Medical School Personal Statement

I am sharing my personal statement to show that not all applicants for professional school are perfect.  For instance, I applied to medical school 3 times: (1) my last year of college to only Allopathic Schools (2) during my post baccalaureate program and only applied to GUSOM (3) the year before I started medical school and was accepted to AT Still University, SOMA and Meharry Medical College.  In conclusion, I love every decision in my past and would not make a change. 

I arrived on the scene under the impression that the patient was having a fainting spell, only to find that she was in cardiac arrest. The paramedic told me to begin compressions; as I inhaled deeply, I opened her shirt, pressed my hands firmly on her sternum and proceeded to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. At first, I was shocked and nervous as I could feel her ribs crack each time I pushed down on her sternum. Yet, I continued the procedure because I realized that I had a job to do. The paramedic encouraged me by saying, “Great job, keep pumping!” After a few minutes, we were able to obtain a rhythm and the patient was transported to the emergency room. I was left in complete awe because I had just saved her life; I did not expect to be in such a critical situation that day. But similar to baseball, life constantly throws us curveballs, and our plans do not always unfold as expected. Through experience and personal reflection, I have discovered that unexpected challenges are extremely influential in forging one’s character. I have persevered by living my life according to my high school’s “four D’s”: determination, discipline, dedication, and desire.

After graduating high school, I entered college in an accelerated Biomedical Science program and anticipated that my graduation date from medical school would be 7 years later. I pursued new experiences, such as Science Awareness Committee, and worked to become a role model for my community. However, the university life offered new challenges, and it took some time for me to settle into an effective strategy for academic success. Though my grades improved in the last two years of college, I was unsuccessful in my application to medical school. Not one to give up easily, I was accepted into the Georgetown Experimental Medical Studies program at Georgetown University, which enrolls students from disadvantaged backgrounds interested in becoming physicians to give back to the underserved and disadvantaged. I successfully completed all the graduate coursework including three medical courses: Embryology, Physiology, and Endocrinology. Unfortunately, I was denied admission to medical school.  And to make matters worst, I learned from my brothers that my parents had filed for divorce. 

Although deflated emotionally and faced with another obstacle, I continued to push toward my goal. After seeking council from my advisors, I decided to forgo applying for the following cycle. I spent a year enhancing myself mentally, clinically, and spiritually. Like my father, I decided to become an EMT. My friends, parents, and relatives questioned my reason for choosing this interim career. “I am breaking up with you (ex-girlfriend)… you will be underpaid… you have a college degree… do research… why not consider becoming a physician assistant or a nurse practitioner…” It seemed to everyone that I had failed and was ready to throw in the “white towel” of defeat. All these questions circulated in my mind, but I knew that the EMT experience would be beneficial and another step forward in my journey. And surprisingly, I have had the opportunity of working with two D.O. physicians, who introduced to me a different approach to patient care.  With my EMT experience, my desire to become a doctor is so strong that I am determined to overcome any obstacles and pursue my goal.

While the day that I revived my first cardiac arrest patient is but one experience in the path to becoming a doctor, it illustrates a common theme in my life: overcoming uncertainty. Moreover, I discovered the exhilaration of having a meaningful impact on the life of another. Additionally, the uncertainty of being an unsuccessful applicant to medical school has only strengthened my drive to seek out new experiences. Through experiences like this, I have gained a wider perspective of life, and I am more focused than ever before. I have shown that I have the determination, discipline, dedication, and desire to become a physician. Just as I have prepared as an EMT, I am ready for the unexpectedness of life. For everything that I have experienced, I am stronger and better prepared for what the future holds.