Personal Statement Sample
I have met each challenge in my life with hard work and dedication. Whether it was training for a marathon, working full-time while going to school or starting a family, I knew by working hard I would succeed. That’s why when I had to take time off during my undergraduate education due to the financial strains of living in New York and starting a family , I knew this would be a momentar y delay of achieving my life long goal of becoming a doctor. After my wife and I were able to obtain some financial security, I finished my B.S. in Physiology at the University of Arizona and was accepted into St. Lucas University School of Medicine.
St. Lucas University is located on the beautiful island of St. Kitts in the British West Indies. Most of the classes are taught by retired professors from U.S. medical schools. Besides the excellent education I received, the life experiences my wife and I gained living in a foreign country without the amenities of the U.S. were priceless. We will never forget washing our clothes in the sink or searching for propane gas to cook with on our stove.
I finished my Basic Sciences with a 3.96 GPA. I went on to score a 246/95 on the USMLE Step 1. My high score placed me at Douglas Medical Center (DMC) in Fresno, California for all of my clinical rotations. DMC is an excellent county hospital affiliated with University Hospital School of Medicine which accepts the best students from St. Lucas University into its clerkship program. DMC provided me with a well-rounded clinical experience and prepared me well for the USMLE Step 2, which I scored a 255/98 on. Also, during my Surgery core rotation my beautiful baby girl was born.
Although I have found all my clinical rotations interesting, I experienced the most excitement from my time in Anesthesia. Anesthesia offers me the opportunity to integrate my basic science knowledge with clincial care. In no other rotation did I have the hands on application of basic sciences, every OR case was a mini-experiment in pharmacology and physiology. The fast pace and the constant demand for rapid clear thinking made my time in Anesthesia nothing but exhilarating. My rotation also showed me the various duties of the Anesthesiologist beyond the OR and the integral part they play in Labor and Delivery, the Emergency Room, the Intensive Care Unit and in the management of pain.
On a personal level, I find my time away from medicine rejuvenating as well. Spending time running, mountain biking, surfing, and being with my wife and daughter enables me to return to work refreshed. My career goal is to enter a university based Anesthesiology program. I believe my strong science knowledge base, clinical experience and ability to make quick decisions are well suited for Anesthesiology. I am highly detailed-oriented and enjoy being part of a cohesive medical care team. I look forward to the education, practice and research opportunities available in Anesthesiology.
