov ‎ (1 F)
  • Konstantin Chernyshov ‎ (2 F)
  • Alexander Chertkov ‎ (1 P, 18 F)
  • Nina Chusova ‎ (3 F)
  • Daniel (Dorovskyh) ‎ (4 F)
  • Danila Poperechnyi ‎ (7 F)
  • Vasiliy Danilov ‎ (1 F)
  • Elena Danilova ‎ (2 F)
  • Arkady Davidovich ‎ (2 F)
  • Maxim Dikunov ‎ (1 F)
  • Anatoly Durov ‎ (1 C, 1 P, 1 F)
  • Sviatoslav Eshchenko ‎ (5 F)
  • Eugen (Bolkhovitinov) ‎ (7 F)
  • Yelena Fanailova ‎ (2 F)
  • Fedor Osipov ‎ (2 F)
  • Konstantin Feoktistov ‎ (2 C, 27 F)
  • Roman Filipov ‎ (1 C, 8 F)
  • Alina Gaidamakina ‎ (3 F)
  • Galina Arapova ‎ (2 F)
  • Nikolay Ge ‎ (5 C, 2 P, 10 F)
  • Kirill Gerstein ‎ (5 F)
  • Anna Goldenberg (scientist) ‎ (1 F)
  • Vasiliy Goncharov ‎ (1 C, 1 F)
  • Ivan Nikolaevich Gorozhankin ‎ (1 C, 11 F)
  • Dmitry Grachyov ‎ (3 F)
  • Daniil Gridnev ‎ (2 F)
  • Rem Khramov ‎ (1 F)
  • Elena Andreevna Kiseleva ‎ (6 F)
  • Andrey Knyazev ‎ (1 C, 1 F)
  • Viktor Kobzev ‎ (2 F)
  • Sergey Koliukh ‎ (2 F)
  • Aleksey Koltsov ‎ (4 C, 44 F)
  • Viktoria Komova ‎ (8 F)
  • Dmitry Kozonchuk ‎ (1 C, 1 F)
  • Yakov Kreizer ‎ (3 F)
  • Semyon Krivoshein ‎ (12 F)
  • Vlad Krutskih ‎ (5 F)
  • Alexander Krysanov ‎ (6 F)
  • Nikolay Kryukov ‎ (2 F)
  • Irina Levova ‎ (40 F)
  • Alexander Litvinenko ‎ (1 C, 5 F)
  • Vyacheslav Lopatin ‎ (36 F)
  • Vitali Lystsov ‎ (3 F)
  • Yuriy Malyshev ‎ (5 F)
  • Maria Marfutina ‎ (1 F)
  • Samuil Marshak ‎ (7 C, 6 F)
  • Max Nester ‎ (5 F)
  • Angelina Melnikova ‎ (16 F)
  • Georgy Menglet ‎ (1 F)
  • Mitrophan (Grinyov) ‎ (2 F)
  • Karl Mufke ‎ (1 C, 2 F)
  • Yuliya Nachalova ‎ (2 F)
  • Marina Nekrasova ‎ (7 F)
  • Ivan Savvich Nikitin ‎ (4 C, 19 F)
  • Aleksandr Nikolayev ‎ (1 F)
  • Michail Olminski ‎ (2 C, 3 F)
  • Alexander Ostuzhev ‎ (15 F)
  • Nikolai Panin ‎ (11 F)
  • Elena Panova ‎ (2 F)
  • Andrey Platonov ‎ (3 C, 10 F)
  • Arkady Ponomarev ‎ (1 F)
  • Mikhail Aleksandrovich Ponomarev ‎ (3 F)
  • Dmitry Portnyagin ‎ (2 F)
  • Maxim Potapov ‎ (7 F)
  • Dmitriy Prussak ‎ (3 C, 3 F)
  • Mikhail Remizov ‎ (5 F)
  • Sergej Resnianskij ‎ (7 F)
  • Vladislav Ryzhkov ‎ (1 F)
  • Ivan Saenko ‎ (10 F)
  • Dmitriy Sautin ‎ (4 F)
  • Sergey Selin ‎ (4 F)
  • Evgeniya Serebrennikova ‎ (1 F)
  • Andrei Ivanovich Shingarev ‎ (17 F)
  • Roman Shishkin ‎ (18 F)
  • Dmitri Skopintchev ‎ (1 C)
  • Vasily Sleptsov ‎ (5 F)
  • Viktor Stroev ‎ (4 F)
  • Tatyana Babenkova ‎ (3 F)
  • Elena Terekhova (football) ‎ (3 F)
  • Tikhon (Dorovskikh) ‎ (1 F)
  • Dmitri Tsitsilin ‎ (1 F)
  • Dmitri Tsypchenko ‎ (4 F)
  • Dmytro Vakulenko ‎ (1 F)
  • Valeri Shmarov ‎ (5 F)
  • Anastasia Verbitskaya ‎ (3 F)
  • Volin ‎ (1 C, 1 P, 10 F)
  • Eduard Vorganov ‎ (7 F)
  • Serge Samuel Voronoff ‎ (1 P, 8 F)
  • Anzhelina Vorontsova ‎ (1 F)
  • Egor Vyaltsev ‎ (8 F)
  • Marcin Woyczyński ‎ (7 F)
  • Andrei Yegorychev ‎ (1 F)
  • Tikhon (Yemelyanov) ‎ (4 F)
  • Yuri Klinskikh ‎ (1 F)
  • Yury Kharikov ‎ (1 F)
  • Tamara Zamotaylova ‎ (2 F)
  • Arseny Zhilyaev ‎ (2 F)
  • Alexey Zhuravlev ‎ (1 C, 15 F)
  • Mytrofan Zinoview ‎ (1 P, 8 F)

Media in category "Births in Voronezh"

The following 2 files are in this category, out of 2 total.

personal statement medicine tutor

  • Births in Russia by city
  • Births in Voronezh Oblast
  • People of Voronezh
  • Uses of Wikidata Infobox
  • Uses of Wikidata Infobox with subinfoboxes
  • Uses of Wikidata Infobox with maps
  • Pages with coordinates

Navigation menu

Username or email  *

Password  *

Forgotten password?

info@themedicportal.com

Medicine Personal Statement Example 2

Check out this successful Medicine Personal Statement example. The applicant received offers from Bristol and Plymouth - and also got an interview at Cambridge.

  • Deciding on Medicine
  • Work Experience
  • Choosing a Medical School
  • Medicine Personal Statement Examples
  • How Medical Schools Use Your Personal Statement
  • How to Structure a Personal Statement
  • How to Write a Personal Statement
  • Personal Statement Review Service
  • Interview Guide
  • Interview Questions
  • NHS Hot Topics
  • Medical Ethics
  • Graduate Entry
  • Studying Abroad
  • Study Medicine Abroad In Europe
  • Studying Abroad in the USA
  • Study Abroad in Ireland
  • Study Medicine In The Caribbean
  • Study Medicine in Australia
  • Study Abroad in Hong Kong
  • How To Survive Your First Year Of Med School
  • Science Hot Topics
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Allied Health
  • Physician Associate
  • The NHS Guide
  • Parents’ Guide

Check out this successful Medicine Personal Statement example for inspiration to help you plan and structure your Personal Statement .

Shadowing surgeons racing against the clock to save a kidney was one of the most exciting experiences of my life. With only twenty-five minutes to resect an extensive tumour before the entire kidney was lost, I was moved by the surgeons’ determination and synergy. However, the limitations of medicine were demonstrated when I was told the patient had an additional unresectable tumour. This experience illustrated the responsibility entrusted to medical professionals; not always to save a life but to treat patients with a biopsychosocial approach. Reflecting on this, I knew I wanted to learn more about medicine. However, it was after observing the communication skills and empathy of a physician allaying a pre-operative patient’s fears that my decision to become a doctor was confirmed.

In my local hospice I was inspired by a doctor comforting an anxious, elderly patient; adapting his terminology to ensure effective communication. In my eight months there I developed the clarity of my conversation with patients, in a way that benefitted their needs. I used this skill at a GP surgery with an elderly patient who was distressed about waiting times. Using a calm demeanour, I deescalated the situation and sought help from a receptionist, who had previously established a rapport with the patient. My leadership skills were enhanced through the realisation that being a good leader involves asking for guidance. My aim is to further these skills in my future medical career.

Make Sure You Stand Out

Get The Best Personal Statement Advice

Exposure to multiple GP surgeries highlighted how a large elderly population correlates with the need for more home visits; thereby illustrating the effect of demographic transition in healthcare. The importance of teamwork was demonstrated in the multidisciplinary team meetings I have observed on various placements. The healthcare professionals deliberated in order to ensure the best quality of life for the patient.

One of my responsibilities as head of boarding is to comfort younger students who are missing home and this helped me realise that collaboration within the boarding house helps to improve their well-being. Understanding and empathy comes from staff and students alike and my teamwork has improved. Responsibility and advocating for patients in a team is something I look forward to in my future career.

At the hospice it was moving to witness the composure of a doctor who was delivering news of a patient’s rapid deterioration. This exemplified how emotionally demanding medicine is. However, when facing academic challenges I have developed a positive work-life balance. Running and playing the violin provide stress outlets and I look forward to representing my university’s orchestra. There are many new challenges as a medical student and doctor, however, I know that I have the emotional maturity to thrive in a high-pressure environment.

The Ultimate UCAS Support

Make Your Application Amazing

Research is a vital element of medicine as it advances patient care. At Nuffield Health an umbrella sticker on a patient’s door is the universal symbol for dementia. This inspired me as it is an innovative way to maintain confidentiality whilst adapting to patients’ needs and I wrote about this in an article I published in Mentor Magazine. After reading ‘Somebody I Used To Know’ by Wendy Mitchell, which details her experience with dementia, I researched dementia treatment. This topic was further explored within my EPQ where I investigated socially assistive robots that improve behavioural and psychological dementia symptoms, through social exchange. This experience helped me to appreciate the importance of research in evidence-based medicine. I look forward to improving my research skills at medical school.

The empathy and compassion I have seen in healthcare professionals has helped me confirm my commitment to holistic, patient-centred care. I appreciate the academic, emotional and practical challenges of a career in medicine and feel well prepared to meet these as I enter medical school next year.

See more Medicine Personal Statement examples.

UCAS Application Packages

Boost your Medicine application with specialist support for navigating UCAS - and save 15% when you book a package!

Personal Statement Review

Get your Personal Statement reviewed by a Medical School Admissions Tutor or high-flying medic. You'll receive detailed feedback in just a few days - with clear action points on how to improve.

Personal Statement Tutoring

Impress Admissions Tutors at top Medical Schools, avoid common mistakes and make your Personal Statement shine with tutoring.

Join Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list for weekly updates and tips on how to get into Medicine.

Medicine Personal Statement Example 1

Medicine personal statement example 3.

Loading More Content

IMAGES

  1. FREE 20+ Sample Personal Statement Templates in MS Word

    personal statement medicine tutor

  2. 20 Awesome Personal Statement Medicine Examples

    personal statement medicine tutor

  3. Complete Guide to Medicine Personal Statements

    personal statement medicine tutor

  4. Medicine Personal Statement Checklist: 8 Key Areas

    personal statement medicine tutor

  5. Medical School Personal Statement Tutors

    personal statement medicine tutor

  6. Medical school personal statement

    personal statement medicine tutor

VIDEO

  1. How to write a personal statement ?

  2. The MEDICINE PERSONAL STATEMENT That Got Me 4 Interviews

  3. Pain types

  4. Personal Statement Example

  5. Personal Statement for Medical Residency Based on Neuroscience

  6. MedStarTutors

COMMENTS

  1. 3 Medical School Personal Statement Examples [2024 Update]

    Example 3 — Beyond the Diagnosis: The Importance of Individualized Care in Medicine. The applicant who wrote this personal statement was accepted into Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and Nova Southeastern University College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Haywood sighs and shakes her head upon opening the chart.

  2. Medicine Personal Statement

    Your Personal Statement supports your UCAS Application. It's designed to help Medical Schools choose the best candidates. It gives you the chance to tell Admissions Tutors about the skills or qualities you have that are relevant to studying Medicine and being a Doctor - and write about your motivation to study Medicine.

  3. Medicine Personal Statement Tutoring

    Your medicine personal statement tutor will help you prepare the foundations of your personal statement. They will help you to secure good quality and quantity of medical work experience in clinical settings as well as discuss your personal extracurricular activities and how you can improve them for your medical school application. At this ...

  4. 2024 Medical School Personal Statement Ultimate Guide (220+ Examples)

    Part 1: Introduction to the medical school personal statement. You probably know someone who achieved a solid GPA and MCAT score, conducted research, shadowed physicians, engaged in meaningful volunteer work, and met all the other medical school requirements, yet still got rejected by every school they applied to.. You may have even heard of someone who was rejected by over 30 medical schools ...

  5. Personal Statement Tutoring

    Our Medicine Personal Statement Tutors will help you impress Admissions Tutors and get to the interview stage. Sessions start from £80 per hour, and you can save up to 15% with our multi-hour discounts. How To Stand Out. Many exceptional applicants slip up at the Personal Statement stage. Strong candidates all have great grades.

  6. Medicine Personal Statement

    A medicine personal statement is important because it allows medical schools to assess a candidate's suitability for studying medicine. It provides insights into a candidate's motivation, skills, and experience and helps admissions tutors make informed decisions about their application.

  7. Award-Winning Medical School Personal Statement Tutors

    Call us today to connect with a top Medical School Personal Statement tutor. (888) 888-0446. Get Started. Choose the best Medical School Personal Statement tutor for you from many highly-rated tutors available for personalized 1-on-1 Medical School Personal Statement tutoring.

  8. Medical School Personal Statement Examples That Got 6 Acceptances

    28 More Medical School Personal Statement Examples That Got Accepted. Medical School Personal Statement Example #3. Imagine holding a baby wearing doll clothes and a diaper made of gauze because she was too small. When I was 4 years old, my sister was born 4 months prematurely, weighing only 1 pound and 7 ounces.

  9. How To Structure Your Medicine Personal Statement

    There are two common ways that people typically choose to show their motivation to study Medicine when writing a Medicine Personal Statement: "I love studying science and people, so I want to be a Doctor". "I had a medical experience that led to an epiphany, and now I want to be a Doctor". Both of these are acceptable motivations ...

  10. Medical School Personal Statement Storytelling Guide

    Medical School Personal Statement Storytelling Guide [With Examples] Sahil Mehta. 13,262 10 minutes read. Typical medical school personal statements list qualities and accomplishments in paragraph form and can be boring to read for admissions committee members. But the best personal statements demonstrate qualities through engaging stories.

  11. Medicine Personal Statement Examples

    Medicine Personal Statement Example 1: My decision to pursue a career in medicine stems from a longstanding interest in the human body and the science of healthcare. Over the years, I have engaged in various activities and studies that have prepared me for this path, and I am eager to contribute to the medical field.

  12. Medicine: Anatomy of a Personal Statement

    Medicine: Anatomy of a Personal Statement. Download this page as a pdf document. Below is a personal statement from a recent applicant for A100 Medicine at Oxford. It is not perfect and it may not be suited to every medical school. There is no single template for success in terms of an application to Oxford.

  13. Personal Statement Tutor

    Select your Medicine Mastery Bundle. 2. Fill in the pre-tuition form we send you. 3. You'll be matched with your Sensei within 2 working days. 4. Arrange your first tuition session with your tutor. 5. Watch your Personal Statement rapidly improve!

  14. 6 Real Examples Of Successful Medicine Personal Statements

    Personal Statement Example 6. This Personal Statement comes from a student who got into Graduate Entry Medicine at King's - and also had interviews for Undergraduate Medicine at King's, QMUL and Exeter. Get some inspiration for your Medicine Personal Statement with these successful examples from current Medical School students.

  15. Medicine Personal Statement

    The Medicine personal statement is the first time admissions tutors will assess you as an individual and not a set of grades and results, so it is important for you make a good impression. You will have 4,000 characters (around 500 words) over 47 lines to show how you possess the qualities needed to become a doctor.

  16. Cambridge Medicine Personal Statement (Zute)

    Cambridge Medicine Personal Statement (Zute) In this series of blogs, medical students and medicine offer holders share and explain their personal statements so that you can learn from our experiences and reflections. Zute is an undergraduate medical student at the University of Cambridge. Disclaimer: Please do NOT be tempted to use our ...

  17. Trainee's Guide: Crafting a Personal Statement for Laboratory Medicine

    A Trainee's Guide: Crafting a Personal Statement for Laboratory Medicine Fellowship Applications Get access. Ria C Fyffe-Freil, Ria C Fyffe-Freil Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States. Address correspondence to this author at: Department of Pathology ...

  18. Category:Cities and towns in Voronezh Oblast

    Main page; Contents; Current events; Random article; About Wikipedia; Contact us; Donate; Pages for logged out editors learn more

  19. How To Start Writing Your Medicine Personal Statement

    22nd September 2022. Follow these four steps to get the ball rolling and start writing your Medicine Personal Statement. 1. Do some pre-reading. First of all, have a look at some real examples to find out what a Medicine Personal Statement looks like. This should help you get into the right mindset and give you some inspiration for your own ...

  20. Voronezh State Medical University 2024-25: Fees, Ranking, Courses

    Voronezh State Medical University Russia 2024-25: Admission, Courses, Fees, Eligibility and Ranking etc. Voronezh State Medical University is a prominent institution in Central Russia, situated in Voronezh. Established in 1918 by professors evacuated from the University of Tartu in Estonia, it comprises 79 departments dedicated to teaching and ...

  21. Voronezh State Medical University named after N. N. Burdenko

    In December 1930 the medical faculty of voronezh university became an independent medical institute consisting of two faculties the faculty of general medicine and the faculty of health. In 1933 the pediatric faculty, in 1957 the faculty of stomatology (dentistry) and 1983 the faculty of continuing education for medical specialists and ...

  22. How To Write Your Medicine Personal Statement

    Understanding how to structure your Personal Statement for Medicine will firstly help you to plan your writing. Note down the three key categories of Motivation, Exploration and Suitability - then write bullet points with everything you want to include for each one. Once you have a plan, you're ready to start writing your first draft.

  23. Category:Births in Voronezh

    The following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. Ivan Vasilevich Tarasenko.jpg 255 × 320; 103 KB. Дмитрий Озман.jpg 3,024 × 4,032; 1.58 MB. Неля Франчук.jpg 1,188 × 1,587; 628 KB. Categories: Births in Russia by city. Births in Voronezh Oblast. People of Voronezh.

  24. Medicine Personal Statement Example 2

    Check out this successful Medicine Personal Statement example for inspiration to help you plan and structure your Personal Statement. Shadowing surgeons racing against the clock to save a kidney was one of the most exciting experiences of my life. With only twenty-five minutes to resect an extensive tumour before the entire kidney was lost, I ...