Sure, there are many mistakes students make every year, but without doubt there are three that will seriously harm your chances, even if you’ve done the necessary work beforehand.
After spending so much time and effort to build up a database of experience and jump through the medical hoops, the last thing you want to do is not tell the admissions tutors exactly how good you are!
So read on for our top tips on mistakes you should avoid at all costs.
Mistake 1: It’s a personal statement
Okay I admit, this one seems really obvious on the surface. However, think about the “ideal” personal statement structure, which has a finite amount of topics to discuss. Chances are you’ve heard the same sequence of topics being quoted as the most effective approach- which is true.
The problem is, this doesn’t really give you room to be personal. Remember that the admissions tutors have a collection of letters and numbers up to this point- you may as well be a colour of paint to them (I think I’m maybe a blue steel?).
So if the structure doesn’t allow personality, then it must be the content.
The key point here is to inject your personality by telling them your personal, specific impressions.
- What motivates you?
- What unique combination of experiences do you have?
- What have you learnt about medicine that shocks you?
- What inspires you?
- What makes you an individual?
This is true even if your reasons of studying medicine don’t extend beyond “liking science” and “wanting to help people” (don’t worry, in a 6med poll, these were by far the two most popular reasons).
However, the key point is to communicate this in a more personal way.
- What examples do you have of when you enjoyed a scientific topic and why do you like helping people?
- How do you think you can do that in medicine?
Mistake 2: Description addiction
What’s the reason for getting a reference for your work experience? It’s because a certain proportion of students are randomly asked to provide evidence (names, places, who you were with etc.) just to verify.
So why would you waste precious characters and describe this in your personal statement?
The value doesn’t come from what you do, but instead what you gained from it. To visualise it, let’s develop the idea of “getting into the admissions tutor’s head”:
WHAT THEY ARE NOT ASSESSING YOU ON
- Stated reasons for Medicine.
- Have they done work experience.
- Have they done reading.
- Have they mentioned their interests?
WHAT THEY ARE ASSESSING YOU ON
- Have they demonstrated motivation and interest in medicine?
- Have they demonstrated insight and reflection?
- How have they broadened their interest and knowledge?
- Can we discuss their interests at interview?
So, by simply stating what you did, you’re not answering their questions. This means:
- You don’t need to mention names of hospitals, GPs etc. and which doctors you were with.
- You should focus on individual patient or medical encounters you saw/ were involved in.
- You should use this as evidence to back up claims you make.
Mistake 3: Clean it up
The personal statement is a professional document, which does demand a certain level of formality and professionalism.
Unfortunately, many students see this as an opportunity to whip out the synonym function and write long, convoluted sentences. The difficulty of the personal statement is getting everything into the line/character limit and communicate the information you want.
So as a golden tip:
- Every word in every line should have an essential purpose.
- Every few lines should make one, centralised point.
- Every paragraph should have a main message.
- There should be a key theme that you begin and end with.
This necessitates aggressive editing and removing messy, clunky sentences for clearer ones that make the point. Here is an example of what I mean:
EXAMPLE #1
“My unyielding motivation to pursue a medical degree was underpinned by two weeks’ work experience in the bustling corridors of a local hospital. I was astounded by the brevity of interaction in Accident and Emergency, where the overworked doctors would navigate ever-growing patient lists and administrative constraints.
The juggling act of time and patient care was admirable, with the doctors demonstrating impressive fortitude and resilience in the oppressive NHS environment. I will endeavour to attain such professional proficiency along the course of my studies and medical career.”
(87 words, 590 characters)
EXAMPLE #2
“To gain further insight into medicine, I shadowed junior doctors in A&E. I saw first-hand the need for strict organisation and documentation to cope with the time constraints.
However, I was surprised to see that the doctors still maintained compassion and demonstrated empathy. One particular patient, an upset mother whose son had injured his ankle, was very thankful to the doctors for explaining everything they were doing.
This demonstrated to me the value of attending to patient needs at the core, even when time may be limited.”
(87 words, 537 characters)
Notice that the second paragraph is the same number of words, fewer characters and tells you much more about the student. There is more reflection, personal experience and it reads a lot cleaner.
The first paragraph may seem like hyperbole, but I have read and seen many student statements like this. Also, the second paragraph is by no means perfect, but demonstrates the principles of making clear statements, not going for stylistic adjective overkill and giving personal reflections.
Final Considerations
With so much to think about for the personal statement, it can be easy to fall into one of these pitfalls.
Hopefully now you can evaluate what you’ve done, whether you’re virtually finished or yet to start. If you find yourself getting lost, always go back to basics:
- Think like an admissions tutor.
- Be reflective and be clear.
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![6med Personal Statement Success Guide [Part 3]](https://6med.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/SUCCESS-GUIDE-PART-3-500x383.jpg)
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