Discussing "Why Medicine" in Personal Statement

[chiapet874]

I've been spending alot of time reading the various PS threads on SDN regarding HOW to write a personal statmenet and found a couple great posts (i.e. Aerospace, Depakote, and all the rest of you wonderful people)

However, the vast majority seem to suggest that in order to answer this "why medicine" question, one should discuss discrete experiences/events that led one to want to enter the medical field and discuss how said experience effected you.

I was planning on doing something a little bit different; I wanted to use a specific hobby of mine to highlight the reasons I want to go to medical school. Its a subtle difference. I'm not saying, "here is what happened and it made me what to go to medical school", but rather "here is an experience that highlights my desire to go into medical school". So for example, I would use an experience of me creating a new culinary dish to show curiosity, desire to serve other ppl, ect.

Do you think it would be alright to pursue the latter method? Sorry if I am being OCD. Thanks in advanced!

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[PMPMD]

I've been spending alot of time reading the various PS threads on SDN regarding HOW to write a personal statmenet and found a couple great posts (i.e. Aerospace, Depakote, and all the rest of you wonderful people)

However, the vast majority seem to suggest that in order to answer this "why medicine" question, one should discuss discrete experiences/events that led one to want to enter the medical field and discuss how said experience effected you.

I was planning on doing something a little bit different; I wanted to use a specific hobby of mine to highlight the reasons I want to go to medical school. Its a subtle difference. I'm not saying, "here is what happened and it made me what to go to medical school", but rather "here is an experience that highlights my desire to go into medical school". So for example, I would use an experience of me creating a new culinary dish to show curiosity, desire to serve other ppl, ect.

Do you think it would be alright to pursue the latter method? Sorry if I am being OCD. Thanks in advanced!

I think its a great idea. Adcom members get very bored reading the same essay over and over. Your idea is more original, but still covers the necessary subjects.

 

[rhesuspieces]

I like the sound of that PS, but to make sure the metaphor doesn't get too far-flung, you might want to find a concrete way to tie it into medicine. For example, instead of saying "creating a new meal always rewards my curious side, a trait that will serve me well as a doctor" try adding an example that shows how you've used your curious nature in a clinical setting.

In other words, use your hobby as a central theme from which you can jump off into medically-related anecdotes.

 

[chiapet874]

I like the sound of that PS, but to make sure the metaphor doesn't get too far-flung, you might want to find a concrete way to tie it into medicine. For example, instead of saying "creating a new meal always rewards my curious side, a trait that will serve me well as a doctor" try adding an example that shows how you've used your curious nature in a clinical setting.

In other words, use your hobby as a central theme from which you can jump off into medically-related anecdotes.

That is great advice and something that I've been having trouble with: determining to what extent I should tie the general theme of cooking into an overt statement of why I want to get into medical school.

The most trouble I am having with the above strategy is the fact that such a layout would necessitate repeating some ECs from my work/activities section onto my PS due to the nature of having to jump into medically-related anecdotes.

Thats why (to my crazed mind) I wanted to make a subtle change in how I would answer the question "why medicine". Instead of listing experiences that led me to the pursuit of medicine, I wanted to use an experience to outline some of my own characteristics (that I already have) that sync up nicely with "why" I would be interested in medicine.

 

[chiapet874]

I think its a great idea. Adcom members get very bored reading the same essay over and over. Your idea is more original, but still covers the necessary subjects.

Thanks! 🙂

 

[StudyShy]

I've been spending alot of time reading the various PS threads on SDN regarding HOW to write a personal statmenet and found a couple great posts (i.e. Aerospace, Depakote, and all the rest of you wonderful people)

However, the vast majority seem to suggest that in order to answer this "why medicine" question, one should discuss discrete experiences/events that led one to want to enter the medical field and discuss how said experience effected you.

I was planning on doing something a little bit different; I wanted to use a specific hobby of mine to highlight the reasons I want to go to medical school. Its a subtle difference. I'm not saying, "here is what happened and it made me what to go to medical school", but rather "here is an experience that highlights my desire to go into medical school". So for example, I would use an experience of me creating a new culinary dish to show curiosity, desire to serve other ppl, ect.

Do you think it would be alright to pursue the latter method? Sorry if I am being OCD. Thanks in advanced!

I have read many PS's that start off by explaining how their hobbies relate to medicine. I especially like the ones about food. 😉

 

[blizzah]

That is great advice and something that I've been having trouble with: determining to what extent I should tie the general theme of cooking into an overt statement of why I want to get into medical school.

The most trouble I am having with the above strategy is the fact that such a layout would necessitate repeating some ECs from my work/activities section onto my PS due to the nature of having to jump into medically-related anecdotes.

Thats why (to my crazed mind) I wanted to make a subtle change in how I would answer the question "why medicine". Instead of listing experiences that led me to the pursuit of medicine, I wanted to use an experience to outline some of my own characteristics (that I already have) that sync up nicely with "why" I would be interested in medicine.

Some overlap isn't a bad thing, espeically since there is limited space to describe why your EC contributed to why medicine.

 

[rhesuspieces]

Some overlap isn't a bad thing, espeically since there is limited space to describe why your EC contributed to why medicine.

Exactly. It's not like you're going to save a few EC's for some big reveal in your PS. You can repeat information as long as you aren't parroting word-for-word what you wrote in the activity description. You don't need to say "When I volunteered in the ER during summer before my junior year, I took patient vitals and organized charts. During this experience, I met a patient who..." Instead, you can just jump right in: "Volunteering in an ER, I met a patient who..."

Feel free to PM me your PS if you want another reader!

 

[chiapet874]

Exactly. It's not like you're going to save a few EC's for some big reveal in your PS. You can repeat information as long as you aren't parroting word-for-word what you wrote in the activity description. You don't need to say "When I volunteered in the ER during summer before my junior year, I took patient vitals and organized charts. During this experience, I met a patient who..." Instead, you can just jump right in: "Volunteering in an ER, I met a patient who..."

Feel free to PM me your PS if you want another reader!

I really appreciate the offer; when I get it done I certainly will take you up on it! 🙂

Thanks again SDN!