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Personal Statements

Crafting a Compelling Personal Statement

UDM student in cap and gown

Your personal statement is one of the most important components of your application to health professions programs. It’s your opportunity to share your story, reflect on your motivations, and demonstrate your readiness for a career in healthcare. 

Admissions committees use personal statements to assess your communication skills, self-awareness, and alignment with the values of the profession. A strong statement can set you apart in a competitive applicant pool.

Purpose of the Personal Statement

The personal statement answers a central question: 

 Why are you pursuing a career in the health professions? 

It should: 

  • Highlight your motivation for entering the field 
  • Reflect on formative experiences (clinical, research, volunteer, personal) 
  • Demonstrate your personal qualities (empathy, resilience, integrity) 
  • Show your understanding of the profession’s demands and responsibilities 

Each application service has its own prompt and character limit. For example: 

  • AMCAS (MD): 5,300 characters 
  • AACOMAS (DO): 5,300 characters 
  • AADSAS (Dental): 4,500 characters 
  • AACPMAS (Podiatry): 4,500 characters 
  • CASPA (PA): 5,000 characters 
  • OptomCAS (Optomerry): 4,500 characters 
  • PharmCAS (Pharmacy): 4,500 characters 
  • PTCAS (Physical Therapy): 4,500 characters 
  • OTCAS (Occupational Therapy): 7,500 characters 
  • VMCAS (Veterinary): 3,000 characters  

Getting Started

Writing a personal statement takes time and reflection. Here are steps to help you begin: 

  1. Reflect on your journey 
    Consider key moments that shaped your interest in healthcare. What experiences confirmed your decision? What challenges have you overcome? 
  2. Identify your core message
    What do you want the reader to remember about you? Your statement should have a clear theme or narrative thread. 
  3. Outline your story
    Organize your thoughts into a beginning (introduction), middle (experiences and insights), and end (future goals and conclusion). 
  4. Write authentically 
    Use your own voice. Avoid clichés and overly technical language. Focus on clarity and sincerity. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Generic statements that could apply to any applicant 
  2. Listing experiences without reflection or context 
  3. Overuse of medical jargon or trying to sound overly academic 
  4. Neglecting proofreading, leading to grammar or spelling errors 
  5. Failing to answer the prompt or meet character limits 

Key Strategies for Success

  • Start Early 
    Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write, revise, and seek feedback. Strong personal statements often go through multiple drafts. 
  • Tell Your Story
    Focus on your unique path to a health career. Share meaningful experiences that shaped your motivation, values, and understanding of the profession. 
  • Show, Don’t Just Tell
    Use specific examples to illustrate your qualities—such as empathy, resilience, or leadership—rather than simply stating them. 
  • Reflect Deeply
    Admissions committees value insight. Go beyond describing what you did—explain what you learned and how it influenced your goals. 
  • Stay Focused
    Avoid trying to cover everything. Choose 2–3 key experiences that best represent your journey and growth. 
  • Be Authentic
    Write in your own voice. Your statement should reflect who you are, not what you think admissions committees want to hear. 
  • Know Your Audience 
    Tailor your tone and content to the type of program you’re applying to (e.g., MD vs. DO, dental vs. PA). Highlight values that align with the profession. 
  • Keep It Professional
    Avoid slang, humor, or overly casual language. Maintain a respectful and polished tone throughout. 
  • Proofread Carefully
    Spelling and grammar errors can distract from your message. Use campus resources like the Writing Center and Pre-Health Office for review. 
  • Follow Guidelines 
    Adhere to character or word limits and formatting requirements set by the application service (e.g., AMCAS, AACOMAS, AADSAS). 

Support and Resources

UDM offers a range of services to help you write and refine your personal statement including the services offered through the Pre-Health Advising Office and the Writing Center. 

Make an appointment with the Pre-Health Office to: 

  • Learn how to structure your narrative, highlight key experiences, and reflect on your motivation for pursuing a health career. 
  • Brainstorm ideas, refine your story, and ensure alignment with your career goals. 
  • Guidance on how to emphasize clinical, research, and service experiences effectively. 
  • Learn how to adapt your personal statement for different types of health programs (e.g., MD vs. DO, dental vs. PA). 
  • Ensure your statement reflects maturity, professionalism, and a clear understanding of the field. 
  • Receive help integrating personal statement writing into your overall application timeline.
     

Make an appointment with the Writing Center to:

  • Review drafts and receive constructive feedback on your writing. 
  • Get help refining sentence structure, transitions, and overall readability. 
  • Learn how to maintain a confident, authentic, and professional tone throughout your essay. 
  • Receive support for multiple rounds of revision to strengthen your narrative and impact. 
  • Assistance with secondaries, diversity statements, and other written components of your application. 

We recommend starting your personal statement at least 3–4 months before you apply, and revising it multiple times with input from advisors, mentors, and peers. 

Build Your Foundation
for a Health Career

Office of Pre-Health Advising
Engineering Bldg. RM# 125
Hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 AM – 5 PM
Kia Hart
(313) 993-1928
hartkl@udmercy.edu  

Schedule with a Pre-Health Advisor

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