Original Text (cont'd)

They tell us we need to perform shadowing – following a physician around to see what is really involved in medicine. I hope everyone is lucky enough to following a "Dr. Doe" around, at least a little. They may learn, as I did from just knowing him, that there is more to medicine than fancy offices and high technology. Somewhere there has to be compassion and caring not just for your patients, but their family also.

During her last month when she could be home and not in the hospital, he would come by our house every morning just to see how she was doing and to see if he could do anything for my stepfather, my sister, or me. He did not have to, he just wanted to. When he told us there was no hope that she could not see or hear or eat or speak, I knew that he had done everything he could. I also knew we had done everything we could for her. But it was not enough.

Revised Text (cont'd)

"Shadowing," or following a physician to see what his daily routine is like, is one of the requirements for medical students. I started shadowing Dr. Doe when I was still in high school. I hope every medical student is lucky enough to have the opportunity to shadow someone like him. If they are, they will learn, as I did, that there is more to being a doctor than golfing trips or expensive homes. First and foremost, there must be compassion for the patient and his or her family. I believe that this should be among the prime requisites for every medical school applicant.

During my mother's last month of life, when she had come home to die, Dr. Doe visited her every morning. Obviously, he didn't have to do this. He did it because he wanted to. When he finally told us that she could not see, hear, or speak any more, and that the end was near, I could hear the frustration and sadness in his voice, even though he did his best to maintain a professional exterior. Despite my own grief, I was so impressed that I resolved from then on to model myself after Dr. Doe.

(Continue)

Return to the Free Admissions Essays Index