2006-2007 Personal Statement Help Thread

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mustangsally65 said:
PM one or more of the people still on the list on the first page of this thread.

kapaduch, I would definitely re-write your statement. Schools keep copies of old applications and the last thing they want to see is the same essay. Even if it was great. If you could write a great essay last year then you can write another great one for this year.
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yes but I was wondering if anyone would reply because I don't want to bombard people if they are already busy.
 
kristy117 said:
yes but I was wondering if anyone would reply because I don't want to bombard people if they are already busy.
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you can read my profile, and if you agree to the terms, go ahead and pm it to me. 😎
 
Please add me to the list of editors. I just finished the MS1 year. Qualifications include BA in biology and chemistry, PhD in chemistry and an MBA so I can relate to people emerging from a variety of backgrounds. I edited personal statements for people in the 2006 application cycle.

July 13th:
Sorry, no more for now. I have too much on my plate.

July 23rd:
OK, I can read a few more. Send them pasted into SDN emails.
 
Please remove my name. I'm going to finish going through all of the PS people have sent me, but my schedule is starting to fill up and I will be on vacation soon. Thanks! I enjoyed reading everyone's statements!
 
I attempted to PM several people to read my PS, but everytime I tried it said I didn't have that option. Is it because I'm new and have less that 10 posts?
 
Sorry all, but I've been swamped with PS's from SDNers. And with finals coming up, I don't have time to read any more. I'll update later if my schedule has more free time. Good luck everyone!

Oh, and if someone could take me off the list for now, that would be much appreciated.
 
Thank you to those of you who've read my PS. 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
 
mustangsally65, can you please remove my name from the list? thanks!
 
I'd like to mention that I won't be accepting any brand new statements on friday 6/2 or saturday 6/3. I need to catch up...I received 7 (all of which I will look at tonight and tomw) today and I was at a long job interview all day so I am behind. I will accept new ones again starting on sunday 6/4.

Edited to add: I am all caught up and I got the job. 😳
 
No mas. I am swamped. Plus we are moving in one week and we are packing, taking care of business, and negotiating the complex beauracratic cluster-**** inflicted on anybody who tries to leave Duke.

I swear, it's worse than a bad break-up.

Please, no more PSs.
 
Please take my name off the list

I've been flooded with inquiries and I can't possibly look over every single one sent. I need to work through the ones I have thus far.
 
I am offering my advice. For those of you who don't know me, I am a non-traditional student.

I will only be able to give feedback on direction, tone and reability. So good for people who are early in the writing process and need to bounce ideas off another person.

What I can't do, is correct spelling and grammar. I am complete crap at these things so I can not help you with the polish on essays.
 
signomi said:
I'd like to mention that I won't be accepting any brand new statements on friday 6/2 or saturday 6/3. I need to catch up...I received 7 (all of which I will look at tonight and tomw) today and I was at a long job interview all day so I am behind. I will accept new ones again starting on sunday 6/4.

Edited to add: I am all caught up and I got the job. 😳
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Edited 6/5: I have been trying to get on here all day, but it has been sooooo slow my computer times out and so did my mother's. I can't accept any more statements 6/5 or 6/6 or 6/7. I will be out of town on another interview and I won't have internet access. So, if you don't hear from me...that's why. Podunk does not have WiFi.

Edited yet again: I will be out of town on another interview 6/12 and 6/13 so please do not send any PSs to me either day. Slightly-bigger-than-podunk does not have WiFi and the gd Hilton was full. But I'm not bitter. :meanie:

Edited 6/14: I am back from yet another interview and yet another job offer. While I contemplate said offers :scared: and the meaning of life, I am available again.
 
Hey...

I'm getting swamped, and need to catch up. Please take me off the list for awhile...

Thanks!
 
I'm really tired of my PS...I've gone through more than 10 hardcore revisions and I'm ready to submit AMCAS. The problem is, I just showed it to a family friend who used to be on the adcom of my state school...he's taking a while though and I'm antsy to submit asap. How long should I wait for him? I really want to submit as early as possible. Thanks for the advice.
 
who else is still available? i've sent my ps to 3+ ppl almost 2 wks ago and no one has replied even with a simple critique. 🙁
 
Hey guys, take me off for now. I don't have time in the next few weeks.

-DS
 
This is a mass spam because I don't have the time to reply individually.

To everyone who has pm'ed me to read their PS. Sorry I have taken so long to get back with you. At first the SDN's server problems kept me from replying when I had time. Then I had to make a sudden move back to Michigan this weekend. So that has kept me busy.

I will be getting to them as soon as possible. I suspect I will have them all done within the next 24 to 48 hours.
 
hmm... said:
who else is still available? i've sent my ps to 3+ ppl almost 2 wks ago and no one has replied even with a simple critique. 🙁
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Bump...?

I don't think it sounds like anyone's really up for editing any more, but... is anyone still willing...? Sorry guys, I know everyone's busy and had way too much thrown at them... but is anyone willing...?
 
mustangsally was nice enough to critique mine. I wonder if there are any more people who are willing. it seems the enthusiasm has waned down. i wonder if ppl are willing to do just a critique and not g&s editing
 
I'm still reading statements. Email me if you need someone to read over it. bdf at uchicago dot edu
 
PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME YOUR PS. I HAVE RECEIVED 5 IN THE PAST WEEK.

I AM NO LONGER READING PERSONAL STATEMENTS.

Hell, I'm not even going to med school. :laugh:

Good luck everyone.
 
I'm out. Don't send me any more, please. I'm getting married on Saturday and spending the following week in the Caribbean. I tried to catch up with all the PSs in my inbox, but I'm done now.
 
Thanks to the three people who read mine! I really appreciate it!
 
TheProwler said:
I'm out. Don't send me any more, please. I'm getting married on Saturday and spending the following week in the Caribbean.
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Congrats!
 
Hey All,

I am a fellow applicant for '07. I have completed my PS and AMCAS, just waiting on MCAT score from April. I work full-time, where I do a lot of writing and reading for my current position. I have some time during my days here to read and edit your essays as I am at the computer 90% of my day. I am 24 years old, and have been married for 2 years. My husband recently graduated from law school. So, if you are still in college and working on your personal statement, I may be able to offer the limited "life insight" I have gained. If you are a fellow non-trad, send it over as well--you know what they say about birds of a feather.

PM me and I will give you my email to send your essay to (AS AN MS WORD DOC) if you need a quick edit. I will do everything I can to get it back to you same day.

Finally, do NOT, I repeat do NOT send me your ROUGH DRAFT! I cannot spend three hours on your essay fixing things that you could fix with spell check and "The Elements of Style." If you have HONESTLY reviewed your PS and have it as GOOD as YOU can get it, then send it. If it has a TON of spelling errors I can't deal with that. Sorry.

So far I have done quite a few and have returned them same-day. :luck:
 
jackieMD2007 said:
Hey All,

I am a fellow applicant for '07. I have completed my PS and AMCAS, just waiting on MCAT score from April.

I work full-time, where I do a lot of writing and reading for my current position. I have some time during my days here to read and edit your essays as I am at the computer 90% of my day.

I am 24 years old, and have been married for 2 years. My husband recently graduated from law school.

So if you are still in college and working on your personal statement, I may be able to offer the limited "life insight" I have gained. If you are a fellow non-trad, send it over as well--you know what they say about birds of a feather.

PM me and I will give you my email to send your essay to if you need a quick edit. I will do everything I can to get it back to you same day
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Hi,

I know what its like going through this so if you need help with your PS, i'll be glad to help. Shoot me a PM with your essay. I do a ton of reading, have interviewed and seen other PS's before, edited essays in college and was also an editor. When it flows and you have an interesting story (its all in how you tell it!) it WILL get their attention.. and thats precisely what you want to separate you from the rest.

Let me know when you need it by, and good luck applicants 🙂
 
HGUJAL@something !!!!!

You emailed me your PS and I read it and replied and your email system is rejecting my email! I deleted your PM, so I don't know your name here to PM you back! Please Pm or email me so I can get you my response. Otherwise you shall be waiting in vain.
 
I am starting med school in the fall, and writing has always been one of my strengths (e.g. S on MCAT writing section). I may make suggestions on content, but I will especially be able to help with effective writing: flow, wording, grammar, etc. PM if you need help and I'll respond as soon as I can. G’luck everyone!!!
 
For the time being, I cannot accept any more PSs. I still have TONS that I have not responded to yet and I intend to get through every single one that has already been sent. To the people who have been waiting on me for a while... I'm sorry but I am still in class and will finally be done after my last exam tomorrow afternoon. After that, I will begin to go through the extensive list of PSs I have to read and will respond in the order they were sent. Hang in there and if you happened to already submit and have not heard back from me yet, let me know so I don't take the time to do it for no reason and/or don't freak you out by sending you edits to something you already submitted. Thanks... for later submitters, feel free to contact me AFTER I post here again saying I'm freed up. 🙂
 
Hi guys,
I'm a CS major going to apply MSTP.
Q: Should the personal statement for MD talk about research whatsoever when the MD/PhD and the 10000 character research essay kinda covers it?

Also, is it wise to say I want to be a radiologist, either inteventional or diagnostic? I'm an engineer(CS) so this specialty speaks to me. However, it is considered a support specialty and I feel reviewers may look down upon the choice, despite its increasing importance in patient care. i.e "You don't really want to take care of patients" when I want to, just that I'll help the field more being a leader rather than a practitioner.

After that ramble, would appreciate any thoughts.
 
durfen said:
Hi guys,
I'm a CS major going to apply MSTP.
Q: Should the personal statement for MD talk about research whatsoever when the MD/PhD and the 10000 character research essay kinda covers it?

Also, is it wise to say I want to be a radiologist, either inteventional or diagnostic? I'm an engineer(CS) so this specialty speaks to me. However, it is considered a support specialty and I feel reviewers may look down upon the choice, despite its increasing importance in patient care. i.e "You don't really want to take care of patients" when I want to, just that I'll help the field more being a leader rather than a practitioner.

After that ramble, would appreciate any thoughts.
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Yes, mention your research in the MD essay as well. If you get rejected from MSTP programs, they often take all the MSTP-specific stuff out of your file so it'll be a level playing field with all the MD-only applicants. The same thing might happen at schools that make the MD committee accept you independently of the MSTP adcom. Just keep it to a very high level explanation of your experience (like what was the rationale for doing the project? how does it demonstrate your potential for success in a career in medicine? etc.), don't explain individual experiments, and avoid overlap as much as possible.

And as far as mentioning that you want to become a radiologist, it begs the questions from the adcoms: How the hell do you know you want to be a radiologist when you haven't even started med school yet? Is this guy close minded? Not open to new opportunities? etc. It's nice to have some specialties in mind, cause that discussion will come up on interviews, but I'd recommend against pigeon-holing yourself into one specialty on your PS, since you won't be there to elaborate and/or answer their concerns.
 
Bluntman said:
Yes, mention your research in the MD essay as well. If you get rejected from MSTP programs, they often take all the MSTP-specific stuff out of your file so it'll be a level playing field with all the MD-only applicants. The same thing might happen at schools that make the MD committee accept you independently of the MSTP adcom. Just keep it to a very high level explanation of your experience (like what was the rationale for doing the project? how does it demonstrate your potential for success in a career in medicine? etc.), don't explain individual experiments, and avoid overlap as much as possible.
..........
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Thanks a lot man. So far both talk about research at a high level, but one tracks it to being a doctor, the other to being a physician scientist. I have enough stuff for no overlap. I had exactly the same problem with the radiologist thing, but was wondering if it might be an advantage, clearly not. As you said, I do expect it to come up. Again thanks, makes me feel a bit better about the MD statement.

Do you recommend professional services (would cost ~$180)?
 
I need some PS help, anyone willing? Thanks
 
durfen said:
Thanks a lot man. So far both talk about research at a high level, but one tracks it to being a doctor, the other to being a physician scientist. I have enough stuff for no overlap. I had exactly the same problem with the radiologist thing, but was wondering if it might be an advantage, clearly not. As you said, I do expect it to come up. Again thanks, makes me feel a bit better about the MD statement.

Do you recommend professional services (would cost ~$180)?
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Glad to help, man. PM me if you ever need anything. Also, if you haven't discovered them already, the physician scientist forum here on SDN and mdphds.org are also great resources for MSTP applicants.

Pretty much everybody on these boards agrees that the professional personal statement services are not worth it. Get some people who are close to you, but who you can still trust to give an honest critique, to read it and you'll be good to go. (i.e. profs, PIs, premed friends, docs you shadowed, but probably not your mom 😉 )
 
would anyone be willing to read my personal statement?
 
I am willing to read some personal statements.

[email protected]

I guess I was supposed to include some credentials. Starting school as an MSI in August. I have a lot of experience with essay writing. Got a 13 on VR last year. If you want you may send me your essay--let me know what kind of critiques you are looking for.
 
I need to remove my name. I cannot read anymore new PSs; I will review any changes in ones I have already read. I am currently packing up my life and moving. Complete disarray here. :scared:

Oh and if anyone sees my gerbil, tell him to get his butt back here. 😉
 
Bluntman said:
Glad to help, man. PM me if you ever need anything. Also, if you haven't discovered them already, the physician scientist forum here on SDN and mdphds.org are also great resources for MSTP applicants.

Pretty much everybody on these boards agrees that the professional personal statement services are not worth it. Get some people who are close to you, but who you can still trust to give an honest critique, to read it and you'll be good to go. (i.e. profs, PIs, premed friends, docs you shadowed, but probably not your mom 😉 )
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Too late, I've already given it to EssayEdge. $180's not that much really, considering. I'll post if they give any good input. That said, I have got one of my advisors, a couple of fellows, and my family to review it.

Is it ok to change a bit of information in order to respect the patient's privacy? I know I wouldn't want some freckled pre-med writing my case exactly into his personal statement....especially if my case is unique....similar should be ok...
 
Hi Guys,

Longtime lurker, first time poster here. Is anbody willing to read my PS? I would really really really appreciate it!
 
I have a question about the essays section in general.

The first paragraph of all three of my amcas essays is never indented. How do I fix that?

If i can't fix it, is it a problem?

Thanks
 
dave613 said:
I have a question about the essays section in general.

The first paragraph of all three of my amcas essays is never indented. How do I fix that?

If i can't fix it, is it a problem?

Thanks
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It automatically takes out the indent, so don't worry about it and save your characters.
 
So wait, you're supposed to talk about research that you've done and to not mention any specialties that you want to do? I ask because the research you've done is really in your EC's and I thought you weren't supposed to repeat anything that's elsewhere on your application (I'm talking about for MD-only, though). I mean, yeah you can briefly mention research in broad terms, but I wouldn't go into detail unless it really impacted you. Also, I'm mentioning the specialty I am interested in pursuing and why. Just my opinion though, and I am applying now, so I might not know what I'm talking about in terms of what it takes to succeed.

Anyone interested in reading my PS and critiquing it? I've PMed a few people and they never got back to me so I feel weird just PMing random people from this point on and asking them to help out. It's my final version, one that I've been working on for the past few weeks with guidance from friends and professors, and if I don't hear anything from anyone, I'm going to submit it as is.
 
I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be able to help with PS statements. With recovering from an accident, moving to a new state, and starting med school I hardly have time for anything! Good luck with the application process.
 
Please take me off of the list. I need to finish the last few re-edits that I have and then get cracking on secondaries. I am already up to my ears in secondaries! EEEE!
Good luck to everyone.
 
I have noticed a lot of people are saying they are done accepting PS's. Who all is out there that still wants to review them. All I would like is for someone to check for grammar. Thanks!
 
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