How to Write a Medical School Essay

By eHow Education Editor

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Part of the challenge of applying and getting accepted into medical school involves writing an essay that reflects who you are as a person. The essay should reflect your personality, showing the judges what makes you unique. The entire medical school application process can seem overwhelming, but rather than saying what you think others will want to hear, you should focus on being yourself and let that shine through as you write your medical school essay.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Step1

Avoid writing in clichés. You can imagine how many times a panel judging med school applications has read the words "I want to help people." All doctors help people. Even if you feel this way, you have to show it through other ways. Think about your desire to help people, and how that has affected decisions and commitments in your life. You want to tell a story that shows who you are, without you having to explicitly say the words, "I like helping people."

Step2

Be interesting. Admissions officers read thousands of essays, and there just isn't enough time to read every detail. Use strong words and details to tell stories or depict lessons you've learned in your life. Write in an active, rather than passive, voice.

Step3

Show them, don't tell them. The tone and style of language used means everything. Your goal is to really draw the person reading your essay into the story--you want them to want to know more about you and what you're about. Think about how situations made you feel or changed you.

Step4

Be concise and avoid being wordy. Being wordy can confuse the reader as they sift through looking for the main points of the essay. Short and to-the-point sentences are much more effective.

Step5

Address your weaknesses, but don't focus on them. Only detail legitimate setbacks. For example, if you lack hospital volunteer experience, explain that you had to work in order to pay for school and still support your family. Spin positives into negatives by explaining your attempts to improve.