SHPEP Personal Statement Guidelines
Your personal statement is an opportunity to
SHPEP Personal Statement Guidelines
Your personal statement is an opportunity to share why you are interested in pursuing a health
professions career and what makes you an ideal SHPEP scholar. Include any economic, cultural,
and/or social experiences you have had, obstacles you have overcome, and/or community
service that shaped your interests in a particular health profession.
Points to consider when writing your personal statement:
• How has your personal background, interests, and experiences influenced your decision
to pursue a career in healthcare?
• What do you want program sites to know about you that has not been disclosed in another
part of the application? Some examples could include your interests and/or experiences in
reducing health care disparities, advancing diversity, and improving health care for all.
The available space for your personal statement essay is 600 words or approximately one full
page.
*Please note: If you are applying to multiple health professions pathways (e.g. Medicine at
Iowa, Dental at Columbia, Optometry at Western), please ensure your personal statement
addresses your interests in each of the health professions pathways to which you applied. Write about how my father has had multiple surgeries due to his heart disease and how my back in my home country lebanon the healthcare is not good. Make it heart felt and explain how i will advance the medical world by helping people who dont have access to good healthcare. MAKE IT NO MORE THAN 600 WORDS. please