Hometown:  Jacksonville, North Carolina, USA

Undergraduate School: Private, Harvard College

Major: Bioengineering

GPA: 3.8 out of 4.0

MCAT: 521. CP: 131, CARS: 131, BB: 130, PS: 129.

Free example medical school essay

There are not many situations in which the ability to read could make the difference between life and death. I witnessed one such situation while shadowing Dr. Imani Williams, a cardiologist in my hometown. While Dr. Williams talked with an elderly patient to update his prescription list, we discovered that the patient was illiterate. Though not a complete shock in itself, it was alarming to come to that realization while rummaging through an entire gallon bag’s worth of identical orange pill bottles that contained medications that were crucial for managing his conditions. Fortunately, the patient’s wife sorted his daily medications, but the appointment revealed that she had understandably confused several aspects of her partner’s complicated prescription regimen. I began my time at the clinic anticipating that my interest in medicine would be further invigorated by learning about details of how various cardiovascular diseases are presented in patients, but this moment and others like it had a far greater impact on me.

No amount of medical textbook expertise would have helped Dr. Williams give that patient and his wife the explanation they needed. My early impression of a physician’s work revolved around two ideas: a physician continuously learns about the human body and then works long hours to apply that knowledge to solving patients’ issues. I developed this understanding as I grew up seeing my father, a physician, doing both. What I did not fully realize was that medicine was full of scenes like the one I witnessed that day, in which the science was put aside, and a physician takes on the role of an educator instead of a learner. Over time, I have come to understand medicine as much more than an investigation into the human body—it is the ultimate means of equipping others with the information necessary for them to take control of their health, arguably the most important aspect of one’s life. I am drawn to the medical field because I feel motivated to be an instrument of empowerment for others, and I see medicine as a compelling way to do that.

This motivation originates from an appreciation of how much I have gained from sources of empowerment throughout my life. From parents who could afford to purchase any book I needed, to several teachers who always encouraged me to push further rather than be content, I have been the fortunate beneficiary of tangible resources and wise insights that put me in a position to thrive. As my recognition of this privilege has grown, so too has my desire to be a similar resource to others. One way this desire has been manifested is in my efforts as a teacher and mentor for underprivileged young students. It has been incredibly fulfilling to be a positive presence in the life of students who need it, whether through providing help with homework, offering insight into the college admissions process, or simply being a positive role model. I hope to also realize my desire to enable others to ultimately achieve more in life as a physician.

In addition, the experiences I have had working with students in after-school programs mirror many of the aspects of medicine that appeal to me. I began to realize the parallels while volunteering at a free medical clinic for uninsured and financially-disadvantaged patients in my hometown area. In the same way that I approach each child I work with as more than a brain in need of knowledge, each patient at the clinic was approached as far more than a disembodied version of their ailments. Instead, every part of the patient’s living experience was weighed by all the healthcare team as medical care decisions were made, like how a changing work schedule might impact a patient’s ability to make appointments, or where the most convenient pharmacies and diagnostic centers are for a patient with no car. Just as developing an understanding of my students’ and mentees’ backgrounds allows me to tailor my lesson plans and advice to their specific needs, I saw how the clinic’s physicians took the time to understand their patients’ lifestyles rather than simply prescribe medications that temporarily mask an ongoing issue. Doing these things requires more effort, but in the long run, I appreciate how this is truly effective treatment for the patient and I would enjoy doing the same as a physician.

As I continue my pursuit of medical school, I recognize the importance of both the scientific knowledge I would receive and the human skills I would gain there. The necessity of having a firm academic understanding of medicine and the human body is not lost on me as someone interested in doing research at the intersection of medicine and tissue engineering. However, for every patient who might receive the treatment they need as the result of a physician’s knowledge of a specific medical fact, countless others only need a person to take the time to understand their situation and offer insight to empower them to better handle their health issue. The opportunity to provide that insight for patients as a physician makes medicine an incredibly alluring career to me.

Analysis

In an illustrative introduction, Hazel describes how they came to care for the human dimension of medicine, that “textbook expertise” is not enough to provide adequate treatment to many of the patients who need it most.

Potently, Hazel reflects upon how this insight was transformational to them, having come from a situation of relative privilege; by detailing how circumstances can affect the human dimension of treatment, they demonstrate their ability to consider these issues and that these issues truly matter to them.

The essay aptly rounds off this reflection with an assertion of purpose: to help patients “understand their situation and offer insight to empower them to better handle their health issue.” This conclusion draws upon the support built by the details from the introduction and the body of the essay to affirm Hazel’s commitment to this human aspect of medicine that they wish to forward.

From 50 Successful Harvard Medical School Essays edited by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson. Copyright (c) 2020 by the authors and reprinted by permission of St. Martin's Publishing Group