<p>Hi ,
So the website of the college that I'm applying to (( Cornell Medical college in Qatar )) says the following :
All applicants should submit a personal statement that addresses his or her interest in and motivation for a career in medicine. Because there is no set combination of grade-point average and standardized test scores that will guarantee admission to our program, our Committee looks beyond these numbers. We look for applicants who can demonstrate that they have taken fullest advantage of opportunities, who care about their community, and who have developed special talents in other fields beyond their academic studies. Ideally, a personal statement should reflect such qualities as:</p>
<p>Motivation to enter medicine
Maturity and stability
Intellectual potential
Leadership qualities
Love of learning
Strength of character
Special abilities or talents
Achievements
Diligence and dedication
Integrity and honesty
Sense of fairness
Compassion</p>
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<p>I'm confused , how ia the personal statement different than the normal College essay ?? And should I write about all what they mentioned or I just need to choose one aspect and talk about it ?? </p>
<p>A personal statement is basically the same as a normal college essay. You shouldn’t go about writing it differently than a normal college essay. And I would just think about your interest in and motivation for a career in medicine, then pick whichever things on the list best apply to you, and write about those.</p>
<p>An essay that tried to cram all that in would be a mess. I think they mean that these are the things that COULD be reflected in an essay. MapleLeaf is correct. The basic college essay (at least as described in the Common App) <em>is</em> a personal statement. But it should <em>show</em> your qualities, not just tell about them. It’s much more effective if the reader DISCOVERS things about you, based on what you describe.</p>
<p>Here’s an example (undergrad, from my book, Concise Advice: Jump-Starting Your College Admissions Essays) of someone who eventually wanted to enter a medical field:</p>
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<p>Notice it didn’t dwell on what a great person the writer was, but did give an insight into her transition from a kennel-cleaner to someone who wanted to perhaps be a physician. The bit about the three-legged dog is a “stinger” - a bit at the end to make the reader smile and make the essay more memorable.</p>