Statement of Purpose - Admission/Application Essay Example

ment of Purpose As I stand on the threshold of my transition from the field of Physics to that of Medicine, I am keenly aware of the momentousness of this step. I am filled with a sense of adventure and anticipation. Of course, Medicine has always held a personal magnetism for me, and was very much my intended choice when I entered the University of Toronto. Over the course of my freshman year, I discovered that I possessed exceptional logical-thinking and problem-solving skills. This made me gravitate towards the most challenging major on my horizon: Physics.

This move was made in the face of advice from several well-wishers, who advocated the choice of an easier major, which would ensure high grades for inclusion in a medical application!! As a firm believer in the idea that rewards are always commensurate with challenges, my choice of Physics as a major has been justified over the past four years. I have excelled in Physics, with straight A’s, and have enjoyed every day of my academic life as a Physics and Economics double major. The turning point came during the summer I spent as a Medical Unit General Assistant at the Toronto General Hospital.

In addition to my routine office work of booking appointments for doctors and nurses and organizing documents, , I got involved in the day-to-day workings of the hospital, and spent time with the post-surgical patients. As I observed Dr. Wong, a vascular surgeon, at work, I was struck by the fact that the practice of medicine called for the very same skills of logical thinking and problem –solving, and the ability to make quick, well-thought-out decisions, which I have counted on as my strengths in my academic career.

I felt the increasingly strong pull of the medical profession. I can conceive of no other profession with greater challenges or larger rewards! There can be no greater job satisfaction than the grateful smile on the face of a patient after a successful surgery. If I needed any further confirmation that Medicine is to be my career of choice, it came in the form of my thesis project in Medical Biophysics in my fourth year, which was a fortuitous combination of Physics and Life Sciences. Under the leadership of Professor Majoribanks, from the Optical Physics department and Dr.

Lothar, a medical scientist from Princess Margaret hospital, I was involved in research which straddled the worlds of Physics and Medicine. The time I spent at the Princess Margaret hospital, developing a bio-protocol for analyzing the experimental sample, has been an eye-opener to me. Through my friendship with Carl, a MD/PHD student, I was exposed to the other face of Medicine: I became aware that the Physician is one face of Medicine and the Researcher is the other face. Hands-on care of the patient is complemented by research into the ills which plague him.

I am now increasingly fascinated by the world of medical research, just as I am keenly touched by the capacity of the medical practitioner to alleviate pain. My decision to make Medicine my career has been strengthened and fixed without doubt. I am particularly glad that my years in the study of Physics will give me a decidedly significant edge in my study of Medicine. The mathematical tools, laboratory techniques, and quantitative model building skills which I have acquired will stand me in good stead in my new field.

As a winner of the Undergraduate Student Research Award for Physics, I believe that I am particularly suited for research. My paper on the 3-Dimensional Hydrogel Cell Culture for the Study of Ultrafast-Laser Interactions with Soft Biological Tissues has been published and is further proof of my research capabilities. I have augmented these skills with an intense course reading of medical literature. I have had the good fortune to work with both physicists and doctors and receive high commendations from both.

I am confident that my background in Physics, combined with my exposure to medical research and clinical medicine, make me an ideal candidate for the medical profession. Interpersonal skills also rank among my strengths. As a keen sportsman, as the Manager of the University of Toronto’s Softball team, and as the P resident of Entertainment Art at the University of Toronto, I have developed skills in people and time management, and organization. Working with a team is also my forte. I have strong communication skills and love interacting with people from different cultures.

Each person I meet enriches my life. I am also tenacious and have a ‘never-say-die’ attitude in any situation. I firmly believe that any problem can be solved with perseverance and thought. I am confident that my background in Physics, combined with my interpersonal skills, and my constant search for challenges, will make me a doctor par excellence in the future. I see myself gaining all the knowledge and experience I possibly can over the next few years as a student of Medicine. I plan to become an MD and go on to earn a Ph.D. I am strongly attracted by the world of medical research.

I can conceive of no other field with this unlimited potential to better the life of humanity. I dream of making new breakthroughs in the field of medicine, which will alleviate pain and suffering in the world. I hope to combine the role of Physician and Researcher - to utilize my intellectual potential and to realize my dreams of making a difference to the life of all men. Healing is undoubtedly the greatest profession on earth and I hope to see the day when I realize my vision as a member of this great fraternity.