11 things you must not put on your UCAS personal statement for medicine

We have written several blogs on what you must include in your personal statement but ever thought of what things you must not include? Having looked at hundreds of personal statements over the years, we go through 11 things you must not do when it comes to your UCAS personal statement for medicine.

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The student does not use enough words on the UCAS personal statement.

Whilst most students will have problems keeping to the word count, there are students that actually don’t make use of the available space. Having too much empty space on your UCAS personal statement creates a poor impression to the admissions tutor. Keep as close to the permitted character count as you can.

There is a lack of detail or reflection on the UCAS personal statement.

Too many students still produce a list of things they have done and leave it at that. You must write what skills you gained from your activities and how these will help you as a future medical student or doctor.

Don’t trust Microsoft word to spell and grammar check your draft.

Get your parents, teachers or careers advisor to check your personal statement in person. The human factor is important here. Microsoft word will not detect enthusiasm and engagement.

Don’t be too generic in your statements on your application for medicine.

Your statement must be personal and unique to you. Be specific about what you did, why you did it and what you learnt and how it will help you as a doctor.

Don’t include any negative comments on your personal statement

Don’t say you did not enjoy something on your work experience or negative things about medicine. Yes, there are negative aspects of medicine and questions about these do come up in interview questions, but do you really want to start your application on a negative aspect?

Don’t waste space talking purely about medical facts.

Don’t just write known facts without elaborating on the context. For example, do not write ‘I saw a patient with diabetes and the doctor prescribed him insulin’ without talking about how this disease and the prescription is going to affect the patient (for example). It might sound impressive to make a long list of the nerves in the leg, but you will only bore the admissions tutor and not add any value to your application (as well as waste space).

Don’t write obvious statements that have no value to your application to study medicine

For example, don’t write ‘I am studying English because it helps me write essays’ or ‘I am studying latin so I can read medical terms more easily’. You must not waste space.

Don’t write long complicated sentences that do not follow or flow.

You will not only more likely cause the admissions tutor to lose track, but also bore them. It may well be your personal statement is only read once before deciding whether you will continue with the admission process or your application goes in the bin.

Don’t lie or make statements up on your personal statement that are not correct.

You will be found out. If this does occur at the application stage it can lead to an immediate rejection, and later on will result in the withdrawal of an offer. It can also bar you from further applications to medical schools on the grounds of dishonesty.

Don’t talk about money or potential earnings in the personal statement

We are aware that doctors are paid reasonably well, and they are unlikely to be unemployed. In addition, having a British medical degree is highly regarded around the world. There is no need to state this on your application and make the admissions tutor think your motivation is financial. Don’t give them the impression you plan to leave the country straight after obtaining a medical degree.

Don’t lose the focus on medicine and that is what you are applying to study at university.

Don’t fill your UCAS personal statement about topics that have no relevance to medicine. Be careful you don’t start going off on a tangent. For example, don’t start talking extensively about why you are studying A-level history or music without making this relevant to medicine.

Need help writing your UCAS personal statement, from scratch if needed? Book a tutor session with our medical school admissions tutors and make sure you cover everything.