When & Where to Apply: Overview

When it comes time to write an application essay, many students express concern that they don’t have a unique reason to become a doctor. Unique isn’t the objective, it’s just a matter of having a good, well-supported reason or reasons.

I can think of six factors that lead people to choose to be a physician, and I’ll list them here:

  • A love of working with people
  • A love of biological science
  • A sincere commitment to service
  • A personal history with medicine
  • An influential relative or mentor who is a physician
  • A deep interest in research

The key, throughout this process, is to recognize the difference between ability to be a physician and desire to be a physician. Both are necessary, so neither one, alone, is sufficient.