Be original. Quotes from Robert Frost are very popular on medical school applications. You should probably leave him out of the process. You can be serious or use a bit of humor, but be creative, original, and yourself.
One student, with research experience in entomology, began his essay by comparing the different roles of ants in an ant colony to the role of a health professional. By the end of the essay, not only had he built a convincing point for the similarities, but his creative approach had also made his application stand out among the other applications.
Another non-traditional applicant began by stating how his responsibilities as a reference librarian for the past eleven years were similar to the responsibilities of a physician. Again, this made the reader pause to ask, “What similarities could possibly exist between these two very different positions?” By the end of the essay he had demonstrated, using humor and creativity, that his experiences had helped him to develop the strengths necessary to become a dedicated medical student and eventually a physician. At the same time, he was able to convey all the reasons why he was applying to medical school as a non-traditional student and what is was about him that made him special.
Related Resources:
- Sample Med School Essays
- Essays that Stick, webinar recording
- Ten Do’s and Don’ts for your Personal Statement
This post is excerpted from 101 Tips on Getting Into Medical School by Jennifer C. Welch, who has served as the Director of Admissions at SUNY Upstate Medical School since 2001.