The medical school admissions essay, whether included in the AMCAS format or separately, supplements any interview you may be granted. In fact, the admissions essay serves as a substitute interview in circumstances where you cannot interview personally. In many cases, a essays are the only opportunities that many students have to highlight their accomplishments, experiences and potential as a medical student.

An application essay gives you an opportunity to strategize over how you want to present yourself to the admissions committee. In the personal interview, you will be asked questions and will be expected to answer on the spot. The admission essay, however, gives you the opportunity to really think through your answers and develop, define, and frame the impressions the admissions committee may form about your character and achievements. Not only will writing your essay supplement your personal interview, it will comprise a separate interview altogether.

The Medical School Personal Statement is thought by many to be the single most important factor in the application process. Aside from the interview, in which you personally come in to meet and converse with the admissions officers, the personal statement is your opportunity to distinguish yourself from the hundreds, or even thousands, of other medical school applicants.

There is a lot of freedom in what you write. Most of the time, there are few guidelines to follow. The main idea of the medical school personal statement usually revolves around the reason why you chose to become a medical professional. While it is advisable to be creative with your writing, make sure not to go overboard with your writing styles, ideas, or themes.

In preparation for writing your medical school personal statements, take into consideration the following tips:

Exercise your creativity: As mentioned briefly above, make sure you are creative enough to be unique in the eyes of the person or persons reading your personal statement, but do be careful of standing out too much: as in a negative way. Provide an insight into your own personality and mix it with your medical ambitions, or goals.
Theme: Choose a simple, but powerful and memorable theme. The theme of your medical school personal statement can help direct the flow of your personal statement.
Personal story: A popular and attractive technique in writing medical school personal statements is something called a “personal story.” People of all ages and backgrounds always enjoy a good story. If you decide to write your entire personal statement in story form, make sure to keep in mind the plot! The plot is what your entire story revolves around.

Medical School Interviews are also an important part but it is the last stage of medical school which includes:

Completing the medical school applications
Writing your personal statements
Drafting and submitting secondary essays
Interviewing

This is the only part of the admissions process that you still have any influence over. You can’t change your competition, and you can’t change what you’ve done to date, but you can make sure that what you submit in the future is your best.