Writing Personal Statements

Medical School Admissions Essays

• Personal Statement: A compelling narrative explaining why you want to become a doctor.

  • Noa's Advice

    • Focus on patient interactions, significant life experiences, and career motivations.

    • Avoid clichés like “I want to help people.” Instead, show a personal journey.

• Secondary Essays: Many schools ask for additional essays with prompts like:

  • Noa's Advice

    • "Describe a challenge and how you overcame it."

    • "How will you contribute to diversity in medicine?"

• "Why this specific medical school?"

  • Noa's Tips

  • Be authentic but be concise.

  • Tailor essays to each school.

  • Have multiple people review and edit before submitting.

Specific word counts and requirements vary by school, but most ask similar questions and have similar requirements!