| Getting into medical school is becoming increasingly | | | | single-spaced page. |
| competitive, in part, because of the declining | | | | 7. Make an outline. This really does make a large |
| economy. Strong candidates who used to target law | | | | difference in the quality of the final essay. |
| degrees or business school are turning their interest | | | | 8. Leave yourself enough time to write your |
| toward medicine, a less volatile field. Consequently, | | | | statement. A good medical school application essay |
| more competitive candidates are now pursuing a | | | | may take weeks or even months to write. |
| medical career, making the submission of an excellent | | | | 9. Most importantly, ensure that your essay |
| medical school personal statement even more | | | | demonstrates that you are a distinctive candidate. If |
| important. | | | | any sentence in your essay could have been written |
| The American Medical College Application Service | | | | by someone else the phrase should be omitted. |
| (AMCAS®) is a centralized application processing | | | | Finally, consider working with a skilled professional. |
| service for medical school applicants. AMCAS® | | | | Because applicants can unknowingly undermine their |
| includes ample space for a candidate’s personal | | | | chances of success with poorly compiled application |
| essay. The AMCAS® medical school personal | | | | materials and underdeveloped medical school |
| statement (and institutions’ follow up secondary | | | | admission essays, a qualified, personalized medical |
| essays) allow the applicant to demonstrate his or her | | | | school admissions consultant provides a great |
| distinctiveness as a candidate. | | | | advantage. |
| Some of the most useful AMCAS® advice I can | | | | Medical school consulting companies come in a variety |
| offer includes ensuring that your personal statement | | | | of forms. Some are bigger businesses that focus on |
| is at its best: The essay is one of the most crucial | | | | admissions to several types of graduate programs |
| aspects of applying to medical school. | | | | – not just medicine. Others are smaller and |
| Some of my tips for an excellent medical school | | | | provide a medical focus, but have a pool of |
| personal statement include the following: | | | | consultants of varying quality. Finally, best of the |
| 1. Do not use exaggerate the language used. Pretend | | | | companies offer good medical focus and a highly |
| that you are being charged for each word you write. | | | | knowledgeable medical consultant who works |
| How can you keep the imaginary cost down? | | | | one-on-one with clients. These professionals are |
| 2. Do not use quotations, clichés or questions. | | | | ex-admissions officers from highly respected medical |
| 3. Avoid medical terminology unless absolutely | | | | institutions. They have the inside knowledge of how |
| necessary to convey a point. A layperson should be | | | | medical school admissions work, providing |
| able to easily understand your essay. | | | | individualized guidance to optimize applicants’ |
| 4. Don’t forget to spell and grammar checks. | | | | personal essays, AMCAS® and interview skills. |
| (You might be surprised how many applicants do not | | | | When choosing a medical school admissions consulting |
| do this.) | | | | company, a candidate should verify the |
| 5. Highlight your accomplishments but do not sound | | | | company’s references and research its |
| arrogant. Even one bad sentence can bomb your | | | | consultants. Elite companies that offer both the |
| essay and leave the committee worried about who | | | | medical focus and a highly experienced consultant |
| you are. | | | | who works one-on-one with clients offer a large |
| 6. Avoid wordiness. This is the most common | | | | advantage for pre-medical applicants, especially during |
| mistake I see people usually make. Keep your | | | | these competitive times. |
| personal statement to less than one standard, | | | | |