Begin this at least several months before it is due, so you will have time to revise, think and revise again. Starting early can reduce the angst of completing the personal statement section. Ideally, you should have a draft completed BEFORE the application even opens. 

An essay writing workshop is offered each winter/early spring. If you can’t attend live, the recording is linked on the workshops page.   

Remember that it’s difficult to write well. Good personal statements are usually the result of the time-honored process: revision, revision, revision. You can refer to our Personal Statement Handbook for additional information. 

Current character limits for professional application essays are as follows:

• AMCAS – 5,300
• AACOMAS – 5,300
• AADSAS – 4,500
• OPTOMCAS – 4,500
• VMCAS - 3,000
• CASPA - 5,000 
  • New as of the 26/27 application cycle, there is an additional situational decision-making essay with a 2,500-character limit. 
  • The text for this essay prompt: “Emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, telemedicine, and wearable health devices are changing how clinicians deliver care. How should future PAs learn to use these tools thoughtfully while maintaining strong, human-centered relationships with patients, even in settings where technology may be limited?”

We strongly recommend having it reviewed by multiple sources before submission, including faculty, friends or relatives with strong writing skills, and other on-campus support. We highly recommend The Center for Excellence in Writing (17 Norton Hall). Students can meet with them multiple times, and they can work with you every step of the way, from formulating your ideas to reviewing drafts and everything in between. All of their tutors are excellent, but we particularly recommend reviewing their staff page and scheduling your appointment with one of their graduate-level tutors. 

You are also encouraged to work with any others that you believe can help you with your writing. For those applying to MD/PhD, you should work with your research PI on your research essay. 

You can also request a personal statement review from our office. Students are allowed only one personal statement review with Prehealth per application cycle. Therefore, we should review it last. 

Prehealth personal statement reviews will open each spring semester after drop/add week is over (For Spring 2026, that will be January 29).

Once you have your final draft and are ready for Prehealth to review it, please follow these steps. Failing to follow these steps may result in your appointment being canceled.

• As mentioned above, please create a final draft with other assistance before sending it to Prehealth, because we can only meet with you once to review it. 
• If your statement is more than 300 characters over the limit for your profession’s application, we will decline to review it. We also reserve the right to decline any statement that requires a significant amount of editing that should first be worked on with the CEW. 
• Please send us your statement as a Word document (.doc). 
• You must first email it to us at phref@buffalo.edu. Only send one draft. If you make changes after you email it to us, you cannot send another. Make sure the draft you send is the one you want us to review.
• We typically need several days to read it, especially during busy times, so you may not hear from us right away about scheduling your appointment. You will also need time to schedule and attend the appointment. Plan accordingly and submit your statement at least a few weeks before you want it completed. 
  
• After a few days, current students will receive an email invitation through Navigate with a link to schedule an appointment for a personal statement review. Please only schedule this appointment using that link. Do not schedule one on your own. Alumni who no longer have Navigate access will receive an email directly from an advisor to schedule a time. 
• Note: We will only review the draft you emailed to us. If you make any changes between when you send it and your appointment, we cannot review the new draft.