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Personal Statements for Medical School Applicants

About Personal Statements

Medical schools receive thousands of applications each year.  In addition to screening candidates based on GPAs, MCAT scores and letters of reference, medical schools are also interested in assessing students’ communication and critical thinking skills as well their ability to present material in a logical manner.  As such, most medical schools request some form of prepared written document(s) from candidates in order to better evaluate these skills early in the application process.  (McMaster University is one notable exception: the school has recently moved away from the use of prepared written documents to an online exam, called CASPer® to assess candidates’ skills in these areas).

Often, medical school applications encompass two major components: (1) the personal statement (which is an essay-style piece of writing), and (2) the autobiographical sketch (which is a résumé-type document detailing a list of activities).

When a written application is required, it is often the distinguishing factor for schools deciding which candidates to invite for interviews.  Since most students applying to medical school have strong grades, MCAT scores and letters of reference, an eloquent, convincing and impressive application can tip the scales in your favour.  The written components of the medical application not only impact interview eligibility, but also contribute longitudinally throughout the application process – submissions are often reviewed as an introduction to an applicant’s interview.  For excellence at any stage of the application process, a well-written personal statement and/or autobiographical sketch is a necessity.

The personal statement provides you with an opportunity to ‘pitch yourself’ and make a compelling, individualized argument as to why you should be accepted to medical school.  The autobiographical sketch, on the other hand, is designed to be concise but concrete, allowing admissions committees to quickly and accurately see a factual account of everything you have accomplished.  This will include specific dates and details related to all of your jobs, extracurricular activities, awards, volunteer work, publications, and other academic or nonacademic accolades and achievements.  Candidates must complete each entry in a limited amount of space (e.g., for medical schools in Ontario, descriptions of activities are limited to only 150 characters), so there is a premium placed on concise and accurate writing.

Do not think about the personal statement and autobiographical sketch as entirely separate entities, but rather as a pair of unique but equally important and complementary supporting pillars of your application.  Avoid the common mistakes of either: (1) treating the personal statement and autobiographical sketch as entirely different, independently-functioning pieces with no convergence, or (2) including too much repetitive material, such as listing the same titles and accolades in both documents.  When used properly, the personal statement should enhance the autobiographical sketch by allowing you to expand on your accomplishments.

The personal statement (also referred to as an application essay, autobiographical letter or impact statement) is an essay, typically 1,500 words or less in length, which serves as an introduction to your accomplishments, your personality and most importantly the steps taken – both academically and outside the classroom – to develop your inclination and path towards medicine.  It serves as your opportunity to tell the admissions committee what makes you unique and well-suited to a career in medicine.

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