The personal statement on the UCAS form is the applicants chance to convince the universities that they have thought carefully about a career in medicine and that they are committed and motivated enough to become a good doctor. This is the applicants opportunity to stand out from the crowd and the primary way in which a choice can be made between equally suitable candidate. Only 500 words are permitted so it is imperative that applicants are as concise as possible and that everything written is completely relevant. If applicants are interviewed, they may well be asked about material from their personal statement, so applicants need to make sure that this statement is truthful and that they will be able to add to the information given on the form.

Applicants need to:

• Explain why they wish to study medicine and the factors that influenced their decision. Think carefully about what attracted them to medicine and avoid clichés (e.g. “I have always been fascinated by ….” and “Ever since I was a child ….”) Applicants should explain how their choice was a result of considered research and deliberation. If applicants can’t answer this question, should they really be applying?

Want to follow in your parent’s footsteps?

A common reason for wishing to study medicine often cited by medical applicants, is a desire to “follow my mother/father who is/was a doctor”. This may be why the applicant had an initial interest in medicine, but it is not sufficient to base the entire application on a desire to emulate a family member.

In fact, candidates whose parents are medics may be treated more harshly as the admissions panel believe that students with a medical background should be able to clearly demonstrate, to a greater extent, what they have learned and what they know about the profession.

Demonstrate their commitment to medicine by:

i. Describing any work experience or voluntary work that they have completed, what was learnt from it and how it helped them decide that medicine is the most appropriate career path
ii. Listing any conferences or courses that they have been on and what was gained from them
iii. Knowing their subject and being up-to-date – applicants need to demonstrate knowledge of topical issues in the field of medicine that interest them and describe why they are interested in certain areas.

• Highlight the specific personal attributes they have that would make them a suitable candidate to be a doctor. Applicants need to back these up with specific examples via achievements in sport, music, hobbies and other interests. Medical schools want to see that the applicant can work in a team and also hold a position of responsibility.

Hobbies and interests are vital to the application for medicine to demonstrate that the individual is well rounded. Applicants who are totally absorbed in their studies to the exclusion of all else will lack some of the personal attributes that are key to making a good doctor.

Applicants should not just list or state achievements and attributes, they need to backup each statement with a specific example. They should be prepared to expand on these points in an interview. Commitment is really important and the medical school will want to know how long the applicant has been pursuing their hobby, why they do it, what they gain from it and whether they have achieved anything.

Interests that involve groups, teamwork and communication are essential for demonstrating key skills for medicine.

Even if the applicant is not musical or sporty, you can mention things like charity fundraising, school events (e.g. The College Revue at Ashbourne), languages, photography, travel or web design.

The personal statement is exactly that – personal – and should be written by the applicant, in their own personal style. No one else should be able to tell the applicant how best to write it, although it may be worthwhile for the applicant to look at some examples to get an idea of the kind of content that should be included.

Example personal statements:

www.studential.com