Cuss word in your personal statement?

[aznb0y129]

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Don't use swear words in your personal statement. Nuff said.

 

[dw2158]

The PS is supposed to be about you--you probably don't even need 3 quotes from physicians you shadowed let alone one with a cuss word.

After reviewing many PS's I realize so many applicants use their PS to list their great experiences and give more details about them in paragraph form...if you are quoting doc's, I'd double check you're not falling into this trap.

just to clarify, to what "trap" are you referring? i want to make sure i'm not falling into it 🙂

is it bad to use the PS to describe influential experiences in more depth? should it be more of a narrative, or what? thanks for your opinion.

 

[lmnguye4]

I love you guys 😍 Thanks for the advice. 🙂 I rewrote mine. No more cuss word 👍

 

[sevenmints]

quotes in a ps are so cliche and melodramatic... i'd avoid them at all costs.

 

[koffein]

Doc: Could you hand me my stethoscope?
Me: Which one is yours?
Doc: It's the stethoscope with the words "Bad A** mother F***er" written on it!!!!


Personal Statement Translation: "I wish to be a doctor because I want to be cool like Jules."

lol

I've never met anyone who would hesitate using "damn, crap, hell" and other soft emotional words in conversation with another person of some familiarity.

The thing with "swear words" is that they are usually used non-offensively only with people who are at least fairly okay acquaintances. If the person you are speaking with is completely unknown to you, then they will likely feel uncomfortable to some extent for imposing this more friendly style of communication. I don't think it has anything to do with morals/etiquette of social conservatives.

 

[Joaquin]

I'd scrap the idea completely. Do you want to be here in about a year asking if your application has improved enough to reapply?

I agree. This PS already sounds like the kiss of death. Don't do it.

People read these things and take them pretty seriously. So should you.

 

[Joaquin]

I love you guys 😍 Thanks for the advice. 🙂 I rewrote mine. No more cuss word 👍

oh, sorry i just read this....

that's good news!

 

[lmnguye4]

oh, sorry i just read this....

that's good news!

That's alright! Thanks for the input though! 😉

 

[pietachok]

just to clarify, to what "trap" are you referring? i want to make sure i'm not falling into it 🙂

is it bad to use the PS to describe influential experiences in more depth? should it be more of a narrative, or what? thanks for your opinion.

Yes. *If* you are really using it to hop from one experience to the next. Such PS's begin to sound like an embellished list without any cohesive theme, and they don't yield a sense of the applicant's personality or character. At the end of 5 paragraphs or so, you feel like the applicant was just bragging (big whoop to someone who's already a Dr. or seen thousands of other qualified app's).

Stay humble and remember there are thousands of applicants who have great experiences. Often the aspect that likely makes you most unique is your response to the experience not the experience itself. It is better to focus on one or two experiences that really reveal something about you and your motivations than to remind them of all 15 great things you've listed on your AMCAS.

Focusing and not "listing" will put you ahead of 50% of the PS's I see pre-editing (and remember not everybody is on SDN)...I'm pretty sure those boastful, emotionless "lists" account for a fair chunk of rejected applicants with great stats.

Just my OPINION of course!

 

[slick27]

I'd be conservative with everything about the application process.

 

[dw2158]

Yes. *If* you are really using it to hop from one experience to the next. Such PS's begin to sound like an embellished list without any cohesive theme, and they don't yield a sense of the applicant's personality or character. At the end of 5 paragraphs or so, you feel like the applicant was just bragging (big whoop to someone who's already a Dr. or seen thousands of other qualified app's).

Stay humble and remember there are thousands of applicants who have great experiences. Often the aspect that likely makes you most unique is your response to the experience not the experience itself. It is better to focus on one or two experiences that really reveal something about you and your motivations than to remind them of all 15 great things you've listed on your AMCAS.

Focusing and not "listing" will put you ahead of 50% of the PS's I see pre-editing (and remember not everybody is on SDN)...I'm pretty sure those boastful, emotionless "lists" account for a fair chunk of rejected applicants with great stats.

Just my OPINION of course!

thanks. i'm going to keep working on mine with this in mind 🙂

 

[nick_carraway]

thanks. i'm going to keep working on mine with this in mind 🙂

Listen to pietachok! I started reworking my essay after getting her critique and I'm much happier with it and my English major girlfriend is thrilled that I tossed the previous version for one that is actually viable 🙂

 

[TRN1983]

If you really want to get the point across that "****" was said, I'd suggest having it set up like so: "Blah, blah, blah.... oh [shoot]... blah, blah blah."

Having said that, IMHO I'd just avoid it altogether. Professionalism is huge, and although some may find it entertaining there are bound to be some who find it unprofessional.

 

[Virgil]

Why stop there? My PS is pretty risque, if I say so myself. It starts off like this:

As I stood there, puzzled by the look on the surgical attending's face after I made a connection between the procedure he was performing and my general physics class, he offered me some sagely advice: "Why don't you go into the kitchen, and open the fridge. Look in the back, all the way back. There's a can of soda, cold chillin'. I want you to reach back there and take it. Open it up and take a nice long drink. MMM, was good, wasn't it? Now I want you to look at the can and make sure it's a twelve ounce can, of Shut The F**k Up."

 

[NCDocWannabe]

Why stop there? My PS is pretty risque, if I say so myself. It starts off like this:

As I stood there, puzzled by the look on the surgical attending's face after I made a connection between the procedure he was performing and my general physics class, he offered me some sagely advice: "Why don't you go into the kitchen, and open the fridge. Look in the back, all the way back. There's a can of soda, cold chillin'. I want you to reach back there and take it. Open it up and take a nice long drink. MMM, was good, wasn't it? Now I want you to look at the can and make sure it's a twelve ounce can, of Shut The F**k Up."

That is hilarious, can't see how it would be appropriate in a PS, but absolutely hilarious

 

[nick_carraway]

Why stop there? My PS is pretty risque, if I say so myself. It starts off like this:

As I stood there, puzzled by the look on the surgical attending's face after I made a connection between the procedure he was performing and my general physics class, he offered me some sagely advice: "Why don't you go into the kitchen, and open the fridge. Look in the back, all the way back. There's a can of soda, cold chillin'. I want you to reach back there and take it. Open it up and take a nice long drink. MMM, was good, wasn't it? Now I want you to look at the can and make sure it's a twelve ounce can, of Shut The F**k Up."

Haha that was awesome!

 

[LizzyM]

I'm late to the party but I just want to make a few comments.

Opening a PS with an epigram (a quote from a book or a famous saying) is not done often, very seldom done well, and almost always a waste of space.

Opening a PS with what looks like a a script from ER or another TV show, is done very often and usually bores the reader (get to the point, I don't care to read a dialogue between two or more people in a clinical setting particularly if it involves a conversation in an ambulance).

Relaying a statement someone made to you by quoting them is ok. Here's an example:

"The insurance companies have taken all the joy out of practicing medicine. I don't know why you young kids want to do this." As I reflected on this comment from my uncle, I looked back at what drew me to medicine and why I still believe that it is the career for me....

 

[sarahl86]

I'm late to the party but I just want to make a few comments.

Opening a PS with an epigram (a quote from a book or a famous saying) is not done often, very seldom done well, and almost always a waste of space.

Opening a PS with what looks like a a script from ER or another TV show, is done very often and usually bores the reader (get to the point, I don't care to read a dialogue between two or more people in a clinical setting particularly if it involves a conversation in an ambulance).

Relaying a statement someone made to you by quoting them is ok. Here's an example:

"The insurance companies have taken all the joy out of practicing medicine. I don't know why you young kids want to do this." As I reflected on this comment from my uncle, I looked back at what drew me to medicine and why I still believe that it is the career for me....

And the sage speaks. You, milady, are the sole reason I wish I had found SDN waaaay sooner.

Although even saying that sounds a little weak for a PS. I wish there was a better way to not make it feel and sound cheesy.

 

[nick_carraway]

And the sage speaks. You, milady, are the sole reason I wish I had found SDN waaaay sooner.

Although even saying that sounds a little weak for a PS. I wish there was a better way to not make it feel and sound cheesy.

And thus a flock of pre-meds suddenly found their introductory sentences written for them.

 

[MadEvans]

<=== Started my PS with a quote. See MDApps (0 acceptances).

 

[nick_carraway]

<=== Started my PS with a quote. See MDApps (0 acceptances).

Your post makes me sad 🙁

 

[MadEvans]

Your post makes me sad 🙁

Your avatar makes me happy 🙂 I have a black cat that looks exactly like Koko. Her name is Olive.

Sorry to be depressing. 👎

 

[nick_carraway]

Your avatar makes me happy 🙂 I have a black cat that looks exactly like Koko. Her name is Olive.

Sorry to be depressing. 👎

Thanks! I should update the avatar but I'm a few hours away from her and I like to remember her as a spastic ball of fur and claws and teeth.

Black cats rock!