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Admission essay excerpt
I didn’t take any special interest in medical school until I came face to face with a life and death situation. During a senior class picnic, one of my high school classmates called out for help. Even at a distance, I can see that he’s already drowning in the lake. So without wasting any second, I dived into the cold water to save him, until I later figured out that I don’t even have a floatation device to help us make it back. Halfway through, I throw caution to the wind and tried my best to save him. I then learned the value of saving lives as I cling to hope while inching our way back with labored breathing and tired body. Growing up in a small community, I also saw how our town could benefit from having a full-time doctor. Currently, our small town with more than 1,200 residents only has one part-time physician, and I want to change that. I’d like to be trained in a prestigious med school so I can save more lives and take good care of many families in our community.
Sample outline:
I. Introduction
A. Saving a life
i. rescuing a friend who’s about to drown
ii. realizing that there’s no floatation device for the rescue
iii. trying my best to make it back and save my classmate’s and my life
B. Wanting to serve the community
i. our community only has one part-time doctor, not enough for a population of 1,2000
ii. passion for saving lives and helping others
iii. taking good care of families in my small town
II. About me
A. Struggles and experiences
i. parent’s divorce at 12
ii. having to move to a rural village from the suburbs
iii. having trouble with financing my college education (had to hold jobs to pay for rent and tuition and help the family)
B. What I’ve learned
i. coping with the separation and living in a small community
ii. learning to love the community
v. becoming more responsible and mature
III. Selecting the field of medicine
A. Applying to med school
i. wanting to be of service to others
ii. knowing the value of life
iii. growing up in a town that lacks medical staff
iv. the need for professional and complete training
v. conducted community outreach programs (such as screening for long-term risk factors)
vi. did volunteer work in clinics
B. Goals
i. hone my leadership potential
ii. also be a teacher like my mom and relatives, but through a different profession
iii. make difference in the community
iv. go into private practice someday
C. What I can offer to the institution
i. intangible skills such as the ability to think critically and rally/coordinate with peers
ii. sense of responsibility
iii. commitment to excellence
iv. passion for public service
Student loans could be your ticket to college or graduate studies. Though they can help make things a little easy on your pocket, you still have to think of ways to pay off student loans easily. With a price to pay after schooling, you surely don’t want to get stuck in debt for a long time. To help you through with this, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Planning is the key
A good strategy when dealing with any form of debt is to plan before you even apply for a loan. Know the exact amount you have to pay, including the interest rates. By knowing how much you can afford to pay, you can look for the right student loan for you, one with an affordable interest rate or perhaps a better repayment scheme. Don’t overestimate your budget. List down your expenses and figure out how much you can actually save.
Consider other choices
Remember that different sources of loans also have various plans to offer. Aside from the interest rate that may vary from one provider to another, you also need to take a look at the repayment plan. For the standard payment plan, you will be charge a fixed amount for repayment during the loan period. Extended repayment plans, however, give you more time to pay off your debt, usually from 12 to 30 years. The only downside is that the cost of total interest is usually higher. For income-consignment repayment, cost adjustments are made based on income, family size, and tax return. Ideally, you should find a plan that is best for your budget and your financial needs.
Ask and learn more
Don’t settle for what you already know or what the leaflets have to say about the type of student loans you’re applying for. Talk to your lender. Who knows, you may even compromise or find a better plan? Discuss your options, such as the repayment scheme, and your financial situation. You can also seek help from friends or relatives who can loan you money with low or no interest.
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