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4 Tips To Talk About Volunteering In Your Medicine Personal Statement

Learn how to write about volunteering in your Personal Statement for Medicine and prove that you're a strong candidate.

Volunteering is the perfect way to give back to your community, gain valuable skills and bolster your Medical School application at the same time. Follow these tips to write about volunteering in your Medicine Personal Statement .

Reflect on what you learned from volunteering

Don’t just provide a list of tasks you completed while volunteering – you really need to reflect on what you learned from the experience. This is what admissions tutors want you to write about in your Personal Statement, and also what interviewers want you to discuss at your Medical School interviews .

Did you gain any new skills from volunteering? Skills that are relevant to working in Medicine, such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving, are particularly good to mention. Did volunteering teach you anything about the realities of working in a medical or healthcare-related environment?

Remember that it’s relevant in a lot of ways

When writing your Personal Statement , you need to think about Motivation, Exploration and Suitability – essentially covering why you want to pursue Medicine, what you have done to explore Medicine as a career, and why you are suited to becoming a Doctor.

Volunteering (and work experience ) can be relevant in all three of these areas. For example, you might have:

• observed or experienced something while volunteering that cemented your decision to pursue Medicine (Motivation)
• learned important lessons about working in Medicine, if your volunteering was based in a medical environment (Exploration)
• gained key skills from volunteering that make you a strong candidate for Medical School (Suitability)

Obviously, your Personal Statement shouldn’t just be about volunteering – but remember that you may be able to include it in more ways than you thought!

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Link your volunteering experience to Medicine

Even if you didn’t volunteer in a medical or healthcare-related environment, you can still link your volunteering experience to Medicine.

People skills are just as important as academic skills when it comes to working as a Doctor, and many voluntary roles involve interacting with the public. It’s also likely that you worked with other volunteers, which must have involved teamwork – and balancing the time commitment of volunteer work with staying on top of your studies must have required good time management.

These are all relevant skills to working in Medicine, so you can discuss them in your Personal Statement and provide examples from your volunteering as evidence.

Don’t just focus on the positives

Volunteering can be tough at times and Doctors need to be resilient, so you might want to cite a situation where, for example, you overcame a challenge.

If you reflect on voluntary work (or work experience) in a purely positive way, admissions tutors and interviewers might think that you are bending the truth to tell them what you believe they want to hear.

In the application process, they are looking for candidates who understand the realities of working in Medicine. The ideal candidate will be able to cope with stress, failure and difficult tasks such as breaking bad news – so if any aspects of your volunteer work have made you a more resilient person, this is useful to mention in your Personal Statement.

Find out more: Medicine Personal Statement Examples

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to write a great community service essay.

College Admissions , Extracurriculars

Are you applying to a college or a scholarship that requires a community service essay? Do you know how to write an essay that will impress readers and clearly show the impact your work had on yourself and others?

Read on to learn step-by-step instructions for writing a great community service essay that will help you stand out and be memorable.

What Is a Community Service Essay? Why Do You Need One?

A community service essay is an essay that describes the volunteer work you did and the impact it had on you and your community. Community service essays can vary widely depending on specific requirements listed in the application, but, in general, they describe the work you did, why you found the work important, and how it benefited people around you.

Community service essays are typically needed for two reasons:

#1: To Apply to College

• Some colleges require students to write community service essays as part of their application or to be eligible for certain scholarships.
• You may also choose to highlight your community service work in your personal statement.

#2: To Apply for Scholarships

• Some scholarships are specifically awarded to students with exceptional community service experiences, and many use community service essays to help choose scholarship recipients.
• Green Mountain College offers one of the most famous of these scholarships. Their "Make a Difference Scholarship" offers full tuition, room, and board to students who have demonstrated a significant, positive impact through their community service

Getting Started With Your Essay

In the following sections, I'll go over each step of how to plan and write your essay. I'll also include sample excerpts for you to look through so you can get a better idea of what readers are looking for when they review your essay.

Step 1: Know the Essay Requirements

Before your start writing a single word, you should be familiar with the essay prompt. Each college or scholarship will have different requirements for their essay, so make sure you read these carefully and understand them.

Specific things to pay attention to include:

• Length requirement
• Application deadline
• The main purpose or focus of the essay
• If the essay should follow a specific structure

Below are three real community service essay prompts. Read through them and notice how much they vary in terms of length, detail, and what information the writer should include.

From the Equitable Excellence Scholarship:

"Describe your outstanding achievement in depth and provide the specific planning, training, goals, and steps taken to make the accomplishment successful. Include details about your role and highlight leadership you provided. Your essay must be a minimum of 350 words but not more than 600 words."

From the Laura W. Bush Traveling Scholarship:

"Essay (up to 500 words, double spaced) explaining your interest in being considered for the award and how your proposed project reflects or is related to both UNESCO's mandate and U.S. interests in promoting peace by sharing advances in education, science, culture, and communications."

From the LULAC National Scholarship Fund:

"Please type or print an essay of 300 words (maximum) on how your academic studies will contribute to your personal & professional goals. In addition, please discuss any community service or extracurricular activities you have been involved in that relate to your goals."

Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas

Even after you understand what the essay should be about, it can still be difficult to begin writing. Answer the following questions to help brainstorm essay ideas. You may be able to incorporate your answers into your essay.

• What community service activity that you've participated in has meant the most to you?
• What is your favorite memory from performing community service?
• Why did you decide to begin community service?
• What made you decide to volunteer where you did?
• How has your community service changed you?
• How has your community service helped others?
• How has your community service affected your plans for the future?

You don't need to answer all the questions, but if you find you have a lot of ideas for one of two of them, those may be things you want to include in your essay.

Writing Your Essay

How you structure your essay will depend on the requirements of the scholarship or school you are applying to. You may give an overview of all the work you did as a volunteer, or highlight a particularly memorable experience. You may focus on your personal growth or how your community benefited.

Regardless of the specific structure requested, follow the guidelines below to make sure your community service essay is memorable and clearly shows the impact of your work.

Samples of mediocre and excellent essays are included below to give you a better idea of how you should draft your own essay.

Step 1: Hook Your Reader In

You want the person reading your essay to be interested, so your first sentence should hook them in and entice them to read more. A good way to do this is to start in the middle of the action. Your first sentence could describe you helping build a house, releasing a rescued animal back to the wild, watching a student you tutored read a book on their own, or something else that quickly gets the reader interested. This will help set your essay apart and make it more memorable.

Compare these two opening sentences:

"I have volunteered at the Wishbone Pet Shelter for three years."

"The moment I saw the starving, mud-splattered puppy brought into the shelter with its tail between its legs, I knew I'd do whatever I could to save it."

The first sentence is a very general, bland statement. The majority of community service essays probably begin a lot like it, but it gives the reader little information and does nothing to draw them in. On the other hand, the second sentence begins immediately with action and helps persuade the reader to keep reading so they can learn what happened to the dog.

Step 2: Discuss the Work You Did

Once you've hooked your reader in with your first sentence, tell them about your community service experiences. State where you work, when you began working, how much time you've spent there, and what your main duties include. This will help the reader quickly put the rest of the essay in context and understand the basics of your community service work.

Not including basic details about your community service could leave your reader confused.

Step 3: Include Specific Details

It's the details of your community service that make your experience unique and memorable, so go into the specifics of what you did.

For example, don't just say you volunteered at a nursing home; talk about reading Mrs. Johnson her favorite book, watching Mr. Scott win at bingo, and seeing the residents play games with their grandchildren at the family day you organized. Try to include specific activities, moments, and people in your essay. Having details like these let the readers really understand what work you did and how it differs from other volunteer experiences.

Compare these two passages:

"For my volunteer work, I tutored children at a local elementary school. I helped them improve their math skills and become more confident students."

"As a volunteer at York Elementary School, I worked one-on-one with second and third graders who struggled with their math skills, particularly addition, subtraction, and fractions. As part of my work, I would create practice problems and quizzes and try to connect math to the students' interests. One of my favorite memories was when Sara, a student I had been working with for several weeks, told me that she enjoyed the math problems I had created about a girl buying and selling horses so much that she asked to help me create math problems for other students."

The first passage only gives basic information about the work done by the volunteer; there is very little detail included, and no evidence is given to support her claims. How did she help students improve their math skills? How did she know they were becoming more confident?

The second passage is much more detailed. It recounts a specific story and explains more fully what kind of work the volunteer did, as well as a specific instance of a student becoming more confident with her math skills. Providing more detail in your essay helps support your claims as well as make your essay more memorable and unique.

Step 4: Show Your Personality

It would be very hard to get a scholarship or place at a school if none of your readers felt like they knew much about you after finishing your essay, so make sure that your essay shows your personality. The way to do this is to state your personal strengths, then provide examples to support your claims. Take some time to think about which parts of your personality you would like your essay to highlight, then write about specific examples to show this.

• If you want to show that you're a motivated leader, describe a time when you organized an event or supervised other volunteers.
• If you want to show your teamwork skills, write about a time you helped a group of people work together better.
• If you want to show that you're a compassionate animal lover, write about taking care of neglected shelter animals and helping each of them find homes.

Step 5: State What You Accomplished

After you have described your community service and given specific examples of your work, you want to begin to wrap your essay up by stating your accomplishments. What was the impact of your community service? Did you build a house for a family to move into? Help students improve their reading skills? Clean up a local park? Make sure the impact of your work is clear; don't be worried about bragging here.

If you can include specific numbers, that will also strengthen your essay. Saying "I delivered meals to 24 home-bound senior citizens" is a stronger example than just saying "I delivered meals to lots of senior citizens."

Also be sure to explain why your work matters. Why is what you did important? Did it provide more parks for kids to play in? Help students get better grades? Give people medical care who would otherwise not have gotten it? This is an important part of your essay, so make sure to go into enough detail that your readers will know exactly what you accomplished and how it helped your community.

"My biggest accomplishment during my community service was helping to organize a family event at the retirement home. The children and grandchildren of many residents attended, and they all enjoyed playing games and watching movies together."

"The community service accomplishment that I'm most proud of is the work I did to help organize the First Annual Family Fun Day at the retirement home. My job was to design and organize fun activities that senior citizens and their younger relatives could enjoy. The event lasted eight hours and included ten different games, two performances, and a movie screening with popcorn. Almost 200 residents and family members attended throughout the day. This event was important because it provided an opportunity for senior citizens to connect with their family members in a way they aren't often able to. It also made the retirement home seem more fun and enjoyable to children, and we have seen an increase in the number of kids coming to visit their grandparents since the event."

The second passage is stronger for a variety of reasons. First, it goes into much more detail about the work the volunteer did. The first passage only states that she helped "organize a family event." That really doesn't tell readers much about her work or what her responsibilities were. The second passage is much clearer; her job was to "design and organize fun activities."

The second passage also explains the event in more depth. A family day can be many things; remember that your readers are likely not familiar with what you're talking about, so details help them get a clearer picture.

Lastly, the second passage makes the importance of the event clear: it helped residents connect with younger family members, and it helped retirement homes seem less intimidating to children, so now some residents see their grand kids more often.

Step 6: Discuss What You Learned

One of the final things to include in your essay should be the impact that your community service had on you. You can discuss skills you learned, such as carpentry, public speaking, animal care, or another skill.

You can also talk about how you changed personally. Are you more patient now? More understanding of others? Do you have a better idea of the type of career you want? Go into depth about this, but be honest. Don't say your community service changed your life if it didn't because trite statements won't impress readers.

In order to support your statements, provide more examples. If you say you're more patient now, how do you know this? Do you get less frustrated while playing with your younger siblings? Are you more willing to help group partners who are struggling with their part of the work? You've probably noticed by now that including specific examples and details is one of the best ways to create a strong and believable essay .

"As a result of my community service, I learned a lot about building houses and became a more mature person."

"As a result of my community service, I gained hands-on experience in construction. I learned how to read blueprints, use a hammer and nails, and begin constructing the foundation of a two-bedroom house. Working on the house could be challenging at times, but it taught me to appreciate the value of hard work and be more willing to pitch in when I see someone needs help. My dad has just started building a shed in our backyard, and I offered to help him with it because I know from my community service how much work it is. I also appreciate my own house more, and I know how lucky I am to have a roof over my head."

The second passage is more impressive and memorable because it describes the skills the writer learned in more detail and recounts a specific story that supports her claim that her community service changed her and made her more helpful.

Step 7: Finish Strong

Just as you started your essay in a way that would grab readers' attention, you want to finish your essay on a strong note as well. A good way to end your essay is to state again the impact your work had on you, your community, or both. Reiterate how you changed as a result of your community service, why you found the work important, or how it helped others.

Compare these two concluding statements:

"In conclusion, I learned a lot from my community service at my local museum, and I hope to keep volunteering and learning more about history."

"To conclude, volunteering at my city's American History Museum has been a great experience. By leading tours and participating in special events, I became better at public speaking and am now more comfortable starting conversations with people. In return, I was able to get more community members interested in history and our local museum. My interest in history has deepened, and I look forward to studying the subject in college and hopefully continuing my volunteer work at my university's own museum."

The second passage takes each point made in the first passage and expands upon it. In a few sentences, the second passage is able to clearly convey what work the volunteer did, how she changed, and how her volunteer work benefited her community.

The author of the second passage also ends her essay discussing her future and how she'd like to continue her community service, which is a good way to wrap things up because it shows your readers that you are committed to community service for the long-term.

What's Next?

Are you applying to a community service scholarship or thinking about it? We have a complete list of all the community service scholarships available to help get your search started!

Do you need a community service letter as well? We have a step-by-step guide that will tell you how to get a great reference letter from your community service supervisor.

Thinking about doing community service abroad? Before you sign up, read our guide on some of the hazards of international volunteer trips and how to know if it's the right choice for you.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Volunteer, Personal Statement Example

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Words: 603

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Volunteering at a hospital will be very beneficial to me because I am a nursing student. For most people, a hospital is a sad, gloomy place because of all the sickness and death; however, I look at it as a place of hope. There are so many people around the world who do not have access to the health care they need. People who are in the hospital need nurses and staff members who are optimistic and encouraging. I have always had a desire to help others; likewise, I take personal joy in encouraging and changing people’s perspective in a positive way. Volunteering at a hospital will be an invaluable experience for me.

A person’s actions can have either a negative or positive effect on one’s life. Ironically, you can even be unaware of how the person has affected you. I had such an experience many years ago when I was in elementary school. My third grade teacher had assigned the students a project. This project included using food coloring and sand to make a Christmas card for a person we cared about. I chose to construct a card for my mom. My mom was and still is very important to me because she has had such a positive impact on my life. She raised my siblings and me as a single parent. She worked several dead end jobs to make ends meet for us. We were poor, but she ensured that we had the things we needed. Having only the things we needed was very difficult for me. I was often teased about not having the same things that other students had. So, when my teacher assigned this, I knew I wanted to do a great job and make my mom an outstanding card because that would be the only gift she would receive from me.

The teacher provided us with a small Ziploc bag of sand each and a choice of two different food colorings-I chose red and green. We had to first draft what we would do on a plain white sheet of copy paper and then we could get our sheet of construction paper to do or final project. I remember drawing a Christmas tree on the outside and writing a letter on the inside. I told her how much she meant to me and how much I appreciated everything she did for us. Once we finished, we had to place our cards in the window sill to dry. At the end of the day, the teacher presented each card to the class. When she held mine up she said, “Students this is what happens when you take pride in your work”. I was so proud of myself and what she said made me feel so good about my work. The students gathered around to look at my card.

This memory has remained with me all these years. Unknowingly, this teacher had laid the foundation for me to continue to do a great job at whatever I decided to do. The feeling of accomplishment was something that could not be met by any other feeling. Even today, when I begin an assignment or project, my goal is to do it to the best of my ability. Although a teacher’s job is to inspire and set a fire in students, some teachers are better at it than others. My mother still has that card. All of the sand has fallen off and it has been faded by time, but she has cherished it all these years. Symbolically, that conveys to me that when you do a great job it will not be forgotten.

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adops November 24, 2023 Medical

A Step-By-Step Guide to Volunteer at a Hospital

Everyone at some juncture in their life feels an overwhelming urge to make a positive impact in the community and give back to those in need. Volunteering at a hospital can offer you all of this and more.

If you’re ready to embark on a rewarding journey of compassion and service, then this step-by-step guide will show you how to get started. From finding the right country to propel your medical skills to understanding the volunteer requirements and discovering the various roles you can undertake, we’ve got you covered.

Volunteering at a hospital is a noble and enlightening way to spend a medical gap year or pursue an elective abroad for medical students and individuals passionate about entering healthcare fields. For medical students, this experience offers a profound insight into the real-world practice of medicine, allowing you to bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and clinical application.

Additionally, for those with a fervent interest in healthcare, hospital volunteering serves as a perfect opportunity to explore various specialties, gain practical experience, and contribute to the well-being of patients, all while fostering personal and professional growth.

Whether you’re considering a gap year, looking to broaden your horizons during an elective abroad, or simply seeking to make a meaningful impact in the field of healthcare, hospital volunteering can be the transformative step that sets you on the path to a fulfilling and successful career.

Finding the Right Location to Volunteer

One of the first steps is finding the right country that aligns with your goals and interests. Volunteer Journeys offers medical volunteering opportunities in a wide range of developing countries like India , Costa Rica , Sri Lanka and more.

Here are some tips to help you get started:

Research Our Country-specific Programs Online

  Our website has detailed information on medical volunteering in several developing countries worldwide. We have strategic tie-ups with hospitals and local healthcare clinics in these countries. You can be sure that a medical volunteering at any of our program locations will be a great stepping stone towards a fulfilling career in medical and healthcare fields.

Assess Your Availability

Consider your availability when choosing a country. Our programs  may require volunteers during specific dates. Make sure you choose a location whose requirements align with your availability.

Volunteer Requirements

To be part of our medical volunteering programs, you’ll need to meet certain requirements. Some prerequisites include:

1. Age Requirement

Most hospitals have a minimum age requirement for volunteers. This is typically 18 years or older. However, some hospitals may have junior volunteer programs for younger individuals. Reach out to our program coordinators to know more.

2. Resume Screening

As part of our selection program for medical volunteering, you will be asked to share your latest Resume. Your resume must indicate that you are already in medical school or have a strong inclination towards medical or healthcare fields as a future career path.

3. Local Language Skills

It is important that you are conversant with basic language skills to converse with hospital staff and locals at your destination. We perform a basic evaluation of your local language skills prior to any hospital assignment. For example, a medical volunteering program in Peru will require you to know basic conversational Spanish.

4. Commitment and Training

Hospitals usually require a commitment to volunteering, which can range from a few hours a week to a more extended period. You may also be asked to attend orientation sessions to familiarize yourself with the hospital’s policies and procedures.

Volunteering Roles

Choose a role that best suits your skills, interests, and the time you can commit.

Here are some common types of volunteering roles:

1. Patient interaction Roles:

• Welcoming and assisting visitors, providing directions etc.
• Spend time with patients, engage in conversations, and provide emotional support.
• Work with children to create a more comfortable and less stressful environment.

2. Administrative Roles

• Assist with administrative tasks, such as filing, data entry, and answering phones.
• Transport patients within the hospital for appointments and procedures.

3. Specialized Roles

• Organize art or music therapy sessions for patients to promote healing and relaxation.
• Offer support to patients and families facing end-of-life care.
• Assist doctors or nursing staff with checking and recording patient vitals, apply bandaging, and more.

Joys of Volunteering

Volunteering at a hospital not only benefits the community but also offers personal growth and fulfillment.

1. Personal Benefits

• Sense of Purpose : Volunteering provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment, knowing that you’re making a difference in other lives.
• Skill Development : Gain valuable skills, such as communication, empathy, and time management.
• Networking : Connect with like-minded individuals and expand your social and professional network.
• Mental and Emotional Well-being: Volunteering has been linked to reduced stress and increased happiness.

2. Benefits to the Community

• Improved Patient Experience : Your presence and support can enhance the patient experience, making their hospital stay more comfortable and less stressful.
• Supporting Healthcare Staff : Hospital volunteers play a vital role in supporting healthcare professionals, allowing them to focus on providing medical care.
• Community Building: Volunteering strengthens the sense of community and reinforces the importance of compassion and giving.

Medical Volunteering Abroad

There are plenty of terrific and rewarding healthcare volunteering opportunities globally that you can uncover with Volunteering Journeys. If you are still in doubt, we recommend the following programs. Hundreds of volunteers over the years have found these programs truly enriching and rewarding on their path to a career in the medical or healthcare fields.

Medical Volunteer in Sri Lanka

Experience the heart of healthcare in Sri Lanka by volunteering in Galle’s largest public sector hospitals. Make a tangible impact in a region with diverse medical needs, all while gaining invaluable experience in the medical field.

Medical Volunteer Nepal

Join us on a journey to Kathmandu Valley, where you can contribute to the well-being of local communities by volunteering in private local hospitals. Enhance your medical skills and immerse yourself in the rich culture of Nepal.

Medical Volunteer India

Embark on a fulfilling medical volunteering adventure in Kochi City, India. Work alongside professionals in private local hospitals, enriching your knowledge while providing essential care to the local population.

Medical Volunteer in Cambodia

Discover the dynamic healthcare landscape of Cambodia by volunteering in both private and public hospitals in Phnom Penh. Your dedication can help bridge the medical gap and bring hope to those in need.

Medical Volunteer Philippines

Escape to the serene landscapes of Tacloban Island and make a difference in the lives of its residents. As a medical volunteer, you’ll be working in local rural clinics, offering vital healthcare support to underserved communities.

Medical Volunteer Costa Rica

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Medicine personal statement example 53.

I have asked myself many times what it takes to be a great doctor, but like many questions there is never a straight answer.

Keeping an open mind with regards to my career has meant that I have been able to pinpoint the one field which has fascinated me unlike any other, medicine.

My first experience of healthcare was watching my father working in his veterinary surgery, not a human medical experience but at the age of 4 it first ignited my passion for the exciting world of biology and disease. Asking about animal ailments eventually prompted the same questions about human health.

However it was years until I felt confident that medicine was right for me. I had experienced disease through the diagnosis and sadly, eventual death of my aunt from cancer but I had little experience of how healthcare functioned. I therefore arranged to volunteer at a hospital, eventually shadowing a GP and a range of medical staff. Volunteering has provided one of the best insights into hospital care that I could have possibly asked for.

Alongside my duties I observed the caring yet professional attitude of the nurses and HCAs. The opportunity to offer my time never fails to lift my spirit and assisting in a mainly geriatric rehabilitation ward has exposed me to the highs and lows of healthcare but only strengthened my resolve to become a doctor.

At the surgery I experienced the integration of roles involved in healthcare, from receptionist to district nurse, but the highlight of the experience was sitting in on consultations carried out by both staff nurses and a doctor.

Seeing the GP ask concise and relevant questions emphasised the importance of competence and communication in medicine. In order to balance the sometimes stressful events of daily life I maintain all round health by going to the gym, cycling and reading for pleasure. I have taken part in mock trial competitions at national level and would love to pursue this at university.

I understand the role spirituality can play in maintaining psychological health. Travelling to Lourdes to help sick and elderly pilgrims allowed me to witness this first hand. The teamwork aspect was what convinced me to take part and I really enjoyed working with like-minded people on both the wards and in transporting wheelchair-bound pilgrims around the town.

In addition to these experiences my own college allowed me to help students in year 8 science lessons, setting up practicals and answering their queries.

More recently I have been employed to work as a lunchtime buddy at the local primary school looking after a boy with EB which has proved to be incredibly rewarding.

The people I have been lucky enough to work with and for, continue to reinforce what studying foreign languages has taught me: no two persons are alike.

I believe that my fascination for languages goes hand in hand with the social side of medicine and my fluency in Italian allowed me to accept my teacher's request to act as an examiner during a GCSE oral test which I initially found daunting but ultimately made me more confident in a formal position.

Studying the 'Darwin and evolution' OU short course has kept my interest in enquiry well furnished whilst providing a way in which to develop my self study skills.

I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring a completely different branch of biology alongside my college studies I feel that social experiences living in both Italy and England, and studying Spanish will make me more culturally aware and enable me to sympathise when confronted with patients of different backgrounds.

I continue to realise that my chosen career will undoubtedly be academically rigorous and psychologically stimulating but nonetheless will stretch me to my full potential.

A great doctor understands without being patronising, listens without prejudice and draws from every academic and social experience to deliver the best advice he can give. With my commitment, work ethic and ability I will one day achieve this.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by flamini1 for application in 2011.

flamini1's university choices The University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh University of Leicester The University of Birmingham The University of Manchester

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

flamini1's Comments

This is pretty much the statement which I sent off to UCAS minus a bit of tweaking here and there. I felt a bit unimpressed with it towards the end but feel free to let me know what you think.

This personal statement is unrated

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Fri, 02/08/2013 - 16:45

I really enjoy the blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Really Cool.

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Crafting an Impactful Personal Statement: Seamlessly Blend Volunteer Work!

Table of Contents

Learn how to effectively include volunteer work in your personal statement and make a lasting impression on admissions officers. Discover tips and strategies for showcasing your volunteer experiences, highlighting the skills and qualities you gained, and demonstrating your commitment to community service. Craft a compelling narrative that showcases your passion, values, and impact through volunteer work, and increase your chances of standing out among other applicants.

Volunteer work can play a crucial role in shaping one’s personal statement, showcasing an individual’s commitment to making a positive impact on society. By incorporating volunteer experiences into a personal statement, candidates not only demonstrate their altruistic nature but also highlight their ability to balance responsibilities, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively within diverse settings. As the admissions committee seeks well-rounded individuals who possess a genuine passion for serving others, highlighting volunteer work can help aspiring applicants stand out from the competition. Transitioning seamlessly from academic achievements to community involvement, this essay aims to shed light on how to effectively include volunteer work in a personal statement.

Introduction

When applying for a job or a college program, including volunteer work in your personal statement can greatly enhance your application. Volunteer work not only demonstrates your commitment to making a positive impact on society, but it also showcases valuable skills and experiences that can set you apart from other candidates. In this article, we will explore how to effectively include volunteer work in your personal statement.

Choose Relevant Volunteer Experiences

Highlighting the importance of relevancy

While all volunteer work is commendable, it is crucial to choose experiences that are relevant to the position or program you are applying for. Consider the specific skills and qualities required by the opportunity and select volunteer experiences that demonstrate your ability to fulfill those requirements. For example, if you are applying for a teaching position, emphasize your experience as a tutor or mentor.

Focus on Transferable Skills

Discussing the significance of transferable skills

Volunteer work often provides an excellent opportunity to develop and showcase transferable skills. These skills, such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving, can be applied in various professional settings. Identify the transferable skills you have gained through your volunteer experiences and explain how they relate to the position or program you are pursuing.

Provide Specific Examples

Illustrating the importance of specificity

When discussing your volunteer work, avoid general statements and provide specific examples to make your personal statement more compelling. Rather than stating that you volunteered at a local food bank, describe a particular event or project you were involved in and the impact it had on the community. These specific examples will help paint a clearer picture of your contributions and showcase your dedication.

Quantify Your Impact

Emphasizing the importance of quantifying impact

Whenever possible, quantify the impact of your volunteer work to provide tangible evidence of your accomplishments. For example, instead of stating that you helped organize an event, mention that you successfully coordinated a fundraising event that raised $10,000 for a charitable cause. Numbers and statistics can demonstrate your ability to make a measurable difference, adding credibility to your personal statement.

Show Passion and Commitment

Expressing the value of passion and commitment

Personal statements are an opportunity to showcase your genuine passion and commitment to the causes you have volunteered for. Share why you chose to volunteer in those specific areas and how they have shaped your values and aspirations. Expressing your dedication will not only make your personal statement more engaging but also demonstrate that you are likely to bring the same level of enthusiasm to the position or program.

Connect Volunteer Work to Future Goals

Emphasizing the importance of future goals

Link your volunteer experiences to your future goals in order to show continuity and purpose. Explain how your volunteer work has influenced your career or academic aspirations and how it aligns with the position or program you are applying for. By demonstrating this connection, you can convince the reader that your volunteer experiences have helped shape your professional path and make you a strong candidate.

Showcase Leadership Roles

Highlighting the significance of leadership

If you have held leadership positions during your volunteer work, be sure to highlight them in your personal statement. Leadership roles demonstrate your ability to take initiative, manage others, and effectively contribute to a team. Discuss how these leadership experiences have developed your leadership skills and how they will translate to the position or program you are applying for.

Highlight Personal Growth and Learning

Exploring the importance of personal growth

Volunteer work often provides valuable opportunities for personal growth and learning. Reflect on how your volunteer experiences have broadened your perspective, strengthened your resilience, or improved your ability to adapt to new situations. By highlighting these personal growth moments, you can demonstrate your capacity for continuous learning and development.

Don’t Oversell or Exaggerate

Addressing the importance of honesty

While it is important to effectively showcase your volunteer work, it is equally crucial to avoid overselling or exaggerating your experiences. Be honest and genuine in your personal statement, focusing on the real impact you have made and the skills you have acquired. Admissions committees and employers appreciate authenticity and are adept at identifying inflated claims.

Including volunteer work in your personal statement can significantly enhance your application by demonstrating your commitment, skills, and experiences. By choosing relevant experiences, emphasizing transferable skills, providing specific examples, quantifying your impact, and showcasing passion and commitment, you can effectively incorporate volunteer work into your personal statement. Remember to connect your volunteer work to your future goals, highlight leadership roles, and showcase personal growth without overselling or exaggerating. With a well-crafted personal statement, you can impress admissions committees and employers alike.

Introduction: Highlighting Volunteer Work in a Personal Statement

Volunteer work can be a valuable asset in a personal statement, as it showcases your dedication, compassion, and community involvement. Including your volunteering experiences allows you to demonstrate your commitment to social issues and highlight your unique contributions beyond academic achievements. Below are eight essential subheadings to guide you on how best to incorporate your volunteer work into your personal statement.

Select the volunteer experiences that align with your personal and professional goals, as well as the field of study or career you wish to pursue. Focus on highlighting your most impactful experiences that demonstrate your skills, leadership abilities, and commitment to making a positive impact in society.

Describe the Motivation Behind Your Volunteer Work

Provide insights into the reasons why you chose to engage in volunteer work. Explain how this decision relates to your personal values, interests, or life experiences, and how it has shaped your perspective on societal issues. Demonstrating your genuine passion will help create an emotional connection with the reader.

Discuss the Skills and Abilities Developed through Volunteer Work

Outline the specific skills and abilities you have gained or enhanced through your volunteer work. Whether it’s leadership, teamwork, adaptability, or problem-solving, linking these skills to real-life examples from your experiences will demonstrate your capability to contribute effectively in various settings.

Share Impactful Stories and Outcomes

Make your personal statement memorable by recounting specific stories or instances that highlight the impact your volunteer work has had on your personal growth and on others. By sharing vivid anecdotes, you can effectively convey the transformative nature of your volunteering experiences and how they have shaped your character.

Connect Volunteer Work to Academic and Career Goals

Articulate how your volunteer experiences have influenced your aspirations in academia and future career choices. Discuss how your engagement in volunteer work has provided valuable insights and reinforced your commitment to making a difference in your chosen field. Linking your volunteer work to your academic and career goals will show your ability to apply knowledge and skills gained through volunteering in a meaningful way.

Demonstrate Long-Term Commitment

Emphasize your long-term commitment to volunteerism by discussing any ongoing projects, leadership roles, or plans for future involvement. This highlights your dedication and perseverance, underlying qualities that colleges and employers highly value.

Reflect on Personal Growth and Learning

Conclude your personal statement by reflecting on the personal growth, knowledge, and self-awareness you have acquired through your volunteer experiences. Discuss how these experiences have shaped your values, broadened your perspectives, and inspired you to continue making positive contributions in the future.Remember, incorporating volunteer work into your personal statement allows you to present a well-rounded and compassionate profile that can truly set you apart from other candidates.

When crafting a personal statement, it is essential to highlight experiences that demonstrate personal growth, leadership, and a commitment to serving others. Including volunteer work in a personal statement can greatly enhance its overall impact and portray an individual as a well-rounded candidate. Here are some points to consider when incorporating volunteer work into a personal statement:

• Choose relevant volunteer experiences: Select volunteer experiences that align with the field or industry you are applying to. This helps showcase your passion and dedication in a specific area.
• Highlight specific responsibilities: Clearly outline the tasks and responsibilities you had as a volunteer. This shows that you were actively engaged and took initiative in your volunteer work.
• Showcase transferable skills: Identify the skills you gained or strengthened through your volunteer work. These skills can include leadership, teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and adaptability.
• Quantify your impact: Whenever possible, provide quantifiable evidence of the impact you made as a volunteer. This could be in the form of numbers, percentages, or testimonials from those you served.
• Connect volunteer work to your future goals: Explain how your volunteer experiences have shaped your career aspirations and influenced your desire to make a difference in the field you are pursuing.
• Show consistency and commitment: Highlight any long-term volunteer commitments or involvement in multiple organizations to demonstrate your dedication to service.
• Reflect on personal growth: Discuss how your volunteer experiences have positively impacted your personal development, values, and worldview.
• Tie volunteer work to academic achievements: If applicable, link your volunteer work to any academic achievements or coursework that are relevant to your field of interest.
• Keep it concise and focused: While it is important to include volunteer work, ensure that it does not overshadow other crucial aspects of your personal statement. Maintain balance and conciseness throughout the narrative.
• Edit and revise: Finally, carefully review your personal statement to ensure that your volunteer experiences are well-integrated and effectively contribute to your overall story. Eliminate any redundant or irrelevant information.

Incorporating volunteer work into a personal statement can demonstrate your commitment to making a difference in the world and enhance your candidacy for various opportunities. By following these guidelines, you can effectively showcase your volunteer experiences and leave a lasting impression on admissions committees or potential employers.

Thank you for taking the time to visit our blog and read our article on how to include volunteer work in a personal statement. We hope that you have found the information provided helpful and informative. Volunteer work can greatly enhance your personal statement and showcase your commitment to making a positive impact in your community.

When including volunteer work in your personal statement, it is important to remember to highlight the skills and experiences gained from your involvement. This will not only demonstrate your dedication to helping others but also show admissions committees that you possess the qualities they are looking for in an applicant. By emphasizing the skills you have developed through volunteering, such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving, you can effectively convey how these experiences have shaped you as an individual.

Furthermore, it is crucial to connect your volunteer work to your future goals and aspirations. Admissions committees are interested in understanding how your experiences have influenced your academic and career choices. By explaining how your volunteer work has inspired you to pursue a particular field of study or career path, you can demonstrate your passion and commitment to making a difference in your chosen field. This will make your personal statement more compelling and memorable.

In conclusion, incorporating volunteer work into your personal statement can be a powerful way to showcase your values, skills, and aspirations. By highlighting the experiences and skills gained through your volunteer work, and connecting them to your future goals, you can create a compelling narrative that sets you apart from other applicants. Remember to always keep a professional tone and voice when writing your personal statement, and use transition words to ensure a smooth flow between paragraphs. Good luck with your application process, and we hope that this article has been beneficial in guiding you towards crafting a standout personal statement!

People also ask:

• Why should I include volunteer work in my personal statement?
• How can I effectively mention volunteer work in my personal statement?
• What are some examples of volunteer work that can be included in a personal statement?
• Should I highlight specific skills or experiences gained through volunteer work?
• Can volunteer work help me stand out among other applicants?
• Including volunteer work in your personal statement is important as it demonstrates your commitment to serving others and your involvement in the community. It showcases your values, interests, and dedication to making a positive impact.
• To effectively mention volunteer work in your personal statement, start by briefly describing the organization or cause you volunteered for. Highlight the tasks and responsibilities you were assigned, emphasizing your active participation and any leadership roles you may have held. Connect your volunteer experience to your personal growth, values, or career aspirations.
• Volunteering at a local food bank or homeless shelter
• Tutoring disadvantaged students
• Participating in environmental conservation projects
• Assisting in healthcare clinics or hospitals
• Supporting community events or fundraisers
• It is beneficial to highlight specific skills or experiences gained through volunteer work. For example, if you volunteered at a hospital, you can mention how it enhanced your communication skills, ability to work in a team, and exposed you to the healthcare field. This demonstrates your transferable skills and valuable experiences.
• Volunteer work can definitely help you stand out among other applicants. It shows your dedication, empathy, and initiative, which are qualities highly regarded by admissions committees or potential employers. Including volunteer work in your personal statement allows you to showcase your well-roundedness and commitment to making a difference.

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Medicine Personal Statement

The combination of the sciences, the latest technologies and social interaction makes medicine such an appealing subject area to me. I am inspired to develop, improve and use my skills in science to overcome the challenges and complexities associated with a medical career, and in doing so, potentially enhance the lives of those in need.

My interest in a career in medicine has been reinforced by my volunteering and work experience. I arranged a month’s placement shadowing a GP, observing consultations and speaking with members of the healthcare team about their roles in patient care. I was impressed at how the GP calmly reassured his patients, quickly determining the best course of action to take and explaining it to the patient. I encountered a broad spectrum of medical problems, from mental health issues to minor surgery. For a patient with carpal tunnel syndrome, I was taught the nerve testing procedure, which I successfully applied later that week on a patient presenting similar symptoms. Then on a home visit to a man with severe Parkinson’s disease, I realised how the doctor used his time, not only to help the patient, but to explore the concerns and fears of the family. As a volunteer at a local care home, I am a compassionate and supportive person for the residents to turn to when in need. Building on the communicative skills picked up from my GP placement, I have learnt to listen to and understand elderly patients’ views on their treatment and medication and how they affect their lives. I also realise the importance of a resident’s dignity, a patient approach and good palliative care. I will soon be undertaking a hospital placement to experience more acute healthcare. I am currently producing a research project on falls among the elderly. Using data collected from my GP placement, I will assess the risk factors associated and suggest possible precautions to reduce the risk. This will be a valuable activity as today’s ageing population poses many problems to the NHS, injuries from falls being a significant burden, especially in orthopaedics.

I enjoy reading around the subject of medicine . Goldacre’s ‘Bad Science’ revealed the importance of evidence-based medicine in ensuring a patient receives the optimum treatment. Then from Sacks’ ‘The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat’, I learnt a lot of medical terminology and an anecdote on Korsakoff’s syndrome led me to research the disorder further. I was able to see the link between alcoholism and the thiamine deficiency which is the primary cause of the anterograde amnesia that the condition presents due to mammillary body atrophy, and found it interesting that similar atrophy is present in many dementia sufferers. I keep up to date with what is new and developing in medical circles by reading The BMJ and its online research papers. With skills from ‘Bad Science’ I can spot flaws in research and I am aware of some of the strategies that drug companies can use to hide unflattering results.

I play football and have made over 100 appearances for my local youth team, winning the league 3 times, demonstrating my team-working ability. This year, my dad and I refurbished a Merlin Rocket  dinghy to sailing-standard, which we sail on the local Norfolk Broads. I maintain a good balance of my time to include my part-time job, volunteering, social life and academic commitments. This time management shows my determination to succeed and that I can learn to handle the time pressures associated with a medical career.

As my parents have healthcare backgrounds, I have a realistic grasp of what day-to-day medicine involves, having quizzed them with endless questions regarding a medical career: from their personal medical ethics to the current problems facing the NHS, such as the overuse of antidepressants and antibiotics. My academic record, direct experience and extracurricular reading demonstrate that I am self-motivated, keen and ready for a career in medicine.

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