- Joined
- Apr 11, 2017
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- 39
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I've been researching over summer about what it takes to stand out among all the other thousands of applicants applying to medical school, and a lot of articles have emphasized the importance of having a "narrative". For example, if your relative or someone close to you was affected by cancer, that could be your reason for wanting to pursue a career in medicine, and find treatments/a cure for cancer.
Your clinical volunteering and research could be related to aspects of Cancer, and for non-clinical volunteering, maybe you would tutor kids who have been affected with cancer. In essence, your whole application would have a strong and evident theme. This would probably make it easier for ad coms to remember your application, and thus, you would stand out.
At the top medical schools, its not enough to just have a checklist/laundry list of activities, or else you'll drown with the majority of the applicant pool into oblivion. This is exactly what I'm worried about. Personally, I have been fortunate enough to never have a loved one or anyone I know affected with any serious disease or illness. My reasons for wanting to become a physician are pretty cliche in my opinion; I love how medicine combines my passion for science and inclination to help/care for others in need. See what I mean? I'm sure a million other kids will say this exact thing during their medical school interview in response to being asked why they want to go to med school.
The activities I plan to pursue when I start college in the Fall (I'll be a Freshman) won't really have a theme. I plan to just do activities I enjoy, but at the same time prepare me for medical school while giving me a unique opportunity to write about/discuss when it's time to apply to medical school. But I feel like this is so much weaker than someone who has a very deep reason for joining medicine. I would never in a million years wish anything bad upon anyone I know just to write something for my personal statement, but I guess I need some kind of assurance.
Is it enough to get a good GPA, MCAT score, participate in clinical/non-clinical activities that are meaningful to me, shadow, maybe do some research, but have absolutely no "theme" or "narrative"? I want to do all of this solely based on pure passion; I don't have any deep reason or vengeful desire. Any tips/advice would help a lot, thank you.
Your clinical volunteering and research could be related to aspects of Cancer, and for non-clinical volunteering, maybe you would tutor kids who have been affected with cancer. In essence, your whole application would have a strong and evident theme. This would probably make it easier for ad coms to remember your application, and thus, you would stand out.
At the top medical schools, its not enough to just have a checklist/laundry list of activities, or else you'll drown with the majority of the applicant pool into oblivion. This is exactly what I'm worried about. Personally, I have been fortunate enough to never have a loved one or anyone I know affected with any serious disease or illness. My reasons for wanting to become a physician are pretty cliche in my opinion; I love how medicine combines my passion for science and inclination to help/care for others in need. See what I mean? I'm sure a million other kids will say this exact thing during their medical school interview in response to being asked why they want to go to med school.
The activities I plan to pursue when I start college in the Fall (I'll be a Freshman) won't really have a theme. I plan to just do activities I enjoy, but at the same time prepare me for medical school while giving me a unique opportunity to write about/discuss when it's time to apply to medical school. But I feel like this is so much weaker than someone who has a very deep reason for joining medicine. I would never in a million years wish anything bad upon anyone I know just to write something for my personal statement, but I guess I need some kind of assurance.
Is it enough to get a good GPA, MCAT score, participate in clinical/non-clinical activities that are meaningful to me, shadow, maybe do some research, but have absolutely no "theme" or "narrative"? I want to do all of this solely based on pure passion; I don't have any deep reason or vengeful desire. Any tips/advice would help a lot, thank you.