How to Write a Medicine Personal Statement

📝 Your guide to writing a fantastic medical school personal statement:

📘 Delve deep into your motivations and aspirations for a career in medicine. Your personal statement is a crucial part of your UCAS application, going beyond academic achievements to showcase who you are and why you are passionate about medicine.

✏️ Key Points to Include:

• Reflect on the responsibilities and challenges of healthcare.

• Show empathy, resilience, and dedication.

• Highlight how your experiences have shaped your desire to make a difference.

• Demonstrate self-awareness and growth through challenges.

✅ Make your personal statement stand out by emphasising your passion for helping others and how your unique qualities align with the values of the medical profession. Be authentic, honest, and make every word count to leave a lasting impression on admissions committees.

👀 What Admissions Tutors Look For:

📖 The following attributes are some general guidelines to aim for that are applicable to most medical schools, taken from the Medical Schools Council's website.

• ✅ Enthusiasm for Medicine: Evidence of genuine interest and excitement about the field.

• 💻 Understanding of the Profession: Awareness of what a career in medicine entails, beyond idealistic expectations.

• 💪 Commitment: Long-term dedication as shown through volunteering, work experiences, or sustained engagement in relevant activities.

• 🤝 Suitability: Skills such as empathy, communication, teamwork, and leadership that are essential for healthcare professionals.

For more information: https://www.medschools.ac.uk/media/2542/statement-on-core-values-to-study-medicine.pdf

🤓 However, every medical school is unique and will place different emphases on certain qualities. For example, Oxbridge, UCL and Imperial are known to have a more research-intensive course, whereas the course at Leicester allows students to meet patients from the very first week!

📚 Below is an example of desirable characteristics for Oxford, Cambridge and UCL, taken from their respective websites. It is a good idea to visit the webpages of the universities that you are applying to so that you can ensure that your personal statement is more aligned to their values.

👨🏻‍💻 The table below offers examples of phrases you can use for inspiration in your personal statement:

📚 Structuring Your Personal Statement:

• 💬 Introduction: Start with a compelling hook that captures your motivation for choosing medicine. This could be a personal anecdote, a pivotal moment, or a long-standing interest in a specific medical field.

• 📚 Academic Achievements: Highlight how your studies have prepared you for a medical degree. Mention specific subjects, projects, or research that align with medical sciences.

• 🌟 Relevant Experiences: Discuss your experiences in healthcare settings, such as shadowing doctors, working in care homes, or hospital volunteering. Explain what you learned from these experiences and how they reinforced your decision to pursue medicine.

• 🏆 Extracurricular Activities: Include activities that demonstrate your leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. Explain how these skills are transferable to a career in medicine.

• ❗ Conclusion: Conclude by summarising why you believe you are a suitable candidate for medical school. Reinforce your enthusiasm and readiness to embark on a demanding yet rewarding career path.

Try our automatic personal statement tailored feedback tool:

✍️ Our Tips For a Strong Personal Statement

• Be Authentic and Personal: Reflect your true self. Admissions tutors can tell when applicants are being insincere or embellishing the truth.

• Be Specific: Avoid vague statements. Use specific examples to demonstrate your skills and experiences.

• Reflect on Your Experiences: Don’t just list activities and achievements. Reflect on what you learned from them and how they have prepared you for a medical career.

• Tailor Your Statement: While the core of your statement can be similar, if you are applying to different schools, be aware of what each school might prioritise and tailor your statement accordingly.

🚫 Common Pitfalls to Avoid:

• Avoid Clichés and Quotations: Admissions tutors prefer your original words, not someone else's.

• Avoid Repeating Information: Your personal statement should complement, not repeat, your CV or application details.

• Steer Clear of Controversial Topics: Focus on your journey and aspirations in medicine, rather than controversial or unrelated topics.

• Don’t Rush: Start writing early. A rushed statement will likely be weaker, and tutors will notice a lack of effort and care.

🔍 Final Touches:

Proofread your statement several times and have it reviewed by mentors, advisors, or peers. Fresh eyes can catch errors and provide valuable feedback that you might have overlooked.