Choking on PS

[beebalm38]

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The personal statement is KILLING me. It is getting so late in the year but every essay I write is just terrible. As an undergrad, I was an excellent writer and looked forward to having papers assigned in class.
Things have been really tough for me (major housing/job issues due to being broke) and my confidence is low. I'm having a hard time selling myself while I'm mired in the stress of survival, but I MUST submit an application this year.
I think my issue is that my motivations for pursuing an MD are pretty standard, and I'm having a really terrible time not getting hung up on the idea that I'm boring. I've been through a lot in my life, but I don't want to tell every detail there is to know about me!
Please, if anyone has any advice- if you've gone through the same self torture and figured out a way to get out of it I'm all ears!

 

[Koalafied]

The personal statement is KILLING me. It is getting so late in the year but every essay I write is just terrible. As an undergrad, I was an excellent writer and looked forward to having papers assigned in class.
Things have been really tough for me (major housing/job issues due to being broke) and my confidence is low. I'm having a hard time selling myself while I'm mired in the stress of survival, but I MUST submit an application this year.
I think my issue is that my motivations for pursuing an MD are pretty standard, and I'm having a really terrible time not getting hung up on the idea that I'm boring. I've been through a lot in my life, but I don't want to tell every detail there is to know about me!
Please, if anyone has any advice- if you've gone through the same self torture and figured out a way to get out of it I'm all ears!

An effective PS is formatted:

• ¶ 1: catching intro + thesis
• ¶ 2: topic 1 demonstrating/defending thesis
• ¶ 3: topic 2 demonstrating/defending thesis
• ¶ 4: topic 3 demonstrating/defending thesis
• ¶ 5: synopsis/reflections/prospectives

Strategically, you would want to leave one or two loose ends in order to demonstrate/defend that point during the interview.😉

Ask yourself this: Would I rather be demonstrating during the interview(s) or would I rather be defending during the interview(s)?

 

[CyberMaxx]

I had a similar problem. I wrote 5 or 6 essays and wasn't satisfied with any of them. Finally, the last one I wrote I just gave up and sent it out to the people who had agreed to look at it. I wasn't happy with the draft I sent, but getting feedback on it was just what I needed. I realized what my PS looked like from someone else's perspective, and what I needed to do to improve it. I'd recommend sharing your PS and getting others opinions. Best of Luck!

 

[Noggin]

The personal statement is KILLING me. It is getting so late in the year but every essay I write is just terrible. As an undergrad, I was an excellent writer and looked forward to having papers assigned in class.
Things have been really tough for me (major housing/job issues due to being broke) and my confidence is low. I'm having a hard time selling myself while I'm mired in the stress of survival, but I MUST submit an application this year.
I think my issue is that my motivations for pursuing an MD are pretty standard, and I'm having a really terrible time not getting hung up on the idea that I'm boring. I've been through a lot in my life, but I don't want to tell every detail there is to know about me!
Please, if anyone has any advice- if you've gone through the same self torture and figured out a way to get out of it I'm all ears!

Try and think of a really unique story. It is important to use examples.

 

[rudziutki]

Bro your application will be prohibitively late at this point. Circle the wagons and submit a strong app next year.

 

[beebalm38]

"Ask yourself this: Would I rather be demonstrating during the interview(s) or would I rather be defending during the interview(s)?"

This is an excellent point, and I am grateful that you've reminded me to keep the potential interviews in mind while writing (instead of just stressing about submission). You never know- I might actually get lucky and have an interview at some point. Thanks!

 

[Koalafied]

"Ask yourself this: Would I rather be demonstrating during the interview(s) or would I rather be defending during the interview(s)?"

This is an excellent point, and I am grateful that you've reminded me to keep the potential interviews in mind while writing (instead of just stressing about submission). You never know- I might actually get lucky and have an interview at some point. Thanks!

Start free-writing! 🙂