Prehealth Essay and

Activities Section Workshop:

Understanding how your experiences
led you here, and how your activities
prepared you to be successful there.
Prehealth Advising
12-185, (617) 715-5328
http://gecd.mit.edu/grad_school/health

What schools are looking for:

Proof that you are prepared for the academic rigor of medical
school (Grades, GPA, MCAT)
Evidence that youve gained sufficient exposure in the field of
medicine to have a realistic sense of what youre getting into.
Demonstrated involvement in activities that call on and/or have
fostered the skills, traits and qualities which are integral to the
role of a physician.
Indication that youve reflected on your experiences and
understand how your life and activities have shaped who you are
and have influenced your career choices.

How do they measure these things?

Academics:
Grades/GPA
MCAT
Beyond Academics:
Letters of Recommendation
Essays
Activities Section

What is the Primary Essay?

A brief narrative that discusses the
experiences that have drawn you to medicine
It should:
Make a positive, lasting first impression
Reflect on how your experiences relate to
your desire to become a physician
Distinguish you from other applicants

AMCAS Personal Statement

AMCAS Essay:
Use the space provided to explain why you want to go to medical school.
5300 characters or less (approx. 1 page)
2 additional essays required for MD-PhD
M.D.-Ph.D. Essay: The M.D./Ph.D essay should discuss your interest in
science, and how this aligns with your medical interests. This is your
opportunity to express why you want both degrees and provide evidence
to back up your assertions

Significant Research Experience Essay: In addition to the M.D.-Ph.D.

essay, you are also required to provide an essay that describes your
significant research experiences

What is the Suggested Essay

Structure?
Opening paragraph (thesis included)

Supporting paragraphs (~3)

Closing paragraph (summarizing key points)

Possible Topics
Life events and changes
Achievements
Obstacles overcome
Significant people in your life
Health-related exposure/experience
Influential books or quotes
Extracurricular activities
Employment experiences
Service experiences
Travel experiences

Steps To Essay Writing

Reflect on key experiences
Begin working on the AMCAS activity section
Determine your theme/topic/supporting points
Prepare an outline or diagram of your ideas
Write an initial draft
Edit as needed
At various points throughout this process, engage in
conversation with family, friends, advisors, etc.

AMCAS Activity Section

Enter any work experience, extracurricular activities, awards,
honors, or publications that you would like to bring to the
attention of your medical schools.
MIT and beyond
Consider ALL activities-even those which may initially appear
unrelated to medicine
Think about the value gained from each experience and how
it may have some relevance or transferability in medicine
What have you gained/learned from the experience that has
made you more prepared for a career as a physician
What impact did you make?

AMCAS Activity Section (cont.)

15 spaces
Think quality over quantity!
700 character descriptions
Select up to 3 most meaningful
1325 character description for the
most meaningful experience
Group topics together if necessary
(i.e. Shadowing)

Writing Tips
Keep it simple
Dont focus on too many
experiences

Make it logical and cohesive

Identify themes
Transitions, transitions, transitions!

Show instead of telling the reader:

Use examples and stories to reveal how you have used
desirable skills or traits in the past
Balance story-telling with reflecting on what you have learned
from your experiences and how it relates to medicine

Writing Tips (cont.)

Dont spend the essay talking about the
inspiration point, instead focus on what you
did in reaction or response

Explain weaknesses in a positive way

(grades, exam scores, lack of experience, etc.)

Be brief
Dont make excuses
Focus on what you learned from the experience
Is this the best place/means to address the issue?

Distinguish yourself
Focus on the aspects of your candidacy that make your
application unique

Common Pitfalls
Using highly technical language
Trying to be too creative (e.g., writing poetry)
Discussing why you didnt think medicine, dentistry, or
another health profession was for you
Claiming that youve wanted to be a doctor or other health
professional since birth
Starting your essay with I want to be a doctor because
Overusing I
Using I think, I feel, I believe. Unnecessary. Its
your essay! It contains your thoughts, feelings, & beliefs!

Be Cautious Of
Providing more information about someone else than
about yourself
ex. Sick family member, someone who inspired you
in life, etc.

Delicate/emotional experiences in your life (ex. Death,

personal illness or disabilities, etc.)
Whatever is in your essay has potential to be
discussed in the interview.
Religious or political convictions
How important is it to you that schools have this
information about you?
Make sure you can back up your claims or position

Additional Suggestions:
Use text-only software if you plan to cut and paste
Use correct, formal grammar. Check for
capitalization, spelling, and punctuation errors.
Proofread carefully! Changes cannot be made once
you have submitted your AMCAS

Suggested Essay Writing Timeline

for the Primary Application
Enter your final
Have early
drafts
critiqued by
family/friends

Select 3-4
ideas/topics
for essay

Jan/Feb

Feb
Start writing
early draft(s)

Feb/Mar

essay(s) into your

Prehealth Credential
Service Account by
May 30

Feb/Mar/Apr

May/June
June 30

Request essay critique by

Prehealth Advising
(Limit 2 reviews)

Expect to write at least 6 drafts before submitting

a final version for your application.

Solicit Feedback
Review your essay with the Prehealth Advising staff
Ask for feedback from someone who knows you well
Does this essay sound like you?
Ask for feedback from someone who does not know
you well
What did the person learn about you through the
essay?
Does their image of you match what you were
hoping to portray in the essay?
MIT Writing Center: http://writing.mit.edu/wcc
BE Writing Lab: http://bewritinglab.mit.edu/

Prehealth Advising
Essay Critique Options:
Option #1: Appointments
Call 617-715-5328 to make an in-person or phone appointment.
Send your essay via email as a word document 24 hours prior to
your appointment.

Option #2: Email Critiques

Email prehealthessaycrits@mit.edu with a Word copy of your
essay. (Please, no PDFs)

Essay Critique Policy

Expect to receive your critique within 3-4 business days of
requesting an email critique, especially during peak busy times
(February through May)

Number of critiques may be limited depending on volume of

requests. (Submit your essay early for the most attention!)

Secondary Application Essays

Sent directly from the medical school
Asked to respond to a specific prompt
Should differ from AMCAS essay
Should relate to the school asking the question
Secondary applications are sent approximately
immediately to 6 weeks after your primary application
(ex. AMCAS) has been verified and processed.

Sample Secondary Application

Essays
Albany Medical School: If selected for an interview, what one life experience
would you most like to talk about? (160 char limit)
Albert Einstein: Imagine that it is the year 2030. What would you like to have
accomplished thus far in your life, and how did Albert Einstein Medical School help
you achieve these goals? (max 6500 characters)
Columbia: What satisfactions do you expect to receive from your activities as a
physician?(2475 characters)

Wash. U.: Do you have unique experiences or obstacles that you have overcome
that were not covered in your application about which you would like to inform our
Admissions Committee? (maximum 3000 characters including spaces)
Yale: Write an essay in which you discuss your interest in the Yale University
School of Medicine. (limit 500 words)
Additional sample secondary essays can be found on www.studentdoctor.net

Activities to help you get started

Whats your story?

What led you here?

Where were you born?

Where did you grow up?
What was your k-12 experience like?
How did you spend your time outside of school?
Who was important or influential in your life as you grew up?
Were there any significant events that shaped your life?
What are you proud of?
What challenges have you overcome?
Why do you think you got into MIT?

What have you been up to?

How have your activities
prepared you for whats next?

What have you done during IAP?

How about over the summer?
Spring break?
How you do you spend your time outside of class?
Do you have hobbies?
What student clubs or organizations are you a part of?
Did you work (while MIT or after)?
What have you done to explore medicine?
Did you participate in any special programs?

Reflecting on your life and

experiencesIdentifying Themes
Are there certain activities that relate to one another?
Developmental (one experience prepared you for others)
Inspiring (something motivated you to do something else)
Comparative (you were able to see both sides of something)
Chronological (one experience led to the next)
Big picture (the combination of things gave you perspective)

Thank you for your

attention.

Questions?
Prehealth Advising
12-185, (617) 715-5328
http://gecd.mit.edu/grad_school/health
February 2014