Medical School Personal Statement Example

Throughout my life I’ve been told that the humanities and the sciences do not intertwine. These two separate entities were independent of one another, and that searching for a college major and future career meant I must pick between the two. As a high school student I dedicated my time to the arts, more specifically art history. I came to the conclusion that my identity in the arts could be applied to my identity in the sciences with the help of one painting called the Agnew Clinic.

A commissioned painting by Thomas Eakins in 1889, it depicts a demonstrative surgery being performed by a male doctor surrounded by male students. Besides the patient, the only female in the room is a nurse, wearing a frilly uniform, and waiting for orders from the surgeon. At the time, women who practiced medicine were limited to nursing, and could not advance further to become doctors. Furthermore, only women who came from privileged backgrounds could become nurses. As my teacher overviewed the details of the painting and its backstory, I began to find the correlation between science and art. The most obvious being a scientific surgery as the subject of this painting. Furthermore, the Agnew Clinic has anatomically correct figures which demonstrates a knowledge of the body and science. This painting not only infused my passion for the arts and sciences, but it also inspired me. As previously mentioned the only women in the painting were the patient and the nurse. This outdated preception of medicine being a male field demonstrated just how far women have come along from being in the background to the forefront of the scientific movement. While there is still progress to be made, women have established themselves as the equal of men in every area of endeavor. Women, like the nurse in the painting, have paved the way for me to study in the field of my choice where I have the same opportunities as everyone else. I hope to contribute not only to the steady progress of equality, but also new scientific research. 

Although I had found that I could infuse my passions, I was unsure of what college would provide this kind of education. Many institutions no longer offer a liberal arts curriculum, and once you choose your major you must take classes specific to that area of study. Fortunately, I was introduced to Christopher Newport University. This is why CNU appealed to me for my undergraduate studies. Not only does this college offer a biology program, it has a liberal learning foundation. This core allows for students, and specifically myself to be engaged in a wide array of studies that I wouldn’t have been exposed to at any other college. This prepares me to make better connections between subjects and materials as well as have a broader mindset on certain concepts and topics. 

As I plan to enter Medical School, this well rounded education will prove fruitful in my application process. I will bring to the table a new perspective that is rare and typically unheard of these days as I will use different points of view from areas of study. As I enter into my career I will continue to use this broadened thinking and successfully incorporate the liberal arts. 

To think that a painting with little significance was the catalyst to my future endeavors proves how important the tiny details in life can be. Throughout my time at Christopher Newport I plan to delv and find these tiny details and build a portfolio that is bursting with information. As I come to the conclusion of my personal statement I leave you with a motto here at CNU, that I fully intend on …  Lead a life of significance.