[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":3,"doc-seo-350503-105":53,"doc-detail-350503-en":126},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,14,19,24,29,34,39,44,49],{"id":8,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":11,"show_sort_weight":12,"slug":13},11,1,"Template","Presentations",90,"presentations",{"id":15,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":16,"show_sort_weight":17,"slug":18},12,"Resumes",80,"resumes",{"id":20,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":21,"show_sort_weight":22,"slug":23},14,"Invoices",70,"invoices",{"id":25,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":26,"show_sort_weight":27,"slug":28},15,"Posters",60,"posters",{"id":30,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":31,"show_sort_weight":32,"slug":33},16,"Social Media",50,"social-media",{"id":35,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":36,"show_sort_weight":37,"slug":38},17,"Forms",40,"forms",{"id":40,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":41,"show_sort_weight":42,"slug":43},18,"Letters",30,"letters",{"id":45,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":46,"show_sort_weight":47,"slug":48},21,"Paper Templates",5,"papers-templates",{"id":50,"doc_module":9,"doc_module_name":10,"category_name":51,"show_sort_weight":4,"slug":52},158,"General","general-158",{"code":4,"msg":54,"data":55},"ok",{"site_id":56,"language":57,"slug":58,"title":59,"keywords":60,"description":61,"schema_data":62,"social_meta":119,"head_meta":121,"extra_data":123,"updated_unix":125},105,"en","writing-a-personal-statement-personal-statement-guide","WRITING A PERSONAL STATEMENT - Personal Statement Guide","","A comprehensive guide to writing a personal statement for health professions applications, explaining what a personal statement is and why it matters in distinguishing applicants. It details themes to avoid, including clichés, grandiosity, excuses, name-dropping, inflammatory remarks, lies, and misuse of format. It also provides a practical writing process: reflect on motivation, fit, capacity, and vision; brainstorm a central message using possible topic areas; and execute with a clear thesis, essay outline structure, and purposeful hook and conclusion.",{"@graph":63,"@context":118},[64,80,101],{"@type":65,"itemListElement":66},"BreadcrumbList",[67,71,74,77],{"item":68,"name":69,"@type":70,"position":9},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":72,"name":10,"@type":70,"position":73},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/",2,{"item":75,"name":16,"@type":70,"position":76},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/resumes/",3,{"item":78,"name":59,"@type":70,"position":79},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/writing-a-personal-statement-personal-statement-guide/350503/",4,{"url":78,"name":59,"@type":81,"image":82,"author":87,"headline":59,"publisher":90,"fileFormat":93,"inLanguage":57,"description":61,"dateModified":94,"datePublished":95,"encodingFormat":93,"isAccessibleForFree":96,"interactionStatistic":97},"DigitalDocument",{"url":83,"@type":84,"width":85,"height":86},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/writing-a-personal-statement-personal-statement-guide/350503.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":88,"@type":89},"WPS_1786070896","Person",{"url":68,"name":91,"@type":92},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-04","2026-09-22",true,{"@type":98,"interactionType":99,"userInteractionCount":9},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":100},"ViewAction",{"@type":102,"mainEntity":103},"FAQPage",[104,110,114],{"name":105,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":107},"What is the purpose of a personal statement in a health professions application?","Question",{"text":108,"@type":109},"It supports other application parts and helps the admissions committee understand your motivation and who you are. It also connects your values, interests, and goals to your story and context.","Answer",{"name":111,"@type":106,"acceptedAnswer":112},"Which themes should be avoided when writing a personal statement?",{"text":113,"@type":109},"Avoid clichés, instant “epiphany” narratives, repeating an entire resume, grand claims, excuses for poor conduct or grades, name-dropping, controversial statements, and lies or misleading information. 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It is your first chance to help the admissions committee understand your motivation for pursuing this career while giving them a sense of who you are. The personal statement tells your story and the context that shaped who you are as a person – your values, interests and goals. Your statement should breathe life into your application and make the admission committee feel something.  \nWhy is the Personal Statement Important?  \nThe biggest “cut” in the admission process is based on application content, and your personal statement is part of the application. You will be applying with other students who may be academically similar to you. The personal statement can help you to stand out in a positive way. Simply by telling your story, you have the opportunity to highlight your uniqueness and how you will positively contribute to the health professions community.  \nThemes to Avoid in Your Personal Statement  \n􀁸 Clichés: “I like science and want to help people.” – This is a job requirement, not something that makes you stand out.  \n􀁸 Epiphany into Healthcare/Manifest Destiny: Your pursuit of the health professions should be a result of a series of thoughtful, conscious, and reflective decisions, not an instantaneous realization or something you’ve “always known”.  \n􀁸 The Narrative Resume: Do not rehash all of your activities and achievements. Your statement should focus on one or two significant experiences that offer sincere insight into you.  \n􀁸 Grandiosity: While it’s good to have goals, claiming in your personal statement that you are going to “cure cancer” or “eliminate healthcare disparities” shows a lack of understanding of the problem you’re planning to solve.  \n􀁸 Excuses: There are much better uses for your personal statement than justifying poor grades, conduct violations, etc. However, if you choose to address this, make it brief and focus should be on what you learned from the incident.  \n􀁸 Name Dropping: Your experiences are what make you unique, not who you know. Keep the focus on you.  \n􀁸 Inflammatory/Controversial Remarks: You do not know the values, beliefs, and background of the person who is reading your essay. Refrain from making strong statements on politics, religion, and other polarizing topics.  \n􀁸 Lies: This not only includes blatant lies, but also includes providing information that maybe factually accurate but is presented in a misleading way. It will not take an admission committee long to figure out when you are embellishing.  \n􀁸 Quotations: You have around 5,000 characters for your personal statement. Don’t waste them using someone else’s words.  \n􀁸 Unusual Format: Do not try to stand out by using an unusual format. Do not submit artwork, videos, or poems. You do not need gimmicks to stand out.  \n􀁸 Experience providing any treatments you are not licensed to provide: If you have ever participated in treatments while shadowing or volunteering do not discuss this experience unless you are licensed. Please see the AAMC’s policy regarding such behavior HERE and ADEA’s policy HERE.  \nSteps for Writing Your Personal Statement  \nThis process will be different for everyone, but these steps can guide you through the process of telling your story.  \nStep 1: Reflect  \nTake a moment to reassess why you want to join this profession. If you’ve kept a reflection journal from your activities, now is the time to review it! Use these questions to help guide your reflection and use a notebook to write down reflections:  \nMotivation:  \no Why are you applying?  \no What inspires you to pursue this profession?  \no What makes you so passionate about this?  \nFit:  \no What are your values?  \no How do these align with the values of the profession?  \no What personal qualities do you have that will enable you to positively contribute to the profession?  \nCapacity:  \no Wh","cbCaisqdu09tyuKz","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaisqdu09tyuKz","pdf",415648,"English","# What is a Personal Statement?\n# Why is the Personal Statement Important?\n# Themes to Avoid in Your Personal Statement\n# Steps for Writing Your Personal Statement\n## Step 1: Reflect\n## Step 2: Brainstorm\n## Step 3: Execution","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of a personal statement in a health professions application?\",\"answer\":\"It supports other application parts and helps the admissions committee understand your motivation and who you are. It also connects your values, interests, and goals to your story and context.\"},{\"question\":\"Which themes should be avoided when writing a personal statement?\",\"answer\":\"Avoid clichés, instant “epiphany” narratives, repeating an entire resume, grand claims, excuses for poor conduct or grades, name-dropping, controversial statements, and lies or misleading information. Also avoid quotations, unusual gimmicks, and discussing treatments you are not licensed to provide.\"},{\"question\":\"What steps can help you write an effective personal statement?\",\"answer\":\"Reflect on motivation, fit, capacity, and vision; brainstorm and group ideas around a central message and theme; then execute by drafting a thesis, using an essay outline, opening with a hook, and concluding by reinforcing the thesis.\"}]","WRITING A PERSONAL STATEMENT - Personal Statement Guide | PDF",1790089343]