No pressure, but this 5,300-character essay will determine the rest of your life! Writing a personal statement is among the most mystifying parts of a medical school application. We are so often told “don’t toot your own horn,” but a personal statement is entirely about you making the case for why you are an exceptional candidate. This can feel quite unnatural, and the task is made all the harder by virtue of the fact that its importance brings immense pressure.

With this in mind, this course will walk you through every part of the writing process using the 4-step FourthWrite Method: (1) Deep Brainstorming, (2) Strategic Outlining, (3) Powerful Writing, and (4) Meticulous Revision.

Along the way, you’ll be given specific mini-assignments that will move you, step-by-step, toward the completion of your essay. You will learn how to select a personal theme, map out your narrative, deal with rough spots in your application, and present a coherent personal narrative that grabs the reader’s attention.