Another Doctor that likes to dance

[Millz]

Hi all!

Question about personal statement: I have been dancing on and off since I was about six, and have even competed a little in high school. In college, I'm currently on 4 dance teams and am the president of two of them. I haven't experienced any injuries, or anything that would allow me to link it to medicine. My only link would be that I use it to stay healthy (I've always struggled with my weight), and it's the one of the only avenues that really works for me--so a connection to working with what is effective, but actually feasible with the patient in terms of treatment. I've also learned a lot about leadership, dedication, discipline, organization, communication and teamwork from the groups, which will help when I become a doctor (knock on wood). I was wondering if this was worth mentioning as a component of my personal statement, or if I should just leave it in the experiences section? Since it's such a huge chunk of my time at school, I wonder if it would be a red flag to adcoms if I didn't mention it there. I also wanted to add it in since it's something I'm passionate about and would help me standout, but not sure if there's really a place for it here. Thanks!

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[xd42069]

I think this is more suited for your experiences section, where you can list this as one of your most meaningful experiences and expand upon the leadership, dedication, and other things you mentioned.

Edit: If you think you're reaching to connect it to medicine, others will probably think the same. Don't force the connection. It's perfectly fine to have a passion that doesn't have a direct connection to medicine. The experiences you've had and skills you've gained through dance are still important. And when you expand upon it, you don't have to try and link every skill to medicine either (e.g. I learned to be a leader, which will help me as a physician. I learned discipline, which will help me as a physician, etc.). People will be able to make that connection themselves. Remember - show and do not tell.

 

[Catalystik]

Question about personal statement: I have been dancing on and off since I was about six, and have even competed a little in high school. In college, I'm currently on 4 dance teams and am the president of two of them. I haven't experienced any injuries, or anything that would allow me to link it to medicine. My only link would be that I use it to stay healthy (I've always struggled with my weight), and it's the one of the only avenues that really works for me--so a connection to working with what is effective, but actually feasible with the patient in terms of treatment. I've also learned a lot about leadership, dedication, discipline, organization, communication and teamwork from the groups, which will help when I become a doctor (knock on wood). I was wondering if this was worth mentioning as a component of my personal statement, or if I should just leave it in the experiences section? Since it's such a huge chunk of my time at school, I wonder if it would be a red flag to adcoms if I didn't mention it there. Thanks!

If dance wasn't a part of your path to medicine, then leave it out of the Personal Statement. You'll have room in the Experiences section to break it down into its multiple components if you choose to (Artistic Endeavor, Leadership, Teaching) and can gain even more space for description by using the "Most Meaningful" designation (getting an additional 1325 characters, for up to three experiences, above the usual 700).

 

[Suprachiasmatik]

9/10 doctors agree that dancing is predictive of a high USMLE score.

In all seriousness, just focus on getting getting a high MCAT/GPA and finding/paying for some strong letters of recommendation. If you want to show leadership, you better clearly incorporate it with medicine somehow, otherwise I wouldn't even bother mentioning it considering how competitive med school applications are nowadays.

 

[Suprachiasmatik]

Leadership experiences need not have anything to do with medicine to strengthen an application.

In today's ultra competitive environment, I would advise prospective students to tie at least some of their leadership experience to medicine if they have the opportunity to do so. Employing elaborate mental gymnastics to link dance to medicine is a foolish strategy, in my opinion.

 

[Lawpy]

In today's ultra competitive environment, I would advise prospective students to tie at least some of their leadership experience to medicine if they have the opportunity to do so. Employing elaborate mental gymnastics to link dance to medicine is a foolish strategy, in my opinion.

Somehow I don't think this is necessary. I think adcoms at competitive places care so much more on how applicants distinguish themselves and have very strong applications. This is why career changers with strong numbers and usual activities can have a lot of success even at top schools, because they have a lot of interesting, non-medical things to talk about in secondaries and interviews.

Basically, adcoms already know applicants applying to medical school are interested in pursuing medicine, and they want to see something else interesting and unique about them that's not medically related. So applicants don't have to tie any of their leadership experiences to medicine to be successful.

 

[Suprachiasmatik]

Somehow I don't think this is necessary. I think adcoms at competitive places care so much more on how applicants distinguish themselves and have very strong applications. This is why career changers with strong numbers and usual activities can have a lot of success even at top schools, because they have a lot of interesting, non-medical things to talk about in secondaries and interviews.

Basically, adcoms already know applicants applying to medical school are interested in pursuing medicine, and they want to see something else interesting and unique about them that's not medically related. So applicants don't have to tie any of their leadership experiences to medicine to be successful.

No, applicants don't have to do anything besides complete an undergraduate major and take the MCAT. All I'm saying is that there is a certain formula that many have followed that has led to success. Deviate from it significantly at your own risk. Perhaps the risk will be met with reward, but there are no guarantees.

IMO, gauging an individual's suitability and aptitude for a given discipline by placing weight on unrelated activities is illogical, but perhaps that is the state of affairs of medical school admissions.