aacomas personal statement character limit

2024 AACOMAS Personal Statement Guide

• By Med School Insiders
• January 30, 2024
• AACOMAS , Personal Statement

The AACOMAS personal statement is an opportunity to tell your story and how your journey has led you to osteopathic medicine specifically.

Why do you want to study osteopathic medicine? How do your values align with those of osteopathy? What drew you to medicine? What drives you? Admissions committees expect a lot more than a rehash of your CV. This is your chance to let an admissions committee know who you really are beyond your grades.

This post will cover AACOMAS personal statements, including how they fit within the application process, how to write a personal statement for a DO school, and common mistakes to avoid.

Not sure what application type you need to submit? Read our guide to AMCAS vs. AACOMAS vs. TMDSAS Med School Application Differences to find out how the three application services compare.

What is a Medical School Personal Statement?

Your grades and MCAT score are certainly vital pieces of your medical school application, but your personal statement is the heart. The personal statement is your chance to sell yourself to an admissions committee and speak about who you are beyond your grades and accomplishments.

Why do you want to devote your life to helping and healing people? What moments and experiences in your past crystalized your ambition to pursue medicine? When did you know you had to become an osteopathic doctor? Who in your life inspires you? What separates you from the other candidates?

This isn’t your CV in complete sentences. The personal statement is your opportunity to show the admissions committee who you are and the journey that got you to where you are today.

The Anatomy of a AACOMAS Application

Each year at the start of May, the AACOMAS application opens for submissions. Colleges begin to receive applications around mid-June. For your best chance of success, it’s important to get your application submitted as quickly as possible after submissions open.

Your chances of acceptance decrease the later you submit your application because of rolling admissions , so it’s a very bad idea to procrastinate. Staying on top of your deadlines could be the difference between acceptance and rejection. Complete your primary application as well as your secondary applications long before the actual submission deadline.

Consider our timeline below, which includes possible and ideal schedules.

The personal statement is only one piece of your primary application. In order to submit a successful application, you must work on multiple application components at once.

• GPA and MCAT Score
• Personal Statement
• Letters of Evaluation (also called Letters of Recommendation)
• Experiences and Achievements Section
• Mini Essays
• Depending on the schools you apply to, you may also be required to take a Casper test .

Read our complete AACOMAS Application Guide For DO Schools for more information about the other application components.

What Makes the AACOMAS Personal Statement Different?

The major thing that separates the AACOMAS personal statement from the AMCAS personal statement is the specificity of the initial question; instead of asking “why do you want to be a doctor,” the AACOMAS personal statement asks why you want to study osteopathic medicine.

Osteopaths (DOs) take pride in their holistic approach to patient care and focus on preventative medicine. DOs treat the person—not the symptoms. The focus of osteopathy is on recognizing the connections between different systems and organs in the body and their influence on each other. This is how DOs differentiate themselves from allopathic doctors (MDs), and these differences are the core of the osteopathic philosophy.

Therefore your personal statement must illustrate your interest in the osteopathic approach to medicine and show that you understand the values of osteopathy with clear examples from your own life.

How have your experiences shaped your aspiration to become an osteopath? The AACOMAS personal statement is your chance to demonstrate to admissions committees that you have the ability, passion, and determination it takes to succeed in osteopathic medical school.

AACOMAS Personal Statement Character Limit

The AACOMAS personal statement is the same length as the AMCAS personal statement. You are limited to 5300 characters, which is around 1.5 pages of single-spaced 12-point Times New Roman font. You don’t have a lot of room to tell your life story, which means the challenge is choosing the key moments from your life that inspired you to want to become a DO and communicating them in an engaging yet concise way.

How to Write a AACOMAS Personal Statement

1 | Take Time to Reflect on Your Past Experiences

Writing your personal statement will take a lot of time. Don’t think you’re going to be able to crank this out in an afternoon. Begin thinking about your personal statement as soon as possible, and give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm ideas and reflect on the events in your life that have led you to this point.

This is your opportunity to sell yourself to an admissions committee. What about your life and experiences make you unique? Think of your personal statement as your superhero origin story. What drives you? You may be naturally gifted in all things science and school-related, but why do you want to apply your skills to a field as demanding as medicine? Why do you want to dedicate your life to helping people?

Take The Batman. Does Batman fight crime because he’s naturally smart and strong and was born wealthy? Those things are true of Batman, but they don’t speak to why Bruce Wayne has dedicated his life to fighting crime and protecting the innocent. Seeing his parents shot and killed before his eyes forever changed Bruce Wayne and set him on the path to becoming Gotham’s dark knight. He fights in the hope that no other child in Gotham will be orphaned like he was.

Do you want to pursue medicine because you have a natural aptitude for it, or is it because of something deeper? Who in your life inspired you? What key events shaped your desire and made it clear to you that you had to become an osteopath?

2 | Illustrate Osteopathic Values

Demonstrating why you want to pursue a career in medicine is one thing, but the AACOMAS personal statement requires you to tailor your experiences to the osteopathic philosophy. Why do you want to study osteopathy specifically? What moments in your life have caused you to believe more strongly in the osteopathic approach to medicine versus the allopathic approach?

According to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), there are four osteopathic principles :

• The body is a unit; the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit.
• The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
• Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated.
• Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of the basic principles of body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.

How did you find osteopathy? Did certain events in your life lead you to believe more strongly in the holistic approach of osteopathy? Did a trusted mentor inspire you to pursue a career as a DO?

Speak about these moments and how they have shaped your medical education journey. How do your values align with osteopathic medicine, and how do examples from your own life illustrate this alignment?

Read the full Philosophy of Osteopathic Medicine from AACOM.

3 | Provide Concrete Examples

It’s not enough to say you’re ‘compassionate’ or ‘driven.’ You need to demonstrate these strengths with concrete examples from your life. Admissions committees need to see your passion for osteopathic medicine reflected in the stories you share.

They’re not going to take you at your word; you need to back up your claims with tangible evidence. Sharing a story that exemplifies your better qualities is a lot more impactful to an admissions committee than simply stating that you’re resilient. How do you know you’re resilient? What are some specific moments in your life when you had to demonstrate resilience? When in your life have you displayed the qualities you want an admissions committee to know you have?

Show, don’t tell. If you want the admissions committee to know you’re hardworking, describe a moment in your life that demonstrates this quality.

4 | Develop a Narrative Across Your Application

You are applying to medical school along with thousands of fellow applicants, and many of them share your motivations, qualifications, and grades.

Standing out in this field is tough; if you and a fellow applicant have the exact same grades and clinical hours, what makes you the more appealing candidate?

Your personal statement is your chance to differentiate yourself from the competition. It’s an opportunity to tell your story. Repeating your CV but in paragraph form is monotonous and will do nothing to help you stand out amongst the competition.

A personal statement is a story, not a list of your accomplishments. The admissions committee needs to be excited to learn more about you, and you can inspire this excitement by developing a narrative across your entire application. Demonstrate how your skills and experiences make you an ideal candidate who has much to offer their program.

5 | Choose Clear and Direct Language

You may be telling a story, but don’t worry about sounding poetic. Extravagant word choices and flowery language won’t impress an admissions committee. 5300 characters is not a lot of space, so choose clear, concise language over long, complicated words and convoluted sentence structure.

If you read over a sentence and think you can simplify it—do so. Find the simplest, clearest way to convey your message.

Tools like Grammarly or the Hemingway App can help you keep your language clear, direct, and concise.

6 | Leave Enough Time to Adapt and Edit

Writing a personal statement isn’t something you’re going to start and finish in a couple of days or even a couple of weeks. You will need to spend ample time reflecting on your past in order to develop a first draft of your personal statement, and it may take several drafts before you land on something that really works.

Don’t be shy about sharing your personal statement with friends, family, and mentors. Your personal statement won’t improve without detailed, constructive feedback. For your best chances of success, speak to a mentor or professor who has been involved in the admissions process and ask them to review your personal statement. They will have invaluable insight.

If you don’t have anyone in your life to fill these shoes, consider hiring an editing service that’s able to do more than correct your spelling and grammar. For best results, your personal statement should be reviewed by people who have an intimate, behind-the-scenes understanding of what an admissions committee is really looking for.

This is why it’s so important to start this process early. You need plenty of time on either side of writing your personal statement for editing and revision . Don’t procrastinate on your personal statement; start as soon as possible.

For a more in-depth look at writing a personal statement, read our Personal Statement Guide , which includes 11 steps for starting, writing, and editing your personal statement.

Common Personal Statement Mistakes to Avoid

Please don’t make these common personal statement mistakes. The personal statement is a critical piece of your application; it deserves ample attention, careful planning, and rigorous editing.

• Failing to connect your personal statement to osteopathic values.
• Using the same personal statement for AMCAS and AACOMAS applications.
• Leaving your personal statement to the last minute. (You should begin months in advance.)
• Not developing a cohesive narrative across your application.
• Listing your accomplishments or rehashing your CV and extracurriculars.
• Overusing the word “I.”
• Using flowery language or words you found in a thesaurus.
• Explaining what medicine is all about. (The admissions committee already understands medicine.)
• Using clichés. (Every applicant likes science and wants to help people.)
• Fabricating stories or lying about your personal experiences.
• Making excuses for poor grades or a low MCAT score.
• Speaking negatively about another physician or healthcare professional.
• Pleading for an interview or acceptance.
• Making spelling or grammar errors.
• Editing your personal statement by yourself.

Make Your AACOMAS Personal Statement Stand Out

Med School Insiders will help you create a stand out AACOMAS personal statement. We offer a range of personal statement editing packages , from general editing to unlimited editing with a physician who will be there to advise you every step of the way.

We’re dedicated to creating a generation of happier, healthier, and more effective future doctors. Our Comprehensive Medical School Admissions Packages are tailored to your needs and the specific schools you are applying to. We can help you with every aspect of your application, including MCAT tutoring , mock interviews , secondary editing , and student advising. Our team is built of doctors who have years of experience serving on both MD and DO admissions committees, so you’ll receive key insights into the selection process.

Med School Insiders

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Personal Statement

• Last updated
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This section is where you can write a personal statement that will be shared with all your osteopathic medicine schools. Once you submit your application, you cannot edit this section.

Requirements

• Keep your topic general : Keep the statement general as this essay is sent to all the programs you apply to. If you plan to only apply to one program, we still strongly recommend keeping your statement general in case you later apply to additional programs. Once you submit your application, the essay cannot be edited or changed.
• Do not exceed the maximum length : You can see both the word and character count below the field in the application. The right-hand number shows the maximum number of characters that you can use in your essay. As you type, you can see how many characters are still available and the associated word count. Characters include spaces, carriage returns, and punctuation. You cannot save your essay if it exceeds the 5,300 character limit.
• Use your own words : Plagiarizing any part of your essay is a violation of the code of conduct and may subject you to sanctions.
• Use simple formatting : Formatting such as tabs, italics, multiple spaces, etc., will not be saved. To delineate paragraphs, type a double return between each paragraph.

Proofreading

Be sure to read over your essay several times to catch any spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc., errors before submitting. Once you submit your application, you cannot edit your essay. If you find an error after submission that you believe could have major effects on your application, we recommend sending a corrected copy directly to the programs you applied to.

• Medical School

AACOMAS Personal Statement Examples

The AACOMAS personal statement is required as part of your DO school application . Your personal statement gives admissions committees information about why you chose osteopathic medicine and why you want to be a doctor . Before you sit down to write your own statement, learn how to craft a perfect AACOMAS personal statement in our blog and take time read some outstanding AACOMAS personal statement examples to get inspiration for your own!

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Listen to the blog!

Article Contents 12 min read

A personal statement is a required component of a primary medical school application , regardless of whether the application is submitted through TMDSAS , AMCAS or AACOMAS . The AACOMAS personal statement is unique to those applying to DO programs and gives admissions committees information about an applicant's motivation and passion for pursuing osteopathic medicine. While it may take days or weeks to craft an AACOMAS personal statement, it can take admissions committees less than five minutes to review, assess, and decide if they're interested in learning more about an applicant. For this reason, it's essential to make sure your AACOMAS personal statement attracts attention from the start and is captivating enough to maintain interest throughout. This blog will go over what you need to know about the AACOMAS personal statement, what to include, tips to write an effective statement aa well as AACOMAS personal statement examples that will illustrate key characteristics of successful AACOMAS essays.

AACOMAS stands for the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service. It is an online system used by applicants applying to osteopathic programs in the US. Applicants submit one application that includes all necessary documents to AACOMAS, the documents are verified and are then transmitted to all selected programs. The AACOMAS application cycle normally opens in May and closes in April of the following year.

AACOMAS General Timeline

This section will go over a basic timeline for AACOMAS , for a more in-depth look into the DO school application process, check out our blog for more details. In addition, if you're wondering “ when do medical school applications open ” review our medical school application timelines blog.

While the AACOMAS personal statement is similar to the TMDSAS personal statement and the  AMCAS personal statement , it's important to note that they are not the same. The first difference is the length, the AACOMAS personal statement is limited to 5300 characters including spaces, which is roughly 700 words. Both the TMDSAS and AMCAS personal statements are similar, at 5000 and 5300 characters, including spaces, respectively. Other than length, the next major difference to consider is the content. Check out our blog for TMDSAS personal statement examples . While there are similarities between allopathic and osteopathic medicine, there are also differences that you should understand. Our blog, DO vs MD , outlines some of these key differences and similarities to help you tailor your personal statement appropriately.

How to write an AACOMAS personal statement

An AACOMAS personal statement is a way of introducing the admissions committee to who you are as a person and as a candidate. The main purpose of the essay is to answer the question “why do you want to be a doctor?” and specifically, why do you want to be an osteopathic doctor? Be sure you understand what DO stands for and what it means to be a DO. Before you sit down to write your essay, check out quality medical school personal statement examples and residency personal statement examples to get some inspiration. It is of utmost importance that your personal statement demonstrates, through examples, your understanding and commitment to the principles of osteopathic medicine . Remember, do not simply list these principles and state that they are important to you, you need to ensure your statement shows instead of tells by supporting your discussion through experience-based evidence. Crafting an effective personal statement takes time and a lot of self-reflection. You'll need to ask yourself specific questions to help you gain insight into why you've chosen osteopathic medicine as your career path. When did you develop an interest in osteopathic medicine? What experiences led to your interest evolving into dedication and passion? What values and experiences allow you to put others first and dedicate yourself to helping others? What is your inspiration for working towards your short term and long term goals? What makes you unique as an applicant and how can your individual skills and experiences help you succeed as an osteopathic doctor?

An effective personal statement should always begin with something that is both unique and interesting. Not only will this help set you apart from other applicants, it's also a way to pique the interest of the admissions committee and give them a reason to continue reading your personal statement. Remember, the admissions committee will be reviewing hundreds if not thousands of applications, you need a personalized hook to draw them in and keep them. There is an endless possibility of unique opening paragraphs, if you're struggling to find yours, think about a significant accomplishment, an important hobby or even a challenging or moving experience that you may want to discuss.

The most successful medical school personal statements take the reader on a journey through their life. The admissions committee will be interested in where your interest in osteopathic medicine begin, how it developed over time and what experiences led you to choose this particular career path. Lastly, it's important to show how your experiences will prove useful in helping you reach your short term and long term goals and how your experiences and unique skill set will prepare you for a career as an osteopathic doctor.

There are three main elements to a free-skating routine: the jumps, the spins, and the footwork. Each has its own set of rules requiring precision in body placement and timing. I grew to appreciate the attention to detail in each element to avoid finding myself on the floor yet again, which allowed me to represent the southern region at the national championships for 8 years. In that perspective, it seems only natural I would bring that appreciation into my academic life and gravitate towards medicine, a highly methodical career path.

At university, I sought opportunities in biology, business, and dance. Rather than shying away from difficult, non required courses, I took classes such as “Determinative Bacteriology” and “Histology” that exposed me to detailed biochemical processes. My business courses taught me the success of a marketing campaign hinges on the compatibility of a service with its target audience, a lesson that could be applied when designing treatment plans to encourage patient compliance. Alternatively, ballet and dance emphasized total body control from fingertip to toe point in the execution of each movement, similar to the precision surgery demands. In each discipline, the classes I found most interesting were those that focused on breaking down large concepts into their constitutive parts. While each of these components cultivated my curiosity for medicine, it was my internship that confirmed my passion for medicine.

At St Joseph's Hospital, I shadowed an osteopathic physician who demonstrated both technical precision and compassion that drew me to the profession. I witnessed how in spite of the chaotic patient waiting room, Dr Jean maintained a smile greeting each patient. When a young woman came in complaining of migraines, Dr Jean was able to ask specific questions that concluded the patient’s lifestyle attributed to the pain she was enduring. She felt at ease and comfortable to share sensitive information. These qualities spoke volumes about the type of physician Dr Jean was. He was able to provide not only the care but compassion this patient required. Observing the interactions with the medical field ignited a passion I had seen only once before: when I decided I wanted to skate.

Originally I could not verbalize why I wanted to be a doctor. However, I have found a way to say it. When the people I loved were terminally ill, they just wanted time to reach one more milestone. My best friend’s mother wanted to watch her daughter graduate high school. My godfather wanted to reach his 65th birthday. Cancer and Parkinson’s disease will not let you set your own timetable, but sometimes medicine can help you reach just a little bit further. As a doctor, I’d like to be part of a team that gives my patient and their family just a little bit more time. With that time, my patient might walk their daughter down the aisle or celebrate one more birthday. Regardless of the situation, the time is priceless.

My road to medicine was not easy, but each trial has made me more resilient. In the midst of re-writing my medical school application in 2017, my engagement ended weeks before my wedding date. I was not prepared to finish my application, so I dove into a research project and began my graduate studies in medical sciences. I pushed my limits until I crashed, resulting in my worst academic semester. I was devastated, but this challenge enabled me to seek help to understand my experience and overcome it. I developed a healthier routine by reducing my caffeine consumption, exercising regularly, and learning to manage stress. I took a proactive role in academics by collaborating more and studying efficiently, resulting in better grades. Taking a more assertive stance in time-management and self-care has better equipped me for a career in medicine.

Throughout my life, I gravitated towards highly technical activities, from skating to academics. I broadened my education beyond what was integrated into my program and found these experiences strengthened my conviction to be a physician. While shadowing, I found that a set of rules requiring precision in both body placement and timing, governed healthcare too, inspiring my pursuit to delve deeper into medicine. In skating, years of hard work culminating into a single performance led me to stand proudly on the national podium with a bronze medal hanging around my neck. This time, I hope my years of hard work will permit me to stand on stage with a white coat.

It was the summer of 2009 during our annual trip to India to visit my grandma. I had just woken up when I noticed my barely conscious grandma suffering a stroke. As a young 13-year-old, I had many scary questions running through my head. "What happened?", “Was I about to lose her?” Throughout childhood, I looked up to my grandma. Seeing her helpless scared me, and exposed our fragility as humans. From taking vitals to performing surgery, I realized the physicians did everything they could to fight for my grandma’s health. Thankfully, my grandma had surgery and was eventually discharged. Inspired by their dedication, I decided that I too wanted to pursue medicine.

I continued to think of my grandmother's health scare. I kept wondering, could something be done to avoid these types of medical emergencies and alleviate patients’ suffering? One day, my mom persuaded me to attend a yoga retreat, and I quickly fell in love with the philosophy behind the practice of yoga. The idea that yoga can improve fitness and overall well-being intrigued me and made me aware of how closely linked the mind and body are to each other in the first place. My regular practice of yoga led me to attend a yoga certification course and I eventually became a certified yoga instructor with the desire to spread awareness of healthy living.

I ran free yoga workshops for children with autism spectrum disorder at a local sensory gym. I vividly remember working with a young five-year-old named Joe, who struggled to follow directions. Joe would get distracted by the surrounding toys every five minutes due to his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and it would be a challenge to convince him to remain seated each time. I felt disheartened to see his frustration with tasks and his mother Tracy’s agony over whether his situation would ever improve. I felt fortunate to mentor them and make an impact through teaching yoga. At the end of every session, his mom came up to me to thank me for taking the time to help these children and providing their families with hope that their children could lead healthy and meaningful lives. The fact that Joe still remembers what I had taught him even after several years reaffirms my desire to become a primary care physician who seeks to relentlessly advocate for her patients and provide holistic, preventive care alongside medical treatment.

I took this philosophy with me as a college student when I shadowed a primary care physician in my hometown. I remember observing Dr. Lake as she treated a patient suffering from obesity. After reviewing the patient’s chart, Dr. Lake diagnosed the teenager as pre-diabetic. After asking about her symptoms, Dr. Lake also asked her about her family situation, lifestyle, and mental health. As an osteopathic physician herself, Dr. Lake wanted to prevent the worsening of symptoms by identifying the major stressors contributing to the disease and directing the patient to the most effective interventions. I watched as Dr. Lake addressed the patient’s concerns and held her hand while explaining the treatment plan. I soon discovered that the role of a primary care physician extends beyond using scientific knowledge to treat symptoms; it also involves a commitment to understanding the people behind the symptoms.

While working as a tutor on campus, I encountered a senior who suffered from a brain injury and struggled with physics. I realized that I had to be mindful of her condition and tailor my tutoring strategies to fit her needs. I simplified the concepts and I encouraged her. Fortunately, the student gained confidence and felt comfortable returning to me for guidance. In every session, my role as a tutor encompassed providing both academic and emotional support customized to each student. Similarly, medicine also involves a tailored approach to each patient.

Watching my grandma suffer a stroke created a desire to become a physician who relentlessly advocates for her patients. My exposure to healthcare abroad has increased my cross-cultural awareness, thereby motivating me to engage with patients more effectively. Whether it be for a struggling elderly student, a child with a developmental disorder, or a pre-diabetic teenager, social support must be integrated with the treatment of physical health. As a future physician, I will strive to not only provide medical treatment to my patients but also compassion and empathy. I look forward to embracing this challenging, but rewarding career.

1. Don't recycle your AMCAS personal statement

While some students simply shorten their AMCAS personal statement to use as their AACOMAS personal statement, we highly recommend you don't. Allopathic medicine and osteopathic medicine are not the same, the principles and perspectives of these two types of medicine differ greatly. The simple fact that you cannot apply to osteopathic programs through AMCAS is indicative of these differences, so simply shortening your AMCAS personal statement isn't going to show the admissions committee that you want to pursue osteopathic medicine, rather they will be able to tell that you simply shortened a different essay meant for a different school of medicine. What you write to convince an MD admissions committee of your suitability for the profession may not convince a DO admission committee.

2. Follow a specific journey

As previously mentioned, statements that take the reader through an applicant's journey, in chronological order are the most effective. Keep your journey focused and stick with a theme that reoccurs throughout your essay and is easily identified. Don't jump around to unrelated areas and don't discuss every single experience that you've had. Pick experiences that highlight your theme and strengthen your suitability for the profession.

3. Don't use cliches

You are an original person with individual thoughts, experiences, and skills. Don't rely on using tired expressions and cliches that don't allow your story to shine through. Stay away from terms that everyone uses and phrases that are commonly overused. Don't simply state that you love medicine and want to be a doctor, dive deeper into your true motivations and passions to craft a statement that is totally original and unique to you.

Your personal statement is one of the most important documents you will write in your medical career, after all, it acts as a first impression of who you are and what you can bring to the profession. A poorly written personal statement that is difficult to follow, with poor sentence structure, grammatical errors, and spelling mistakes is not going to showcase the best version of you, and the reality is, the admissions committee won't be interested in getting to know you further. If you're thinking of just throwing together something quickly and submitting it, don't bother. An effective, successful personal statement takes time and many revisions in order to get it just right. It's a good idea to enlist professional help in order to create a phenomenal statement that stands out.

5. Hook the reader instantly

The opening paragraph of your AACOMAS personal statement is one of the most important factors for a successful essay. If the reader isn't interested, they likely won't continue reading your statement. The introduction is your opportunity to stand out and show the admissions committee what makes you original.

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April 25, 2022

Standing Out In Your AACOMAS Personal Statement and Experience and Achievements Section

The AACOMAS Personal Statement

The AACOMAS requires one personal statement that is a maximum of 5,300 characters long. Below are five tips to help make your AACOMAS personal statement shine .

• Show, don’t tell The first axiom of the personal statement is to “ show, don’t tell .” Honest, compassionate, caring, dedicated – you want to show all of these qualities. But, listing them isn’t effective. Instead, explain how you’ve shown these qualities using examples that illustrate them.
• Do not treat the personal statement as a narrative resume Do not run through your undergraduate experiences chronologically. Instead, tell a story , about you or about someone else, a patient from a mission trip abroad related to health care, disaster relief or public health – as stories of insight and growth.
• Don’t just repeat the AMCAS statement. Osteopathic schools want applicants who are interested in their schools and their approach to medicine. Some applicants are tempted to reuse their AMCAS personal statement for their AACOMAS application as well. Not only are the length requirements different, but allopathic schools have different points of focus than osteopathic schools. Also, osteopathic schools want to know why you’re applying to them, and your response should be an informed one about what you value about osteopathic medicine. Do not regard or infer osteopathic medicine as a default plan. Why Osteopathic Medicine? If you can bring this out through a story that demonstrates a holistic vision of the patient and a holistic approach to care, all the better. Highlight your knowledge of osteopathy; show that you understand osteopathic principles; provide a story or an experience that reflects the values of osteopathic medicine. >> Still wondering what to write? Have a look at Accepted’s sample AACOMAS personal statements here .
• Make the personal statement active Conclude positively and insightfully. Use experiences and anecdotes that reflect your path to medicine and accent your positive qualities and insight. Don’t apologize, make excuses, blame or complain. Instead, show your enthusiasm for medicine. If you write a story about a struggle, be sure to demonstrate overcoming , managing and learning from it in a way that elucidates maturity and insight.
• Proofread Make sure that you have proofread your essay multiple times and have someone else read it for grammatical errors and confusing sentences. If your essay is sloppy, you will make a sloppy impression. This is not what you want to do.

The AACOMAS personal statement is the one place in the application where you speak in your own voice and give the admissions committee an idea of who you are: your character, your humanity and depth. Make sure that you use this space to your best advantage and make your personal statement an advantage in your application in order to stand out in a competitive field.

The AACOMAS Experiences Section

The Experiences section in the  AACOMAS application  asks you to list your non-academic work, including healthcare-related work, non-healthcare work,  volunteer work , and extracurricular activities. The Achievements section is the space for you to include academic honors, awards and scholarships.

Below are five tips for completing this section of the AACOMAS.

• Categorize your activity by type. The AACOMAS application doesn’t let applicants list hours twice. If your experience includes two different types of activities – like research and clinical work – divide the experience and hours into two separate categories (e.g. 10 hours research and 30 hours clinical work). The AACOMAS doesn’t have a section for publications and poster presentations. You should put them in the Achievements section.
• Focus on quality, not quantity. There is no limit for AACOMAS Experiences, though there is a limit of 5 for Achievements. Use the AMCAS 15 activities limit total as a general guiding principle, keeping in mind AACOMAS does not ask you to identify the most meaningful activities among those you list as Experiences or Achievements. If you have related/overlapping experiences combine them into one entry (i.e. shadowed 3 Osteopathic doctors during the month of July). If you have duplicate achievements (Dean’s List, all semesters, University of Michigan, 2018-22) combine these as well. Do include work for pay.  If you are a non-traditional student , do include professional work from a related or unrelated career even if a supervisor is no longer employed with the company. Then, give a general Human Resources contact number for employment verification. Admissions committees aren’t impressed by a large number of activities that require minimum commitment. Instead, they look for depth of experience and time dedication. So, don’t pad your list or fill it up with “a day here, a day there” shadowing or volunteer work. These types of activities might best be bundled together or omitted if they seem less relevant than or detract from other key experiences.
• Include college and post-college experiences only. Don’t include experiences from high school.
• Do not include future experiences. If you haven’t started an activity yet, you should not include it in the AACOMAS experiences section. Hypotheticals, theoreticals and “not yets” aren’t experience. If an activity you had planned for got delayed or canceled due to Covid-19, do not list it in Experiences unless you’ve actually started it, albeit later than hoped. You will have an opportunity to address missed opportunities due to Covid-19 in a supplemental essay.
• Write in complete sentences. When you describe your experiences, use complete sentences rather than bullet points. This simply adds to the professional appearance of your application. Follow the 600 character limit rule.

Remember that the experiences section of the AACOMAS is your opportunity to present non-academic achievements to the admissions committee. Use the space to impress the committee with your dedication, your compassion, your communications skills, and  your leadership  – with the non-academic, qualitative and human side of you. Include any outside interest that is truly a passion, especially those that require dedication, acceptance and/or certification. Do you scuba dive? Do you run half-marathons? Are you a sax player in a jazz band that plays summer festivals? Do you deliver Meals on Wheels? 

Use the Achievements section to  highlight academic achievement that goes beyond good grades  and a solid GPA. Take a moment to think about this section of the application. Avoid replicating the educational accolades listed on your resume. Instead, tell the brief story that brought this recognition your way – especially if it demonstrates integrity, maturity and/or humility. The key to this section is to avoid bragging, avoid ego, avoid sounding competitive or repetitive. Build your character in the write-up of these achievements. A “best of” list evidenced by stats and numerics could be a missed opportunity for having provided insight, context and (inherent) values that likely led to a moment of recognition, even an academic one.

Are you a Scholar-Athlete but not necessarily the best player on the team? Why did you win this award? (Hint: the answer probably has something to do with dedication, inclusion and harmonious people skills.  Can you show these skills at work  rather than say you have them?) Did you win an academic award that was much more difficult for you to earn than others – for instance, if English is a second language, what actions and steps preceded winning an essay competition or a research grant? 

You need to work hard if you want to submit a winning AACOMAS (or AMCAS or AADSAS) application — and we can help! Check out Accepted’s Primary Application Package to receive complete application guidance from conceptualization to final review. Your experienced consultant will guide you through the entire primary application, ensuring that you make the best use of your time to create a compelling portrait of yourself as a future leader in the medical field.

Related Resources:

• The Quick Guide to Acing Your AACOMAS Application , a free guide
• 5 Tips for Requesting an AACOMAS Letter of Recommendation (Evaluation)
• 5 Tips for Completing AACOMAS Secondary Applications

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• March 30, 2024

6 Important Tips for the AMCAS Personal Statement (AMCAS PS)

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Recent Posts

Amcas: 5 critical points to make you stand out, aacomas: 6 important steps to stand out, 3 critical tips for the amcas work and activities section, tmdsas application: a 6 point comprehensive guide.

CLICK ON THE SECTION TITLE TO JUMP TO IT!

Introduction

Understanding the amcas personal statement.

Explanation of what the AMCAS Personal Statement is.

Discussion of the character limit and its implications for content.

Crafting a Compelling Narrative

Importance of storytelling in the personal statement.

Tips for selecting experiences that highlight unique qualities.

Show, Don’t Tell: Demonstrating Your Qualities

Strategies for illustrating personal attributes through specific examples.

Avoiding the trap of simply listing achievements.

Addressing Challenges and Setbacks

How to effectively discuss obstacles without dwelling on them.

Balancing honesty with positivity.

Making Your Statement Stand Out

Techniques for creating a memorable and distinctive personal statement.

The role of reflection and personal growth in the narrative.

The Role of Feedback and Revision

Importance of seeking constructive criticism from trusted sources.

The iterative process of refining the personal statement.

The pivotal milestones in your medical school application path is crafting an exceptional AMCAS Personal Statement. This crucial component of your application is more than just a formality; it’s a canvas for your narrative, a platform to showcase your passion for medicine, and a chance to stand out the thousands of aspiring physicians. The AMCAS Personal Statement is your opportunity to go beyond the numbers and give the admissions committee a glimpse into your character, your motivations, and your vision for your future in healthcare.

Navigating the 5,300-character limit can feel like a tightrope walk, balancing between being concise and expressive. It’s about finding that sweet spot where your experiences, aspirations, and the essence of who you are come together to form a compelling story. This narrative is your ticket to capturing the attention of medical school admissions officers and making them see not just an applicant, but a future doctor with a unique perspective and a heart full of determination. Let’s dive into how you can make your personal statement a memorable and impactful part of your medical school application.

Explanation of what the AMCAS Personal Statement is

At its core, the AMCAS Personal Statement is your chance to transcend beyond grades and scores. It’s about telling your story in a way that highlights your passion for medicine, your empathy, your resilience, and your commitment to the field. Through this narrative, you’re given the freedom to illustrate the experiences that have shaped you, the challenges you’ve overcome, and the moments that solidified your decision to pursue medicine. Unlike the quantitative data that fills the rest of your application, this qualitative aspect allows you to connect on a more personal level with those deciding your fate in the medical field.

Crafting a statement that leaves a lasting impression requires introspection and a deep understanding of what drives you. This isn’t about reiterating your resume; it’s about peeling back the layers to reveal the real you. The AMCAS application facilitates this conversation between you and the admissions committee, providing a platform for you to articulate your personal journey towards medicine.

Discussion of the character limit and its implications for content

Navigating the 5,300-character limit of the AMCAS Personal Statement might seem daunting at first. This restriction places a premium on your ability to communicate efficiently and effectively, challenging you to distill your experiences and aspirations into a concise yet powerful narrative. Every word counts, pushing you to think critically about what details are truly essential to your story and which ones can be left unsaid.

This character limit encourages precision. It forces you to prioritize the experiences that best represent your journey, highlighting the resilience, empathy, and dedication that have propelled you toward a career in medicine. In this space, you must strike a balance between depth and brevity, ensuring that each sentence contributes to the overarching narrative you wish to convey. The constraint isn’t just a limit; it’s an opportunity to fine-tune your message, ensuring that your personal statement is both compelling and focused.

Moreover, the character limit underscores the importance of reflection in the application process. Deciding what to include and what to omit isn’t just about storytelling; it’s about understanding yourself and what defines you as a future medical professional. This introspective process can illuminate your path to medicine in ways you hadn’t considered, providing a clearer vision of who you are and the doctor you aspire to be.

In essence, the AMCAS Personal Statement is more than an essay; it’s a narrative mosaic of your journey to medicine. The character limit shapes this narrative, ensuring that each word serves a purpose, each sentence builds your case, and the final product paints a vivid picture of your passion for and commitment to the field of medicine.

The AMCAS Personal Statement is more than just an academic essay; it’s a storytelling opportunity that allows you to weave together the threads of your experiences, aspirations, and personal growth. Crafting a compelling narrative is crucial in making your application stand out in the competitive landscape of medical school admissions.

Importance of storytelling in the personal statement

Storytelling is a powerful tool in the AMCAS Personal Statement because it transforms your application from a mere collection of achievements into a memorable and engaging narrative. A well-crafted story can convey your passion for medicine, demonstrate your resilience, and provide insight into your character in ways that data and statistics cannot. It’s about showing the admissions committee who you are, not just telling them.

Through storytelling, you can connect emotionally with the reader, making your application more relatable and human. This emotional connection can be the difference between a forgettable essay and one that resonates long after it’s been read. A narrative approach allows you to highlight the journey that has led you to pursue a career in medicine, showcasing your growth, challenges overcome, and the moments that have defined your path.

Tips for selecting experiences that highlight unique qualities

When selecting experiences for your narrative, it’s essential to choose those that showcase your unique qualities and align with the values of the medical profession. Here are some tips to help you identify and highlight these experiences in your AMCAS Personal Statement:

1. Reflect on pivotal moments : Think about the experiences that have had a significant impact on your decision to pursue medicine. These could be clinical encounters, volunteer work, research projects, or personal challenges. Focus on moments that sparked your interest in healthcare or reinforced your commitment to the field.

2. Showcase your growth : Select experiences that demonstrate your personal and professional development. Admissions committees are interested in seeing how you’ve evolved over time and how your experiences have shaped your understanding of medicine.

3. Highlight your empathy and compassion : Medicine is a field that requires a deep sense of empathy and compassion. Include experiences that illustrate your ability to connect with others, understand their perspectives, and provide support during difficult times.

4. Demonstrate resilience and adaptability : The journey to and through medical school is challenging. Share experiences that showcase your resilience in the face of adversity and your ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

5. Emphasize teamwork and collaboration : Medicine is inherently collaborative. Highlight experiences that demonstrate your ability to work effectively in teams, communicate clearly, and contribute to shared goals.

6. Be authentic : Choose experiences that genuinely reflect who you are and what matters to you. Authenticity is key to creating a narrative that feels true to your character and resonates with the admissions committee.

By carefully selecting experiences that highlight your unique qualities and weaving them into a cohesive narrative, you can create an AMCAS Personal Statement that not only stands out but also provides a compelling glimpse into your journey to medicine.

In the AMCAS Personal Statement, the statement “show, don’t tell” is a guiding principle that can transform your essay from a mere recitation of accomplishments into a vivid portrayal of your character and potential as a future physician. This section explores strategies to bring your qualities to life and avoid the common pitfall of merely listing achievements.

Strategies for illustrating personal attributes through specific examples

To effectively demonstrate your qualities, you need to provide specific examples that showcase these attributes in action. Here are some strategies to help you do that:

1. Use vivid anecdotes : Share detailed stories from your experiences that highlight your qualities. For example, instead of stating that you are empathetic, describe a moment when you comforted a patient or connected with someone from a different background.

2. Focus on your actions and reactions : Illustrate your qualities through your actions and responses to various situations. Show how you solved a problem, overcame a challenge, or made a positive impact on others.

3. Provide context : Set the scene for your examples by providing enough background information. This helps the reader understand the significance of your actions and the qualities they demonstrate.

4. Reflect on your experiences : Don’t just describe what happened; reflect on what you learned and how it shaped your understanding of medicine or your personal growth. This reflection shows depth and self-awareness.

5. Use specific, concrete details : Rather than using general statements, use specific details to paint a vivid picture of your experiences and the qualities they reveal.

Avoiding the trap of simply listing achievements

While it’s important to highlight your accomplishments, your AMCAS Personal Statement should not read like a resume. Here’s how to avoid turning your essay into a mere list of achievements:

1. Prioritize quality over quantity : Instead of trying to include every achievement, focus on a few meaningful experiences that showcase your most relevant qualities.

2. Integrate achievements into your narrative : Incorporate your accomplishments naturally into your story, showing how they are a result of your qualities and how they have prepared you for a career in medicine.

3. Explain the significance : Don’t just mention an achievement; explain why it matters. Discuss the skills you developed, the challenges you overcame, and the impact it had on your journey to medicine.

4. Show the journey, not just the destination : Instead of just stating that you received an award or achieved a high grade, describe the effort, dedication, and growth that led to that accomplishment.

5. Balance humility with confidence: Be proud of your achievements, but maintain a tone of humility. Acknowledge the contributions of others and the opportunities that allowed you to succeed.

By focusing on illustrating your qualities through specific examples and integrating your achievements into a cohesive narrative, your AMCAS Personal Statement will provide a compelling and authentic portrayal of who you are and why you are destined for a career in medicine. Remember, the goal is to show the admissions committee the depth of your character, not just the breadth of your accomplishments.

The journey to medical school is often marked by hurdles and setbacks. In your AMCAS Personal Statement, discussing these obstacles is not just about showcasing resilience but also about revealing depth, growth, and a balanced perspective on your journey. Let’s explore how to approach this aspect of your narrative effectively.

How to effectively discuss obstacles without dwelling on them

Discussing challenges in your AMCAS Personal Statement requires a delicate balance. You want to acknowledge the difficulties you’ve faced without letting them overshadow your achievements or the positive aspects of your journey. Here’s how to strike that balance:

1. Focus on the learning experience : When mentioning an obstacle, quickly pivot to what it taught you or how it contributed to your personal or professional growth. This approach shifts the focus from the challenge itself to the positive outcomes of facing it.

2. Keep it relevant : Choose setbacks that have a direct relevance to your path to medicine or your personal development as a future healthcare provider. This ensures that every part of your story ties back to your central narrative of pursuing a medical career.

3. Be concise : While it’s important to provide context, avoid going into unnecessary detail about the obstacle itself. Instead, spend more time on your response to the challenge and the steps you took to overcome it.

4. Demonstrate resilience : Show how facing these challenges has prepared you for the rigorous path of medical education and the demands of a career in healthcare. Highlight qualities like perseverance, adaptability, and strength.

Balancing honesty with positivity

Your AMCAS Personal Statement is a reflection of your authentic self, including how you handle adversity. Here’s how to maintain a balance between being honest about your struggles and maintaining a positive tone:

1. Acknowledge without exaggeration: It’s important to be honest about the challenges you’ve faced, but avoid dramatizing them. A straightforward, factual approach shows maturity and self-awareness.

2. Highlight positive outcomes : For every challenge discussed, ensure there’s a corresponding positive takeaway or outcome. Whether it’s a lesson learned, a skill acquired, or a new perspective gained, make sure the reader sees the silver lining.

3. Maintain a forward-looking perspective : Emphasize how the obstacles you’ve encountered have equipped you for future challenges. This demonstrates optimism and a readiness to tackle the difficulties inherent in medical training and practice.

4. Show gratitude : If appropriate, express appreciation for the support and opportunities that helped you overcome challenges. This not only shows humility but also acknowledges the interconnectedness of your journey with others.

Addressing challenges and setbacks in your AMCAS Personal Statement is not just about recounting difficulties; it’s about illustrating your journey towards resilience, maturity, and a deeper understanding of the medical profession. By focusing on the lessons learned and maintaining a balance between honesty and positivity, you can craft a narrative that resonates with admissions committees and underscores your readiness for the challenges of medical school and beyond. Remember, the way you discuss obstacles can significantly impact how your overall application is perceived, turning potential weaknesses into demonstrations of character strength and determination.

Creating a memorable and impactful AMCAS Personal Statement is crucial for standing out in the competitive medical school application process. Let’s look at techniques that can help you craft a distinctive narrative and the role of reflection and personal growth in your personal statement.

Techniques for creating a memorable and distinctive personal statement

1. Start with a captivating hook : Begin your AMCAS Personal Statement with an engaging story or anecdote that highlights a key aspect of your journey to medicine. This could be a pivotal moment, a challenging experience, or an inspiring encounter that shaped your decision to pursue a career in medicine.

2. Showcase your unique voice: Your personal statement should reflect your individuality. Use a conversational yet professional tone, and avoid overused phrases or clichés. Share your personal experiences, thoughts, and reflections in a way that only you can.

3. Focus on your strengths and passions : Highlight your strengths, achievements, and passions related to medicine. Emphasize what sets you apart from other applicants, whether it’s your dedication to community service, your research accomplishments, or your unique perspective on healthcare.

4. Be specific and concise : Use specific examples to illustrate your points rather than making general statements. This not only makes your personal statement more memorable but also demonstrates your ability to communicate effectively and concisely.

5. Connect your experiences to your future goals : Demonstrate how your past experiences have prepared you for a career in medicine and how they align with your future aspirations. This shows that you have a clear vision and are committed to your path.

The role of reflection and personal growth in the narrative

1. Highlight personal growth : Your AMCAS Personal Statement should showcase your journey of personal growth and development. Reflect on how your experiences have shaped your character, values, and aspirations.

2. Demonstrate self-awareness : Show that you have a deep understanding of yourself and your motivations for pursuing medicine. Discuss how your experiences have challenged you, what you’ve learned from them, and how they have influenced your decision to become a physician.

3. Emphasize resilience and adaptability : Medical school and a career in medicine are challenging. Highlight instances where you’ve overcome obstacles, adapted to change, or persevered through difficult situations. This demonstrates your resilience and readiness for the rigors of medical training.

4. Incorporate introspection : Use your personal statement to share insights gained from your experiences. Discuss how they have impacted your perspective on medicine, healthcare, and serving others.

5. Connect to your values and motivations : Tie your reflections and personal growth to your core values and motivations for entering the medical field. This creates a cohesive narrative that resonates with admissions committees and underscores your commitment to medicine.

By incorporating these techniques and emphasizing reflection and personal growth in your AMCAS Personal Statement, you can create a compelling narrative that stands out. Remember, your personal statement is an opportunity to showcase your unique journey, qualities, and dedication to a career in medicine. Make it count!

Feedback and revision play crucial roles in shaping a narrative for the AMCAS that truly reflects your journey to medicine. Let’s explore the importance of seeking constructive criticism and the iterative process of refining your personal statement.

Importance of seeking constructive criticism from trusted sources

1. Gaining fresh perspectives : Even the most self-aware individuals can benefit from an external viewpoint. Friends, mentors, or professionals who are familiar with the medical school application process can provide insights that you might have overlooked.

2. Identifying weaknesses : Constructive criticism helps pinpoint areas of your AMCAS Personal Statement that may be unclear, unconvincing, or irrelevant. Recognizing these weaknesses is the first step toward addressing them.

3. Enhancing clarity and coherence : Feedback can highlight sections of your personal statement that lack clarity or fail to convey your intended message effectively. This allows you to refine your narrative for better coherence.

4. Validating your strengths : Positive feedback on certain aspects of your personal statement reinforces your strengths. It’s essential to know what works well so you can maintain those elements during revisions.

5. Building confidence : Constructive criticism, when received from trusted sources, can boost your confidence in your personal statement. Knowing that your narrative has been vetted and approved by others can be reassuring.

The iterative process of refining the personal statement

1. Embracing revision : Accept that your first draft is just the starting point. Be open to making changes, reorganizing content, and rephrasing sentences to improve the overall impact of your AMCAS Personal Statement.

2. Focusing on one section at a time : Break down the revision process into manageable sections. Concentrate on refining one part of your personal statement before moving on to the next. This approach prevents feeling overwhelmed and ensures thorough revisions.

3. Seeking multiple rounds of feedback : Don’t settle for feedback from just one source. Approach different individuals at various stages of the revision process. Each round of feedback brings new perspectives and ideas for improvement.

4. Balancing between revisions and originality : While it’s essential to incorporate feedback, ensure that your personal statement remains authentically yours. Strike a balance between making revisions and preserving your unique voice and experiences.

5. Setting aside time for reflection: After each round of revisions, take a step back and reflect on the changes you’ve made. Consider how each revision aligns with your overall goals and the message you want to convey in your AMCAS Personal Statement.

6. Finalizing with a critical eye : Before submitting your personal statement, review it critically one last time. Check for coherence, clarity, and conciseness. Ensure that your narrative effectively communicates your journey and aspirations in medicine.

The process of seeking feedback and revising your AMCAS Personal Statement is iterative and essential for crafting a narrative that resonates with admissions committees. Embrace constructive criticism, remain open to change, and refine your statement until it accurately reflects your journey and aspirations in medicine.

Check out our database of medical students/resident physicians who can help you achieve the 4th quartile by clicking below:

In crafting your AMCAS Personal Statement, remember that it’s not just an essay; it’s a reflection of your journey, aspirations, and dedication to medicine. By understanding its significance, weaving a compelling narrative, showcasing your unique qualities, addressing challenges with resilience, and ensuring your statement stands out, you set the stage for a successful application. Receiving feedback and embracing the revision process are integral to refining your story, ensuring it resonates with admissions committees. As you finalize your personal statement, keep in mind that it’s your opportunity to share your voice, your experiences, and your vision for your future in medicine. Make it count. 

1. What is the AMCAS Personal Statement?

   The AMCAS Personal Statement is a crucial component of your medical school application. It’s your opportunity to share your journey, aspirations, and dedication to medicine with admissions committees. This personal statement is your chance to highlight what makes you unique and why you are an ideal candidate for medical school.

2. How long should my AMCAS Personal Statement be?

   Your AMCAS Personal Statement should not exceed 5,300 characters, including spaces. This typically amounts to about one page of text. It’s important to use this space wisely to convey your experiences, qualities, and motivation for pursuing a career in medicine.

3. Can I discuss my MCAT score in my AMCAS Personal Statement?

   It’s not advisable to discuss your MCAT score in your AMCAS Personal Statement. This section is intended for you to share your personal journey and qualities, not academic metrics. Your MCAT score will already be visible to admissions committees elsewhere in your application.

4. How should I start writing my AMCAS Personal Statement?

   Begin by reflecting on your experiences and what led you to pursue medicine. Consider moments that defined your view of the medical field and your potential place in it. Choose a story or theme that can effectively illustrate your passion for medicine and your unique qualities.

5. Should I address setbacks or challenges in my AMCAS Personal Statement?

   Yes, addressing setbacks or challenges can showcase your resilience and growth. However, it’s important to discuss these obstacles without dwelling on them. Focus on how you overcame these challenges and what you learned from them, highlighting your strengths and positive attitude.

6. How can I make my AMCAS Personal Statement stand out?

   To make your AMCAS Personal Statement stand out, focus on crafting a compelling narrative that highlights your unique qualities and experiences. Use specific examples to demonstrate your attributes and show your personal growth. Reflect on your journey and how it has shaped your desire to pursue medicine.

7. What is the role of feedback and revision in crafting my AMCAS Personal Statement?

   Feedback and revision are essential in crafting an effective AMCAS Personal Statement. Seeking constructive criticism from trusted sources can provide valuable insights and help you refine your narrative. Embrace the iterative process of revising your statement to ensure it accurately reflects your experiences and aspirations.

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How to Turn Your AMCAS (MD) Personal Statement into Your AACOMAS (DO) Personal Statement

DO schools represent a great opportunity for many medical school applicants.  However, many students find themselves applying to both MD and DO programs with most students focusing on the AMCAS portion.  So when time gets around to it, the question gets asked “should I submit the same personal statement?”

The answer is: NO .  But the good news is, it doesn’t have to be a completely new statement. AMCAS and AACOMAS used to make life difficult for applicants by having different character limits.  Fortunately, as of 2019 AACOMAS has increased the personal statement character limit to 5300 to match AMCAS, kissing the days of stress-deleting sentences goodbye.  So, how do you make sure your AACOMAS personal statement is as great as your AMCAS one?  

STEP 1: CONNECT THE EXPERIENCES INCLUDED IN YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT TO OSTEOPATHY

If you’re applying to DO schools, you should know a little bit about osteopathic medicine. A brief review of some of the tenants of osteopathic medicine:

• Holistic care – the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit.  As such, there is a larger focus on treating the whole person beyond just physical ailments including mental, spiritual, and emotional health.
• Self-healing and self-regulation – osteopathy places large emphasis in the body’s capability to self-regulate.
• Relationship between structure and function – manipulation is crucial to osteopathic medicine.  DOs use manipulative treatment and manipulative medicine to attempt to correct health issues.
• Prevention – a focus on preventative care to eliminate illness and procedures in the future is also a major focus.

If most of your takeaways were about how much cutting edge surgery means to you or how you plan on opening up the largest research lab in the northern hemisphere, those might need to be re-adjusted to include some of the principles core to becoming a DO physician.  The point is, these experiences and the stories your telling should be able to tie into philosophies above.

STEP 2: ADJUST YOUR REFLECTIONS IN YOUR CURRENT AMCAS PARAGRAPHS

Ideally, you will just be tweaking some sentences and reflections to make them more specific to DO philosophy rather than re-writing entire paragraphs.  

For example, if part of your service experiences involved interacting with diverse underserved communities, you can draw on the themes of cultural competence as part of holistic care.  

The screening tests you performed to help diagnose early hypertension can be considered a tenant of preventative medicine.  

The physician you saw tending to a patients mental and spiritual health can tie into treating the body, mind, and spirit.

STEP 3: “WHY OSTEOPATHY?” VERSUS “WHY MEDICINE?”

The next piece of the transformation likely may necessitate adding a little bit of new material to ensure your answering the question of “why osteopathy”.  The AMCAS essay focuses on “why medicine”, and while you are going to be practicing medicine, it is important for AACOMAS to specifically address why osteopathic medicine.  You want the admissions committees to know why you want to become a DO, not to think you just copied and pasted your MD personal statement as a backup.  

Make sure to go through your essay and highlight the portions that address “why medicine” and transform them to “why osteopathy”.  This will be the most crucial part of the makeover.  

The biggest changes will likely be in your conclusion as this is usually where most fo the take-home lessons are. Spend a little extra time making sure that your conclusion answers “why DO?”

There you have it!  Now both your AACOMAS and AMCAS personal statements will be in tip-top shape.

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5 Simple Steps to Turn Your AMCAS Essay into Your AACOMAS Essay

By: Ryan Kelly

Let’s be honest. For most students applying to medical school, DO schools are a backup. From data collected by AACOM , of the students surveyed who got into both MD and DO schools, 86% chose an MD school.  

WHY DO SOME STUDENTS PREFER MD SCHOOLS OVER DO SCHOOLS?

There are several reasons:

• Some students think MDs have a better shot at getting competitive residencies (true)
• Some students think MDs have more opportunities to do research (also true)
• Some students come from families of MDs who discriminate against DOs (an attitude we think is unjustified)

Because DO schools have slightly lower admissions averages, many students apply as a plan B. So what do you do if you’re one of these students? How do you navigate between the two applications with your one set of experiences?

MD Application ---------> MAGICAL BOX ---------> Ta-da! DO Application!

Let’s be honest again. Most of these students complete their allopathic applications first. There are more essays with longer word and character limits, so it makes sense.

But DO personal statements are only 4500 characters. That means you have to write a shorter essay that requires more specificity. Dang. It was already painful to trim down your AMCAS personal statement. How in the heck are you going to pull this off?  

STEP 1: REMOVE UNNECESSARY AMCAS MATERIAL (~1000 CHARACTERS WORTH)

Look at the types of experiences in your AMCAS personal statement: autobiographical, global/traveling, volunteering, research, clinical shadowing, etc. Unless you’ve performed osteopathic research or shadowed a DO, then you can probably remove those types of experiences altogether for your AACOMAS.

STEP 2: DRAW CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EXPERIENCES INCLUDED IN YOUR AMCAS AND OSTEOPATHY

Now look at your leftover experiences. Probably three, maybe four tops. You’ve likely dropped close to 1000 characters, which is a big step, but now you must draw connections between your remaining experiences and the osteopathic philosophy toward care.

A Quick Refresher on Osteopathic Values:

• Holistic care - treating the whole person beyond their physical ailments, accounting for mental, emotional, and spiritual health as well.
• Prevention - major tenet of the DO philosophy, since it helps eliminate the need for invasive procedures down the line.
• Body’s self-healing capabilities - osteopathy values the power of the body to self-regulate and will utilize this approach whenever possible.
• Nutrition and lifestyle advice - DOs often incorporate education into their practices as a way to empower patients with tools for the future.
• OMM/OMT - manipulation and touch are crucial to osteopathy - DOs will often diagnose through touch and use body manipulation to correct chronic health problems.

You might also want to read about the reciprocal relationship between structure and function .

For more on how to create AMCAS and AACOMAS essay templates, check out Why Our School? How to Knock Out 12 Medical School Secondaries with One Essay .

STEP 3: ADJUST YOUR CURRENT AMCAS ESSAY PARAGRAPHS  

Your goal will be to adjust your current AMCAS paragraphs to make them more DO-specific. Ideally, you’ll just be tweaking the sentences to include osteopathic tenets, rather than rewriting the paragraphs completely.

Let’s say you have a paragraph in your AMCAS application about an outreach event, free clinic, or global health experience. Nearly all of these provide opportunities for discussing values 1, 2, and 4. If you worked with diverse patients and practiced cultural sensitivity, that would fall under the umbrella of holistic care (1). If you encountered obese patients with diabetes or smokers with COPD, then you’ve clearly witnessed the importance of prevention and lifestyle education (2, 3).

Let’s say your essay features an autobiographical story about being on the patient side of care or dealing with a health issue. Could either be you or a family member. It’s likely that at least part of the recovery process involved values 1, 2, 3, maybe even 4. You could discuss the ways that your physician accounted for your mental and emotional health (1), or discuss the advice (4) he or she gave you to help avoid the problem again in the future (2). If there were rehabilitation steps, physical therapy exercises, or any self-maintenance involved in the treatment (3), definitely mention those as well.

STEP 4: ADD NEW ESSAY MATERIAL TO YOUR AACOMAS          

Besides making adjustments, you’ll also need some original material. Not too much though. The first step is isolating your “why medicine” statements throughout the AMCAS essay. You might only have one, but it’s likely you have two or three scattered throughout. Pay extra attention to the ones in your conclusion.

You’ll need to add extra phrases or even whole additional sentences to these statements. It’s important to go the extra mile when explaining “why osteopathy.” You must communicate why you want to be a DO above any other career.

WHY MEDICINE? (AMCAS) VS. WHY OSTEOPATHY? (AACOMAS)

STEP 5: ADD SOME PERSONAL TOUCHES TO YOUR AACOMAS

Once you’ve made this conversion from AMCAS to AACOMAS, you may also want to add in material about yourself that seemed extraneous in your MD draft:

• Do you practice yoga, meditation, or mindfulness in your daily life? When did you start? Why is it important to you? How does it relate to being a good DO?
• Do you have a hobby that requires dexterity, athleticism, or coordination? When did you start? How did you get better? What did you learn about the body as a result? How does that relate to being a good DO?
• Have you ever fixed something? What is a short-term repair or a long-term fix? What were the steps involved? Did you make mistakes? What did you learn, and how does that relate to being a DO?
• Have you traveled often? What were the radical differences in worldviews and ideologies between the places you visited? Were there discrepancies in terms of health and education? How has cultural exposure influenced your outlook on holistic care?

This additional material could be used as your new hook, or it could be incorporated into your conclusion. Choose whatever seems most natural in terms of chronology and flow.

Are you applying to osteopathic medical schools? Comment with your AACOMAS questions and share your “Why Osteopathy” statements.

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[00:30] AMCAS vs. AACOMS, vs.TMDSAS

If you’re applying to MD schools, you have to apply to AMCAS. If you’re applying to public schools in Texas, you have to TMDSAS.

For DO schools, you have to apply to AACOMAS. If you’re applying to DO public schools in Texas, you have to apply to TMDSAS.

In Canada, they have one application service called the Ontario Medical School Application Service. And all the other schools are “free for all.”

Here in the U.S., it’s much more organized even though it can get very expensive because there are three of them.

Understand the differences between these three to make sure you maximize your chances of getting into medical school.

[01:30] Timing

TMDSAS opens up in May and you can submit as soon as you can in May.

AACOMAS (DO schools) used to have the same dates as AMCAS (MD schools), which open in May. You can start filling out the information and couldn’t submit until the first week of June.

This has recently changed with AACOMAS since you can already submit as soon as you’re done filling it out. But nothing really happens until May-June.

AMCAS is still the same. It opens up in May and you start filling out information. And they accept submissions by the first week of June.

[03:10] The Application Structure: The Nuts and Bolts

All three services have a similar structure – demographic information, personal statement, grades, extracurriculars, schools you want to apply to. Outside of these, there are a lot of key differences.

[03:30] Personal Statement

For AMCAS, the personal statement is limited to 5,300 characters; for TMDSAS, 5,000 characters; and for AACOMAS, 4,500 characters.

It’s actually a big swing. If you’re only applying to AMCAS and TMDSAS, you have a 300-character count difference. And if you’re applying to AMCAS and AACOMAS, you have an 800-character count difference.

[04:10] Extra Curriculars

The AMCAS allows 700 characters for the main description; AACOMAS has 600 characters, and the TMDSAS allows 300 characters.

Unlike AMCAS and AACOMAS where you select the categories for each extracurricular that you put in, in TMDSAS, the categories are different sections. Then you fill in as many extracurriculars in each of those categories as you can. They also recommend that you repeat them if there is some overlap.

If you have an extracurricular that could be both shadowing and clinical experience, write both of them.

You can have a huge list for your extracurriculars on the TMDSAS. For AMCAS, 15 and AACOMAS has 15 as well.

With AMCAS, you can mark three of them as most meaningful. So aside from the 700 character count allowed for the main description, you can get an extra 1,325 as a separate essay. Not 2,025 combined, but a separate essay.

If you don’t have that many extracurriculars, you don’t have to fill them all out. And up to three of them can be marked as most meaningful.

[06:23] TMDSAS

They require two essays – one required, the other is optional. One of them is all about learning, the learning environment, and how you’re going to add to the learning environment of your classmates.

The third essay is an optional essay where you can talk about things like obstacles you had to overcome – anything else that the application readers need to be aware of that you haven’t written anywhere else in your application. This is a good opportunity to spell out some red flags or some obstacles you had to overcome.

It’s considered optional by the TMDSAS but I recommend you don’t treat it as optional.

[07:35] Application Fees

Outside of those mentioned above, most would be the same. You have to pay for everything. For TMDSAS, you’re paying one fee for public Texas schools. For AMCAS and AACOMAS, it’s going to be a per-school basis. There’s usually a flat application fee and every school you apply to is an extra cost.

After that, there are still some big differences with the Texas application with their pre-match and match system as they go through the process.

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MD vs. DO: What’s The Difference + How To Choose

Posted in: Applying to Medical School

Table of Contents

When you apply to medical school, you may apply to both DO and MD schools. 

DO vs. MD : A DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) and an MD (Doctor of Medicine) approach treatment, education, and medical training differently. They also have different types of licensing exams.

In either program, you will be able to be fully licensed, qualified to practice medicine, and provide patient care. Allopathic and osteopathic programs simply differ in their schools of thought.

What is the difference between an MD and a DO?

The difference between an MDs and a DOs is their philosophical approach to patient care.

MDs practice allopathic medicine, the classical form of medicine focused on diagnosing and treating human diseases.

DOs follow a more holistic approach, viewing the body as an interconnected system and focusing on preventive care. They also receive additional training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), a hands-on treatment used to diagnose, treat, and prevent illness or injury.

The main areas where these two programs differ include:

• Medical school applications
• Philosophy of practice
• Treatment approach
• Licensing exams
• Residency applications

MDs and DOs providers are both well-educated, trained healthcare professionals. They can prescribe medication, diagnose and treat illnesses, and perform surgery in the United States.

Med School Application Process Differences

When pre-meds apply to med school , prospective MD and DO students face similar requirements . They must have a bachelor’s degree and have completed specific prerequisite coursework. Both MD programs and osteopathic schools require the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) too.

However, average GPA and MCAT scores can vary between allopathic medical schools (MD programs) and osteopathic medical schools (DO programs). Typically, MD schools have higher average GPA and average MCAT requirements than DO schools .

Applying to medical school in the United States typically involves one of two primary application services:

• AMCAS (American Medical Colleges Application Service) for allopathic (MD) programs
• AACOMAS (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service) for osteopathic (DO) programs

Please note: Medical students applying to schools in Texas will also need to use the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Services (TMDSAS).

Similarities Between DO vs. MD Applications

• Demographic information
• Transcripts
• Personal statement
• Work and activities section
• Letters of recommendation
• The AMCAS personal statement character limit and AACOMAS personal statement character limit are both the same, but some of the other sections have different character limits.

Use this quick guide to check character lengths:

Differences Between DO and MD Applications

• Course Classification : AMCAS is much more strict about what counts as a science course. AACOMAS will allow a much wider range of courses to be considered science courses, including classes like astronomy and geology. 
• GPA Classification : AMCAS and AACOMAS calculate the GPA slightly differently. AMCAS includes all attempted coursework in its GPA calculations, while AACOMAS only includes courses taken for credit.
• Fees : The fee for AMCAS is $175 (plus $45 for each additional school) and the fee for AACOMAS is $198 (plus $55 for each additional school).
• Application Timelines : AMCAS and AACOMAS operate on slightly different timelines . AMCAS usually opens in early May and can be submitted in late May or early June. AACOMAS, on the other hand, usually opens in early May and can be submitted immediately.

Remember, both systems require a considerable amount of time and effort to complete, so it’s essential to start preparing early to ensure a timely and successful application.

MD vs DO Training Programs

Both allopathic and osteopathic medical students spend their first years of med school on classroom and laboratory coursework in subjects like biochemistry, anatomy, and biomedical ethics . 

They then spend the final two years in clinical rotations across various medical specialties such as pediatrics, family medicine, and internal medicine.

One main difference in the training DOs receive is the special focus on the musculoskeletal system. In DO programs, over 200 hours of instruction in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) or osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) have to be completed. 

This unique approach equips osteopathic physicians with a more whole-body understanding of how an injury or illness in one part of the body can affect the rest. OMM/OMT have similarities to chiropractic adjustments, but they aren’t the same thing. 

USMLE vs. COMLEX Exams

To be a medical doctor, students of both programs will be assessed on their application of knowledge, concepts, and principles they’ve learned. They will also have to demonstrate their ability to provide effective patient care.

The licensure for MD and DO graduates differ. MD students take the United States Medical Licensing Examination ( USMLE ). This exam consists of 3 steps, with the third step taken after the first year of MD residency.

DO graduates are required to take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX). The COMLEX includes a section on OMM, reflecting the osteopathic emphasis on the musculoskeletal system and a whole-person approach to treatment.

Residency Similarities and Differences

Residency is a 3 to 7-year-long postgraduate training program that students take after getting their DO or MD degree. During this time, a resident had the opportunity to hone their skills for a particular specialty.

Both MD and DO graduates apply for residency programs through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), often referred to as “The Match.”

Both DOs and MDs can practice in any specialty, but due to the holistic nature of osteopathy, osteopathic doctors are more often seen in primary care specialties and medical practices. 

According to the AAMC’s most recent Physician Specialty Data Report, 32% of MDs practice in primary care fields (including family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics). The AOA reports 57% of DOs practice in primary care . 

Background: In 2020, the AOA and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) completed a 5-year transition to a single accreditation system for all U.S. residency programs. Before this time, DO graduates had the opportunity to to match for residency spots via NMRP or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Match.

This merger allows DO graduates to compete for the same residency spots as MD graduates, having one residency match, and further aligning the training paths of MDs and DOs.

We can help you match with the residency of your choice with comprehensive coaching.

How To Choose Between an MD and DO

Choosing whether an MD or DO path is right for you depends largely on your own personal philosophy about healthcare. 

Is a DO more prestigious than an MD? The prestige of an MD versus a DO is largely a matter of perspective. While some perceive the MD degree as more prestigious due to the longer history of allopathic medicine and its representation in specialized fields, both MDs and DOs are equally qualified to practice medicine in all 50 states.

Why choose a DO over an MD? If you align more with a holistic approach to medicine, a focus on preventive care, and a strong interest in the musculoskeletal system, a DO program might be a good fit for you.

If you’re drawn to a traditional approach to medicine that places a stronger emphasis on treating specific conditions and diseases, an MD program might be more suited to your interests.

What are the pros and cons of a DO vs MD?

The pros of a DO degree:

• A holistic approach that can lead to more personalized and comprehensive patient care.
• A preventive medicine focus that looks beyond the current ailment.
• The special training in OMT and the ability to perform hands-on therapeutic manipulations.

The cons of a DO degree:

• Less recognition and understanding by the general public when it comes to having DO instead of MD in your title. 
• Fewer research opportunities compared to allopathic programs.
• Residency placement bias when it comes to securing a competitive residency (this is beginning to change with the unified residency match).

The pros of an MD degree:

• Patients recognize the MD designation.
• MDs have historically been more likely to specialize in more competitive areas of medicine.
• Research opportunities are easy to find because of the size and resources MD programs have to offer.

The cons of an MD degree:

• Less emphasis on preventive medicine.
• More competitive to get accepted into an MD program.  

Whether you choose to become an MD or a DO, the path will always involve a dedication to serving patients’ healthcare needs. Both allopathic and osteopathic physicians share the common goal of promoting health and healing, albeit through slightly different approaches. 

Ultimately, the choice between an MD and a DO depends on your personal philosophy, your career goals, and the type of doctor you aspire to become.

Our enrollment team can help you prepare your application for MD and DO med school .

Renee Marinelli, MD

Dr. Marinelli has practiced family medicine, served on the University of California Admissions Committee, and has helped hundreds of students get into medical school. She spearheads a team of physician advisors who guide MedSchoolCoach students.

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