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[BoomerDoctor]

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[Jalby]

Part of the reason I totally stopped doing that.

 

[efex101]

Yup, not worth the pain.

 

[Neuronix]

This is the same reason why I don't student host anymore.

 

[ms2209]

Although I haven't asked anyone on SDN to read my statement, I have asked people for advice before, so in case I didn't express it enough then, I truly appreciated your guidance! Especially since I'm a nervous wreck most of the time! Thanks so so much for your help, and please don't think that since some of the people are rude/less than thankful that the rest of us don't appreciate what you do for us here at SDN. We love you guys! 😍

 

[SaltySqueegee]

Hilarious!

This was the exact topic of the Seinfeld on Fox at 11 last night. Jerry refused to say a post-receival thank you after attending box seats to the rangers/devils hockey game.

His premise: I already said thank you, and it should be understood that I am appreciative! I wont say thank you after the fact, if I already said it before!

LOL

Needless to say, he finally broke down and called to thank the guy for the gift, just to try to get another set of tickets for the playoffs between the devils and the rangers. But alas, he was too late, and could only squeeze nose-bleed section tickets.

Word of advice! Always give a pre-gift and post-gift thank you. It won't hurt. 👍 😀

 

[IndyZX]

ok, well, i guess i understand where you guys are coming from...

itd be nice to get some feedback on my PS though, i sent it to three people and i havent even gotten a read receipt.

 

[nuttyp3]

bluedevilchica,

I apologize for your woes, its scary that "future" doctors could be so compassion-less. I was wondering, though, how I could get my personal statement read? I promise to lavish the reader(s) with gratitude and thanks.

 

[efex101]

PM me and I will do it today...I am bored out of my mind.

 

[felipe5]

yes, PM me as well today.....work is going EXTREMELY slow

 

[dmk724]

bluedevilchica,

I apologize for your woes, its scary that "future" doctors could be so compassion-less. I was wondering, though, how I could get my personal statement read? I promise to lavish the reader(s) with gratitude and thanks.

Sure, send it along.

 

[NubianPrincess]

I haven't quite finished my personal statement yet, but I wanted to express my appreciation for people like you guys who take the time to help others along in this process.

 

[bigdan]

I think one of the joys of doing things like helping edit the PS is doing it NOT expecting a "thanks"...no one forces us to do it, and those that do say thanks look all the kinder.

dc

 

[elephunt]

Apologize for my ignorance, I'm new to this forum...if I would like my personal statement to be read, is there a specific thread I should go to? Or should I just start a new thread that says, "Please read my statement"? Sorry, I'm pretty new at this.

And thanks to all who take the time to post tips/advice/encouragement, it is much appreciated!!! 😍

 

[Brickhouse]

Apologize for my ignorance, I'm new to this forum...if I would like my personal statement to be read, is there a specific thread I should go to? Or should I just start a new thread that says, "Please read my statement"? Sorry, I'm pretty new at this.

And thanks to all who take the time to post tips/advice/encouragement, it is much appreciated!!! 😍

You can just start a thread that asks people to read it and usually a few people will offer to help.

And my thoughts on helping - you should offer help without expecting anything in return. That is what giving is all about.

 

[cather]

I would be happy to read anyone's personal statements. People on SDN helped me out last year with writing the personal statement so I would be happy to help out people writing it now.

 

[cpb80]

😡

Is it so hard to say thank you?

I have looked at, read over, even corrected quite a few personal statements. Some students were nice enough to write back and thank me...and to those who did, this message is not for you.

However, I find it QUITE RUDE that so many of you refuse to write back or even acknowledge what some of us are willing to take the time to do. Reading over/correcting these things is no picnic, and I certainly don't do it for fun. I do it because I remember what it was like to apply, and I want to help you all in any way I can. But frankly this is getting ridiculous. I have almost had it.

I dont expect you to laud me with praise. Those two magical words "thank you" have such power and meaning, didn't your mothers teach you anything?

I hope you received my reply...In any event- thanks again for your help and advice 😳)

 

[Gleevec]

I think one of the joys of doing things like helping edit the PS is doing it NOT expecting a "thanks"...no one forces us to do it, and those that do say thanks look all the kinder.

dc

I dont think bluedevilchica or anyone else is doing this to get the "thanks," they do it because we want to help people out. But to just duck and run as soon as we've edited your PSes is like a "wham bam thank you mam."

You guys don't even call the next morning. 🙁

Im exaggerating, but it doesnt hurt to say "thanks." And with electronic communication, its so freaking easy.

 

[Realest]

I think one of the joys of doing things like helping edit the PS is doing it NOT expecting a "thanks"...no one forces us to do it, and those that do say thanks look all the kinder.

dc

I totally agree. I don't think he's saying that you're editing PSes for the gratitude, but you are doing it on your own will, and whether it's because you're bored or because you're just nice and want to help, you shouldn't be expecting a thanks. You should re-evaluate your comments on how this sort of ingratitude that miffs you means these people will not make good doctors. What kind of doctor will YOU make if you're expecting all your patients to even smile when they come in to see you? There will be people who will turn around and sue you right after you've saved their life. Editting a PS is a very small favor compared to the kind of "favors" you'll be handing out as a doctor - nobody's asking you personally to do either, and you're welcome to refuse/ignore, but don't go b****ing about it when you willinging take such responsibilities upon yourself.

 

[kings2]

Ditto on the appreciation. Anyone who reads personal statements is wonderful. I extend my thank you to all of you! Its a draining process and it is refreshing to see that people to genuinely like to help each other.

thanks again guys

kings

I would be happy to read anyone's personal statements. People on SDN helped me out last year with writing the personal statement so I would be happy to help out people writing it now.

 

[jlee9531]

you guys do know that there is a thread out there with names of people that are willing to read personal statements? just search for it.

ive done a ton too, and for the most people have been cool. and if there is no thanks at the end, its prolly cause they did what jerry did...a pre gift thank you haha.

but anyways...now that im done with all of them so far...i can get back to writing a letter to my gf. 🙂

 

[Neuronix]

I remember something else that irked me about reading personal statements. If you're going to send it to me, at least make sure it's proofread and complete. I frequently get them and it's like the person just threw something together. It's not logical, coherent, proper grammar, etc... Sometimes it's not even long enough. Then, I take alot of time correcting the whole thing when it's just going to get all changed aound anyways.

My point? Please don't send us first drafts. It's your personal statement, please do most of the work on it.

 

[Newquagmire]

sorry to zombify this thread, but i thought i should mention that i understand where the OP is coming from. most of the people i've edited for this year seem to be people who have JUST signed up with the express intent of only finding complete strangers to read their PS and make comments. and several of them haven't even mentioned receiving my response, nor do i expect to see them contributing to these forums.

so what? i'd rather get an honest, real "thanks" than a social pleasantry. maybe that's just my style. in the aftermath of this thread, i've been getting overly flowery "thank yous" that make me cringe. maybe i should give them the benefit of doubt.

and hey, reading PSs has made me more aware of the deficiencies and unoriginalities that I wrote last year. some of the ones i've read have really interesting stories too! maybe i got the lucky pile. half the time, i even feel like i should apologize because i'm a brutal editor...

back to my point: if you don't want to do it, don't do it. go in with low expectations (yes, even no "thanks" expected) and you'll be more pleased with what you get.

 

[Brickhouse]

sorry to zombify this thread....

Zombify!! 👍

 

[NubianPrincess]

That was funny 😀

 

[NubianPrincess]

That was funny 😀

Crap that was my 500th post and I missed it! 😡

 

[Anka]

I like getting thanked after I spend upwards of five hours reading a personal statement. I guess that means I'm just doing it for the gratitude, eh? 😡

Patients are different; I expect courtesy from future professionals.

Anka

 

[Gleevec]

I totally agree. I don't think he's saying that you're editing PSes for the gratitude, but you are doing it on your own will, and whether it's because you're bored or because you're just nice and want to help, you shouldn't be expecting a thanks. You should re-evaluate your comments on how this sort of ingratitude that miffs you means these people will not make good doctors. What kind of doctor will YOU make if you're expecting all your patients to even smile when they come in to see you? There will be people who will turn around and sue you right after you've saved their life. Editting a PS is a very small favor compared to the kind of "favors" you'll be handing out as a doctor - nobody's asking you personally to do either, and you're welcome to refuse/ignore, but don't go b****ing about it when you willinging take such responsibilities upon yourself.

Wow, not a single thing you said in your post is the least bit logical or accurate.

Give us a break, no one is going to feel better about themselves if some random person gives us a thanks for reading their PS. It really is done out of pure generosity.

Hmm, Im trying to respond to your post logically, but there is so little in the way of clear thought or accuracy in your statement that there really isnt much to say but.

WTF you talkin' bout Willis?

 

[on_the_fence]

ok, i DON'T edit a statement just because I want to receive a "thanks". Of course we aren't forced to do this, and I think this is something the premeds either don't realize or don't care about. ...students take advantage of your time and don't bother to answer, I feel like I've wasted a lot of valuable time.

I totally understand where you are coming from -- I've never edited a PS, but I've done lots of college papers for friends/relatives. It has almost gotten to the point where they expect it -- it just makes me want to say, "Oops, my ability to edit just slipped out the window." I also work in a writing center at school -- there are so many people who come in there without even having proof-read their paper -- and then they expect you to just fix everything for them. A thanks if always appreciated -- it makes my day better and it should make the other person's day better too...m 😀

 

[Cerbernator]

how bout thanking me for the opportunity to read my brilliant work? HUH? WHERE ARE MY THANKS?


(😉)

 

[Jillianrae]

I've had pretty good luck with the whole thanks thing. Having worked at as both an editor and a Writing Center consultant, I'm used to not getting thanked (and to dealing with stressed out writers). Over the past 3 weeks, I've read over 20 personal statements and I'd say about 75% of the time I've received an e-mail or a PM from the student thanking me. Some of them have asked me to look at their revised statements or even look over EC paragraphs.

That being said, regardless of the fact that those of us doing the reading are doing it of our own free will, it is nice when the students at least acknowledge that we've taken time out of our lives (our rather busy lives afterall many of us are med students) to help them out. It's a common courtsey to thank someone who goes out of his/her way to help you. Most of us are doing this because we remember what it is like to be in the position of the applicant.

And to those of you who say that expecting a thank-you is unreasonable as a physician... Whenever I've shadowed a physician either as a pre-med or as part of my medical school curriculum, ALMOST ALL of the patients have thanked the physician. As a physician I won't expect my patients to thank me, but chances are a lot of them will.

It's sad to see so many people so defensive about something that should be considered common courtesy.

 

[DrSal]

Hmmmm...interesting. I did thank those people who read over my PS...some much later than others tho. I thanked them all when i submitted my AMCAS just to let them know that my little baby is on it's journey, thanks to their help.

And by the way for all the wonderful folks who did read my PS...i thanked you BEFORE i read this thread 😉

I love SDN 😍

 

[Realest]

Wow, not a single thing you said in your post is the least bit logical or accurate.

Give us a break, no one is going to feel better about themselves if some random person gives us a thanks for reading their PS. It really is done out of pure generosity.

Hmm, Im trying to respond to your post logically, but there is so little in the way of clear thought or accuracy in your statement that there really isnt much to say but.

WTF you talkin' bout Willis?

Why don't you tell me exactly what you find illogical? Your post is vague and pointless. First off, I think you meant "it is really done out of pure courtesy" and if that is so, then it shouldn't be expected. What are my points? Let me spell it out clearly for you, since I understand that some of us are a little slow on the uptake...

1) You're doing this on your own will, and on your own time. If you don't like doing it, then don't. It's really quite simple.

im willing to take such responsibilities of editing statements upon myself but i wanted to give a heads up to the premeds that this kind of thing will not last if all the SDNer's get fed up and refuse to do it any longer.QUOTE]

Cry me a friggin river bluedevil - you whine more than my 7 year old sister. First off, I'm sure these people have other proofreading sources, and do not rely solely upon your feedback. Advisors, peers, professors, and parents could all be at their disposal, making YOU...*ahem*...disposeable. Secondly, if these kids cannot make simple edits to their PSes, then they must not care enough about medical school, and I can't understand why on Earth you would want to act like their grade school teacher spellchecking and fixing obvious grammatical errors they should be able to handle alone . Why are you helping incompetent fools join the ranks of the worthy? Oooor maybe they only expect simple feedback on the content or structure of their essays. If you honestly like correcting papers and "helping people" so much, maybe you should reconsider your career. I, on the other hand, would prefer to focus on my real job and be the best student or doctor possible.

2) You have no grounds for making any judgements on the type of doctor a seemingly ungrateful person will make. Gratitude has nothing to do with compassion.

3) Accuracy? Here's some accuracy Gleevac - my dad is being sued after 15 years of solid practice by a patient whose life he saved - why? Because the man was so fat that while he was anesthetized, one of his nerves got pinched under the pressure of his weight, and now he's brought it up three years after the surgery, mind you, a surgery for which he never even paid anyway. If you think this is an isolated event, then you too should pick another career, because it happens a hell of a lot. Medicine is a noble profession precisely because you are giving people one of the most important things possible - their health. And you're doing it without expecting anything more than their money (which you will not always get either). If you truly like helping people, whether it is as a doctor or proofreader for fellow SDNers, then you take pleasure in simply knowing that you have positively impacted their life. That's your motivation to continue your work. Not the few people that show their appreciation and remember the favor, although that sometimes helps as well.

You guys say you don't expect thanks for looking over PSes, but then why threaten to stop in the absence of gratitude: "i wanted to give a heads up to the premeds that this kind of thing will not last if all the SDNer's get fed up and refuse to do it any longer." You want a cookie? Get off your high horse - you're an anonymous proofreader. For all they know, you're some cutthroat competitor looking to screw them over. What makes your comments so legitimate that they should feel obligated to write back to you? It may be common courtesy, but like common sense, it's not all that common, so get used to it.

 

[Gleevec]

Realest, you're just trolling around now.

Also, if you really feel that the behavior you advocate is the socially acceptable one, by all means, act concordantly during your clinical rotations, residency, fellowship, and when you work. Im sure your mentors will absolutely love being unappreciated for all the hard work they put into you.

Finally, Realest, its simple common courtesy. If this is too foreign a concept to you (based on your trollish post, it might be), then there really is nothing ANYONE on this thread can say to show you otherwise. I guess common courtesy isnt so common anyone, is it?

 

[thewebthsp]

This thread is amusing. A lot of people have very fragile skins.

If I got fed up with proofreading, I'd just stop doing it. In fact, while I don't mind helping out on one rewrite, I won't do more than that. Plus, I think I will only do about 10 or so, and then just decline afterwards. As for pleasantries, I can see why some people might want that, but I don't care either way. Now food on the other hand...

 

[footcramp]

you should offer help without expecting anything in return. That is what giving is all about.

why do you say that?

 

[footcramp]

it's like the person just threw something together. It's not logical, coherent, proper grammar, etc... Sometimes it's not even long enough.

just a hunch but i think some of those may be their final drafts.

 

[Realest]

DUDE, why do you always feel the need to get hostile? I never said I'm their only feedback source...so what if they have the WORLD proofreading their work? That doesn't mean they should take advantage of SDN help when it is they who sought us out for proofreading. You talk about things with such a self-righteous, holier than thou attitude...


And I love how you just ignored my question so I'll throw it at you again: Have YOU taken the time to proofread and correct a bunch of personal statements? do YOU know what its like to do 10-20 of them with the majority of them not even responding to your message? I seriously doubt it considering you have only been with SDN since April with little over 10 posts. get off YOUR high horse.

DUDE, clearly you need things spelt out for you, so here goes. You act like people are hopeless without your (that's you and SDN in general) criticisms, as evidenced by your threats to stop proofreading their essays, so that is why I said to step off your pedestal. I did answer your question - I said I would rather do my real job (student, doctor, whatever) the best I can rather than waste my time on work from which I get no satisfaction (proofreading essays). Which means, (now listen closely, I'm going to say it nice and slow): no, I have not proofread a bunch of personal statements. I would not enjoy it, and I have no desire to help people in that way. However, if I did, then I would not complain if I was not thanked, no matter how hard or long I worked on them.

you are COMPLETELY MISSING IT. I'm completely psyched about medical school, BUT I feel it is very important to help others along the way because I've surely gotten my share of help when I needed it. What are you saying? Would you rather just do your own thing and not help anyone? What kind of person/doctor would that make you ?

I will be an excellent doctor. I enjoy helping people in those ways I am most capable of doing. I enjoy tutoring my peers, and so I have served as a TA. You get some nice kids, and like you have experienced, some kids that don't appreciate the fact that you're staying an extra hour past your normal schedule to give them a hand. But because I truly enjoy it, I really don't care, nor do I post signs around the study center reminding them to thank me before they leave. It would seem that you like proofreading essays, but then again, that is contingent upon the amount of gratitude you receive in return.

True, they are totally different things. BUT there is something seriously wrong with someone's character if they never show gratitude. I stand by my statements.

I'm sorry your dad is being sued. Unfortunately this does happen a lot in the medical profession. But still, I am not talking about doctor and patient relations here. I'm talking about relations between colleagues, my peers in medical school.

If you are not talking about doctor-patient relations, then why would you even try to extrapolate people's lack of gratitude into this realm in the first place. This is so common on SDN, and it's just plain stupid - people will try to refute other's arguments with "...and you're going to make a crappy doctor." Even if you are referring to relations between colleagues/peers, it's the same thing. Apparently where you come from, everyone emphatically greets/thanks one another (probably with plastic smiles and through gritted teeth). My main point is, if you're doing someone a favor you are not obligated to do, then you should not be expecting anything in return.

Unfortunately you may be accurate in saying that common courtesy is not all that common. The moral degradation in our society is reprehensible. but not everyone is cut out to be doctors. maybe people without common courtesy should not be doctors.

Maybe they should offer a course on common courtesy in medical school. It is obviously an essential part of being a good doctor. In fact, I propose that they add a separate 70 minute section on common courtesy to the MCAT. Weed em out early, right?

Gleevac, it's been a pleasure to read your posts - I've been in need of a good laugh. I love how you never make a point or refute my argument, but rather sputter weak insults. Kudos to you, child.

Oh, and I did just join SDN, and I only have 10 or so posts, because I find this wastes my time more than anything else (but you apparently have nothing better to do than to count the hairs on your a$$). Anyway, this was a fun little debate, much different from the typical "non-trad vs. trad" and "AA: for, or against?" Sorry for getting on your nerves, it was a nice diversion while it lasted. Good luck on those essays!!!!!

 

[Newquagmire]

Thank you for wording so nicely what I have been trying to express all along. Gleevec, Jillianrae, on_the_fence, Anka, newQuagmire, and neuronix, you guys rock!!!!

you're welcome, i guess, but i was actually disagreeing with you...

 

[Rugger81]

Anyone out there willing to read a PS? I want to get the opinion of someone who doesn't know me.