Pre-Health Write-Ins Thursday, December 4 th 7-9pm Wednesday, February 4 th 3-5pm Thursday, March 5 th 7-9pm SCC 201

AMCAS Use this section to compose a personal essay explaining why you selected the field of medicine, what motivates you to learn more about medicine, any pertinent information about you not included elsewhere in the application, special hardships or experiences that have influenced your educational pursuits, and commentary on significant fluctuations in your academic record not explained in the application. (5,300 characters) MD/PHD 1.Why are you pursuing an MD/PhD? (3,000 characters) 2.Describe your significant research. (10,000 characters) Word Count Limits MD = 5,300 charactersDO = 500 words DDS = 4,500 charactersDVM = 5,000 characters Type your name, date, and word count at the top of your draft for Pre-Health Advising

Dos & Don’ts Dos Be selective about what you share Be genuine Be clear and concise Check spelling and grammar Talk about experiences that weigh heavily in your decision to pursue medicine Convey your passion and motivation for medicine Focus on the question/theme Be specific – give examples to go with your statements Don’ts Write a novel version of your resume Apologize or make excuses Name-drop Preach about medicine, politics, religion, etc. Get negative Incorporate grandiose claims or fantasies about medicine Use clichés or generalizations Focus on family Use $10 words just for show Use passive voice

Brainstorm words, ideas, phrases Create an outline Group like thoughts together Look for a theme Don’t focus on grammar or form at first – think about the message you want to convey Getting Started

Who or what had an impact on your decision to choose this profession? What are your specific motives for your interest in this profession? What sets you apart from other candidates? Explain your clinical experiences and what you have learned about the provider-patient relationship. Discuss a life-altering or unique event that shaped you and how. A leadership role you played and how it challenged you. How other experiences have influenced your perspective - study abroad, athletics, art/music, volunteer work, etc. Topic Ideas

Develop a thesis statement and bring it full circle Make a PIE of each paragraph – Point, Illustration, Explanation Carve out small increments of time to write/review Keep all brainstorm notes, outlines, and drafts Get others to read your statement and give feedback (peers, faculty, staff, mentors, family) Come to these write-ins! Review and edit, and review again The Writing Process

Do you have a theme or main focus? Is there anything missing? Does this personal statement best reflect who you are and your motivations for pursing this path? Is the statement relevant to your audience? Is the essay easy to read and does it keep one’s attention all the way to the end? Do reviewers understand your main theme or message? Keep In Mind