career switch (science to medicine) in personal statement

[huihui]

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I know a lot of Adcoms are ph.d.s. If I say anything bad about research, it's not acceptable. Is it OK that I write something like this---"Although I loved research, I felt there is something missing..Although I know basic reseach is very important, but I when I was claiming my reseach is so important for XX disease, I did not know when my research could be used in clinic one day.Is it considered saying something bad about research? At least it looks like I'm not confident in the value of basic research.
But if I don't write that, then how can I explain why I don't just stick with research? Just because I want to care for patients more directly and want to become a physician scientist?
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[235788]

it shouldn't be a problem as long as you are respectful. Yes, many of them are Ph.D's. I got asked at two interviews why MD instead of PhD? Which is awkward when you're telling a PhD why you didn't want to become one.

 

[mirimonster]

Since I'm a career-changer myself, here's how I thought about it. The question is "why medicine?" Not "why not research". Focus on the positive side of your research and how it will make you a better doctor. Lots of schools like to see research without expecting an explanation on why you didn't want to stick with it. Going into a long discussion about how you didn't like something, even if you put it nicely can come off negative. So instead of I didn't see how my research could be used in clinic some day" instead, make it more along the lines of I wanted to be on the other side of my research, seeing the direct effect on patient care... Does that make sense? My 2 cents. It's hard to be specific without knowing your exact situation. Just spin everything into why it will make you a better doctor. Focus on medicine, not the field you left.

 

[RedSox10]

Since I'm a career-changer myself, here's how I thought about it. The question is "why medicine?" Not "why not research". Focus on the positive side of your research and how it will make you a better doctor. Lots of schools like to see research without expecting an explanation on why you didn't want to stick with it. Going into a long discussion about how you didn't like something, even if you put it nicely can come off negative. So instead of I didn't see how my research could be used in clinic some day" instead, make it more along the lines of I wanted to be on the other side of my research, seeing the direct effect on patient care... Does that make sense? My 2 cents. It's hard to be specific without knowing your exact situation. Just spin everything into why it will make you a better doctor. Focus on medicine, not the field you left.

I agree 10x. Don't put a negative spin on research. You want to make it seem like all of your experiences have molded you to the person you are today and all those experiences will work towards making you a more capable physician. How did research help? It taught you the scientific method, gave you attention to detail. Great! Those are wonderful aspects for a doctor. Something like, "I would like to apply research in a way that I can help patients in a clinical setting...."

 

[huihui]

Thanks a lot for all the suggestions. I also feel that saying I'm not sure whether my research can be used clinically one day seems negative.

 

[baltimoreman]

Just to clarify, are you guys saying OP shouldn't explain why she is changing careers in the personal statement?

 

[theseeker4]

Just to clarify, are you guys saying OP shouldn't explain why she is changing careers in the personal statement?

I don't think that is the advice at all. OP should make sure he or she isn't criticizing or putting down research while describing why he or she is switching to medicine. The "why medicine" question would certainly have to address why the OP is changing from scientific research to medicine.

 

[TheToothsayer]

Another perspective is that the PhD on the admissions team is doing that either part or full time! Even PhDs need to get away from their subject for a while. Be respectful and you will be fine.

I liked the idea of focusing on why medicine compared to why not research.

 

[mirimonster]

I don't think that is the advice at all. OP should make sure he or she isn't criticizing or putting down research while describing why he or she is switching to medicine. The "why medicine" question would certainly have to address why the OP is changing from scientific research to medicine.

Exactly. It can come into the statement without being negative. If you spend too much time discussing why you left a field, it focuses all the attentions on the negatives of the previous field, which is not good regardless of whether it's research or something else altogether. Focusing on the positives and why you want to pursue medicine should be your first priority. The point is to switch focus to why the field that you're leaving gave you a good experience that will help you become a better doctor, with only a very short (like one sentence max) "but that field wasn't enough for me", if necessary. Most likely your previous career was important to you reaching that conclusion, and should be included, but more as a "this experience led me..." rather than a "I didn't like this experience enough to stay so...."