This guide provides a structured approach to highlight your experiences, skills, and dedication. Follow these guidelines to create a strong personal statement!
Why does your personal statement matter?
Your personal statement is a critical component of your application to medicine and dentistry programs. It offers a unique opportunity to highlight your motivation, experiences, and suitability for the profession beyond your grades and test scores. Here’s why it matters and how it can make a significant difference in your application:
- Admission tutors want to understand why you are passionate about pursuing a career in dentistry or medicine.
- Your experiences reflect your understanding of the profession’s demands and rewards.
- Your academic background and any additional research you have undertaken show your commitment to lifelong learning.
- Admissions committees value applicants who are well-rounded and can balance academic commitments with extracurricular activities. This indicates your ability to manage time and stress effectively.
- It is your opportunity to present yourself as a dedicated, well-rounded, and reflective candidate.
- Admission tutors often refer to it during interviews to guide their questions and assess your suitability for the course.
Paragraph 1: Motivation and Commitment to Study Dentistry
- Start with a concise explanation of your motivation, possibly a personal or family experience that inspired you.
- Show your dedication by highlighting consistent efforts to learn more about medicine/dentistry.
Do’s:
- Mention relevant experiences, like orthodontic treatment or family dental issues.
- Provide an overview of why you chose medicine/dentistry.
Don’ts:
- Use clichés like “Ever since I was a child…”.
- Use overly cringey language.
Paragraph 2: Work Experience
- Discuss in-person or virtual work experience, MOOCs, and observing in NHS or private settings.
- Emphasise what you learned, skills gained, and your understanding of the medical/dental profession.
Do’s:
- Reflect on observations and learnings.
- Acknowledge the challenges in medicine/dentistry.
Don’ts:
- Just list what you saw.
- Portray medicine/dentistry as perfect professions.
Paragraph 3: Academic Background and Extra Reading
- Discuss how A-levels or your degree steered you towards medicine/dentistry.
- Mention any additional reading, interesting cases, or notable figures in medicine/dentistry that influenced you.
- Highlight any relevant research or articles you’ve published.
Do’s:
- Explain your choice of subject and its relevance to medicine/dentistry.
- Mention any extra research or projects related to health.
Paragraph 4: Extracurricular Activities and Volunteering
- Describe part-time jobs or leadership roles.
- Discuss your involvement in university societies, sports, or hobbies.
- Reflect on volunteering experiences and the skills gained.
Do’s:
- Show you are a well-rounded individual.
- Explain the skills gained from each activity and their relevance to medicine/dentistry.
Don’ts:
- Simply list activities.
- Appear overly focused on academics; show a balanced profile.
Paragraph 5: Conclusion
- Keep it concise, summarising key points from the body of your statement.
- Reinforce your enthusiasm and readiness for a career in medicine/dentistry.
Do’s:
- Make it short and impactful.
- Use 2-3 lines to summarise.
Don’ts:
- Introduce new information.
- Use too many characters in the conclusion.
General Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s:
- Reflect on experiences and link them to medicine/dentistry.
- Start writing early to allow time for revisions.
- Ensure correct grammar and vocabulary.
- Demonstrate suitability for the profession with examples.
- Mention skills gained from extracurricular activities and relate them to medicine/dentistry.
Don’ts:
- Don’t lie or plagiarise.
- Don’t use overly sentimental language.
- Don’t just list experiences; reflect on them.
- Don’t come across as arrogant.
Additional tips for specific situations
Graduate entry:
- Select modules or projects related to medicine/dentistry.
- Highlight clubs and societies participation.
Gap year:
- Explain your gap year plans and how they contribute to personal and professional development.
International applicants:
- Compare work experience in your home country with the UK.
- Highlight communication and adaptability skills.
Look out for regular posts featuring handy tips and tricks on our social media accounts. Also, keep an eye out for regular updates as we’ll be introducing new content and resources to enhance your personal statement preparation experience!
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