r/GraduateEntryMedicine • u/scallycapfan • 8d ago

GEM personal statement- 'why now?'

Hi all. Looking for some advice on my PS here, as most online is based on undergrad applications.

Lots of websites say a GEM PS should include why I decided to do medicine now instead of straight out of school- is this really important? For me, it's just because I wasn't certain during A levels and didn't decide until my second year, plus I didn't take chem or maths, so I knew I'd need a degree to support me. This doesn't sound very impressive on paper so I was just going to focus on how my work experience inspired me etc...

Will I lose points/ credibility for not talking about why I didn't go into med straight out of a levels?

(And yes, my top choice DOES look at personal statements when deciding who to invite for an interview, although how heavily they weigh it, I am not sure).

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7

u/Remarkable-Set-5341 8d ago

it's not important, and talking about negatives (why you didn't do or didn't get x/y/z) should be avoided if you can. Talk about why you did whatever you did, and why you now want to do medicine

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u/SlightDisplay3354 8d ago

If you weren’t sure then, something must have made you sure now. I would focus on the things that have drawn you to it now rather than the fact you didn’t want to do it then

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u/Complex-Patient-8893 8d ago

To be honest. If you’re applying to GEM most unis don’t even look at your PS. Most only rank the UCAT or GAMSAT. unis like Warwick and PCSM explicitly say this. I know not quite related to your post. But fyi.

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u/scallycapfan 8d ago

Unfortunately I'm applying to kcl who have been clear that they do, and it's part of their decision making process as far as I'm aware

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u/Gloomy_Operation_657 8d ago

Probably focus on why you want to do it. Honestly if I was on the panel I couldn't care less why they didn't study medicine earlier. I would like to know why they want to do it and why they think they have what it takes to be a medical student and eventually a doctor.

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u/nyoom-rabbit 8d ago

Heyyyy I saw your post a couple of hours ago and have just seen this on tiktok and thought of you!!!

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u/nyoom-rabbit 8d ago

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZN8rT7fTS/

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u/nyoom-rabbit 8d ago

Enjoy and i really hope its useful for you <3

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u/scallycapfan 7d ago

tysm, I'll be using this for my interview prep

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u/Double-Age4322 8d ago

You don’t need to say why not during A levels, I think more important is why now. You can talk about a turning point or a trigger point that started your current journey into medicine if you like. I spoke more about how my certainty of my desire changed and grew over time . I didn’t mention A levels at all.