Admissions Essay: The Study of Medicine :: Medicine College Admissions Essays

Admissions Essay: I Intend to Pursue the Study of Medicine "The best prize life offers if the chance to work hard at work worth doing."(1) This is the premise on which my academic and career aspirations are based. The goals that I have chosen are those that will benefit others and enhance my growth by requiring me to face challenges successfully. Most importantly, my goals are all things that I will love doing, and any positive goal that a person has her heart in is work worth doing. My primary academic interest is molecular biology, specifically genetics. I first became interested in this field while reading scientific articles on DNA Fingerprinting and genetic research. I have also probed the ethical debate that recent advancements in genetic engineering have spawned. My reading has inspired me to pursue the study of genetics in college. It is a field that will not only require me to think scientifically, but will also challenge me to harmonize my studies with my ethical values. I know that genetics is a field for which I have strong potential. As an undergraduate, I look forward to researching the causes of aging and learning to develop preventive medicines by studying the maps of the human genome. A strong background in molecular biology will help me to reach my professional goal of being a doctor of medicine. A successful career is based on a strong desire to pursue the career and a clear understanding of what it entail. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to experience the medical profession first-hand when I shadowed an oncologist early in my senior year. My observation day went as I had expected until a patient with swollen eyes and a handful of crumpled tissues came in with an emergency appointment. Terminally ill, she had contemplated suicide the weekend before and needed someone to talk to. From this experience, I learned that being a doctor would require me to do more than heal patients physically. It would require me to put in the extra effort to deal aptly with situations that were incurable with a stethoscope and a prescription. The experience gave me an extra edge by giving me confidence in my career choice and a full understanding of what my goals entailed. In high school, I have selected many activities with my career choice in mind.