Medicine personal statement

4

One of the main reasons I want to do medicine is because of my mum’s health issues so I was thinking about talking about it in my personal statement, but some of my friends told me not to write about it because it might seem like I’m using the pity card😭
Of course that’s the last thing I want to do, so should I or should I not include it?

Reply 1

TSR Hippocrates

11

Hey there, thanks for posting a question in the Medicine forum. :biggrin:

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Medicine Personal Statement Advice
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Reply 2

Jonjon7

Universities Forum Helper

14

Original post

by bluebell.123

One of the main reasons I want to do medicine is because of my mum’s health issues so I was thinking about talking about it in my personal statement, but some of my friends told me not to write about it because it might seem like I’m using the pity card😭
Of course that’s the last thing I want to do, so should I or should I not include it?

You can certainly use your mom's health condition as a driving factor and determination in studying medicine, I can't see a reason why not. What prompted you into medicine? Why prompted? Your reflection? Your Aims/Plan - all in one short paragraph, no more than that.

No one was born to be a doctor stamped on their foreheads.

Reply 3

_niamhd

8

Original post

by bluebell.123

One of the main reasons I want to do medicine is because of my mum’s health issues so I was thinking about talking about it in my personal statement, but some of my friends told me not to write about it because it might seem like I’m using the pity card😭
Of course that’s the last thing I want to do, so should I or should I not include it?

Can be a good way to show that your passion for entering healthcare is through lived experience - should work as a short intro and may help you to stand out. But the main body of your statement should be about reflecting on work experience (online/in person) and volunteering.

Reply 4

GANFYD

18

Original post

by _niamhd

Can be a good way to show that your passion for entering healthcare is through lived experience - should work as a short intro and may help you to stand out. But the main body of your statement should be about reflecting on work experience (online/in person) and volunteering.

It will not help anyone stand out. IME about a half of applicants write about someone's health condition in their PS.
The PS is a chance to show that you have the values and attributes required to be a Dr. So it should be about how what you are talking about demonstrates you possess, have demonstrated and/or have an awareness of these. How that is gained is not what med schools are looking for

Medicine personal statement

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