I have a dear medical school friend who gifts my family the New Yorker every year at the holidays. The New Yorker is one of the best Chanukah presents we receive, and we get to appreciate it weekly, which makes it even better than the usual candy and fruit baskets. What makes New Yorker writing so good is that the journalists offer facts and then let the reader make his/her own assessments. A subject’s own words or the description of his/her home office or clothes or even gait tells it all. There is no need for convincing.
Currently, as I’m editing medical school essays, I’m reminding my clients of the importance of that principle in writing a strong personal statement. To an admissions reader who hasn’t yet met you, you are what you’ve done. It’s the facts that matter. You need to use substantive examples of your achievements to demonstrate your worthiness for a potential medical school position. Evidence is persuasive; use it!
