sheffield medical school personal statement

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Sheffield Medical School Review

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Welcome to our UK Medical School Review series . In this series, we work with current students to produce an in-depth overview of each UK Medical School, covering what it is like to study there, how the course looks and what you need to get in.

Today, we are focussing on Sheffield Medical School, a member of the Russell Group of UK research-intensive universities. Adriana, a Sheffield Medic, will share her experiences and insights as a current student throughout.

Let’s get started with an overview of Sheffield Medical School…

Overview Of Sheffield Medical School

About sheffield medical school.

The Sheffield Medical School predates that of the University by 77 years. Medical teaching began in Sheffield as early as 1811 by surgeon Hall Overend who set up his own school, receiving external recognition in 1828. The school went on to also be known as the Sheffield Medical Institution in 1829, Sheffield Medical School in 1865 and the Sheffield School of Medicine in 1868, collaborating with local hospitals to provide teaching. Once the University of Sheffield was established in 1905, the 2 merged and Medicine was a founding faculty. Since 2011 it is regarded as the Medical School and provides education for over 2,000 students.

The University of Sheffield offers 2 Medicine courses: the standard 5-year Undergraduate course, with an alternative Access Sheffield entry route for those from Widening Access backgrounds, and a 4-year accelerated Graduate course. Both lead to the award of a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB) degree. Sheffield also offers a 5-year Undergraduate Dentistry course.

Sheffield Medical School

• University Age: 117
• UK Ranking: 25th
• Pint Price: £3.00
• Alumni Notability: 9/10
• A-level Requirements: AAA
• Places Available: 291
• Applicant Success Rate: 13%
• Teaching Style: PBL
• Interview Style: MMI
• Admissions Test: UCAT

Sheffield Medical School Alumni

Notable alumni include British Army medical officer William Barnsley Allen; Edward Mellanby, discoverer of vitamin D; Frank Ellis, a leader in the treatment of cancer by radiation therapy and Nobel Prize winner Sir Hans Krebs for his work in the study of cellular energy, namesake of the Krebs cycle.

Why did you choose to study at Sheffield?

“The teaching style is what first attracted me to Sheffield Medical School. There is an integrated learning and teaching approach, linking the clinical side of Medicine to the Medical Sciences behind it. The course includes clinical teaching on wards in hospitals, clinics, lectures, small group work and dissection. The combination of formal teaching and clinical work provides an ideal platform for learning because you can see the applicability of what you learn. Anatomy being taught through dissection was also an important factor when choosing to apply here.

I also chose Sheffield because of the big student population and the big community feel there is because of it. The amount of green spaces and the proximity to the Peak District also make it a great place to live in.”

What is the best thing and worst thing about your Medical School?

“One of the best things about it is the teaching style; being able to do anatomy through dissection is a real privilege and an amazing learning opportunity, as well as the early clinical exposure you get. These things really make a big difference in your learning. The support the Medical School gives you is also really great, throughout the 5 years you will always have someone to go to with any problems you may have, as well as someone checking up on you to make sure you aren’t struggling with anything.

The worst thing about it is probably the fact that you don’t have any exams until the end so in 1st year, your entire grade is determined by how well you do in the 3 exams you do at the end of the year, but some people could definitely see this as a good thing as you can be more relaxed throughout the year. Our summer holidays are also not as long as in other Medical Schools.”

Medical School Rankings

The following link will take you to the Complete University Guide Medicine League Table . Here, you can see that Sheffield Medical School takes the 25th position with an overall score of 96%:

The table also highlights 100% graduate prospects for Sheffield Medics so there’s little to worry about once you graduate!

Rankings will, of course, differ between other tables; the Guardian includes different aspects to the Complete University Guide . When making your own decision on which table to look at, think about what you place more importance on, such as spending per student or career prospects. Keep in mind that all Medical Schools are highly ranked with excellent ratings across the board.

Sheffield Medical School Fees And Financial Support

Annual tuition fees for home students to study Medicine at the University of Sheffield are £9,250. For international students, it is £38,050. Tuition fee loans are offered to all UK students by the Government and cover the course fees in full. Fees do not have to be paid upfront. If you need any assistance with costs, Sheffield offers bursaries and scholarships for students , as well as advice from the Funding Team.

What are the living costs like?

“Sheffield is not an expensive city to live in and since it’s very student friendly, you can get student discounts and deals in most places. The cost of a pint would usually range between £2 and £4 depending on where you go. The accommodation in the first year costs £150 on average, but this goes down in the following years when you move into houses, and on public transport, there are also student deals and the bus is £1. There is also a card you can apply for if you are between 18 and 21 years old that allows you to get the bus and tram for just 80p.”

Not sure where to start with your Medical School application?

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What Is Studying At Sheffield Medical School Like?

Teaching at Sheffield Medical School follows a patient-centred approach and aims to blend clinical teaching with the basic medical sciences from the very beginning. These 2 themes are taught in a variety of means including clinical teaching in primary and secondary care settings, lectures, seminars, tutorials, small group work and self-directed learning and development. Anatomy is taught via full-body cadaveric dissection.

Year 3 to 5 introduces students to full-time clinical placement, working in a range of local healthcare environments in multiple specialities. These are still complemented by small group work, seminars, tutorials and lectures and there is a strong emphasis on evidence-based learning, investigation and teamwork.

Sheffield Medical School Degree Content

Undergraduate course.

The 5-year course is divided into 4 Phases: Phase 1, Introductory Clinical Competency (Year 1), Phase 2: Basic Clinical Competencies (Year 2 and 1st ½ Year 3), Phase 3: Extended Clinical Competencies (2nd ½ Year 3 and Year 4) and Phase 4, Final Preparation for Clinical Practice (Year 5). It’s modular and spiralling – what you learn will be built upon in later years.

A 2-week Multi-Professional Experience is included in Phase 1 where students are introduced to working healthcare professionals to gain an insight into the roles and importance of each member of the multi-disciplinary team.

Student Selected Components (SSC) are undertaken in Phase 1 focussing on the history of Medicine, critical analysis and communicating health information, beginning in the very first week of study. In Phase 2, students complete an SSC in Medical Ethics and Law. Final SSCs are completed in Phase 3.

Students must complete a 6-week research project at the start of Year 2, providing students with the opportunity to advance their research skills and learn more about their fields of interest.

In the 1st ½ Year 3, where students begin their full-time clinical placements, they are required to undertake a 12-week longitudinal integrated clinical placement (LICP1) to further their skills in clinical practice. These LICPs continue into Final Year where 2 more are completed.

During Years 3, 4 and 5 there is the option to intercalate should you wish to, it is not compulsory. This can take place either in Sheffield or at another institution and provides students to further explore interests.

To complete the degree and prepare students for entering their Foundation Years as a Doctor, you conduct a Student Assistantship at the end of Year 5.

Summary of the curriculum:

Year 1: introductory clinical competency (phase 1).

• Introduction to Medical Studies and Medical Sciences
• Introductory clinical competencies
• Systems-based learning and teaching (Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Gastrointestinal and Liver, Musculo-skeletal, Skin, Nervous, Genitourinary, Endocrine, Reproductive, Haematology, Immunology)
• Integrated Clinical Demonstrations
• Multi-Professional Experience
• Early Years General Practice Placement
• Community Attachment Scheme
• Public Health and Population Health Science
• Medical Ethics
• Personal and Professional Development

Years 2 and 1st ½ Year 3: Basic Clinical Competencies (Phase 2)

• Research Project
• Clinical Attachments
• Clinical Medical Sciences
• Clinical Skills

2nd ½ Year 3 and Year 4: Extended Clinical Competencies (Phase 3)

• • Clinical Team Attachments • Child Health • Women’s Health • Mental Health • SSCs • Medical Sciences • Acute Clinical Care • Continuing Clinical Care • Community and Public Health • Speciality Clinical Attachments

Year 5: Final Preparation for Clinical Practice (Phase 4)

• Final preparation for becoming a Junior Doctor
• LICP2 and LICP3
• Student Assistantship

Access Sheffield

The Access Sheffield scheme allows students from disadvantaged backgrounds, who achieve lower grades than those required, a chance to study Medicine. Each candidate’s circumstances are assessed during their application, with additional consideration and lower entry requirements offered. Once accepted to their course, these students follow the standard 5-year programme.

Dental Surgery (5-years)

This course aims to teach students dental theory alongside clinical practice to prepare them for a career in Dentistry. This is done through 9 integrated themes that underpin the content of the course. Sheffield believes it is important to train the whole dental team together and therefore teach students alongside students on the Dental Hygiene and Dental Therapy courses. Teaching takes the format of lectures, tutorials, practical classes and clinical placements.

Graduate Entry (4-years)

The Sheffield Graduate Course is 4 years. Year 1 (Phase 1) of the 5-year Medicine degree is bypassed on this course and students head straight into Phase 2. The research project at the start of Phase 2 on the Undergraduate course is replaced by a 6-week introductory module that recaps key elements of the bypassed Phase 1.

What Makes Sheffield Medical School Unique?

What makes your medical school unique.

“Something that makes Sheffield Medical School unique is its early clinical exposure. This starts in 1 st year through the Early Years GP sessions; in groups of 5 to 6 people you get assigned to one of the local GP practices that you will then visit every 2 weeks and it’s here where you get to learn about how the content learned in lectures is applied in a clinical setting. In most of these sessions, you also get to see a patient and speak to them and ask about the conditions they suffer from as well as how they cope with it and how it impacts their lives. The conditions the patients have will relate to the body system you’ve been covering that week in lectures.

Sheffield uses an integrated learning approach. This means that we have a range of lectures for the whole year group accompanied by small group teaching. This small group teaching is done through Integrated Learning Activities (ILAs), these are sessions where you discuss in your groups a clinical case in relation to what you’ve been learning in lectures at the time. Teaching at Sheffield Medical School is also system-based, meaning that you will learn anatomy, physiology, pathology, etc. of one system at a time, so all the lectures, ILAs (integrated learning activities), histology sessions, and dissection sessions you have will be focused on that specific system.”

Sheffield Medicine Selection Process

Stage 1: Applicants pre-screened against academic criteria.

Stage 2: Those meeting academic criteria are reviewed to determine if they surpass the UCAT threshold.

Stage 3: Scores over the UCAT threshold are then ranked.

Stage 4: Applicants with scores above the, then determined, ranking cutpoint are invited to attend interview.

Stage 5: Scores from interview are compiled and ranked and offers are made.

Sheffield Medical School Entry Requirements

Access sheffield  , dental surgery  , graduate entry.

Craft an application worthy of Sheffield with 6med!

Sheffield Medical School Personal Statement

The University of Sheffield does not read or score applicants’ personal statements during the selection process, however, the content of it may be asked about in the interview so it provides a useful starting point for shaping answers.

Sheffield expects you to have undergone some work experience related to the healthcare field. This is to gain and prove you have some insight into the role, including the positives and negatives. Sheffield does recognise it can be difficult to gain work experience and will still consider alternatives such as volunteering, community work and experience working with a diverse range of people as acceptable. Hands-on experience as opposed to passive is also highly valued.

They are looking for you to reflect on skills you have learnt from experiences you have undertaken that make you fit for being a Doctor. These can include resilience, empathy, motivation, communication skills, teamwork and self-insight – the core values and skills of a good doctor.

The most important thing is to remember to be candid and know it inside out so you can draw on your experiences in the interview!

Sheffield Medical School Admissions Tests

You need to undertake the University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) in order to apply to the University of Sheffield. There is a minimum threshold that students must meet, set at 2430/3600 in the 2021-2022 cycle. If they surpass this, applicants are then ranked according to their UCAT scores and those scoring over the ranking cutpoint will be invited for interview. Where the cutpoint lies is dependent on the UCAT scores of all applicants meeting the academic and UCAT thresholds and therefore, a definitive cutpoint cannot be provided. However, for reference, the ranking cutpoint for 2021-2022 was 2780/3600.

Graduate applicants must also take the UCAT. The BMAT is not required.

Sheffield Medical School Interview

Mmi interview style.

Interviews for Medicine at the University of Sheffield are in the Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) format, consisting of 8 stations. The questions for the interview will be sent to each student with their invitation should they be invited. Sheffield Medical School interviews over double the available spaces on the course and the interviews typically take place from December to January.

Topics covered in the questions include communication skills, depth and breadth of interests, evidence of commitment for caring, knowledge of and interest in study in Sheffield, medical work experience/EPQ, motivation for Medicine, information processing skills, understanding the nature of Medicine, values and attitudes and finally, outside interests.

Each station is scored out of 5, with 5 being Excellent.

There is a 9 th virtual station taken from applicants’ Situational Judgement Test scores in their UCAT. This is again scored out of 5, with more points awarded to the higher quartile your score falls in. The maximum score available is 45. Applicants are ranked based on their interview scores and those with the highest are offered a place to study Medicine at Sheffield.

Example Sheffield Medical School Interview Questions:

• Why do you want to study medicine at Sheffield, specifically? (2018)
• What would you do if you had no offers to study Medicine? (2019)
• Tell me about a time when you have made a positive impact in someone’s life? (2021)
• Why is consent important in healthcare? (2020)
• How do you cope in a new environment? (2020)
• Should doctors use social media? (2019)
• Why is treating a patient with respect and dignity important? (2021)
• Scenario involving an actor, who is a patient at your local GP surgery. You must speak to them to find out about their illness, and how it is managed? (2019)
• Why do you want to live in Sheffield for the next five years? (2021)
• What appeals to you about the Sheffield Medical School curriculum structure (2021)
• What clubs and societies at the University of Sheffield are you interested in joining? (2021)
• If I gave you a thousand pounds and you had to spend it on YOURSELF in the next hour what would you buy? (2021)

Extra-Curriculars at Sheffield Medical School

Outside of study time, what do most people get up to.

“Sheffield, as a city, has so much to offer with parks and green spaces as well as being close to the Peak District. There is a lot to do and the second the sun starts shining you will find every student gathered at the nearest park. The University is also quite big so there’s always lots going on around campus. The Student’s Union is one of the best in the country and you can find a society for literally anything you might be interested in. Sheffield’s sport facilities are also great and there are lots of different sports and teams you can be a part of, and I could not recommend joining a sport enough, you get to meet so many people and it’s great fun!

You will also get the chance to participate in Varsity which is a competition against Sheffield Hallam and the biggest event of the year. The Students’ Union also has its own Night Club that all students go to, especially for pop tarts, on Saturday and Sports’ Night which takes place every Wednesday.”

What is the Sheffield accommodation like?

“Most people in 1st year choose to live in the main accommodation sites which are Ranmoor and Endcliffe; these are basically like small villages with lots of different buildings. This creates a big community feel and it really helps you make friends because there are also a lot of common areas where you get to see and meet different people. It is also completely surrounded by trees and greenery and even has a small pond where people gather when the sun is out.

The accommodation is also only a 15-minute walk away from the Medical School and about 25 minutes, maybe less, from the main University buildings, and even if you don’t like walking there are constant buses that are £1 for students. Most of the rooms are also en-suite and they are very decently sized. The number  of people living in 1 flat and therefore sharing a kitchen ranges from 6 to 12, but even if you have one of the bigger flats, the kitchen will be equipped accordingly.”

Sheffield Medical School Contact

Telephone: +44 114 222 5531

Email: [email protected]

Postal address: The University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK

Advice for prospective sheffield medical school students

What advice would you give to a first-year student starting at sheffield medical school.

“Medical School can be a really daunting place, as well as intimidating, but it’s really important to remember that everyone is in the same boat as you and there’s no reason to be scared. Meeting people is a key part of making the transition from school to university as smooth as possible and the people in your course are the ones that are going to be with you for the following 5 years. Through getting to know each other and supporting each other throughout the difficulties of a career in Medicine, you will be able to make the most of those 5 years and have a really great time! It is also important to remember that there are points where you are going to struggle more and that is normal, you just need to know that you don’t need to deal with that by yourself and that there is support available and people that will be more than willing to help you.

I would also recommend maintaining a good work-life balance; doing well in your degree is important but so is having other interests and hobbies outside Medicine, because otherwise Medicine will become really draining and having that balance is what will allow you to have a good time and also stay motivated.”

Check out our other UK Medical School Reviews:

Cambridge Medical School Review

King’s college london medical school review, cardiff medical school review, edinburgh medical school review, imperial college london medical school review, leeds medical school review, newcastle medical school review, barts and the london (queen mary) medical school review, ucl medical school review, oxford medical school review, bristol medical school review, southampton medical school review, birmingham medical school review, exeter medical school review, hull york medical school review, leicester medical school review, glasgow medical school review, liverpool medical school review, manchester medical school review, nottingham medical school review, st george’s medical school review, dundee medical school review, warwick medical school review, aberdeen medical school review, brighton and sussex medical school review, lancaster medical school review, queen’s university belfast medical school review, swansea medical school review.

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Ultimate guide to sheffield medicine interview (2023) | questions & tips, sheffield medical school: overview.

With its history dating at least 1828, Sheffield is one of the oldest medical schools in the UK. Sheffield offers an integrated, 5-year course, taught with the patient-centred approach.

Sheffield is notable for its famous Student Union, which has been voted number one student union in the UK for the past ten years! Sheffield’s Student Union is also one of the largest in the UK in terms of societies, students involved and facilities.

Furthermore, located in South Yorkshire, medical students at Sheffield have access to first-class academic and sports facilities on the campus.

Pre-interview Selection: 🔢 How Sheffield selects for interviews?

GCSEs & A-levels:  Sheffield doesn’t rank candidates based on the GCSE scores or predicted grades. These are not used beyond checking if you meet minimum entry requirements.

Personal Statement:  Not used when shortlisting candidates, but may be brought up and discussed during interviews.

UCAT:  UCAT interview cut off is set each year depending on the number of applications and average scores. The top-scoring 1000-1200 candidates are invited for an interview at Sheffield.

📊 What is the lowest required UCAT score to get an interview at Sheffield?

🇬🇧 Home Students:  In the past 4 years the interview UCAT cut off at Sheffield averaged around 2660-2780, while the average score of those invited to interviews is usually above 2800, so in the top 10%.

🌏 International Students:  The interview UCAT cut off for international students historically averaged around 2700-2760

📈 Want to save yourself some  time, stress and money  preparing for the interview at Sheffield? Prepare with  Medfully , the best interview preparation tool for self-paced interview preparation and use the code BLOG10 for 10% off!

📤 When does Sheffield send out interview invitations?

Sheffield starts sending out interview invitations as early as mid-November. For 2022 entry, all candidates were informed about the interview/rejection on one day (19th of November).

👨‍👩‍👦‍👦 How many candidates get interviewed for Medicine at Sheffield?

🇬🇧 Home Students:  For 2022 entry, 1728 applications from the UK resulted in 1144 interviews at Sheffield, which is 66% of all candidates who applied.

🌏 International Students:  For 2022 entry, out of 251 international students who applied 96 were offered an interview (38% of all internationals who applied).

Interviews at Sheffield: 🗓️ Sheffield Medicine Interview dates:

Interviews at Sheffield Medical School take place between the end of November and mid-February.

💬 What’s the interview format at Sheffield?

Pre-Covid, interviews at Sheffield used to be in the MMI interview format. There were always 8 stations, each 7-8 minutes in length.

In the last two years, however, interviews at Sheffield were virtual and in the panel format. They lasted for 30-40 minutes and involved two interviewers. Below you’ll find the scoring system used in interviews at Sheffield.

📊 Sheffield Interview Scoring System:

Each station/question on the Sheffield interview is scored out of 5, with 5 being the best possible score. You’ll be graded on what you say and how you say it. You can get up to 5 points extra from UCAT SJT according to the following conversion system (table taken from  Sheffield’s website ):

The total score you can get is 45 points. In the past two years, the minimum interview score to get an offer from Sheffield was 36/45 in 2020 and 37/45 in 2021.

🏆 How likely is it I’ll be given an offer after an interview at Sheffield?

🇬🇧 Home Students:  Last year, after 1144 interviews, Sheffield has given out 770 offers. This means you had a 68% chance to receive an offer if you’ve been invited to an interview at Sheffield!

🌏 International Students:  For 2022 entry, Sheffield has given out 40 offers after 96 interviews (42%).

💅 What to do before the interview at Sheffield Medical School?

• Prepare your interview attire prior to the interview, checking if you feel comfortable and confident in it and if it isn’t stained.
• Find a quiet space, with good lighting (best if it’s natural), plain background and good wifi. Conduct at least one mock interview in that place to test everything and get your brain to associate the location with an interview mindset.
• Check your internet connection, microphone, camera and speakers.
• Prepare your ID

🤵‍♀️ What are the interviewers like at Sheffield?

Interviewers at Sheffield come from a varied set of backgrounds. In your Sheffield interviews, you can face lecturers, medical staff, biomedical scientists, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, medical students, patients and laypeople.

⏳ How long does it take to hear back from Sheffield?

Sheffield sends replies to all candidates in bulk, usually during the first half of March.

🧠 Sheffield Medicine Interview Questions:

Sheffield is the only medical school to send students questions they will be asked during their interview alongside the invitation. The questions at Sheffield are usually around the following topics:

Communication skills

• What makes for good communication skills in medicine?
• How can medical students learn to be better communicators?
• Take us through your today’s journey from your home to the interview.

Depth and breadth of interests (achievements in specific fields)

• How will your extracurriculars help you become a better doctor?
• Burnout rates are one of the highest in medicine among all professions. How will you manage the stress, pressures and emotional toll that you’ll likely experience as a doctor?

Evidence of commitment for caring

• What motivates you in medicine?
• Tell us about a situation where you showed empathy.

Knowledge of and interest in study in Sheffield

• What made you apply to Sheffield Medical School?
• How will you contribute to Sheffield?
• What societies would you like to join or establish at Sheffield?

Medical work experience/Extended Project Qualification

• What has been the most challenging thing about doing your EPQ and how have you overcome it?
• Have you witnessed any examples of inappropriate behaviour during your work experience?
• What’s the single most important lesson you took away from your work experience?

Motivation for medicine

• What steps have you taken to find out if medicine is the right path for you?
• Why would you make a good doctor?

Information processing skills

• A 14-year old boy is rushed into A&E after a car crash. The patient is unconscious and has sustained huge blood loss as a result of the accident. Together with your team, you decide the boy requires an urgent blood transfusion. As you are about to take the boy into the OR, his parents arrive and forbid you to carry on with the blood transfusion on religious grounds. How would you proceed, and what factors should you consider?
• Imagine you are on a raft and swimming towards a deserted island. Luckily you have a backpack with a few necessary items for survival. Suddenly your raft starts to sink. You need to get rid of five out of the ten items listed below. Which one's would you choose and why? Items: Box of matches, Water repellent jacket, Hammock, Sunscreen, Box of sardines, Mirror, Cell phone, Encyclopedia, Flip flops, Knife.

Understanding the nature of medicine

• What are the largest challenges doctors face nowadays?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a GP and the first point of contact for a patient?
• What are the long-term consequences of Covid-19 on the NHS and its patients?

Values and attitudes

• How would your friends describe you?
• What are the 3 most important qualities for a doctor?
• Empathy vs sympathy - what’s the difference, which one is more important in medicine and how can they be cultivated among medical students?
• If you could choose to allocate an additional £20 million to either of the following areas of healthcare, which one would you choose and why? Cancer research, mental health, Covid-19 research, palliative care, prolonging life research.

Outside interests

• What do you like doing in your spare time?
• What’s the one thing you are most proud of?
• Tell us about a book you’ve read recently that made a lasting impact on you.

🚀  TOP Tip:  Have a hard time answering any of the above questions? You’ll find insider tactics to tackle all of the above questions and formulate convincing and structured answers at  Medfully - The Best Medicine Interview Preparation Resource.

Please note that these aren’t questions that have been asked at Sheffield Medical School in past years. Publishing such information would be against Sheffield’s policy. The above questions are adjusted for the interview style at Sheffield and are meant to give you a broad sense of the questions you may face.

✅ Sheffield Medical School Interviews: 3 Tips

Get strangers to interview you

Practically anyone can interview you at Sheffield - from doctors to medical students to academics and patients. The more variety you’ll get during your interview practise the better prepared you’ll be to be interviewed by people from various backgrounds at Sheffield. Reach out to your friends, family, teachers, fellow candidates - the more variety the better.

Study the NHS Constitution and GMC’s Good Medical Practice

The NHS Constitution and GMC’s Good Medical Practice are not only a great insight into doctors’ work in the NHS but are also among advised pre-interview reading by Sheffield.  The NHS Constitution  outlines what the patients and staff working in the NHS can expect from the NHS and what the NHS expects in return.  GMC’s Good Medical Practice   sets out guidelines for doctors working in the NHS and will help you understand what it means to be a “good doctor”. These documents aren’t the easiest reads, but they may come in handy for your interviews and help you make a good impression on the interviewers at Sheffield and beyond.

Take advantage of the questions you are sent

It’s quite unique for a medical school to send interview questions to candidates beforehand. Therefore, you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity. Prepare bullet-point answers to each of the questions you are sent, as it’s literally guaranteed they’ll come up during your Sheffield interview.

🤞  Good luck with preparing for the Sheffield Medicine interview! Fingers crossed!

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University of Sheffield Medicine Interview Questions

This article was updated in December 2023 with the latest information, and we will continue to regularly update it! 

What is the medical course at the University of Sheffield?

Sheffield is one of the oldest medical schools in the UK. Sheffield offers an integrated, 5-year course, taught with the patient-centred approach. The MBChB course also has the Sheffield Discover Medicine Scheme, the Realising Opportunities Scheme and the Widening Participation Scheme, so that contextualised offers can be made to students based on their circumstances.

In this guide we provide an expert insight into past Sheffield interview questions, the Sheffield Medicine interview day and tips for converting your Sheffield Medicine Interview into an offer! 

How Is Sheffield Interviewing for 2024 Entry?

What is the format of the sheffield medical interview.

The Medical School aims to recruit approximately 30 graduate students each year; however this is not a strict limit. Sheffield is unique from other Medical Schools in that it provides you with the interview questions at the time of invitation.

The University of Sheffield Medicine interview is typically an 8 station MMI, with each station lasting 8 minutes.

For more statistics and general information about Sheffield Medical School, click here:  Sheffield Medical School

For more information about the interview structure, have a look at this page: Medicine Admissions

When are the Sheffield Medicine Interviews held?

Sheffield University will be hosting  MMIs (Multiple Mini Interviews)  between December and January for 2024 entry Medicine.

Meet Our Sheffield Tutors!

What are the common topics covered at Sheffield?

Questions will be sent out alongside interview invites to successful candidates. They will typically be based around the following areas:

• Breadth of  work experience  and interest in Medicine
• Communication skills
• Knowledge of Sheffield’s Medicine curriculum
• Medical ethics (including  four pillars of medical ethics  and values of a Junior Doctor)
• Understanding of pressures as a medic
• Motivation to study Medicine
• Extracurricular activities / work-life balance

Sample questions might include:

• Can you tell me a bit about the curriculum for Medicine at Sheffield?
• Can you describe some work experience you have undertaken and explain why it will make you a better Doctor?
• Why do you feel better suited to a career as a Doctor, as opposed to any other health professional?
• How have you demonstrated an ability to maintain a work-life balance in the past?
• What are some challenges you expect to face as a Doctor? How will you manage these challenges?
• Choose a pillar of medical ethics and describe how it improves patient care.
• What would you do if you were unsuccessful in securing a place at Medical School?

How many people were interviewed at Sheffield?

The  University of Sheffield interviewed around 1,000 candidates for 2023 entry Medicine.

How many interviewed applicants received an offer from Sheffield?

Home Students: For 2022 entry, after 1144 interviews, Sheffield has given out 770 offers. This means you had a 68% chance to receive an offer if you’ve been invited to an interview at Sheffield!

International Students:  For 2022 entry, Sheffield has given out 40 offers after 96 interviews (42%).

To learn more about the Sheffield Medicine course in general, have a look at their official page:  Sheffield Medicine

At Medic Mind we’ve helped many students secure offers from Sheffield and other medical schools. If you’re applying to Sheffield, we can do a high quality 1-1 mock with you with a Sheffield tutor and realistic stations uniquely for Sheffield. 

Book a University Specific Mock

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List of Recent Sheffield MMI Stations

If you wish to practice sheffield medicine interview mocks, here are some sample questions. remember, sheffield normally gives out the questions before the interviews, which is quite unusual for a medical school.

• Why do you want to study medicine at Sheffield, specifically?
• What would you do if you had no offers to study Medicine?
• Tell me about a time when you have made a positive impact in someone’s life?
• Why is consent important in healthcare?
• How do you cope in a new environment?
• Should doctors use social media?
• Why is treating a patient with respect and dignity important?
• Scenario involving an actor, who is a patient at your local GP surgery. You must speak to them to find out about their illness, and how it is managed?

To prepare for your Sheffield MMI interview, may wish to check out our guide to approaching MMI role plays

Insider Guide: Sheffield Medicine Interview Day

How did the sheffield medicine interview day work.

Sheffield will be running an MMI interview for the 2023-24 cycle. Questions will be sent out beforehand, alongside the interview invite to successful candidates. 

Interviewers are varied and can include medical educationalists, biomedical scientists, clinical practitioners at any level, nurses, medical students, patients from their ‘Patients as Educators programme’ and lay people. This echoes a holistic and approachable interview format that will assess candidates’ abilities to communicate and build rapport with a multitude of people. 

There is no available information as to how long the interview is set to last but a typical interview should not last more than 45 minutes. This information is likely to be communicated to invited candidates closer to their interview date.

Can students choose their own interview slot?

Applicants who are invited to interview will receive their email invite on the same day and slots are therefore available on a first-come, first-served basis. This means that students are encouraged to book their interview date as soon as they receive their invite. The Medical School will not offer interviews outside of the available dates and students who are unable to attend will not receive an offer. Therefore, while you can choose your own slot, general flexibility and availability should be prioritized during the Sheffield interview period. 

Does the Sheffield Interview require any pre-reading?

Sheffield Medical School encourages all invited interviewees to read the NHS constitution and the Good Medical Practice guidelines set out by the GMC. This is in keeping with their values-based recruitment policy which details the various factors involved in assessing their future medical cohort, such as respect and dignity. It is vital to thoroughly showcase these qualities in your own candidature. 

It is also highly encouraged to stay on top of relevant medical news and advancements as well as re-read your personal statement, with a focus on skills-based reflection.

What are the Sheffield MMI examiners like?

Sheffield is unique in it’s interviewer cohort, as they’re more varied than most medical schools. Interviewers can range from admissions officers and doctors to patients and lay people. Many of them may have been instructed to remain neutral to promote unbiased marking.

Did the Sheffield MMI interviewers ask a lot of follow up questions?

Questions in the panel-style interview are sent out beforehand to students invited to the interview. Given that applicants therefore have time to prepare, surprise follow-up questions are to be expected. These may be from a predetermined list or may be in lieu of something that’s caught their attention regarding your application. 

Logistical advice for the interview? 

For virtual interviews, ensure you have a quiet and bright space with a strong Wi-Fi connection and working camera and microphone. Ensure you will not be disturbed during your interview and avoid sitting in front of a bright light or window to prevent glare. Ideally, set up your interview space prior to the day and practice in that setting a few times to ensure comfort and logistical ease. If the university allows, it is helpful to have water to sip on throughout the interview.

How long did it take you to hear back after your interview?

Sheffield is very transparent with their admissions process. Their website delves into the details of the process, including what happens after the interview. Students will hear back in a few weeks following their interview but delays are not uncommon due to the logistical issues caused by the pandemic.

Top Tips for Sheffield Medicine MMI Interview  

1. Prepare for the questions you’re given – It is highly uncommon that medical schools give out their interview questions beforehand so don’t let this be a wasted opportunity. Avoid rehearsing monologue style answers as this will be spotted and frowned upon immediately. Rather, build structured bullet-point answers to the given questions keeping in mind Sheffield’s values-based recruitment and the NHS constitution.

2. Don’t memorise answers – it sounds robotic and you might get stuck when a surprise or follow up question is added.

3. Learn about Sheffield – this includes the city, the university and the medical school and it’s hospitals.  Really think about why you’d like to go there, focusing on aspects of the course you like as well as the location. Personalizing this is a good approach – find out what components of Sheffield’s teaching best fit your learning style as well as how their popular research fields fit into your areas of interest. 

4. Use the university website and Good Medical Practice as your main study resources – everything you need is here! You can find both websites using the following links: Medical School , Medical Practice .

5 . Don’t panic! You can pause before answering questions so you have time to think, and can ask for clarification if you don’t understand. You don’t need to rush into giving an answer. It is more important to come across confident and approachable than to speak quickly.

Covid – 2024 Changes

Is the university of sheffield mmi interview different this year.

Usually, the University of Sheffield holds MMI interviews for it’s medicine course.

Where can I find more information about the changes?

Full details of the changes for 2024 entry interviews can be found here:  2024 Entry Interviews

Frequently Asked Question

→what are the entry requirements for the university of sheffield medicine programme.

The entry requirements for the University of Sheffield Medicine programme include excellent grades at A-level or equivalent in Chemistry and Biology, and one other subject. Applicants must also demonstrate excellent communication skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving abilities.

→What should I expect during the Sheffield Medicine interview process?

The Sheffield Medicine interview process is designed to be challenging and rigorous. Candidates can expect to be asked a wide range of questions on topics such as scientific knowledge, problem-solving skills, communication skills, and personal attributes. It is also common for candidates to be asked to undertake a practical task, such as interpreting a medical case study or conducting a scientific experiment.

→What kind of personal qualities are the University of Sheffield looking for in applicants to the Medicine programme?

The University of Sheffield Medicine programme is looking for applicants who possess a range of personal qualities, including excellent communication skills, problem-solving skills, critical thinking, empathy, and a commitment to the medical profession.

→What is the selection process for the University of Sheffield Medicine programme?

The selection process for the University of Sheffield Medicine programme is highly competitive and rigorous. Candidates are selected based on their academic achievements, personal qualities, and performance during the interview process. Successful candidates are expected to demonstrate a strong academic background, excellent problem-solving and communication skills, and a commitment to the medical profession.

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2024 How to Write a Medical School Personal Statement (11 Steps)

• By Med School Insiders
• December 2, 2023
• Medical Student , Pre-med
• Medical School Application , Personal Statement

Each piece of a med school application brings a unique set of anxiety-ridden challenges, but few equal that of the personal statement. A personal statement is much, much more than a narrative-version of your CV. Reiterating your grades and extracurriculars in complete sentences is not how to write a medical school personal statement.

A personal statement is an opportunity to tell your story. Why do you want to study medicine? What drives you? This is your chance to let an admissions committee know who you really are beyond your grades.

Of course, you’re studying to become a doctor, not a novelist, which means the idea of crafting your personal statement may seem daunting, to say the least.

In this guide, we’ll take a comprehensive, step-by-step look at how to write a medical school personal statement, including how to get started, everything you need to include, and common mistakes to avoid.

Article Sections

• Anatomy of Medical School Personal Statement

What Med School Admissions Committees Look For

How to get started.

• How to Write a Personal Statement

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Medical school personal statement examples, anatomy of a medical school personal statement.

A personal statement has a 5,300 character maximum, about 1.5 pages of single-spaced 12-point Times New Roman font. The challenge isn’t trying to fill in words; the challenge is selecting the key moments in your life that made you want to be a doctor and expressing them concisely.

A personal statement is made up of three parts:

Introduction

It’s essentially a short essay that uses your life experience to succinctly demonstrate why you’re the right person for the job. If someone’s making a movie about your life and the events that shaped your desire to become a doctor, what key moments do you want to highlight?

Your introduction must capture an admissions committee’s attention. Use the introduction to hook your readers. The first few sentences should entice them to read more.

There isn’t a perfect number of paragraphs or set structure. This is where you discuss the experiences that have shaped your personality, your desire to study medicine, and your dreams for the future.

This is the summary of your statement, and it should tie in directly to your introduction. Now is the time to emphasize why you want to be a physician and your future goals.

Learn more about the Anatomy of a Stellar Medical School Personal Statement .

Admissions committees need to know they’re accepting students who are ready to face the rigorous day-and-night grind of medical school. They have your CV and transcripts; now you need to demonstrate you have what it takes to succeed.

The personal statement is your chance to display your personality and highlight the experiences that shaped you. What drives you? What strengths and experiences will you bring to medical school? Why are you an asset?

The admissions committee isn’t looking for a list of your accomplishments. They want to know your story . Don’t tell the admissions committee you’re compassionate and driven; show them with tangible examples from your life.

So you’re a great listener. What’s a moment in your past that demonstrates this? If you care deeply about the wellbeing of others, what story from your life illustrates that passion?

1 | Read Real Personal Statement Examples

Right off the bat, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone—far from it. Every medical student who came before you has written personal statements, which means you have a wealth of examples to read and learn from.

Every personal statement is unique to the writer. Don’t expect to find a perfect blueprint you can copy off of, but reading several different personal statements will give you a sense of the themes, concepts, strategies, and stories that can help you find success.

If you know people in your own life who have successfully matriculated to med school, it’s a good idea to ask them if you can take a look at their personal statement. Med School Insiders compiled a database of personal statements donated by successful medical school applicants. Reading successful personal statements will give you an idea of what’s expected.

Reading bad personal statements can also give you an idea of what mistakes to avoid. Learn from our bad personal statement examples , which includes key insights into what you should do instead.

2 | Reflect on Past Experiences

Take this as an opportunity to reflect. Don’t think of it as brainstorming, and don’t worry about being creative just yet. Simply think back on key moments from your past.

Think of your personal statement like your superhero origin story. You may have excellent grades, abilities, and a natural aptitude for science, but why are you pursuing medicine? What moment or moments in your life revealed to you why you had to be a doctor?

Take Spider-Man. Yes, Peter Parker received his superpowers from a radioactive spider bite, but that’s not why he fights crime; Spider-Man fights crime so that what happened to his Uncle Ben never happens to anyone else. Bruce Wayne is incredibly smart, incredibly strong, and incredibly rich, but that’s not why he fights crime as Batman. Bruce Wayne became Batman so that no one else would lose their parents to a random act of violence like he did.

The truth is, a lot of superheroes have pretty similar motivations, and doctors have similar motivations, too. Your desire to become a doctor likely stems from a genuine intellectual interest in medicine, a desire to work closely with other humans, and a drive to help people and save lives. The other med school hopefuls you’re applying with have very similar motivations.

The key is digging deep and determining what you value most about becoming a doctor. Once you know that, think about the tangible experiences in your life that helped you realize those values.

Utilize our list of 25 medical school personal statement prompts as you ideate and reflect on your life to date.

3 | Choose Which Experiences/Traits to Highlight

Identify three to four personal strengths you are particularly proud of and want the admissions committee to know. Where did these strengths shine in your premedical years? What experiences helped you build on these strengths? This will make up the body of your personal statement.

Remember: writing a personal statement takes time—and lots of it. It will likely take several different attempts and drafts. After discussing your selected strengths, you may find that they don’t define you well enough or that there are better options. Don’t be discouraged. Give yourself plenty of time to reflect on and explore a variety of different strengths.

Don’t forget about the interview; the admissions committee will certainly ask you to further elaborate on the experiences outlined in your personal statement. Share personal stories that you want to be asked about and feel comfortable addressing.

Generally, personal statements involve experiences in the following categories:

• A passion for patient interaction
• Intellectual curiosity for medicine (academics, research, etc.)
• Dedication and discipline (medicine or another pursuit)
• Perseverance in the face of adversity
• Interpersonal and professional skills

How to Write a Medical School Personal Statement

4 | show, don’t tell.

If essays or storytelling aren’t necessarily your strong suit, think back to math class and those equations where the teacher made you show your work for the full grade. It’s not enough that you got the answer right; you had to show how you arrived at the answer.

Think of this in the same way. It’s great that you’re compassionate, but the admissions committee isn’t going to take you at your word. They want you to back up that claim with evidence. It is vital that you show the admissions committee you’re compassionate with concrete examples from your life that illustrate your journey to medicine.

It’s much more impactful to share a story that demonstrates specific qualities than it is to tell someone you have those qualities directly. Saying you are hardworking or resilient is not enough. You need to craft a story that allows the reader to infer those qualities about you.

5 | Leverage the Narrative-Based Approach

You are applying to medical school along with an immense number of other students with great grades, stellar qualifications, and impressive clinical hours. These are all key to your medical school application, but the best grades in the world won’t set you apart in the eyes of the admissions committee.

Your personal statement is a chance to stand out in a crowded field. Too many personal statements read like a CV but with full paragraphs, which quickly becomes monotonous.

Leverage a narrative-based approach so that the admissions committee is excited to learn more about you. Your entire application should illustrate your compelling journey toward becoming a doctor. Highlight how your experiences make you an asset who will contribute uniquely to the medical school.

It’s not enough to simply check off the boxes. The admissions committee wants to know your story.

Learn How to Develop a Cohesive Narrative for Medical School Applications .

6 | Create an Outline

After taking the time to reflect on the experiences and traits you want to include in your personal statement, create an outline to structure your approach .

You do not need to stick to it, but this is the general structure of most personal statements:

• Introduction (A strong hook to catch the reader’s attention—usually an anecdote or reflection that introduces the theme of your story. Hook the reader with the opening sentence.)
• Experience 1
• Experience 2
• Experience 3
• Conclusion (Tie your story back to the opening hook/theme. Summarize why you want to be a physician and what your future goals are.)

Remember, this is not a list of your accomplishments. The personal statement must read like a cohesive narrative, not a resume.

Establish a theme in the introduction that’s central to your desire to become a doctor. Each following paragraph will illustrate how your personal experiences have shaped that desire and prepared you for your journey. In the conclusion, gracefully tie back to your central theme or hook to turn the personal statement into a consistent, interconnected story.

7 | Force Yourself to Start Writing

It’s understandable and common to feel overwhelmed while writing a personal statement. In fact, if you don’t feel overwhelmed, it’s safe to say that you’re not taking this seriously enough.

Start with a theme, but don’t get stuck trying to come up with the perfect opening sentence. That comes later. Once you have a general outline, just start writing. See what happens, and—most importantly—be kind to yourself.

The first words you write won’t be perfect, but they will get you started. You should fully expect the first draft of your personal statement to be terrible. That’s okay. First drafts are never perfect.

Your first draft probably won’t look anything like your final essay. Put one foot in front of the other and just start writing. Get the ideas out and worry about editing later.

8 | Keep it Concise and Direct

In your subsequent drafts, focus on cutting down your words and being concise. It’s not your use of flowery language that will impress the admissions committee. Forget about extravagant word choices and convoluted sentence structure. You don’t have the space for poetic tangents anyway.

Use your words efficiently, and favor clear language over long, complicated words. It’s easy for readers to spot when you’re using a thesaurus, and it will only take away from your end message. Find the simplest way to say something.

For example:

Hard-working over Assiduous

Compassion over Magnanimity

Agree over Concur

Use tools like the Hemingway App to keep your language direct and concise.

9 | Take Some Time Away

Take time away from your drafts. Once you complete a draft, take a break, and let it sit. Go for a walk, watch some TV, or work on a completely different activity. After your break, come back to your personal statement with fresh eyes. You may find that the fantastic opening line you came up with isn’t so fantastic anymore, or that sentence you weren’t so sure about actually works really well.

Writing your personal statement will take time. Even if you feel extremely confident in your personal statement, take time away from it and come back.

10 | Refine, Review, and Edit

We recommend using editing apps like Grammarly and Hemingway Editor , but don’t rely on bots alone to catch possible mistakes.

Ask your friends and family for their first impressions on the content of your personal statement. Tell them to be brutally honest (because the admissions committee certainly will be.) Reach out to a mentor or people who have been through this process before.

Spelling or grammar mistakes indicate carelessness on your part and are an automatic red flag for admissions committees. Read over your work carefully, and ask others you trust to do the same.

The editing process is such a critical phase for your personal statement. Learn how to edit your personal statement to impress admissions committees.

11 | Invest in Essay Editing Services

Your medical school personal statement is arguably the most important piece of your application. While an excellent essay can lock-in your interview offer, a poorly-written personal statement can ruin your chances—even with stellar grades, impressive academic awards, and a notable list of extracurriculars.

Don’t risk your acceptance. Essay editing services can provide the help that friends, family, and mentors cannot.

Med School Insiders Personal Statement Editing Services includes careful analysis of content and tone as well as helpful insights into how you can improve your essay and impress admissions committees.

Avoid the following common personal statement mistakes .

• Don’t list your accomplishments or rehash your CV and extracurriculars.
• Don’t make spelling or grammar errors.
• Don’t overuse the word I. Doing so makes you more likely to state your accomplishments instead of telling a story.
• Don’t use flowery language or words you found in a thesaurus.
• Don’t explain to a physician what medicine is all about. Talk about yourself and your experiences; the admissions committee already understands medicine.
• Don’t state the obvious or use clichés. (Every applicant likes science and wants to help people.)
• Don’t lie or fabricate your personal stories.
• Don’t make excuses for poor grades or a low MCAT score.
• Don’t speak negatively about another physician or healthcare professional.
• Don’t plead for an interview or acceptance.
• Don’t edit your personal statement by yourself.
• Don’t procrastinate.

Learn more: 20 Personal Statement: Dos and Don’ts .

It’s important to read the personal statements of matriculated students. While you won’t be able to mimic someone else’s personal statement, you can still learn a lot from them, and reading different statements can spark ideas for your own essay.

We compiled a selection of real medical school personal statements from successful applicants. These statements are for reference purposes only and should not be plagiarized in any way. Plagiarism detection software is used when evaluating personal statements, and plagiarizing is grounds for an automatic disqualification.

Be sure to read the included feedback regarding the personal statements as well, as this will give you extra insight into what admissions committees are looking for.

Read Real Medical School Personal Statement Examples .

Medical School Personal Statement Editing

Don’t write your medical school personal statement alone—we can help. Med School Insiders offers a range of personal statement editing packages , from general editing to unlimited, in-depth editing with a physician who will be there to advise you every step of the way.

Learn more about our Comprehensive Medical School Admissions Packages . Our team of doctors has years of experience serving on admissions committees, so you’ll receive key insights from people who have been intimately involved with the selection process.

Next read: Guide to Understanding the Medical School Application Process

Med School Insiders

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Home » Resources » University of Sheffield Medical School Guide

Published on September 11, 2023

Reading Time: 10 min

University of Sheffield Medical School Guide

Sheffield Medical School is located in South Yorkshire and a very popular destination for aspiring doctors. There are 2 medicine courses available – the 5 year undergraduate as well as the fast track 4 year postgraduate course for widening participation students. Sheffield has a great reputation due to the friendly people and multi-culturalism. It has the #1 rated Students’ Union in the UK thus has many opportunities to suit everyone. So, no matter who you are, you will fit in well at Sheffield.

The origins of the University trace back to the founding of the Medical School in 1828. The location of the university is only 15 minutes away from the Peak District and has many green spaces. Continue reading this article to learn more about the entry requirements, course structure, life as a medical student at Sheffield and how to get support to get into Sheffield Medical School!

University of Sheffield Medical School Entry Requirements

Widening participation.

Access Sheffield  allows students from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to receive a contextual offer to study Medicine at the University of Sheffield. This is only for students who meet the requirements. The following are the entry requirements for this route of entry:

Admissions Test

Sheffield requires that all applicants sit the UCAT. Scores will help create a threshold, and any score lower than the threshold will automatically be rejected. Applicants who are considered are then ranked to determine a cut off for interviews. For 2023 entry:

• Threshold = 2430
• UCAT score needed to be invited to interview = 2850 (home students)
• UCAT score need to be invited to interview = 2840 (international applicants)

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Work Experience

Sheffield believes that work experience really helps aspiring medical students to gain an in depth insight into the role of a doctor and demonstrates commitment to the career. Therefore, it is important to undergo some work experience and volunteering. The university acknowledges that obtaining work experience opportunities can be difficult but they do accept activities such as:

• Volunteering at care homes/hospices
• Working with children
• Volunteering in the community with a wide variety of people

So, they emphasise more on volunteering than GP shadowing as it helps displays your own skills.

Personal Statement

Sheffield does not read or score your UCAS personal statements however, they will ask you about your experiences at interview. So, having a well-written personal statement with a lot to talk about can help you during interview preparation.

Those who meet the UCAT cut off and have a well-rounded UCAS application will be invited to interview. Sheffield aims to invited approximately 850 Home students and 150 International students for interviews. Interviews take place between December and January at the Samuel Fox House.

NB: offers start rolling out in Early March.

The interview includes 8 stations with 8 minutes being spent at each station.

The topics of these stations often relate to:

• Knowledge of Sheffield
• Medicine in a wider context
• Good Medical practice
• Attitudes and values
• The candidate as a person
• Communication skills
• Information processing

The score of applicants in their UCAT SJT is used as a score for a ninth station in the interview. Every station is marked out of 5 and an applicant needs at least 3/5 on each station to be considered first for an offer. However, this does not mean that scoring less than 3 on a station will lead to a rejection.

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Graduate Entry for Sheffield Medical School

The graduate entry degree at Sheffield allows students from widening participation backgrounds with a life sciences degree the opportunity to go straight to phase 2 of Medicine at the University of Sheffield and graduate within 4 years. The entry requirements for this route of entry are the following:

International Students Entry Requirements for University of Sheffield Medical School

The University of Sheffield has a worldwide reputation and attracts many international students from over 100 countries. There are only 18 places available for international students on the 5-year Undergraduate Medicine course which means it is extremely competitive.

International students must also sit the UCAT and their UCAT scores will be ranked separately to Home students. International students must also meet the cut off to be invited to interview. The UCAT cut off for internationals in 2023 was 2840.

Approximately 150 international students are invited for an interview and interviews will take place virtually.

How Many Places are there for Home and International Students at University of Sheffield Medical School?

Sheffield Medical School has 273 places for home students and 18 places for international students.

There are also 15 places available on the graduate-entry programme for home students. These students must be from widening participation backgrounds. However, there are no places for international students for Graduate Entry Medicine at Sheffield.

University of Sheffield Medical School Ranking

The Complete University Guide ranks Sheffield as the 15th placed Medical School in the UK. The Guardian ranks Sheffield as the 31st placed Medical School in the UK.

It’s important to keep in mind that university rankings are subjective and can be based on different criteria. These rankings must only be one of your deciding factors. It is important to have a holistic approach when making your decisions and consider which universities you would thrive in the most.

University of Sheffield Medical School Fees

For 2024 entry, Home students will pay £9,250 per year. International students at Sheffield Medical School will pay £39,950 per year.

University of Sheffield Medical School Acceptance Rate

In 2023, there were 2200 applications for 306 places. As a result, medicine at Sheffield is considered competitive, with an acceptance rate of 13.9% in 2023.

University of Sheffield Medical School Course Structure

The organisation of the course is unique to Sheffield as the 5 year course is split into 4 phases:

University of Sheffield Medical School Teaching Styles

Sheffield has a systems-based course and teaching methods include lectures and practical activities. For example, if the teaching block is cardiology then you will be having cardiology lectures, cardio anatomy practicals and group sessions to go through cases of cardiac patients. This benefits students by giving them a well-rounded perspective of the system. Sheffield has recently changed from using cadaveric dissections to prosections now as they believe it is a more effective way to learn from the specimen and plastination models.

University of Sheffield Medical School Term Dates

University of sheffield medical school hospitals.

Sheffield has many teaching hospitals spread across the North for placements.

• Northern General Hospital
• Royal Hallamshire Hospital
• Doncaster Royal Infirmary
• Barnsley Hospital
• Chesterfield Royal Hospital
• Scunthorpe General Hospital
• Diana Princess of Wales Hospital (Grimsby)
• Calderdale Royal Hospital (Halifax)

So, you will be gaining experience in Sheffield and outside of Sheffield to enhance your experiences.

University of Sheffield Medical School Interview Format

Sheffield uses an MMI style of interview. The interview includes 8 stations with 8 minutes being spent at each station.

University of Sheffield Medical School Interview Questions

• Why do you want to come to Sheffield to study medicine? It’s crucial to have an idea on why Sheffield is suitable for you. Key things to consider: the course structure, teaching style, campus life and the city itself. Reading around the university website and posts by current and former students will give an insight of what it’s like to study at Sheffield. Interviewers want you to be confident on why you want to come to Sheffield.
• ‘Outcomes for Graduates’
• ‘Good Medical Practice’ documents from the General Medical Council (GMC)Examples of qualities include: Compassion, Empathy, Communication, Leadership, Teamwork, amongst many more! It is also good to know about the NHS values and how you can embody these. It is vital to reflect on your experiences and link it back to medicine. An essential part of any medical interview is showing a strong ability to reflect on your experiences and taking key lessons away.
• What are your thoughts on the ongoing industrial action by Junior Doctors? An awareness of current issues in medicine is very important to have in the build up to an interview. Reading news articles about ongoing issues such as the Junior Doctor strikes will help answer this question. Structure is very important to make your answer clear and concise. In your answer, always present the ‘for’ and ‘against’ sections of the argument, before coming to your own conclusion. Remember – they are not necessarily testing you on your conclusion, but your awareness of the subject and your logical reasoning.
• Is it ever okay to discuss a patient case that you’ve seen in hospital with your colleagues? Confidentiality is a cornerstone of medical ethics. During your medical career, you will want to discuss your clinical experiences with your doctors and colleagues. It is important to respect the patients’ right to confidentiality when doing so. This is by making sure that you are not discussing any potentially identifying information. Also, by prevent any private conversations from being overheard.

Life as a Medical Student at University of Sheffield Medical School

In the first year, a typical day would include a mix of lectures and practical sessions from 9-5. However, as a medical student, your timetable will vary from day-to-day. Anatomy teaching is once a week whereas ILAs and GP placements are on alternating weeks. First year medical students are given Wednesday afternoons off to take part in societies, socialise and catch up with work.

Societies at Sheffield

The medical society is Sheffield’s largest society with over 1300 lifetime members. There are many sub-societies for sports, specialities and volunteering. The society organises socials throughout the year. Some examples are 3 balls held across the 5 years and club socials. Sheffield’s Peer Teaching Society has been a great help for many medical students during exam season. This is because it gives them the opportunity to be taught by older medical students. In addition, the medical society organises a Medic Family scheme. This to connect all first year students to mentors from second year.

Also, the university itself offers over 350 societies to suit everyone – from sports to arts and cultural to even baking! There is something for everyone to participate in.

Accommodation At Sheffield

Accommodation is offered in the City or Ranmoor/Endcliffe. The Ranmoor/Endcliffe village is the university’s own gated community with social spaces and a gym. There is always extra-curricular activities running that are all included in your rent! The accommodation is only a 15 minute walk to the medical school and 20 minute walk to the student union.

Intercalated Degree At University of Sheffield Medical School

Sheffield offers a wide variety of intercalated degrees for medical students in third year or above. These can be Bachelors of Science or Masters of Science. It could enable students to gain an in depth insight into a certain speciality or allow some amazing research experience. BSc options include research modules or specific modules for specific specialities. On the other hand, MSc options include Public Health, Endocrinology, Cardiology, Neurology and many more!

Does University of Sheffield offer a Bachelor of Science (BSc) Degree?

Yes, Sheffield offers an excellent BSc course which is quite flexible so it can tailor every student. From the first year, students have the opportunity to choose their path in terms of specialties. Students are given the freedom to carry out their own research using the latest equipment. Research projects can be lab-based, field projects in the Peaks or even abroad!

How Much of the University of Sheffield Medicine Course is Clinical vs Preclinical?

The 5-year medicine course is quite balanced. The first 2 years are mostly preclinical with some placements and contact with patients via the Patient as Educator Schemes. The final 3 years are fully clinical with very few lectures and students will be rotating through specialties within medicine.

Is University of Sheffield Medical School a Good Medical School?

The University of Sheffield is a Russell Group university and ranks highly as a medical school. It is ideal for all medical students however, it depends on what your priorities are when selecting a medical school. It is best to visit the university on their Open Days to gain a realistic insight of the place and speak to the friendly staff!

Support With Getting Into Sheffield Medical School

Ucat tutoring.

As Sheffield Medical School has competitive entry requirements, it’s a good idea to get a UCAT tutor to help you exceed the UCAT threshold. When looking for a good tutor, it’s wise to consider someone who has recently achieved an excellent UCAT score themselves and who has experience with tutoring. Your tutor should be able to assess your strengths and weaknesses to focus your lesson time on improving the areas you need improvement in.

Medicine Interview Tutoring

With an acceptance rate under 14% in 2023, entry to Sheffield is competitive. A large part of the admissions process is the MMI , which you’ll need to thoroughly prepare for if you’re serious about getting into Sheffield. We recommend booking in with a medicine interview tutor at Sheffield to get the most realistic preparation for the Sheffield interview. An interview tutor can help you to gain interview confidence, competence, and the knowledge-base you need to stand out from the crowd.

University-Specific Mock Interviews

Book a one-to-one mock interview with an expert tutor from your desired university. You’ll have the most realistic interview experience, complete with detailed verbal feedback and a written report to help maximise your success.

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The Only 3 Medical School Personal Statement Examples You Need to Read

Posted in: Applying to Medical School

Table of Contents

The personal statement is one of the most important parts of the med school application process because t his mini-essay is a critical opportunity for you to stand out from other prospective medical students by demonstrating your passion and personality, not just your grades.

Admissions committees receive hundreds or more AMCAS medical school applications , so yours should be unique and captivating. Your medical school personal statement shows admissions officers who you are beyond your high school or pre-med GPA , extracurriculars , and MCAT score . 

The best personal statements are… well, personal . This is your chance to share what life experiences have compelled you toward a career in healthcare or the medical field , and how those experiences shape the picture of your ideal future.

MedSchoolCoach has crucial advice for writing your personal statement . 

Read these examples of personal statements for prospective med students.

Writing a great medical school personal statement is a lot easier with the right support. We’ve helped numerous med school applicants craft top-notch personal statements and can do the same for you.

But first: 7 steps to writing an engaging personal statement.

Before you read these excellent examples, you need to understand the process of writing a personal statement.  

Include these in your medical school personal statement:

• Why you’re passionate about becoming a doctor
• Your qualities that will make you a great physician
• Personal stories that demonstrate those qualities
• Specific examples of the communities you want to serve as a member of the medical field

What are the most important things to remember when writing a medical school personal statement ?

• Begin the writing process early: Give yourself plenty of time for brainstorming and to revisit your first draft, revising it based on input from family members and undergrad professors. Consult the application timeline for your target enrollment season.
• Choose a central theme: An unfocused essay will leave readers confused and uninterested. Give your statement a clear thesis in the first paragraph that guides its formation.
• Start with a hook: Grab the reader’s attention immediately with your statement’s first sentence. Instead of opening with a conventional introduction, be creative! Begin with something unexpected.
• Be the you of today, not the you of the future: Forecasting your future as a physician can come across as empty promises. Don’t get caught up in your ambitions; instead, be honest about your current situation and interest in the field of medicine.
• Demonstrate your passion: It’s not enough to simply state your interest in becoming a doctor; you have to prove it through personal stories. Show how your perspectives have been shaped by formative experiences and how those will make you an effective physician.
• Show, don’t tell : Avoid cliches that admissions committees have heard hundreds of times, like “I want to help people.” Make your writing come alive with dynamic, persuasive storytelling that recounts your personal experiences.
• Tie everything together: Conclude by wrapping up your main points. Reiterate your passion for the medical profession, your defining personal qualities, and why you’ll make a good doctor.

You can read more about our recommended method in our step-by-step guide , but those are the major points.

Example 1 — From the Stretcher to the Spotlight: My Journey to Becoming an Emergency Medicine Physician

Another siren shrieks as the emergency room doors slide open and a team of EMTs pushes a blood-soaked stretcher through the entrance. It’s the fifth ambulance to arrive tonight — and only my first clinical shadowing experience in an emergency medicine department since my premed education began.

But it wasn’t my first time in an emergency room, and I knew I was meant to be here again.

In those crucial moments on the ER floor, many of my peers learned that they stumble in high-pressure environments. A few weeks of gunshot wounds, drug overdoses, broken bones, and deep lacerations in the busiest trauma bay in the region were enough to alter their career path.

They will be better practitioners somewhere predictable, like a pediatrician in a private practice where they choose their schedules, clients, and staff.

Every healthcare provider has their specialties, and mine are on full display in those crucial moments of lifesaving care. Why am I pursuing a career in Emergency Medicine? Because I’ve seen firsthand the miracles that Emergency Medicine physicians perform.

12 years ago, I was in an emergency room… but I was the one on the stretcher.

A forest-green Saturn coupe rolled into my parent’s driveway. The driver, my best friend Kevin, had just passed his driving test and was itching to take a late-night run to the other side of town. I had ridden with Kevin and his father many times before when he held his learner’s permit. But this time, we didn’t have an adult with us, and the joyride ended differently: with a 40-mph passenger-side collision, T-boned by a drunk driver.

I distinctly recall the sensation of being lifted out of the crumpled car by a paramedic and laid onto a stretcher. A quick drive later, I was in the care of Dr. Smith, the ER resident on call that night. Without missing a beat, he assessed my condition and provided the care I needed. When my mom thanked him for saving my life, he simply responded, “It’s what he needed.”

Now I’m watching other doctors and nurses provide this life-saving care as I observe as a premed student. I see the way the staff works together like a well-oiled machine, and it reminds me of my time in high-school theater.

Everyone has a role to play, however big or small, to make the show a success. All contributions are essential to a winning performance — even the technicians working behind the scenes. That’s what true teamwork is, and I see that same dynamic in the emergency department.

Some actors freeze during performances, overcome by stage fright. Other students are too anxious to even set foot in front of an audience; they remain backstage assisting with split-second costume changes.

Not me. I felt energized under the spotlight, deftly improvising to help my co-stars when they would forget their lines. Admittedly, I wasn’t the best actor or singer in the cast, but I provided something essential: assurance under pressure. Everyone knew me as dependable, always in their corner when something went awry. I had a reputation for remaining calm and thinking on my feet.

My ability to stay unruffled under pressure was first discovered on stage, but I can use it on a very different platform providing patient care. Now, when other people freeze under the intensity of serving public health on the front lines, I can step in and provide my calm, collected guidance to see them through.

As an ER doctor, I will have to provide that stability when a nurse gets flustered by a quarrelsome patient or shaken from an irreparably injured infant. When you’re an Emergency Medicine physician, you’re not following a script. It takes an aptitude of thinking on your toes to face the fast pace and unpredictable challenges of an emergency center.

During my time shadowing, I saw experienced physicians put those assured, gentle communication skills to use. A 13-year-old boy was admitted for a knife wound he’d received on the streets. He only spoke Spanish, but it was clear he mistrusted doctors and was alarmed by the situation. In mere minutes, one of the doctors calmed the patient so he could receive care he needed.

Let me be clear: I haven’t simply gravitated toward Emergency Medicine because I liked it most. It’s not the adrenaline or the pride that compel me. I owe Emergency Medicine my life, and I want to use my life to extend the lives of other people. Every person brought into the trauma bay could be another me , no matter what they look like.

People are more than their injury, health record, or circumstances. They are not just a task to complete or a challenge to conquer.

My childhood injury gave me an appreciation for the work of ER doctors and a compassion for patients, to foster well-being when people are most broken and vulnerable. I already have the dedication to the work and the heart for patients; I just need the medical knowledge and procedural skills to perform life-saving interventions. My ability to remain calm, think on my toes, be part of a team, and work decisively without making mistakes or overlooking critical issues will serve me well as an Emergency Medicine physician.

Some ER physicians I spoke with liked to think that they’re “a different breed” than other medical professionals — but I don’t see it that way. We’re just performing a different role than the rest of the cast.

Breaking It Down

Let’s look at what qualities make this a great personal statement for med school.

• Engaging opening: The writer painted a vivid scene that immediately puts the reader in their shoes and leaves them wanting more.
• Personal examples: The writer demonstrated his ability to stay calm, work as a team, and problem-solve through theater experience, which he also uses as a comparison. And, he explained his passion for Emergency Medical care from his childhood accident.
• Organized: The writer transitions fluidly between body paragraphs, connecting stories and ideas by emphasizing parallels and hopping back and forth between time.
• Ample length: Makes full use of the AACOMAS and AMCAS application personal statement’s character limit of 5,300 characters (including spaces), which is about 850-950 words.

Unsure what traits and clinical or research experience your preferred medical school values ? You can research their admissions requirements and mission statement using the MSAR .

Example 2 — Early Clinical Work For Empathetic Patient Care

The applicant who wrote this personal statement was accepted into University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine, and Tufts University School of Medicine.

As I walked briskly down the hall to keep up during our daily rounds in the ICU, I heard the steady beeping of Michelle’s cardiac monitor and saw a ruby ornament twinkling on the small Christmas tree beside her. She was always alone, but someone had decorated her room for the holidays.

It warmed my heart that I wasn’t the only one who saw her as more than a patient in a coma. I continually felt guilty that I couldn’t spend more time with her; her usual companions were ventilators, IV bags, and catheters, not to mention the golf ball-sized tumors along her spine. Every day, I thought about running to Michelle’s bedside to do anything I could for her.

Thus, I was taken aback when my advisor, who was visiting me that day, asked me if I was okay. It never crossed my mind that at age 17, my peers might not be able to handle the tragedies that healthcare workers consistently face. These situations were difficult, but they invoked humanity and compassion from me. I knew I wanted to pursue medicine. And I knew I could do it.

From my senior year of high school to my senior year of college, I continued to explore my passion for patient interaction.

At the Stepp Lab, I was charged with contacting potential study participants for a study focusing on speech symptoms in individuals with Parkinson’s Disease. The study would help future patients, but I couldn’t help but think: “What are we doing for these patients in return?” I worried that the heart and soul behind the research would get lost in the mix of acoustic data and participant ID numbers.

But my fears were put to rest by Richard, the self-proclaimed “Parkinson’s Song & Dance Man,” who recorded himself singing show tunes as part of his therapy. Knowing that he was legally blind and unable to read caller ID, I was always thrilled when he recognized my voice. The spirit in his voice indicated that my interest in him and his journey with Parkinson’s was meaningful. Talking with him inspired me to dive deeper, which led to an appreciative understanding of his time as a sergeant in the U.S. military.

It was an important reminder: my interest and care are just as important as an effective prescribed treatment plan.

Following graduation, I began my work as a medical assistant for a dermatologist. My experience with a patient, Joann, validated my ability to provide excellent hands-on patient care. Other physicians prescribed her painkillers to relieve the excruciating pain from the shingles rash, which presented as a fiery trail of blisters wrapped around her torso. But these painkillers offered no relief and made her so drowsy that she fell one night on the way to the bathroom.

Joann was tired, suffering, and beaten down. The lidocaine patches we initially prescribed would be a much safer option, but I refused for her to pay $250, as she was on the brink of losing her job. When she returned to the office a week later, she held my hand and cried tears of joy because I found her affordable patches, which helped her pain without the systemic effects.

The joy that pierced through the weariness in her eyes immediately confirmed that direct patient care like this was what I was meant to do. As I passed her a tissue, I felt ecstatic that I could make such a difference, and I sought to do more.

Since graduation, I have been volunteering at Open Door, a small pantry that serves a primarily Hispanic community of lower socioeconomic families. It is gut-wrenching to explain that we cannot give them certain items when our stock is low. After all, the fresh fruits and vegetables I serve are fundamental to their culturally-inspired meals.

For the first time, I found myself serving anguish rather than a helping hand. Usually, uplifting moments strengthen one’s desire to become a physician, but in this case, it was my ability to handle the low points that reignited my passion for aiding others.

After running out of produce one day, I was confused as to why a woman thanked me. Through translation by a fellow volunteer, I learned it was because of my positivity. She taught me that the way I approach unfavorable situations affects another’s perception and that my spirited attitude breaks through language barriers.

This volunteer work served as a wake-up call to the unacceptable fact that U.S. citizens’ health suffers due to lack of access to healthy foods. If someone cannot afford healthy foods, they may not have access to healthcare. In the future, I want to partner with other food banks to offer free services like blood pressure readings. I have always wanted to help people, but I now have a particular interest in bringing help to people who cannot afford it.

While the foundation of medicine is scientific knowledge, the foundation of healthcare is the word “care” itself. I never found out what happened to Michelle and her Christmas tree, but I still wonder about her to this day, and she has strengthened my passion to serve others. A sense of excitement and comfort stems from knowing that I will be there for people on their worst days, since I have already seen the impact my support has had.

In my mind, becoming a physician is not a choice but a natural next step to continue bringing humanity and compassion to those around me.

How did this personal statement grab and sustain attention so well?

• Personalization: Everything about this statement helps you to understand the writer, from their personal experiences to their hope for how their future career will look.
• Showing, not telling: From the first sentence, the reader is hooked. This prospective medical student has plenty of great “on paper” experience (early shadowing, clinical experience, etc.), but they showed this with storytelling, not by repeating their CV.
• Empathy: An admissions committee reading this personal statement would know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this student cares deeply about their patients. They remember first names, individual details, and the emotions that each patient made them feel.
• A clear path forward: The writer doesn’t just want to work in the medical field — they have a passion for exactly how they want to impact the communities they serve. Outside of strictly medical work, they care about the way finances can limit access to healthcare and the struggle to find healthy food in food deserts around the US .

Read Next: How Hard Is It to Get Into Medical School?

Example 3 — Beyond the Diagnosis: The Importance of Individualized Care in Medicine

The applicant who wrote this personal statement was accepted into Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and Nova Southeastern University College Of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Haywood sighs and shakes her head upon opening the chart. “I was worried about her A1C. It’s up again. Hypertension, too. Alright, let’s go.”

As we enter the patient’s room, I’m expecting the news about her blood sugar and pressure to fill the room. Instead, Dr. Haywood says, “Roseline! How are you doing? How’s your girl, doing well?”

Dr. Haywood continues to ask questions, genuinely interested in Roseline’s experience as a new mother. If not for the parchment-lined examination chair and anatomy posters plastered to the wall, this exchange could be happening in a grocery store. What about her A1C? Her blood pressure? Potential Type II diabetes?

As I continue to listen, Dr. Haywood discovers that Roseline’s mother moved in with her, cooking Haitian meals I recognize as high on the glycemic index. Dr. Haywood effortlessly evolves their conversation to focus on these. Being Haitian herself, she knows some traditional dishes are healthier than others and advises Roseline to avoid those that might exacerbate her high blood sugar and blood pressure. Dr. Haywood also suggests Roseline incorporate exercise by bringing her baby on a walk through her neighborhood.

During my shadowing experience, I observed one of the core components of being a physician through several encounters like this one. By establishing a relationship with her patient where Roseline was comfortable sharing the details of new motherhood, Dr. Haywood was able to individualize her approach to lowering the patient’s A1C and hypertension. Inspired by her ability to treat the whole person , I began to adopt a similar practice as a tutor for elementary kids in underserved areas of D.C.

Shaniyah did not like Zoom, or math for that matter. When I first met her as a prospective tutee online, she preferred to keep her microphone muted and would claim she was finished with her math homework after barely attempting the first problem. Realizing that basing our sessions solely on math would be fruitless, I adapted my tutoring style to incorporate some of the things for which she had a natural affinity.

The first step was acknowledging the difficulties a virtual environment posed to effective communication, particularly the ease at which distractions might take over. After sharing this with Shaniyah, she immediately disclosed her struggles to share her work with me. With this information, I found an online platform that allowed us to visualize each other’s work.

This obstacle in communication overcome, Shaniyah felt more comfortable sharing details about herself that I utilized as her tutor. Her love of soccer gave me the idea to use the concept of goal scoring to help with addition, and soon Shaniyah’s math skills and enthusiasm began to improve. As our relationship grew, so did her successes, and I suspect the feelings I experienced as her tutor are the same as a physician’s when their patient responds well to prescribed treatment.

I believe this skill, caring for someone as a whole person , that I have learned and practiced through shadowing and tutoring is the central tenet of medicine that allows a doctor to successfully treat their patients.

Inspired by talking with patients who had received life-altering organ transplants during my shadowing experience, I created a club called D.C. Donors for Georgetown University students to encourage their peers to register as organ donors or donate blood. This experience taught me that to truly serve a person, you must involve your whole person, too.

In starting this club to help those in need of transplants, I had to dedicate my time and effort beyond just my physical interactions with these patients. For instance, this involved reaching out to D.C.’s organ procurement organization to inquire about a potential partnership with my club, to which they agreed. In addition, I organized tabling events on campus, which required significant planning and communication with both club members and my university.

Though exciting, starting a club was also a difficult process, especially given the limitations the pandemic imposed on in-person meetings and events. To adapt, I had to plan more engaging meetings, designing virtual activities to make members more comfortable contributing their ideas. In addition, planning a blood drive required extensive communication with my university to ensure the safety of the staff and participants during the pandemic.

Ultimately, I believe these behind-the-scenes actions were instrumental in addressing the need for organ and blood donors in the D.C. area.

From these experiences, I have grown to believe that good medicine not only necessitates the physician cares for her patient as a whole, but also that she fully commits her whole person to the care of the patient. Tutoring and starting D.C. Donors not only allowed me to develop these skills but also to experience such fulfilling emotions: the pride I had in Shaniyah when her math improved, the gratefulness I felt when she confided in me, the steadfast commitment I expressed to transplant patients, and the joy I had in collaborating with other passionate club members.

I envision a career as a physician to demand these skills of me and more, and I have confirmed my desire to become one after feeling so enriched by practicing them.

Here’s what makes this personal statement such a good example of what works:

• Desirable qualities: The student clearly demonstrates qualities any school would want in an applicant: teachability, adaptability, leadership, organization, and empathy, to name a few. This again uses the “show, don’t tell” method, allowing the readers to understand the student without hand-holding.
• Personalized storytelling: Many in the healthcare profession will connect with experiences like the ones expressed here, such as addressing patient concerns relationally or the lack of blood donors during the recent pandemic. The writer automatically makes a personal link between themselves and the admissions committees reading this statement.
• Extensive (but not too long): Without feeling too wordy, this personal statement uses nearly all of the 5,300 characters allowed on the AMCAS application. There’s no fluff left in the final draft, only what matters.

Avoid These Common Mistakes

You can learn a lot from those personal statements. They avoid the most common mistakes that med school applicants make when writing the medical school personal statement.

Here are some things you should avoid in your personal statement if you want to be a doctor:

• Name-dropping: Admissions counselors won’t be impressed when you brag about your highly regarded family members, associates, or mentors. You need to stand on your own feet — not someone else’s.
• Dishonesty: Lies and exaggerations can torpedo your application. And they’re bad habits for anyone entering the medical field. Don’t do it.
• Unedited AI content: Artificial intelligence can help you edit and improve your writing, but don’t let it do the work for you. Your statement needs to be authentic, which means in your voice! A chatbot can’t feel or adequately convey your own empathy, compassion, trauma, drive, or personality.
• Grammatical errors and typos: Have someone reliable proofread your essay and scour it for typos, misspellings, and punctuation errors. Even free grammar-checking apps can catch mistakes!
• Telling without showing: I’ll reiterate how important it is to prove your self-descriptive statements with real-life examples. Telling without showing won’t persuade readers.
• Too many examples: Have 3-4 solid personal stories at most; only include a few that are crucial for providing your points. The more experiences you share, the less impact they’ll make.
• Fluff and filler: Cut all fluff, filler words, and irrelevant points. There are many other places you can include information in your application, such as secondary essays on your clinical experience, volunteer work, and research projects . 

You can find more valuable do’s and don’ts in our in-depth guide to writing your best personal statement .

Need extra help? We’ve got you covered.

Schedule a meeting with medschoolcoach for expert support on writing and editing your personal statement. we’re here to help you impress medical school admissions committees .

Renee Marinelli, MD

Dr. Marinelli has practiced family medicine, served on the University of California Admissions Committee, and has helped hundreds of students get into medical school. She spearheads a team of physician advisors who guide MedSchoolCoach students.

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Medical School Personal Statement Examples That Got 6 Acceptances

Featured Admissions Expert: Dr. Monica Taneja, MD

These 30 exemplary medical school personal statement examples come from our students who enrolled in one of our application review programs. Most of these examples led to multiple acceptance for our students. For instance, the first example got our student accepted into SIX medical schools. Here's what you'll find in this article: We'll first go over 30 medical school personal statement samples, then we'll provide you a step-by-step guide for composing your own outstanding statement from scratch. If you follow this strategy, you're going to have a stellar statement whether you apply to the most competitive or the easiest medical schools to get into .

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

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Article Contents 36 min read

Stellar medical school personal statement examples that got multiple acceptances, medical school personal statement example #1.

I made my way to Hillary’s house after hearing about her alcoholic father’s incarceration. Seeing her tearfulness and at a loss for words, I took her hand and held it, hoping to make things more bearable. She squeezed back gently in reply, “thank you.” My silent gesture seemed to confer a soundless message of comfort, encouragement and support.

Through mentoring, I have developed meaningful relationships with individuals of all ages, including seven-year-old Hillary. Many of my mentees come from disadvantaged backgrounds; working with them has challenged me to become more understanding and compassionate. Although Hillary was not able to control her father’s alcoholism and I had no immediate solution to her problems, I felt truly fortunate to be able to comfort her with my presence. Though not always tangible, my small victories, such as the support I offered Hillary, hold great personal meaning. Similarly, medicine encompasses more than an understanding of tangible entities such as the science of disease and treatment—to be an excellent physician requires empathy, dedication, curiosity and love of problem solving. These are skills I have developed through my experiences both teaching and shadowing inspiring physicians.

Medicine encompasses more than hard science. My experience as a teaching assistant nurtured my passion for medicine; I found that helping students required more than knowledge of organic chemistry. Rather, I was only able to address their difficulties when I sought out their underlying fears and feelings. One student, Azra, struggled despite regularly attending office hours. She approached me, asking for help. As we worked together, I noticed that her frustration stemmed from how intimidated she was by problems. I helped her by listening to her as a fellow student and normalizing her struggles. “I remember doing badly on my first organic chem test, despite studying really hard,” I said to Azra while working on a problem. “Really? You’re a TA, shouldn’t you be perfect?” I looked up and explained that I had improved my grades through hard work. I could tell she instantly felt more hopeful, she said, “If you could do it, then I can too!” When she passed, receiving a B+;I felt as if I had passed too. That B+ meant so much: it was a tangible result of Azra’s hard work, but it was also symbol of our dedication to one another and the bond we forged working together.

My passion for teaching others and sharing knowledge emanates from my curiosity and love for learning. My shadowing experiences in particular have stimulated my curiosity and desire to learn more about the world around me. How does platelet rich plasma stimulate tissue growth? How does diabetes affect the proximal convoluted tubule? My questions never stopped. I wanted to know everything and it felt very satisfying to apply my knowledge to clinical problems.

Shadowing physicians further taught me that medicine not only fuels my curiosity; it also challenges my problem solving skills. I enjoy the connections found in medicine, how things learned in one area can aid in coming up with a solution in another. For instance, while shadowing Dr. Steel I was asked, “What causes varicose veins and what are the complications?” I thought to myself, what could it be? I knew that veins have valves and thought back to my shadowing experience with Dr. Smith in the operating room. She had amputated a patient’s foot due to ulcers obstructing the venous circulation. I replied, “veins have valves and valve problems could lead to ulcers.” Dr. Steel smiled, “you’re right, but it doesn’t end there!” Medicine is not disconnected; it is not about interventional cardiology or orthopedic surgery. In fact, medicine is intertwined and collaborative. The ability to gather knowledge from many specialties and put seemingly distinct concepts together to form a coherent picture truly attracts me to medicine.

It is hard to separate science from medicine; in fact, medicine is science. However, medicine is also about people—their feelings, struggles and concerns. Humans are not pre-programmed robots that all face the same problems. Humans deserve sensitive and understanding physicians. Humans deserve doctors who are infinitely curious, constantly questioning new advents in medicine. They deserve someone who loves the challenge of problem solving and coming up with innovative individualized solutions. I want to be that physician. I want to be able to approach each case as a unique entity and incorporate my strengths into providing personalized care for my patients. Until that time, I may be found Friday mornings in the operating room, peering over shoulders, dreaming about the day I get to hold the drill.

Let's take a step back to consider what this medical school personal statement example does, not just what it says. It begins with an engaging hook in the first paragraph and ends with a compelling conclusion. The introduction draws you in, making the essay almost impossible to put down, while the conclusion paints a picture of someone who is both passionate and dedicated to the profession. In between the introduction and conclusion, this student makes excellent use of personal narrative. The anecdotes chosen demonstrate this individual's response to the common question, " Why do you want to be a doctor ?" while simultaneously making them come across as compassionate, curious, and reflective. The essay articulates a number of key qualities and competencies, which go far beyond the common trope, I want to be a doctor because I want to help people.

This person is clearly a talented writer, but this was the result of several rounds of edits with one of our medical school admissions consulting team members and a lot of hard work on the student's part. If your essay is not quite there yet, or if you're just getting started, don't sweat it. Do take note that writing a good personal essay takes advanced planning and significant effort.

I was one of those kids who always wanted to be doctor. I didn’t understand the responsibilities and heartbreaks, the difficult decisions, and the years of study and training that go with the title, but I did understand that the person in the white coat stood for knowledge, professionalism, and compassion. As a child, visits to the pediatrician were important events. I’d attend to my hair and clothes, and travel to the appointment in anticipation. I loved the interaction with my doctor. I loved that whoever I was in the larger world, I could enter the safe space of the doctor’s office, and for a moment my concerns were heard and evaluated. I listened as my mother communicated with the doctor. I’d be asked questions, respectfully examined, treatments and options would be weighed, and we would be on our way. My mother had been supported in her efforts to raise a well child, and I’d had a meaningful interaction with an adult who cared for my body and development. I understood medicine as an act of service, which aligned with my values, and became a dream.

I was hospitalized for several months as a teenager and was inspired by the experience, despite the illness. In the time of diagnosis, treatment and recovery, I met truly sick children. Children who were much more ill than me. Children who wouldn’t recover. We shared a four-bed room, and we shared our medical stories. Because of the old hospital building, there was little privacy in our room, and we couldn’t help but listen-in during rounds, learning the medical details, becoming “experts” in our four distinct cases. I had more mobility than some of the patients, and when the medical team and family members were unavailable, I’d run simple errands for my roommates, liaise informally with staff, and attend to needs. To bring physical relief, a cold compress, a warmed blanket, a message to a nurse, filled me with such an intense joy and sense of purpose that I applied for a volunteer position at the hospital even before my release.

I have since been volunteering in emergency departments, out-patient clinics, and long term care facilities. While the depth of human suffering is at times shocking and the iterations of illness astounding, it is in the long-term care facility that I had the most meaningful experiences by virtue of my responsibilities and the nature of the patients’ illnesses. Charles was 55 when he died. He had early onset Parkinson’s Disease with dementia that revealed itself with a small tremor when he was in his late twenties. Charles had a wife and three daughters who visited regularly, but whom he didn’t often remember. Over four years as a volunteer, my role with the family was to fill in the spaces left by Charles’ periodic inability to project his voice as well as his growing cognitive lapses. I would tell the family of his activities between their visits, and I would remind him of their visits and their news. This was a hard experience for me. I watched as 3 daughters, around my own age, incrementally lost their father. I became angry, and then I grew even more determined.

In the summer of third year of my Health Sciences degree, I was chosen to participate in an undergraduate research fellowship in biomedical research at my university. As part of this experience, I worked alongside graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, medical students, physicians, and faculty in Alzheimer’s research into biomarkers that might predict future disease. We collaborated in teams, and by way of the principal investigator’s careful leadership, I learned wherever one falls in terms of rank, each contribution is vital to the outcome. None of the work is in isolation. For instance, I was closely mentored by Will, a graduate student who had been in my role the previous summer. He, in turn, collaborated with post docs and medical students, turning to faculty when roadblocks were met. While one person’s knowledge and skill may be deeper than another’s, individual efforts make up the whole. Working in this team, aside from developing research skills, I realized that practicing medicine is not an individual pursuit, but a collaborative commitment to excellence in scholarship and leadership, which all begins with mentorship.

Building on this experience with teamwork in the lab, I participated in a global health initiative in Nepal for four months, where I worked alongside nurses, doctors, and translators. I worked in mobile rural health camps that offered tuberculosis care, monitored the health and development of babies and children under 5, and tended to minor injuries. We worked 11-hour days helping hundreds of people in the 3 days we spent in each location. Patients would already be in line before we woke each morning. I spent each day recording basic demographic information, blood pressure, pulse, temperature, weight, height, as well as random blood sugar levels, for each patient, before they lined up to see a doctor. Each day was exhausting and satisfying. We helped so many people. But this satisfaction was quickly displaced by a developing understanding of issues in health equity.

My desire to be doctor as a young person was not misguided, but simply naïve. I’ve since learned the role of empathy and compassion through my experiences as a patient and volunteer. I’ve broadened my contextual understanding of medicine in the lab and in Nepal. My purpose hasn’t changed, but what has developed is my understanding that to be a physician is to help people live healthy, dignified lives by practicing both medicine and social justice.

28 More Medical School Personal Statement Examples That Got Accepted

What my sister went through pushed me to strengthen my knowledge in medical education, patient care, and research. These events have influenced who I am today and helped me determine my own passions. I aspire to be a doctor because I want to make miracles, like my sister, happen. Life is something to cherish; it would not be the same if I did not have one of my four sisters to spend it with. As all stories have endings, I hope that mine ends with me fulfilling my dream of being a doctor, which has been the sole focus of my life to this point. I would love nothing more than to dedicate myself to such a rewarding career, where I achieve what those doctors did for my family. Their expertise allowed my sister to get all the care she needed for her heart, eyes, lungs, and overall growth. Those physicians gave me more than just my little sister, they gave me the determination and focus needed to succeed in the medical field, and for that, I am forever grateful. ","label":"Medical School Personal Statement Example #3","title":"Medical School Personal Statement Example #3"}]" code="tab4" template="BlogArticle">

I came to America, leaving my parents and friends behind, to grasp my chance at a better future. I believe this chance is now in front of me. Medicine is the only path I truly desire because it satisfies my curiosity about the human body and it allows me to directly interact with patients. I do not want to miss this chance to further hone my skills and knowledge, in order to provide better care for my patients. ","label":"Medical School Personal Statement #4","title":"Medical School Personal Statement #4"}]" code="tab5" template="BlogArticle">

The time I have spent in various medical settings has confirmed my love for the field. Regardless of the environment, I am drawn to patients and their stories, like that scared young boy at AMC. I am aware that medicine is a constantly changing landscape; however, one thing that has remained steadfast over the years is putting the patient first, and I plan on doing this as a physician. All of my experiences have taught me a great deal about patient interaction and global health, however, I am left wanting more. I crave more knowledge to help patients and become more useful in the healthcare sector. I am certain medical school is the path that will help me reach my goal. One day, I hope to use my experiences to become an amazing doctor like the doctors that treated my sister, so I can help other children like her. ","label":"Medical School Personal Statement Example #5","title":"Medical School Personal Statement Example #5"}]" code="tab6" template="BlogArticle">

My interest in the field of medicine has developed overtime, with a common theme surrounding the importance of personal health and wellness. Through my journey in sports, travelling, and meeting some incredible individuals such as Michael, I have shifted my focus from thinking solely about the physical well-being, to understanding the importance of mental, spiritual, and social health as well. Being part of a profession that emphasizes continuous education, and application of knowledge to help people is very rewarding, and I will bring compassion, a hard work ethic and an attitude that is always focused on bettering patient outcomes. ","label":"Medical School Personal Statement Example # 7","title":"Medical School Personal Statement Example # 7"}]" code="tab8" template="BlogArticle">

Medicine embodies a hard science, but it is ultimately a profession that treats people. I have seen firsthand that medicine is not a \u201cone-treatment-fits-all\u201d practice, as an effective physician takes a holistic approach. This is the type of physician I aspire to be: one who refuses to shy away from the humanity of patients and their social context, and one who uses research and innovation to improve the human condition. So, when I rethink \u201cwhy medicine?\u201d, I know it\u2019s for me \u2013 because it is a holistic discipline, because it demands all of me, because I am ready to absorb the fascinating knowledge and science that dictates human life, and engage with humanity in a way no other profession allows for. Until the day that I dawn the coveted white coat, you can find me in inpatient units, comforting the many John\u2019s to come, or perhaps at the back of an operating room observing a mitral valve repair \u2013 dreaming of the day the puck is in my zone. ","label":"Medical School Personal Statement Example #8","title":"Medical School Personal Statement Example #8"}]" code="tab9" template="BlogArticle">

When I signed up to be a live DJ, I didn't know that the oral skills I practiced on-air would influence all aspects of my life, let alone lead me to consider a career in the art of healing. I see now, though, the importance of these key events in my life that have allowed me to develop excellent communication skills--whether that be empathic listening, reading and giving non-verbal cues, or verbal communication. I realize I have always been on a path towards medicine. Ultimately, I aim to continue to strengthen my skills as I establish my role as a medical student and leader: trusting my choices, effectively communicating, and taking action for people in need. ","label":"Medical School Personal Statement Example #9","title":"Medical School Personal Statement Example #9"}]" code="tab10" template="BlogArticle">

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t I pursue medicine sooner?\u201d Is the question that now occupies my mind. Leila made me aware of the unprofessional treatment delivered by some doctors. My subsequent activities confirmed my desire to become a doctor who cares deeply for his patients and provides the highest quality care. My passion for research fuels my scientific curiosity. I will continue to advocate for patient equality and fairness. Combining these qualities will allow me to succeed as a physician. ","label":"Medical School Personal Statement Example #10","title":"Medical School Personal Statement Example #10"}]" code="tab11" template="BlogArticle">

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Please note that all personal statements are the property of the students who wrote them, re-printed with permission. Names and identifying characteristics have been changed. Plagiarism detection software is used when evaluating personal statements. Plagiarism is grounds for disqualification from the application. ","label":"NOTE","title":"NOTE"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

As one of the most important  medical school requirements , the personal statement tells your story of why you decided to pursue the medical profession. Keep in mind that personal statements are one of the key factors that affect medical school acceptance rates . This is why it's important to write a stellar essay!

“Personal statements are often emphasized in your application to medical school as this singular crucial factor that distinguishes you from every other applicant. Demonstrating the uniqueness of my qualities is precisely how I found myself getting multiple interviews and offers into medical school.” – Dr. Vincent Adeyemi, MD

But this is easier said than done. In fact, medical school personal statements remain one of the most challenging parts of students' journeys to medical school. Here's our student Melissa sharing her experience of working on her personal statement:

"I struggled making my personal statement personal... I couldn't incorporate my feelings, motives and life stories that inspired me to pursue medicine into my personal statement" -Melissa, BeMo Student

Our student Rishi, who is now a student at the Carver College of Medicine , learned about the importance of the medical school personal statement the hard way:

"If you're a reapplicant like me, you know we all dread it but you have to get ready to answer what has changed about your application that we should accept you this time. I had an existing personal statement that did not get me in the first time so there was definitely work to be done." - Rishi, BeMo Student

The importance of the medical school personal statement can actually increase if you are applying to medical school with any red flags or setbacks, as our student Kannan did:

"I got 511 on my second MCAT try... My goal was anything over median of 510 so anything over that was honestly good with me because it's just about [creating] a good personal statement at that point... I read online about how important the personal statement [is]... making sure [it's] really polished and so that's when I decided to get some professional help." - Kannan, BeMo Student

As you can see from these testimonials, your medical school personal statement can really make a difference. So we are here to help you get started writing your own personal statement. Let's approach this step-by-step. Below you will see how we will outline the steps to creating your very best personal statement. And don't forget that if you need to see more examples, you can also check out our AMCAS personal statement examples, AACOMAS personal statement examples and TMDSAS personal statement examples to further inspire you!

Here's a quick run-down of what we'll cover in the article:

Now let's dive in deeper!

#1 Understanding the Qualities of a Strong Med School Personal Statement

Before discussing how to write a strong medical school personal statement, we first need to understand the qualities of a strong essay. Similar to crafting strong medical school secondary essays , writing a strong personal statement is a challenging, yet extremely important, part of your MD or MD-PhD programs applications. Your AMCAS Work and Activities section may show the reader what you have done, but the personal statement explains why. This is how Dr. Neel Mistry, MD and our admissions expert, prepared for his medical school personal statement writing:

"The personal statement is an opportunity for you to shine and really impress the committee to invite you for an interview. The personal statement is your chance to be reflective and go beyond what is stated on your CV and [activities]. In order to stand out, it is important to answer the main questions [of medical school personal statements] well: a bit about yourself and what led you to medicine, why you would make an ideal medical student and future physician, what attracts you to [medicine], and what sets you apart from the other candidates. The key here is answering the last two questions well. Most candidates simply highlight what they have done, but do not reflect on it or mention how what they have done has prepared them for a future medical career." - Dr. Neel Mistry, MD

“my essay also focused on volunteering in the local health clinic during the many summer breaks. volunteering was more than just another activity to tick off my bucket list for my medical school … i volunteered because i wanted to view medical practice through the lenses of already qualified doctors, not because i needed a reason to be a doctor. i understood that the admissions committee would be more interested in how i was motivated.” – dr. vincent adeyemi, md.

A personal statement should be deeply personal, giving the admissions committee insight into your passions and your ultimate decision to pursue a career in medicine. A compelling and introspective personal statement can make the difference between getting an interview and facing medical school rejection . Review our blogs to find out how to prepare for med school interviews and learn the most common medical school interview questions .

As you contemplate the task in front of you, you may be wondering what composing an essay has to do with entering the field of medicine. Many of our students were surprised to learn that medical school personal statements are so valued by med schools. The two things are more closely related than you think. A compelling personal statement demonstrates your written communication skills and highlights your accomplishments, passions, and aspirations. The ability to communicate a complex idea in a short space is an important skill as a physician. You should demonstrate your communication skills by writing a concise and meaningful statement that illustrates your best attributes. Leaving a lasting impression on your reader is what will lead to interview invitations.

A quick note: if you are applying to schools that do not require the formal medical school personal statement, such as medical schools in Canada , you should still learn how to write such essays. Many medical schools in Ontario , for example, ask for short essays for supplementary questionnaires. These are very similar to the personal statement. Knowing how to brainstorm, write, and format your answers is key to your success!!!

You want to give yourself as much time as possible to write your statement. Do not think you can do this in an evening or even in a week. Some statements take months. My best statement took almost a year to get right. Allow yourself time and start early to avoid added stress. Think of the ideas you want to include and brainstorm possible ways to highlight these ideas. Ask your friends for ideas or even brainstorm your ideas with people you trust. Get some feedback early to make sure you are headed in the right direction.

“I wrote scores of essays at my desk in those few weeks leading up to application submission. I needed it to be perfect. Do not let anyone tell you to settle. There was no moment when I had this shining light from the sky filtering into my room to motivate me. The ultimate trick is to keep writing. It is impossible to get that perfect essay on the first try, and you may not even get it on your fifteenth attempt, but the goal is to keep at it, keep making those edits, and never back down.” – Dr. Vincent Adeyemi, MD

All personal statements for medical school, often start by explaining why medicine is awesome; the admission committee already knows that. You should explain why you want a career in medicine. What is it about the practice of medicine that resonates with who you are? Naturally, this takes a lot of reflection around who you are. Here are some additional questions you can consider as you go about brainstorming for your essay:

• What motivates you to learn more about medicine?
• What is something you want them to know about you that isn't in your application?
• Where were you born, how did you grow up, and what type of childhood did you have growing up (perhaps including interesting stories about your siblings, parents, grandparents)?
• What kinds of early exposure to the medical field left an impression on you as a child?
• Did you become familiar with and interested in the field of medicine at an early stage of your life? If so, why?
• What are your key strengths, and how have you developed these?
• What steps did you take to familiarize yourself with the medical profession?
• Did you shadow a physician? Did you volunteer or work in a clinical setting? Did you get involved in medical research?
• What challenges have you faced? Have these made an impact on what you chose to study?
• What are your favorite activities?
• What kinds of extracurriculars for medical school or volunteer work have you done, and how have these shaped who you are, your priorities, and or your perspectives on a career in medicine?
• What was your "Aha!" moment?
• When did your desire to become a doctor solidify?
• How did you make the decision to apply to medical school?

You shouldn't try to answer all of these in your essay. Try only a few main points that will carry over into the final draft. Use these to brainstorm and gather ideas. Start developing your narrative by prioritizing the most impactful responses to these prompts and the ideas that are most relevant to your own experiences and goals. The perfect personal statement not only shows the admissions committee that you have refined communication skills, but also conveys maturity and professionalism. It should also display your motivation and suitability for medical practice. Here's how our student Alison, who was a non-traditional applicant with a serious red flag in her application, used her brainstorming sessions with our admissions experts to get a theme going in her medical school personal statement and her overall application package:

"I think it was during my brainstorming session that we really started talking about... what the theme [was] going to be for my application. And I think that was really helpful in and of itself. Just [reflecting] 'Hey, what's your focus going to be like? How are we going to write this? What's the style going to be?' Just to create an element of consistency throughout..." Alison, BeMo Student, current student at Dell Medical School 

After brainstorming, you should be able to clearly see a few key ideas, skills, qualities, and intersections that you want to write about. Once you've isolated the elements you want to explore in your essay (usually 2-4 key ideas), you can begin building your outline. In terms of structure, this should follow the standard academic format, with an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

As you begin thinking about what to include in your personal essay, remember that you are writing for a specific audience with specific expectations. Your evaluator will be familiar with the key qualities desired by medical schools, as informed by the standards of the profession. But keep in mind that they too are human, and they respond well to well-crafted, engaging essays that tell a story. Here's what our student Alison had to share about keeping your audience in mind when writing your personal statement:

"Make it easy for the reader to be able to work [their] way through [your personal statement]. Because, at the end of the day, I think one thing that helped me a lot was being able to think about who was going to be reading this application and it's going to be these people that are sitting around a desk or sitting at a table and [go] through massive numbers of applications every single day. And the easier and more digestible that you can make it for them, gives you a little bit of a win." - Alison, BeMo student, current student at Dell Medical School

The admissions committee will be examining your essay through the lens of their particular school's mission, values, and priorities. You should think about your experiences with reference to the AAMC Core Competencies and to each school's mission statement so that you're working toward your narrative with the institution and broader discipline in mind.

Review AAMC Core Competencies : The AAMC Core Competencies are the key characteristics and skills sought by U.S. medical schools. These are separated into three general categories:

You are not expected to have mastered all of these competencies at this stage of your education. Display those that are relevant to your experiences will help demonstrate your commitment to the medical profession.

Review the school's mission statement: Educational institutions put a lot of time and care into drafting their school's vision. The mission statement will articulate the overall values and priorities of each university, giving you insight into what they might seek in candidates, and thus what you should try to display in your personal statement. Echoing the values of the university helps illustrate that you are a good fit for their intellectual culture. The mission statement may help you identify other priorities of the university, for example, whether they prioritize research-based or experiential-based education. All this research into your chosen medical schools will help you tremendously not only when you write you personal statement, but also the rest of your medical school application components, including your medical school letter of intent if you ever need to write one later.

Just like the personal statement is, in essence, a prompt without a prompt. They give you free rein to write your own prompt to tell your story. This is often difficult for students as they find it hard to get started without having a true direction. Below is a list of ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Use these prompts as a starting point for your essay. Also, they are a great way of addressing why you want to be a doctor without saying something generic.

• The moment your passion for medicine crystallized
• The events that led you toward this path
• Specific instances in which you experienced opportunities
• Challenges that helped shape your worldview
• Your compassion, resilience, or enthusiastic collaboration
• Demonstrate your commitment to others
• Your dependability
• Your leadership skills
• Your ability to problem-solve or to resolve a conflict

These are personal, impactful experiences that only you have had. Focus on the personal, and connect that to the values of your future profession. Do that and you will avoid writing the same essay as everyone else. Dr. Monica Taneja, MD and our admissions expert, shares her tip that got her accepted to the University of Maryland School of Medicine :

"I focused on my journey to medicine and opportunities that I sought out along the way. Everyone’s path and validation is unique, so walking the reader through your growth to the point of application will naturally be different, but that's what I wanted to share in my personal statement." - Dr. Monica Taneja, MD

“the essay is not about what you have been through; it's about who it made you into.” – dr. vincent adeyemi, md.

Admissions committees don't want your resumé in narrative form. The most boring essays are those of applicants listing their accomplishments. Remember, all that stuff is already in the activities section of the application. This is where you should discuss interesting or important life events that shaped you and your interest in medicine (a service trip to rural Guatemala, a death in the family, a personal experience as a patient). One suggestion is to have an overarching theme to your essay to tie everything together, starting with an anecdote. Alternatively, you can use one big metaphor or analogy through the essay. Dr. Jaime Cazes, MD and experienced admissions committee member of the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, encourages you to be creative when it comes to the theme of your personal statement:

"It is very easy to make the “cookie cutter” personal statement. To a reviewer who is reading tens of these at a time it can become quite boring. What I did was [tell] a story. Like any good novel, the stories' first lines are meant to hook the reader. This can be about anything if you can bring it back and relate it to your application. It could be about the time your friend was smashed up against the boards in hockey and you, with your limited first aid experience helped to treat him. It is important that the story be REAL." - Dr. Jaime Cazes, MD, University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine

Your personal statement must be well-organized, showing a clear, logical progression, as well as connections between ideas. It is generally best to use a chronological progression since this mirrors your progression into a mature adult and gives you the opportunity to illustrate how you learned from early mistakes later on. Carry the theme throughout the statement to achieve continuity and cohesion. Use the theme to links ideas from each paragraph to the next and to unite your piece.

Medical School Personal Statement Structure

When working toward the initial draft of your essay, it is important to keep the following in mind: The essay should read like a chronological narrative and have good structure and flow. Just like any academic essay, it will need an introduction, body content, and a conclusion. If you're wondering whether a medical school advisor can help you with your medical school application, check out our blog for the answer.

Check out our video to learn how to create a killer introduction to your medical school personal statement:

Introduction

The introductory paragraph and, even more importantly, the introductory sentence of your essay, will most certainly make or break your overall statement. Ensure that you have a creative and captivating opening sentence that draws the reader in. This is your first and only chance to make a first impression and really capture the attention of the committee. Starting with an event or an Aha! moment that inspired your decision to pursue a medical profession is one way to grab their attention. The kinds of things that inspire or motivate you can say a lot about who you are as a person.

The broader introductory paragraph itself should serve several functions. First, it must draw your reader in with an eye-catching first line and an engaging hook or anecdote. It should point toward the qualities that most effectively demonstrate your desire and suitability for becoming a physician (you will discuss these qualities further in the body paragraphs). The thesis of the introduction is that you have certain skills, experiences, and characteristics and that these skills, experiences, and characteristics will lead you to thrive in the field of medicine. Finally, it must also serve as a roadmap to the reader, allowing them to understand where the remainder of the story is headed.

That is a lot of work for a single paragraph to do. To better help you envision what this looks like in practice, here is a sample introduction that hits these main points.

I was convinced I was going to grow up to be a professional chef. This was not just another far-fetched idealistic childhood dream that many of us had growing up. There was a sense of certainty about this dream that motivated me to devote countless hours to its practice. It was mostly the wonder that it brought to others and the way they were left in awe after they tried a dish that I recall enjoying the most creating as a young chef. But, when I was 13, my grandfather was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, and I realized that sometimes cooking is not enough, as I quickly learned about the vital role physicians play in the life of everyday people like my family and myself. Although my grandfather ended up passing away from his illness, the impact that the healthcare team had on him, my family, and I will always serve as the initial starting point of my fascination with the medical profession. Since that time, I have spent years learning more about the human sciences through my undergraduate studies and research, have developed a deeper understanding of the demands and challenges of the medical profession through my various volunteer and extra-curricular experiences, and although it has been difficult along the way, I have continued to forge a more intimate fascination with the medical field that has motivated me to apply to medical school at this juncture of my life. ","label":"Sample Introduction","title":"Sample Introduction"}]" code="tab3" template="BlogArticle">

In the body of your essay, you essentially want to elaborate on the ideas that you have introduced in your opening paragraph by drawing on your personal experiences to provide evidence. Major points from the above sample introduction could be: dedication and resilience (practicing cooking for hours, and devoting years to undergraduate studies in human sciences), passion and emotional connection (being able to create something that inspired awe in others, and personally connecting with the work of the grandfather's healthcare team), motivation and drive (being inspired by the role physicians play in their patients' lives, participating in volunteer work and extracurriculars, and an enduring fascination with the field of medicine). Depending on the details, a selection of volunteer and extra-curricular experiences might also be discussed in more detail, in order to emphasize other traits like collaboration, teamwork, perseverance, or a sense of social responsibility – all key characteristics sought by medical schools. Just like an academic essay, you will devote one paragraph to each major point, explaining this in detail, supporting your claims with experiences from your life, and reflecting on the meaning of each plot point in your personal narrative, with reference to why you want to pursue a medical career.

Your final statement should not be a simple summary of the things you have discussed. It should be insightful, captivating, and leave the reader with a lasting impression. Although you want to re-emphasize the major ideas of your essay, you should try to be creative and captivating, much like your opening paragraph. Sometimes if you can link your opening idea to your last paragraph it will really tie the whole essay together. The conclusion is just as important as the introduction. It is your last chance to express your medical aspirations. You want to impress the reader while also leaving them wanting more. In this case, more would mean getting an interview so they can learn more about who you are! Leave them thinking I have got to meet this person.

The narrative you construct should display some of your most tightly held values, principles, or ethical positions, along with key accomplishments and activities. If you see yourself as someone who is committed to community service, and you have a track record of such service, your story should feature this and provide insight into why you care about your community and what you learned from your experiences. Saying that you value community service when you've never volunteered a day in your life is pointless. Stating that your family is one where we support each other through challenge and loss (if this is indeed true), is excellent because it lays the groundwork for telling a story while showing that you are orientated towards close relationships. You would then go on to offer a brief anecdote that supports this. You are showing how you live such principles, rather than just telling your reader that you have such principles:

"Remember to use specific personal examples throughout your statement to make it more impactful and memorable for the readers. Often, painting a picture in the reader’s mind in the form of a story helps with this." - Dr. Neel Mistry, MD

A lot of students make the mistake of verbalizing their personal attributes with a bunch of adjectives, such as, "This experience taught me to be a self-reliant leader, with excellent communication skills, and empathy for others..." In reality, this does nothing to convey these qualities. It's a mistake to simply list your skills or characteristics without showing the reader an example of a time you used them to solve a problem. If you simply list your skills or characteristics (telling), without demonstrating the ways you have applied them (showing), you risk coming across as arrogant. The person reading the essay may not believe you, as you've not really given them a way to see such values in your actions. It is better to construct a narrative to show the reader that you possess the traits that medical schools are looking for, rather than explicitly stating that you are an empathetic individual or capable of deep self-reflection. Instead of listing adjectives, tell your personal story and allow the admissions committee to paint the picture for themselves. This step is very challenging for many students, but it's one of the most important strategies used in successful essays. Writing this way will absolutely make your statement stand out from the rest.

While it may be tempting to write in a high academic tone, using terminology or jargon that is often complex or discipline-specific, requiring a specialized vocabulary for comprehension. You should actually aim to write for a non-specialist audience. Remember, in the world of medicine, describing a complex, clinical condition to a patient requires using specific but clear words. This is why your personal statement should show that you can do the same thing. Using large words in unwieldy ways makes you sound like you are compensating for poor communication skills. Use words that you believe most people understand. Read your personal statement back to a 14-year-old, and then again to someone for whom English is not their first language, to see if you're on the right path.

Ultimately, fancy words do not make you a good communicator; listening and ensuring reader comprehension makes you a good communicator. Instead of using complex terminology to tell the admissions committee that you have strong communication skills, show them your communication skills through clear, accessible prose, written with non-specialists in mind. A common refrain among writing instructors is, never use a $10 word where a $2 word will suffice. If you can say it in plain, accessible language, then this is what you should do.

Display Professionalism

Professionalism may seem like a difficult quality to display when only composing a personal statement. After all, the reader can't see your mannerisms, your personal style, or any of those little qualities that allow someone to appear professional. Professionalism is about respect for the experience of others on your team or in your workplace. It is displayed when you are able to step back from your own individual position and think about what is best for your colleagues and peers, considering their needs alongside your own. If a story is relevant to why you want to be a physician and demonstrates an example of how you were professional in a workplace setting, then it is appropriate to include in your essay.

One easy way to destroy a sense of professionalism is to act in a judgmental way towards others, particularly if you perceived and ultimately resolved an error on someone else's part. Sometimes students blame another medical professional for something that went wrong with a patient.

They might say something to the effect of, "The nurse kept brushing off the patient's concerns, refusing to ask the attending to increase her pain medications. Luckily, being the empathetic individual that I am, I took the time to listen to sit with the patient, eventually bringing her concerns to the attending physician, who thanked me for letting him know."

There are a couple of things wrong with this example. It seems like this person is putting down someone else in an attempt to make themselves look better. They come across as un-empathetic and judgmental of the nurse. Maybe she was having a busy day, or maybe the attending had just seen the patient for this issue and the patient didn't really need re-assessment. Reading this kind of account in a personal statement makes the reader question the maturity of the applicant and their ability to move past blaming others and resolve problems in a meaningful way. Instead of allocating blame, identify what the problem was for the patient and then focus on what you did to resolve it and reflect on what you learned from the whole experience.

One last note on professionalism: Being professional does not mean being overly stoic, hiding your emotions, or cultivating a bland personality. A lot of students are afraid to talk about how a situation made them feel in their personal statement. They worry that discussing feelings is inappropriate and will appear unprofessional. Unfortunately for these students, emotional intelligence is hugely important to the practice of medicine. In order to be a good doctor, one must be aware of their own emotions as well as those of their patients. Good doctors are able to quickly identify their own emotions and understand how their emotional reactions may inform their actions, and the ability to deliver appropriate care, in a given situation. Someone who is incapable of identifying their emotions is also incapable of managing them effectively and will likely struggle to identify the emotions of others. So, when writing your personal statement, think about how each experience made you feel, and what you learned from those feelings and that experience.

How to Write About Discrepancies and Common Mistakes to Avoid

Part of your essay's body can include a discussion of any discrepancies or gaps in your education, or disruptions in your academic performance. If you had to take time off, or if you had a term or course with low grades, or if you had any other extenuating circumstances that impacted your education, you can take time to address these here. It is very important to address these strategically. Do not approach this section as space to plead your case. Offer a brief summary of the situation, and then emphasize what you learned from such hardships. Always focus on the positive, illustrating how such difficulties made you stronger, more resilient, or more compassionate. Connect your experiences to the qualities desired by medical schools. Here's how I student Alison address an academic discrepancy in her application:

I had an academic dishonesty during undergrad, which, at the time, ended up being this big misunderstanding. But I was going to appeal this and get it off my record. I was supposed to start nursing school two weeks after this whole ordeal had gone down and, at our university, if you try to appeal your academic dishonesty then you'd have to take an incomplete in that class and I needed this class in order to start nursing school. So I wasn't able to [appeal]. So when I talked with the people at the nursing school they were like ‘it's no big deal, it's fine’. [But] it came back and it haunted me very much. When I was applying [to medical school] I started looking online [to see] how big of a deal is it to have this ‘red flag’ on my application. I started reading all of these horror stories on Student Doctor Network and all of these other forums about how if you have an academic dishonesty you shouldn't even bother applying, that you'll never get in. Schools will blacklist you and I was [wondering] what am I going do. [My advisor suggested I use the essay to talk about my discrepancy]. 

First off, if anyone out there has an academic violation don't read student doctor network. don't listen to anybody. you absolutely are still a potential medical student and schools are not going to blacklist you just because of one mistake that you made. that's all lies. don't listen to them. i don't even think it came up a single time during any of my interviews. i think a lot of that came back to how i wrote that essay and the biggest advice that i can give that i got from the [bemo] team is explain what happened… just give the facts. be very objective about it. in the last two thirds [of the essay] you want to focus on what you learned from it and how it made you a better person and how it's going to make you a better physician.” – alison, bemo student, current student at dell medical school.

We hope many of you find a peace of mind when you read Alison's story. Because it shows that with the right approach to your medical school personal statement, you can overcome even red flags or setbacks that made you dread the application process. Use your personal statement to emphasize your ability to persevere through it all but do so in a positive way. Most of all, if you feel like you have to explain yourself, take accountability for the situation. State that it is unfortunate and then redirect it to what you learned and how it will make you a better doctor. Always focus on being positive and do not lament on the negative situation too much.

Additional Mistakes to Avoid in Personal Statements:

Check out this video on the top 5 errors to avoid in your personal statement!

Step 3: Writing Your First Draft

As you can see, there is a LOT of planning and consideration to be done before actually starting your first draft. Properly brainstorming, outlining, and considering the content and style of your essay prior to beginning the essay will make the writing process much smoother than it would be you to try to jump right to the draft-writing stage. Now, you're not just staring at a blank page wondering what you could possibly write to impress the admissions committee. Instead, you've researched what the school desires from its students and what the medical profession prioritizes in terms of personal characteristics, you've sketched out some key moments from your life that exemplify those traits, and you have a detailed outline that just needs filling in.

As you're getting started, focus on getting content on the page, filling in your outline and getting your ideas arranged on the page. Your essay will go through multiple drafts and re-writes, so the first step is to free write and start articulating connections between your experiences and the characteristics you're highlighting. You can worry about flow, transitions, and perfect grammar in later drafts. The first draft is always a working draft, written with the understanding that its purpose is to act as a starting point, not an ending point. Once you've completed a draft, you can begin the revising process. The next section will break down what to do once you have your first draft completed.

You can also begin looking at things like style, voice, transitions, and overall theme. The best way to do this is to read your essay aloud. This may sound strange, but it is one of the single most impactful bits of writing advice a student can receive. When we're reading in our heads (and particularly when we're reading our own words), it is easy to skip over parts that may be awkwardly worded, or where the grammar is off. As our brains process information differently, depending on whether we're taking in visual or auditory information, this can also help you understand where the connections between ideas aren't as evident as you would like. Reading the essay aloud will help you begin internalizing the narrative you've crafted, so that you can come to more easily express this both formally in writing and informally in conversation (for example, in an interview).

#1 Did You Distinguish Yourself From Others?

Does your narrative sound unique? Is it different than your peers or did you write in a generic manner? Our admissions expert Dr. Monica Taneja, MD, shares how she got the attention of the admissions committee with her personal statement:

"I also found it helpful to give schools a 'punch-line'. As in I wanted them to remember 1-2 things about me that are my differentiators and I reiterated those throughout [the personal statement]." - Dr. Monica Taneja, MD

Use your narrative to provide a compelling picture of who you are as a person, as a learner, as an advocate, and as a future medical professional. What can you offer? Remember, you will be getting a lot out of your med school experience, but the school will be getting a lot out of you, as well. You will be contributing your research efforts to your department, you will be participating in the academic community, and as you go on to become a successful medical professional you will impact the perception of your school's prestige. This is a mutually beneficial relationship, so use this opportunity to highlight what you bring to the table, and what you will contribute as a student at their institution. Let them know what it is about you that is an attribute to their program. Make them see you as a stand out from the crowd.

#2 Does My Essay Flow and is it Comprehensible?

Personal statements are a blessing and a curse for admission committees. They give them a better glimpse of who the applicant is than simple scores. Also, they are long and time-consuming to read. And often, they sound exactly alike. On occasion, a personal statement really makes an applicant shine. After reading page after page of redundant, cookie-cutter essays, an essay comes along with fluid prose and a compelling narrative, the reader snaps out of that feeling of monotony and gladly extends their enthusiastic attention.

Frankly, if the statement is pleasant to read, it will get read with more attention and appreciation. Flow is easier to craft through narrative, which is why you should root the statement in a story that demonstrates characteristics desirable to medical schools. Fluidity takes time to build, though, so your statement should be etched out through many drafts and should also be based on an outline. You need to brainstorm, then outline, then draft and re-draft, and then bring in editors and listeners for feedback (Note: You need someone to proofread your work. Bestselling authors have editors. Top scholars have editors. I need an editor. You need an editor. Everyone needs an editor). Then, check and double-check and fix anything that needs fixing. Then check again. Then submit. You want this to be a statement that captures the reader's interest by creating a fluid, comprehensible piece that leads the reader to not only read each paragraph but want to continue to the next sentence.

#3 Did You Check Your Grammar?

If you give yourself more than one night to write your statement, the chances of grammatical errors will decrease considerably. If you are pressed for time, upload your file into an online grammar website. Use the grammar checker on your word processor, but know that this, in itself, isn't enough. Use the eyes and ears of other people to check and double-check your grammar, punctuation, and syntax. Read your statement out loud to yourself and you will almost certainly find an error (and likely several errors). Use fresh eyes to review the statement several times before you actually submit it, by walking away from it for a day or so and then re-reading it. Start your essay early, so that you actually have time to do this. This step can make or break your essay. Do not waste all the effort you have put into writing, to only be discarded by the committee for using incorrect grammar and syntax.

#4 Did You Gather Feedback From Other People?

The most important tip in writing a strong application essay is this getting someone else to read your work. While the tips above are all very useful for writing a strong draft, nothing will benefit you more than getting an outside appraisal of your work. For example, it's very easy to overlook your own spelling or grammatical errors. You know your own story and you may think that your narrative and it's meaning make sense to your reader. You won't know that for sure without having someone else actually read it. This may sound obvious, but it's still an absolute necessity.

“It was very helpful for two of my mentors to review my statements before submitting my application. Ensure you trust the judgement and skills of the person to whom you would be giving your personal statement for review.” – Dr. Vincent Adeyemi, MD

Have someone you trust to read the essay and ask them what they thought of it. What was their impression of you after reading it? Did it make sense? Was it confusing? Do they have any questions? What was the tone of the essay? Do they see the connections you're trying to make? What were their takeaways from your essay, and do these align with your intended takeaways for your reader? Ideally, this person should have some knowledge of the application process or the medical profession, so that they can say whether you were successful in demonstrating that you are a suitable candidate for medical school. However, any external reader is better than no external reader at all.

Avoid having people too close to you read your work. They may refrain from being too critical in an effort to spare your feelings. This is the time to get brutal, honest feedback. If you know someone who is an editor but do not feel that they can be objective, try and find someone else.

Want more examples? Check out our video below:

FAQs and Final Notes

Your personal statement should tell your story and highlight specific experiences or aspects of your journey that have led you to medicine. If your first exposure or interest in the medical field was sparked from your own medical struggles, then you can certainly include this in your statement. What is most important is that you write about what factors or experiences attributed to you deciding that medicine is the right career path for you.

Sometimes students shy away from including their own personal struggles and describing how they felt during difficult times but this is a great way for admissions committees to gain perspective into who you are as a person and where your motivations lie. Remember, this is your story, not someone else's, so your statement should revolve around you. If you choose to discuss a personal hardship, what's most important is that you don't cast yourself as the victim and that you discuss what the experience taught you. Also, medical schools are not allowed to discriminate against students for discussing medical issues, so it is not looked at as a red flag unless you are talking about an issue inappropriately. For example, making yourself appear as the victim or not taking responsibility.

All US medical schools require the completion of a personal statement with your AMCAS, TMDSAS or AACOMAS applications.

Medical schools in Canada on the other hand, do not require or accept personal statements. In lieu of the personal statement, a few of these schools may require you to address a prompt in the form of an essay, or allow you to submit an explanation essay to describe any extenuating circumstances, but this is not the same as the US personal statement. For example, when applying through  OMSAS , the  University of Toronto medical school  requires applicants to complete four short, 250 words or less, personal essays.

Many students struggle with whether or not they should address an unfavorable grade in their personal statement. What one student does isn't necessarily the right decision for you.

To help you decide, think about whether or not that bad grade might reflect on your poorly. If you think it will, then it's best to address the academic misstep head-on instead of having admissions committees dwell on possible areas of concern. If you're addressing a poor evaluation, ensure that you take responsibility for your grade, discuss what you learned and how your performance will be improved in the future - then move on. It's important that you don't play the victim and you must always reflect on what lessons you've learned moving forward.

Of course not, just because you didn't wake up one morning and notice a lightbulb flashing the words medicine, doesn't mean that your experiences and journey to medicine are inferior to those who did. Students arrive to medicine in all sorts of ways, some change career paths later in life, some always knew they wanted to pursue medicine, and others slowly became interested in medicine through their life interactions and experiences. Your personal statement should address your own unique story to how you first became interested in medicine and when and how that interest turned to a concrete desire.

While your entire statement is important, the opening sentence can often make or break your statement. This is because admission committee members are reviewing hundreds, if not thousands of personal statements. If your opening sentence is not eye-catching, interesting, and memorable, you risk your statement blending in with the large pile of other statements. Have a look at our video above for tips and strategies for creating a fantastic opening sentence.

Having your statement reviewed by family and friends can be a good place to start, but unfortunately, it's near-impossible for them to provide you with unbiased feedback. Often, friends and family members are going to support us and rave about our achievements. Even if they may truly think your statement needs work, they may feel uncomfortable giving you their honest feedback at the risk of hurting your feelings.

In addition, family and friends don't know exactly what admission committee members are looking for in a personal statement, nor do they have years of experience reviewing personal statements and helping students put the best version of themselves forward. For these reasons, many students choose to seek the help of a professional medical school advisor to make sure they have the absolute best chances of acceptance to medical school the first time around.

If you have enough time set aside to write your statement without juggling multiple other commitments, it normally takes at least four weeks to write your statement. If you are working, in school, or volunteering and have other commitments, be prepared to spend 6-8 weeks.

Your conclusion should have a summary of the main points you have made in your essay, but it should not just be a summary. You should also end with something that makes the reader want to learn more about you (i.e. call you for an interview). A good way to do this is to include a call-back to your opening anecdote: how have you grown or matured since then? How are you more prepared now to begin medical school?

The goal is to show as many of them as you can in the WHOLE application: this includes your personal statement, sketch, reference letters, secondary essays, and even your GPA and MCAT (which show critical thinking and reasoning already). So, it’s not an issue to focus on only a few select experiences and competencies in the personal statement.

Yes, you can. However, if you used an experience as a most meaningful entry, pick something else to talk about in your essay. Remember, you want to highlight as many core competencies across your whole application). Or, if you do pick the same experience: pick a different specific encounter or project with a different lesson learned.

Once your essay is in good shape, it's best to submit to ensure your application is reviewed as soon as possible. Remember, with rolling admissions, as more time passes before you submit your application, your chances of acceptance decreases. Nerves are normal and wanting to tinker is also normal, but over-analyzing and constant adjustments can actually weaken your essay.

So, if you're thinking about making more changes, it's important to really reflect and think about WHY you want to change something and if it will actually make the essay stronger. If not your changes won't actually make the essay stronger or if it's a very minor change you're thinking of making, then you should likely leave it as is.

The reality is, medical school admission is an extremely competitive process. In order to have the best chance of success, every part of your application must be stellar. Also, every year some students get in whose GPAs or  MCAT scores  are below the median. How? Simply because they must have stood out in other parts of the application, such as the personal statement.

The ones that honestly made the most impact on you. You'll need to reflect on your whole life and think about which experiences helped you grow and pushed you to pursue medicine. Ideally, experiences that show commitment and progression are better than one-off or short-term activities, as they usually contribute more to growth.

Final Notes

This Ultimate Guide has demonstrated all the work that needs to be done to compose a successful, engaging personal statement for your medical school application. While it would be wonderful if there was an easy way to write your personal statement in a day, the reality is that this kind of composition takes a lot of work. As daunting as this may seem, this guide lays out a clear path. In summary, the following 5 steps are the basis of what you should take away from this guide. These 5 steps are your guide and sort of cheat sheet to writing your best personal statement.

5 Main Takeaways For Personal Statement Writing:

• Brainstorming
• Content and Theme
• Multiple Drafts
• Revision With Attention to Grammar

While a strong personal statement alone will not guarantee admission to medical school, it could absolutely squeeze you onto a  medical school waitlist , off the waitlist, and onto the offer list, or give someone on the admissions committee a reason to go to battle for your candidacy. Use this as an opportunity to highlight the incredible skills you've worked and studied to refine, the remarkable life experiences you've had, and the key qualities you possess in your own unique way. Show the admissions committee that you are someone they want to meet. Remember, in this context, wanting to meet you means wanting to bring you in for an interview!

Dr. Lauren Prufer is an admissions expert at BeMo. Dr. Prufer is also a medical resident at McMaster University. Her medical degree is from the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry. During her time in medical school, she developed a passion for sharing her knowledge with others through medical writing, research, and peer mentoring.

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

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Great Medical School Personal Statement Examples (2024-2025) Insider’s Guide

A physician and former medical school admissions officer teaches you how to write your medical school personal statement, step by step. Read several full-length medical school personal statement examples for inspiration.

In this article, a former medical school admissions officer explains exactly how to write a stand-out medical school personal statement!

Our goal is to empower you to write a medical school personal statement that reflects your individuality, truest aspirations and genuine motivations.

This guide also includes:

• Real life medical school personal statement examples
• Medical school personal statement inventory template and outline exercise
• AMCAS, TMDSAS, and AACOMAS personal statement prompts
• Advanced strategies to ensure you address everything admissions committees want to know
• The secret to writing a great medical school personal statement

So, if you want your medical school personal statement to earn more more medical school interviews, you will love this informative guide.

Let’s dive right in.

Table of Contents

Medical School Personal Statement Fundamentals

If you are getting ready to write your medical school personal statement for the 2024-2025 application year, you may already know that almost 60% of medical school applicants are not accepted every year . You have most likely also completed all of your medical school requirements and have scoured the internet for worthy medical school personal statement examples and guidance.

You know the medical school personal statement offers a crucial opportunity to show medical schools who you are beyond your GPA and MCAT score .

It provides an opportunity to express who you are as an individual, the major influences and background that have shaped your interests and values, what inspired you to pursue medicine, and what kind of a physician you envision yourself becoming.

However, with so much information online, you are not sure who to trust. We are happy you have found us!

Because the vast majority of people offering guidance are not former admissions officers or doctors , you must be careful when searching online.

We are real medical school admissions insiders and know what goes on behind closed doors and how to ensure your medical school personal statement has broad appeal while highlighting your most crucial accomplishments, perspectives, and insights.

With tight limits on space, it can be tough trying to decide what to include in your medical school personal statement to make sure you stand out. You must think strategically about how you want to present your personal “big picture” while showing you possess the preprofessional competencies med schools are seeking.

When a medical school admissions reviewer finishes reading your medical school personal statement, ask yourself:

• What are the most important things you want that person to remember about you?
• Does your medical school personal statement sum up your personality, interests, and talents?
• Does your medical school personal statement sound as if it’s written from the heart?

It’s pretty obvious to most admissions reviewers when applicants are trying too hard to impress them. Being authentic and upfront about who you are is the best way to be a memorable applicant.

The Biggest Medical School Personal Statement Mistakes

The most common medical school personal statement mistake we see students make is that they write about:

• What they have accomplished
• How they have accomplished it

By including details on what you have accomplished and how, you will make yourself sound like every other medical school applicant. 

Most medical school applicants are involved in similar activities: research, clinical work, service, and social justice work. 

To stand out, you must write from the heart making it clear you haven’t marched through your premedical years and checking boxes.

We also strongly discourage applicants from using ChatGPT or any AI bot to write their medical school personal statement. Writing in your own voice is essential and using anything automated will undermine success.

The Medical School Personal Statement Secret

MedEdits students stand out in the medical school personal statement because in their personal statements they address:

WHY they have accomplished what they have.

In other words, they write in more detail about their passions, interests, and what is genuinely important to them. 

It sounds simple, we know, but by writing in a natural way, really zeroing in on WHY YOU DO WHAT YOU DO, you will appeal to a wide variety of people in a humanistic way. 

MedEdits students have done extremely well in the most recent medical school admissions cycle. Many of these applicants have below average “stats” for the medical schools from which they are receiving interviews and acceptances.

Why? How is that possible? They all have a few things in common:

• They write a narrative that is authentic and distinctive to them.
• They write a medical school personal statement with broad appeal (many different types of people will be evaluating your application; most are not physicians).
• They don’t try too hard to impress; instead they write about the most impactful experiences they have had on their path to medical school.
• They demonstrate they are humble, intellectual, compassionate, and committed to a career in medicine all at the same time.

Keep reading for a step by step approach to write your medical school personal statement.

“After sitting on a medical school admissions committee for many years, I can tell you, think strategically about how you want to present your personal “big picture.” We want to know who you are as a human being.”

As physicians, former medical school faculty, and medical school admissions committee members, this article will offer a step by step guide to simplify the medical school personal statement brainstorming and writing process.

By following the proven strategies outlined in this article, you will be and to write a personal statement that will earn you more medical school interviews . This proven approach has helped hundreds of medical school applicants get in to medical school the first time they apply!

Learn the 2024-2025 Medical School Personal Statement Prompts ( AMCAS , TMDSAS , AACOMAS )

The personal statement is the major essay portion of your primary application process. In it, you should describe yourself and your background, as well as any important early exposures to medicine, how and why medicine first piqued your interest, what you have done as a pre med, your personal experiences, and how you became increasingly fascinated with it. It’s also key to explain why medicine is the right career for you, in terms of both personal and intellectual fulfillment, and to show your commitment has continued to deepen as you learned more about the field.

The personal statement also offers you the opportunity to express who you are outside of medicine. What are your other interests? Where did you grow up? What did you enjoy about college? Figuring out what aspects of your background to highlight is important since this is one of your only chances to express to the med school admissions committee before your interview what is important to you and why.

However, it is important to consider the actual personal statement prompt for each system through which you will apply, AMCAS, AACOMAS, and TMDSAS, since each is slightly different.

Getting into a medical school has never been more competitive. Let the experts at MedEdits help you with your medical school application materials. We’ve worked with more than 5,000 students and 94% have been admitted to medical school.

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2024 AMCAS Personal Statement Prompt

The AMCAS personal statement instructions are as follows:

Use the Personal Comments Essay as an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants. Consider and write your Personal Comments Essay carefully; many admissions committees place significant weight on the essay. Here are some questions that you may want to consider while writing the essay:

• Why have you selected the field of medicine?
• What motivates you to learn more about medicine?
• What do you want medical schools to know about you that hasn’t been disclosed in other sections of the application?

In addition, you may wish to include information such as:

• Unique hardships, challenges, or obstacles that may have influenced your educational pursuits
• Comments on significant fluctuations in your academic record that are not explained elsewhere in your application

As you can see, these prompts are not vague; there are fundamental questions that admissions committees want you to answer when writing your personal statement. While the content of your statement should be focused on medicine, answering the open ended third question is a bit trickier.

The AMCAS personal statement length is 5,300 characters with spaces maximum.

2024 TMDSAS Personal Statement Prompt

The TMDSAS personal statement is one of the most important pieces of your medical school application.

The TMDSAS personal statement prompt is as follows:

Explain your motivation to seek a career in medicine. Be sure to include the value of your experiences that prepare you to be a physician.

This TMDSAS prompt is very similar to the AMCAS personal statement prompt. The TMDSAS personal statement length is 5,000 characters with spaces whereas the AMCAS personal statement length is 5,300 characters with spaces. Most students use the same essay (with very minor modifications, if necessary) for both application systems.

You’ve been working hard on your med school application, reading medical school personal statement examples, editing, revising, editing and revising.  Make sure you know where you’re sending your personal statement and application.  Watch this important medical school admissions statistics video.

2024 AACOMAS Personal Statement Prompt

The AACOMAS personal statement is for osteopathic medical schools specifically. As with the AMCAS statement, you need to lay out your journey to medicine as chronologically as possible in 5,300 characters with spaces or less. So you essentially have the same story map as for an AMCAS statement. Most important, you must show you are interested in osteopathy specifically. Therefore, when trying to decide what to include or leave out, prioritize any osteopathy experiences you have had, or those that are in line with the osteopathic philosophy of the mind-body connection, the body as self-healing, and other tenets.

Medical School Application Timeline and When to Write your Personal Statement

If you’re applying to both allopathic and osteopathic schools, you can most likely use the same medical school personal statement for both AMCAS and AACOMAS. In fact, this is why AACOMAS changed the personal statement length to match the AMCAS length several years ago.

Most medical school personal statements can be used for AMCAS and AACOMAS.

Know the Required Medical School Personal Statement Length

Below are the medical schools personal statement length limits for each application system. As you can see, they are all very similar. When you start brainstorming and writing your personal statement, keep these limits in mind.

AMCAS Personal Statement Length : 5,300 characters with spaces.

As per the AAMC website :   “The available space for this essay is 5,300 characters (spaces are counted as characters), or approximately one page. You will receive an error message if you exceed the available space.”

AACOMAS Personal Statement Length : 5,300 characters with spaces

TMDSAS Personal Statement Length : 5,000 characters with spaces

As per the TMDSAS Website (Page 36): “The personal essay asks you to explain your motivation to seek a career in medicine. You are asked to include the value of your experiences that prepare you to be a physician. The essay is limited to 5000 characters, including spaces.”

Demonstrate Required Preprofessional Competencies

Next, your want to be aware of the nine preprofessional core competencies as outlined by the Association of American Medical Colleges . Medical school admissions committees want to see, as evidenced by your medical school personal statement and application, that you possess these qualities and characteristics. Now, don’t worry, medical school admissions committees don’t expect you to demonstrate all of them, but, you should demonstrate some.

• Service Orientation
• Social Skills
• Cultural Competence
• Oral Communication
• Ethical Responsibility to Self and Others
• Reliability and Dependability
• Resilience and Adaptability
• Capacity for Improvement

In your personal statement, you might be able to also demonstrate the four thinking and reasoning competencies:

• Critical Thinking
• Quantitative Reasoning
• Written Communication
• Scientific Inquiry

So, let’s think about how to address the personal statement prompts in a slightly different way while ensuring you demonstrate the preprofessional competencies. When writing your personal statement, be sure it answers the four questions that follow and you will “hit” most of the core competencies listed above.

1. What have you done that supports your interest in becoming a doctor?

I always advise applicants to practice “evidence based admissions.” The reader of your essay wants to see the “evidence” that you have done what is necessary to understand the practice of medicine. This includes clinical exposure, research, and community service, among other activities.

2. Why do you want to be a doctor?

This may seem pretty basic – and it is – but admissions officers need to know WHY you want to practice medicine. Many applicants make the mistake of simply listing what they have done without offering insights about those experiences that answer the question, “Why medicine?” Your reasons for wanting to be a doctor may overlap with those of other applicants. This is okay because the experiences in which you participated, the stories you can tell about those experiences, and the wisdom you gained are completely distinct—because they are only yours. 

“In admissions committee meetings we were always interested in WHY you wanted to earn a medical degree and how you would contribute to the medical school community.”

Medical school admissions committees want to know that you have explored your interest deeply and that you can reflect on the significance of these clinical experiences and volunteer work. But writing only that you “want to help people” does not support a sincere desire to become a physician; you must indicate why the medical profession in particular—rather than social work, teaching, or another “helping” profession—is your goal. 

3. How have your experiences influenced you?

It is important to show how your experiences are linked and how they have influenced you. How did your experiences motivate you? How did they affect what else you did in your life? How did your experiences shape your future goals? Medical school admissions committees like to see a sensible progression of involvements. While not every activity needs to be logically “connected” with another, the evolution of your interests and how your experiences have nurtured your future goals and ambitions show that you are motivated and committed.

4. Who are you as a person? What are your values and ideals?

Medical school admissions committees want to know about you as an individual beyond your interests in medicine, too. This is where answering that third open ended question in the prompt becomes so important. What was interesting about your background, youth, and home life? What did you enjoy most about college? Do you have any distinctive passions or interests? They want to be convinced that you are a good person beyond your experiences. Write about those topics that are unlikely to appear elsewhere in your statement that will offer depth and interest to your work and illustrate the qualities and characteristics you possess.

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Complete Your Personal Inventory and Outline (Example Below)

The bulk of your essay should be about your most valuable experiences, personal, academic, scholarly, clinical, academic and extracurricular activities that have impacted your path to medical school and through which you have learned about the practice of medicine. The best personal statements cover several topics and are not narrow in scope. Why is this important? Many different people with a variety of backgrounds, interests, and ideas of what makes a great medical student will be reading your essay. You want to make sure you essay has broad appeal.

The following exercise will help you to determine what experiences you should highlight in your personal statement. 

When composing your personal statement, keep in mind that you are writing, in effect, a “story” of how you arrived at this point in your life. But, unlike a “story” in the creative sense, yours must also offer convincing evidence for your decision to apply to medical school. Before starting your personal statement, create an experience- based personal inventory:

• Write down a list of the most important experiences in your life and your development. The list should be all inclusive and comprise those experiences that had the most impact on you. Put the list, which should consist of personal, extracurricular, and academic events, in chronological order.
• From this list, determine which experiences you consider the most important in helping you decide to pursue a career in medicine. This “experience oriented” approach will allow you to determine which experiences best illustrate the personal competencies admissions committees look for in your written documents. Remember that you must provide evidence for your interest in medicine and for most of the personal qualities and characteristics that medical school admissions committees want to see.
• After making your list, think about why each “most important” experience was influential and write that down. What did you observe? What did you learn? What insights did you gain? How  did the experience influence your path and choices?
• Then think of a story or illustration for why each experience was important.
• After doing this exercise, evaluate each experience for its significance and influence and for its “story” value. Choose to write about those experiences that not only were influential but that also will provide interesting reading, keeping in mind that  your goal is to weave the pertinent experiences together into a compelling story. In making your choices, think about how you will link each experience and transition from one topic to the next.
• Decide which of your listed experiences you will use for your introduction first (see below for more about your introduction). Then decide which experiences you will include in the body of your personal statement, create a general outline, and get writing!

Remember, you will also have your work and activities entries and your secondary applications to write in more detail about your experiences. Therefore, don’t feel you must pack everything in to your statement!

Craft a Compelling Personal Statement Introduction and Body

You hear conflicting advice about application essays. Some tell you not to open with a story. Others tell you to always begin with a story. Regardless of the advice you receive, be sure to do three things:

• Be true to yourself. Everyone will have an opinion regarding what you should and should not write. Follow your own instincts. Your personal statement should be a reflection of you, and only you.
• Start your personal statement with something catchy.  Think about the list of potential topics above.
• Don’t rush your work. Composing thoughtful documents takes time and you don’t want your writing and ideas to be sloppy and underdeveloped.

Most important is to begin with something that engages your reader. A narrative, a “story,” an anecdote written in the first or third person, is ideal. Whatever your approach, your first paragraph must grab your reader’s attention and motivate him to want to continue reading. I encourage applicants to start their personal statement by describing an experience that was especially influential in setting them on their path to medical school. This can be a personal or scholarly experience or an extracurricular one. Remember to avoid clichés and quotes and to be honest and authentic in your writing. Don’t try to be someone who you are not by trying to imitate personal statement examples you have read online or “tell them what you think they want to hear”; consistency is key and your interviewer is going to make sure that you are who you say you are!

When deciding what experiences to include in the body of your personal statement, go back to your personal inventory and identify those experiences that have been the most influential in your personal path and your path to medical school. Keep in mind that the reader wants to have an idea of who you are as a human being so don’t write your personal statement as a glorified resume. Include some information about your background and personal experiences that can give a picture of who you are as a person outside of the classroom or laboratory.

Ideally, you should choose two or three experiences to highlight in the body of your personal statement. You don’t want to write about all of your accomplishments; that is what your application entries are for!

Write Your Personal Statement Conclusion

In your conclusion, it is customary to “go full circle” by coming back to the topic—or anecdote—you introduced in the introduction, but this is not a must. Summarize why you want to be a doctor and address what you hope to achieve and your goals for medical school. Write a conclusion that is compelling and will leave the reader wanting to meet you.

Complete Personal Statement Checklist

When reading your medical school personal statement be sure it:

Shows insight and introspection

The best medical school personal statements tell a great deal about what you have learned through your experiences and the insights you have gained.

You want to tell your story by highlighting those experiences that have been the most influential on your path to medical school and to give a clear sense of chronology. You want your statement always to be logical and never to confuse your reader.

Is interesting and engaging

The best personal statements engage the reader. This doesn’t mean you must use big words or be a literary prize winner. Write in your own language and voice, but really think about your journey to medical school and the most intriguing experiences you have had.

Gives the reader a mental image of who you are

You want the reader to be able to envision you as a caregiver and a medical professional. You want to convey that you would be a compassionate provider at the bedside – someone who could cope well with crisis and adversity.

Illustrates your passion for, and commitment to, medicine

Your reader must be convinced that you are excited about and committed to a career in medicine!

Above all, your personal statement should be about you. Explain to your reader what you have done and why you want to be a doctor with insight, compassion, and understanding.

Medical School Personal Statement Myths

Also keep in mind some common myths about personal statements that I hear quite often:

My personal statement must have a theme.

Not true. The vast majority of personal statements do not have themes. In fact, most are somewhat autobiographical and are just as interesting as those statements that are woven around a “theme.” It is only the very talented writer who can creatively write a personal statement around a theme, and this approach often backfires since the applicant fails to answer the three questions above.

My personal statement must be no longer than one page.

Not true. This advice is antiquated and dates back to the days of the written application when admissions committees flipped through pages. If your personal statement is interesting and compelling, it is fine to use the entire allotted space. The application systems have incorporated limits for exactly this reason! Many students, depending on their unique circumstances, can actually undermine their success by limiting their personal statement to a page. That said, never max out a space just for the sake of doing so. Quality writing and perspectives are preferable to quantity.

My personal statement should not describe patient encounters or my personal medical experiences.

Not true. Again, the actual topics on which you focus in your personal statement are less important than the understanding you gained from those experiences. I have successful clients who have written extremely powerful and compelling personal statements that included information about clinical encounters – both personal and professional. Write about whichever experiences were the most important on your path to medicine. It’s always best, however, to avoid spending too much space on childhood and high school activities. Focus instead on those that are more current.

In my personal statement I need to sell myself.

Not exactly true. You never want to boast in your personal statement. Let your experiences, insights, and observations speak for themselves. You want your reader to draw the conclusion – on his or her own – that you have the qualities and characteristics the medical school seeks. Never tell what qualities and characteristics you possess; let readers draw these conclusions on their own based on what you write.

Medical School Personal Statement Examples and Analysis for Inspiration

Below are examples of actual medical school personal statements. You can also likely find medical school personal statements on Reddit.

AMCAS Medical School Personal Statement Example and Analysis #1 with Personal Inventory  

We will use Amy to illustrate the general process of writing an application to medical school, along with providing the resulting documents. Amy will first list those experiences, personal, extracurricular, and scholarly, that have been most influential in two areas: her life in general and her path to medical school. She will put this personal inventory in chronologic order for use in composing her personal statement.

She will then select those experiences that were the most significant to her and will reflect and think about why they were important. For her application entries, Amy will write about each experience, including those that she considers influential in her life but not in her choice of medicine, in her application entries. Experiences that Amy will not write about in her activity entries or her personal statement are those that she does not consider most influential in either her life or in her choice of medicine.

Amy’s personal inventory (from oldest to most recent)

• Going with my mom to work. She is a surgeon — I was very curious about what she did. I was intrigued by the relationships she had with patients and how much they valued her efforts. I also loved seeing her as “a doctor” since, to me, she was just “mom.”
• I loved biology in high school. I started to think seriously about medicine then. It was during high school that I became fascinated with biology and how the human body worked. I would say that was when I thought, “Hmm, maybe I should be a doctor.”
• Grandmother’s death, senior year of high school. My grandmother’s death was tragic. It was the first time I had ever seen someone close to me suffer. It was one of the most devastating experiences in my life.
• Global Health Trip to Guatemala my freshman year of college. I realized after going to Guatemala that I had always taken my access to health care for granted. Here I saw children who didn’t have basic health care. This made me want to become a physician so I could give more to people like those I met in Guatemala.
• Sorority involvement. Even though sorority life might seem trivial, I loved it. I learned to work with different types of people and gained some really valuable leadership experience.
• Poor grades in college science classes. I still regret that I did badly in my science classes. I think I was immature and was also too involved in other activities and didn’t have the focus I needed to do well. I had a 3.4 undergraduate GPA.
• Teaching and tutoring Jose, a child from Honduras. In a way, meeting Jose in a college tutoring program brought my Guatemala experience to my home. Jose struggled academically, and his parents were immigrants and spoke only Spanish, so they had their own challenges. I tried to help Jose as much as I could. I saw that because he lacked resources, he was at a tremendous disadvantage.
• Volunteering at Excellent Medical Center. Shadowing physicians at the medical center gave me a really broad view of medicine. I learned about different specialties, met many different patients, and saw both great and not-so-great physician role models. Counselor at Ronald McDonald House. Working with sick kids made me appreciate my health. I tried to make them happy and was so impressed with their resilience. It made me realize that good health is everything.
• Oncology research. Understanding what happens behind the scenes in research was fascinating. Not only did I gain some valuable research experience, but I learned how research is done.
• Peer health counselor. Communicating with my peers about really important medical tests gave me an idea of the tremendous responsibility that doctors have. I also learned that it is important to be sensitive, to listen, and to be open-minded when working with others.
• Clinical Summer Program. This gave me an entirely new view of medicine. I worked with the forensics department, and visiting scenes of deaths was entirely new to me. This experience added a completely new dimension to my understanding of medicine and how illness and death affect loved ones.
• Emergency department internship. Here I learned so much about how things worked in the hospital. I realized how important it was that people who worked in the clinical department were involved in creating hospital policies. This made me understand, in practical terms, how an MPH would give me the foundation to make even more change in the future.
• Master’s in public health. I decided to get an MPH for two reasons. First of all, I knew my undergraduate science GPA was an issue so I figured that graduate level courses in which I performed well would boost my record. I don’t think I will write this on my application, but I also thought the degree would give me other skills if I didn’t get into medical school, and I knew it would also give me something on which I could build during medical school and in my career since I was interested in policy work.

As you can see from Amy’s personal inventory list, she has many accomplishments that are important to her and influenced her path. The most influential personal experience that motivated her to practice medicine was her mother’s career as a practicing physician, but Amy was also motivated by watching her mother’s career evolve. Even though the death of her grandmother was devastating for Amy, she did not consider this experience especially influential in her choice to attend medical school so she didn’t write about it in her personal statement.

Amy wrote an experience-based personal statement, rich with anecdotes and detailed descriptions, to illustrate the evolution of her interest in medicine and how this motivated her to also earn a master’s in public health.

Amy’s Medical School Personal Statement Example:

She was sprawled across the floor of her apartment. Scattered trash, decaying food, alcohol bottles, medication vials, and cigarette butts covered the floor. I had just graduated from college, and this was my first day on rotation with the forensic pathology department as a Summer Scholar, one of my most valuable activities on the path to medical school. As the coroner deputy scanned the scene for clues to what caused this woman’s death, I saw her distraught husband. I did not know what to say other than “I am so sorry.” I listened intently as he repeated the same stories about his wife and his dismay that he never got to say goodbye. The next day, alongside the coroner as he performed the autopsy, I could not stop thinking about the grieving man.

Discerning a cause of death was not something I had previously associated with the practice of medicine. As a child, I often spent Saturday mornings with my mother, a surgeon, as she rounded on patients. I witnessed the results of her actions, as she provided her patients a renewed chance at life. I grew to honor and respect my mother’s profession. Witnessing the immense gratitude of her patients and their families, I quickly came to admire the impact she was able to make in the lives of her patients and their loved ones.

I knew I wanted to pursue a career in medicine as my mother had, and throughout high school and college I sought out clinical, research, and volunteer opportunities to gain a deeper understanding of medicine. After volunteering with cancer survivors at Camp Ronald McDonald, I was inspired to further understand this disease. Through my oncology research, I learned about therapeutic processes for treatment development. Further, following my experience administering HIV tests, I completed research on point-of-care HIV testing, to be instituted throughout 26 hospitals and clinics. I realized that research often served as a basis for change in policy and medical practice and sought out opportunities to learn more about both.

All of my medically related experiences demonstrated that people who were ‘behind the scenes’ and had limited or no clinical background made many of the decisions in health care. Witnessing the evolution of my mother’s career further underscored the impact of policy change on the practice of medicine. In particular, the limits legislation imposed on the care she could provide influenced my perspective and future goals. Patients whom my mother had successfully treated for more than a decade, and with whom she had long-standing, trusting relationships, were no longer able to see her, because of policy coverage changes. Some patients, frustrated by these limitations, simply stopped seeking the care they needed. As a senior in college, I wanted to understand how policy transformations came about and gain the tools I would need to help effect administrative and policy changes in the future as a physician. It was with this goal in mind that I decided to complete a master’s in public health program before applying to medical school.

As an MPH candidate, I am gaining insight into the theories and practices behind the complex interconnections of the healthcare system; I am learning about economics, operations, management, ethics, policy, finance, and technology and how these entities converge to impact delivery of care. A holistic understanding of this diverse, highly competitive, market-driven system will allow me, as a clinician, to find solutions to policy, public health, and administration issues. I believe that change can be more effective if those who actually practice medicine also decide where improvements need to be made.

For example, as the sole intern for the emergency department at County Medical Center, I worked to increase efficiency in the ED by evaluating and mapping patient flow. I tracked patients from point of entry to point of discharge and found that the discharge process took up nearly 35% of patients’ time. By analyzing the reasons for this situation, in collaboration with nurses and physicians who worked in the ED and had an intimate understanding of what took place in the clinical area, I was able to make practical recommendations to decrease throughput time. The medical center has already implemented these suggestions, resulting in decreased length of stays. This example illustrates the benefit of having clinicians who work ‘behind the scenes’ establish policies and procedures, impacting operational change and improving patient care. I will also apply what I have learned through this project as the business development intern at Another Local Medical Center this summer, where I will assist in strategic planning, financial analysis, and program reviews for various clinical departments.

Through my mother’s career and my own medical experiences, I have become aware of the need for clinician administrators and policymakers. My primary goal as a physician will be to care for patients, but with the knowledge and experience I have gained through my MPH, I also hope to effect positive public policy and administrative changes.

What’s Good About Amy’s Medical School Personal Statement:  

Paragraphs 1 and 2: Amy started her personal statement by illustrating a powerful experience she had when she realized that medical caregivers often feel impotent, and how this contrasted with her understanding of medicine as a little girl going with her mother to work. Recognition of this intense contrast also highlights Amy’s maturity.

Paragraph 3: Amy then “lists” a few experiences that were important to her.

Paragraph 4: Amy describes the commonality in some of her experiences and how her observations were substantiated by watching the evolution of her mother’s practice. She then explains how this motivated her to earn an MPH so she could create change more effectively as a physician than as a layman.

Paragraph 5: Amy then explains how her graduate degree is helping her to better understand the “issues in medicine” that she observed.

Paragraph 6: Amy then describes one exceptional accomplishment she had that highlights what she has learned and how she has applied it.

Paragraph 7: Finally, Amy effectively concludes her personal statement and summarizes the major topics addressed in her essay.

As you can see, Amy’s statement has excellent flow, is captivating and unusual, and illustrates her understanding of, and commitment to, medicine. She also exhibits, throughout her application entries and statement, the personal competencies, characteristics, and qualities that medical school admissions officers are seeking. Her application also has broad appeal; reviewers who are focused on research, cultural awareness, working with the underserved, health administration and policy, teaching, or clinical medicine would all find it of interest.

med school personal statement examples

Osteopathic Medical School Personal Statement Example and Analysis #2

Medical School Personal Statement Example Background: This is a nontraditional applicant who applied to osteopathic medical schools. With a 500 and a 504 on the MCAT , he needed to showcase how his former career and what he learned through his work made him an asset. He also needed to convey why osteopathic medicine was an ideal fit for him. The student does an excellent job illustrating his commitment to medicine and explaining why and how he made the well-informed decision to leave his former career to pursue a career in osteopathic medicine.

What’s Good About It: A nontraditional student with a former career, this applicant does a great job outlining how and why he decided to pursue a career in medicine. Clearly dedicated to service, he also does a great job making it clear he is a good fit for osteopathic medical school and understands this distinctions of osteopathic practice.. 

Working as a police officer, one comes to expect the unexpected, but sometimes, when the unexpected happens, one can’t help but be surprised. In November 20XX, I had been a police officer for two years when my partner and I happened to be nearby when a man had a cardiac emergency in Einstein Bagels. Entering the restaurant, I was caught off guard by the lifeless figure on the floor, surrounded by spilled food. Time paused as my partner and I began performing CPR, and my heart raced as I watched color return to the man’s pale face.

Luckily, paramedics arrived within minutes to transport him to a local hospital. Later, I watched as the family thanked the doctors who gave their loved one a renewed chance at life. That day, in the “unexpected,” I confirmed that I wanted to become a physician, something that had attracted me since childhood.

I have always been enthralled by the science of medicine and eager to help those in need but, due to life events, my path to achieving this dream has been long. My journey began following high school when I joined the U.S. Army. I was immature and needed structure, and I knew the military was an opportunity to pursue my medical ambitions. I trained as a combat medic and requested work in an emergency room of an army hospital. At the hospital, I started IVs, ran EKGs, collected vital signs, and assisted with codes. I loved every minute as I was directly involved in patient care and observed physicians methodically investigating their patients’ signs and symptoms until they reached a diagnosis. Even when dealing with difficult patients, the physicians I worked with maintained composure, showing patience and understanding while educating patients about their diseases. I observed physicians not only as clinicians but also as teachers. As a medic, I learned that I loved working with patients and being part of the healthcare team, and I gained an understanding of acute care and hospital operations.

Following my discharge in 20XX, I transferred to an army reserve hospital and continued as a combat medic until 20XX. Working as a medic at several hospitals and clinics in the area, I was exposed to osteopathic medicine and the whole body approach to patient care. I was influenced by the D.O.s’ hands-on treatment and their use of manipulative medicine as a form of therapy. I learned that the body cannot function properly if there is dysfunction in the musculoskeletal system.

In 20XX, I became a police officer to support myself as I finished my undergraduate degree and premed courses. While working the streets, I continued my patient care experiences by being the first to care for victims of gunshot wounds, stab wounds, car accidents, and other medical emergencies. In addition, I investigated many unknown causes of death with the medical examiner’s office. I often found signs of drug and alcohol abuse and learned the dangers and power of addiction. In 20XX, I finished my undergraduate degree in education and in 20XX, I completed my premed courses.

Wanting to learn more about primary care medicine, in 20XX I volunteered at a community health clinic that treats underserved populations. Shadowing a family physician, I learned about the physical exam as I looked into ears and listened to the hearts and lungs of patients with her guidance. I paid close attention as she expressed the need for more PCPs and the important roles they play in preventing disease and reducing ER visits by treating and educating patients early in the disease process. This was evident as numerous patients were treated for high cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and diabetes, all conditions that can be resolved or improved by lifestyle changes. I learned that these changes are not always easy for many in underserved populations as healthier food is often more expensive and sometimes money for prescriptions is not available. This experience opened my eyes to the challenges of being a physician in an underserved area.

The idea of disease prevention stayed with me as I thought about the man who needed CPR. Could early detection and education about heart disease have prevented his “unexpected” cardiac event? My experiences in health care and law enforcement have confirmed my desire to be an osteopathic physician and to treat the patients of the local area. I want to eliminate as many medical surprises as I can.

Texas Medical School Personal Statement Example and Analysis #3

Medical School Personal Statement Example Background: This applicant, who grew up with modest means, should be an inspiration to us all. Rather than allowing limited resources to stand in his way, he took advantage of everything that was available to him. He commuted to college from home and had a part-time job so he was stretched thin, and his initial college performance suffered. However, he worked hard and his grades improved. Most medical school admissions committees seek out applicants like this because, by overcoming adversity and succeeding with limited resources, they demonstrate exceptional perseverance, maturity, and dedication. His accomplishments are, by themselves, impressive and he does an outstanding job of detailing his path, challenges, and commitment to medicine. He received multiple acceptances to top medical schools and was offered scholarships.

What’s Good About It: This student does a great job opening his personal statement with a beautifully written introduction that immediately takes the reader to Central America. He then explains his path, why he did poorly early in college, and goes on to discuss his academic interests and pursuits. He is also clearly invested in research and articulates that he is intellectually curious, motivated, hard working, compassionate and committed to a career in medicine by explaining his experiences using interesting language and details. This is an intriguing statement that makes clear the applicant is worthy of an interview invitation. Finally, the student expresses his interest in attending medical school in Texas.

They were learning the basics of carpentry and agriculture. The air was muggy and hot, but these young boys seemed unaffected, though I and my fellow college students sweated and often complained. As time passed, I started to have a greater appreciation for the challenges these boys faced. These orphans, whom I met and trained in rural Central America as a member of The Project, had little. They dreamed of using these basic skills to earn a living wage. Abandoned by their families, they knew this was their only opportunity to re-enter society as self- sufficient individuals. I stood by them in the fields and tutored them after class. And while I tried my best to instill in them a strong work ethic, it was the boys who instilled in me a desire to help those in need. They gave me a new perspective on my decision to become a doctor.

I don’t know exactly when I decided to become a physician; I have had this goal for a long time. I grew up in the inner city of A City, in Texas and attended magnet schools. My family knew little about higher education, and I learned to seek out my own opportunities and advice. I attended The University with the goal of gaining admission to medical school. When I started college, I lacked the maturity to focus on academics and performed poorly. Then I traveled to Central America. Since I was one of the few students who spoke Spanish, many of the boys felt comfortable talking with me. They saw me as a role model.

The boys worked hard so that they could learn trades that would help them to be productive members of society. It was then I realized that my grandparents, who immigrated to the US so I would have access to greater opportunities, had done the same. I felt like I was wasting what they had sacrificed for me. When I returned to University in the fall, I made academics my priority and committed myself to learn more about medicine .

Through my major in neuroscience, I strengthened my understanding of how we perceive and experience life. In systems neurobiology, I learned the physiology of the nervous system. Teaching everything from basic neural circuits to complex sensory pathways, Professor X provided me with the knowledge necessary to conduct research in Parkinson’s disease. My research focused on the ability of antioxidants to prevent the onset of Parkinson’s, and while my project was only a pilot study at the time, Professor X encouraged me to present it at the National Research Conference. During my senior year, I developed the study into a formal research project, recruiting the help of professors of statistics and biochemistry.

Working at the School of Medicine reinforced my analytical skills. I spent my summer in the department of emergency medicine, working with the department chair, Dr. Excellent. Through Dr. Excellent’s mentorship, I participated in a retrospective study analyzing patient charts to determine the efficacy of D-dimer assays in predicting blood clots. The direct clinical relevance of my research strengthened my commitment and motivated my decision to seek out more clinical research opportunities.

A growing awareness of the role of human compassion in healing has also influenced my choice to pursue a career in medicine. It is something no animal model or cell culture can ever duplicate or rival. Working in clinical research has allowed me to see the selflessness of many physicians and patients and their mutual desire to help others. As a research study assistant in the department of surgery, I educate and enroll patients in clinical trials. One such study examines the role of pre-operative substance administration in tumor progression. Patients enrolled in this study underwent six weeks of therapy before having the affected organ surgically excised. Observing how patients were willing to participate in this research to benefit others helped me understand the resiliency of the human spirit.

Working in clinical trials has enabled me to further explore my passion for science, while helping others. Through my undergraduate coursework and participation in volunteer groups I have had many opportunities to solidify my goal to become a physician. As I am working, I sometimes think about my second summer in Central America. I recall how one day, after I had turned countless rows of soil in scorching heat, one of the boys told me that I was a trabajador verdadero—a true worker. I paused as I realized the significance of this comment. While the boy may not have been able to articulate it, he knew I could identify with him. What the boy didn’t know, however, was that had my grandparents not decided to immigrate to the US, I would not have the great privilege of seizing opportunities in this country and writing this essay today. I look forward to the next step of my education and hope to return home to Texas where I look forward to serving the communities I call home.

Final Thoughts

Above all, and as stated in this article numerous times, your personal statement should be authentic and genuine. Write about your path and and journey to this point in your life using anecdotes and observations to intrigue the reader and illustrate what is and was important to you. Good luck!

Medical School Personal Statement Help & Consulting

If all this information has you staring at your screen like a deer in the headlights, you’re not alone. Writing a superb medical school personal statement can be a daunting task, and many applicants find it difficult to get started writing, or to express everything they want to say succinctly. That’s where MedEdits can help. You don’t have to have the best writing skills to compose a stand-out statement. From personal-statement editing alone to comprehensive packages for all your medical school application needs, we offer extensive support and expertise developed from working with thousands of successful medical school applicants. We can’t promise applying to medical school will be stress-free, but most clients tell us it’s a huge relief not to have to go it alone.

MedEdits offers personal statement consulting and editing. Our goal when working with students is to draw out what makes each student distinctive. How do we do this? We will explore your background and upbringing, interests and ideals as well as your accomplishments and activities. By helping you identify the most distinguishing aspects of who you are, you will then be able to compose an authentic and genuine personal statement in your own voice to capture the admissions committee’s attention so you are invited for a medical school interview. Our unique brainstorming methodology has helped hundreds of aspiring premeds gain acceptance to medical school.

Sample Medical School Personal Statement

Example Medical School Personal Statement

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Life of a Medic

Sharing my journey through medical school + dropping nuggets of advice along the way…

What’s it Really Like To Study Medicine at Sheffield Medical School?

Welcome to the 7th week of the Virtual Medicine Open Day : giving you an insight into each of the UK medical schools and the opportunity to ask current medical students about the realities of studying there!

This post is written by Charlotte, a 5 th  year medical student at the University of Sheffield.

The past 4 years studying in Sheffield have been incredible. After receiving 3 offers for Medicine, Sheffield was always my top choice and it hasn’t let me down. Sheffield Medical School is probably one of the most friendly and kindest Medical Schools in the country. With so much to do in the Medical School alongside the Students Union (best SU in the country) and its proximity to the Peak District the opportunities are endless. Hopefully this post gives you an insight into what life at Sheffield is like…

• An Overview of Teaching Methods
• Typical Timetable of a 1st year Medical Student at Sheffield

The Non-Medical Stuff

3 top tips for applying to sheffield, an overview of how we are taught.

Sheffield uses an Integrated teaching model. What that means is that we have a range of lectures for the whole year group and small group teaching (10 people). The small group teaching is used for Integrated Learning Activities (ILAs) these are sessions where you come together as a group to discuss a Clinical Case in relation to what you’re learning in lectures at time. 

Unique to Sheffield clinical exposure begins in your first year. This exists as Early Years GP (EYGP) sessions. Here a group of 6 of you go to a local GP surgery and get taught about how the stuff you learnt in lectures applies to clinical practice. In these sessions you also get the chance to speak to patients with the Body System you are focusing on at the time. For example, if you are studying the Respiratory system one week you may talk to a patient with asthma and the next session you may talk to a patient with COPD. 

In your first year you are also taught clinical skills in small groups (up to 20 people). The type of clinical skills you learn are how to take vital signs such as: taking Manual Blood Pressure. These are super fun and definitely a highlight of the timetable. 

Like previously said the teaching model is integrated. This means that in first year you look at the anatomy, physiology and histology of the ‘normal’ body and focus on all of the main body systems. We do anatomy, physiology and histology for each system at one time. For example, if you were on your cardiology module you would have lectures and ILAs based on the physiology and histology and your anatomy sessions would be focused on the Cardiovascular System. 

In Sheffield we are taught anatomy via full body dissection. This means you and a group of 9 others work with the same cadaver through the year. Learning the anatomy of each body system on your cadaver. Each group of students has their own facilitator so you’re not left alone.

A Typical Timetable of a 1st Year Medic

Here is an example of a typical week for a 1 st  yr medical student. Please note as clinical skills tutorials generally happen once a month, I haven’t included them in this timetable. On these days you generally lose your Thursday afternoon slot of lectures.

Sheffield is such an amazing city to study in. It’s got the perfect balance of being a city and only a 15 minute drive away from the Peak District National Park! We’re quite a big university so campus always has a great exciting buzz to it with lots going on. Our Student’s Union is the best in the country and we have a society for anything you can imagine: Quidditch, Tea, Mindcraft? The options are endless. Sheffield’s sport facilities are only a 15 minute walk away from campus which is great too! The Students Union also has it’s own Night Club in the basement which basically all students go to! Especially on a Saturday night to go to Poptarts (give it a google!). 

The main accommodation sites Ranmoor and Endcliffe, are only a 15 minute walk away from the Medical School and probably a 40 minute walk from the town centre. If walking isn’t your thing- don’t worry! We have lots of regular buses. And with a student pass you can get a single bus fare anywhere in Sheffield for £1!

Sheffield is such a friendly city, so you’ll feel welcome wherever you are in the city! The University is also incredibly friendly. We have our own Counselling Service; University ran GP (so you don’t have to worry about finding one) and a great Disability and Dyslexia Support Service. 

Pros of Studying at Sheffield

• The atmosphere: I know I’ve mentioned this so many times already. But it is by far the most friendly and welcoming university I’ve been too. The University has so many systems in place to support students too no matter what happens. 

• The Medical School: the early clinical exposure and the ability to do full body dissection are amazing opportunities that can’t be missed. 

• The importance the university puts on having a life outside of your degree: compared to some universities that only promote studying. Our university promotes having hobbies outside of our course, to keep us well rounded and ultimately happier. Because of this they’ve invested so much money in creating opportunities and providing students with grants/bursaries and subsidising society events.

• The location: Sheffield is in a great location in the country. It’s easy to get to and from many cities and places in the country. This makes it perfect for visiting friends at other unis, going home for the weekend or going for day trip places! Plus, we have loads of really cool places to eat in the city with multiple food halls, vegan restaurants and a monthly Peddler’s Night Market. If shopping is more your thing, we also have Meadowhall! Which is only a short trip on the tram. 

Cons of Studying at Sheffield

• I would say one of the biggest negatives for me is that we only have end of year exams . By that I mean in first year you only get assessed at the end of the year with 3 exams. Thus, there’s a lot of pressure to do well on these 3. Conversely, a lot of my friends like this as an assessment method as it stops you having loads of exams throughout the year. 

• Every year after completing your exams you get a ranking. This tells you the place you’ve come in the year compared to your peers. I personally found this a bit stressful to begin with. But you get used to it!

• Compared to other medical schools we don’t have as long holidays. Have a look at the website for exact numbers. But in 4 th  year I only had 5 weeks off the entire year.

1. Make sure you know the course that Sheffield offers really well. You could easily be asked questions about what are you looking forward to on the course, how does it compare to other medical school courses or even what are you apprehensive about?

2. Acknowledge that Medicine isn’t your whole life. There’s a big emphasis at Sheffield on having a work life balance and having interests outside of medicine. So have a few examples of hobbies you like or ones you want to try. 

3. Have a good idea about Sheffield University and Sheffield as a city in general! Not only is this good for you as it makes you realise if you really want to study here. But it shows that you’ve really thought about your application and that you really want to come to Sheffield! 

Thank you Charlotte for such an interesting and detailed insight into Sheffield! Find out more about her and feel free to get in touch with her on Instagram:

Your Turn To Ask Any Questions!

Thank you for submitting your questions, they’ve now been answered by a current student – click below to read the answers!

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Posted by: Life of a Medic

4 replies on “ what’s it really like to study medicine at sheffield medical school ”.

Hi, I’ve fixed this for you and removed you from the list manually

• Pingback: Welcome To The Virtual Medicine Open Day! – Life of a Medic

Please can you clarify the first year timetable. In the FAQ you suggest lectures are all in the mornings. On the “whats it really like” page you suggest lectures are morning and afternoon?

Hi, I’d suggest getting in touch with the student whose social media is linked on this page as she studies at Sheffield and will be able to answer your questions

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UK Medical School Admissions Experts

• 32 min read

University of Sheffield Medicine Interview Questions Explained 2023 – Full guide.

Get in touch now for 1-1 interview coaching with a 100% success rate for Sheffield Medical School.

The 2023 questions are similar to the ones in 2021 and 2022, however, Sheffield have built on the original questions and included more follow-up questions. We have updated our blog to include a guide on how to answer the extra questions included this year.

Sheffield medical school releases the interview questions for their medicine interview before the interview. We have put together a guide going through each of the questions in the Sheffield Medicine Interview in detail to help you to prepare.

Preparation is key for success in the Sheffield medical school interview. After reading our guide, we strongly recommend that you book a mock interview with us to put this into practice and get some feedback from our medical interview experts!

The Sheffild Medicine Interview is an 8 station MMI which you MUST prepare for beforehand. We strongly recommend 10 hour of 1-1 tutoring for Sheffield and we believe that we are the most up-do-date with the Sheffield Medicine Interview. We also strongly recommend, at a minimum, that anyone applying to Sheffield Medical School does a Sheffield Mock Interview With us.

Introduction to Sheffield Interview

Be ready for follow up questions.

People have found this tough. The key to success in follow up questions is to have good experience and to be well-prepped.

Fake the confidence if need be but do not show weakness in the interview. You have got this!

General advice for Sheffield

You will likely be interviewed by one medical school admissions interviewer (+ one medical student).

You must be prepared to answer ALL the questions. You will only be asked these questions (+ follow up questions on your content). You may not be asked all questions.

You MUST be prepared to answer follow up questions.

You may be interrupted when giving your answer and asked to elaborate on a statement that you made. You may be asked follow-up questions after giving your answer. Do not bring anything into the answer that you are not confident answering further questions on.

Station 1 - Sheffield and the MBChB Programme

Why is sheffield the right place for you 2. what can the city and university provide you with that is important to you 3. what makes the course structure the right one for you 4. what will you do if you do not receive an offer.

Generally, you want to come across as enthusiastic as possible in this answer. You want to show off the research that you have done as well as link it back to ‘why Sheffield’. Ensure that anything that you mention you can talk about, and answer follow up questions. I have written a lot for this question for a reason. It is this question and the follow up questions after it that have caught students off-guard, especially as it is the first question. I want you to be over-prepared for this question!

1. Sheffield MBChB undergraduate course homepage - https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/undergraduate/courses/2022/medicine-mbchb

2. Day in the life of a Sheffield medical student - https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/medicine/news/blog-day-life-medic-what-placement-really

3. Sheffield Medical School News - https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/medicine/news

Question 1 - Why is Sheffield the right place for you?

Opinion based structure from the MasterMedPrep interview course:

Introduction -> main part -> conclusion. Find an example of how to structure this answer below.

Introduction = “Sheffield is my first-choice medical school and city. I did a lot of research before applying to medical schools and I kept being drawn to Sheffield as somewhere that I not only want to live, but also as somewhere that I believe will help me become the best doctor that I can be. I will talk about the city of Sheffield and the university of Sheffield. Then I will talk about the Sheffield MBChB curriculum.”

City of Sheffield = “I believe that Sheffield as a city has everything that I want as a student. Sheffield is the 4th largest city in England… (ADD 1-2 from list below of GENUINE INTERESTS)”.

University of Sheffield = “There are 3 things that set Sheffield university out. That is its reputation, its extra-curricular opportunities, and its curriculum.”

Reputation = (ADD one sentence)

Extra-curricular Activities = (ADD one sentence).

Sheffield MBChB Curriculum= “As I said before, the Sheffield MBChB is one of the three things that made the university of Sheffield stand out to me when I was researching where to apply. I will talk about my favourite aspects of the Sheffield curriculum and then go on to explain the four phases that make up the Sheffield curriculum.

Sheffield MBChB Curriculum Part 1 = choose three things to talk about from Sheffield MBChB ‘first section’. I recommend integrated teaching, chance to intercalate and early clinical experience/exposure.

Sheffield MBChB Curriculum Part 2 = “There are four phases that make up the Sheffield MBChB curriculum. Phase 1…”

Conclusion = “Sheffield has a lot to offer its medical students. I could talk further about my research, but ultimately it comes down to the fact that Sheffield is somewhere that I want to call home for at least 5 years, and it is somewhere that I could see myself staying and working as a doctor.”

(They want you to stay in the local area. Even if you do not think you want to stay in Sheffield, I would say that you see yourself in Sheffield for the long term. I.e. you want to stay there after university and train as a doctor in the local hospitals).

Question 2 - What can the city and university provide you with that is important to you?

Sheffield is a city university so most of your time as a medical student will be spent in and around the city. Split this into more manageable sections as you see fit.

Please DO: sound passionate and enthusiastic, list a variety of reasons both academic and extracurricular, and show that you’ve done your research.

Please DO NOT: list reasons without further development or thought or give generic answers. INSTEAD – make the example personal to you by describing real life experiences.

Geography = Sheffield is the 4th biggest city in England and is found in north-central England. It is a city in South Yorkshire. Sheffield is a green city – lots of parks, gardens, and trees! Sheffield is also very hilly. Living in the city, you will get used to walking up hills. The city is next to the Peak District National Park – a third of the city lies within the Peak District National Park. This attracts lots of tourism. It is the only UK city with a National Park within its boundary. I personally would link this to my love of hiking, as that is a genuine passion of mine.

Demographics = Racial composition fairly typical of the UK = 84% White, 2.4% mixed race, 8% Asian, 3.6% Black… these numbers are not important. The largest age group is ages 20 – 24 years old (9%) due to the large student population . Talk about how these appeals to you. The city’s students mainly come from = University of Sheffield, Sheffield Hallam University.

History = Historically, Sheffield was a heavily industrial city. Innovations around steel manufacturing helped Sheffield grow as an industrial town. More recently, Sheffield city is rapidly changing and undergoing projects to regenerate some of the more run-down parts of the city.

Retail = Sheffield is a major retail centre (IF you are going to talk about this, please do your research). Meadowhall shopping centre, located to the north of Sheffield close to the boundary with Rotherham and next to the M1 motorway, is a major regional shopping destination.

Sport = Big on football! Sheffield United (The Blades) and Sheffield Wednesday (the Owls). Sheffield was the site of the deadliest sports venue disaster in the United Kingdom, the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, when 96 Liverpool supporters were killed in a stampede and crush during an FA Cup semi-final at the venue.

Transport = Sheffield railway station is nice and well connected (from personal experience!). Very easy to get to Manchester, Leeds, London, Nottingham, Derby etc. Sheffield has a decent tram network = you can get to Meadowhall. As expected in any major UK city, it has good road/bus links. This is important to help you get around as a medical student.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Split into two campuses.

West Campus = Royal Hallamshire Hospital, the Jessop Wing (maternity wing), Weston Park Hospital, Weston Park Hospital (specialist cancer treatment) and Charles Clifford Dental Hospital.

The Northern General Hospital is the second 'campus' and is a large facility in the northern suburbs of Sheffield, containing the city's A&E department. The medical school has a large new clinical skill centre here.

Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust provides healthcare for children within the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire, and the UK. Very well known – take about a third of their patients from outside of Sheffield.

Question 2 - University of Sheffield

University of Sheffield is a prestigious, Russel Group, research university.

The University of Sheffield has a global reputation for its exceptional teaching, impactful research, international outlook and outstanding student experience.

No 1 Students' Union in the UK

A Top 100 university – QS world rankings.

6 Nobel Prize winners

Sir Hans Krebs = You may know the ‘Krebs cycle’ from biology?

Learning facilities

Outstanding academic research library. Access to thousands of e-books, books, journals etc.

‘The Diamond’ = super modern study facility.

West Bank library.

Health Sciences Library (HSL) is located at the heart of the medical school.

Extra-curricular

Please do specific research. Choose a sport and society to join (you do not have to commit to this, but please do for the purpose of your interview).

Over 350 clubs and societies to get involved in.

Volunteering = Sheffield Student Union are particularly good. You will have opportunities to help charities should you choose to get involved.

Sport = fully equipped gym + swimming + bouldering wall.

Question 3 - What makes the course structure the right one for you?

I would split this answer into two sections. First section = generally what you like about the curriculum. The key here is to relate the points you make to yourself. An example “Seeing patients is something that motivates and inspires you (from your work experience) and so you are happy that Sheffield integrates this right from the start”. Second section = go through the 4 phases of the Sheffield MBChB. I would do my research and keep this factual.

First section

Patient-centred approach. Unique to Sheffield clinical exposure begins in your first year. This exists as Early Years GP (EYGP) sessions. Here a group of 6 of you go to a local GP surgery and get taught about how the stuff you learnt in lectures applies to clinical practice.

Sheffield uses an Integrated teaching model. What that means is that they have a range of lectures for the whole year group and small group teaching (10 people). The small group teaching is used for Integrated Learning Activities (ILAs) these are sessions where you come together as a group to discuss a Clinical Case in relation to what you are learning in lectures at time. You will of course also have lectures and online material/private study.

Clinical skills focus. In your first year you are also taught clinical skills in small groups (up to 20 people). The type of clinical skills you learn are how to take vital signs such as: taking Manual Blood Pressure. These are fun!

Anatomy = In Sheffield you are taught anatomy via full body dissection. This means you and a group of 9 others work with the same cadaver through the year. Learning the anatomy of each body system on your cadaver. Each group of students has their own facilitator, so you are not left alone.

Chance to intercalate = Have a look at this website to see what you can intercalate in - https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/medicine/intercalation

Second section

Learn the course structure and phases – Be ready to answer follow up questions on the course structure. I would advise choosing 1-2 things that you like from each of the four phases. Examples below.

Phase 1 = “Introductory Clinical Competency”. (September Year 1 – June Year 1)

Most of this phase is spent at the Medical School – next to Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

NEW clinical skills unit near Northern General Hospital.

Early clinical experience! 10 GP visits. Two-week hospital-based professional experience. Introduction to doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.

Do not be fooled. Most of phase 1 will be anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry! Talk about Sheffield’s integrated approach.

Phase 2 = “Basic Clinical Competencies” (September Year 2 – December Year 3)

Starts with a 6-week research project! Chance to develop research skills.

You will build on the basic science you learned in year 1. Symptoms, pathology, management of different conditions. Pathology, microbiology, immunology, and pharmacology.

Phase 2b = This is where you get to start being a ‘student doctor’! Three-week introduction to basic clinical skills. Then you will undertake a 12-week clinical placement in one of the hospitals around Sheffield.

You undertake a project in medical ethics.

Phase 3 = “Extended clinical competencies” (January Year 3 to August Year 4)

This is the majority of your ‘clinical experience’.

Primary and secondary care = emphasis on ‘hands-on medicine’.

Primary care = General Practice.

Secondary care = Hospital work: Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Psychiatry, Acute Medicine.

You will have the option to CHOOSE some rotations.

Phase 4 = “Final Preparation for clinical practice” (Year 5)

Prepare for clinical practice, ‘being a doctor’, after graduation.

Like phase 3 but you will be more integrated into the team.

Extra nuggets of information about Sheffield’s curriculum – exam formats

Phase 1 = Written paper (multiple choice + short answer questions) = focussed on anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry. Practical examination (anatomy (models and sections), communication skills, labs)

Phase 2 = Another written paper (multiple choice + short answer questions). OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) = common type of medical exam. It is a practical, real-world examination on real patients. Stations include = history-taking, examination skills, drug calculations, blood interpretation etc.

Phase 3 = As above + must pass placements and clinical procedures.

Phase 4 = As above (FINALS). As above + must pass placements and clinical procedures.

Question 4 – What will you do if you do not receive an offer?

This is a tough question and will often catch people off guard. The main thing the interviewers are looking for is an insight into your resilience and drive for wanting to do medicine.

It can be tempting to start talking about your motivation behind wanting to do medicine, but remember, that question will come up in a later station. This question gives you the opportunity to talk about the steps you would take to reflect on your abilities.

As with all questions, break your answer down:

Start off by talking about how you would feel if you didn’t get the offer. Don’t be afraid to be honest, telling the interviewers you would be disappointed shows them that the offer means a lot to you.

Ideally, you would be aiming to apply to medical school again the following year, and you would have taken steps to gain feedback from the interviews you had sat. This is a good opportunity to talk about the steps you would take to better yourself as a candidate. E.g. you would spend the year doing volunteering/working in healthcare as immersing yourself in that environment would help you to further build good communication and teamworking skills.

Use this question to showcase your discipline, and ability to reflect and be critical of yourself. Its also a good time to show the interviewers you are aware of the skills and qualities that make up a good medical student, and doctor.

Station 2 - Medicine in a Wider Context.

1. why do you want to be a doctor 2. tell me about a patient you saw during your work experience/volunteering who taught you something. 3. staff shortages and its effect on waiting times has become a big challenge in the nhs. how do you think this should be tackled, question 1 - why do you want to be a doctor.

When talking about your motivation behind medicine, a good way to approach this question is to...

Start off by talking about the original catalyst. When was the first time you came across the career of medicine, and what were your initial thoughts when you found out about it. You could have had a personal experience of being in hospital or you could have been directed to the career through your love of science.

Next, talk about the steps you took to find out more about medicine and to make sure it is the right career for you. This will include your work experience and volunteering. While doing this, talk about the point at which you had that realisation that medicine is definitely for you. It would be great if you have an example of a specific scenario: it may be a consultation you observed, or a conversation you had with a patient. By giving a specific example, it means you can be more prepared for any follow up questions you may get as they will likely be revolving the specific scenario, as opposed to asking you to talk about any aspect of your experiences.

Finally, finish off by talking about what you are working towards achieving, and link it back to your experiences. Medical schools like to see candidates who have strong aspirations and ambitions. For example, you may have come across a specific condition during your work experience, and so you decided to research into it for your EPQ. Or, you might have been interested by the medical ethical cases, and so you started a discussion group where you discuss the different cases in the media.

Question 2 - Tell me about a patient you saw during your work experience/volunteering who taught you something.

It is important to pick only one patient in your response and answer all parts of the question. It should be someone from your work experience or direct volunteering experience. The key to this question is realising that the interviewer is far more interested in what you have learned from this experience on reflection than the actual patient scenario itself. Therefore, you should not worry if you do not have the ‘most interesting’ patient case to discuss as most of your answer should be reflection.

The structure for this question = MasterMedPrep STARR technique

Situation – The first part of your answer should set the scene for the interviewer. This is known as the situation, and it consists of the context of the story. You should start by describing: “Where” your example occurred? “When” it occurred?

Task – What was your task/goal? The reasoning behind your actions?

Action – talk about exactly what you did. “I did X, Y, and Z…”

Results = What did you achieve? Overall outcome? What have you learned?

Reflection = most important part! Take your experience and link it back to medicine. Look at what you gained from your experience and draw comparisons to medicine or life in medical school. This is often given more weighting than the rest of your answer so make sure you do this properly. 1) Link experience to why you want to study medicine. 2) Link the experience to what it has taught you about medicine/being a doctor. 3) Link experience into why the skills you have demonstrated will make you a good doctor.

Question 3 - Staff shortages and its effect on waiting times has become a big challenge in the NHS. How do you think this should be tackled?

This question is looking for your understanding of the current issues surrounding the NHS, and also your ability to think critically and come up with solutions.

A good way to prepare for this question is by reading up on some of the NHS hot topics and keeping up to date with current news articles. In the lead up to your interview, spend a couple minutes every day checking what news articles have come out. i.e., the nurse strikes are a current hot topic, and can link back to this question, so it’s good to be aware of it!

When approaching this question, split it up into its different components.

Start by talking about the issues presented. In this case it’s the staff shortages and waiting times. Talk about what are some of the reasons behind these current issues, i.e., the pandemic is something that applies to both, so you can talk about how it affected it.

Then talk about ways in which you could try to resolve these issues. There is no right answer, and they are not expecting you to come up with an ultimate solution to these problems, so don’t worry too much about what solutions you are coming up with. The interviewers are mainly looking for sensible ideas that relate back to the topics, and that show your understanding of the issues. For example: you could approach the waiting times issue by increasing appointments, which would be linked to increased funding. Underfunding of the NHS is a big topic, so it is something that you could mention here. However, you could also approach this issue by reducing the number of missed appointments. This could be tackled with reminder systems, increased use of technology, etc.

Station 3 - Good Medical Practice.

1. how might good medical practice apply to you as a student healthcare professional do you think how it applies changes when you qualify 2. it can be common to work with patients who have communication difficulties due to illness or dementia. how might this affect the way you care for them how would you manage confidentiality in such a case 3. while working at your saturday job in a shop you find that one of your colleagues has arrived at work smelling of alcohol. they appear to be intoxicated, and you know that they drove to work. what actions would you take, question 1 - how might good medical practice apply to you as a student healthcare professional do you think how it applies changes when you qualify.

They key here is knowing the document well = “GMC: Good Medical Practice”.

https://www.gmc-uk.org/ethical-guidance/ethical-guidance-for-doctors/good-medical-practice

I would keep the structure simple: introduction, main body (go through each domain), and conclusion. This is NOT JUST a ‘tell me about’ question. You MUST relate the domains back to being a doctor and medical student AND YOURSELF.

I have written an example answer below to this question . I recommend that you read GMC Good Medical Practice yourself and write your own response. The response below needs fleshing out a bit and it is of course unprofessional to plagiarise interview answers.

Introduction

“The General Medical Council is a regulatory body that sets the standards for doctors and medical schools in the UK. The General Medical Council produced a document called “Good Medical Practice” which is a code of conduct for doctors. The document describes what it means to be a good doctor. Good Medical Practice is split up into four domains and I will discuss the key messages from each of the domains”.

Domain 1 = “The first domain is knowledge, skills and performance. This domain is all about developing and maintaining your skills. It is important that doctors keep up their skills and continually improve and keep up to date with the latest medical developments. The best example of this is the current COVID-19 pandemic. This is a new virus to all doctors, no matter how senior, and we are constantly learning how best to treat it and so all doctors must keep up to date with the latest developments during this current pandemic.”

Domain 2 = “The second domain is safety and quality. This domain is all about promoting a culture of patient safety and quality improvement. As a doctor or medical student this would involve taking part in audits and other quality improvement projects. On a more basic level, this would mean that you should take immediate action if you see that patient safety, dignity, or comfort is being compromised”.

Domain 3 = “The third domain is communication partnership and teamwork. This domain is all about teamwork and is essential for all doctors as no doctor can work alone. A doctor must work as part of a team of other healthcare professionals, porters, cleaners, receptionists to name just a few. I believe that I am a good team player, and I developed my teamwork skills … (ADD something about when you have showed that you can be part of a team). A huge part of medicine is teaching, and this is something that I hope to become involved in at medical school.”

Domain 4 = “The fourth and final domain is maintaining trust. This fundamentals of this are that you should treat your patients and colleagues fairly and with respect. As a medical student and doctor, it is important that you are always honest, especially when you make a mistake. If you make a mistake then you should try to put matters right, offer an apology and explain this to the patient. As doctors we have a “duty of candour” which means that we have a duty to be honest with our patients when mistakes are made.”

“I think that the GMC have an important role in regulating doctors and medical students. The main thing I take away from the guidance is that doctors and medical students should always put the patient first. This means ensuring that you keep up to date with your clinical skills and knowledge, working well as a team, and ensuring that mistakes are recognised and learned from.”

Question 2 - It can be common to work with patients who have communication difficulties due to illness or dementia. How might this affect the way you care for them? How would you manage confidentiality in such a case?

This is a difficult question that is asking for a deeper understanding of the GMC guidelines. The interviewers will be looking to see how you interpret the guidelines and apply them to real life situations.

To answer the first part of this question, you can start by talking about how you would handle the care of patients in normal circumstances, and then talk about how that would change in the scenario mentioned.

Barriers in communication can make it difficult for the doctor to take a comprehensive history, and to figure out what is going on. However, it can also make it difficult for doctors to explain to the patients what they think is going on, and it makes it difficult to keep the patient in the loop. Remember, part of a doctor’s responsibility is to present the patient with all the information available and aid them in making an informed decision that would be best for them.

In this case, the topic of confidentiality comes up. It’s important to be aware when confidentiality can and can’t be broken. Usually, confidentiality is assumed to be between the patient, the doctor, and the rest of the MDT. With the consent of the patient, cases can also be discussed with family members, which is something you could talk about here. It would be important to talk about the importance of consent, and how it is taken.

Top tip: make sure you are happy with concept of competency – it refers to if someone is able to make decisions for themselves.

Question 3 - While working at your Saturday job in a shop you find that one of your colleagues has arrived at work smelling of alcohol. They appear to be intoxicated, and you know that they drove to work. What actions would you take?

Ethical situations like this are common and the interviewers want to see how you would approach it. The structure for this question MasterMedPrep SPIES technique

S: Seek information – start off by mentioning the problem and ask questions about. Is this a one-off occurrence? Is this something that regularly happens? Who is involved in this?

P: Patient safety – if it’s applicable, talk about if the patient’s safety is compromised by the actions. In this case, the example is outside of a healthcare setting, so you can talk about if anyone else is affected by the situation.

I: Initiative – when approaching how to deal with these scenarios, always start by talking about what you would do first. Also talk about if the situation is something that could be resolved by you, or if you think you may need more help.

E: Escalate – if you think you might need help resolving the issue, talk about who you would ask for help and what plan you may need.

S: Support – Finish off by talking about how you can best support your colleague, aside from escalation.

Station 4 - Attitudes and Values.

1. tell me about a time when you have made a positive impact on someone else’s life. 2. what does working together for patient care mean to you what factors might impact on our ability to do this 3. showing compassion and empathy is important when we deal with patients. how would you try to do this is this different from showing respect and dignity for patients, question 1 - tell me about a time when you have made a positive impact on someone else’s life..

It does not matter what your experience is as long as it is personal to you. If you can think of an example that involves caring/volunteering experience that is great. However, the experience could be from any part of your life and the most important part is, as in question 2, how well you reflect on your experience.

The structure for this question = MasterMedPrep STARR technique as seen in question 2.

Situation – The first part of your answer should set the scene for the interviewer. This is known as the situation and it consists of the context of the story. You should start by describing: “Where” your example occurred? “When” it occurred?

Action – talk about exactly what you did. “I did X,Y, and Z…”

Results = What did you achieve? Overall outcome? What you learned?

Question 2 - What does working together for patient care mean to you? What factors might impact on our ability to do this?

Teamwork is a huge part of medicine, and its important to show that you understand the importance.

You can approach this question by starting to define teamwork and talk about the different components that make up good teamwork, i.e., good communication, patience, listening, etc. Then relate these skills back to the question and link them to patient care.

Top tip: the key word to mention here would be MDT. If you have any examples of observing an MDT at work, this would be a great time to mention it!

When approaching the second part of the question, it can be useful to again think of teamwork as the components it is made up of. Talk through each component and how it could go wrong, and if you are able to, also come up with solutions of how you could fix it!

Question 3 – Showing compassion and empathy is important when we deal with patients. How would you try to do this? Is this different from showing respect and dignity for patients?

Answering this question would follow a similar structure to the previous one. Again, start by breaking compassion and empathy into their main components, and then talk about how you fulfil those components.

As always, if you have an example from your work experience or volunteering, then it’s a great idea to mention it using the STARR approach mentioned earlier. By giving an example, you are backing up what you have told them, and showcasing your skills and experiences.

For the second part of this question, you can relate back to the GMC guidelines, which we discussed above. Defining the terms respect and dignity will help you approach your answer. They are different to compassion and empathy, but there is overlap between the qualities, and your answer will naturally fall into place as you go through the components of the different skills.

Section 5 - Candidate as a Person.

1. studying medicine can be intense, so maintaining a work-life balance is important. how do you relax and unwind what does the city or university offer that can support this 2. medical students are selected from students with a wide range of backgrounds. how will you cope with moving from an environment where most students have a similar background to one where everyone has a wide variety of experience and knowledge how might that impact you or those around you 3. as a doctor you will be involved in challenging and upsetting situations such as breaking bad news or seeing patients who have situations which resonate with your own life experience. how do you think you will cope with this emotionally, question 1 - studying medicine can be intense, so maintaining a work-life balance is important. how do you relax and unwind what does the city or university offer that can support this.

This is a nice question that you can really make personal to yourself. I suggest structuring this answer with a clear introduction, main body, and conclusion. As you are hopefully starting to learn when responding to interview questions, the real focus and the ‘marks’ are for your reflection. Do not worry too much about having the most interesting hobbies and interests. The most important consideration in this question is reflecting on the importance of maintain a work-life balance both for yourself and for your patients and colleagues.

I have written an example response below. It is important that you do not copy this response and that you carefully consider your response and make it personal to you. This is particularly important as you will likely be asked follow-up questions.

“I agree that studying medicine can be intense. I have had several conversations with current medical students and doctors through my work experience. These pressures include difficult examinations, sometimes long placement hours, and emotional pressures of seeing patients in difficult situations. It is therefore important to maintain a good work-life balance to ensure that you do not burn out and to improve your experience of university. I personally believe that my work-life balance has been a major factor in my success in my GCSEs and A-levels and I am going to talk about my three main extra-curricular interests that I balance with my studies which help me to relax and unwind. These are going to the gym, cycling, and ….”

Main body (Expand on this answer)

“The first thing that I enjoy doing to relax is going to the gym. I started going to the gym when I was 16 years old. I really enjoyed going to the gym with my friends in our lunch breaks. We all taught each other about different exercises and techniques that we had success with. We also shared the exercises and techniques that had resulted in injury or discomfort and ways to improve these. We would watch videos on the ‘perfect form’ for lifting or performing a certain exercise and critique each other in a constructive way. The thing that I love about the gym is that there are always different exercises you can try and always new ways that you can push yourself in fitness. Another benefit to all of this is that it is quite sociable, although this does sometimes mean that you are a little less focussed on exercise than you should be!”

“The second thing that I enjoy doing to relax is cycling. I used to cycle a bit here and there until I feel off my bike mountain biking and broke my elbow. It has taken some time to build up my confidence but now I really enjoy road biking and have built my confidence up. I share this passion with my father and we both recently went to Belgium together on a cycling holiday. I will definitely continue cycling at university and Sheffield would be a great place to do this as Sheffield is so close to the Peak District and there would be lots of nearby cycle paths to explore!”

“The third thing that I do to unwind is…”

“I have spoken about why medicine is stressful and some of the ways that I relax and unwind. I do think that it is important to look out for your colleagues or fellow students. If I saw a friend struggling with stress or their work-life balance, say at university, then I would invite them to join me in one of these activities. I could ask them to come to the gym with me or invite them for a cycle. I do think it is important to recognise if you are suffering with stress or burnout and to let someone know. I am fortunate to have a good support network of family and friends and I would happily listen to anyone if they were struggling. I believe that it is so important for medical students and doctors to look after their own physical and mental health. This is not only because it is good for them, but because doctors cannot be expected to provide the best care possible if they themselves are not in good health.”

Question 2 - Medical students are selected from students with a wide range of backgrounds. How will you cope with moving from an environment where most students have a similar background to one where everyone has a wide variety of experience and knowledge? How might that impact you or those around you?

This is an interesting question which you could tackle in a number of ways. It is quite a broadly worded question, and so is open to interpretation. I will discuss one possible way to answer this question below, but if you have other ideas then go with that! Remember, the structure of the answers stays the same.

The first part of the question refers to diversity and you can approach this question by talking about your own experiences with working with different groups. You can relate this back to any work experience/volunteering, or to personal experiences from school.

The second part of the question can seem a little daunting, and one way you could tackle it is by selecting one part of medical school to talk about. For instance, you could choose to talk about teamwork, and how it would be impacted by diversity. the opportunity to be able to work with people with different backgrounds and experiences will mean they all see things differently and have different approaches and solutions. This means that working in a team will be both more and less difficult. Everyone will have lots of different ideas, which gives you the opportunity to combine them and come up with new and innovative solutions. However, it may increase the chances of disagreements due to the differing ideas, and so it would be paramount for you to all employ good communication skills, and make sure you are all listening to each other and resolving conflicts in a calm, respectful and professional manner.

Question 3 – As a Doctor you will be involved in challenging and upsetting situations such as breaking bad news or seeing patients who have situations which resonate with your own life experience. How do you think you will cope with this emotionally?

You can use this question as another opportunity to talk about your hobbies, but make sure to spend time reflecting on the hobbies and how they help you work on your mental health. The interviewers want to see that you will be able to cope with the more challenging aspects of the career. You can also talk about any challenging situations you have been in in the past and link them back to the hobbies you mentioned earlier to show how they have helped you.

Another way you could approach this question, especially if you do not have any personal experiences to talk about, is by talking about any difficult situations you may have come across during your work experience. You can talk about the scenario, how the doctor reacted to it, and anything they may have told you about how they cope.

Top tip: while on work experience or volunteering, if you have any time with doctors, it can be helpful to ask them how they have coped with the different parts of the job.

Station 6 - Communication Skills: Role Play

This can seem daunting at first, especially as you don’t know what scenario you will be getting. The key with role play is practice, practice, practice! The interviewers will mainly be assessing your communication skills, and other important qualities such as empathy, and listening skills.

When approaching a role play station, remember these tips: keep good eye contact with the actor, and make sure to utilise your non-verbal communication as well (i.e., nodding your head to show you are listening). Match the tone of voice given by the actor, and when applicable, repeat some of the points made by the actor to show that you are listening. Think of these as mini summaries dotted throughout the conversation.

If it’s relevant, remember to try and resolve any issues that arise. For instance, if the scenario is regarding someone who is feeling lonely as they are unable to go outside, think up some solutions and mention them during the role-play. They can be as simple as suggesting signing up to online classes, or face-timing friends and family.

The more you practice role-plays, the more comfortable you will feel with them. Try to approach the role-play as you if you were speaking to a friend, as it will involve the same characteristics!

Station 7 - Ethics, Values, and Attidues.

1. most people utilise social media on a frequent basis and it is increasingly used to support medical education. how do you think that social media could help you whilst a student what risks might exist 2. a patient requests to follow you on instagram. how would you respond and why what are your responsibilities when using social media as a healthcare student 3. sites like twitter are increasingly used for learning, health promotion and debate. do different social media types require different approaches to their use, question 1 - most people utilise social media on a frequent basis and it is increasingly used to support medical education. how do you think that social media could help you whilst a student what risks might exist.

This is an ethics question and ethics is something that we specialise in at MasterMedPrep with a number of our medical experts also having a Master’s in Healthcare Ethics and Law. It is very important to show balance in responses to ethical questions even if you strongly believe in a certain opinion. It is also important to show awareness of the medical pillars of ethics and to conclude strongly. We would suggest using the MasterMedPrep ethics structure for this question .

Introduction (define key terms and set out what you are going to talk about) -> main body (arguments for and arguments against) -> conclusion (your opinion and main reason why).

I have written an example response below. This is NOT A COMPLETE RESPONSE, but it will give you a flavour for the sort of answer that is required. It is important that you do not copy this response and that you carefully consider your response and make it personal to you. This is particularly important as you will likely be asked follow-up questions.

“Social media has changed how we connect with one another. It allows us to create and share pictures, videos, and messages instantly and to many people. It is to be expected that many medical students and doctors use social media. There are many pros and cons to using social media as a medical student or a doctor and I am going to discuss them now. I will conclude with my opinion”.

“I am first going to discuss the arguments in favour or medical students and doctors using social media platforms. Firstly, I think that medical students and doctors could use these platforms for good. Social media allows you to reach a large and varied audience which could be used for health promotion. I have seen some doctors on TikTok using the platform for good and spreading positive messages and advice about topics such as mental health and health eating (Can you name these people?). Social media can also be beneficial for a doctor’s career and education. LinkedIn for example can help connect doctors from around the world. Medical students can benefit from sharing educational resources with each other on social media. Another major argument in favour of allowing medical students and doctors to use social media is that they are human and deserve to have their own autonomy. Doctors and medical students should be allowed to use these platforms just like anyone else as long as they are using them positively.”

“I am now going to discuss some of the arguments against medical students and doctors using social media platforms. It is vital that public trust in doctors is maintained, and social media could risk this as anything that a medical student or doctor posts on these platforms could be linked to the profession. If doctors post offence things online, then it could hurt public trust in doctors. It could also involve the law as if a doctor says something severe enough about someone else then it could be considered to be defamation. It is also easy to break confidentiality online if you are not careful. If medical students or doctors are sharing teaching material, then they need to make sure that it does not have any identifiable patient information. There is also a risk that doctors could be contacted by patients on social media or even receive complaints on the platform and this could cause challenges for doctors.”

“I believe that it is appropriate for medical students and doctors to use social media as long as they use it wisely and follow the GMC rules. It is important that they use the appropriate privacy settings and do not post anything that they would not be happy with the GMC or their patients reading. In the future, maybe using social media appropriately could become part of medical school curriculum. I think that it would be useful for all medical students and doctors to learn about the best way to use it appropriately.”

Question 2 – A patient requests to follow you on Instagram. How would you respond and why? What are your responsibilities when using social media as a healthcare student?

This question follows on from the previous question, and also includes a situational judgement scenario.

In terms of how to respond to the scenario, it’s a good idea to mention the GMC guidelines. This is a professionalism issue, and so you can talk about what professionalism means and why it is so important.

The idea of professionalism also applies to the second part of this question. As a medical student, you are held to the same standards as doctors. Therefore, along with some of the points mentioned in the question 1, it is also important to use social media responsibly and making sure you are not spreading any confidential information.

Question 3 – Sites like Twitter are increasingly used for learning, health promotion and debate. Do different social media types require different approaches to their use?

This is an interesting question, and it is one of those where there is no right answer. The interviewers will be looking for a well-balanced answer with sound reasoning and will be exploring your own opinions and thoughts behind the different social media platforms.

With questions like this, it is important to make sure you’re giving an equal number of pros and cons. People often find it easy to name alternate between the positives and negatives, which stops them from spending too much time on one side and running out of time for the other!

Bring in your own experiences as well with this question. I’m sure you will have come across medical posts on all the social media platforms you use, and mention what you’ve seen and any differences you may have noted in the way information was presented and perceived in the comments!

Station 8 - Information Processing/ Logic: 20 Questions

With regards to the 20 questions, there is no ‘sure’ strategy out there. It requires that you can ask questions that are likely to yield a 50/50 chance of being yes or no. For example, “is it alive?”, “is it male?”, “is it found in England” are all good questions. It requires that you have a good understanding of assumptions. From my experience of medical school interview, it would be nice to get the correct answer, but it is unlikely to be that important. What is more important is that you use a methodical process and eliminate things as you go along.

Practice, practice, practice! We commonly teach this question at MasterMedPrep so if you want some real-life practice please do get in touch!

Firstly, you want to ask very general questions to rule out lots of things in one go. Then, once you have narrowed things down more then you can ask more specific questions. The specific questions will vary the most.

Top tip = if you want to rule to things out then you can. “Is it used in healthcare or education?”

Practice on this cool website - https://mysteryanimal.withgoogle.com/

Rules for this station

These are the instructions given to you and the interviewers for this station.

Rule 1 = The questioner (you) may only ask questions that can be answered with a yes or a no .

Rule 2 = The answerer (interviewer) may only respond with a yes or a no.

Exceptions to the rules

“I don’t know” = The answerer can say this if they do not know the answer.

“I can’t answer” = The answerer can say this if they decide to respond with this if they choose to or if the answer is not clear.

Three questions I always ask

Are you thinking of a unique thing in the world, or are you thinking of a class of things?

Research shows that this is one of the strongest first questions.

Is it bigger than a loaf of bread?

Research shows that this is the commonest second question – that is, asking for quantification.

Is it found within 50 miles of Sheffield?

I personally think that this is a good third question. I would ask a question like this just to show that you are thinking about Sheffield, and it could be quite helpful anyway.

Expand the menu below for general and specific questions for each type of 20 question station at Sheffield Medical School!

'Object' Example Questions

'Creature' Example Questions

'Event' Example Questions

'Place' Example Questions

Final Thoughts From Our Founder - Dr Dan

I hope that you have found this updated Sheffield guide useful! If you are serious about success in your Sheffield Medicine Interview then please get in touch and book a 10 hour tutoring package.

Put all that you have learned in this guide to the Sheffield Medicine Interview into practice with a MasterMedPrep Mock Interview!

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Hi! My name is Rhys (pronounced like “Reese’s Pieces”) and I am a medical student at Yale School of Medicine.

I have upwards of 9 years experience mentoring peers, most recently aiding students through the premedical path at my undergrad. I also have worked as an executive function/planning tutor for Los Angeles area high school and college students. Earlier in college, I worked as a research aide/teaching assistant helping students leverage “writing-to-learn” in order to improve their understanding of complex concepts.

After graduating  Summa Cum Laude  with a Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Engineering and Health Policy from the University of Southern California in 2021, I took a gap year primarily to scribe at a pediatric clinic to boost my clinical experience hours and to continue to work on a philanthropic start-up I co-founded while at USC.

At USC, I had multiple research experiences ranging from biomedical device research in a hybrid wet lab to policy analysis. I also was heavily involved in pro-bono consulting for non-profits and social enterprises.

I have personal experience approaching the common “Why Medicine?” question from a non-traditional angle (engineering major/activities and low clinical hours compared to non-clinical), tying in a non-standard major “X factor” extracurricular into the overall theme of an application, and expressing interest in dual degrees/interdisciplinary medical careers (policy, public health etc).

I look forward to helping you plan for and execute your unique path to medical school!

George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Hi Everyone! My name is Anthu Gnanakumar and I am a medical student at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences. I majored in neuroscience and minored in English at the University of Virginia prior to taking a gap year and attending medical school. During my gap year, I worked as a medical assistant (MA) at endocrinology and pediatric primary care practices. I really value the hands-on experience I got through being an MA and would highly recommend taking a gap year if you are at all considering it!

I remember being daunted by the significant uptick in medical school applications during the pandemic and can empathize with the ever-increasing competitiveness of getting into medical school. I have mentored and advised multiple peers and friends from high school and college as they navigated the application process and look forward to extending that mentorship to many of you. It is my hope that we can work together to shape your narrative into meaningful essays and interview responses!

Duke University School of Medicine

Hi all! My name is Arthi and I’m a medical student at Duke. I am originally from New Jersey and went to Duke for undergrad where I was able to discover interests in medical humanities, global health, and peer mentorship. Having previously taught in an art studio, I found ways to engage with medical humanities through storytelling and creative arts with elders with dementia. In medical school, I help run a program that allows admitted patients to share their life story and with cartoon creations to simplify medical diagnoses. I also majored in global health and worked on projects in based in Uganda and India during undergrad that focused on studying how evidence-based interventions actually function in practice. I spent my gap year as a global health research assistant which allowed me to gain experience with all stages of project initiation, management, and dissemination. I’m working towards spending Duke’s MS3 research year engaging with global health implementation research on site. I don’t have any family in medicine so I asked for a lot of advice from upperclassmen and medical students throughout. I was a peer tutor for over 3 years and during my senior year, I started a peer advising program that’s goal was to reach beyond just academics. During that time, I mentored many premed students on course choice, finding research and volunteering experiences, applying to summer program and gap year jobs, MCAT, and building a school list. I continued many of these relationships since graduating and have been able to provide continued support through brainstorming and editing primary and secondary applications, interview prep, and ultimately decision making. One thing I’ve come to learn from my process and that my classmates is that there isn’t one right way to do things and it can be valuable to talk through and understand your priorities and the things that make you the most excited and craft your application around those. I know how stressful and draining each step of the application process can be and I would love the chance to provide some of guidance and support I received at whichever turn you need.

NYU Grossman School of Medicine Admissions Committee Experience

Hi! My name is Kate and I’m a current medical student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City! I’m originally from Kingsport, Tennessee and attended Clemson University where I completed my undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering and a master’s degree in Applied Health Research. I have many years of experience as an advisor and mentor, mainly through working as study abroad ambassador and as a peer tutor and peer mentor through a Women in Engineering organization at my school. Later in college, I also worked as a teaching assistant for a challenging chemical engineering course in my degree. I also volunteered my time as a tour guide and was able to provide loads of advice and guidance to future students through that role. While finishing my master’s degree at Clemson University, I worked as a scribe at a gastroenterology clinic to boost my clinical experience hours. During this time, I also served as a mentor and health coach for a local volunteer organization with a mission to help people get off of government assistance. At Clemson, I had multiple research experiences ranging from social psychology to OB/GYN clinical research. I was also heavily involved with STEM outreach at local schools, ran a pitch competition, and volunteered as a conversational partner for international students who were learning English. I also spent the summer after I graduated college working at Interlochen Arts Camp as a camp counselor and reigniting my passion for theatre and the arts. I have had a slightly more non-traditional path to medicine (engineering degree/extracurriculars, taking a year to do a master’s, working at an arts camp), and I have a lot of experience in how to best weave together your own unique story in order to stand out to admissions committees. As a current medical student, I now spend my time working as an Admissions Ambassador and serving as a mentor to incoming students. I also currently interview for my medical school and so I can provide a lot of insight as I’ve sat on both sides of the Zoom interview screen. I look forward to helping you put your best foot forward in your applications and interviews for medical school!

Hello! I am a medical student at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons planning to apply into neurology this upcoming fall. I have extensive mentoring and advising experience both prior to medical school, when I served as a peer advisor for my undergraduate institution’s pre-health club, and as a medical student, continuing to advise undergraduates on essay writing, interview preparation, and general application and career advice. I also work as a mentor in the local community, tutoring and advising 8 th grade and high school age students interested in the health sciences. I have significant research and publication experience beginning as an undergraduate and continuing throughout medical school, having published four first-author manuscripts while contributing to multiple others. Prior to medical school, I spent a gap year as a National Institutes of Health Post-baccalaureate Intramural Research Training Award fellow, a role in which I studied Alzheimer’s disease proteomics and metabolomics. Currently, my research focus has shifted towards neuroinfectious diseases and contributions of infectious exposures to lifetime dementia risk. In addition to clinical medicine, I have a strong interest in public health and anthropology that informs my research and clinical pursuits. 

Hello! My name is Jessica, and I am a medical student at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine. I completed my undergraduate degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology at Johns Hopkins University, along with a minor in Entrepreneurship & Management. At Hopkins, I played on the varsity tennis team, served as a peer tutor, and volunteered at the JHH Sickle Cell Infusion Center. After graduating from college, I took on a full-time position at the Sickle Cell Infusion Center as a clinical research coordinator. I stayed in this role for one gap year, where I ran the largest registry of sickle cell disease patients in the United States, helping to characterize disparities faced in health outcomes and access to care. Since starting medical school, I have become heavily involved in cervical cancer research, volunteering at the Chinese Hospital in downtown San Francisco, and advocating for vulnerable populations. As a first-generation medical student, I understand how overwhelming the application process is and how vital near-peer guidance can be. I’ve helped several applicants through their application writing and interview process, who will all be matriculating to medical school this upcoming fall. I look forward to helping you curate your own story, put your best foot forward, and pursue your dream career!

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Sheffield University Medicine Interview Questions

Prepare for your Sheffield Medicine interview with this guide to common interview questions, the interview style and tips on how to be successful.

Sheffield Medicine Interviews

• Discover when Sheffield interviews take place
• See the interview format for 2024 entry
• Find out common interview topics
• Get tips to answer Sheffield questions

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If you’ve been invited to a Medical School interview at the University of Sheffield, check out this guide to common Medicine interview questions you can expect to face.

Sheffield University Medical Interviews

The University of Sheffield receives between 2,000 and 3,000 Medicine applications each year, for around 300 places.

The MBChB course also has the Sheffield Discover Medicine Scheme, the Realising Opportunities Scheme and the Widening Participation Scheme, so that contextualised offers can be made to students based on their circumstances.

The Medical School aims to recruit approximately 30 graduate students each year; however this is not a strict limit.

Sheffield is unique from other Medical Schools in that it provides you with the interview questions at the time of invitation. See the tips section below to learn how to use this to your advantage.

How Is Sheffield Interviewing For 2024 Entry Medicine?

Sheffield University will be hosting MMIs (Multiple Mini Interviews) between December and January for 2024 entry Medicine.

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Common Medicine Interview Question Topics At Sheffield University

The following are common themes in Sheffield’s Medicine interview questions:

• Breadth of work experience and interest in Medicine
• Communication skills
• Knowledge of Sheffield’s Medicine curriculum
• Medical ethics (including four pillars of medical ethics and values of a Junior Doctor)
• Understanding of pressures as a medic
• Motivation to study Medicine
• Extracurricular activities / work-life balance

Sample questions might include:

• Can you tell me a bit about the curriculum for Medicine at Sheffield?
• Can you describe some work experience you have undertaken and explain why it will make you a better Doctor?
• Why do you feel better suited to a career as a Doctor, as opposed to any other health professional?
• How have you demonstrated an ability to maintain a work-life balance in the past?
• What are some challenges you expect to face as a Doctor? How will you manage these challenges?
• Choose a pillar of medical ethics and describe how it improves patient care.
• What would you do if you were unsuccessful in securing a place at Medical School?

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Tips For Answering Sheffield Interview Questions

Follow these tips to do well in your Sheffield Medical School interview:

• Sheffield University values volunteer work and care experience just as much as shadowing. Be sure to include a mix of both in your answers.
• Be aware of some interesting facts about Sheffield as a city, as well as having knowledge of the course.
• Read Good Medical Practice and be aware of the key themes in it.
• Sheffield wants well-rounded students on the course. Be prepared to talk about yourself and the things you enjoy outside of your studies.
• While Sheffield provides you with the questions prior to interview, it is important that you do not learn answers and recite them exactly. The interviewers are looking out for this. It’s better to list bullet points of things you want to mention for each question and formulate a unique answer in the interview, so that the conversation flows more easily.
• Sheffield uses an integrated approach to learning, with early clinical exposure and full cadaveric dissection . You may need to explain why this course structure suits your style of learning.

How Are Interviews At Sheffield Assessed?

The interview questions are based on eight key themes listed here .

The interviewer will give you a score out of 5 for your answer, where 5= excellent, 4 = good, 3 = satisfactory, 2 = borderline, 1 = unsatisfactory.

In addition, your SJT score from the UCAT will be converted to a score out of 5 to emulate a ninth station, where 5 = first quartile, 4 = second quartile, 3 = third quartile, 2 = fourth quartile.

The maximum score is 45/45. If a candidate gets a score less than 3 on any station, they will not be considered further.

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• MSc Pharmacology and Biotechnology
• Biosciences and chemistry

Pharmacology and Biotechnology

Study alongside research-active experts, and gain detailed knowledge of pharmacology and biotechnology. You’ll consider the research, industrial, commercial and medical aspects of the discipline.

Everything you need to know...

What is the fee.

Home: £10,620 for the course International/EU: £17,725 for the course

How long will I study?

Where will i study, city campus, when do i start.

September 2025

Course summary

• Work in state-of-the-art facilities on exciting practical projects.
• Explore the fundamental principles of molecular pharmacology and biotechnology.
• Enhance your laboratory skills from experimental design through to interpretation of results.
• Learn how to synthesise new drugs, or produce them from genetically modified microorganism.
• Develop as an autonomous learner capable of reflecting on learning, knowledge and professional practices.

This course has been designed to respond to the increasing need for professional pharmacologists and biotechnologists. You'll learn to translate laboratory medical research into clinical applications, and study topics such as diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of disease. Throughout, you'll learn to apply medical biotechnology, biopharmaceutics and drugs.

Graduate view

'I acquired transferable skills which increased my competence in my current work as a lecturer- and developed my confidence.'

Olumuyiwa Olorunyomi, MSc Pharmacology and Biotechnology, 2017 graduate

Come to an open day

Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.

How you learn

Your lecturer's view.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

On this course, you’ll work with researchers and academics who are expert and renowned in the field, and do so in cutting-edge industry-standard facilities.

You’ll tackle theoretical topics including pharmacology and advanced cell biology, as well as technical topics such as sub-cloning, cell culture and quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR)

Research skills and statistical analysis are developed throughout the program and applied to pharmacological and biotechnological problems or case studies. New elements of Genomics and Proteomics have been introduced, which allow you to apply basic science knowledge and skills to experimental study design. Modules may include Fundamentals of Laboratory Practice, Cell Biology and Applied Laboratory Practice.

You learn through

• lectures and seminars
• a programme of laboratory classes
• a full semester research project

Applied learning

Laboratory experience and research project

All practical classes are led by academic staff whose research incorporates the latest pharmacological and biotechnological techniques.

Practical skills are developed throughout the course and you gain experience in molecular biology techniques such as quantitative real time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), sub-cloning and cell culture.

Core to the program are practical classes where you gain experience in a range of the latest techniques used in the determination of essential pharmacological parameters.

Research skills and statistical analysis are developed throughout the program and applied to pharmacological and biotechnological problems or case studies. New elements of Genomics and Proteomics have been introduced allowing students to apply basic science knowledge and skills to experimental study design, and management and data analysis.

You will have the opportunity to conduct a semester-long investigative research project within the biomedical field. This work will take place in cutting-edge, industry-standard laboratories and teaching labs under the supervision of world-renowned active research staff.

This work will be aligned with the current research interests of an academic member of staff within our specialist Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre. The project will include a critical review of the literature relevant to your research project, the development of a project proposal, design of research methods and the analysis, presentation and interpretation of experimental data.

Future careers

This course prepares you for a career in:

• academic research
• the industrial biotechnology sector
• the health biotechnology sector
• the pharmaceutical industry
• environmental sector

Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:

• AstraZeneca
• BD Biosciences (San Francisco Bay Area, US
• PhD Researcher at St George’s University of London
• Associate member at Higher Education Academy (UK)
• HR Operations at Deloitte India (Offices of the US)

You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.

City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.

City Campus map | City Campus tour  

Howard Street Sheffield S1 1WB

Adsetts library

Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.

Learn more about your department

Biosciences and Chemistry Facilities Tour

Take a look around the biosciences and chemistry facilities at Sheffield Hallam University with senior lecturer and recruitment lead Dr Susan Campbell.

Entry requirements

All students, additional information for eu/international students.

A 2:1 in a relevant Honours degree is normally accepted as the entry requirement for the course. Applicants with a 2:2 are also actively encouraged to apply and will be considered on an individual basis. Applicants with alternative qualifications with academic attainment or skills in subjects which are directly relevant to the course will also be considered

If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or a recognised equivalent

If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.

For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.

Equipment and facilities

On this course you work in state-of-the-art facilities including

• industry-standard instrumentation in teaching and professional labs
• an analytical and mass spectrometry suite
• a state of the art cell culture suite
• a professional microscopy suite

Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

Compulsory modules

Advanced laboratory and research practice, applied laboratory practice, biotechnological approaches to pharmacology, cell biology, fundamentals of pharmacology, molecular biology and biotechnology, research project, elective modules, biopharmaceuticals and drug discovery, cellular and molecular basis of cancer, genomics and proteomics, translational research, fees and funding, home students, international students.

Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £10,620 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.

If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions  under student fees regulations.

Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,725 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time.

Postgraduate student loans

Up to £11,222 available for Home students on most masters courses.

Additional course costs

This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.

Legal information

Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations .

How do I apply?

You apply for this course via our online application form.

You can also use the application form above to apply for future years of entry.

Not ready to apply just yet?

Why not come to our next open day? Open days are the perfect place to talk to staff and students, visit our campuses and get all the information you need. Alternatively, feel free to ask us a question.

Why choose us?

We are Gold rated in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) for the outstanding quality of our teaching and student outcomes

Accommodation

We guarantee to find you an affordable place to live that’s close to campus and comes with all bills included

95% of our UK graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating (2020/21 Graduate Outcomes Survey)

Where next?

Find out more about Sheffield Hallam's postgraduate opportunities and community.

You can chat to teaching and admissions staff, view our facilities and learn more about your funding options.

Sign up for updates

Receive emails about postgraduate study, including application reminders and alerts for open days.

Information for international students

Information for international students including entry requirements by country and funding.

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Key Stage 2 Teacher

21 days remaining to apply, job start date.

1 September 2024

Closing date

16 June 2024 at 11:59pm

Date listed

24 May 2024

Job details

• View all Suitable for early career teachers jobs

Visa sponsorship

Working pattern, contract type, what skills and experience we're looking for.

See job description and person specification

What the school offers its staff

• Our children are amazing and inspire us and each other
• Every day is different
• We are committed to inclusion
• Happy and friendly
• We are unique(!)
• Have a really positive relationship with our community.
• Everyone is kind and caring
• We are pushed and developed in our career
• We feel like we are valued professionally but also as people
• Inclusive, supportive team where everyone has a voice
• A great team – lots of laughter
• We are allowed to take risks
• Make a real difference to children’s lives
• We like to work with other organisations to develop further
• We go above and beyond
• Empowering, progressive and inventive place to be
• High expectations of all
• Positive shared ethos
• We are supported by people who care
• We are having fun, developing a lovely bright environment
• We really make a difference and ignite the spark of learning

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

Please download the application form using the link below, and once completed send to [email protected]

Upload additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

About Meersbrook Bank Primary School

Our school is a caring, welcoming community. We have a strong commitment to raising attainment and ensuring all children achieve their full potential. We pride ourselves on our creative, inclusive curriculum.

We are committed to professionally developing our staff team whilst also giving due consideration to staff workload and well-being in a very busy and demanding profession.

Our last Ofsted grade was good. (July 2022)

Arranging a visit to Meersbrook Bank Primary School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email [email protected] .

School location

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