Sample Personal Statement #1

At the young age of five I had my first introduction to the field of medicine. At

the time, my father was a radiological technician at the local hospital. If my father was on

call for the radiology department and my mother was also working, he had but no choice

to bring me to the hospital when called. I clearly recall being intrigued by the real

skeleton that hung in the office. It excited me to watch the X-ray slides come out of a

machine and yet show human bones. I also remember seeing a patient being wheeled by

with a bone protruding from his leg. This was the first medically-related experience that I

recall. Throughout my childhood, I was exposed to similar situations. As I became older,

it was out of curiosity, and not necessity, that I went to work with my father.

My first opportunity to personally interact with patients was as a high school

volunteer at the skilled nursing facility at Little Falls Hospital. The first day that I stepped

onto the floor, the smells and sights of the deterioration which aging causes overwhelmed

me, and I questioned whether I was meant for this line of work. My perspective

immediately changed as I actually interacted with the patients. Whether transporting

patients or attending to their needs, I noticed that many of the elderly people avoided eye

contact and did not speak unless necessary. It became a challenge for me to overcome

this barrier. Over the next year, I visited the patients on a weekly basis. Surprisingly,

many people began looking forward to seeing me.

One experience that occurred at the nursing facility and had a significant impact

on my life involved observing the interaction between the patients and the nurses. Several

of the nurses spoke to and treated the elderly in a dehumanizing manner which I found

extremely disturbing. As I left, I began crying. I learned that not all health care workers
truly care for the patients. Instead, they simply view their work as a job. In addition to

exposing myself to the medical needs of the elderly population and the special care they

required, I recognized that sensitivity and compassion are as integral to health care

delivery as is medical knowledge. In college, I have continued to volunteer at Eddy

Senior Care in Schenectady and realize that it is in my nature to assist others in need,

both physically and emotionally.

In response to my desire to gain more knowledge about the medical profession, I

have volunteered in various other positions. I was fortunate enough to have been able to

spend my college breaks at Little Falls Hospitals OR- standing side by side with

operating physicians. The intense and critical nature of the medical atmosphere has

broadened my perspective as to the characteristics and qualifications that physicians most

possess. I realized that most every decision made by the doctors is critical to the life of

the patient. The intensity and decisiveness with which the physician must respond, is not

only appealing to me, but is characteristic of my personality. I like responding to

challenges.

This past summer as an AmeriCorps volunteer, I was challenged to improve the

reading skills of a group of economically disadvantaged children. As a pre-medical

student, I initially felt out of my league since the other volunteers were graduate

education students. I was responsible for designing a summer reading program for fifteen

children, ages five to nine and implementing my program at the Little Falls YMCA

where the children were daily. I encountered many obstacles such as what material would

be appropriate for each child, children who announced their dislike for reading, and the

struggles of instituting a daily lesson. Despite these factors and my unfamiliar setting, I
began to feel confident in myself as I thought of new projects to get the children to enjoy

the program. Also, several of the children needed emotional support in addition to

assistance with their reading, and a personal factor evolved in my relationship with the

children. By the end of the summer, I felt that my program was successful since each

child had shown interest and improvement in reading. I value this experience for various

reasons. I feel that reading is fundamental to education and all children should have an

opportunity to excel. Additionally, I feel fortunate to have been able to work with young

children and anticipate that these relationships will further prepare me in dealing with a

wide range of patients as a primary care physician.

I also believe that motivation is key for a successful career as a physician. I

consider myself to be a highly motivated individual. Being the eldest of four children,

with parents of modest means, financial constraints were evident to me from a young age.

My parents instilled in me the value of strong work ethic and the responsibilities that one

needs to incur to facilitate their dreams, goals, and motivations. As a result, when I have a

goal to reach, I dedicate myself to achieving the task. This extends to my aspiration to be

a physician. I feel that as an intellectually and emotionally capable individual, I have a

calling to dedicate myself to helping others.

I perceive myself to be a person with numerous interests and a range of skills

which could have sent me in any number of career directions. Yet, through my

experiences over the past three years, I have realized that becoming a physician will

afford me the opportunity to utilize these skills and challenge many of my interests.

Growing up with a physician in the house understandably sparked an early

interest in medicine. I was fortunate to experience the various situations that arise in the

life of a doctor; the good and the not so good. However, the first time I seriously thought

about committing myself to the field of medicine was when I had to decide whether or

not to apply to a combined B.A./M.D. Program. I chose not to bind myself without

further exploration and thought. Accordingly, I elected to attend a liberal arts college

where I could pursue my interests in both the social and physical sciences.

During my college breaks, I had the opportunity to shadow my father and some of

his colleagues as they interacted with patients. This experience exposed me to the fields

of internal medicine, gastroenterology, cardiology, radiology, and pathology. The times I

spent with these doctors poignantly reinforced what I had previously only heard my

father talk about. I was excited by their ability to help people and affect their lives. In

addition, each patient brought a new challenge, a new mystery to solve, and a new chance

to learn about oneself and the field of medicine.

I have also learned, firsthand through my father, the ramifications of the changing

healthcare field. My father spearheads his multi-specialty groups efforts in dealing with

managed care and public health issues. During my two summer internships in the

Mayors Office for the City of Pittsfield, MA, I worked with a non-profit foundation on
programs to enhance the success of the annual city immunization effort and to increase

the accessibility to preventative medicine amongst the lower socio-economic citizens of

Pittsfield. In addition, my intern responsibilities included writing the annual reports for

1994 and 1995, as well as revising the City Employees Handbook. These tasks

familiarized me with the healthcare benefits provided to both Pittsfields citizens and city

employees. I have found these issues intriguing and project possibly in the future

combining the challenges of medical practice with administrative responsibilities. In this

way, I would use my leadership skills and my organizational interest to help my fellow

physicians and my patients manage the realities of population-oriented medicine.

One of my greatest strengths is my interpersonal skills. I have always enjoyed

interacting with people. I consider myself a very good listener. Moreover, I believe I

possess the ability to express my viewpoint effectively while communicating a respect for

the concern of others. I also enjoy facilitating conflict resolution. These interests

stimulated my becoming involved in peer counseling and student government on the high

school lever, and culminated, in college, with my election as a student representative to

the Board of Trustees of Union College. This position has proven to be both challenging

and enjoyable.

Another aspect of medicine I have had the opportunity to experience this summer

is working as a research student at the National Cancer Instituted. This has exposed me to

the realm of biomedical research. Not only have I found my research fascinating, but, in

addition, I have observed the sociological side to biomedical research and learned how

bench research correlates with clinical medicine.

point, what appeals to me most is the opportunity to interact with, be responsible for, and

to care for a group of people on a long term basis in a primary care role. I believe my

scientific strengths and my interpersonal skills would enable me to be a competent and

caring physician.
Personal Statement #3

The miracle of immigration, the challenge of a new beginning in America, and

the opportunity for a medical education is deserving of my lifelong commitment and

dedication.

I was born in the former Soviet Union and lived there until age 15, when my

family made the decision to more to the United States. My initial interest in medicine

began very early, at age 7, when I observed that my grandfather, who lived with us, was

ill with cancer and I felt the constant need to help him in whatever way I could. My

curiosity about the field of medicine intensified a few years later when, as a

preadolescent, I occasionally visited my mother, an Internist, at her hospital worksite, and

was permitted to sit in the house staff room where the physicians would congregate after

medical rounds. I listened intently to their stimulating conversation and marveled at their

ability to reach a diagnosis. Having personally witnessed the interaction between

physician and patient, I somehow realized the magnitude of the physician/patient

relationship as it related to the patients health care and sense of well-being. My career

choice to pursue medicine was made!

The actual move to the United States at the end of 1989 was the great turning

point of my dream. I observed the extraordinary challenge my mother faced in America

when, after 15 years of practice as a medical doctor in Russia, she overcame the

difficulties of conquering the English language, qualifying for the Medical Boards, and

entering a medical residency. My exposure to her unfailing determination and long, hard

days and nights of study helped me to discover we were cut from the same pattern.
 Once we settled in Schenectady, I quickly learned the English language, adapted

to the new culture and made new friends. For two years, 1992-1993, I volunteered at the

Skilled Nursing Unit of a local hospital and found it to be a gratifying experience, as I

gained pleasure in providing socialization to the patients in an empathic manner.

As a Chemistry major at Union College, I am gaining a solid foundation for entry

into medical school. My studies, research projects and extra-curricular activities are

clearly increasing my scientific knowledge. As a result of my chemistry award, I obtained

a Research Assistant position for summer 1995, and worked on a project entitled

Kinetics and Mechanisms of Organometallic Compounds Important in Photocatalysis. I

will continue to work on this project during the summer of 1996 and through my senior

year. This research work enables me to perform experiments independently based on my

previous findings, and utilizes my understanding of math, physics, and chemistry in

interpreting data. Another valuable learning experience occurred in 1996 with a 10-week

course entitled Health Care Practicum. This course included clinical rotations at a local

hospital where I observed varied medical procedures, and was allowed some routine

hands-on experience under supervision.

My participation in two off-campus projects have been particularly gratifying:

Outreach Program, in which I visit elementary and middle schools and introduce

children to the subject of chemistry by demonstrating simple experiments and permitting

hands-on experience (1995-96), and the COMPAS Program at a local elementary school

in which I assist students with remedial math, reading, and writing (1994-present). I also

became involved in community service as a volunteer with the Schenectady Big

Brothers/Big Sisters during 1995, working with underprivileged youth. All of the above
experiences required effective communication and teaching skills, enhancing my

awareness in the art of human communication and strengthening my confidence in my

ability to relate to a diverse, multicultural population.

My course of study and continuing involvement in research, medically-related

activities and volunteer service only serve to further enrich and fuel my desire to succeed

in my goal to become either a family practice physician or specialize in internal

medicine. In this endeavor, the combination of my intellectual pursuits, thirst for medical

knowledge, along with my genuine concern for people can be satisfied in making a

meaningful contribution to the health and welfare of mankind. With a unique background

and new life in a society which recognizes and rewards hard work, conscientiousness,

and diligence, I would feel privileged to receive a medical education at your institution.