personal statement for biomedical graduate school

Personal Statement for PhD Applicants

New section.

Your personal statement is your chance to shine, to stand out from among the hundreds of other PhD applicants.

The personal statement (or statement of purpose) is your introduction of yourself to the application reviewers. This brief statement (generally one to two pages) should communicate your abilities, accomplishments and goals. It must also show us your writing skills, including your ability to present yourself and your ideas concisely. It should show your commitment to and motivation for graduate school based on your history. It should have a positive tone, be honest, and professional.

This is your chance to shine, to stand out from among the hundreds of statements that the reviewer is reading.

It is crucial that you get some honest critiques on your statement before you submit it to the school. However, the voice of the statement should be yours. Remember, if you are invited for an interview, the school will expect to meet the person who wrote the statement. Although you should not have to rewrite your entire essay for each school/program you are applying to, it should be tailored for each program.

• Current Students

UTHealth - Houston's Health University

Uthealth - graduate school of biomedical sciences.

• Why the GSBS
• Our Location
• Information Technology
• Digital Classroom
• Campus Safety
• Classroom Calendar
• Administered by MD Anderson and UTHealth Houston
• Located in The Texas Medical Center (TMC), the world's largest medical center
• Both MD Anderson and UTHealth Houston are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Over 600 faculty members with expertise in the latest biomedical research
• Genetic Counseling
• Medical Physics
• Milestone Requirements
• Faculty Seeking MS Students

Explore GSBS Labs

• Cancer Biology
• Genetics & Epigenetics
• Microbiology & Infectious Diseases
• Molecular & Translational Biology
• Neuroscience
• Quantitative Sciences
• Therapeutics & Pharmacology

Research Interests

• Program Directory
• Faculty Seeking PhD Students

• Message From the Director
• MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
• McGovern Medical School
• MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Center for Clinical Translational Sciences

Student Research Day 2020

• Admissions Overview
• Requirements & Instructions
• Financial Assistance
• Recruitment Schedule
• What factors are considered in admissions decisions?
• What is the minimum GPA required to apply?
• Do you require interviews?
• When will I be notified regarding interviews?
• What if my letters of recommendation are not ready by the deadline?
• What if my recommender does not have an institutional letterhead or an institutional email address?
• How can I get an assistantship?
• How can I get an assistantship if I am seeking a MS degree?

Admissions Office

6767 Bertner Avenue S3.8344 Mitchell BSRB Houston TX 77030

• Summer Undergraduate Research Programs
• Biochemistry
• Bioinformatics
• Cell Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Epigenetics
• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology
• Therapeutics
• Translational Research
• Discover Houston
• Explore Campus
• Career Development
• Parking, Transportation, Disability, Worklife, More
• Student Support
• Graduate Student Association
• Association of Minority Biomedical Researchers
• Association of Science Communication
• Community Outreach
• First Generation Student Group
• International Student Association
• LGBTQ+ Student Alliance
• Student InterCouncil

About the GSBS

Quick facts, thesis based ms programs, specialized ms, individualized ms program in biomedical sciences, phd programs, md/phd program, participating institutions/entities.

Admission FAQs

• Biostatistics
• Infectious Disease

Student Life

Student organizations.

nav = Admissions

REACH GREAT HEIGHTS

MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) is a unique collaboration between UTHealth Houston and MD Anderson Cancer Center. This synergistic partnership provides students with unparalleled access to modern facilities, world-class faculty and unlimited prospects for research in the biomedical sciences.

STEPS TO APPLY

Online Application

All materials will be collected via our online application system (Embark). Applications for Fall 2025 for the MS and PhD programs are will become available beginning August 1, 2024 . Below is a list of required materials for applying to GSBS. All materials, including letters of recommendation, are due by the deadline . Please read the instructions below carefully before starting your application.

Questions? Please see our FAQ .

Requirements and instructions.

All components of the application must be submitted via the online application system and no paper materials will be accepted. Please note that there is no need to submit official transcripts or test scores when applying. We will contact you directly if official documents are needed.

• Application form  - The form is hosted online and you must create an account   here to apply. The form will allow you to save your work and return at a later time. 
• Unofficial transcripts & GPA  - An unofficial copy of your transcript from each college and university attended is required. This includes transcripts from every school attended, regardless if the class was taken for dual credit or transferred and listed on another transcript. Graduate and undergraduate grade point averages must be provided on a 4.0 scale. For assistance with converting GPAs, please see the FAQ .
• CV/Resume - Please include the following information: academic honors, awards received in college, research experience (i.e. academic, summer programs, internships), relevant employment history, and education information. Also provide a listing of any scientific publications, presentations, and/or posters. For assistance with preparing an academic CV, see this  guide   from the GSBS Office of Career Development.
• Personal statement - Please provide a one (1) page personal statement which explains your motivation for seeking a graduate degree in the Biomedical Sciences. This statement should discuss your professional career goals, your interest in science and why you are interested in obtaining your graduate degree at MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
• Research Statement -  Please provide a one (1) page research statement which describes your previous research experience. In this statement,  include   a detailed description of at least one independent research project, what you did, what you learned and the significance of this work. If you do not have previous research experience, please explain what other experiences you have that make you a suitable candidate for graduate school. The research statement is required if you are applying to the   PhD   program and MS program in Biomedical Sciences. A Research Statement is not required for individuals applying to the MS Graduate Program in Genetic Counseling.”
• Optional Essay  -  Please provide a one (1) page essay, if needed, on resilience. The ability to recover quickly during difficulty. This is one important characteristic that can contribute to success in graduate school. Resilience can be activated and strengthened through many situations in life, for example, by overcoming financial hardship to pursue education or by leading an organization to a major goal. You may provide an optional essay to share your personal story of resilience. Since this essay is optional, the information shared will only be used to learn more about the applicant and provide the committee with more insight to the applicant’s personal journey towards graduate school.
• Letters of Recommendation  - Recommenders should be well qualified to evaluate your scholastic performance, scientific ability, research interests and motivation, and personal attributes such as character and personality. If you are currently  enrolled,   or have completed, a graduate degree program, one of these recommendations must be from your academic advisor or mentor.  Three letters of recommendation are required to apply and applications are not reviewed until all three have been received. You will be asked to enter the recommender's professional (not personal) email address into the online form. Registered recommenders will receive an email from "Embark Team" requesting a letter be submitted online. Each letter must be on institutional letterhead and signed by the recommender.  You will receive a confirmation email when a recommendation letter has been received on your behalf, and you may track the status by logging into your Embark account.
• TOEFL scores (International applicants only) - International applicants who have, or will have prior to matriculation, received a degree that required more than two years of study from a university in the United States are not required to take the TOEFL exam. 
• Application fee - A $50 application fee is required. Application fee waivers are available for all applicants who submit a completed application by the priority deadline. You must request your fee waiver from the Office of Admissions through email at [email protected] . Refunds will not be provided if you pay the fee first.

Prospective Students

Biomedical Physics - an Emerging Interdisciplinary Field

• PhD Program

Why Apply Here?

• Writing Your Personal Statement
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The PhD Degree in Biomedical Physics

The Biomedical Physics Program (BMP) is joint effort under the Stanford School of Medicine Departments of Radiology and Radiation Oncology and offers instruction and research opportunities leading to a PhD degree in Biomedical Physics. The goal is to train students in research focused on technology translatable to clinical medicine, including radiation therapy, image-guided therapy, diagnostic, interventional, and molecular imaging, and other forms of disease detection and characterization with molecular diagnostics. These students will be prepared for a variety of career paths, including faculty positions at academic institutions, clinical physics roles in radiology and radiation oncology departments, industry, and roles at government and other private sector organizations focusing on medical- and bio-technology. Given the evolution of modern medicine towards technologically sophisticated treatments and diagnostics, particularly in the areas of imaging, molecular biomarkers, and radiation therapy, there is a need for well-trained leaders with this educational background and the skills to conduct meaningful and significant research in this field. Stanford University has a rich tradition of innovation and education within these disciplines, with advances ranging from the development and application of the medical linear accelerator towards radiation treatment of cancer to the engineering of non-invasive magnetic resonance imaging having been pioneered here. Accordingly, Stanford is home to a breadth of faculty with outstanding achievements. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, the close proximity and frequent interactions among the Stanford Schools of Medicine, Engineering, and Humanities and Sciences provide an ideal environment to offer students outstanding training in both the clinical and scientific aspects of this discipline.

The program can provide flexibility and can complement other opportunities in applied medical research at Stanford. Special arrangements may be made for those with unusual needs or those simultaneously enrolled in other degree programs within the University. Similarly, students with prior relevant training may have the curriculum adjusted to eliminate requirements met as part of prior training.

Prerequisites

As Biomedical Physics is a highly multidisciplinary area of study, we are seeking students from a variety of scientific backgrounds.  Undergraduates with strong quantitative skills majoring in physics, engineering, or the biological sciences are encouraged to apply.  No GRE exams are required for admissions.

Degree Requirements

The doctoral program is a full-time, residential, research-oriented program, with student typically starting in the fall quarter and spending an average of about 5-6 years at Stanford.

Candidates are encouraged to explore the various research interests of the biomedical physics core and affiliated faculty, with lab rotations during the first year expose students to different laboratories. Prior to being formally admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree at the end of the second year of study, each student must demonstrate knowledge of biomedical physics fundamentals and a potential for succeeding in research by passing a qualifying examination. Students later complete and defend a doctoral dissertation.

Details of the curriculum and specific degree requirements are described on Stanford Bulletin .

All BMP PhD students who maintain satisfactory academic progress receive full financial support (tuition and a living stipend) for the duration of their doctoral program. However, the number of admitted students is limited by funding, hence applicants are encouraged, but not required, to apply for external fellowship support (e.g., NSF or Stanford's Knight-Hennessy Scholars program ) on their own.

Application Instructions and Deadlines

Applications are due late November/early December each year. See details on the Graduate Admissions webpage .

There is a $125 application fee . Applicants who need assistance with the application fee are encouraged to apply for a fee waiver . Preference is given to low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented minority students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

The Application Deadline: December 1, 2023 (11:59:59 pm PST).

• Complete the Biomedical Physics PhD application online. Note that only one Stanford PhD application per academic year is allowed, and that Biosciences, Bioengineering, and Electrical Engineering are not part of the Biomedical Physics Program.
• Submit scanned (unofficial) transcripts as part of the Biomedical Physics application. Graduate Admissions only requires admitted applicants who accept the offer of admission to submit official transcripts that shows their degree conferral. Please do not send or have sent any official transcripts to us at this time.
• See our page about the Personal Statement.
• Please include an up-to-date version of your CV.
• The GRE General Test score is not required and will not be considered if submitted. We do not require any GRE Subject Test scores.
• Application materials, including letters of recommendation, should be received by the deadline. We do review all applications, including incomplete ones.
• For materials that are mailed, please use our Contact Address.
• Please do NOT upload supporting materials, such as published papers, unpublished manuscripts, BS or MS theses, writing samples, posters, or class projects, with your application.
• Check the status of your application can be tracked through the Biomedical Physics status webpage . Interview invitations go out in early January, and interviews are in late February or early March. Offers of admission are made on a rolling basis starting in March. Finals decisions from admitted candidates are due by April 15.
• The selection of PhD students admitted to BMP is based on an individualized, holistic review of each application, including the applicant’s academic record, the letters of recommendation, the statement of purpose, personal qualities and characteristics, and past accomplishments.
• Deferral of admission: BMP generally does not allow deferral of admission to the PhD program, and it is better for you to apply when you are ready to begin your graduate study following the normal timeline. However, sometimes one's circumstances change; please contact us if that happens to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is highly recommended that you review our Frequently Asked Questions page.

The Biomedical Physics Program recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision.

The Biomedical Physics Program welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. The review process is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, prior research experience, and admissions essays to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field and how they might enrich the learning community at Stanford.

Students are expected to enter with a series of core competencies in mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics or engineering, and computing. Students entering the program are assessed by the examination of their undergraduate transcripts and research experiences. Specifically, the department requires that students have completed mathematics through multivariable calculus and linear algebra, and must hold, or expect to hold before enrollment at Stanford, a bachelor’s degree in engineering or physical science from a U.S. college or university accredited by a regional accrediting association. Applicants from institutions outside the U.S. must hold the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree from a college or university of recognized standing. See minimum level of study required of international applicants .

Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply for predoctoral national competitive fellowships, especially those from the National Science Foundation. Applicants to the Ph.D. program should consult with their financial aid officers for information and applications.

The deadline for receiving applications is December 2, 2024. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission to the Ph.D. program in Biomedical Physics.

Further information and application instructions for all graduate degree programs may be obtained from Graduate Admissions .

Application Fee and Fee Waivers

The  application fee is $125  and is non-refundable. You will be prompted to pay the application fee at the time you submit your application. The acceptable form of payment is via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club) or bank transfer from a U.S. checking account. If you do not have a credit card then you should make arrangements with a family member or friend to use theirs. Checks by mail are not accepted.

Fee Waivers

Applicants who need assistance with the application fee are encouraged to apply for a fee waiver. Priority for fee waivers is given to applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. International applicants who need assistance with the application fee are eligible to apply for the School-Based fee waiver. For a complete list of fee waiver options and eligibility requirements, please visit the Graduate Admissions  website .

Please note that fee waiver requests are required to be submitted 10 business days prior to the application deadline (December 2 at 11:59:59 pm PST); so please plan accordingly.

• Reputation and Environment . Amplified by the astounding intellectual and technological capital of Silicon Valley, Stanford University, one of the world's leading academic institutions, is dedicated to finding solutions to big challenges and to preparing students for leadership in a complex world. Integrating a premier medical school with world-class adult and children’s hospitals, Stanford Medicine fosters an unrivaled atmosphere of interdisciplinary exploration and collaboration that has produced many of the innovations that sparked a biomedical revolution. The Biomedical Physics program is an essential component of Stanford Medicine’s commitment to excellence in education, scientific discovery, bench-to-bedside research, and clinical innovation.

• Curriculum . Our core courses span a wide array of topics, including radiation physics and therapy, imaging sciences, molecular imaging and diagnostics, with much of the material based on cutting-edge research conducted here at Stanford.

• Interdisciplinary Research Opportunities . BMP in a new PhD program housed within the Departments of Radiology and Radiation Oncology. Leveraging research and clinical expertise at Stanford Hospital, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, and Stanford Clinics, the BMP program also includes faculty from the Stanford Biosciences , Bio-X , ChEM-H , Wu Tsai Neurosciences , Bioengineering , Electrical Engineering , and Computer Science programs, all of which are in close physical proximity on Stanford's main campus.

• Related Stanford PhD Programs . As the scope of medical physics has expanded, students pursuing careers in this field have been distributed throughout a number of training programs ranging from physics to engineering to bioengineering to biology. Situated within the clinical departments of Radiology and Radiation Oncology, the BMP program integrates novel technical developments in radiation therapy, imaging, and molecular diagnostics with the unique challenges of clinical medicine.

• Location . Situated in the heart of entrepreneurial Silicon Valley, Stanford University's campus occupies over 8000 acres, bordering Palo Alto, CA and provides easy access to the amenities of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Instructions for Writing Your Personal Statement

You are required to submit a Personal Statement as part of the Graduate Application for the BMP PhD degree.

The BMP program is designed for students interested in the application of physics and engineering principles to problems in clinical medicine, with an emphasis on translational science. The Admissions Committee will read your Personal Statement carefully to determine how well your aspirations align with the mission of the BMP PhD Program.

In your Personal Statement, please tell us how your schooling, work, research, and life experiences prepare you for study at BMP, describe your passion for research, current research interests, and career goals, and explain how our training program will enable you to achieve them.

The Personal Statement should be 1-2 pages. Please do not append class projects, research proposals, draft manuscripts, published papers, posters, or other ancillary materials.

Questions about the Program

Where can I find the details about the program?

Please review this website, and our program listing in Stanford University Bulletin .

What is the best way to see if my interests align with the program?

Review the details of our curriculum and summary descriptions of core and affiliated faculty . You should also do web searches to find the faculty websites and check out their most recent publications on PubMed . 

What is the difference between Stanford's BMP program and medical physics programs in other universities?

Students pursuing careers at the intersection of technology and medicine can enroll in a variety of related Stanford programs ranging from physics to engineering to biology. Situated within the clinical departments of Radiology and Radiation Oncology, the BMP program uniquely integrates novel technical developments in radiation therapy, imaging, and molecular diagnostics with the unique challenges of clinical medicine.

How do BMP graduate students pick a lab and faculty research supervisor?

Students do up to 3 rotations the first year in labs chosen through mutual agreement by the student and the faculty member.

How long does it take to get a degree?

Is the Stanford BMP PhD program CAMPEP accredited?

This is a new Biomedical Physics PhD program and is not yet accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP). 

What kind of jobs are available for Stanford BMP graduates?

Students who successfully complete  the BMP PhD program will be capable of pursuing careers in academia, clinical medicine, and industry.  Graduates will be competitive for faculty positions in nationwide medical physics programs, as well as in related university departments including Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Radiology, and Radiation Oncology. In addition, a variety of industrial positions at companies developing medical and imaging technologies would be available to graduating doctoral students. They may, for example, work for a Fortune 500 company like General Electric , a large-cap company like Varian Medical Systems , or a publicly traded company like ViewRay . All of these companies have a substantial need for Ph.D. scientists in biomedical physics as they provide unique expertise in translational medical imaging and medical therapy that is distinct form their engineering colleagues. Medical companies developing imaging, radiation therapy, and molecular diagnostics, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, and non-medical companies with a focus on technology development could each exploit the unique skill set of BMP graduates. Examples include Siemens Healthcare , Philips Healthcare , Canon Medical Systems , Bruker , Accuray , Elekta , IBA Worldwide , Bayer , Guerbet , Hologic , Genentech , Agilent , and Google Health . Trainees may also find professional opportunities in the federal government working at either the NIH or FDA , both of which seek scientists with the precise training provided by our program. Additional career opportunities would be available at the intersection of tech and medicine by way of local start-up companies and consulting firms.

Questions about Applying

Should I apply to the Stanford BMP Program?

Only you know enough about your circumstances to make this decision. We encourage all applicants to consider their personal and career goals, their background and abilities, financial constraints, and reasonable alternatives, before applying.

What is "Biomedical Physics"?

I'm interested in several departments in Stanford. Which one should I apply to?

This is a very important decision, so it is worth your time to explore and consider your options carefully. Stanford Biomedical Physics is very interdisciplinary; if admitted, you will be able to pick research supervisors from among multiple faculty having a wide range of research interests. You should select a PhD program on the basis of your background, your interest in a particular curriculum, your fit with the program's research, and your career plans. In general, we recommend apply to BMP if you are primarily interested in the application of novel developments in radiation physics, imaging science, and molecular imaging to solve clinical problems. See also the next few FAQs.

What is the difference between Stanford Biomedical Physics, Biosciences, and Bioengineering?

Can I apply to both BMP and other Stanford PhD programs at the same time?

No. You are limited to one PhD application per academic year.  The Biomedical Physics PhD program is distinct from degrees offered by other Stanford programs such as Biosciences , Bioengineering , and Electrical Engineering . Therefore, it is important to decide which program best fits your background and career goals. Note that if you are accepted into another program, you are welcome to take BMP courses.

How do I apply?

Review our website to see if our program is a good fit with your goals. The specifics depend on the degree program to which you are applying. You can find instructions for each degree under  Prospective Students .

When can I apply? What is the application deadline?

Applications to the PhD program are accepted each autumn from (roughly) mid-September to late November/early December for admission the following Autumn. For details of timing for the other degree programs, see their respective webpages. All PhD applications are reviewed together, so there is no competitive advantage in applying early; however, we very strongly recommend that you not wait until the last minute (or day).

I missed the deadline. Can I apply late (or early) to the PhD program?

No. We do not accept applications to the PhD program out of the normal cycle, as it causes problems both for admission’s process which is coordinated with the other Stanford programs and for arranging funding.

Does Stanford BMP offer conditional admission?

Is my application good enough?

We are unable to answer that question for specific applicants. The BMP admissions committee considers many factors, including grades, letters of recommendation, the personal statement, prior research experience, life circumstances, and fit with our program. The decision is based on a composite of these elements in the context of all the applications we receive each cycle. You should also note that admission to our program, especially for the PhD, is  very  competitive, so it is to your advantage to make sure your application is as strong as you can make it in all of the listed dimensions.

Stanford requires a TOEFL score (if needed) of greater than or equal to 100. If your score is below 100 and you are accepted, Stanford requires that you retake the exam to achieve that threshold. Unfortunately, we cannot make exceptions to this rule. See  here .

How many people apply?

This is a new PhD program, so we do not yet have reliable statistics regarding the number of applicants.  However, we anticipate the PhD application process will be highly competitive.

Is it okay if some of my application materials arrive late?

You need to submit the main application before the deadline.

Unofficial test scores (TOEFL) and unofficial transcripts should arrive before the deadline. Your unofficial transcripts and test scores will be validated when your official ones are received by the University, which can occur after the admissions deadline.

Outside of that, we strongly recommend against late applications, including letters of recommendation. We start reviewing applications immediately after the deadline closes. Incomplete applications will be reviewed, but incomplete applications are unlikely to be as strong as the complete ones, placing you at considerable disadvantage in an already very competitive application process.

What is the status of my application?

We realize that the application process is anxiety provoking, and it is natural to be concerned about the possibility of information missing from your application or wondering where you are in the application ranking. After the formal deadline, if something has changed, you may email the updated information to us. We ask, though, that you refrain from contacting us to request routine updates about your status. If your application is deficient in some way, we will contact you. However, you will have to wait for interview invitations and the final admission decisions on schedule.

Oops. I forgot to upload some of the supplemental materials for my application and now the system won't let me add them. What should I do?

Just email the additional materials to our  Contact Address .

What is the general timeline for admissions?

Applications are due late November or early December. Invitations for interviews (PhD only) go out in early January. Interviews are early March. Offers of admission are sent starting early March. Your final admission decisions are due April 15. Most students start in the Autumn (late Sept, Stanford is on quarter system).

I have been out of school for a while. Do you accept older students?

Yes. We anticipate some of our students will have gotten other degrees, worked in industry, or had other relevant experiences before entering the BMP program.

I was not admitted. Can I meet with someone to tell me why?

While we understand that situation is disappointing, we are not able to provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.

Can I meet with BMP faculty before applying? Can I request an interview?

Due to time constraints, we are not able to accommodate all requests to meet one-on-one with our faculty prior to submitting an application, give individual tours, or meet to provide guidance about applications, the admissions process, and career planning.

We only interview a limited number of applicants. Top candidates for our PhD program will be invited out to visit us during the application process. We will contact you by mid-January if we want you to come for an interview. Note that the interview process is quite extensive; you will interview with multiple faculty and students, tour our campus, and meet with many of our current students in social settings.

I have contacted one of the BMP faculty about admissions. Will I receive a response?

Our faculty members receive many emails and requests for information. Unfortunately, they are unable to respond to all such contacts. Please email specific questions about the admissions process to us at our  Contact Address .

Should I contact faculty to get a research assistantship before I am admitted?

Generally, we only admit PhD students whose funding is pre-arranged by the BMP program or outside scholarship. There is more information about funding here . As part of the admission process, we will bring your application to the attention of the appropriate faculty. Just to be clear, you apply to the BMP program; you do not apply to individual faculty labs.

I have taken some coursework at Stanford before. Can I count those units towards another degree if I am admitted?

Generally, yes. However, you can't count the same course towards two different degrees. If you have extra units from a prior degree or a currently active degree program, then those units can count towards a BMP PhD if you are admitted. The total number of units required for the relevant BMP degree does not change.

Do I need any particular undergraduate major in order to apply?

No. We anticipate accepting students from diverse backgrounds, including those with undergraduate training in physics, engineering, biomedical sciences, and computer science.

If I'm accepted into the BMP program, can I work with a particular professor?

If you have already identified a possible research mentor, then you are one step ahead. However, be advised that even if admitted, there is no guarantee that that professor would have space in their lab, have appropriate funding, or be a good interpersonal match with you. In general, we recommend that you apply to Stanford BMP because your interests align well with our overall program philosophy and emphasis.

Does BMP offer a master's degree?

We currently only offer a PhD program.

Is there a part-time PhD degree program? Is there a distance learning PhD?

No. Our faculty believe that the PhD must be obtained on-campus, with full-time involvement.

I applied before. Do you need official copies of my transcripts again?

Can I transfer credit?

Transferring credit means using credit for courses taken  outside of  Stanford to reduce the number of credits taken  at  Stanford.

For the PhD degree: Yes. The PhD requires 135 units, of which 90 units must be taken at Stanford during the PhD program. Thus, you could transfer credits taken elsewhere or taken at Stanford in another graduate program. More information is  here .

Are the GREs required?

No. The GRE General Test score is not required and will not be considered if submitted. We do not require any GRE Subject Test scores.

Do I have to take the TOEFL?

TOEFL scores are required by Stanford University of all applicants whose first language is not English. There are some complications and exceptions. See the  official Stanford policy  for details. If you take the test near our application deadline, email the unofficial scores to us as soon as possible; the official scores can arrive after the deadline. Stanford requires a TOEFL score (if needed) of greater than or equal to 100. If your score is below 100 and you are accepted, Stanford requires that you retake the exam to achieve that threshold. Unfortunately, we cannot make exceptions to this rule. See here .

Can I take another language exam in place of the TOEFL?

No. Stanford only accepts the TOEFL.

Can international students apply to the program?

We welcome applications from international applicants. International applicants follow the same application process as other applicants, with additional rules and requirements listed here. 1)  You need to hold a four-year bachelor’s degree in order to apply. The exact requirements vary by country and are listed on the Office of Graduate Admissions International Applicants page . 2) Applicants whose first language is not English must submit an official test score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Stanford accepts only ETS (Educational Testing Service) scores. We accept MyBest scores but at this time we are not accepting TOEFL Essentials test scores (see Stanford Graduate Admission Required Exams webpage). 3) We do not advise applicants about visas. The Bechtel International Center has information about how to maintain visas for international students. The US State Department has information about student and exchange visitor visas.

Do I need to have a master’s degree before applying to the PhD program?

Questions about Tuition, Fees, Program Costs, Funding, and Financial Aid

How much does it cost to get a PhD?

Tuition and other fees for Academic PhD programs are set by Stanford University. The most up-to-date listing is on the Stanford Registrar's  website .

What financial aid does BMP provide?

All BMP PhD students who maintain satisfactory academic progress receive full financial support (tuition and a living stipend) for the duration of their doctoral program.

Is there a fee for applying for admission?

The fee for applying for admission to any graduate program at Stanford is $125. However, the Biomedical Physics graduate program is committed to increasing the diversity of biomedical research and Stanford University. We will offer application fee waivers to a limited number of candidates. Preference is given to low-income, first generation and underrepresented minority students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

Can I request an application fee waiver?

The Biomedical Physics graduate program is committed to increasing the diversity of biomedical research and Stanford University. We will provide application fee waivers to a limited number of candidates. Preference is given to low-income, first generation and underrepresented minority students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

• You should only request a BMP-based waiver if you do not qualify for the GRE or Diversity Program Participation fee waivers.
• Given the limited availability of fee waivers, only request one if you are sure you will be applying for admission this application season.
• Applications for fee waivers will be reviewed and approved on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• Acceptance or denial of your application for a fee waiver does not affect your likelihood of admission into a graduate program. 
• If the application fee waiver request is approved, the applicant will be sent a code to enter in the payment section of the online graduate admissions application.
• No refund will be given if you apply for a fee waiver and pay the application fee instead of using your application fee waiver code.  If we deny your request for a waiver, we will instruct you to pay the fee.

Waiver Application Form:

• In 250-500 words, describe your research experiences.
• In 250 words or less, describe how your research interests and background (in terms of race, ethnicity, culture, gender identity, socioeconomic status, citizenship or immigration status, sexual orientation, disability/ability, veteran status, work, and life experiences) would contribute to the diversity (broadly defined) of students pursuing a PhD at Stanford.
• In 250 words or less describe why you believe you are eligible for and should receive a fee waiver.  Priority is given to students from communities that may be systemically minoritized in biomedical research, experiencing financial hardship, qualified for federal financial aid, are first in their family to pursue an advanced degree, or are from environments with limited access to university research programs. 
• List any research, honors, and diversity-related programs in which you have participated.
• Send the materials in items 1-4 above along with your name, mailing address, phone, and email address to [email protected] with the subject “Fee Waiver Request”.

All fee waiver requests must be submitted no later than November 10th. 

Other Questions

How much does it cost to live close to Stanford University or in the SF Bay Area? How can I find out about my housing options?

The SF Bay Area is expensive. Many graduate students choose to live on campus for convenience and to minimize costs. Please refer to Stanford's  Housing Office  for more information.

What do I do if I still have questions?

Send us email ( Contact Us ). We are busy keeping all the machinery behind the scenes running smoothly, but we try to respond to every inquiry within one to two business days. It is much better to email us questions directly rather than asking us if you can call.

Additional Resource (Video)

Information Session - Recorded September 14th, 2021 ( click lower right icon to expand )

The Personal Statement: Content

By Aneka Khilnani, MS 2 nd Year Medical Student at The George Washington University & 2019 Alumna of MS in Physiology at Georgetown University

The medical school personal statement offers a crucial opportunity to show medical schools who you are beyond your MCAT and GPA score. With a greater emphasis on a holistic review of applicants a well-done medical school personal statement continues to be a key component of a successful application. This is your opportunity to express who you are as an individual, the major influences and background that have shaped your interests and values, what inspires you to pursue medicine, and what kind of physician you envision yourself becoming. 

For me personally, this was possibly the most stressful part of the application process. If you are anything like the majority of medical school applicants, you may have begun to write your personal statement, however, you may not feel confident in the content you are presenting to the medical school admissions committees. As someone who was invited to interview at nearly two dozen medical school interviews across the country while earning my Masters in Physiology at Georgetown University , and currently interviews applications at The George Washington University MD Program, I wanted to share my top five tips for crafting the content of your personal statement. 

Within your allotted 5,300 characters, it can be daunting to decide what will best showcase why you would be a phenomenal doctor. Thinking strategically about your “big picture” while showcasing your pre-professional competencies that medical schools are focused on prior to diving into the writing process will help ensure you are successfully answering the question of why medicine. Consider what you would like a medical school admission committee to take away from your personal statement. 

Tip #1: Review the AAMCs 15 Core Competencies

Prior to beginning the writing process I visited the American Association of Medical College’s (AAMC) website where they shared the 15 core competencies they say, “Successful medical school applicants are able to demonstrate skills, knowledge, and abilities in these areas.” Consider extracurricular activities, experiences, and education that could demonstrate a number of these core competencies. For example, to demonstrate social skills, oral communication, and service orientation I discussed a specific interaction I had as a volunteer at a camp for kids with Type 1 Diabetes. 

Tip #2: Demonstrate Resilience 

While I am very early in my medical career, as a second year medical student I am keenly aware that throughout my career, the inherent unpredictability and challenge of the profession demands that doctors remain adaptable and persistent in the face of adversity. Even the strongest medical students will encounter difficult spaces in which stepping back is more appealing than leaning into the work. In 2018, the attrition rate at U.S. MD schools was 3.3% ( AAMC Data Snapshot, 2018 ), and medical schools strive to pick candidates who will be able to take on the rigors of medical school as evidenced by adaptability and emotional maturity. It is important to remember that medical school is a marathon, not a race and over and over at this early stage my fellow trainees and I have endured failure. And while failure is certainly part of the learning process, it also comes with a steep emotional burden. Without resilience, we would be unable to shoulder that burden and would be prevented from becoming effective practitioners. Not only in the personal statement, reflect on your struggles not as a source of mistakes, but rather as stories about your ability to learn and grow from unexpected circumstances.

Tip #3: Reflection

This may seem fairly basic, and it is, but admissions officers need to know why you want to practice medicine. Many applicants make the mistake of simply listening to various leadership roles or challenging research they have conducted without offering insights about those experiences that answer the question, “Why medicine?” Many pre-medical students have participated in similar volunteer experiences or clinical activities, the key here being, the stories you can tell about those experiences, and the wisdom you gained are completely distinct, because they are only your personal story to tell. Admissions committees want to know that you have explored your interest deeply and that you can reflect on the significance of these clinical experiences and volunteer work. 

Tip #4: Being specific about the Medical Degree

Many professions are able to help people in some way, shape, or form. In order to persuade the a medical school admissions reviewer that medicine is your calling it becomes important to step away from the more simplest desire to help people. Instead, discuss why having your M.D. will allow you to help society in a way that you would not be able to do in another profession. Writing only that you “want to help people” does not support a sincere desire to become a physician; you must indicate why the medical profession in particular, rather than social work, teaching or another “helping” profession is your calling.

Tip #5: Brainstorm

If you are having trouble getting started, like I did, on separate flashcards write down, on each card, experiences in your life and development that you would like to include. On the opposite side write down which AAMC core competencies this can demonstrate to medical school admission officers. Next, play around with the order of the cards by placing a card with a transitional idea between the cards. This will help create a solid foundation and framework to combat writer’s block. 

Throughout the process you will hear conflicting advice about application essays. Regardless of the advice you receive and follow, be sure to do these three things to feel confident: 

• Be true to yourself. Everyone will have an opinion regarding what should and should not write. Follow your own instincts. Thus far, you have completed rigorous science courses, have or are soon to complete a college degree, and have taken the MCAT. You are more than capable of writing this personal essay. Your personal statement should be a reflection of you, and only you. 
• Take your time, slow down, and start early. Composing thoughtful and meaningful work takes more than one afternoon and you don’t want your writing and ideas to be sloppy and underdeveloped. 
• Ensure your personal statement is written from the heart. Being authentic and upfront about who you are is the best way to be a memorable applicant. 

Best of luck!

POMONA COLLEGE

• Application Process
• Common Questions
• Useful Resources

Graduate Application Process

Writing a strong personal statement.

• You should begin a draft of your personal statement the summer before you are applying to graduate school.
• Finalize your draft in September and have your faculty advisor and other close faculty read your essay.
• Spend the rest of September and some of October revising your essay and writing different versions tailored to each school.
• Make your essay sincere but unique by mentioning how you found your own research opportunity, or published a paper when you were an undergraduate, or used a really awesome new technology that inspired you to continue doing research.
• Your most important research projects in brief.  Explain the question(s) you addressed and what you accomplished.  Don’t be afraid to mention that your project didn’t work.  Graduate schools understand the trials and tribulations of research and above all respect honesty.
• Your goals in graduate school and after you receive your doctorate.
• Why you became interested in science and why you want to follow a research career in the immediate future.
• Any professors that you are interested in working with, why you find their research interesting, and possibly a future project based on their current works.
• Explain any discrepancies in your GRE scores, transcript, or disciplinary record.  If you have anything that really stands out, give a simple explanation for what happened.

^Back to Top

• Avoid excessive detail on your personal background or research as well as flowery and verbose writing.  You have limited space; complicated vocabulary or sentence structure will detract from the important points of your statement and won’t impress anyone.
• If you are interested in getting a job in industry after you get your Ph.D., it is not wise to blatantly state that in your essay.  Graduate programs want a significant number of their students to become faculty, so it is safer to mention that you are interested in continuing research post graduate school.
• Don’t write anything that indicates you aren’t sure about graduate school.  If a school knows that you are highly qualified, but feels that you are just applying to have options after college, not because you truly want to attend their program, they will be disinclined to offer you admission. 
• The length of your statement depends on what is specified in each application.  Thus you cannot get away with writing one personal statement and use it for every application.  Typically schools ask you to write a personal statement that is 1000-2000 characters long.
• Make sure to carefully proof read your personal statement.  Typos or grammar mistakes make your essay seem sloppy and easily turn off your reader.  Have friends, faculty, or parents proof read your essay for typos. 
• Look online for sample essays to view examples of strong personal statements.
• Taylor your essay to each program.  You can include the core of your original essay for each school, but add an additional paragraph or two detailing why you want to attend that specific school, why you would thrive there, what professors you are interested in, etc. 
• Most applications have one or two supplemental essays.  For instance, some schools ask you to explain your research in more detail, while others ask you to explain how you think you will fit into their program with respect to the students, faculty, and school community.

In this section:

When should I start writing?

What should I include?

What not to include?

How long should it be?

Supplemental essays

Application Process Links:

Choosing Programs

Application Content

Sample Checklist/Deadline Spreadsheets

Personal Statement

Recommendations

[email protected]

Valid XHTML | CSS

• Medical School Application

Medical School Personal Statement Examples That Got 6 Acceptances

Featured Admissions Expert: Dr. Monica Taneja, MD

These 30 exemplary medical school personal statement examples come from our students who enrolled in one of our medical school admissions consulting programs. These examples led to multiple acceptance for our student’s dream schools. In this article we'll also provide you a step-by-step guide for composing your own outstanding personal statement from scratch. If you follow this strategy, you're going to have a stellar statement whether you apply to the most competitive or the easiest medical schools to get into .

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

Listen to the blog!

Article Contents 31 min read

Stellar medical school personal statement examples that got multiple acceptances, medical school personal statement example #1 – six acceptances.

I made my way to Hillary’s house after hearing about her alcoholic father’s incarceration. Seeing her tearfulness and at a loss for words, I took her hand and held it, hoping to make things more bearable. She squeezed back gently in reply, “thank you.” My silent gesture seemed to confer a soundless message of comfort, encouragement and support.

Through mentoring, I have developed meaningful relationships with individuals of all ages, including seven-year-old Hillary. Many of my mentees come from disadvantaged backgrounds; working with them has challenged me to become more understanding and compassionate. Although Hillary was not able to control her father’s alcoholism and I had no immediate solution to her problems, I felt truly fortunate to be able to comfort her with my presence. Though not always tangible, my small victories, such as the support I offered Hillary, hold great personal meaning. Similarly, medicine encompasses more than an understanding of tangible entities such as the science of disease and treatment—to be an excellent physician requires empathy, dedication, curiosity and love of problem solving. These are skills I have developed through my experiences both teaching and shadowing inspiring physicians.

Medicine encompasses more than hard science. My experience as a teaching assistant nurtured my passion for medicine; I found that helping students required more than knowledge of organic chemistry. Rather, I was only able to address their difficulties when I sought out their underlying fears and feelings. One student, Azra, struggled despite regularly attending office hours. She approached me, asking for help. As we worked together, I noticed that her frustration stemmed from how intimidated she was by problems. I helped her by listening to her as a fellow student and normalizing her struggles. “I remember doing badly on my first organic chem test, despite studying really hard,” I said to Azra while working on a problem. “Really? You’re a TA, shouldn’t you be perfect?” I looked up and explained that I had improved my grades through hard work. I could tell she instantly felt more hopeful, she said, “If you could do it, then I can too!” When she passed, receiving a B+;I felt as if I had passed too. That B+ meant so much: it was a tangible result of Azra’s hard work, but it was also symbol of our dedication to one another and the bond we forged working together.

My passion for teaching others and sharing knowledge emanates from my curiosity and love for learning. My shadowing experiences in particular have stimulated my curiosity and desire to learn more about the world around me. How does platelet rich plasma stimulate tissue growth? How does diabetes affect the proximal convoluted tubule? My questions never stopped. I wanted to know everything and it felt very satisfying to apply my knowledge to clinical problems.

Shadowing physicians further taught me that medicine not only fuels my curiosity; it also challenges my problem solving skills. I enjoy the connections found in medicine, how things learned in one area can aid in coming up with a solution in another. For instance, while shadowing Dr. Steel I was asked, “What causes varicose veins and what are the complications?” I thought to myself, what could it be? I knew that veins have valves and thought back to my shadowing experience with Dr. Smith in the operating room. She had amputated a patient’s foot due to ulcers obstructing the venous circulation. I replied, “veins have valves and valve problems could lead to ulcers.” Dr. Steel smiled, “you’re right, but it doesn’t end there!” Medicine is not disconnected; it is not about interventional cardiology or orthopedic surgery. In fact, medicine is intertwined and collaborative. The ability to gather knowledge from many specialties and put seemingly distinct concepts together to form a coherent picture truly attracts me to medicine.

It is hard to separate science from medicine; in fact, medicine is science. However, medicine is also about people—their feelings, struggles and concerns. Humans are not pre-programmed robots that all face the same problems. Humans deserve sensitive and understanding physicians. Humans deserve doctors who are infinitely curious, constantly questioning new advents in medicine. They deserve someone who loves the challenge of problem solving and coming up with innovative individualized solutions. I want to be that physician. I want to be able to approach each case as a unique entity and incorporate my strengths into providing personalized care for my patients. Until that time, I may be found Friday mornings in the operating room, peering over shoulders, dreaming about the day I get to hold the drill.

Let's take a step back to consider what this medical school personal statement example does, not just what it says. It begins with an engaging hook in the first paragraph and ends with a compelling conclusion. The introduction draws you in, making the essay almost impossible to put down, while the conclusion paints a picture of someone who is both passionate and dedicated to the profession. In between the introduction and conclusion, this student makes excellent use of personal narrative. The anecdotes chosen demonstrate this individual's response to the common question, " Why do you want to be a doctor ?" while simultaneously making them come across as compassionate, curious, and reflective.

This person is clearly a talented writer, but this was the result of several rounds of edits with one of our medical school admissions consulting team members and a lot of hard work.

If your essay is not quite there yet, or if you're just getting started, don't sweat it. A good personal statement will take time and editing. 

I was one of those kids who always wanted to be doctor. I didn’t understand the responsibilities and heartbreaks, the difficult decisions, and the years of study and training that go with the title, but I did understand that the person in the white coat stood for knowledge, professionalism, and compassion. As a child, visits to the pediatrician were important events. I’d attend to my hair and clothes, and travel to the appointment in anticipation. I loved the interaction with my doctor. I loved that whoever I was in the larger world, I could enter the safe space of the doctor’s office, and for a moment my concerns were heard and evaluated. I listened as my mother communicated with the doctor. I’d be asked questions, respectfully examined, treatments and options would be weighed, and we would be on our way. My mother had been supported in her efforts to raise a well child, and I’d had a meaningful interaction with an adult who cared for my body and development. I understood medicine as an act of service, which aligned with my values, and became a dream.

I was hospitalized for several months as a teenager and was inspired by the experience, despite the illness. In the time of diagnosis, treatment and recovery, I met truly sick children. Children who were much more ill than me. Children who wouldn’t recover. We shared a four-bed room, and we shared our medical stories. Because of the old hospital building, there was little privacy in our room, and we couldn’t help but listen-in during rounds, learning the medical details, becoming “experts” in our four distinct cases. I had more mobility than some of the patients, and when the medical team and family members were unavailable, I’d run simple errands for my roommates, liaise informally with staff, and attend to needs. To bring physical relief, a cold compress, a warmed blanket, a message to a nurse, filled me with such an intense joy and sense of purpose that I applied for a volunteer position at the hospital even before my release.

I have since been volunteering in emergency departments, out-patient clinics, and long term care facilities. While the depth of human suffering is at times shocking and the iterations of illness astounding, it is in the long-term care facility that I had the most meaningful experiences by virtue of my responsibilities and the nature of the patients’ illnesses. Charles was 55 when he died. He had early onset Parkinson’s Disease with dementia that revealed itself with a small tremor when he was in his late twenties. Charles had a wife and three daughters who visited regularly, but whom he didn’t often remember. Over four years as a volunteer, my role with the family was to fill in the spaces left by Charles’ periodic inability to project his voice as well as his growing cognitive lapses. I would tell the family of his activities between their visits, and I would remind him of their visits and their news. This was a hard experience for me. I watched as 3 daughters, around my own age, incrementally lost their father. I became angry, and then I grew even more determined.

In the summer of third year of my Health Sciences degree, I was chosen to participate in an undergraduate research fellowship in biomedical research at my university. As part of this experience, I worked alongside graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, medical students, physicians, and faculty in Alzheimer’s research into biomarkers that might predict future disease. We collaborated in teams, and by way of the principal investigator’s careful leadership, I learned wherever one falls in terms of rank, each contribution is vital to the outcome. None of the work is in isolation. For instance, I was closely mentored by Will, a graduate student who had been in my role the previous summer. He, in turn, collaborated with post docs and medical students, turning to faculty when roadblocks were met. While one person’s knowledge and skill may be deeper than another’s, individual efforts make up the whole. Working in this team, aside from developing research skills, I realized that practicing medicine is not an individual pursuit, but a collaborative commitment to excellence in scholarship and leadership, which all begins with mentorship.

Building on this experience with teamwork in the lab, I participated in a global health initiative in Nepal for four months, where I worked alongside nurses, doctors, and translators. I worked in mobile rural health camps that offered tuberculosis care, monitored the health and development of babies and children under 5, and tended to minor injuries. We worked 11-hour days helping hundreds of people in the 3 days we spent in each location. Patients would already be in line before we woke each morning. I spent each day recording basic demographic information, blood pressure, pulse, temperature, weight, height, as well as random blood sugar levels, for each patient, before they lined up to see a doctor. Each day was exhausting and satisfying. We helped so many people. But this satisfaction was quickly displaced by a developing understanding of issues in health equity.

My desire to be doctor as a young person was not misguided, but simply naïve. I’ve since learned the role of empathy and compassion through my experiences as a patient and volunteer. I’ve broadened my contextual understanding of medicine in the lab and in Nepal. My purpose hasn’t changed, but what has developed is my understanding that to be a physician is to help people live healthy, dignified lives by practicing both medicine and social justice.

Want to hear more medical school personal statement examples that got accepted?

28 More Medical School Personal Statement Examples That Got Accepted

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t I pursue medicine sooner?\u201d Is the question that now occupies my mind. Leila made me aware of the unprofessional treatment delivered by some doctors. My subsequent activities confirmed my desire to become a doctor who cares deeply for his patients and provides the highest quality care. My passion for research fuels my scientific curiosity. I will continue to advocate for patient equality and fairness. Combining these qualities will allow me to succeed as a physician. ","label":"Med School PS Example #10","title":"Med School PS Example #10"}]" code="tab4" template="BlogArticle">

" It was the middle of the night when I received the call that my friend was trying to jump off the 30th floor of an apartment building. When I got to her, all I could see was anguish and fear in her eyes as she looked back at me from the balcony. I was eventually able to talk her down, but this was only one of many times I came to her aid as she struggled with mental illness."

Medical school personal statement example: #12

" I lost my brother before I had the opportunity to meet him. Technology was not advanced enough in my hometown in India for my mother to know she had lost her child before it laid still in her arms."

Medical school personal statement example: #13

" After six years of being in the closet, I came out to my parents as bisexual in the middle of a family dinner, blurting out the confession as I couldn’t hold it in anymore ... To me, this was just one small piece of me and my identity that was different but for some, it makes all the difference."

Medical school personal statement example: #14

" While shadowing primary care physicians, neurologists and a laryngologist however, I realized just how untrue the idea of doctors failing to feel helpless can be ... Looking back now, I didn’t yet comprehend that doctors were human and didn’t always have all of the answers. This was my first encounter with the limitations of medicine."

Medical school personal statement example: #15

" Having been both a patient and a teacher, I have experienced the importance of paying attention to brief moments that can offer great transformation."

Medical school personal statement example: #16

" “Who are you?” At 20 years old, I stood face to face with my abuela, but I was now a stranger. Our relationship had been erased with those three simple words. My abuela, as I had known her, was gone."

Medical school personal statement example: #17

" As a child growing up, I faced signs in Mandarin and Hindu scriptures with a mixture of curiosity and frustration. Across the street from my childhood home, I saw the effect of misunderstanding played out in reverse at the hospital ... I could not hear the conversations, but I recognized the expression on the receptionist’s face each time she spoke to a Hindi-speaking patient—wrinkled nose and a raised eyebrow with a look of confusion. At a young age, I understood how discouraging even simple communication could be across a language barrier."

Medical school personal statement example: #18

" The high pitched siren broke silence in a frosty winter morning. Stationed on the curbside was an ambulance with flashing red and white lights with my mother inside. Not long ago, our car skidded on ice and hit a tree ... In the next few days, I sat alongside my mother in the hospital, praying that her pain would ease and she would recover soon."

Medical school personal statement example: #19

" Coping with my mother’s visual hallucinations, amnesia, and overall emotional instability was frustrating and exhausting. I was heartbroken watching the strong, independent woman who raised me struggle to be herself. Nevertheless, I witnessed the necessity of having faith and proper support in overcoming hurdles such as these."

Medical school personal statement example: #20

" While it was devastating to learn that there was no treatment for NCL, it highlighted the importance of medical research ... The connection the doctors developed with my family, the way they taught us about NCL, and the hope their research on NCL gave us helped drive my curiosity and love for medicine."

Medical school personal statement example: #21

" We were passing through the blinding lights of New York City when the incident happened. It happened slowly, like in a movie. Shuffling along the crowded sidewalk, holding my mother’s hand, I suddenly felt her fingers slip from my grasp."

Medical school personal statement example: #22

"W hen I was ten years old, I had an uncle I’d never met before come to visit. When my mother introduced him to us, she told us that he was a travelling physician for doctors without borders ... He told us that his job was to provide care for people in need, regardless of race, nationality, class, or creed. 'One day, maybe you can join me,' he said."

Medical school personal statement example: #23

" When I was young, I wanted to be just like my father ... As I got older, the veil of importance I always viewed him with began to lift – the smoke in front of my eyes swept away in a cold gust of wind. On my 16th birthday, he gave me the only advice he would ever give before he died."

Medical school personal statement example: #24

" As I watched smoke curl around my grandfather’s chapped hands, I often wondered if the burning red tip of the cigarette kept him warm in the cold prairie winter ... Cigarettes were bad for you, he'd say, yet he continued the ritual every workday. Adults always told us they were bad for your health. But nobody told Grandpa he shouldn’t smoke."

Medical school personal statement example: #25

" To me, being a psychiatrist is like dropping a few coins in a cup. It doesn’t seem like enough, but little by little, those coins start to add up."

Medical school personal statement example: #26

" I wasn’t supposed to live past the age of 25. Growing up in a neighborhood where drug use was commonplace and crime rates were high, every young person could see what their future held every day on the walk home from school."

Medical school personal statement example: #27

" When we returned home after the mission trip, that sense of pride hung around. I reflected on my trip, and I realized ... while dentistry still didn’t spark my passions, my interest in medicine had been ignited."

Medical school personal statement example: #28

"' People like Annie have problems that won’t go away,' Dr. Dean said, 'but that doesn’t mean we can’t help.'"

Medical school personal statement example: #29

" We were out on patrol one night and heard shouting. We called it in and ran over, fearing the worst. What we found was a small boy – one of the local kids – who had tripped and scraped his knee. Well, didn’t Jeff patch him up with his field kit, showing a great bedside manner for a guy in full tactical gear."

Medical school personal statement example: #30

" I’m not decrying loud music, but ... a series of bad decisions and ignored warnings may have condemned me to a future of obnoxious background noise."

Are you a medical school reapplicant? Check out some medical school reapplicant personal statement examples. ","label":"NOTE","title":"NOTE"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

Tips to Create Your Exemplary Medical School Personal Statement

Your med school personal statement is one of the most important medical school requirements . It tells your story of why you decided to pursue the medical profession. Keep in mind that personal statements are one of the key factors that affect medical school acceptance rates . A well-written personal statement can mean the difference between acceptance and rejection!

“Personal statements are often emphasized in your application to medical school as this singular crucial factor that distinguishes you from every other applicant. Demonstrating the uniqueness of my qualities is precisely how I found myself getting multiple interviews and offers into medical school.” – Dr. Vincent Adeyemi, MD

Personal statements remain one of the most challenging parts of students' journeys to medical school. Here's our student Melissa sharing her experience of working on her personal statement:

"I struggled making my personal statement personal... I couldn't incorporate my feelings, motives and life stories that inspired me to pursue medicine into my personal statement" - Melissa, BeMo Student

Let's approach this step-by-step. Here's a quick run-down of what we'll cover in the article:

#1 Review What Makes a Strong Medical School Personal Statement

Before discussing how to write a strong medical school personal statement, we first need to understand the qualities of a strong essay. Similar to crafting strong medical school secondary essays , writing a strong personal statement is a challenging, yet extremely important, part of your MD or MD-PhD programs applications. Your AMCAS Work and Activities section may show the reader what you have done, but the personal statement explains why.

This is how Dr. Neel Mistry, MD and our admissions expert, prepared for his medical school personal statement writing:

"The personal statement is an opportunity for you to shine and really impress the committee to invite you for an interview. The personal statement is your chance to be reflective and go beyond what is stated on your CV and [activities]. In order to stand out, it is important to answer the main questions [of medical school personal statements] well: a bit about yourself and what led you to medicine, why you would make an ideal medical student and future physician, what attracts you to [medicine], and what sets you apart from the other candidates. The key here is answering the last two questions well. Most candidates simply highlight what they have done, but do not reflect on it or mention how what they have done has prepared them for a future medical career." - Dr. Neel Mistry, MD

A personal statement should be deeply personal, giving the admissions committee insight into your passions and your ultimate decision to pursue a career in medicine. A compelling and introspective personal statement can make the difference between getting a medical school interview and facing medical school rejection .

As you contemplate the task in front of you, you may be wondering what composing an essay has to do with entering the field of medicine. Many of our students were surprised to learn that medical school personal statements are so valued by med schools. The two things are more closely related than you think. A compelling personal statement demonstrates your written communication skills and highlights your accomplishments, passions, and aspirations. The ability to communicate a complex idea in a short space is an important skill as a physician. You should demonstrate your communication skills by writing a concise and meaningful statement that illustrates your best attributes. Leaving a lasting impression on your reader is what will lead to interview invitations.

#2 Brainstorm Ideas to Make Your Medical School Personal Statement Stand Out

Personal statements for medical school often start by explaining why medicine is awesome; but the admission committee already knows that. You should explain why you want a career in medicine. What is it about the practice of medicine that resonates with who you are? Here are some additional questions you can consider as you go about brainstorming for your essay:

• What motivates you to learn more about medicine?
• What is something you want them to know about you that isn't in your application?
• Where were you born, how did you grow up, and what type of childhood did you have growing up (perhaps including interesting stories about your siblings, parents, grandparents)?
• What kinds of early exposure to the medical field left an impression on you as a child?
• Did you become familiar with and interested in the field of medicine at an early stage of your life? If so, why?
• What are your key strengths, and how have you developed these?
• What steps did you take to familiarize yourself with the medical profession?
• Did you shadow a physician? Did you volunteer or work in a clinical setting? Did you get involved in medical research?
• What challenges have you faced? Have these made an impact on what you chose to study?
• What are your favorite activities?
• What kinds of extracurriculars for medical school or volunteer work have you done, and how have these shaped who you are, your priorities, and or your perspectives on a career in medicine?
• What was your "Aha!" moment?
• When did your desire to become a doctor solidify?
• How did you make the decision to apply to medical school?

You shouldn't try to answer all of these in your essay. Try a few main points that will carry over into the final draft. Start developing your narrative by prioritizing the most impactful responses to these prompts and the ideas that are most relevant to your own experiences and goals. The perfect personal statement not only shows the admissions committee that you have refined communication skills, but also conveys maturity and professionalism.

Here's how our student Alison, who was a non-traditional applicant with a serious red flag in her application, used her brainstorming sessions with our admissions experts to get a theme going in her medical school personal statement and her overall application package:

"I think it was during my brainstorming session that we really started talking about... what the theme [was] going to be for my application. And I think that was really helpful in and of itself. Just [reflecting] 'Hey, what's your focus going to be like? How are we going to write this? What's the style going to be?' Just to create an element of consistency throughout..." Alison, BeMo Student, current student at Dell Medical School 

After brainstorming, you should be able to clearly see two to four key ideas, skills, qualities, and intersections that you want to write about.

As you begin thinking about what to include in your personal essay, remember that you are writing for a specific audience with specific expectations. The admissions committee will be examining your essay through the lens of their particular school's mission, values, and priorities, as well as the qualities of an ideal physician.

"Make it easy for the reader to be able to work [their] way through [your personal statement]. Because, at the end of the day, I think one thing that helped me a lot was being able to think about who was going to be reading this application and it's going to be these people that are sitting around a desk or sitting at a table and [go] through massive numbers of applications every single day. And the easier and more digestible that you can make it for them, gives you a little bit of a win." - Alison, BeMo student, current student at Dell Medical School

You should think about your experiences with reference to the AAMC Core Competencies and to each school's mission statement so that you're working toward your narrative with the institution and broader discipline in mind. The AAMC Core Competencies are the key characteristics and skills sought by U.S. medical schools.

You are not expected to have mastered all of these competencies at this stage of your education. Display those that are relevant to your experiences will help demonstrate your commitment to the medical profession.

#4 How to Answer the Prompt, Without a Prompt

Your personal statement is, in essence, an essay prompt without a prompt. They give you free rein to write your own prompt to tell your story. This is often difficult for students as they find it hard to get started without having a true direction. However, you can think of this question as essentially having the prompt “why do you want to become a doctor?” . Here are some questions to guide your self-reflection:

• The moment your passion for medicine crystallized
• The events that led you toward this path
• Specific instances in which you experienced opportunities
• Challenges that helped shape your worldview
• Your compassion, resilience, or enthusiastic collaboration
• Demonstrate your commitment to others
• Your dependability
• Your leadership skills
• Your ability to problem-solve or to resolve a conflict

These are personal, impactful experiences that only you have had. Focus on the personal, and connect that to the values of your future profession. Do that and you will avoid writing the same essay as everyone else. Dr. Monica Taneja, MD and our admissions expert, shares her tip that got her accepted to the University of Maryland School of Medicine :

"I focused on my journey to medicine and opportunities that I sought out along the way. Everyone’s path and validation is unique, so walking the reader through your growth to the point of application will naturally be different, but that's what I wanted to share in my personal statement." - Dr. Monica Taneja, MD

#5 reflect on your theme.

Admissions committees don't want your medical school resumé in narrative form. All that stuff is already in the activities section of the application. This is where you should discuss interesting or important life events that shaped you and your interest in medicine (a service trip to rural Guatemala, a death in the family, a personal experience as a patient).

“The essay is not about what you have been through; it's about who it made you into.” – Dr. Vincent Adeyemi, MD

One suggestion is to have an overarching theme to your essay to tie everything together, starting with an intriguing personal anecdote. Alternatively, you can use one big metaphor or analogy through the essay.

Dr. Jaime Cazes, MD encourages you to be creative when it comes to the theme of your personal statement:

"It is very easy to make the 'cookie-cutter' personal statement. To a reviewer who is reading tens of these at a time it can become quite boring. What I did was [tell] a story. Like any good novel, the stories' first lines are meant to hook the reader. This can be about anything if you can bring it back and relate it to your application. It could be about the time your friend was smashed up against the boards in hockey and you, with your limited first aid experience helped to treat him. It is important that the story be REAL." - Dr. Jaime Cazes, MD, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine

Your personal statement must be well-organized, showing a clear, logical progression, as well as connections between ideas. It is generally best to use a chronological progression since this mirrors your progression into a mature adult and gives you the opportunity to illustrate how you learned from early mistakes later on. Carry the theme throughout the statement to achieve continuity and cohesion. Use the theme to links ideas from each paragraph to the next and to unite your piece.

#1 Review Medical School Personal Statement Structure

Writing the first draft of your essay, it is important to keep an outline in mind: The essay should read like a chronological narrative and have good structure and flow. Just like any academic essay, it will need an introduction, body content, and a conclusion. 

Introduction

The introductory sentence of your essay will most certainly make or break your overall statement. Ensure that you have a creative and captivating opening sentence that draws the reader in. The kinds of things that inspire or motivate you can say a lot about who you are as a person.

“ Like any good novel, the stories' first lines are meant to hook the reader. This can be about anything if you can bring it back and relate it to your application. It could be about the time your friend was smashed up against the boards in hockey and you, with your limited first aid experience helped to treat him.” – Dr. Jaime Cazes, MD

That is a lot of work for a single paragraph to do. To better help you envision what this looks like in practice, here is a sample introduction that hits these main points.

I was convinced I was going to grow up to be a professional chef. This was not just another far-fetched idealistic childhood dream that many of us had growing up. There was a sense of certainty about this dream that motivated me to devote countless hours to its practice. It was mostly the wonder that it brought to others and the way they were left in awe after they tried a dish that I recall enjoying the most creating as a young chef. But, when I was 13, my grandfather was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, and I realized that sometimes cooking is not enough, as I quickly learned about the vital role physicians play in the life of everyday people like my family and myself. Although my grandfather ended up passing away from his illness, the impact that the healthcare team had on him, my family, and I will always serve as the initial starting point of my fascination with the medical profession. Since that time, I have spent years learning more about the human sciences through my undergraduate studies and research, have developed a deeper understanding of the demands and challenges of the medical profession through my various volunteer and extra-curricular experiences, and although it has been difficult along the way, I have continued to forge a more intimate fascination with the medical field that has motivated me to apply to medical school at this juncture of my life. ","label":"Sample Introduction","title":"Sample Introduction"}]" code="tab3" template="BlogArticle">

Check out our video to learn how to create a killer introduction to your medical school personal statement:

In the body of your essay, you essentially want to elaborate on the ideas that you have introduced in your opening paragraph by drawing on your personal experiences to provide evidence.

Depending on the details, a selection of volunteer and extracurricular experiences might be discussed in more detail, in order to emphasize other traits like collaboration, teamwork, perseverance, or a sense of social responsibility – all key characteristics sought by medical schools. Just like an academic essay, you will devote one paragraph to each major point, explaining this in detail, supporting your claims with experiences from your life, and reflecting on the meaning of each plot point in your personal narrative, with reference to why you want to pursue a medical career.

The conclusion is just as important as the introduction. It is your last chance to express your medical aspirations. You want to impress the reader while also leaving them wanting more. In this case, more would mean getting an interview so they can learn more about who you are!

Your final statement should not be a simple summary of the things you have discussed. It should be insightful, captivating, and leave the reader with a lasting impression. Although you want to re-emphasize the major ideas of your essay, you should try to be creative and captivating, much like your opening paragraph. If you can link your opening idea to your last paragraph it will really tie the whole essay together.

#2 Show, Don't Tell

The narrative you construct should display some of your most tightly held values, principles, or ethical positions, along with key accomplishments and activities. If you see yourself as someone who is committed to community service, and you have a track record of such service, your story should feature this and provide insight into why you care about your community and what you learned from your experiences. Saying that you value community service when you've never volunteered a day in your life is pointless. Stating that your family is one where we support each other through challenge and loss (if this is indeed true), is excellent because it lays the groundwork for telling a story while showing that you are orientated towards close relationships. You would then go on to offer a brief anecdote that supports this. You are showing how you live such principles, rather than just telling your reader that you have such principles:

"Remember to use specific personal examples throughout your statement to make it more impactful and memorable for the readers. Often, painting a picture in the reader’s mind in the form of a story helps with this." - Dr. Neel Mistry, MD

A lot of students make the mistake of verbalizing their personal attributes with a bunch of adjectives, such as, "This experience taught me to be a self-reliant leader, with excellent communication skills, and empathy for others..." In reality, this does nothing to convey these qualities. It's a mistake to simply list your skills or characteristics without showing the reader an example of a time you used them to solve a problem. The person reading the essay may not believe you, as you've not really given them a way to see such values in your actions. It is better to construct a narrative to show the reader that you possess the traits that medical schools are looking for, rather than explicitly stating that you are an empathetic individual or capable of deep self-reflection.

While it may be tempting to write in a high academic tone, using terminology or jargon that is often complex or discipline-specific, requiring a specialized vocabulary for comprehension. You should actually aim to write for a non-specialist audience. Remember, in the world of medicine, describing a complex, clinical condition to a patient requires using specific but clear words. Use words that you believe most people understand. Read your personal statement back to a 14-year-old, and then again to someone for whom English is not their first language, to see if you're on the right path.

Ultimately, fancy words do not make you a good communicator; listening and ensuring reader comprehension makes you a good communicator. Show them your communication skills through clear, accessible prose, written with non-specialists in mind. A common refrain among writing instructors is: never use a $10 word where a $2 word will suffice.

#4 Display Professionalism

Professionalism may seem like a difficult quality to display when only composing a personal statement. After all, the reader can't see your mannerisms, your personal style, or any of those little qualities that allow someone to appear professional. Professionalism is about respect for the experience of others on your team or in your workplace. It is displayed when you are able to step back from your own individual position and think about what is best for your colleagues and peers, considering their needs alongside your own.

One easy way to destroy a sense of professionalism is to act in a judgmental way towards others, particularly if you perceived and ultimately resolved an error on someone else's part. Sometimes students blame another medical professional for something that went wrong with a patient.

They might say something to the effect of:

"The nurse kept brushing off the patient's concerns, refusing to ask the attending to increase her pain medications. Luckily, being the empathetic individual that I am, I took the time to listen to sit with the patient, eventually bringing her concerns to the attending physician, who thanked me for letting him know."

There are a couple of things wrong with this example. It seems like this person is putting down someone else in an attempt to make themselves look better. They come across as un-empathetic and judgmental of the nurse. Maybe she was having a busy day, or maybe the attending had just seen the patient for this issue and the patient didn't really need re-assessment. Reading this kind of account in a personal statement makes the reader question the maturity of the applicant and their ability to move past blaming others and resolve problems in a meaningful way. Instead of allocating blame, identify what the problem was for the patient and then focus on what you did to resolve it and reflect on what you learned from the whole experience.

One last note on professionalism: Being professional does not mean being overly stoic, hiding your emotions, or cultivating a bland personality. A lot of students are afraid to talk about how a situation made them feel in their personal statement. They worry that discussing feelings is inappropriate and will appear unprofessional. Unfortunately for these students, emotional intelligence is hugely important to the practice of medicine. Good doctors are able to quickly identify their own emotions and understand how their emotional reactions may inform their actions, and the ability to deliver appropriate care, in a given situation. So, when writing your personal statement, think about how each experience made you feel, and what you learned from those feelings and that experience.

Step 3: Write Your First Draft of Your Personal Statement

As you can see, there is a LOT of planning and consideration to be done before actually starting your first draft. Properly brainstorming, outlining, and considering the content and style of your essay prior to beginning the essay will make the writing process much smoother than it would be you to try to jump right to the draft-writing stage.

“I wrote scores of essays at my desk in those few weeks leading up to application submission. I needed it to be perfect. Do not let anyone tell you to settle. There was no moment when I had this shining light from the sky filtering into my room to motivate me. The ultimate trick is to keep writing. It is impossible to get that perfect essay on the first try, and you may not even get it on your fifteenth attempt, but the goal is to keep at it, keep making those edits, and never back down.” – Dr. Vincent Adeyemi, MD

As you're getting started, focus on getting content on the page, filling in your outline and getting your ideas arranged on the page. Your essay will go through multiple drafts and re-writes, so the first step is to free write and start articulating connections between your experiences and the characteristics you're highlighting. You can worry about flow, transitions, and perfect grammar in later drafts. 

#1 Did You Distinguish Yourself From Others?

Is your narrative unique? Our admissions expert Dr. Monica Taneja, MD, shares how she got the attention of the admissions committee with her personal statement:

"I found it helpful to give schools a 'punch-line'. As in I wanted them to remember 1-2 things about me that are my differentiators and I reiterated those throughout [the personal statement]." - Dr. Monica Taneja, MD

Use your narrative to provide a compelling picture of who you are as a person, as a learner, as an advocate, and as a future medical professional. What can you offer?

Remember, you will be getting a lot out of your med school experience, but the school will be getting a lot out of you, as well. This is a mutually beneficial relationship, so use this opportunity to highlight what you bring to the table, and what you will contribute as a student at their institution. Make them see you as a stand out from the crowd .

#2 Does My Essay Flow and is it Comprehensible?

Personal statements are a blessing and a curse for admission committees. They provide a better glimpse of who you are than MCAT scores or GPAs. But they are long and time-consuming to read. And often, they sound exactly alike.

Frankly, if your personal statement is pleasant to read, it will get read with more attention and appreciation. Flow is easier to craft through narrative, which is why you should root the statement in a story that demonstrates characteristics desirable to medical schools . You want this to be a statement that captures the reader's interest by creating a fluid, comprehensible piece that leads the reader to not only read each paragraph but want to continue to the next sentence.

#3 Did You Check Your Grammar?

It is always important to carefully edit your medical school personal statement . Read your statement out loud to yourself and you will almost certainly find an error (and likely several errors). Use fresh eyes to review the statement several times before you actually submit it, by walking away from it for a day or so and then re-reading it.

This step can make or break your essay. Do not waste all the effort you have put into writing, to only be discarded by the committee for using incorrect grammar and syntax.

#4 Did You Gather Feedback From Other People?

While the tips above are all very useful for writing a strong draft, nothing will benefit you more than getting an outside appraisal of your work. This may sound obvious, but it's still an absolute necessity.

“It was very helpful for two of my mentors to review my statements before submitting my application. Ensure you trust the judgement and skills of the person to whom you would be giving your personal statement for review.” – Dr. Vincent Adeyemi, MD

Avoid having people too close to you read your work. They may refrain from being too critical in an effort to spare your feelings. This is the time to get brutal, honest feedback. If you know someone who is an editor but do not feel that they can be objective, try and find someone else.

Want more examples? Check out our video below:

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Your Med School Personal Statement

Part of your essay's body can include a discussion of any discrepancies or gaps in your education, or disruptions in your academic performance. If you had to take time off, or if you had a term or course with low grades, or if you had any other extenuating circumstances that impacted your education, you can take time to address these here. You can approach this in your essay similarly to the question “what is your greatest weakness” that may get asked during interviews.

You will also be able to address weaknesses or setbacks in your AMCAS Statement of Disadvantage or your adversity secondary essay , so make sure there is not too much overlap between these and your personal statements.

Use your personal statement to emphasize your ability to persevere through whatever life has thrown your way. Most of all, if you feel like you have to explain yourself, take accountability for the situation. State that it is unfortunate and then redirect it to what you learned and how it will make you a better doctor. Always focus on being positive and do not lament on the negative situation too much.

Mistakes to Avoid in Medical School Personal Statements

Here are some mistakes that may raise a red flag in your personal statement:

Check out this video on the top 5 errors to avoid in your personal statement!

FAQs and Final Notes

This Ultimate Guide has demonstrated all the work that needs to be done to compose a successful, engaging personal statement for your medical school application. While it would be wonderful if there was an easy way to write your personal statement in a day, the reality is that this kind of composition takes a lot of work. As daunting as this may seem, this guide lays out a clear path. In summary, the following 5 steps are the basis of what you should take away from this guide. These 5 steps are your guide and sort of cheat sheet to writing your best personal statement.

5 Main Takeaways For Personal Statement Writing:

• Brainstorming
• Content and Theme
• Multiple Drafts
• Revision With Attention to Grammar

While a strong personal statement alone will not guarantee admission to medical school, it could absolutely squeeze you onto a  medical school waitlist , off the waitlist, and onto the offer list, or give someone on the admissions committee a reason to go to battle for your candidacy. Use this as an opportunity to highlight the incredible skills you've worked and studied to refine, the remarkable life experiences you've had, and the key qualities you possess in your own unique way. Show the admissions committee that you are someone they want to meet. Remember, in this context, wanting to meet you means wanting to bring you in for an interview!

Your personal statement should tell your story and highlight specific experiences or aspects of your journey that have led you to medicine. If your first exposure or interest in the medical field was sparked from your own medical struggles, then you can certainly include this in your statement.

All US medical schools require the completion of a personal statement with your AMCAS, TMDSAS or AACOMAS applications. Medical schools in Canada on the other hand, do not require personal statements but may have essay prompts that are similar in nature.

Think about whether or not that bad grade might reflect on you poorly. If you think it will, then it's best to address the academic misstep head-on instead of having admissions committees dwell on possible areas of concern. 

No! Students arrive to medicine in all sorts of ways, some change career paths later in life, some always knew they wanted to pursue medicine, and others slowly became interested in medicine through their life interactions and experiences. Your personal statement should address your own unique story. 

While your entire statement is important, the opening sentence can often make or break your statement. If your opening sentence is not eye-catching, interesting, and memorable, you risk your statement blending in with the large pile of other statements. 

Having your statement reviewed by family and friends can be a good place to start, but unfortunately they will often not be able to provide unbiased feedback and may not have the expertise necessary to understand nuance in statements.

If you have enough time set aside to write your statement without juggling multiple other commitments, it normally takes at least 6-8 weeks to write your statement. 

The goal is to show as many of them as you can in the WHOLE application: this includes your personal statement, sketch, reference letters, secondary essays, and even your GPA and MCAT (which show critical thinking and reasoning already). So, you don’t need to address them all in your essay.

Yes, you can. However, if you used an experience as a most meaningful entry, pick something else to talk about in your essay. 

The reality is, medical school admission is an extremely competitive process. In order to have the best chance of success, every part of your application must be stellar. 

The ones that honestly made the most impact on you. You'll need to reflect on your whole life and think about which experiences helped you grow and pushed you to pursue medicine. Ideally, experiences that show commitment and progression are better than one-off or short-term activities, as they usually contribute more to growth.

Dr. Lauren Prufer is an admissions expert at BeMo. Dr. Prufer is also a medical resident at McMaster University. Her medical degree is from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. During her time in medical school, she developed a passion for sharing her knowledge with others through medical writing, research, and peer mentoring.

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

Want more free tips? Subscribe to our channels for more free and useful content!

Apple Podcasts

Like our blog? Write for us ! >>

Have a question ask our admissions experts below and we'll answer your questions.

Jack Weaver

I have been reading posts regarding this topic and this post is one of the most interesting and informative one I have read. Thank you for this!

Hello Jack! Thank you very much for your comment. We glad you find this helpful!

Get Started Now

Talk to one of our admissions experts

Our site uses cookies. By using our website, you agree with our cookie policy .

FREE Training Webinar: How To Make Your Med School Application Stand Out

(and avoid the top 5 reasons that get 90% of applicants rejected).

Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

• Accessibility
• Biomedical Sciences
• Biomedical Sciences: How to Apply

Biomedical Sciences: Advice on the Personal Statement

You can also download this page as a pdf document .

Your personal statement is an important part of your application to Oxford. It allows you to tell us about your interests, achievements and ambitions in your own words. Although we do not formally score your statement we read it carefully and use the information it contains as part of our short-listing exercise. If you are invited for interview, the statement is likely to provide a focus for the questions that you are asked. It is therefore essential that your statement is an accurate, unembellished account of your activities. We may check the claims that you make on your statement: discovery of fabricated or exaggerated material – during the admissions exercise, or even later on during your time as a student – may bring into question your suitability to study on the course.

Present yourself in the best light: the same basic facts about yourself (in terms of education, interests, experience), when presented differently, can quite dramatically convey positive or negative messages about you to tutors.

For Biomedical Sciences, whilst your academic record and BMAT performance data will come into play when candidates are being short-listed for interview, time spent in drafting an effective personal statement should also help your overall chances of success. Every detail becomes even more important once you have reached the interviews and are being considered for a place.

DO NOT BE SHY IN DECLARING ANY MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES

These may help us to put your achievements or personality within a finer context. We actively look for reasons why you may have under-performed in examinations, or performed well against the odds. These may be factors associated with your schooling, health or domestic circumstances. If you are returning to study after a break, or switching vocation, it is even more important to highlight your reasons for choosing a course at Oxford, and for you to demonstrate your determination, resilience, ability and commitment.

DO NOT SIMPLY RECOUNT EVERYTHING YOU HAVE DONE

We’re looking for quality, not quantity! Remember that large numbers of candidates apply for our courses. Tell us in what ways you will stand out from the crowd. In choosing to talk about an activity, describe what you have drawn from the experience: has it changed you as a person? Did it surprise you?

WE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT YOU AS A PERSON, NOT JUST ABOUT YOUR ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

If you have undertaken extra-curricular activities, or hold positions of responsibility at school, tell us why you sought these, and why they are important to you. You will not impress us by simply recounting that you took up a placement in Thailand, but we might be more appreciative if you tell us what you personally learnt from the experience, about your interaction with local people, and about shadowing the medical team working within your village.

Example: I have become involved with a city music and drama group, and work especially with the younger members. I find this exciting and more than occasionally challenging. Coaching for the group has given me experience in organising others, as well as teaching them. Watching group members learn and progress is thrilling, especially in the case of one of them who has ADHD. At first he was incapable of remaining still, silent or attentive for even a few minutes, but eventually became far more focused and calmer, making excellent progress in many areas.

DIRECTLY ADDRESS OUR SELECTION CRITERIA

• Motivation and capacity for sustained and intense work.

Example: My interest has always been in how the body works in the way it does, and why. This was triggered early on by my mother's cancer, and I felt compelled to find out all about this condition, and what could be done to help treat it. I am thirsty for new knowledge, and am fascinated by the interrelatedness of systems in the human body.

• A strong track record of academic achievement, and particular ability and potential in science and/or mathematics. An excellent record at GCSE (or equivalent).
• Intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm and readiness to cope with the academic demands of the course.

Example: I read beyond the syllabus topics covered at A-level extensively, and decided to research and write an extended essay discussing ethics and science, with particular emphasis on 'living wills'. I enjoyed the challenge and discipline of studying independently, and follow recent developments and debate in this area.

• Reasoning and problem solving ability: use of a logical and critical approach, and strong powers of analysis.
• Communication: Good command of the English language. Ability to express ideas clearly and effectively. Ability to listen.

Example 1: I have worked as a hotel waitress during the summer conference season, which allowed me to develop teamwork skills, and work under various time pressures. It also allowed me to interact with many different members of the public.

Example 2: I took part in my school's open day, and demonstrated experiments in the Chemistry lab. During the last year I have also participated in a reading scheme, helping younger pupils with learning difficulties.

• Ability to generate own ideas and proposals. Originality and creativity of thought, lateral thinking and hypothesis-generation.

YOU WILL NOT BE ALONE IN TRYING TO OPEN WITH AN ATTENTION-GRABBING INTRODUCTION...

If you try this, make sure it helps tutors to learn something about what motivates and enthuses you.

Example: My vast collection of books and videos on "How the Body Works" when I was 7 years old first triggered my interest in the functions of the body. Watching the little personified, cartoon blobs that represented red blood cells run around an animated yet functioning body fascinated me and I longed to find out more. As a result, when a friend received a letter explaining their little girl had just been diagnosed with X at just 14 months old, I was intrigued to find out what this was.

THE STATEMENT IS CALLED  PERSONAL  FOR A REASON

It should be written by you, not by your parents, siblings, or teachers. Do not plagiarise material that you find on the web as there is a great chance that such deception will be discovered.

DO NOT FEEL THAT THERE IS A PRECISE TEMPLATE TO FOLLOW THAT WILL SCORE YOU POINTS

We look for bright and independent thinkers, so try to be original!

• Academic Requirements
• Biomedical Sciences Admissions Test (BMSAT)
• International Applicants
• Selection Criteria
• Application Checklist
• Advice on the Personal Statement
• Online resources
• Admissions Statistics

• FindAMasters
• Biology Masters Personal Statement Sample

Written by Jennifer Bevan

This is an example personal statement for a Masters degree application in Biology. See our guide for advice on writing your own postgraduate personal statement .

Over the time I have been studying Biology the importance of the subject has been repeatedly highlighted to me. From the development of novel treatments for medical conditions to the optimisation of crop growth, biological research has saved and improved millions of lives. Thoroughly understanding Biology is essential to continue developing and improving our current methods and I hope to be involved in this process in a microbiological setting. Since learning about the increasing antibiotic resistance in common bacterial pathogens, my interests have primarily been in microbiology.

I have applied for your MSc course as I hope to gain more in-depth knowledge into the pathogenicity of bacteria and the classes of antibiotics currently in development. Your modules in medical microbiology, host-microbe interactions, and microbial physiology and virulence would be ideal for developing the specialist knowledge I desire. I was also drawn to this programme for the opportunity to work in a cutting-edge microbiology laboratory on a piece of extended independent research. During my undergraduate research I read numerous papers from your research groups and the opportunity to work with some of these academics would be invaluable.

Throughout my Bachelors degree in Biology, for which I achieved a first, I developed a range of skills that would be an excellent foundation for the content covered in this programme. I gained experience with statistical packages including GraphPad InStat and Prism, particularly during my final year project to analyse my data. Several of my modules included laboratory experience including cell culture, Gram staining and pouring agar plates. During this time, I kept a laboratory book and developed excellent record keeping, which will be important for the independent research in a Masters. For my final year project, I assessed the susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus to a mixture of vinegar and honey, both of which are known to have antimicrobial activity alone. This project allowed me to develop a range of new microbiology skills, particularly using checkerboard assays and improving my aseptic technique. Upon completion of my degree, I was awarded the Royal Society of Biology top student award to recognise my achievements and the skills I had developed.

Following my graduation, I worked as a laboratory technician at a school during term time. In this role excellent time management is essential to allow sufficient time to prepare experiments for the students and tidy up before the next class. I am responsible for cleaning, safely storing and keeping a catalogue of the equipment and consumables in the storeroom so being well organised is crucial. Since beginning this role, I have further developed my ability to work as part of a team through liaising with teachers regarding timetables or experiment plans and by supporting them during practical work.

While I enjoyed being a laboratory technician, I hope to use the valuable laboratory experience I gained to achieve a Masters in Biology and ultimately pursue a career in microbiology research.

What are some of my options for studying a Masters in Biology?

Postgraduate certificate in education (biology) pgce, king’s college london faculty of social science & public policy, msc biotechnology with project management, university of bedfordshire school of life sciences, msc biotechnology and enterprise, the university of manchester faculty of biology, medicine and health, biotechnology & management - msc/pgdip, university of glasgow adam smith business school, biotechnology and business enterprise - mres, newcastle university medical sciences graduate school, our postgrad newsletter shares courses, funding news, stories and advice, find a masters in biology.

If you're interested in a studying Biology, then why don't you check out our regularly updated catalogue of available Biology Masters courses .

Looking for the best universities for Biological Sciences in Ireland? Compare ranking tables from top sources here, along with their methodologies.

Looking for the best universities for Ecology in Italy? Compare ranking tables from top sources here, along with their methodologies.

Looking for the best universities for Ecology in France? Compare ranking tables from top sources here, along with their methodologies.

Thinking about studying Biological Sciences as a postgraduate degree? Here are 5 signs you are making the right decision.

FindAMasters. Copyright 2005-2024 All rights reserved.

Unknown    ( change )

Have you got time to answer some quick questions about Masters study?

Select your nearest city

• Aberystwyth
• Beaconsfield
• Bishop Burton
• Bournemouth
• Bridlington
• Chatham Maritime
• Cirencester
• East Malling
• Hemel Hempstead
• High Wycombe
• Huddersfield
• Isle of Man
• Jordanstown
• London Central
• London East
• London South
• London West
• Londonderry
• Loughborough
• Middlesbrough
• Milton Keynes
• Musselburgh
• Northampton
• Potters Bar
• Saffron Waldon
• Scarborough
• Southampton
• St Leonards on Sea
• Stoke on Trent
• Wolverhampton

You haven’t completed your profile yet. To get the most out of FindAMasters, finish your profile and receive these benefits:

• Monthly chance to win one of ten £10 Amazon vouchers ; winners will be notified every month.*
• Access to our £6,000 scholarship competition
• Weekly newsletter with funding opportunities, application tips and much more
• Early access to our physical and virtual postgraduate study fairs

Or begin browsing FindAMasters.com

or begin browsing FindAMasters.com

*Offer only available for the duration of your active subscription, and subject to change. You MUST claim your prize within 72 hours, if not we will redraw.

Do you want hassle-free information and advice?

Create your FindAMasters account and sign up to our newsletter:

• Find out about funding opportunities and application tips
• Receive weekly advice, student stories and the latest Masters news
• Hear about our upcoming study fairs
• Save your favourite courses, track enquiries and get personalised subject updates

Create your account

Looking to list your Masters courses? Log in here .

Let us help you find a Masters

Never miss a course

Enter our ambassador competition

Get funding news, tips and advice

Hear about upcoming events

Sign up to our newsletter today

We've been helping students find the right postgraduate course for over a decade.

Login to your account

Enter your username below to login to your account.

Cell & Molecular Biology

College of business, personal statement / statement of purpose suggestions.

What should an applicant include in their Personal Statement / Statement of Purpose?

Evidence that the applicant understands what a graduate degree will entail and that their career plans fit with the degree they plan to attain.

Hands – on lab experience and a passion for research.

Evidence for transferable skills such as time management, teamwork / collaboration, problem solving, critical thinking, leadership, mentorship.

Success in research – which can be demonstrated by highlighting awards, scholarships, presentations and publications.

Ability to clearly describe a research project including background hypothesis, experimental design and outcome / impact.

Evidence that the candidate has thought deeply and carefully about our program and what we can offer them.

An idea of what the applicant will bring to our program and community.

Biomedical Graduate Studies

Phd application information.

The application deadline for Fall 2024 has passed. We will accept applications for Fall 2025 October 1 st through December 1 st , 2024.

We allow applicants to apply to only one group within Biomedical Graduate Studies. However, you may ask that your application be transferred from one group to another at any point in the admissions season.

Please note that all application materials become property of the University of Pennsylvania and will not be returned. Remember to retain a personal copy of your application.

Our evaluation process considers all components of the application. A complete application consists of:

• Personal Statement  - The personal statement should be used to share your motivations to pursue a PhD in your chosen field or discipline. We encourage you to share your journey from your personal history to formative experiences that have led you to pursue a PhD.  Be as specific as you can about the area in which you plan to study and your reasons for wishing to study at the University of Pennsylvania.  The personal statement should be around 500 words in length. If you are applying to certificate program, your personal statement should include a paragraph (~200 words) reflecting your interest in those programs in addition to the doctoral discipline.
• Research Statement  - The research statement should describe your meaningful research experiences, highlighting your findings. Please describe the goals of each project, approaches used, results obtained, and implications of the findings for the project and the field at large. You may choose to describe a single research experience or several experiences, but please limit your statement to around 1000 words in length.
• Community Statement - The community statement should describe how your personal perspectives will shape and be shaped by engagement with the Penn community. The community statement should not exceed 200 words. 
• Resume/CV  (Please do not include GPA or Latin honors)
• Transcripts  - All BGS applicants are required to upload up-to-date unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended. These transcripts must include your Spring 2023 semester grades and indicate the courses you are enrolled in for the Fall 2023 semester. Transcripts from completed programs should show proof of degree conferral. A final, official transcript showing conferral of degree will be required of all accepted students prior to matriculation.
• Letters of Recommendation  - You will also be prompted to send requests to three (3) people who are able to provide letters of recommendation. They will be sent an email notification with a link to the online recommendation form, which will allow them to upload a PDF of the letter. You can resend this link if necessary through the application portal.
• Standardized Test Scores , if applicable –BGS does not require or accept GRE scores (general or subject tests).  Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take an English proficiency exam (either the TOEFL or the IELTS); this requirement is waived for applicants who have or will have obtained a degree from a US or other approved English-instructed institution. There are no minimum score requirements. In order for your application to be considered complete, official TOEFL or IELTS score reports must be received by the BGS office by the application deadline.

Please refer to our  FAQ page and the Instructions section of the online application for the answers to the most common application questions.

• AI Content Shield
• AI KW Research
• AI Assistant
• SEO Optimizer
• AI KW Clustering
• Customer reviews
• The NLO Revolution
• Press Center
• Help Center
• Content Resources
• Facebook Group

Better Personal Statement for Masters in Biomedical Science With Example

Table of Contents

Are you applying for a Master’s in Biomedical Science and need help with your personal statement?

Writing a compelling personal statement is essential to be accepted to university. In this blog post, we’ll provide valuable tips on writing a creative personal statement for Masters in Biomedical Sciences . 

What Is a Personal Statement for Masters in Biomedical Science?

A personal statement for Master in Biomedical Science is a document that provides insight into your academic background, experiences and ambitions . It should provide evidence of why you are suitable for the course and what you can bring to it. 

What Should I Include in My Personal Statement?

When writing your personal statement, it’s essential to focus on showing how you meet the entry requirements for the course. You should outline any qualifications or relevant experience that makes you suitable for the program. Additionally, please explain why this particular course interests you and how it relates to your goals and objectives. 

It’s also important to demonstrate how your past experiences have developed critical thinking skills that will be useful in a research environment. Your personal statement should demonstrate how you can contribute to the broader academic community . 

Steps to Writing a Personal Statement for Masters in Biomedical Science

Research the Program

First and foremost, you should research the program that you are applying to. Doing so will give you insight into what material is relevant and important for your application. Understanding the program’s expectations can help you craft a more successful personal statement as you demonstrate knowledge about their requirements and goals. 

Outline Your Statement

Once you have gathered all relevant information about the program, it’s important to write an outline for your statement. This will help you break down each aspect of your personal statement to stay organized and focused on only the most pertinent information. Spend some time brainstorming and jotting down ideas about what you can bring to the program. 

Include Important Information

When writing your personal statement, make sure to include your academic background and any research experience or other activities. The ones you have participated in that demonstrate your qualifications for Biomedical Science studies. You should also mention how the program aligns with your academic goals. In addition, be sure to mention any specific areas of interest within the field you wish to pursue during your studies. 

Keep It Professional

A personal statement should remain professional in tone. Ensure your language is clear and concise, avoiding slang or overly informal language. Also, use the exact words or concepts sparingly; use various terms to convey different ideas effectively. Also, ensure you proofread your work for any grammar or spelling errors before submitting it. 

Example of a Personal Statement for Masters in Biomedical Science

I am a recent biological sciences graduate interested in pursuing a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Science at your esteemed university. I have achieved excellent grades throughout my academic career and have gained valuable experience through research projects and volunteer work related to biomedicine. 

My studies over the past four years have given me essential knowledge on important topics such as Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, Pathology, and Medical Genetics. Through these classes, I developed critical skills necessary for working in the biomedical field, like analytical thinking, complex problem-solving, scientific communication, and data analysis. Additionally, I participated in two research projects where I conducted gene manipulation and protein production experiments that were presented at national symposiums. My volunteer work at a local hospital has also given me an understanding of the medical profession and the importance of biomedical research. 

The program offered by your university provides an excellent opportunity to further pursue my passion for biomedical science. This allowed me to specialize in areas such as stem cell biology, bioinformatics, and cancer research. I am confident I will make a meaningful contribution to this field through my studies, and I am eager to start the program. 

Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to hearing from you soon. 

What Is the Formula for Writing a Catchy Personal Statement?

Start with why you chose it, then try and summarize it in a few sentences. Use personal experiences to attract attention. Avoid overused opening sentences, quotes, and clichés.

How Do Biomedicine and Biomedical Science Differ?

Wikipedia defines “biomedicine” as a subset of “biomedical science”. As a result, biomedical sciences provide more applications than biome.

Writing an effective personal statement for a Master in Biomedical Sciences can be challenging.

With some research and careful planning, you can create an impactful statement. This will get you one step closer to being accepted into the program. Follow these tips to help ensure your application stands out from the rest! 

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

Explore All Write Personal Statement Articles

How to draft meaningful length of law school personal statement.

Are you confused on how to write a law school personal statement? One of the essential elements of your application…

• Write Personal Statement

Effective History and International Relations Personal Statement to Try

Are you considering studying history and international relations? Or you may be curious about what a degree in this field…

Guide to Quality Global Management Personal Statement

Are you applying for a global management program and want to stand out from the crowd? A well-written personal statement…

How to Draft Better Examples of Personal Statements for Residency

Achieving a residency can be a massive accomplishment for any aspiring medical professional. To secure your spot in one of…

Tips for Drafting a Free Example of Personal History Statement

A personal history statement can be crucial to many applications, from university admissions to job search processes. This blog will…

Writing Compelling Dietetic Internship Personal Statement

Applying for a dietetic internship is a rigorous process and requires submitting a personal statement, which is an essential part…

Testimonials

Free Resources

PrepScholar GRE Prep

Gre prep online guides and tips, 3 successful graduate school personal statement examples.

Looking for grad school personal statement examples? Look no further! In this total guide to graduate school personal statement examples, we’ll discuss why you need a personal statement for grad school and what makes a good one. Then we’ll provide three graduate school personal statement samples from our grad school experts. After that, we’ll do a deep dive on one of our personal statement for graduate school examples. Finally, we’ll wrap up with a list of other grad school personal statements you can find online.

Why Do You Need a Personal Statement?

A personal statement is a chance for admissions committees to get to know you: your goals and passions, what you’ll bring to the program, and what you’re hoping to get out of the program.  You need to sell the admissions committee on what makes you a worthwhile applicant. The personal statement is a good chance to highlight significant things about you that don’t appear elsewhere on your application.

A personal statement is slightly different from a statement of purpose (also known as a letter of intent). A statement of purpose/letter of intent tends to be more tightly focused on your academic or professional credentials and your future research and/or professional interests.

While a personal statement also addresses your academic experiences and goals, you have more leeway to be a little more, well, personal. In a personal statement, it’s often appropriate to include information on significant life experiences or challenges that aren’t necessarily directly relevant to your field of interest.

Some programs ask for both a personal statement and a statement of purpose/letter of intent. In this case, the personal statement is likely to be much more tightly focused on your life experience and personality assets while the statement of purpose will focus in much more on your academic/research experiences and goals.

However, there’s not always a hard-and-fast demarcation between a personal statement and a statement of purpose. The two statement types should address a lot of the same themes, especially as relates to your future goals and the valuable assets you bring to the program. Some programs will ask for a personal statement but the prompt will be focused primarily on your research and professional experiences and interests. Some will ask for a statement of purpose but the prompt will be more focused on your general life experiences.

When in doubt, give the program what they are asking for in the prompt and don’t get too hung up on whether they call it a personal statement or statement of purpose. You can always call the admissions office to get more clarification on what they want you to address in your admissions essay.

Quick side note: we've created the world's leading online GRE prep program that adapts to you and your strengths and weaknesses. Not sure what to study? Confused by how to improve your score? We give you minute by minute guide.

You don't NEED a prep program to get a great GRE score. But we believe PrepScholar is the best GRE prep program available right now , especially if you find it hard to organize your study schedule and don't know what to study .

Click here to learn how you can improve your GRE score by 7 points, guaranteed .

What Makes a Good Grad School Personal Statement?

A great graduate school personal statement can come in many forms and styles. However, strong grad school personal statement examples all share the same following elements:

A Clear Narrative

Above all, a good personal statement communicates clear messages about what makes you a strong applicant who is likely to have success in graduate school. So to that extent, think about a couple of key points that you want to communicate about yourself and then drill down on how you can best communicate those points. (Your key points should of course be related to what you can bring to the field and to the program specifically).

You can also decide whether to address things like setbacks or gaps in your application as part of your narrative. Have a low GPA for a couple semesters due to a health issue? Been out of a job for a while taking care of a family member? If you do decide to explain an issue like this, make sure that the overall arc is more about demonstrating positive qualities like resilience and diligence than about providing excuses.

Specific Examples

A great statement of purpose uses specific examples to illustrate its key messages. This can include anecdotes that demonstrate particular traits or even references to scholars and works that have influenced your academic trajectory to show that you are familiar and insightful about the relevant literature in your field.

Just saying “I love plants,” is pretty vague. Describing how you worked in a plant lab during undergrad and then went home and carefully cultivated your own greenhouse where you cross-bred new flower colors by hand is much more specific and vivid, which makes for better evidence.

A strong personal statement will describe why you are a good fit for the program, and why the program is a good fit for you. It’s important to identify specific things about the program that appeal to you, and how you’ll take advantage of those opportunities. It’s also a good idea to talk about specific professors you might be interested in working with. This shows that you are informed about and genuinely invested in the program.

Strong Writing

Even quantitative and science disciplines typically require some writing, so it’s important that your personal statement shows strong writing skills. Make sure that you are communicating clearly and that you don’t have any grammar and spelling errors. It’s helpful to get other people to read your statement and provide feedback. Plan on going through multiple drafts.

Another important thing here is to avoid cliches and gimmicks. Don’t deploy overused phrases and openings like “ever since I was a child.” Don’t structure your statement in a gimmicky way (i.e., writing a faux legal brief about yourself for a law school statement of purpose). The first will make your writing banal; the second is likely to make you stand out in a bad way.

Appropriate Boundaries

While you can be more personal in a personal statement than in a statement of purpose, it’s important to maintain appropriate boundaries in your writing. Don’t overshare anything too personal about relationships, bodily functions, or illegal activities. Similarly, don’t share anything that makes it seem like you may be out of control, unstable, or an otherwise risky investment. The personal statement is not a confessional booth. If you share inappropriately, you may seem like you have bad judgment, which is a huge red flag to admissions committees.

You should also be careful with how you deploy humor and jokes. Your statement doesn’t have to be totally joyless and serious, but bear in mind that the person reading the statement may not have the same sense of humor as you do. When in doubt, err towards the side of being as inoffensive as possible.

Just as being too intimate in your statement can hurt you, it’s also important not to be overly formal or staid. You should be professional, but conversational.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Our graduate school experts have been kind enough to provide some successful grad school personal statement examples. We’ll provide three examples here, along with brief analysis of what makes each one successful.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 1

PDF of Sample Personal Statement 1 – Japanese Studies

For this Japanese Studies master’s degree, the applicant had to provide a statement of purpose outlining her academic goals and experience with Japanese and a separate personal statement describing her personal relationship with Japanese Studies and what led her to pursue a master’s degree.

Here’s what’s successful about this personal statement:

• An attention-grabbing beginning: The applicant begins with the statement that Japanese has never come easily to her and that it’s a brutal language to learn. Seeing as how this is an application for a Japanese Studies program, this is an intriguing beginning that makes the reader want to keep going.
• A compelling narrative: From this attention-grabbing beginning, the applicant builds a well-structured and dramatic narrative tracking her engagement with the Japanese language over time. The clear turning point is her experience studying abroad, leading to a resolution in which she has clarity about her plans. Seeing as how the applicant wants to be a translator of Japanese literature, the tight narrative structure here is a great way to show her writing skills.
• Specific examples that show important traits: The applicant clearly communicates both a deep passion for Japanese through examples of her continued engagement with Japanese and her determination and work ethic by highlighting the challenges she’s faced (and overcome) in her study of the language. This gives the impression that she is an engaged and dedicated student.

Overall, this is a very strong statement both in terms of style and content. It flows well, is memorable, and communicates that the applicant would make the most of the graduate school experience.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 2

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 2 – Musical Composition

This personal statement for a Music Composition master’s degree discusses the factors that motivate the applicant to pursue graduate study.

Here’s what works well in this statement:

• The applicant provides two clear reasons motivating the student to pursue graduate study: her experiences with music growing up, and her family’s musical history. She then supports those two reasons with examples and analysis.
• The description of her ancestors’ engagement with music is very compelling and memorable. The applicant paints her own involvement with music as almost inevitable based on her family’s long history with musical pursuits.
• The applicant gives thoughtful analysis of the advantages she has been afforded that have allowed her to study music so extensively. We get the sense that she is insightful and empathetic—qualities that would add greatly to any academic community.

This is a strong, serviceable personal statement. And in truth, given that this for a masters in music composition, other elements of the application (like work samples) are probably the most important.  However, here are two small changes I would make to improve it:

• I would probably to split the massive second paragraph into 2-3 separate paragraphs. I might use one paragraph to orient the reader to the family’s musical history, one paragraph to discuss Giacomo and Antonio, and one paragraph to discuss how the family has influenced the applicant. As it stands, it’s a little unwieldy and the second paragraph doesn’t have a super-clear focus even though it’s all loosely related to the applicant’s family history with music.
• I would also slightly shorten the anecdote about the applicant’s ancestors and expand more on how this family history has motivated the applicant’s interest in music. In what specific ways has her ancestors’ perseverance inspired her? Did she think about them during hard practice sessions? Is she interested in composing music in a style they might have played? More specific examples here would lend greater depth and clarity to the statement.

Sample Personal Statement for Graduate School 3

PDF of Sample Graduate School Personal Statement 3 – Public Health

This is my successful personal statement for Columbia’s Master’s program in Public Health. We’ll do a deep dive on this statement paragraph-by-paragraph in the next section, but I’ll highlight a couple of things that work in this statement here:

Want to improve your GRE score by 7 points?  We have the industry's leading GRE prep program. Built by world-class instructors with 99th percentile GRE scores , the program learns your strengths and weaknesses through machine learning data science, then customizes your prep program to you so you get the most effective prep possible.

Try our 5-day full access trial for free:

• This statement is clearly organized. Almost every paragraph has a distinct focus and message, and when I move on to a new idea, I move on to a new paragraph with a logical transitions.
• This statement covers a lot of ground in a pretty short space. I discuss my family history, my goals, my educational background, and my professional background. But because the paragraphs are organized and I use specific examples, it doesn’t feel too vague or scattered.
• In addition to including information about my personal motivations, like my family, I also include some analysis about tailoring health interventions with my example of the Zande. This is a good way to show off what kinds of insights I might bring to the program based on my academic background.

Grad School Personal Statement Example: Deep Dive

Now let’s do a deep dive, paragraph-by-paragraph, on one of these sample graduate school personal statements. We’ll use my personal statement that I used when I applied to Columbia’s public health program.

Paragraph One: For twenty-three years, my grandmother (a Veterinarian and an Epidemiologist) ran the Communicable Disease Department of a mid-sized urban public health department. The stories of Grandma Betty doggedly tracking down the named sexual partners of the infected are part of our family lore. Grandma Betty would persuade people to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, encourage safer sexual practices, document the spread of infection and strive to contain and prevent it. Indeed, due to the large gay population in the city where she worked, Grandma Betty was at the forefront of the AIDS crises, and her analysis contributed greatly towards understanding how the disease was contracted and spread. My grandmother has always been a huge inspiration to me, and the reason why a career in public health was always on my radar.

This is an attention-grabbing opening anecdote that avoids most of the usual cliches about childhood dreams and proclivities. This story also subtly shows that I have a sense of public health history, given the significance of the AIDs crisis for public health as a field.

It’s good that I connect this family history to my own interests. However, if I were to revise this paragraph again, I might cut down on some of the detail because when it comes down to it, this story isn’t really about me. It’s important that even (sparingly used) anecdotes about other people ultimately reveal something about you in a personal statement.

Paragraph Two: Recent years have cemented that interest. In January 2012, my parents adopted my little brother Fred from China. Doctors in America subsequently diagnosed Fred with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). My parents were told that if Fred’s condition had been discovered in China, the (very poor) orphanage in which he spent the first 8+ years of his life would have recognized his DMD as a death sentence and denied him sustenance to hasten his demise.

Here’s another compelling anecdote to help explain my interest in public health. This is an appropriately personal detail for a personal statement—it’s a serious thing about my immediate family, but it doesn’t disclose anything that the admissions committee might find concerning or inappropriate.

If I were to take another pass through this paragraph, the main thing I would change is the last phrase. “Denied him sustenance to hasten his demise” is a little flowery. “Denied him food to hasten his death” is actually more powerful because it’s clearer and more direct.

Paragraph Three: It is not right that some people have access to the best doctors and treatment while others have no medical care. I want to pursue an MPH in Sociomedical Sciences at Columbia because studying social factors in health, with a particular focus on socio-health inequities, will prepare me to address these inequities. The interdisciplinary approach of the program appeals to me greatly as I believe interdisciplinary approaches are the most effective way to develop meaningful solutions to complex problems.

In this paragraph I make a neat and clear transition from discussing what sparked my interest in public health and health equity to what I am interested in about Columbia specifically: the interdisciplinary focus of the program, and how that focus will prepare me to solve complex health problems. This paragraph also serves as a good pivot point to start discussing my academic and professional background.

Paragraph Four: My undergraduate education has prepared me well for my chosen career. Understanding the underlying structure of a group’s culture is essential to successfully communicating with the group. In studying folklore and mythology, I’ve learned how to parse the unspoken structures of folk groups, and how those structures can be used to build bridges of understanding. For example, in a culture where most illnesses are believed to be caused by witchcraft, as is the case for the Zande people of central Africa, any successful health intervention or education program would of necessity take into account their very real belief in witchcraft.

In this paragraph, I link my undergraduate education and the skills I learned there to public health. The (very brief) analysis of tailoring health interventions to the Zande is a good way to show insight and show off the competencies I would bring to the program.

Paragraph Five: I now work in the healthcare industry for one of the largest providers of health benefits in the world. In addition to reigniting my passion for data and quantitative analytics, working for this company has immersed me in the business side of healthcare, a critical component of public health.

This brief paragraph highlights my relevant work experience in the healthcare industry. It also allows me to mention my work with data and quantitative analytics, which isn’t necessarily obvious from my academic background, which was primarily based in the social sciences.

Paragraph Six: I intend to pursue a PhD in order to become an expert in how social factors affect health, particularly as related to gender and sexuality. I intend to pursue a certificate in Sexuality, Sexual Health, and Reproduction. Working together with other experts to create effective interventions across cultures and societies, I want to help transform health landscapes both in America and abroad.

This final paragraph is about my future plans and intentions. Unfortunately, it’s a little disjointed, primarily because I discuss goals of pursuing a PhD before I talk about what certificate I want to pursue within the MPH program! Switching those two sentences and discussing my certificate goals within the MPH and then mentioning my PhD plans would make a lot more sense.

I also start two sentences in a row with “I intend,” which is repetitive.

The final sentence is a little bit generic; I might tailor it to specifically discuss a gender and sexual health issue, since that is the primary area of interest I’ve identified.

This was a successful personal statement; I got into (and attended!) the program. It has strong examples, clear organization, and outlines what interests me about the program (its interdisciplinary focus) and what competencies I would bring (a background in cultural analysis and experience with the business side of healthcare). However, a few slight tweaks would elevate this statement to the next level.

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples You Can Find Online

So you need more samples for your personal statement for graduate school? Examples are everywhere on the internet, but they aren’t all of equal quality.

Most of examples are posted as part of writing guides published online by educational institutions. We’ve rounded up some of the best ones here if you are looking for more personal statement examples for graduate school.

Penn State Personal Statement Examples for Graduate School

This selection of ten short personal statements for graduate school and fellowship programs offers an interesting mix of approaches. Some focus more on personal adversity while others focus more closely on professional work within the field.

The writing in some of these statements is a little dry, and most deploy at least a few cliches. However, these are generally strong, serviceable statements that communicate clearly why the student is interested in the field, their skills and competencies, and what about the specific program appeals to them.

Cal State Sample Graduate School Personal Statements

These are good examples of personal statements for graduate school where students deploy lots of very vivid imagery and illustrative anecdotes of life experiences. There are also helpful comments about what works in each of these essays.

Want to improve your GRE score by 7+ points?

Check out our best-in-class online GRE prep program . We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your GRE score by 7 points or more.

PrepScholar GRE is entirely online, and it customizes your prep program to your strengths and weaknesses . We also feature 2,000 practice questions , official practice tests, 150 hours of interactive lessons, and 1-on-1 scoring and feedback on your AWA essays.

Check out our 5-day free trial now:

However, all of these statements are definitely pushing the boundaries of acceptable length, as all are above 1000 and one is almost 1500 words! Many programs limit you to 500 words; if you don’t have a limit, you should try to keep it to two single-spaced pages at most (which is about 1000 words).

University of Chicago Personal Statement for Graduate School Examples

These examples of successful essays to the University of Chicago law school cover a wide range of life experiences and topics. The writing in all is very vivid, and all communicate clear messages about the students’ strengths and competencies.

Note, however, that these are all essays that specifically worked for University of Chicago law school. That does not mean that they would work everywhere. In fact, one major thing to note is that many of these responses, while well-written and vivid, barely address the students’ interest in law school at all! This is something that might not work well for most graduate programs.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 10

This successful essay for law school from a Wheaton College undergraduate does a great job tracking the student’s interest in the law in a compelling and personal way. Wheaton offers other graduate school personal statement examples, but this one offers the most persuasive case for the students’ competencies. The student accomplishes this by using clear, well-elaborated examples, showing strong and vivid writing, and highlighting positive qualities like an interest in justice and empathy without seeming grandiose or out of touch.

Wheaton College Personal Statement for Graduate School Sample 1

Based on the background information provided at the bottom of the essay, this essay was apparently successful for this applicant. However, I’ve actually included this essay because it demonstrates an extremely risky approach. While this personal statement is strikingly written and the story is very memorable, it could definitely communicate the wrong message to some admissions committees. The student’s decision not to report the drill sergeant may read incredibly poorly to some admissions committees. They may wonder if the student’s failure to report the sergeant’s violence will ultimately expose more soldiers-in-training to the same kinds of abuses. This incident perhaps reads especially poorly in light of the fact that the military has such a notable problem with violence against women being covered up and otherwise mishandled

It’s actually hard to get a complete picture of the student’s true motivations from this essay, and what we have might raise real questions about the student’s character to some admissions committees. This student took a risk and it paid off, but it could have just as easily backfired spectacularly.

Key Takeaways: Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

In this guide, we discussed why you need a personal statement and how it differs from a statement of purpose. (It’s more personal!)

We also discussed what you’ll find in a strong sample personal statement for graduate school:

• A clear narrative about the applicant and why they are qualified for graduate study.
• Specific examples to support that narrative.
• Compelling reasons why the applicant and the program are a good fit for each other.
• Strong writing, including clear organization and error-free, cliche-free language.
• Appropriate boundaries—sharing without over-sharing.

Then, we provided three strong graduate school personal statement examples for different fields, along with analysis. We did a deep-dive on the third statement.

Finally, we provided a list of other sample grad school personal statements online.

What’s Next?

Want more advice on writing a personal statement ? See our guide.

Writing a graduate school statement of purpose? See our statement of purpose samples  and a nine-step process for writing the best statement of purpose possible .

If you’re writing a graduate school CV or resume, see our how-to guide to writing a CV , a how-to guide to writing a resume , our list of sample resumes and CVs , resume and CV templates , and a special guide for writing resume objectives .

Need stellar graduate school recommendation letters ? See our guide.

See our 29 tips for successfully applying to graduate school .

Ready to improve your GRE score by 7 points?

Author: Ellen McCammon

Ellen is a public health graduate student and education expert. She has extensive experience mentoring students of all ages to reach their goals and in-depth knowledge on a variety of health topics. View all posts by Ellen McCammon

Personal Statements

• Degrees and Programs

Finding Fit: A Roadmap to Graduate School

November 2019

• Slides (PDF, 532KB)
• Transcript (DOC, 51KB)

This content is disabled due to your privacy settings. To re-enable, please adjust your cookie preferences.

APA’s Finding Fit webinar series breaks down the graduate program application process into clear, logical and manageable steps.   

In his presentation, you’ll learn how to write a personal statement using the reverse pyramid approach. In addition, you’ll learn what to include and what to leave out of your statement.

This program does not offer CE credit.

Greg J. Neimeyer, PhD

Director of the Continuing Education Office and the Center for Learning and Career Development, APA.

More in this series

Learn the primary purpose of the graduate interview, the kinds of questions that you will be asked and the critical things that you can do to maximize your chances of getting into the graduate programs of your choice.

January 2020 On Demand Webinar

Learn how many letters of recommendation you’ll need, who you should (or should not) ask to write your letters and what information those letters should ideally contain.

November 2019 On Demand Webinar

Learn about the differences between graduate psychology degrees and types of training, the different types of training environments, the primary training outcomes and goals of different types of programs, and APA accreditation.

October 2019 On Demand Webinar

• How To Write Your Postgraduate Personal Statement

Choosing a university

• Fairs and open days
• Entry requirements
• What are the differences between an undergraduate and postgraduate personal statement?

What's on this page?

What is a personal statement, preparing to write your personal statement, opening your personal statement, work experience and future plans, ending your personal statement.

Your postgraduate personal statement is your chance to get noticed for your expertise and experience you’ve gathered. It’s an important part of the application process as it allows you to talk about yourself and your passions and prove the value you can bring to your chosen university.

In this article, we’re going to talk you through how to write a postgraduate personal statement that stands out and gives you the best chance of being offered a place on the master’s programme you’re applying for. 

Shona Barrie – Director of Admissions, University of Stirling

You’ll have already written a personal statement for your undergraduate study, so you’ll know the importance of preparation. There are two things to think about when you’re planning:

• The practical and factual information you need to get across.
• Then, the more emotional, human parts of you that make you different to everyone else. 

Before you start writing, take some time to think about the key things you’d want your chosen university to know about you, and get them down on paper.

Questions to focus your mind

• Why have you chosen this master’s programme?
• Why are you passionate about this subject matter? 
• How has your undergraduate study influenced your decision to apply?
• Have you got any work experience that might help you?
• What life experiences have you had that you could talk about?
• What achievements can you talk about to support your application?
• Why do you want to study at this particular university?
• What plans and ambitions do you have for your future career?

Three top tips

Be specific.

Remember that a postgraduate personal statement needs you to talk specifically about the university you’ve chosen.

Demonstrate experience

Universities will be looking for postgraduate students who are able to demonstrate expertise in a particular subject – so include that.

Show what you've learnt

Tell the university about your university life as an undergraduate and include any clubs or societies you were involved in.

Admissions tutors will be reading a lot of personal statements so it’s important to grab their attention right from the start. 

You can find a full guide on How to start a personal statement: The attention grabber but here are the main things for you to think about. 

• Don’t overthink the opening . Just start by showing your enthusiasm for the subject, showcasing your knowledge and understanding, and sharing your ambitions of what you want to achieve.
• Avoid cliches . Remember, this opening part is simply about introducing yourself, so let the admissions tutor reading your personal statement get to know you. 
• Keep it relevant and simple . You’re limited on how much you can include so avoid long-winded explanations. Why use 50 words when ten can make your point?

Talking about the course

Now you’re ready to start talking about the course and subject you’re applying for.

There are four main areas you’ll need to cover in this section of your personal statement. 

• Why are you applying for this master’s?  Think about your undergraduate study and how this master’s will develop your expertise further. Do you have career aspirations this course will help you achieve?
• Why does the subject interest you? This is your chance to show your passion and really demonstrate who you are. If you have work or volunteering experiences related to the subject, include them here.
• Why do you think you’ll be an asset to the university?  Your personal and practical skills combined together create a unique picture of who you are and why you’ll be a successful postgraduate student, so include both. 
• How does your previous undergraduate study relate to the course? Showcase your enthusiasm for your current study and take the opportunity to demonstrate your skills and knowledge now, and how you want to build on that. 

Next, you’ll need to write about your personal skills and achievements.

Universities like to know the abilities you have that’ll help you on the course, or generally with life at university. Don’t forget to include evidence to back up why you’re so passionate about the programme you’ve chosen.

Your personal skills and achievements

Be bold and talk about the achievements you’re proud of., include positions of responsibility you hold, or have held, both in and out of school., what are the things that make you interesting, special, or unique .

Your work experience and future plans are important to include in your personal statement. You should share details of jobs, placements, work experience, or voluntary work, particularly if it's relevant to your course. 

• Try to link any experience to skills or qualities that’ll make you successful on your course.
• If you know what you’d like to do after as a career, explain how you plan to use the knowledge and experience you’ll gain.

It’s always good to connect the beginning of your statement to the end and a great way to reinforce what you said at the start. You want to see the ending as your chance to end in a way that’ll make the university remember you. 

This final part of your personal statement should emphasise the great points you’ve already made and answer the question of why you should be offered a place on the course. 

Read our full guide on How to finish your statement the right way .

Aakriti Labra – MSc Occupational and Organisational Psychology, University of Surrey

Now you’ve written your postgraduate personal statement, you’ll need to do a couple of final things before you submit it. 

• Have you proofread your personal statement? Don’t just rely on spellcheckers. We’d recommend reading it out loud as that’s a great way to spot any errors as well as checking it sounds like you. 
• Have you asked for feedback? Ask friends, family or your undergraduate university tutors to have a read through your personal statement and take their feedback on board.
• Check out our personal statement dos and don'ts Have a look at the common pitfalls against your final draft to make sure you haven't made any obvious errors!

Postgraduate

More advice.

Use the UCAS’ personal statement tool alongside this guide to help you structure your ideas.

Do you want to understand the differences between an undergraduate and postgraduate personal statement? Take a look at our guide here.

Why study a postgraduate course? Find out here.  

What funding is there for postgraduate courses?  

Sponsored articles UCAS Media Service

Student finance for postgraduate loans, five reasons to sign up to the ucas newsletter, how to find a job.

• Applying to Uni
• Apprenticeships
• Health & Relationships
• Money & Finance

Personal Statements

• Postgraduate
• U.S Universities

University Interviews

• Vocational Qualifications
• Accommodation
• ​​​​​​​Budgeting, Money & Finance
• ​​​​​​​Health & Relationships
• ​​​​​​​Jobs & Careers
• ​​​​​​​Socialising

Studying Abroad

• ​​​​​​​Studying & Revision
• ​​​​​​​Technology
• ​​​​​​​University & College Admissions

Guide to GCSE Results Day

Finding a job after school or college

Retaking GCSEs

In this section

Choosing GCSE Subjects

Post-GCSE Options

GCSE Work Experience

GCSE Revision Tips

Why take an Apprenticeship?

Applying for an Apprenticeship

Apprenticeships Interviews

Apprenticeship Wage

Engineering Apprenticeships

What is an Apprenticeship?

Choosing an Apprenticeship

Real Life Apprentices

Degree Apprenticeships

Higher Apprenticeships

A Level Results Day 2024

AS Levels 2024

Clearing Guide 2024

Applying to University

SQA Results Day Guide 2024

BTEC Results Day Guide

Vocational Qualifications Guide

Sixth Form or College

International Baccalaureate

Post 18 options

Finding a Job

Should I take a Gap Year?

Travel Planning

Volunteering

Gap Year Blogs

Applying to Oxbridge

Applying to US Universities

Choosing a Degree

Choosing a University or College

Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Clearing Guide

Guide to Freshers' Week

Student Guides

Student Cooking

Student Blogs

Top Rated Personal Statements

Personal Statement Examples

Writing Your Personal Statement

Postgraduate Personal Statements

International Student Personal Statements

Gap Year Personal Statements

Personal Statement Length Checker

Personal Statement Examples By University

Personal Statement Changes 2025

Personal Statement Template

Job Interviews

Types of Postgraduate Course

Writing a Postgraduate Personal Statement

Postgraduate Funding

Postgraduate Study

Internships

Choosing A College

Ivy League Universities

Common App Essay Examples

Universal College Application Guide

How To Write A College Admissions Essay

College Rankings

Admissions Tests

Fees & Funding

Scholarships

Budgeting For College

Online Degree

Platinum Express Editing and Review Service

Gold Editing and Review Service

Silver Express Editing and Review Service

UCAS Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Oxbridge Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

Postgraduate Personal Statement Editing and Review Service

You are here

Biomedical engineering personal statement example 4.

As long as I could remember, I've always thought I've wanted to follow the path of my father and become a neurosurgeon. This was until a year ago when I took a 6-month break and questioned what I wanted to become. I realized my true passion, trying to understand the world around me and implement it into the problems I faced. Thus, I chose the field, engineering.

Watching YouTubers like Destin from SmarterEveryDay, Derek from Veritasium and Mark sparked my interest in engineering and showed me to question the world around me (why this works like this...). In SmarterEveryDay, Destin teaches to explore the world using science and to use it to further understand the world around him, people like Mark Rober show how to use your understanding of the world around you into practice.

Watching videos of my dad doing neurosurgery amazes me, especially the machinery he uses to perform these operations. The new technology used for surgery fascinates me, such as the gamma knife which can be used to destroy a tumour without having to perform a single incision or the Da Vinci robot which can be used to make precise movements that even the human hand is not capable of doing. My love for the machinery used in medicine lead me to the path of the Biomedical field of engineering.

When I see broken items and especially electronics, I see it as an opportunity to learn more about the item or to put my existing knowledge of the item into practice. In my free time, I will try to fix the broken things I find in my house such as soldering the wires in my headphones together or replacing the LCD for my phone. Even if the item is beyond repair, I will take it as an opportunity to take it apart and learn more about it.

Whenever I learn something new, I will try to implement it into the real world to test my understanding, such as applying mechanics into the movement of machines or using biology to further understand the human body. I will try not to miss the opportunity to put my theoretical knowledge into practice or test my understanding of the world in local competitions.

In my secondary years, I represented my school in a nationwide competition called the Ultimate Maths Competition where my group made it to the semi-finals and this year, I also represented my college in the National Mathematics Olympiad. These competitions have taught me that maths is not just about calculations but also about solving problems and through these competitions my love for maths has grown further.

In my free time, I try to further understand the world around me through my phone, a book or whatever I can get my hands on. I learnt the basics of JavaScript to understand how basic apps and games work. In learning to code, it has taught me to be patient if the program does not run as I wish it to and to reread all the code to search for problems but with this, I see coding as a rewarding experience when the code executes properly. Likewise, I have learnt to be better at problem-solving and to think outside the box through challenging puzzle games such as Portal, Scribblenauts and Fez.

My experience as a class representative in college has taught me to be responsible for the people under my care and has also taught me that a leader should serve the people and not the other way around. I have also volunteered in public retreats which have taught me to be patient while serving others and that, helping is helping no matter how small the effect is.

I was born in the United Kingdom and lived there for 13 years of my life before my family moved back to Malaysia. I have also travelled the world from east to west meeting rich and poor nations and I have friends from all over the globe. I enjoy meeting new faces, working with different cultures and personalities.

Engineering is changing the way we live our lives and I believe that with my determination that I will put my utmost effort into further increasing my knowledge to change the world for the better.

Profile info

There is no profile associated with this personal statement, as the writer has requested to remain anonymous.

Author's Comments

Uploaded to be used as an example. I was given a conditional offer for Mechanical engineering from the University of Manchester and the University of Edinburgh. I was also given a condiitonal offer for Biomedical engineering from UCL and Imperial College of London. Lastly, I was also invited for an Interview with Cambridge for Engineering.

This personal statement is unrated

Related Personal Statements

Add new comment.