Utilize the Writing Center’s Brainstorming Guide or review their Personal Statement Guide.
- Read through the AAMC Core Competencies, and write down which of the competencies are your top strengths.
- You can certainly consider other soft skills beyond the competencies, too.
- For your top three strengths, think of an experience/anecdote that illustrates a time when you used that competency.
- Flesh that experience out into a story.
- Why did you pursue that experience?
- How did you feel during the experience?
- What did you learn from the experience?
- How did that experience influence where you are today?
- Why did it make you realize you want to attend health profession school?
It’s not uncommon to write multiple drafts and edit your statement many times. Get your thoughts on paper and then give yourself time away from your statement. Come back with fresh eyes to edit.
Plan to have at least three people review your Personal Statement.
- Someone who can read it critically and objectively for grammar and syntax. The Writing Center is good for this.
- Someone who knows you well and can confirm whether your voice is coming through. This might be a family member or friend.
- Someone who knows healthcare and can comment on your motivations and fit for the profession. This might be a doctor you’ve worked with, a mentor, or the pre-health advisor.
You can certainly ask more people to review it, but at some point you might get too many opinions.
Set up an appointment with the Writing Center.