As soon as you make the decision to apply to Administrative Fellowship Programs and narrow down your list of where to apply, it's time to start the application process.
While your resume, transcript, and letters of recommendation are all important, I believe the most important part of your application - and the part that makes you stand out - is your personal statement. A quick side note on letters of recommendation - these matter! Choose people to write these letters that know you and can speak to your work ethic and character.
The personal statement can feel daunting, as each program has slightly different questions to incorporate into your writing. I started writing later in the process since I did not make the decision to apply until mid-August. I then spent most of my free time working on my applications.
Here's my advice from the perspective of going through the application process myself and then reading applications and selecting candidates for interviews on the other side:
Start by just writing your personal statement, regardless of the program you are applying to - it can be modified later for each program.
The personal statement is really where you get to tell your story and explain the reason why you want to be an Administrative Fellow.
Keep this authentic and genuine - be true to yourself! Don't try to craft an elaborate story because you think it will sound more appealing and get you an interview. Also (I mean this in the best way possible) if you are planning to write about how your parent is a physician or how you were pre-med in undergrad and then made the decision to switch, please elaborate on why healthcare administration matters to you and how doing an Administrative Fellowship is going to get you to that next step in your career/life/etc. These are the story lines we see most often and while that may genuinely be what led you to want to pursue healthcare administration, it's more about how you tell that story and why it is important to you.
Tell YOUR story - when someone is being honest and real, it shows in the personal statement. This is your chance to let the interview committee get to know you. What do you want them to know? What's unique about you? What will make them want to meet you in person?
Once you have your story on paper, it's time to modify each essay to the specific program you are applying to. THIS IS IMPORTANT. It is extra work, but it makes a difference in the interview process because otherwise it is not clear why you are applying to that specific program. If you are going to go through the process of making your list and figuring out where to apply, it is important to incorporate into your writing why this is the Administrative Fellowship program for you!
The biggest advice I can provide about the personal statement is really focusing on the WHY, including the why of that specific fellowship program, and the VALUE YOU WILL BRING to the organization.
When I wrote my personal statement, I only had a few people read it and most were my family members. I also had my professor read it (thank you to Professor Chris Louis at BUSPH who was the best sounding board and voice of reason throughout this whole process). I remember him writing in his feedback something along the lines of "take it or leave it, it's your personal statement."
This was probably some of the most important advice I received. Remember that it is your story you are telling and no one else can tell you how to do that. You have to do what works for you and follow your gut. Sometimes too many people reading your writing eliminates your voice. What makes the personal statement so unique is that it is your voice and your story to tell.