Do I need to completely rewrite my personal statement for reapplication?

[PamSpammer]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I will be primarily reapplying to DO schools and I was just wondering if I need to completely rewrite my personal statement. Or can I put in a paragraph of how I have improved my application? I will also be applying to schools I haven't even applied to before. Thoughts?

 

[mathnerd88]

You have to completely rewrite your PS, but you can keep the basic idea the same. You'll have to reword everything, and don't be lazy and copy and paste your old one.

 

[Snoozer33]

You have to completely rewrite your PS, but you can keep the basic idea the same. You'll have to reword everything, and don't be lazy and copy and paste your old one.

That may not be necessary. How many schools did you apply too? Are you planning on applying to the same schools next year? If you only applied to 1 or 2, you may be ok. Last cycle, I only applied to 4 schools. I used the same PS this cycle and received multiple acceptances (I applied really late last cycle). If you applied broadly, re-write it.

 

[PamSpammer]

I wonder if ADCOMS throw out apps that reuse the same personal statement. My situation was different as I applied super late. I really like my personal statement and I don't know how I can improve it. @Goro

 

[Moose A Moose]

Give it an overhaul with the same basic idea if you don't want to start from scratch.

 

[Goro]

This is something more in the realm of our wily old Admissions Dean. Adcom members and interviewers do not have access to previous years' files.

I wonder if ADCOMS throw out apps that reuse the same personal statement. My situation was different as I applied super late. I really like my personal statement and I don't know how I can improve it. @Goro

 

[icarus2847]

I will be primarily reapplying to DO schools and I was just wondering if I need to completely rewrite my personal statement. Or can I put in a paragraph of how I have improved my application? I will also be applying to schools I haven't even applied to before. Thoughts?

I don't know if it's the same for DO (I imagine it is), but I have been told by a Dean of Admissions that was giving advice about applying, that re-using the same personal statement from the previous year looks really lazy. The personal statement is something that requires significant introspection and time to write. Can you really say that from a year ago, you haven't changed at all as a person? You're exactly the same? -- that's the question that's asked in response to your question - so I've been told. They also ask (if they're receiving your application for the second time), why should they seriously reconsider your application if you didn't want to put in some effort in re-writing something from a year ago? -- Yes they may relook at your app, but it puts a sour taste in their mouths. Sure you can use the general theme and even anecdotes from it, but I would re-write it. I guess technically you could re-use it verbatim if you were applying to entirely new schools, but if you're re-applying to the same schools, it's kind of a waste of an application in my opinion. Even so, I would hope that your application has changed in some way since last year that you have some new experiences to reflect on or that even influence how you view past experiences that you could incorporate into your statement. Hope this helps and good luck!

 

[DrMikeP]

It didn't get you in before, so when in doubt? Just rewrite it. You've grown/improved some, I hope.

 

[FutureD.O]

I will be primarily reapplying to DO schools and I was just wondering if I need to completely rewrite my personal statement. Or can I put in a paragraph of how I have improved my application? I will also be applying to schools I haven't even applied to before. Thoughts?

Most people will tell you that you must, I got around 6 or 7 interviews only changing a few words of my PS. My situation may have been unique though. For starters, I didn't submit any secondaries the first time around (terrible first mcat attempt followed by an SIGNIFICANT improvement for the second cycle), and I felt very strongly about my personal statement. It very accurately described my introduction to medicine and why I wanted to become a physician. In my opinion it was a very strong PS.

 

[DrMikeP]

Most people will tell you that you must, I got around 6 or 7 interviews only changing a few words of my PS. My situation may have been unique though. For starters, I didn't submit any secondaries the first time around (terrible first mcat attempt followed by an SIGNIFICANT improvement for the second cycle), and I felt very strongly about my personal statement. It very accurately described my introduction to medicine and why I wanted to become a physician. In my opinion it was a very strong PS.

Many programs don't even look at your application until they get a secondary.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[FutureD.O]

Many programs don't even look at your application until they get a secondary.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Well, if that's the case, I was definitely right about my case being at least relatively unique!