medical school application essays

If you want to consider any kind of medical school application essay and the AMCAS essay, so be it. The admission essay required by your chosen medical school should not exceed 5,300 characters. Never forget that admissions committee members would be forced to go through hundreds and hundreds of medical school application essays, so turning in a totally mediocre medical school application essay is a sure way to get ignored.

The details in your medical school application essay

The big question you would be addressing on your application essay is how and why are you qualified to be accepted to medical school? A good medical school application essay would not just be a listing of your traits, but it should also be an elucidation of these traits. The details are crucial; remember that your accomplishments and other pertinent details have been capsulized in the other sections of your application. What you need to reveal through the medical school application essay are what you accomplished in detail, and you can also highlight the roles you performed in the various activities that you were involved in during your undergraduate years.

Hospital experience mentioned in the medical school application essay

Most members of the admissions committee of medical schools will look for hospital experience, but do not think that if you had so little of it, your medical school application will be looked over. It is more crucial in the sense that the admissions board would refer to it as a manifestation of your interest in medicine. What you should be imparting in this part of the medical school application essay is your ability to work with patients in a clinical scenario.

Is research background crucial to the medical school application essay?

Having a background in research would surely help you get points from the admissions officers because research (both inside and outside the scientific laboratory) is a crucial part of the world of medical school. In your medical school application essay, you can point out significant research activities that you have done, emphasizing the techniques and strategies you have employed for your research. Keep the details short and direct, however.

The concentration of your disclosures should be on what you contributed and not the topics of research. You may think of the contribution as too small, but if it earned you a commendation from your research or undergraduate adviser, do not hesitate to put it down on the medical school application essay.

Other hints for a better medical school application essay

# Avoid boring the admissions officers with repetitive and general statements. They simply want to get new ways of seeing you – both as an applicant and as a person.

# Being wordy is not always good. First, wordiness eats up too much space. Second, a wordy medical school application essay could confuse the readers on what you are trying to say. In the medical school application essay, a short sentence could create more impact due to its directness.

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Bragging won’t get you anywhere, especially when you’re writing your medical school application essay. You can discuss your achievements in your medical school application essay but don’t get too cocky. Here are tips that can help you write about your achievements in your medical school application essay the right way.

Don’t start every sentence with an “I.”

It may be tempting to start as many sentences with an “I” especially when you’re talking about your achievements in your medical school application essay but don’t do it. Aside from sounding egotistical, your medical school application essay becomes boring. Use different sentence start-ups in your medical school application essay for variety.

Tell the readers how your achievements have shaped you.

Readers of your medical school application essay won’t be interested in a list of achievements. Instead, your medical school application essay should tell the readers how your achievements have shaped your character, personality, and beliefs. And besides, if your medical school application essay just contains a list of your achievements, it becomes no different from a resume.

Avoid writing about the same achievements over and over throughout the application essay.

Repeating your achievements throughout the medical school application essay sounds like you’re bragging about them. Mentioning an achievement once is good enough for a medical school application essay. If you must focus on an achiement in your medical school application essay, make sure that you relate it to your experiences as you made the decision to take the MCAT and go to medical school.

Never exaggerate your achievements when writing an application essay.

Exaggerating your achievements is a big no-no when writing an admission essay for medical school. Your medical school application essay should be all about the real you. You should know that medical school admission board members know how to identify an admission essay that conveys the truth from an AMCAS essay that is filled with exaggerations.

Achievements can be professional, educational, or personal accomplishments so don’t be tempted to invent if you weren’t a stellar student in college. One key in discussing achievements in your AMCAS essay is to think of accomplishments that made you who you are and pursue a medical degree.

Another key to writing a medical school application essay is to strike a balance between extreme modesty and cockiness. You do have to make the readers of your essay see and believe that you deserve a slot in their medical school but don’t be arrogant. An essay says a lot about your character that can’t be seen in MCAT scores or biographical sheets. So if you really want to make a good impression, make sure that you discuss your accomplishments in your essay the right way.

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Competition for admission in US medical schools can get intimidating. That’s why many spend a lot of time and effort in writing a good medical school application essay. For those who weren’t able to ace the MCAT or earn exceptionally good grades during college, there is still hope; a well-written medical school application essay can definitely increase your chances of getting into your dream medical school. Aside from grades or MCAT scores, your medical school application essay is an important aspect during evaluation. Here are some tips on how to write a winning medical school application essay:

Discuss life-changing experiences in your medical school application essay

On your application essay, medical school admission board officers usually check if you possess traits such as commitment, integrity, compassion, and honesty. By writing an application essay about you triumphantly overcoming adversities, the school board will be able to see that you have the determination and courage to face any difficult situation. And in the various medical fields, making difficult decisions are unavoidable. Whether you’re tasked to make a suggestion regarding a patient’s life support system or provide an alternative treatment, being a doctor entails plenty of conviction and determination.

When discussing about experiences that compelled you to face difficulties, it’s always important to tell the reader how such experiences shaped your values and your character today. If you were able to gain inner strength through a difficult experience when a family member experienced a life-threatening disease, include it in your AMCAS essay to show the readers how this experienced changed your life. Your AMCAS essay that focuses on experiences wherein you overcame difficulties shouldn’t be too dramtic though. The point of telling the readers of your medical school application essay about such experiences is to show them that you are very determined to pursue a medical degree and that your intention is to finish your studies no matter what happens.

In your admission essay, you can also relate major events in your life that forced you to you to analyze human conditions and see a positive trait in you which you never thought you possessed.

Avoid boasting in your medical school application essay

Writing your medical school application essay is your chance to show the medical school admission board a side of you they won’t be able to see through your grades or resume. But this doesn’t mean that you have to fill the paragraphs with boastful claims about yourself. Remember, the medical school admission board can be easily put off with arrogant claims about your achievements. You can discuss your achievements in your medical school application essay but make sure to write about them the right way. One tip is to discuss your achievements in your admission essay and end it by saying that despite these achievements, you still have much to learn and that’s why you want to go to medical school.

Avoid starting every sentence in your medical school application essay with an “I.” Aside from sounding egotistical, your medical school application essay becomes boring. The medical school application essay is all about you but use a variety of sentence start-ups to make the medical school application essay a lively read.

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You have finished researching all the medical schools and finally decided on which ones to apply for. A lingering question in your mind could be “How does the application process go?” as well as “How do I write medical school application essays?” Most applicants to medical schools dread the idea of coming up with application essays. However, writing excellent medical school application essays is actually not too difficult if you have an idea how to go about it.

There are a few things that are required when applying for medical school. These usually include the following:

*Medical school recommendations – Hopefully for your sake, you’ve been able to build good relationships with some of your superiors in college. The best choices are always professors and doctors you have worked with and the ones you think you have made a good impression on. These recommendations could serve as a good compliment to medical school application essays because they usually would verify your some of your claims in the admission essay.

*Medical college admissions test – This 5.5 hour exam is required for you to be able to apply to medical schools. It tests you in for components; them being scientific reasoning, physical sciences, verbal reasoning, scientific reasoning: biological sciences, and writing sample. If you do not get an outstanding score on the MCAT, there is still hope in medical school application essays.

*Grades – This is the quantifiable proof of your performance in college. There are times when an applicant may have discrepancies in their grades but have a good reason for them. These could be explained in medical school application essays.

*Medical school application essays – An important aspect of the admission process are medical school application essays. The personal statement allows the admissions board to get to know who you are outside of numbers, and details that cannot be covered by the medical school interview.

Creating medical school application essays

There are several things to keep in mind when preparing to write medical school application essays. Medical school application essays usually include the reason why you want medicine as a career but using clichés like “I’ve always wanted to help people” wouldn’t be a good option. The reason why you are qualified should also be included in medical school application essays. This could encompass your college performance and experience. This part should be quite specific and concrete. Medical school application essays should be kept interesting just like telling a good story.

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It is my firm belief that most problems have a solution, and for those that do not, there is a way of coming to terms with it. Human’s perseverance would be anchored on resiliency in the face of odds, whether small or big. It is my assertion that the gravest matters in the field of medicine runs the same way. When the time comes that I am already a doctor, it is my vision to work with individuals so that their lives would be more easy and the problems more bearable.

This mindset towards difficulties is something I imbibed from my parents. I am an only daughter, and I was the principal reason why they left Vietnam for the United States. Their sacrifices and perseverance would always be in my consciousness, and this is the biggest inspiration for my decision to go to medical school.

All throughout college, I worked odd jobs for a cousin- a car mechanic. All those years made me acquire an interest in the way of fixing things, and looking for creative solutions, no matter how impossible it seems. My undergrad years were hectic, and I was a Dean’s lister for about half of my college life. I joined the activities of the American Medical Association and parallel entities. When I finished my college course, I had a research-technical job at the _______________ College of Medicine. In the course of my stay there, I volunteered in different research tasks at a couple of major research centers.

Among the greatest difficulties I experienced was the learning of the English language. In the beginning of my medical learning, I was intimidated with all the books we had to go over. So many times, reading twice (a whole book) was not enough, due to my lack of proficiency in the language. I hit the simple solution: read months before we were supposed to tackle a subject matter. It has become a most useful habit, and this is a habit I intend to keep for the rest of my life.

Yes, I have come to acknowledge that an excellent physician should be able to augment scientific know-how with interpersonal skills/positive mindset. If you would be kind enough to allow me residency in your institution, then I will find it a concrete avenue to practice the attitudes and lessons I have learned over the years.

I consider myself as a tenacious worker, with a great deal of resiliency. One insight I gained from all the time I worked in the clinical/research settings is: the capability to get data and analyze data from patients and fellow physicians separates the best doctors from the merely competent ones. Studying medicine is a never-ending road, and as early as now, I am excited to meet the various challenges.

Thank you very much and Godspeed.

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The appreciation for treatments of body and mind comes from actual life experiences, happenings that made me appreaciate what the human spirit could do in the healing phases. This is what I would consider my credo, and it is this that made me decide that Osteopathic Medicine is my destiny.

About a couple of years ago, I underwent a tragic lesson. My aunt (a very close one) died from cancer. She embodied the phrase “inner strength” or the word “fortitude”. All the time from the hour she learned of the diagnosis up to the moment of her death, she was serene, almost cheerful in fact. If you did not know her, you would think she was just suffering from colds. In so many ways, she gave me invaluable lessons regarding the emotional strength needed to -if not defeat- at least make it tolerable- illnesses.

If I were asked what single experience in life triggered my interest in the field of Family practice, I would have to say that there is none. It is more of a congealment of different, tiny pieces (experiences and lessons). However, from among these many tiny pieces, I can name one experience that could come closest. Years back, I had a major car accident (I was driving). My right foot’s leg got fractured in at least three places. I spent at least two months just lying down on the hospital bed, and it was the family doctor who gave the strongest moral support (along with family). Clearly, her number one concern was my frame of mind, how I was taking in the accident and the anticipated painful months of therapy. Her genuine concern made me realize that I could do the same, and this is a very significant reason for my quest to be part of Family Practice programs.

It is my strong belief that working in a Family Practice setting allows the physician the liberty to adjust his/her practice to the patient’s needs. This allows the practitioner to help with all kinds of people.

The most self-fulfilling moments in my life are those I spent working within the community setups. Being a pupil of Osteopathic Medicine, I learned the invaluable lesson that most-if not all- diseases could not be treated with a fast-cure pill or surgical maneuvers. I feel blessed that I got opportunities to work as a volunteer for aid entities, giving medical care to the locals of the Philippines. Up to now, I still make time for helping out at homeless facilities.

It is my strongest hope that these volunteer experiences plus my academic background would convince your good office/committee that I could be a good addition to your ranks of students- and later on- as a doctor.

Thank you for all the time and God bless.

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I am an admirer of peace-advocating personalities (it is not just Gandhi I am referring to), and I strongly believe in the varying definitions of peace. Peace in the most popular definition is simply the absence of war or military conflicts. However, I think that one more subtle manifestation of peace is if a great majority in the world is able to benefit from medical attention. Thus, I have come to the conclusion that pursuing a course in medicine would be my own contribution to this kind of “peace”.

I was raised in a middle class family at Connecticut, and I cannot say I was spared from seeing the socio-economic difficulties. It is a good thing that my parents were educated, but it is a better thing that they instilled in me the need to excel in my studies and to be openminded in many things.

For quite a long time, I did some travelling to a couple of Third World countries. I was exposed to poverty in all of its myriad forms. In these travels, I came to realize how fortunate and blessed I have been. A question then burned into my consciousness and has stayed there ever since: “If I have these extra advantages, why shouldn’t I help the less-fortunate? What harm could it do to me?”

At the age of 15, I did a set of volunteer jobs. First of them was a clerical position at a local nursing center. I will no longer mention all of them, but I also worked at a community clinic offering dermatological treatments.

For the past seven months, I’ve been interning at the ___________________ College of Medicine. I helped conduct research in pediatrics. These particular studies included some cutting-edge developments in this field, and gave the helpful opportunities to work under the tutelage of some of the movers and shakers in this particular sphere of medicine. Under the tutelage of these respected doctors, I learned one crucial lesson: that political/financial backing for projects could not be earned just from expertise per se. Intrigued by foreign cultures, I grabbed every opportunity to further understand health care mindsets and standards from other parts of the world. Indeed, to be able to do a certain (foreign) medical contribution, I have to be cognizant of the varying solutions/demands of other countries.

The sports awards (chess in the main) and my test scores speak volumes yes, but I refuse to see them as the representation of my entire being. Still, I take pride on the fact that I’ve been able to put into action the virtues of hard work, commitment and perserverance, among others. I firmly believe that if I maintain these attributes, my aspirations will get actualized in the distant future- and I could solidify my “Peace Offering” to the world.

Thank you very much for your time and Godspeed.

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It was my father that always stressed the importance of education. As a child his parents did not have enough money to put him through school and after the 6th grade, he had to work as a janitor at a small clinic in New Delhi. It was there that he saw doctors helping out different kinds of patients and was forever in awe of the talents they had but because of his family’s financial status, he knew that it would remain a dream to him; A dream I hope to fulfill for him someday.

For as long as I can remember, all my father would talk about was new medical procedures and advancements in medical technology. It was almost like an obsession to him, which I would catch later on. One night, he asked me what it was I wanted to be; I already knew what to answer.

Coming from a financially challenged family, I had no other choice that to help my parents to put me through school. After school, I would help deliver medical supplies at various clinics and hospitals. Early on, I would get familiarized with different kinds of medicine as well as medical equipment and their use. In spite of me having to work until late evening, I still managed to get high grades in school.

When I was 15, my family was given an opportunity to migrate to the United States. It truly was a heavy feeling to leave New Delhi but I knew that it would be the perfect chance for me to fulfill my life’s goal. High school was a difficult time for me because I was still adjusting to the fast paced life in New York and I knew only a little English. Somehow, I got myself through high school and even managed to be our batch’s valedictorian. I was able to go to college through an academic scholarship and I would take up physical therapy. I would graduate at the top of my class and I knew that I needed only one step more to become a doctor.

The reputation and curriculum of ______ University would help surely be the perfect choice if I wanted my dream of being a great orthopedic surgeon to come true. The time I was an Intern, I met several talented orthopedic surgeons that have graduated from ______ University. Right then and there I would research and would check out the campuses and I knew that it was the right school for me.

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Now that you’ve surveyed the numerous medical schools, it is time to go through the
whole application process; a big part of it being the personal statement. Medical school application essays give you the opportunity to sell yourself and show the admissions board what they will never see in grades and MCAT scores. While business schools would usually ask several questions for personal statements, medical and law schools often require one.

Tips for writing medical school application essays

There are a few things that you must keep in mind when writing medical school application essays. One thing) you should include is the reason why you chose medicine in the first place. Try to develop a good story about it but of course, saying you were only forced by your parents won’t exactly help. This could be included in the introduction if you think it’s compelling enough. In medical school application essays, you should also be able to explain why you are qualified and what sets you apart from the other applicants. This could include grades, MCAT scores, experience, and people you have worked with. This should heavily rely on detail and concrete terms. Some level of experience is more or less expected by the admissions board in medical school application essays and you should be specific when it comes to the duties and responsibilities you took on.

DOs and DON’Ts of medical school application essays

There are a lot of things that could either grab the interest of the ones reading medical school application essays or could simply force them to place the paper on a shredder right away. Remember that in writing medical school application essays, clichés are nothing but annoying. Thousands of medical school application essays every year include sentences like “I have always had an inclination for helping people” or “there is no greater joy than being able to heal people”. After years of reading things like these, an admissions officer would probably just get irritated and bored. Always keep in mind that these are medical school application essays and not poetry. You should be able to be straight to the point as possible and steer clear from being too wordy.

If you are not familiar with medical school application essays, it would be a good choice to read up on some admission essay samples. This way, you will have an idea of the structure, style, and tone applicants would usually use for medical school application essays.

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High-octane businessman David Geffen made headlines when he donated 200 million dollars to the UCLA Medical School. By doing so, he gave UCLA Medical school or the David Geffen School of Medicine a chance to compete with other elite medical schools in terms of medical education and research.

History of the UCLA Medical School

This educational institution was a result of a decision made in 1945 by the University of California Board of Regents who voted to establish a medical school under UCLA. Two years later, Stafford L. Warren was the first dean. The UCLA Medical School accepted its first students in 1951. Throughout the years, the school continues to expand with businessman David Geffen making a substantial amount of donation for the school’s endowment fund.

Some of the school’s notable alumni include Lauren Pinter Brown (Director of the David Geffen School of Medicine’s Lymphoma Program) and Quynh Pham (Director of physical medicine, rehabilitation, and pain medicine program at UCLA).

The UCLA Medical School’s Cancer Research Center

This school is well-known for its comprehensive cancer research center which has produced several successful target cancer drugs. Some of these breakthrough cancer drugs are Avastin and Herceptin.

Writing your personal statement for medical school

Aside from the MCAT is a crucial requirement for any applicant eyeing a slot at the UCLA Medical School. In essence, the personal statement for medical school should reveal your goals, motivations, and why exactly you want to be a doctor. Make sure to prepare for your personal statement. This is because a personal statement can say a lot about you as a future doctor.

In the personal statement for medical school, it is quite a challenge to strike the middle ground between boasting and being too humble. Needless to say, be factual. Resist the temptation to embellish the AMCAS essay with false achievements. The admission officers at UCLA Medical School are well-experienced at identifying if your personal statement for medical school contains erroneous facts.

When writing your personal statement for medical school, include the experiences that have shaped you and have motivated you to pursue a medical degree. Your admission essay should tell the readers about a side of you they can’t see through your college grades or MCAT scores. Plus, your admission essay for medical school shouldn’t contain grammatical errors; applicants for medical school are expected to have exceptional writing skills. You may not have the best college grades but a well-written personal statement can help increase your chances of getting into your dream school. As such, the personal statement for medical school is a venue for you to prove to the readers that you deserve a slot in their school. An effective personal statement for medical school shouldn’t be too long or too short. A good personal statement for medical school should stand out from the rest so being a bit creative is also good. When writing your personal statement for medical school, an effective introduction should hook the readers. If your personal statement for medical school has a poor introduction, the readers won’t hesitate to move on to other essays. You can read sample essays when writing your personal statement for medical school. For ideas for your personal statement for medical school, you can study the tones and moods used by various sample essays.

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