By Tolu Atilola
GCSE results, A Level choices, UCAT, interviews…
There’s a lot that goes into a Medicine application at any university, and Oxford is no different! While the importance of personal statements in the overall application process is often debated - so much so that UCAS is considering moving away from the traditional ‘free text’ method - it’s still a vital part of your overall application. Shortlisting for interviews is usually on the basis of GCSE and UCAT results (alongside contextual info), but when it comes to interview time, your personal statement can truly demonstrate the strength of your interest in your given subject.
With that being said, here are my top tips for constructing a great personal statement for Medicine applications!
Personal Motivation
Although this can be slightly cliché (think: ‘I knew I wanted to be a doctor when I came out of the womb…’), showcasing what personally motivates you to enter Medicine is important. Try to reflect on specific, personal examples that may have sparked an interest in Medicine. In my personal statement, I spoke about the underdiagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in a different country, and how that experience had prompted me to learn about healthcare disparities between different countries and regions.
Work Experience and Volunteering
Demonstrating a commitment to finding out what a career in Medicine entails is a vital part of any Medicine personal statement. It can be difficult to find work experience in the areas you may be most interested in, or that seem the most relevant - but any experience can be valuable if you can explore what qualities or skills you observed and/or learnt. I spoke about my placements in a high-risk pregnancy unit and a hospice, commenting on my understanding of the medical complexities but also my appreciation of the communications skills needed in a holistic approach to patient care.
Evidence of Wider Reading and Scientific Interest
This part of the personal statement is how you can really tailor your personal statement to Oxford! Among a handful of other universities, Oxford retains a ‘traditional’ pre-clinical / clinical split across the 6 years, where the first 3 years are dedicated to a comprehensive grounding in the science underlying Medicine. The tutors are looking for students who are motivated and curious about the medical sciences - so it’s really important that you demonstrate your efforts to read beyond the A-Level syllabus into the specific areas that interest you.
This could be through a formal research project (e.g. EPQ) or just through reading books and published literature in your free time. In sixth form, my wider reading focused on the therapeutic benefits of music therapy in Alzheimer’s disease. Through discussing this interest, I was able to expand on my work experience, my research and organisation skills - and overall clearly demonstrate how my own work had deepened my interest in Medicine.
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