Defining My Goals: College Admission Essay Sample

As a visionary, I create challenging goals for myself and give them top priority. I have very specific goals I wish to accomplish in medical school before earning the privilege of become a doctor. I plan to evaluate my success on not only the fulfillment of these goals but also their evolution throughout the course of my medical education.

One of my goals is to cultivate my passion for the sciences through a combination of research and learning. The field of medicine is constantly growing with the emergence of new knowledge, technologies, and medications from research. In a fast paced modern health environment, keeping up-to-date on medical innovations is necessary for doctors to provide the most effective care for their patients. I will seek a strong foundation in the basic sciences and complement my medical education with research. By taking advantage of research opportunities, I will be able to realize my creative potential, enhance my knowledge of research methodology, and prepare for a career in medical advancement and discovery.

My second goal is to develop the cultural competence needed to practice medicine in any cultural or geographic setting. The proportion of minorities in the U.S. continues to expand, increasing the need for physician-leaders who will take initiative to increase the delivery of high-quality health care to diverse populations. Doctors must be trained to respect all patients and work across cultures. As a patient advocate and Vietnamese interpreter at the Pacific Free Clinic, I have helped to provide free medical services to the uninsured and underserved patient populations in San Jose. I plan to continue my commitment to helping the underserved in medical school. I discovered that, regardless of culture, I possess a shared humanity and universal language with all people. As I pursue my medical education, I hope to enrich my understanding of how cultural differences may influence the delivery of health care.

Another goal I have is to acquire the ability to make pragmatic medical decisions. While idealism provides physicians with a philosophical basis for their practice and motivates them to provide the best care for their patients, the current health care environment requires physicians to be also aware of social and economic forces that may influence their practice. The growing cost of prescription drugs, for instance, has become a factor in the decision-making process of physicians. I hope that my medical education will prepare me to balance the costs, benefits, and risks of modern treatments.

Finally, I will evaluate my success based on my ability to work with colleagues from different backgrounds and perspectives. In the modern medical setting, treating patients often requires a collective effort among doctors, students, staff, and researchers. In medical school, I will cultivate my ability to work as a team and formulate common goals with colleagues. By participating actively in medical student groups and volunteering, I will be able to bond and share ideas with fellow classmates. Furthermore, becoming exposed to physician role models in medical school will allow me to emulate important qualities such as sensitivity and compassion.

I hope that my medical education will allow me to maximize my potential as a future physician. I also recognize that my success will depend primarily on my own personal motivation and work ethic. By setting personal goals, I will strive to make the most of my medical school experience.