Are there things you shouldn't put in a personal statement?

[cryhavoc]

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Mine has humor. Lots of humor. Everyone I have had read it so far has sat laughing for a lot of it. And there are parts I feel are generic but true. Someone in my family did get ill and it sparked my interest in medicine. I can't lie. It also has some childhood memories and my thinking at the time, some of which is childish. And then my thinking of the topic now.

I just feel like it is a combination of too generic at some parts (but true!) and too unconventional at others (I'm frank/humorous). I don't want to post it as I wish to stay anonymous, but can anyone who does this process give any insight? Does my personal statement sound like it might have red flags from my description of it?

 

[GomersGoToGround]

My (personal) opinion: Humor in a personal statement can sometimes be thought of as peanut butter or chocolate: lots of people love it, but I wouldn't leave every single person with peanut butter or chocolate as their only food choice, as you never know who may be severely allergic.

Not my greatest analogy, but my point is that it's often better to be safe then sorry. You never know if some people are just not having a good day, and whatever attempt at humor you have (regardless of intention or outcome), it may piss the reader off even more. It may often come as overconfidence, or lack of seriousness. Additionally, people may laugh to be polite, and not tell you that you're simply not funny.

Or, it may genuinely be very funny, and most people would like a change of pace.

No hard and fast rule, but the general consensus is to be safe, and then the humor can come out during interviews (when appropriate). Some people love it. Just take it with a grain of sodium chloride.

 

[AlteredScale]

Mine has humor. Lots of humor. Everyone I have had read it so far has sat laughing for a lot of it. And there are parts I feel are generic but true. Someone in my family did get ill and it sparked my interest in medicine. I can't lie. It also has some childhood memories and my thinking at the time, some of which is childish. And then my thinking of the topic now.

I just feel like it is a combination of too generic at some parts (but true!) and too unconventional at others (I'm frank/humorous). I don't want to post it as I wish to stay anonymous, but can anyone who does this process give any insight? Does my personal statement sound like it might have red flags from my description of it?

Can you PM me a draft of it? I can give you better feedback.

 

[Prettywoman0172]

My personal statement has been called "risky." I'm still going with it because it tells my story. It is wholly, truthfully, "why medicine," and I love the way it turned out. Some people will love it, others not so much. But you can't please everyone 🙂

 

[cactus8910]

The humor is risky, especially if there is a LOT of it, as you say there is. It might click with some people, but it could also give the impression that you aren't taking the application process seriously. You may want to cut most of the humor out, but leave a bit so that your personality still comes through.
In terms of the generic bit, I think it's okay to talk about the cliche reasons of someone you know getting ill or wanting to help people, IF you go into more detail and really talk about what you learned from it/how it inspired you. The key is to stand out in a good way. For you, it sounds like that'll be a balance of sharing unique/humorous stories and maintaining a sense of seriousness.

 

[EvenStevens]

A lot of "good" humor is ineffective in writing. So I think theres a good chance what you wrote won't be read in the manner in which it will come off funny

 

[AspiringERMD]

I opened mine with an excerpt (a cute one, if I do say so myself) of a poem I wrote at age 11 about why I wanted to go into EM. (I still do, though I am totally open to changing my mind in med school.) I wouldn't have played the "always wanted to be a doctor" cliché angle even the very little I did, except I actually had a totally unrelated career first.

It apparently made at least a few people laugh, because I have six interviews so far 😀

 

[Mad Jack]

Mine was nothing but sad anecdotes that led me down this path. Worked well enough.

 

[CharlieKelly]

Can i read it?

 

[mimelim]

Your personal statement is the only part of your application in which you get to brag directly to the admissions committee about yourself. You should present yourself in the best light possible. If your personal statement makes people want to meet you and work with you, it is an effective personal statement. You can't appease everyone. That isn't the point. But, while your friends and family might find it funny, realize that admissions committees are looking at this in a vacuum and don't know you. Do you think that we are looking for a comedian for our class or something else?

 

[cryhavoc]

I'm going to keep one joke and erase the rest.

 

[tima]

I'm going to keep one joke and erase the rest.

Sometimes comedy can backfire. I am sure you have seen some say a joke but no one laughed. The person made himself look like a tool.

 

[cryhavoc]

A little light-hearted humor about how I viewed medicine as a little kid does not seem like it would bar me from medical school, especially as I use it to introduce when I did get into medicine and how it changed my views. That's just good story-telling.

But you guys are accepted so I guess you know what you're talking about more than me. Guess I should get rid of that too . . .