[Disclaimer: I personally think this essay is mediocre at best. However, this was given to medical students to use as the only example personal statement at a medical school which shall remain nameless.]

I believe that no patient can be treated in isolation of the family and environment. Familiarity with the family system is essential in performing complete assessment and treatment of a patient's condition. For this reason, Family Practice is the most comprehensive and therefore, most attractive type of medicine to me.

I am attracted by the dedication of the practice to preventive medicine. I prefer to be proactive rather than reactive in the area of health care, encouraging patients to become health conscious through education and life-style modification.

The Family Practice physician has opportunities to work with patients from the prenatal stage through the geriatric stage of life. The ability to manage the health care of patients in these different age groups is challenging in terms of continuing medical education. In order to be proficient in a wide range of areas, the Family Practitioner must strive to be current in multiple disciplines. I find this challenge intellectually appealing.

The third year and fourth year of medical school introduced me to a variety of medical disciplines. I would like to maintain skills in several of these areas. Family Practice is the specialty that allows me to achieve that goal best.

I enjoy interacting with people. My proficiency in communicating with patients, families, and other health care providers was noted in almost every evaluation of my third year rotations. I have found Family Practitioners to be kind, patient, and easy to interact with. These attributes are important, and I believe that I possess them. Living abroad, travelling extensively, teaching individuals from other countries as a volunteer, and working in a corporate environment have taught me ways to interact with a broad spectrum of people. My extensive life experience, combined with my newly-acquired medical knowledge, has prepared me for a career in Family Practice.