Cueing draft number....
Writing a personal statement can be quite daunting. It’s thought of as the “make or break” of one’s UCAS application, and indeed it is important. Personally, I feel as though I’m sufficiently experienced to advise you on an approach to writing your own. After 10 failed attempts but a nailed number 11 (if I do say so myself), I’m here to save you some time, so maybe you can get the perfect personal statement in half the number of attempts.
A common misconception is that a personal statement is an opportunity to regurgitate as many achievements as you possibly can. Although this will help you appear super successful, it reads boring and makes you seem cocky.
A better approach to writing a paragraph is to be selective and reflective:
Selective- which ones of your achievements are most relevant to a role as a medical student or career as a doctor? These are the ones you want to use. Make sure your most impressive/ relevant achievements appear early on in your statement.
Reflective. This is absolutely key. How is this achievement going to benefit you? Did it hone in on a skill such as team work, empathy etc.?
Finally, relate. Write about how you’re going to utilise your skills/ experiences in a medical career.
Here’s a quick example from my own personal statement of how I was selective, reflective and related:
“My current work as a volunteer in the cardiology inpatient ward…has refined my communication skills…my role has taught me that effective communication is fundamental in ensuring patient safety”
Grammatical approach is also important when writing your personal statement. I’m going to say this once to keep this blog snappy but please remember: Every. Single. Word. Counts.
You have a limited character count.
You want to present yourself as positively as you can in a page. This means you need to be conscious of how you are wording your sentences. It’s possible to convey the same message in more than one way- some wordier than others.
Also, try and use the active voice when writing. It aids in emphasising your contribution to your achievements, compared to the use of the passive voice.
Getting people to review your personal statement can prove very useful. So use the people around you to your advantage. However, remember that you can turn down their feedback- it’s your personal statement at the end of the day. If making certain edits doesn’t sit right with your gut, don’t do it. Too many cooks spoils the brew. It really is true.
A few quick fire tips:
A personal statement should be personal. Self- explanatory yet frequently forgotten. By the end of it, a stranger should have some insight into whom you are. It is not an essay!
Read what the universities you’ve applied for expect from your personal statement. Make sure you tick off every single one of these. Period.
Start early! The sooner you start, the sooner you have something to work with, edit and build on. Give yourself sufficient time to leave it for a few days and come back with a fresh pair of eyes.
TAMS is here to support you as well, so we will keep releasing useful resources for you as you progress. Reach out to us and let us know what you’d like to see.
Best of luck!
Omolade Dada, Medical student and TAMS Team Member