Personal Statement Medicine

Hi,

I've just started writing my personal statement for medicine and I've focused on talking about cancer throughout. Is it ok to have a central "theme" or is it better to keep it general?

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks.

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Reply 1

Hannah003

I guess you could have a theme, which will show universities the main reason you are interested and what you want to specialise in etc
But you could be general and talk about what skills you learnt during work experience and volunteering placements etc
I think having a theme would make you stand out but you should ask your teachers to check

Reply 2

alde123

That's really useful, thanks! :smile:

Reply 3

GabbytheGreek_48

i'm also applying to medicine so does anyone have any tips for a medicine personal statement and what if im applying to medicine and chemistry tww different subject sshould i keep the personal statement mainly medicine ?

Reply 4

Democracy

Original post by GabbytheGreek_48

You should keep it completely related to medicine. Medical schools are oversubscribed, they don't want to see a half-interested personal statement. On the other hand, I doubt most chemistry courses will give your PS more than a cursory glance.

Original post by alde123

It's hard to say without actually seeing the PS, but the general rule is to keep it related to your reflections about why you want to do medicine and the process that helped you confirm that decision. Fair enough if your work experience was on an oncology ward, but the focus of the PS shouldn't be about detailing conditions or procedures.

Reply 5

Hannah003

You should make sure that your main interest of going into medicine is the science side of things so you can link them both to medicine and chemistry.
I'm sure if you applied for medicine, the fifth uni choice would know and understand that you have applied for medicine and may be lenient.
But yes make sure it is primarily to do with medicine

Reply 6

alde123

Original post by GabbytheGreek_48

Is chemistry your 5th backup option? If it is try to keep your personal statement closer to medicine. For my 5th option, I'm choosing Biomedical science - I think its easier to write a personal statement on something that is closer to medicine.

Reply 7

GabbytheGreek_48

Original post by Democracy

Reply 8

KAmalraj10

Hi! dear I'm going to applied gor GAMSAT For 2017

Reply 9

Zahid~

For your personal statement, Id say having cancer as your central theme would be okay, as long as you have show that you appreciate other fields and aspects of the course. Its okay to have an interest, but dont right only about cancer.
When it comes to cancer, make sure youre writing about your experiences, what you've learnt, what you enjoy. Don't write bland factual statements about cancer itself since they want to now about you, not about the disease. Do this by saying how your interest in cancer has lead you to do things, and then go on to describe what you did and what you learnt from the 'thing'.
When it comes to applying for chemistry, id say make a 100% medicine personal statement, then in October, dont put your 5th choice of chemistry down. After October, email the uni you want to apply to for chemistry, saying you've had a change of heart and would appreciate it if they could read a new personal statement (that you would make solely for chemistry). Theyd probably say okay, so just apply and send them one personal statement about your love for chemistry.

Reply 10

alde123

Original post by Zahid~

I'm also going to talk about:
- both my work experiences (at a GP and a hospital)
- extracurricular things I've been doing
- lectures, books and news articles

I think I should have made it clearer that cancer only appears in the first two sentences in my intro and further down where I'm talking about a New Scientist Article. I also talk about a book called "Being Mortal" in a sort of linked point.

Reply 11

Zahid~

Original post by alde123

I would leave the books, news articles to like a maximum of 2-3 sentences. Don't write too much about it. If you're going to write about a lecture, also only write 1-2 sentences on it.
Putting it in your intro and going full circle at the end by mentioning it again, is great. That's perfectly fine.

For the personal statement I highly recommend these two pages:
https://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/study/medicine/pre-clinical/applying/anatomy-of-ps
https://www.medsci.ox.ac.uk/study/medicine/pre-clinical/applying/ps

Try to write something similar and your personal statement will be gold.

Reply 12

MonteCristo

I don't think a theme will help or hinder your statement. Things that will get you points:

1. Explaining why you want to be a doctor. This doesn't have to be a "special" reason, just a thoughtful and considered explanation.
2. Explain what you've done to find out about life as a doctor and (most importantly) what you learned from those experiences.
3. Share a little bit about who you are in terms of hobbies, non-academic achievements, and anything else that defines you as a person.

Reply 13

MonteCristo

[QUOTE="GabbytheGreek_48;66050675"]

Original post by Democracy

well obviously medicine is my #1 so ill keep it based on that thanks

In my day (2002 !!!), some departments would allow you to send them a separate personal statement / cover letter that explained your reasons for applying to their course. This might be worth asking about if you would genuinely accept a Chemistry place were it to be offered.

Reply 14

GabbytheGreek_48

[QUOTE="MonteCristo;66052015"]

Original post by GabbytheGreek_48

oh thanks i hear we only get one though maybb ill call an admissions place to make sure

Reply 15

MonteCristo

[QUOTE="GabbytheGreek_48;66052105"]

Original post by MonteCristo

oh thanks i hear we only get one though maybb ill call an admissions place to make sure

Yes, UCAS only permitted one. It's worth explaining to the department that you are applying to medical school (so anticipate writing your PS around being a doctor) but are also genuinely interested in their course and would like an opportunity to articulate this properly for their admissions team. If they say no, you haven't lost anything. I would encourage this if I were the admissions tutor as I can't understand how else they would assess your application.

Reply 16

GabbytheGreek_48

[QUOTE="MonteCristo;66052249"]

Original post by GabbytheGreek_48

ok thanx no prob

Reply 17

alde123

Original post by Zahid~

Thanks, the links were really useful!

Reply 18

alde123

Could someone please explain to me the difference between traditional interviews and MMIs and which type UCL uses. :smile:

Reply 19

GabbytheGreek_48

Original post by alde123

Could someone please explain to me the difference between traditional interviews and MMIs and which type UCL uses. :smile:

idk bout ucl but i know mmi s are where you have different stations each testing a kinda of ability and depending how you score on each theyll see how well you did while the traditional interveiw usually people asking you question u answer blah blah they might have a task i dont know