How do I tackle the personal statement?

Writing a personal statement for any course is a daunting task and when the course you're applying for has a 10 people applying for every 1 place, it can at times seem impossible. As a current medical student I have some tips that I think are useful to keep in mind when writing those dreaded statements.

Firstly, and most importantly, your personal statement should be a reflection of you as a person, and not a list of things you think Medical schools want to see. Volunteering and work experience are important and I would advise any applicant to get as much experience as possible but sometimes it is difficult to organise it. It is not the quantity of work experience you have that matters but what you learnt from it. Perhaps talk about a patient that you met that inspired your compassion rather than listing the various doctors that you shadowed. Volunteering in any shape or form is great for applications, particularly roles that have allowed you to develop your skills in communication and teamwork. Medicine is lengthy and difficult so demonstrating that you can follow through on your commitments is important, whether that is in a nursing home, scouts, or an after school club, etc.

Be honest, we want well rounded, empathetic doctors with some life experience so if you have a hobby, write about it! The ability to achieve a good work-life balance is crucial to prevent burning out and it’s important to maintain this balance throughout your career. Be honest in your reasons for wanting to go into Medicine too. University alone is 5-6 years and it doesn’t stop there, you will be learning and assessed throughout your whole career so what will drive your dedication to keep going? Don’t worry about being too original or cliché. If you want to help people then convey that in your statement and don’t fret that you sound like a broken record, because if you didn’t feel that way then you would probably be going into medicine for the wrong reasons.