Use your medical school statement as a way to express that you have always known you wanted to be a doctor. However, do not simply write, "I always knew medicine was my calling." Instead, explain how you knew you were destined to be in the medical field, beginning your statement with a captivating anecdote. For example, write about your first experiences with a doctor or some other event that encouraged you to think about entering medicine. Be specific in your description, giving details that make the reader feel as though he is actually witnessing the event. Use senses such as sights, smells and touch to hammer your point. If you had a negative experience in which you lost a family member to a disease and this encouraged you to pursue medicine, emphasize this.
Write about why you are qualified to enter medical school. A medical school admissions team is more drawn to candidates who prove their interest by sharing their real-life experiences in the industry. For example, if you every worked or volunteered in a hospital, mention this; give concrete statements about the type of work you did or what you observed. Be specific about what you did so as to show the medical school admissions team that you can work well with patients and fellow clinicians. In addition, if you completed any research projects related to medicine during your undergraduate degree program, emphasize what you discovered and how it contributed to the medical field. Even if you simply came up with a better way to perform a laboratory procedure, mention this because it shows your originality and initiative.
Keep your medical school statement concise. Do not be wordy because medical school admissions team members typically only have time to skim your essay, so you want to get to the point quickly. Use transitions to allow your paragraphs to flow well and always use active voice. Your medical school statement ideally should follow the suggested guidelines on length.
If weak areas of your medical school application exist, address them in your statement, but do not dwell on them. For example, if you did not have time to volunteer in a hospital during your undergraduate degree program because you were working full time to pay for school and support your family, explain this. If you have a low score on your MCAT due to an illness the day of the test, address this as well.