A Guide to Medical School Personal Statements
The recording will load in a moment.
The admissions process is hard - Robbie is here to help!
Schedule a free consulation to meet Robbie and get your questions answered
Get help with:
The admissions process is hard - Robbie is here to help!
Schedule a free consulation to meet Robbie and get your questions answered
Get help with:
Interested in working with Robbie?
Learn about the entire admissions process from a top expert
Get help with:
Get your essay reviewed by an expert
CollegeVine’s network of admissions experts have helped students write essays that stand out to admissions officers. Work with an expert today to craft the perfect essay.
Submit my essay for reviewAbout this livestream

Join CollegeVine advisor, Robbie Herbst, for guidance on crafting an effective personal statement for medical school applications. It covers choosing a topic, highlighting relevant experiences, and conveying one's motivation and passion for the field. Participants will gain insights into what admissions committees look for in a strong personal statement and tips for standing out in the application process!
Education
Dartmouth College, CU BoulderBio
Hello! I am a writer, editor, and violinist, and for the past seven years I've coached students writing college essays.When I was in college (Dartmouth '16), I became interested in creative writing. During my time there, I won the student awards for best Short Story and Best Creative Work by a Senior. I also founded the campus literary magazine. After graduating, I channelled my passion for writing and editing into the world of admissions, and I began working with rising high school seniors in 2016. Since then, I've worked with all sorts of students including transfers, veterans, students applying for med/graduate school, students taking gap years, as well as more traditional undergraduate applicants.
In the 2022-2023 application cycle, my students received admission from Stanford, Duke, Northwester, UVA, Carnegie Mellon, Tufts, Bates, Vanderbilt, Case Western Reserve, and many others.
In my parallel life, I am a violinist, and I play with a number of groups in and around the Chicago area, notably the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. I graduated from CU Boulder with my Masters of Music in 2019 and my Artist Diploma in 2021.
I also write fiction - which has been published in magazines like CRAFT and New World Writing - and won or been nominated for several awards including the Lorian Hemmingway Short Story Prize. The breadth of my writing experience has given me insights into the editorial process, and I know my students benefit from it.
Specialties
EconomicsEducationHistoryInternational RelationsCommunicationsJournalismFilm and PhotographyMusicArtDesignLanguagePhilosophyCreative WritingUndergrad College: Georgetown University '21
Major: History; Minors in French and Russian
Work Experience: The college applications process is all about responding to one question: who are you? I am passionate about helping students craft a creative answer. I have been helping students gain admission to the T25 schools of their dreams since 2018, when I first started working for CollegeVine as an Applications Consultant, and later, blog writer. Soon after graduating from Georgetown, I started my own company to make college advising my career. I currently mentor students through one-on-one consulting sessions and essay editing.
My Admissions Story: My admissions journey began with a desire to dive into the humanities and have an adventure of self-discovery. I applied to East Coast liberal arts schools that value creativity and specialize in teaching languages, history, and international affairs. One thin deferral letter came in the fall, a thicker envelope came in the spring, and with that, I was accepted to my dream school — Georgetown University!