A question about PS in US elective application

[donaldtang]

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Recently I find that most US medical schools or hospitals require personal statement as a component of the application. But the requirement for personal statement is strange.
Take Cornell as an example:
"A statement of intent explaining your reason for the particular elective"
I only know that I want to take an elective in the field of internal medicine because I would like to go into that specialty. However, the electives offered are subspecialties of internal medicine, such as cardiology, nephrology, gastroenterology. And at this time, I have no idea on which subspecialty that I would like to go into. So what should I do?
In addition, since many hospitals select residency spot (not fellowship spot) candidates from those students who have participated rotation in their hospitals, don't you feel it is strange that they want you to show your preference for a particular subspecialty (not specialty)?
Thanks for any imput!

 

[Winged Scapula]

Recently I find that most US medical schools or hospitals require personal statement as a component of the application. But the requirement for personal statement is strange.
Take Cornell as an example:
"A statement of intent explaining your reason for the particular elective"
I only know that I want to take an elective in the field of internal medicine because I would like to go into that specialty. However, the electives offered are subspecialties of internal medicine, such as cardiology, nephrology, gastroenterology. And at this time, I have no idea on which subspecialty that I would like to go into. So what should I do?
In addition, since many hospitals select residency spot (not fellowship spot) candidates from those students who have participated rotation in their hospitals, don't you feel it is strange that they want you to show your preference for a particular subspecialty (not specialty)?
Thanks for any imput!

They are not asking you for a "letter of intent" to apply to that specialty. They simply want a reason why you want to do that elective in that particular specialty. You're reading to much into the requirement - they are asking "why do you want to come here for this elective?"

Think of it as a hoop to jump through - they will simply weed out a number of applicants who won't bother to complete this portion, those who's English skills are poor, etc.