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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