Can personal essay be about lifelong development of career interest?

College Essays
1

<p>For the personal essay part of the common App, I've been recommended by a english teacher to write about the development of my career interest as a doctor. However, I'm starting to doubt her if this is a good topic to write about.</p>

<p>I'm going to talk about how I changed from being paranoid about my health when I was a kid to later pursue my interest in health profession by becoming a volunteer EMT, interning at a hopsital, volunteering at a hospital, etc. I'm going to explain the personal development I've been going through with these activited and how it affected my interest in becoming a doctor.</p>

<p>However, this doesn't really seem like the other personal essay examples i've seen. I guess this woulod fall under personal essay number 6 which is "Topic of your choice" However, most people talk about how a single event changed their lives in a certain way, how a real or fictional person changed them, explaining a original hobby they have, etc.</p>

<p>I have yet to see any essay written about one's dream of becoming an engineer, doctor, lawyer, etc. I also feel that this essay is leaning towards looking like a majors essay and not the personal essay like I want. Furthermore, what I am writing about would be the exact essay topic of most medical schools which is "Why do you want to become a doctor?" and might seem like I'm just copying that topic for my personal essay. I'm really doubting my essay topic and afraid that colleges will just toss it aside since it is not what they are looking for.</p>

<p>So is this essay topic okay? I need to know quickly so I can change my topic before it's too late. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Sure, it could work if you focus on a single experience you’ve had in your life. Don’t try to summarize your autobiography though–some of best essays are the ones that focus on one single moment, then they develop to speak about themselves. </p>

<p>Also, consider your essay in the context of your ECs. If none of the ECs or work experience relate to the medical field, I would rethink this topic. On the other hand, if 90% of your ECs are premed-rated, avoid talking about your passion for medicine: it will be repetitive. You want your essay to provide a window into the part of you that doesn’t get explained in any other part of your application. Don’t come across as one-dimensional if all your ECs reflect a love of medicine and then write an essay on medicine. </p>

<p>Ultimately, what you choose to write on is not as important as how you write it. Your delivery will overshadow your choice of subject. Prosaic with passion is better than a highly potent topic lined by awful writing.</p>

<p>And if you haven’t started drafting yet, now is a good time to channel your inner writer :)</p>

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<p>bump bump bump</p>

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5

<p>Of course it can. In fact, I would think this would be rather common topic for people interested in the medical field. The personal statement can be anything really, as long as it’s about you in some way.</p>

6

<p>^Exactly. But be wary of sounding like every other pre-med; make the essay personal and revealing. Single anecdotes or a few anecdotes woven around a central theme will keep it specific to you.</p>