Essay Writing
Your primary application (to AMCAS, ADSAS, ACOMAS, or VMCAS)
will include a personal statement, sometimes called the
essay. The intent of the essay is to give you the opportunity
to explain why you are a good candidate for professional
school. Remember that you are competing with hundreds and
sometimes thousands of candidates. Your essay should focus
on your unique qualities. It should give a reader a good
sense of who you are and why you are interested in professional
school. It is important that the essay be well written
and interesting, and that it conforms to the space requirements.
The information below will help you in writing your essay.
Types of Essays
The essay in your primary application will be largely
autobiographical. Good autobiographical essays have the
following characteristics:
- Reveal an understanding of your personality traits
- Focus on a few events or persons who have influenced
you especially in your decision to pursue a health
profession
- Explain the effects of that influence
- Maintain the readers interest
Most secondary applications will include additional
essays. These are likely to fall under one of the following
categories (also see the list of questions at the end
of the handout):
- Essays about yourself and your activities
- Essays on why you are interested in a particular
school
- Essays asking you to respond to a thought-provoking
statement or contemporary problem
The Process
A well-written essay requires thought and effort. The
process outlined here is well established, and worthwhile.
Prewriting
Ask yourself the following questions. Focus on your
thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
- How/why did I develop an interest in ________?
- How have I demonstrated my interest in ________?
- How is my personality suited for this profession?
- How can I display my knowledge about the profession?
- Why does my GPA/test score not reflect my academic
potential?
- How do I explain incompletes, withdrawals, and repeated
courses? (Remember to explain, not excuse.)
- Explore the answers to the above, and to any related
questions
Select an organizational plan: chronological or cause/effect
- Chronological: In this plan you begin at the beginning
and present your information in a straight-forward
manner that leads to a conclusion about your personality
and the events that led you to this place and time.
- Cause/Effect: This type of essay begins with, and
focuses on a significant event which relates to your
professional interest. If you choose this organizational
style, you must relate the event to the formation of
your personality and goals.
Writing
Write a draft of your essay. Let the questions you asked
above guide your writing. Be sure to include your thoughts
and emotions. Be vivid, and use good description. Once
you have a draft written, ask the following questions:
- Does the introduction grab attention?
- Would dialogue or conversation help?
- Will the reader understand why/how I have been influenced?
- Were any irregularities in my academic record adequately
explained?
- Did I conclude or just quit?
Polishing
Proofread: Use
the spell and grammar checker in your word-processing
program. Have someone else read the essay for clarity
and grammar. Have someone who does not know you well
read the essay for content and interest. When you give
the essay to someone for proofreading, give him or her
a copy that is double-spaced so there is room to write.
In proofreading, look for the following common problems:
- Grammar (appropriate use of words, sentence structure)
- Punctuation (especially commas, colons, and semi-colons)
- Mechanics (capital letters, spelling, hyphens)
- Word choice (appropriate, concise, apolitical)
- Syntax (word order)
- Vocabulary (if you use a thesaurus, be careful that
you know what the word means)
Tips for Better Essays
- Accurately follow any instructions, including rules
about font size and space.
- Use most or all of the space provided. A very short
essay may suggest arrogance and overconfidence.
- Be sure that someone qualified reads the essay. We
will review it in the SAC, or you may ask someone else.
Ask the reviewers to note the following:
- Grammar/spelling errors
- Readability/flow
- Interest
- Maturity/professionalism
- What impression does the essay give?
- Avoid gimmicks like quoting odd poetry. Avoid the
overused "I want to help people."
- If this is a re-application your essay should address
progress you have made since the first application,
significant changes in grades, test scores, or personal
growth, and reasons you believe you are a better candidate
this time around.
More Help
Remember that the Health Profession's advisors are
willing to help you proof the final draft of your
essay. There are also several internet companies that will
read and evaluate your essay for a fee. Although we do
not recommend any of these sites for their services, their
websites also have examples of what to do – and not
do – in a good essay:
Other Advice
We hope you have found this guide helpful. Please be sure to attend
one of our spring workshops, and feel free to email
us if you have further questions.
Return to the Application Process page
