How to Begin Your MBA Personal Statement

Cartoon illustration of two enthusiastic MBA applicants embarking on their journey, with a white male holding a laptop and giving a thumbs-up, and a South Asian woman holding a folder full of documents, both standing in front of a 'MBA Journey Starts Here!' sign with a university campus in the background
With a careful, smart plan, your MBA application process doesn’t have to be so hard!

It’s April, which means that many of you are beginning in earnest the process of applying for MBA programs. Congratulations on making this potentially life-changing decision!

In this video, we lay out five things to do to prepare yourself for the challenges ahead.

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top MBA programs. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Ten Tips for Your Medical School Secondaries

With your MCAT, personal statement, Work & Activities, and letters of recommendation all lined up, it’s time to start on your secondary application essays. Here are eleven tips for getting the most from your secondary essays.

  1. Get a head start. Your calendar is going to get pretty crowded, so begin as early as you can. Fortunately, most schools use the same essay from year to year, so even if you’ve not yet received the prompts, you can at least begin some light brainstorming, outlining, and rough-draft writing for the secondary essays you anticipate getting.
  2. View your secondaries as complementary. Think of your application holistically. Your personal statement provides your core theme and depth on a few moments and accomplishments. Your Work & Activities provide breadth and some additional depth on a few “most significant” items. Then, your secondaries fill out the application while emphasizing how your strengths, interests, and background align with what the school offers and values. As such, don’t use these secondaries to repeat information at length that you’ve already covered well elsewhere. A good way to think about it is that your AMCAS personal statement is your best case for admission, but your secondaries should emphasize your next best arguments. For instance, if you feel your core argument is “clinical experience and extensive public health work,” then your AMCAS personal statement should focus on that in-depth. Then, in your secondaries, you might also highlight another strength or experience, such as your scientific research.
  3. Carefully follow the directions. Be careful to follow the medical school’s word restrictions, formatting specifications, and any other instructions.
  4. Create unique essays for every school. I know you’re going to write A TON of essays. And, you can repurpose some text where it makes sense. But, don’t shoehorn text into an essay that doesn’t quite fit just because you want to avoid some work. The main idea behind a secondary essay is to focus on aligning your strengths as an applicant with the school’s culture and values. This requires customization. Find out the aims and values of the medical schools to which you are applying, and then use your essays to show how you share those ideals.
  5. Provide concrete instances to support your arguments. Use particular stories and examples to explain your experiences and accomplishments rather than making generalizations. Your essay will become more interesting and memorable as a result.
  6. Steer clear of clichés and overused words. Avoid using overused words and clichés in your writings since they may make them look generic. Your essays should be distinctive and genuine.
  7. Carefully proofread and edit. To guarantee that your writings are devoid of typos, grammatical errors, and other faults, be sure you proofread and edit them thoroughly. You should be just as fussy and meticulous about your secondary essays as you were about your primary AMCAS essay.
  8. Show, don’t tell. To demonstrate your experiences and accomplishments rather than merely recounting them, use vivid language and specific facts. This can make your writing more compelling and interesting.
  9. Be true to yourself. Write about subjects that are personal and significant to you since medical schools are seeking applicants who are real and authentic.
  10. Write clearly and concisely. Be as plain and succinct as possible in your writing, and avoid using jargon or too complicated terminology. Be sure to end your essay by returning to your introduction.

 

BONUS!

  1. Request input from others. Think about inviting dependable mentors, family members, or friends to read and comment on your essays. This might assist you in identifying areas for development and ensuring the strongest possible essays. BUT, make sure that you are thoughtful and assertive in weighing every piece of advice.

 

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top medical schools. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

 

References:

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). “Writing Your AMCAS Personal Comments Essay.” https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/writing-your-amcas-personal-comments-essay/

 

#MCAT #medicalschool #medschool #amcas #amcaspersonalstatement #medstudent #medschoolife #premed #premedical #medschoolproblems #premedproblems #studentdoctor #whitecoat #residency #gettingintomedschool #medicalresearch #workandactivities #workandactivities

Start Preparing Now! A Sample Schedule for Round One 2025 Applicants

A busy, but calm, MBA applicant
If you have a plan, applying to MBA programs doesn’t have to be (too) stressful

       Spring is a wonderful time of year for us here at Gurufi. As we hear more about our clients’ success stories, we take pride in helping them earn admission to their dream schools. Just last week, we had multiple clients reach out to us about their plans for the fall, which include matriculating into HBS, Wharton, Stanford GSB, INSEAD, and many more.

       Our record speaks for itself, but we also know that not everybody can afford us, so we try our best to provide free information that, if followed, can improve your chances of admission to your dream MBA program.

       Thus, over the next few weeks, we’ll but putting out a 12-part video guide about how to approach your MBA admissions journey. Before we start, though, I wanted to provide a quick-and-easy breakdown for people who are just beginning to think about applying for an MBA. Below is a breakdown for people starting now who intend to apply for Round One admissions (due dates in September or October). Obviously, this is a rough guide, and so be sure to check the due dates for the particular schools you’re applying to!

 

April – Establish Your Strategy

  1. Research MBA programs: Research MBA programs to determine which schools align with your career goals and personal preferences. Rankings are a good place to start, but don’t end there! A good tip is to make a list of three strengths in a business school, three areas of emphasis, and three “miscellaneous” factors (geography, cost, length of program, etc.) and use that list to inform your Google searches. Remember, in this initial phase, you want to create a fairly extensive list that you can then pare down.

  1. Connect with alumni and current students: Reach out to alumni or current students from your preferred MBA programs to understand their experiences and the school’s culture better. View this as an opportunity to being ranking and even eliminating some candidate schools.

  1. Identify your recommenders: Think about who you could ask for recommendation letters and inform them about your MBA plans. Be smart about your strategy here. Select people who know you well, and think of the recommendation process as an interactive one, where you provide the letter writer with as much information as they need to write you a great letter. For additional insight, check out these videos.

 

May – Prepare for GMAT/GRE

  1. Study for GMAT/GRE: If you have not taken these tests or want to improve your score, now is the time to start preparing in earnest. Every candidate’s GMAT process is different, and it often comes down to how much time you need to earn the score you’re looking for. I’ve known candidates who’ve prepared for 18 months because they were never very quant-heavy in their educations so they needed a lot of help. Others only need a few weeks.

  1. Register for the exam: Make sure to register for the exam to give you enough time to retake it if necessary.

 

June – Take GMAT/GRE and Begin Applications

  1. Take the GMAT/GRE: Aim to take your GMAT/GRE in June. This leaves enough time to retake the test if you’re not satisfied with your score.

  1. Start drafting essays: Begin working on your application essays. Be sure to customize each essay to the specific MBA program.

 

July – Refine Your Applications

  1. Continue refining essays: Spend this month polishing your essays, ensuring they reflect your experiences and ambitions accurately. If you need professional help, we can certainly help with that! When you get help, though, be sure to remember that you should retain active ownership of your essays. What that means is that you shouldn’t just passively accept whatever changes and advice they give you. Ask questions, and be sure that the final polished version sounds like the best version of what you had in mind, and not somebody else’s essay. Here is a useful primer on how to get great advice on your Personal Statement.

  1. Prepare your resume: Update your resume to highlight achievements, leadership roles, and skills relevant to an MBA program. Similarly, we can also help you with your CV revisions!

 

August – Finalize Your Applications

  1. Review applications: Thoroughly review your application, checking for any errors or inconsistencies.

  1. Get feedback: Have a mentor, friend, or family member review your essays and overall application.

  1. Finalize letters of recommendation: Remind your recommenders about the upcoming deadlines and provide them with any necessary information about your achievements and goals.

 

 

September – Submit Your Applications

  1. Final review and submission: Give your application a final review and submit it well ahead of the deadline.

  1. Prepare for interviews: Begin preparing for potential interviews by practicing common interview questions and formulating questions you would like to ask.

  1. Thank your recommenders: Send a follow-up ‘thank-you’ note to anybody who wrote you a letter of recommendation. A short, sincere, hand-written note is the gold standard.

 

October – Interviews and Follow-ups

  1. Attend interviews: If invited, attend the MBA program interviews. Remember to ask thoughtful questions and demonstrate your interest in the program. Here are some quick tips for your MBA interview.

  1. Send thank you notes: After your interview, send a thank you note to your interviewer expressing your appreciation for their time. Again, the ideal way is a short, sincere handwritten note. If that’s not possible, an email will do.

Remember, applying for an MBA is a process that requires meticulous preparation. It’s important to give yourself plenty of time to reflect on your career goals, research potential programs, and craft a compelling application.

Month Activities
April 1. Research MBA programs

2. Connect with alumni and current students

3. Identify your recommenders

May 1. Study for GMAT/GRE

2. Register for the exam

June 1. Take the GMAT/GRE

2. Start drafting essays

July 1. Continue refining essays

2. Prepare your resume

August 1. Review applications

2. Get feedback

3. Finalize letters of recommendation

September 1. Final review and submission 2. Prepare for interviews
October 1. Attend interviews

2. Send thank you notes

Again, do remember to tailor this grid to align with specific school deadlines and your personal schedule.

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top MBA programs. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Do *NOT* Write Your Medical School Personal Statement About This…

The death of a grandparent is the most overused cliche on personal statements

“As I looked into my grandma’s eyes, a single tear rolled down my cheek. I wished that I could save her life, but I felt so powerless. In that moment, I knew that I had to become a doctor so that I could save the lives of people like Grammy. I was only six years old, but that moment changed my life!”

Does your personal statement begin like this? In my 17 years of helping aspiring physicians earn admission into their dream medical school, I have seen some version of this essay hundreds of times. The dying grandma (or aunt, uncle, or grandpa…), the bedside revelation, the moment of irrevocable inspiration.

I don’t doubt that such moments occur nor that they are deeply meaningful, but I do worry that after reading the 25th such story in a week, the Admissions Committee will find it hard to differentiate your application from the scores of other people whose essays feature a med school origin story that requires the sacrifice poor ol’Granny.

Of course, I’m being a bit facetious (okay, a LOT facetious), but depending on the year, I would guess that between 15% and 30% of medical school essays lean heavily on this trope. The personal statement is just too valuable to waste on a story that the AdCom has read hundreds of times before. Applicants have one opportunity to frame their experiences, accomplishments, and goals, and selecting a cliché subject for your personal statements instantly puts you in the JAG (“just another guy” / “just another gal”) pile. Although the applicant may consider these subjects to be significant, they are overused and do not help the candidate stand out.

Cliches are shallow and don’t give a complete picture of the applicant’s motives and objectives. An applicant’s experiences should be discussed in their personal statement, along with how those experiences affected their decision to pursue a career in medicine. It’s this second part that too often gets overlooked. Obviously, experiences and stories are central to your personal statement and application, BUT you need to build out these stories by linking them to bigger themes, making clear how and why they motivated you (as manifested in actions and decisions), and then projecting that motivation into a vision of the future you aspire to build. The superficial facts of an encounter are frequently highlighted in cliches, leaving out the applicant’s internal dialogue or feelings. The admissions committee could find it difficult to comprehend the applicant’s motivations for applying to medical school without this extra information.

Cliches can sometimes be deceptive and fail to accurately represent an applicant’s experiences. For instance, a candidate who writes about their time spent volunteering at a hospital can say that it confirmed their decision to pursue a career in medicine. The reader can’t know how profound an experience was, though, until the author describes it in detail and reflects on their feelings and ideas when they were having it. Cliches can thereby produce a fictitious narrative that is unrepresentative of the applicant’s experiences and motives. This is why I often urge applicants whose personal statements look flat or cliché to do a journaling or brainstorming exercise where they explore their feelings on the topic, how they worked through an experience or challenge, how it transformed them, and why it informs the kind of doctor they will become.

A useful tip for moving beyond cliché is to provide specifics and engage in deeper storytelling. For instance, many applicants will discuss their time doing volunteer work at a hospital. Does this mean you should avoid that experience altogether in your personal statement? NO! Instead, highlight specific instances and give depth, detail, and personality to that story. Describing your duties in a broad way won’t have nearly the impact that telling a single story of a meaningful interaction with a patient or a hard conversation with a doctor. Tell me about how you assisted a patient with navigating the healthcare system AND HOW THAT INFORMED YOUR VISION OF MEDICINE, or tell me why a particular medical procedure was exciting for you to witness.

You might also talk about how their experiences outside of medicine, such working in another industry or engaging in creative hobbies, have inspired their choice to become a doctor. These subjects offer a more thorough and distinctive perspective of the candidate, highlighting their personality and capacity for critical thought.

Candidates should also think back on their experiences, take into account the lessons they acquired from them, and assess how those experiences have affected their aspirations. Instead of just recounting an incident, candidates should discuss how it affected them academically and emotionally and motivated them to seek a career in medicine. A candidate who had a personal health crisis, for instance, may talk about how that event motivated them to support others or engage in relevant research.

When talking with a colleague a few years back, we joked that May, when applicants begin working on their personal statements, was the “grandma culling season.” Beyond this dark joke, there is a deeper bit of actionable advice for you: cliches lack depth and complexity, can be deceptive, and fail to exhibit an applicant’s originality and critical thinking abilities. Candidates can write a personal statement that highlights their abilities and potential as healthcare professionals by emphasizing their unique experiences and thinking back on the lessons gained and how they have affected their aspirations.

A personal statement gives you 5300 characters to make your case, and it’s often the biggest differentiator between acceptance and denial. Therefore, it’s imperative for candidates to approach this crucial part of the application process with imagination and consideration.

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top medical schools. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email atservice@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

A Non-Minority Student’s Guide to Diversity Essays

An animated image featuring a diverse group of medical school students in a classroom setting. The students, representing various ethnicities, genders, and backgrounds, are all wearing white lab coats and have stethoscopes around their necks. Some are engaged in conversation, holding medical textbooks, or examining medical charts. The classroom is equipped with essential medical tools, adorned with anatomy posters, and includes a skeleton model in one corner. Their expressions convey happiness and a shared enthusiasm for learning, illustrating an inclusive and collaborative educational environment
Embracing Diversity in Medical Education: Future healthcare professionals learning together in an inclusive environment

As a non-minority student, it’s important to approach the writing of a diversity essay with sensitivity and an open mind. Here are five tips to help you write an effective diversity essay:

  1. Think of “diversity” expansively. When most people think of diversity in the context of admissions, they focus on racial, ethnic, national, gender, and sexual identity. But you should also think about experiential diversity. How has your life been different? Think about the kinds of people you’ve encountered, what they taught you, and how you grew. Reflect on the places you’ve lived, unique trials you’ve faced, jobs you’ve held, training you’ve received, or unusual insights you’ve gained. Then, take the additional step of asking yourself how these things would help you make School X a more dynamic, challenging, accepting, and comprehensive educational and life experience for your peers.

  1. Acknowledge privilege: It is important to acknowledge any privilege you may have as a result of your race, ethnicity, gender, or socio-economic background. Reflect on how your experiences may have been shaped by these factors, and how they have impacted your understanding of diversity and inclusion. A frame that can be helpful is to complete this sentence, and then expand on it in a brainstorming writing session: “my privilege has allowed me to ______, and as a result, I feel compelled to _______ in order to _____.” For instance, “My privilege as an upper-middle class man raised in a healthy home has allowed me to have access to mentoring, networks, and advice that many of my peers never had, and as a result, I feel compelled to mentor others, build robust inclusive networks, and look for talent in unexpected places.” This sort of opening could provide the foundation for an insightful, frank self-assessment that gives the reader genuine insight into your values.”

  1. Show empathy: Demonstrate your ability to understand and respect different perspectives and experiences by expressing empathy and a desire to learn from others. Describe how you plan to continue to learn about and engage with diverse communities in the future.

  1. Highlight your commitment to diversity: Emphasize your commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in your academic and professional pursuits. Explain how you plan to use your experiences and understanding of these issues to contribute to the graduate school community. Identifying and listing your values is good, but providing stories and examples is much better.

  1. Seek feedback: Before submitting your diversity essay, consider seeking feedback from someone who has experience with these types of essays. This could be a mentor, a teacher, or someone else who has a good understanding of the graduate school application process. Their feedback can help you refine your essay and ensure that it effectively communicates your commitment to diversity.

Importantly, our editors and consultants at Gurufi have extensive experience helping people write diversity essays.

Lastly, we recognize that this form of essay can feel unusual or uncomfortable, especially for non-American applicants who aren’t conversant with the world of DEI, why universities value diversity, or even what this idea means. After all, many applicants come from places that are largely mono-racial.

So, while there can be a learning curve, your mindset should ultimately be that the diversity essay is an opportunity to demonstrate your understanding and commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion, whether or not you are a minority. By reflecting on their experiences, acknowledging privilege, showing empathy, highlighting their commitment, and seeking feedback, non-minority students can write effective diversity essays that showcase their ability to contribute to diverse and inclusive academic communities.

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top MBA programs. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Partner’s Guide to Surviving the MBA Application Process (and beyond!)

Cartoon illustration of a supportive young man comforting his stressed MBA student wife, who is surrounded by study materials. He offers her a cup of tea and a reassuring smile in their cozy study room, filled with a soft glow from the desk lamp, emphasizing their strong bond and mutual support.
Behind every successful student, there’s a supportive partner offering strength and a cup of tea during those long study nights.

         With spring around the corner, we’re going to be spending the next few weeks producing blogs designed to help people who are just starting their MBA application process with the aim of submitting in Round One this summer. At Gurufi, we help scores of people each year earn admission into their dream schools, and in the 17+ years we’ve been doing this, we’ve learned that spouses and partners often play a key role. As such, I wanted to begin this series with a discussion about the best ways to include them in your application process.

         As the spouse or partner of a future MBA student, you are an important part of the support system that will help your loved one succeed in business school. While the journey through business school can be both exciting and challenging, it is important for you to be well-informed and prepared for the experience. Here are some tips to help you thrive during this pivotal and transformative moment in your partner’s career and life.

  1. Understand the demands of business school: Business school is a rigorous and demanding program that requires a significant amount of time and effort. It is important to understand the demands of the program and be prepared to support your partner as they navigate the challenges ahead. Be aware of the time commitment involved, including late nights, early mornings, and weekends dedicated to coursework and studying.

Importantly, this extends to the application process! It’s incredibly helpful to have a frank and specific conversation about your application schedule, what it entails, and moments when you’ll need additional help. Which brings us to Point 2…

  1. Communicate openly and honestly: Good communication is key to a healthy and supportive relationship, especially during the challenges of business school. Make sure to have regular, open, and honest conversations with your partner about their experiences and how you can support them. Be an active listener and offer encouragement and support when needed. Relationships are complex and dynamic, and at various moments one of you will need somebody to lean on, and at other times the other will… and at still other teams, you’ll prop each other up! Understand, though, that an MBA can be pretty intense, so during these two years, you should expect to do more of the propping-up for an exhausted and spread-thin partner.

  1. Be flexible and understanding: Since business school can be demanding and stressful, it may require significant changes to your normal routine. Be flexible and understanding of your partner’s needs and try to make changes that will help both of you balance your priorities. This may include adjusting your work schedule, rearranging household responsibilities, or making other modifications to your daily routine. Remember that an MBA is an investment in both of your futures, so try to keep this collaborative and supportive attitude.

  1. Get involved in the business school community: Joining the business school community can help you stay informed about what’s happening and provide opportunities to meet other partners and spouses. This can include attending events, participating in clubs and organizations, or volunteering for events and initiatives.

  1. Maintain your own interests and hobbies: It is important to maintain your own interests and hobbies, even during the demanding time of business school. Make time for the activities that bring you joy and fulfillment and consider taking on new challenges and experiences that will help you grow and develop.

  1. Encourage self-care and stress management: Business school can be a stressful time for both you and your partner. Encourage your partner to prioritize self-care and stress management, including exercise, healthy eating habits, and time for relaxation and rejuvenation.

  1. Offer support during high-stakes times: Business school is full of high-stakes moments, such as exams, presentations, and networking events. Offer your support and encouragement during these times and be there to celebrate your partner’s successes and provide comfort during setbacks.

  1. Be a sounding board: Business school can be a time of intense self-reflection and growth, and it is important for you to be a sounding board for your partner. Listen to their ideas and provide a supportive environment in which they can explore their thoughts and goals.

  1. Build a network of your own: Building a network of friends and colleagues can help you stay connected and informed during business school. Seek out opportunities to connect with other partners and spouses, and consider joining clubs and organizations that align with your interests.

Of special note is that many business schools have clubs or organizations specifically for B-school partners, and having a network of partners and spouses can provide an incredible outlet for frustrations, a set of sympathetic ears who understand your particular situation, and social outlets for times when your partner is heavily involved in school or professional activities.

  1. Plan for the future: Business school is an investment in your partner’s future… AND YOUR FUTURE TOGETHER! As such, it is important to plan for the changes and opportunities that may come with a new degree. Consider your long-term goals and aspirations and have open and honest conversations about how an MBA will alter the trajectory of your shared lives.

As the partner of a future MBA student, you have a critical role to play in their success. By offering support, encouragement, and a strong foundation of love and understanding, you can help your partner navigate the challenges of business school and achieve their goals. This is a journey you’re taking together, so try to embrace the spirit of collaboration, mutual support, and the love that brought you together in the first place!

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top MBA programs. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email at service@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn

Ten Insider Tips for Your Medical School Personal Statement

A young adult appears stressed while sitting at a cluttered desk with medical textbooks, university application letters, and a laptop displaying an application page, symbolizing the challenging journey of medical school applications.
Embrace the journey, conquer the challenge. Your path to becoming a medical hero starts here. #MedSchoolDreams #FutureDoctor”

 

         How do you summarize your life and aspirations in just 5300 characters? With spring around the corner, this is the challenge facing thousands of medical school applicants. The AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) personal statement is the central pillar of your application, where you explain your achievements and contextualize your life, so you don’t want to get it wrong. To this end, we at Gurufi are producing a free video series that we’ll start rolling out next week detailing how you should approach your AMCAS personal statement. In the meantime, here are some tips you can use to craft a more powerful personal statement. In the meantime, if you’re feeling stuck, feel free to contact us atservice@gurufi.com for help, or visit our website at Gurufi.com!

         Here are ten tips for making your personal statement pop!

  1. Clearly state your motivation for pursuing medicine: The first thing that a good AMCAS personal statement does well is clearly state the applicant’s motivation for pursuing medicine. This is an opportunity to express why you are interested in becoming a physician and what drives your passion for the field. Be specific and concise, and make sure that your motivation is evident throughout the essay.

You don’t, though, have to state this in the opening paragraph. Use good storytelling to make your essay stand out, and part of this means that you should avoid overly rote openings like “I want to become a doctor because…:” I made these three videos for MBA applicants, but most of the core ideas are relevant to med school personal statements. Check them out here, here, and here!

  1. Understand you can’t say everything. The horror of medical school applications is that there is just so much to do! The flip side, though, is that in addition to your primary personal statement, you also have the AMCAS Work & Activities Section, secondaries, and even letters of recommendation to highlight additional parts of your application. Because you have so many opportunities to talk about what you’ve done, do NOT try to overstuff your Personal Statement. Most good personal statements will have three beats: “origin story,” “relevant accomplishment,” and “why medicine?” This isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, but a useful rule of thumb. In other words, in your PS, look to cover a few things really well, and then use the Work & Activities and individual school secondaries to address additional themes and tell additional stories.

  1. Highlight your unique experiences and skills: A good AMCAS personal statement should also highlight the applicant’s unique experiences and skills. This could include experiences in healthcare, volunteering, research, or leadership positions. Be specific about the experiences and explain how they have shaped your understanding of medicine and your goals for the future.

  1. Show your personality: The AMCAS personal statement is a chance for you to show your personality and make a connection with the admissions committee. Use a clear and conversational tone to describe your experiences and motivations. Avoid using medical jargon and technical language, and instead, write in a way that is easily accessible by an intelligent reader who might not be familiar with your particular area that you’re talking about.

  1. Emphasize your commitment to medicine: Good AMCAS personal statements also emphasize the applicant’s commitment to medicine. This could include a commitment to helping underserved communities, a desire to improve patient care, or a passion for medical research. Be specific about what drives your commitment and how you hope to contribute to the field of medicine.

  1. Discuss any challenges or obstacles you have overcome: A good AMCAS personal statement should also discuss any challenges or obstacles the applicant has faced and overcome. This could include personal or academic challenges, and how you were able to overcome them. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your resilience and determination, and to show that you have the qualities necessary to succeed in the challenging field of medicine.

  1. Highlight your long-term goals: A good AMCAS personal statement should also highlight the applicant’s long-term goals. This could include goals for their medical career, as well as personal goals that are relevant to medicine. Be specific and explain how these goals align with your motivations and experiences in medicine.

  1. Showcase your knowledge of the medical profession: A good AMCAS personal statement should also showcase the applicant’s knowledge of the medical profession. This could include an understanding of the responsibilities of a physician, current healthcare issues, and a passion for ongoing medical education. Be specific and explain how you plan to continue learning and growing as a physician.

  1. Provide a well-structured and organized essay: A good AMCAS personal statement should also be well-structured and organized. This includes having a clear introduction, body, and conclusion and using appropriate headings and subheadings to help the admissions committee easily follow your story. It should also be free of grammar and spelling errors and carefully proofread before submitting.

  1. Keep it concise: This is an obvious one. The system simply won’t let you upload more than 5300 characters (including spaces) so be sure to plan, outline, and write with this hard cap in mind. Remember Point #2: you can’t say everything, so don’t try. Remember, two well-told stories (or even one!) is much better than five stories that are rushed and thin. As such, be selective about what you include and focus on the most important experiences, skills, and motivations that you want to showcase.

No pressure, but this could be the most important essay of your life, so plan, leave time for revision, and seek outside help if necessary. At Gurufi, we have 17+ years of experience helping people get into top medical schools. Last year, we placed candidates at top programs like Harvard Medical School, UCSF, Northwestern, Duke, UCLA, USC, OHSU, and Johns Hopkins. We also have an excellent track record with Canadian and UK medical schools. If you need help crafting a powerful personal statement, check us out!

For more help with your personal statement, check us out at Gurufi.com. Our personal statement editors and consultants have decades of experience helping clients get into top Medical Schools. Our specialty is helping you craft compelling personal statements that move the needle in your admissions process! For questions, shoot us an email atservice@gurufi.com. Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.