Blunt Personal Statement

[FutureDrB]

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I'm curious to see if anyone out there (preferably who has been accepted, but either way) has ever been just outright blunt in their PS. Obviously not rude, but I would guess that most applicant's do all they can to "warm up to" the adcoms, not just tell it like it is.

I'm not talking either about the entire PS being a rant, maybe just a sentence or two to get your point across.

Something like, I dunno, "I did X because I thought it was the best thing for me and my goal is not to impress you or anyone else with this decision."

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Don't do it. Just don't.

 

[acapnial]

"I don't care what anyone thinks of me" is probably an undesirable message to send to a medical school. Adcoms would probably interpret it to mean it's tough to get you to do what you're supposed to do.

 

[FutureDrB]

Just to be clear, the line I used was an example, it could be something completely different, I was just trying to come up with something blunt.

 

[kkosp2451]

I'm sure someone has gotten accepted with a blunt message, just based on random chance and the stars aligning in that person's favor (the adcom thinking 'wow, this is impressive'). But I feel like it's a huge risk to take because the chances that the adcom won't like it are much higher than the chances that they will.

 

[koan]

the chances that the adcom won't like it are much higher than the chances that they will.

risk >>> reward

 

[coolingglasses]

I'm gonna lean towards no.

On a dating site you can run that attitude over and over and someone will inevitably find it very charming. But you only have so many schools to apply to...

 

[Promethean]

I rolled out a pretty blunt zinger as the first line of my statement, in answer to why I wanted to be a doc. I then proceded to (hopefully?) temper that bluntness with an obvious display of seeing both sides of the issue and a willingness to work toward a mutually acceptable solution rather than just criticizing others. I am honestly quite concerned that it will backfire on me, but I have a very strong personality, and I kinda do want that on the table. I don't want to show up somewhere having given a false impression of myself and get accepted based on that.

I've always believed that if you are really honest about who you are, you will turn some people off. And you will draw some people in. And that is exactly what you want, as you will end up surrounded by allies who appreciate who you are while those who could do with out you will self-select to go elsewhere. It isn't a perfect system, it is true, since situations sometimes force people who would rather not associate to do so, but what better time to figure that out than when applying to spend 4 years or more in a place.

If a school has a culture that can't roll with actual diversity, then I would like them to pass on me.

If no school I applied wants to deal with me, then I either apply more widely next cycle or else consider whether I want to pretend to be someone I'm not next time.

 

[keels99]

I tried to go the comedic route. Worked well for me in the end

 

[FutureDrB]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Looks like the risk is greater than the possible reward. Which is sad, I wish it were more like @Promethean put it in regards to being "real" and not just outlining all the rosy things about yourself.

 

[Goro]

A faster way to get rejected is simply not send in the app. Cheaper too.

No, In all the time I've read PS's no one has come across as arrogantly blunt. Arrogance, yes, definitely not intentional, no doubt.

I'm curious to see if anyone out there (preferably who has been accepted, but either way) has ever been just outright blunt in their PS. Obviously not rude, but I would guess that most applicant's do all they can to "warm up to" the adcoms, not just tell it like it is.

I'm not talking either about the entire PS being a rant, maybe just a sentence or two to get your point across.

Something like, I dunno, "I did X because I thought it was the best thing for me and my goal is not to impress you or anyone else with this decision."

 

[coolingglasses]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Looks like the risk is greater than the possible reward. Which is sad, I wish it were more like @Promethean put it in regards to being "real" and not just outlining all the rosy things about yourself.

Part of being clever is portraying your true self in the most tactful manner possible. As you get higher along the chain and there's less on the line, you can afford to throw tact aside although you may find it works against you depending on the context.

 

[Mars41]

I don't plan on being arrogant in my ps but I will be honest and real. I definitely made some mistakes during my undergrad years. I am going to own them and not make excuses... I'll let my newfound drive and passion speak for itself.

The adcoms are intelligent people. I'm sure they can see through all the bull**** people write trying to impress them.

If I was an adcom, I would reject people for unnecessary ass kissing.

 

[motz]

Being presumptuous and tactless is one thing, but writing plainly may be a bonus. Is this correct? I'm sure adcoms read through a lot of emotional, dramatic PSs.

 

[keels99]

I just tried to be honest as possible, and felt like that played to my advantage. I wrote in a way that reflected my personality because I wanted to school to accept me for me.

 

[mrh125]

Being presumptuous and tactless is one thing, but writing plainly may be a bonus. Is this correct? I'm sure adcoms read through a lot of emotional, dramatic PSs.

correction: they read through a lot of rehearsed fluffy exaggerated personal statements that try to sound dramatic and emotional.

 

[mrh125]

Also, depending on how you define blunt it could be the best (says something which everybody thinks but dances around. that's the kind of bluntness I'm all about. I'm the kind of person who jumps in and gets to business) or worst thing ever (absolutely tactless and negative). If you have legit passion and emotion for what happened, use it. Don't make it into some hyperbolic fluffy puke like a decent amount of example PSes are.

 

[TwinsFan]

OP,
I had some self reflective blunt statements talking about the fear of giving up my career in my PS... 10 acceptances.
However, use some tact when choosing what to be blunt about and why. Your example at the top would be a bad choice to include. The point of the PS is to give the reader a 3D picture of yourself and your motivation for medicine.