I coach many students who are applying to university programs at all levels, and the most common thing I hear is, "I just don't know what to write about." This book is a fantastic collection of essays that reflect the authors' unique voices and backgrounds while offering enough information for the admissions committee to understand them. I will buy copies to share.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the digital ARC.Applying to medical school, particularly an elite institution like Harvard, requires more than just high MCAT scores and a solid academic record. 50 Successful Harvard Medical School Essays gives aspiring medical students a unique window into how to craft an impactful personal statement, an essential element in the selection process that allows applicants to highlight not only their academic and extracurricular accomplishments but also their character and motivation for a career in medicine.

This collection of 50 essays by successful Harvard Medical School applicants reveals a diverse range of voices and life experiences, demonstrating that there isn’t one “right way” to write a personal statement. Each essay is accompanied by insightful commentary from editors at The Harvard Crimson, who break down the techniques, themes, and approaches that made each statement stand out. This guidance offers readers a clear understanding of the qualities medical school admissions committees look for, such as empathy, resilience, commitment, and genuine passion for medicine.

One of the strengths of this book lies in its accessibility to readers at different stages of the application process. While many of these essays may provide a structural template or inspiration, they also serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining one’s authentic voice. Although it’s tempting to model one’s essay too closely after these samples, authenticity remains key. Writing one’s story from the heart, instead of simply following a formula, is essential for crafting a compelling and memorable personal narrative.

Beyond the essays themselves, the inclusion of applicants’ MCAT scores, undergraduate institutions, and post-essay feedback add another valuable layer, offering insights into how various profiles fit within the larger scope of the admissions process. Educators and mentors, as well as aspiring medical students, may find this book an invaluable tool for both inspiration and strategy.

I am not interested in attending medical school but nonetheless was most intrigued by these essays.  Each tells a story of a person's life and the ethos behind their hopes and dreams. 

Prospective medical students may find this book to be quite helpful as it includes not only the essays but also information about test scores, the college attended by the applicant and more.  My only caveat is that applicants should consider the importance of  retaining their own voice.  It could be easy to want to frame one's experiences in a format described in the book.  I would suggest writing your own essay before taking a look at these.


Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this title in exchange for an honest review.

AUTHOR

The Harvard Crimson is a non-profit student run newspaper at Harvard University. You can find out more about it here.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

Applicants for pre-eminent Medical School Universities.

SYNOPSIS

The “Personal Statement” has been an intrinsic part of the British Ivy league universities since the late 1980s. Their purpose was to separate the hard empirical scores presented in examination results from the candidates soft character traits. Those traits form an important part of the selection process for medical school. These soft characteristics include the candidates experiences, motivations, and suitability to train in the medical field.

The Medical Profession requires particular requirements. The prospective student must have a combination of technical and scientific knowledge; as well as being personable, approachable, compassionate and have fine interpersonal communication skills.

Admission boards use the personal statement in addition to the applicants grade point averages to asses their level of maturity, communication skills and their critical thinking ability.

Prospective applicants often make the critical mistake of misunderstanding the importance of their personal statement. It is part of the wider selection metrics; such as their past academic performance, reference letter or personal interview. Yet the personal statement forms arguably their best opportunity to make a winning impression. This is where 50 Successful Harvard Medical School Essays becomes an excellent resource for those wishing to create effective applications that could give them the key to acceptance into the hallowed halls of medical school academia.

50 Successful Harvard Medical School Essays can enhance the likelihood of success through improvements to your personal statement preparation. The Staff of the Harvard Crimson provides the reader with 50 real-world examples of previously successful applicants. They highlight the myriad of key traits that the medical school selection committee will be looking for, such as:

Motivation

Empathy

Honesty

Enthusiasm

Commitment

Humor

Perseverance

Compassion

Emotional Stability

Each of the 50 essays has an analysis with helpful recommendations and explanations of the qualities that hold the greatest value to the selection committee. 50 Successful Harvard Medical School Essays will provide an advantage in your application process. I was happy to see that the editors made it clear that the process gives students with lower MCAT grades access to top medical schools. 50 Successful Harvard Medical School Essays does this by alerting the prospective applicant to the importance of a well-rounded character; educationally, socially, emotionally and psychologically. These traits are required to face the rigors of the medical school assault course.

CONCLUSION

50 Successful Harvard Medical School Essays is filled with important advice for anyone wishing to enhance their probability of receiving a placement offer at a leading medical institution. It provides practical guidance on how to approach a personal statement in order to make the best impression and showcase the desired characteristics universities are looking for.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank The Staff of the Harvard Crimson, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Griffin for affording me the opportunity to review 50 Successful Harvard Medical School Essays.