Since each school has its own application, the directions for the personal statement can vary from school to school. Read the directions carefully and consider what it is you really want the law schools to know about you that cannot be found elsewhere on the application. Your statement should be a document that can pull together your disparate experiences, interests and qualities. In the eyes of an admission committee, your reflection on actual experiences and past accomplishments usually has more value than speculations about future accomplishments.

An effective personal statement is based on sound self-assessment. To help you reflect on some of your accomplishments, interests, personal traits and characteristics, ask yourself:

You

• What’s your background, your values? (First generation college student, parents' occupation, role models, spirituality, social justice, etc.)
• Who have been the most influential people in your life and why?
• If applicable, reflect on the diversity/uniqueness that you bring (culture, age, major, special life experiences and perspectives.)
• How would you describe yourself?
• How would your professors, employers, family members, classmates and friends describe you?
• What are you passionate about?
• What keeps you motivated? Why?
• What kind of learner are you?

Applications require you to report incidents of cheating, academic fraud, plagiarism, suspensions, arrests, convictions, etc. You must answer any questions concerning your academic and judicial record truthfully and be prepared to write a brief essay to explain those circumstances. When writing the “explanation” essay, be sure to state facts and circumstances clearly and briefly; make the distinction between what was within and beyond your control if applicable; but especially focus on the lesson learned, the final outcome or the current impact of the incident.

• UM Alumni Career Services provides you with personally tailored career development services designed to help you approach your career choices with confidence. Some offerings are exclusive benefits of Alumni Association membership.
• The Center for the Education of Women (CEW) provides counseling, research, programs and advocacy to the University community and the public, with a focus on higher education, careers and leadership.

As of September 1, 2017, the WolverineDocs Network has transitioned to an enhanced platform, called UCAN, UM University Career Alumni Network, which enables students to connect with UM alumni and other professionals in a variety of disciplines, industries, etc.

High grades and MCAT scores are not enough for medical school admission if you do not also invest time outside of the classroom learning about patients, physicians, medicine in general, and… yourself! Thus, it is important that you spend time in various health care settings to explore and confirm your interest in the medical profession.

Working or volunteering in medically related areas will help you gain a better understanding of medicine and healthcare practice, while demonstrating that you not only have a passion for your chosen health profession, but also have a concern for your community. Volunteering is an indication of your ability to give of yourself to other individuals, especially those who might be educationally or economically disadvantaged.

Shadowing (i.e., observing/following a practitioner) can help you understand what health professionals really do, where they do it, what challenges they face, etc. Through multiple shadowing experiences your goal is to become familiar with:

The University Career Center manages two canvas sites to support prospective medical school applicants:

Published medical school acceptance rates by institution can be misleading in that there are many factors to consider, including the total number of applicants from any given undergraduate institution and the screening process used by that institution in support of applicants. The University of Michigan does not have a pre-medical committee screening medical school applicants; thus, any student who wishes to apply to medical school applies independently.