WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL

WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL Liz Bryant Pre-Health Program Coordinator Avis Stein Pre-Health Advising Specialist

OVERVIEW q. Specific Requirements q. Purpose of the Personal Statement q. Getting Started q. During the Writing Process q‘Dos and Don’ts’

KNOW THE REQUIREMENTS üCharacter limitations? üFormatting? üSpecific prompt? üEdit after submission? üWhat if reapplying?

CASPA PTCAS § 5, 000 characters § 4, 500 characters § General Prompt: § Specific Prompt “In the space provided, write a brief personal statement expressing your motivation or desire to become a physician assistant. ” Ø 2018 -2019 cycle: Describe a meaningful experience in your life. Reflect on how that experience influenced your personal growth, such as your attitudes or perceptions. Ø 2017 -2018 cycle: What is professionalism in the context of being a student in a doctor of physical therapist degree program?

STEP ONE: WHERE TO REFLECT START? q. Reflect on the purpose of the personal statement üWhy am I writing this? üWho will be reading this? üWhat do I want them to know about me? üWhat are “THEY” looking for? !

COMMON RESTRICTIONS/REQUIREMENTS • Formatting ØSome formatting will not display properly (such as BOLD, BOLD underline, and italics) • No editing after submission ØNo spell check in the application ØProofread carefully before you submit… …and then proofread it again…and…. • Reapplying? ØYes, you will need to overhaul your essay

WHAT ARE “THEY” LOOKING FOR? (They = admissions staff, faculty, students, alumni) • Effective communication skills • Motivation • Understanding “Show, don’t tell” or Claim + Proof • Personal qualities • What isn’t in your application? (and what is? )

WHERE TO START? STEP TWO: BRAINSTORM q. Who are you? (and why would they want to meet you? ) q. Why do you want to be a health professional? q. What interpersonal/intrapersonal skills do you possess? ØHow will these make you a great health professional? “I love science and I want to help people!”

STEP TWO (CONT. ): BRAINSTORMING EXERCISES v. C. A. R. Challenge: What are some of the challenges you faced? Action: What actions did you take to overcome these challenges? Result: What were the results of your work? Challenges faced + how overcome = transferrable skills

STEP TWO (CONT. ): BRAINSTORMING EXERCISES v. Free-Write (a. k. a. : brain dump, word vomit) What qualities does a good (_____) have? How do you demonstrate these qualities? *Personal Experience: Experience Work experience? Volunteer experience? Hobbies? * Research * TA *Camp Counselor * Coach *Cashier *Athlete *Tutor

WHERE TO START? STEP THREE: THEME Step 3: Identify your theme organize “like” or related ideas together • What do you want the overall message or takeaway to be? your interests, values, goals, and motivation, should form the foundation of your theme • This is NOT a resume or all-inclusive summary of experiences tell a story • Consider starting in the middle and working your way out (it is hard to introduce/conclude the unknown…)

CREATING A DRAFT: THINGS TO CONSIDER q. Organization • Order and progression of ideas • Paragraph focus and length q. Style • Active (not passive) and voice “The brakes were slammed on by her as the car sped down the hill” vs. “She slammed on the brakes as the car sped downhill” • Syntax – clear, organized and specific • Good transitions - flow • Avoid Clichés & Generalities “I have learned the value of hard work. " q. Examples, Experiences, Explanations • Use anecdotes and examples: why is this information significant? • Personalize: how did you feel? how did this impact you? • Use sensory details: color, smell, etc. (SHOW, not tell)

CREATING A DRAFT: THINGS TO CONSIDER Introduction: Where should I start? • A personal experience • An example/story that has inspired you Conclusion: How should I end my personal statement? With a sentence or two that… • Wraps up the points you’ve discussed (avoid a “cliffhanger”) • Refers to the experiences you’ve described • Addresses or reiterates what you have taken from these experiences • Addresses or reiterates your interest in the profession

REVISING AND EDITING § Re-read the prompt/instructions and make sure you have addressed all necessary points § Ask others for CANDID feedback: (not just your mom/best friend, etc. ) Ø Does this essay sound like you? Ø Did you convince them? Ø Would you/the reader want the writer (e. g. YOU) to be their health care provider? § Proofread for spelling/grammar/punctuation errors

Personal Statement Examples Dos and Don’ts

EXAMPLE 1 Constant improvements are always being made in the field of medicine, improving the lives of billions worldwide. Over the past decade alone, many treatments have been developed that have extended the survival of patients with diseases that would have been lethal only twenty years ago. I have always been fascinated by the ability of medications to create such large scale changes in human beings. My goal is to develop new medications for patients that more effectively treat medical conditions, with fewer side effects. I believe a degree in pharmacy will provide me the skills and knowledge I need to achieve my career goals. There are many opportunities in the pharmaceutical field that I have tried to take advantage of. As a pharmacy technician, I gained experience working with insurance companies and clients, gaining knowledge about drug uses and side effects. I have also held an internship, I learned the process for developing new drugs and had the opportunity to take part in the rigorous testing process. I learned a great deal about how a drug is moved through the pipeline and various trials on its way towards commercialization. Throughout my experiences, I have greatly increased both my interest and my experience in the field of pharmacy. (www. Pharmacy. Personal. Statement. net)

EXAMPLE 2 In its general sense, professionalism refers to upholding personal profession to its highest standard. As a student in a doctor of physical therapy program, I view professionalism as a platform for continuously expanding my knowledge regarding rehabilitation, making strides in order to communicate with patients and colleagues alike, upholding a set of fair and ethical morals. I believe that a certain commitment to the duties aforementioned will certainly shape what my future brings as a graduate student, while serving as a rehabilitation professional. Without a doubt, without knowledge, no progress can be expected. A person who is considered as ignorant to old-fashioned or traditional treatment methods will help in treating patients. As somebody who is pursuing a career in this field, I will be looking forward to discovering new methods in treating a patient who is suffering discomfort. It has always been my understanding that there is no such thing as learning enough, because circumstances and scenarios will always be new at any day. Therefore, I believe in individualized treatments. (http: //www. personalstatementwriter. com/ptcas-personal-statement/)

EXAMPLE 3 When I was a child, I watched the space probe Voyager’s launching. Mystified by this event, I begged my mother for a satellite. Instead of saying that it was too expensive or too impractical, my mother simply responded, ‘We’re not getting a rocket ship, because you’re not ready to appreciate it. ’ At the time I was unimpressed by her refusal, but now it really makes sense. Beyond the obvious idea that children and space probes don’t mix is the concept that life experience teaches one how to appreciate the opportunities that present themselves. My academic and work experiences have provided the preparation I needed to appreciate the opportunity and accept the challenges of medical school… (source: Write for Success, 4 th Ed. )

QUESTIONS?