#1 secret behind a powerful personal statement

Let’s talk about the #1 secret behind a powerful personal statement. I’m Dr. Louise Wen. Essay coach and board certified physician. Everyone is going to have prestigious credentials and accomplishments. Advanced degrees, leadership, and publications. So how do you distinguish yourself when everyone else looks so impressive on paper? This is the #1 Secret behind a powerful personal statement. Share a personal story of how you overcame a specific adversity. There are two reasons for this. First, life is challenging. Your personal stories need to showcase how you are resilient, courageous, and have grit. That proves that you’re someone that the program can depend on when things are tough. Second, stories of tenacity are inspiring for the reader. That inspiration gets the reader to care about you. And that emotional investment is invaluable because now you have an advocate for you on the inside. Write about a specific adversity. Work with me.

This blog post can be viewed in video format at:

YouTube Shorts: https://youtube.com/shorts/8pDyKNyi5u4?feature=shared

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@louise_wen_md/video/7272884092700495146?lang=en

Instagram Reels: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cwi_i0lAU1H/