tm_s

Go to Weill Cornell. They have fantastic faculty that seems to care not only about the research but the well being of their students. While I got into more prestigious and competitive programs, I haven’t crossed it off my list.

I don't think there's any right formula other than you MUST explain your research experience and research goals (show you are at least thinking of the future). This shouldn't be super detailed but show that you clearly understand WHY and WHAT you were doing. Why did it matter in the end run? Things that will also help: knowledge of faculty (mention 1-2 potential advisors) and how the specific program will help your goals (what can the school do for you? - shows you cared enough to look up their specific program/faculty). I found writing Rockefeller's application helped me write the rest of my Personal Statements. They asked two general research questions, which I then I used as my main body of my Personal Statement. You can make a general outline with few points that you want to convey in your statement. The flow of the statement should come naturally. Just imagine what faculty wants to see, the next generation of fantastic biomedical scientist! Be that visionary! I think the biggest things people don't utilize is Professors and Faculty they already know, ask them to review and critique (I didn't follow my own advice haha since I did mine pretty last minute), most serve in some form at admission or have served at some point. Take it what you will but these main points got me Cornell, Rockefeller, and Harvard BBS interviews (among others, but I was fairly selective). Research experience cannot be understated. I know for a fact top schools are now not even looking at apps that don't have a certain amount of research experience. The # of apps they've been receiving is absurd and they literally don't have the time to consider them all of them.