Personal Statement – Pre-Health/Pre-Law Advising Center

The personal statement is an opportunity to stand out among the other applicants and demonstrate how you are unique. It also provides a way to highlight something that may not stand out in the rest of your application.

Before Writing While Writing After Writing

Before Writing

Before writing the personal statement (at least 6 months before the deadline), think about the following:

What makes you passionate and interested in the field?
What makes you unique among the other applicants?
What are the things that you want the admissions committee to know about you?
Relate the content to the professional field of interest

While Writing

While writing the personal statement (at least 3 months before the deadline):

Do NOT use artificial intelligence to write your essay. If caught, your application may not be further reviewed.

1. Introduction

Set up what you are going to talk about
Should be attention-getting

2. Body

Demonstrate your passion and interest in the field
Where is the proof? Documentation? Evidence? Provide specific examples.
Share what you learned
Be detailed
Is there anything that is left out?

3. Closing

Avoid including any new points
Remember that this is the last part that admissions committees will read, so leave a strong and positive impression!

For MD/DO applicants, it is highly recommended to consider the following essay format:

Introduction: 4-5 sentences that "catch" the reader's attention.
3-4 body paragraphs: These paragraphs should describe who you are as an individual. Of the 3-4 body paragraphs, one should reflect your clinical understanding, and another should reflect your service.
Conclusion: Also, include a brief summary of who you are and close off with a challenge for the future.

Voice & style

Make sure the personal statement sounds like it is coming from you.
Still keep the personal statement professional and appropriate.
Things to avoid:
- Trying to sound like you are an expert in the field
- Listing your curriculum vitae

Make sure that you discuss each point equally.

After Writing

After writing the personal statement:

1. Remember the essay character/word limitations.

Make sure you get EVERYTHING you want to say down first
Cross out what is not important
Different schools vary in the length requirement

Health Profession	Application Service	Max Character Count	Prompt
Allopathic Medicine	AMCAS	5300	"Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to medical school"
Dental	AADSAS	4500	"Please explain why you want to pursue a dental career"
Nursing	NursingCAS	NA	Essay prompts are individualized to each program. Please check with the programs you are applying to for more information.
Occupational Therapy	OTCAS	7500	“Explain why you selected OT as a career and how an OT degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals."
Osteopathic Medicine	AACOMAS	5300	"Why do you want to be an osteopathic doctor"
Pharmacy	PharmCAS	4500	"In this section, write a personal essay that addresses why you selected pharmacy as a career and how the Doctor of Pharmacy degree relates to your immediate and long-term professional goals. Describe how your personal, educational, and professional background will help you achieve your goals.
Physical Therapy	PTCAS	4500	Changes every 2-3 years; 2024-2025 cycle prompt: “Every applicant is unique in their own way, possessing individual qualities, abilities, and backgrounds. What unique traits will you bring to the physical therapy profession that will help you to be successful?”
Physician Assistant	CASPA	5000	"Why do you want to be a PA?"

2. Consider the flow of the personal statement: Regardless of how much you cut out, make sure that the personal statement flows in regard to words and content.

3. Proofread for grammatical and spelling errors.

4. Have ~3 reviewers:

Please make an advising appointment with the Pre-Health Pre-Law Advising Center.
~2 healthcare professionals in the field.
Give reviewers at least two weeks to review your personal statement.

Contact the Pre-Health/Pre-Law Advising Center if you have any questions or concerns that come up along the way!