bad personal statement topic?

[dohgrl76]

---

Members do not see this ad.

so my last personal statement was pretty bland and didn't tie a lot of my activities together, so now that I'm reapplying I'm thinking about what to write. I have a strong political background, that was actually how I started my undergrad before switching to pre-med. I want to outline how I've always wanted to serve the common good, and I used to think politics was the way to do that, but I became jaded and unhappy with it and a great science professor renewed my interest in the sciences. I switched to premedicine, jumped right into the pre-reqs, shadowed a few doctors, and then was diagnosed with a chronic disease (RA) and that experience really confirmed that medicine was the right way for me to serve the common good and help people. But so far my friends that I've discussed the idea with have been turned off by the political stuff, and warned me against it. Is that really a bad idea? I mention all my political work in the EC section, so it's going to be in the app anyway. I really want to make a cohesive story of my life, and I don't see another way to do it without including the political experiences.

Thanks so much for any advice, I'm getting pretty frustrated, ha.

 

[binko]

I think there's too much emphasis on being "neutral" in the way you present yourself. If you feel strongly about something then by all means include it. Just make sure you focus on describing your experience rather than spouting platitudes. "I was very involved in political activism, and felt very strongly about x, y, and z" is different than "I support the Democratic party because I care about humanity". Dig?

 

[flip26]

Without actually reading what you have written, I have some doubts about this approach...I would avoid the appearance of being on a "soap box" with an airing of your political positions, for sure...the real motivation for your interest in medicine should not come as some sort of "default" from politics to med, and getting sick is not a good story, either...your interest in medicine should be much deeper than that...

Now if you were writing a PS for a social work program application, I think you might be on track, because that is what I think when I read your post.

Also - don't drop schools like SLU from your apps even though you got rejected last cycle...Creighton?

 

[dohgrl76]

Without actually reading what you have written, I have some doubts about this approach...I would avoid the appearance of being on a "soap box" with an airing of your political positions, for sure...the real motivation for your interest in medicine should not come as some sort of "default" from politics to med, and getting sick is not a good story, either...your interest in medicine should be much deeper than that...

Now if you were writing a PS for a social work program application, I think you might be on track, because that is what I think when I read your post.

Also - don't drop schools like SLU from your apps even though you got rejected last cycle...Creighton?

the interest in medicine part is actually what I'm worried about, because it's not deep in the sense that I haven't always known I've wanted to be a doctor. And I know in my heart that this is the right profession for me, I care passionately about women's health, I always have, I just volunteered politically for Planned Parenthood instead of considering being a doctor. So I'm having trouble conveying that Medicine is absolutely what I want to do, even though I haven't known since I was little like many other pre-meds.

p.s. I dropped SLU b/c I visited St. Louis 2 weeks ago and had a miserable time, haha. Creighton is a good idea though, thanks!

 

[flip26]

the interest in medicine part is actually what I'm worried about, because it's not deep in the sense that I haven't always known I've wanted to be a doctor. And I know in my heart that this is the right profession for me, I care passionately about women's health, I always have, I just volunteered politically for Planned Parenthood instead of considering being a doctor. So I'm having trouble conveying that Medicine is absolutely what I want to do, even though I haven't known since I was little like many other pre-meds.

p.s. I dropped SLU b/c I visited St. Louis 2 weeks ago and had a miserable time, haha. Creighton is a good idea though, thanks!

Your interest in medicine need not be long held, certainly not since Kindergarten, but it does need to be deep, well explained, and demonstrable through your activities, education, etc. Like I said, what you are describing sounds like good motivation to be a social worker, not so much a physician...and I think you have to assume that adcoms will assume the same.

FWIW, I didn't decide on this path until after college - I am applying this cycle - and I have only been out of college a couple of years, but I have written a very compelling PS (famous last words, I know)...others have read it and said so too, though...

Feel free to PM me, or shoot me a copy of your PS, and I will make suggestions...

Good luck.

 

[nick_carraway]

I think it depends on how much emphasis you place on your political interests in your essay. Together with your list of ECs, it may overshadow your dedication to clinical medicine.

Last cycle, I wrote a PS along similar lines but about my interest in becoming a university professor before realizing the interest I had in medicine. With my research-centric ECs, med school advisors commented that my app seemed more similar to a PhD application than an MD application.

Ultimately, it depends on how you work your interests into your PS. I'm supportive of the idea, FWIW. It shows a side of you that you're excited about and that excitement will likely enhance the essay.

 

[cpants]

It depends how you approach it. No one wants to read your thoughts on politics (including those who agree with them). Mentioning your involvement in political organizations that focused on your area of interest is fine. But the focus should be on your interest in women's health, not on political activities.

 

[dohgrl76]

Thanks so much for all the advice, I decided to make the politics more of a side note, and focus on my passion for women's health and how that led me to medicine. I'm feeling much better about this direction 🙂

 

[binko]

Thanks so much for all the advice, I decided to make the politics more of a side note, and focus on my passion for women's health and how that led me to medicine. I'm feeling much better about this direction 🙂

Right on, sounds like we have similar motivations.