Personal StatementsPomona College

Pre-Health Advising

AMCASUse 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/PHD1. Why are you pursuing an MD/PhD? (3,000 characters)2. Describe your significant research. (10,000 characters)

Word Count Limits MD = 5,300 characters DO = 500 wordsDDS = 4,500 characters DVM = 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