Pursuing A Degree In Medicine: A Personal Statement Of Purpose

The first time I realized I wanted to specialize in medicine was when my father took me to the fire station when I was around the age of fourteen. He began to show me images of different cases and trauma scenes they had participated in. Since then, I have constantly asked my dad questions about different calls and scenarios about patients he has rescued. By having a father in the medical field and continuing to take science and medical courses throughout high school, I began to learn more about medicine throughout the years. Deciding to partake in these courses further advanced my understanding in medicine. These courses helped it become clear to me that the medical field is something I continuously

I’ve always had an interest in becoming a Doctor. Even as a young child. Unfortunately, I lost my grandpa January 23, 2016 to a Lung Disease. He and I had a great relationship. He inspired me to be the best that I can be. Through his battle with Lung disease, I saw how the Doctors cared for him in a special way. My father suffered from a stroke that nearly changed his life. Watching him progress and get treated from amazing Doctors opened my eyes. That’s when I realized becoming a Doctor would allow me to care for people the same way my loved ones were cared

I come from a small rural town nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. My hometown is split down the middle by a set of railroad tracks. On the north side, one can find pristine neighborhoods, newer schools, most doctors’ offices, and the only hospital in town. The south side of the town stands as a stark contrast. On the south side, you no longer find the wealthy neighborhoods but rather dilapidated and condemned homes and housing projects. One seems to find abandoned buildings on every corner, many inhabited by those that have lost their homes. Limited help is coming for those who need it, mostly through churches and volunteer programs targeting the underserved. Many doctors, dentists, and nurses are giving their time and resources to help

My parents grew up in families with little parental direction. Attending school, overcoming adversity, getting a job and becoming successful were up to their own making. Although my parents did not go to college, they took advantage of other opportunities to better their lives so that my siblings and I would be able to attend universities. They worked hard to get jobs even without college degrees, and then worked harder to maintain those jobs; subsequently, this furthered their positions in their workplaces. By setting an example of making the most of what life has to offer, they influenced me to seize every opportunity that crosses my path. Going to college was not an opportunity my parents could take advantage of, but it is one that I can.

My passion for medicine is something deeper than a mere interest in learning the extraordinary functions of the human body. I am completely fascinated to learn gross anatomy, histology, pathology, and the complete medical school curriculum. However, I am more captivated by how the knowledge I will gain in medical school will allow me to perform the lifesaving procedures that physicians are able execute. Although, medicine is not always ideally as I have written, I believe that as a physician I would use my knowledge and my experiences to provide the best holistic care to my patients. My culture, my experiences, and my education will bring a different perspective to the medical field. I aspire to have the ability and knowledge to save a child that might not live, to save a woman that suffers a heart stroke, and to even provide the necessary treatment for a child with a mere cold. Additionally, participating in the Loma Linda Gateway to the Health

For as long as I could remember, I have seen my father rushing to the hospital in a white coat, answering pagers in the middle of important family conversations and attending night calls even in the most terrible weather. I had always wondered; what could be so important that it belittles every other responsibility in his life. It was only after many years of anguish and protests that it finally made sense to me. This defining moment of realization occurred when I first met a patient in his office. I saw how the gratitude in the patient’s eyes can provide a sense of fulfillment that triumphs all other feelings in the universe. It was human life that was most important. Being a doctor does not make you a mere healer but also gives you the responsibility of a caregiver. I had never felt more proud of my father and that was the day I felt the urge to relive this feeling many times over. It was there in that moment that I decided to pursue a career in medicine.

1. Briefly describe the one clinical experience you have had that has most significantly influenced your decision to study medicine. Do not replicate your AMCAS personal statement.

    Ever since my childhood, I have always found medicine to be intriguing. My interest first sparked when I learned about my cousin’s, Austin, illness. Austin was born nearly four months early and was diagnosed with an underdeveloped trachea and COPD. Within Austin’s first moments of life, doctors had to perform a tracheotomy. As I observed my cousin’s suffering over the years, my desire to help others was ignited. Since then, my will to help people has only grown immensely. From playing doctor to caring for my family when they are sick, my caring nature and love to help people has always been evident. All I want is the ability to help others and to make a difference. Now, my cousin has miraculously lived

To say that this incident was the defining moment as to why I chose medicine would be an exaggeration, but it had undoubtedly been an affirmation of my decision. To embark on a career in Medicine was not an easy decision, and it was certainly not something that I had aspired to be from a young age. In fact, it took nearly half a decade of careful consideration and exploration before I reached this conclusion. My motivation to become a doctor stems not only from my love for science, but also from the special connection that is established between a patient and a doctor during diagnosis and consultation. The opportunity for devoting a lifetime to alleviating illnesses stands as my inspiration. I believe that there is no other profession that can be compared to one which utilizes one’s acquired abilities to bring about a more immediate impact on someone’s life, just as this experience had

Sometimes I wonder what I would do if I decided to be something other than a doctor. My imagination has been plagued with thoughts of my future since I’ve been born. I was a small unsuspecting little girl. Who could have conjured the thought that I’d be pursuing medicine?

I am non-traditional medical school applicant mainly because my desire and decision to pursue a medical profession was not made until the spring semester of my senior year as a college undergraduate. After graduating in May 2013 I started to study for the MCAT during the summer of 2013. After taking the MCAT I decided to enroll in my college taking post baccalaureate courses for one semester in order to reinforce my science background and improve my GPA. I took courses in psychology, sociology, and repeated physics and chemistry courses and received an A in both courses.

Early in life, I realized that education often determines one's destiny. Being born and raised away from city with a remote and long isolated community, exposed me to the challenges of facing poverty coupled with squandered opportunities for education, health, and happiness. Though struggled to meet days end , my father insisted me along with my three siblings receive education to break this notion. He inculcated in us the compulsion to strive, the talent to prosper and the ability to overcome failure are strongly inherited. Even though confronted the stigma of social status, my parents relinquished us with every possible comfort in the defiance of material paucity........I fear I never noticed those tears melted away with water dropping

I have been interested in pursuing a medical degree since I was four years old. My biggest influence was my grandmother because she was a former nurse. She was very passionate about her job, and she provided her patients with high quality care. I was twelve years old when I decided I wanted to become a pediatrician. Therefore, I intend on using my undergraduate degree in biology as a platform for science based internships and healthcare volunteer opportunities. A biology degree will afford me the opportunity to advance my knowledge in the field of science and provide me with the fundamental education required to become a pediatrician.

My curiosity to study medicine started from my interest in the study of humans within my Science lessons. From that point I decided to explore this interest outside my academic studies by completing Level 2 Emergency First Aid qualification. Learning and preparing myself for real life medical situations informed me of the demanding nature of medicine both physically (e.g. the physical effort needed do CPR correctly) and emotionally (e.g. dealing with an undesired outcome). Nevertheless, from developing my knowledge in areas such as patient safety in emergency situations during my training I was inspired. Medicine provides the opportunity to help people whilst being involved in the Science community and that is what I aspire to be a part of.

Every night, as I sat on the table with my younger brothers assisting them with their homework, I hear a familiar sound at the door. As she walks her heels click, and I can hear her searching her bag for her keys, the next thing I know the keys are in the lock and as it turns me and my younger brothers’ jump. We run to the door and indeed we scream in unison “Mommy’s home”, one by one she gives us a hug and a kiss. My mother asks us how our day was, and if we finished our homework, she then looks to me and said “did you cook and assist your younger ones with their homework”; I replied “yes mom”. As I warm the food, I take my mother’s purse, jacket, and shoes put them away and prepare the table for her to eat dinner. As I glance at the