Medical school application essays and the Medical Admission College Test or MCAT are two requirements for admission to medical school. MCAT is one of the standard requirements for admission to medical schools and is mandatory among students entering schools affiliated with the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) in the United States and Canada. An aspiring student would need to pass the test composed of four sections: physical sciences, biological sciences, verbal reasoning, and writing sample. The test covers 144 questions and writing of 2 sample essays, administered in a total of 5 hours and 20 minutes of “seat” time, excluding arrival or check-in time.
Just like the other requirements, passing the MCAT is compulsory – one must have to pass it to be eligible for admission. But medical schools would not just admit anyone just because he/she passed the MCAT. There are a lot of other compulsory requirements, such as the following that AAMC-affiliated schools prescribe:
undergraduate and post-graduate grades (average)
breadth and difficulty of undergraduate coursework
letters of evaluation from undergraduate advisors or others
personal statements or comments on application forms
medical school interview results
Other requirements, which one may not necessarily have, are as follows:
involvement in extracurricular activities
involvement in and quality of health-related work and research
participation in other activities demonstrating motivation, responsibility, maturity, integrity,
resourcefulness, tolerance, perseverance, dedication to service, citizenship, or other relevant
non-cognitive characteristics
compatibility between the candidate’s characteristics and professional goals and the institutional
personal mission
knowledge of healthcare issues and commitment to health care
Now let us deal with the question “Can your personal statement, otherwise called medical school application essays, help you when your MCAT score is low?” The answer is definitely YES, but your “low” score should reach the passing average set for the MCAT. An aspiring student is given a chance to return and take the test again if he/she fails. But if you passed the test and your score is low, you will be evaluated with the other criteria that can offset your low MCAT score. A well-written personal statement would be ideal to present the brighter side of your personality despite the average intellectual prowess that allowed you to at least pass the MCAT.
Taking time to write that well-written personal statement for medical school is definitely an investment. Hopefully, there are sample personal statements for medical schools that you can find online. These can serve as your reference in writing your personal statement.
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The University of Washington Medical School was establed in 1946. Under Dean Edward Turner, offices and classrooms were located within huts on campus and at the King County Hospital. During the next decades, the University of Washington Medical School expanded, attracting plenty of brilliant faculty members and students. Among its notable alumni are Nobel laureates Linda Buck, George Hitchings, and Martin Rodbell.
Known as a “public ivy,” the University of Washington Medical School offers an Ivy League college experience without the expensive tuition fees. The state-funded University of Washington Medical school has been consistently included in the US News and World Report’s list of schools with top primary care and medicine programs.
Admission Process
Your medical school application forms should be sent to AMCAS, who will be submitting the forms to the University of Washington Medical School. If you’re qualified, UW will contact you and ask for a $35 application fee along with supplemental application materials.
This medical school requires an autobiographical statement wherein you can discuss experiences that motivated you to study medicine. Another requirement is a concise statement (not more than 200 words) explaining your reasons why you want to go to UW Medical School.
University of Washington Medical School admissions: Writing your personal statement for medical school
Aside from your MCAT score and college grades, another requirement in the admissions process implemented by the University of Washington Medical school is the personal statement for medical school. A personal statement for medical school is a venue for you to show the medical school admission board why you deserve a slot at their school. Your personal statement for medical school or AMCAS essay should basically show a side of you the readers won’t be able to see through your MCAT scores.
Tips on how to write an admission essay or personal statement for medical school
Create a good introduction for your AMCAS essay or personal statement for medical school
The introduction of your personal statement for medical school should instantly hook the readers. When starting your personal statement for medical school, make sure to discuss interesting qualities about you. Discussing experiences that made you pursue a medical degree is a good idea when writing your personal statement for medical school. Because a personal statement for medical school is a chance for you to increase your chances of getting into your dream school, your admission essay from start to finish should be interesting. Plus, most medical school admission officers won’t spend a lot of time in reading each application essay; you should therefore attract the attention of the readers through a personal statement for medical school with a good introduction.
Avoid discussing too many topics in your personal statement or AMCAS essay
Your personal statement for medical school should only focus on only a few experiences that have shaped you and motivated you to pursue a medical degree. A well-written personal statement for medical school should be concise but at the same time discusses in depth several experiences in relation to your goals as a future doctor.
Thoroughly proof-read your personal statement and write as many drafts as you can as this essay may break or make your application to medical school.
