Do you need to rewrite your personal statement if reapplying to a given school?

[doc.Junior]

Question for adcoms: Assuming the last statement was good, is it expected that you have to write a whole new primary essay if the last one was already good (and, you know, truly reflected your core personality/relevant history/goals)? Same question for secondaries.

(I am reapplying to schools this round. I am pretty confident I wrote a very good primary essay when I first applied, but some of my stats weren't as good--they are now. )


(PS: I get that maybe some adcom might consider rewriting as "showing how you've grown/learned so much since last time", but honestly, the bigger part of my journey to get here/reasons are already crystallized. It was just a few classes/MCAT I had to improve. I can fake that it was so inspiring and revolutionary if that's what people are into, but honestly seems more genuine to just use what I made before. Not being lazy. Just don't want to trip over some unspoken heuristic.)

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[Goro]

Complete rewrite? No
Tweak it? Yes

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Calling @LindaAccepted

I lean more to critically looking at your entire essay and be prepared to totally rewrite it. With the new Other Impactful Experience essay available, you may need to rewrite it entirely anyway. (We don't have your essay to know.)

This is especially true if you got no IIs from last cycle. We can't tell here if your writing has anything to do with it... but it probably did...

Will we compare your essay from last year to this year. I would have said no... had ChatGPT not come into play.

 

[gyngyn]

Please don't make me read the same thing twice!

 

[LindaAccepted]

Calling @LindaAccepted

I lean more to critically looking at your entire essay and be prepared to totally rewrite it. With the new Other Impactful Experience essay available, you may need to rewrite it entirely anyway. (We don't have your essay to know.)

This is especially true if you got no IIs from last cycle. We can't tell here if your writing has anything to do with it... but it probably did...

Will we compare your essay from last year to this year. I would have said no... had ChatGPT not come into play.

Thanks for tagging me @Mr.Smile12

I discourage copying and pasting last year's essay into your reapplication for the following reasons:

1) As Mr. Smile points out, the rest of your application will change or should change because the application has changed. That may mean that your W/A section will highlight different things (and should do so). In addition there is the new, optional "Other Impactful Experience" essay, which may or may not be applicable to you. It may also duplicate some material found currently in your PS, which means you will need to change your PS.
2) Even if that's not the case and your essay is excellent, there are very few writers who feel their writing can't be improved when reading it a year later. (As I wrote in an earlier post, Winston Churchill rarely edited what he wrote, but there are very few Churchills applying to med school.)
3). I have interviewed many med school admissions deans and directors for Admissions Straight Talk, Accepted's podcast. Most feel that wholesale reusing your PS and activities conveys laziness. They discouraged it.
4). Finally, copy-and-paste of your previous PS and the other written portions of the application prevents you from showing growth and dynamism.

Even if stats were the the sole reason for rejection last time, which you can't be sure of, you certainly don't want them to interpret a reuse of your PS as laziness or lack of growth. And if there is room for improvement this time around, take advantage of it.

I'll get off my soapbox now.

 

[doc.Junior]

Please allow me to fill in a little more detail: I already had a career, and I have had a number of very significant experiences that truly shaped my desire to become a physician. So, the last year was really just a blip on the radar. I didn't really learn anything new about myself--I've had enough academic and life experiences to teach me what me strengths/weaknesses are, how to "dig deep, and work harder to overcome challenges"/etc. So, I just feel like, in contrast with the stuff I wrote about before, it would seem silly to take out meaningful stuff just to insert content about/play up the comparatively trivial experience of "I didn't have this class before, now I do".

Does it change anything knowing that I have already had a career and that several experienced folks told me that I had a top-notch essay/experiences already? (I.e., I guess the context I'm trying to convey about myself as an applicant is: I am not a fresh undergrad who erroneously presumes his essay was good without qualified feedback; I didn't do bad in the subjects and need to grow as a student--I just didn't have them on my transcript, and did okay self-studied on the MCAT without them.)

@Goro are we talking like a couple sentences at the end that communicate that I know I'm supposed to mention "what's changed" since last app, or like tweaking the entire essay in each paragraph, along a new theme?

Thanks for your consideration.

 

[Goro]

Mention what's new.

 

[LindaAccepted]

Please allow me to fill in a little more detail: I already had a career, and I have had a number of very significant experiences that truly shaped my desire to become a physician. So, the last year was really just a blip on the radar. I didn't really learn anything new about myself--I've had enough academic and life experiences to teach me what me strengths/weaknesses are, how to "dig deep, and work harder to overcome challenges"/etc. So, I just feel like, in contrast with the stuff I wrote about before, it would seem silly to take out meaningful stuff just to insert content about/play up the comparatively trivial experience of "I didn't have this class before, now I do".

Does it change anything knowing that I have already had a career and that several experienced folks told me that I had a top-notch essay/experiences already? (I.e., I guess the context I'm trying to convey about myself as an applicant is: I am not a fresh undergrad who erroneously presumes his essay was good without qualified feedback; I didn't do bad in the subjects and need to grow as a student--I just didn't have them on my transcript, and did okay self-studied on the MCAT without them.)

@Goro are we talking like a couple sentences at the end that communicate that I know I'm supposed to mention "what's changed" since last app, or like tweaking the entire essay in each paragraph, along a new theme?

Thanks for your consideration.

See @Goro's answer to your question.

The context does help and frankly it's hard to give specific advice on an application one hasn't read. However, I still believe that you should reread your PS with a critical eye. If it's not perfect, it can be improved. Furthermore, your PS is not going to be read in a vacuum. It's part of a larger whole, and that whole has changed a little because AAMC made changes. Is your app going to change to address the changes? Will those changes necessitate changes to your PS?

Finally, if nothing significant has happened other than your taking some classes, you're right that you don't have to go into much depth regarding the last year. However, you will then be telegraphing that you haven't done much other than take a few classes to further your interest in medicine. Are you OK with that? is that what you want to convey?

 

[anonymous426]

N=1 but I didn’t change my PS when I reapplied, just added one small paragraph. I liked my essay and knew it was good. I got a lot more IIs the second time!

 

[doc.Junior]

N=1 but I didn’t change my PS when I reapplied, just added one small paragraph. I liked my essay and knew it was good. I got a lot more IIs the second time!

Thanks for sharing~~

 

[doc.Junior]

See @Goro's answer to your question.

The context does help and frankly it's hard to give specific advice on an application one hasn't read. However, I still believe that you should reread your PS with a critical eye. If it's not perfect, it can be improved. Furthermore, your PS is not going to be read in a vacuum. It's part of a larger whole, and that whole has changed a little because AAMC made changes. Is your app going to change to address the changes? Will those changes necessitate changes to your PS?

Finally, if nothing significant has happened other than your taking some classes, you're right that you don't have to go into much depth regarding the last year. However, you will then be telegraphing that you haven't done much other than take a few classes to further your interest in medicine. Are you OK with that? is that what you want to convey?

Thanks so much. I really appreciate your thoughtful and discerning feedback to all of our unique situations. I gave it some thought--I will add a little content and mention some things I did in the field of medicine over the last year too--just to telegraph continuity/progression. I took some time and realized that this is reasonable, and I would probably want to see it too if I were an adcom, just to at least fill in the blank. It's hard to discipline yourself to "tick all the boxes" in this process, but I understand it.

@LindaAccepted May I ask what new AAMC changes are you referencing, please? Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything; there's a lot to keep on top of 🙂

 

[doc.Junior]

Thanks for sharing~~

Ooh! Important follow up question: did you change your experience essays, for those that remained in your application from the time prior?

@LindaAccepted @Goro Same question here: do I need to update my experience essays for the experiences I'm keeping? These are more static, compared to your overall personal statement, since they already happened, and I've summarized what I thought about them. (Again, I fully understand that if I wrote them poorly they should change--but, that aside/assuming I did not do poorly there...)

 

[Goro]

Ooh! Important follow up question: did you change your experience essays, for those that remained in your application from the time prior?

@LindaAccepted @Goro Same question here: do I need to update my experience essays for the experiences I'm keeping?

Nope, only add new ones

 

[LindaAccepted]

Thanks so much. I really appreciate your thoughtful and discerning feedback to all of our unique situations. I gave it some thought--I will add a little content and mention some things I did in the field of medicine over the last year too--just to telegraph continuity/progression. I took some time and realized that this is reasonable, and I would probably want to see it too if I were an adcom, just to at least fill in the blank. It's hard to discipline yourself to "tick all the boxes" in this process, but I understand it.

@LindaAccepted May I ask what new AAMC changes are you referencing, please? Just want to make sure I'm not missing anything; there's a lot to keep on top of 🙂

Thanks for your gracious response. I know my response was not what you wanted to hear. I think your approach now makes sense.

There are several minor changes to the AMCAS app. Rather than list them, please see AAMC's own summary, which is at 2024 AMCAS® Updates and FAQs .

Best,
Linda

 

[LindaAccepted]

Nope, only add new ones

Please note that if you add new activities, you may need to combine some old ones or drop some. I also would look at the activities (and secondaries if you apply to the same programs) with the same critical eye I mentioned for the PS. Especially the MMEs.

Best,
Linda

 

[JAK2-STAT3]

Piggybacking off this thread, what sorts of application improvements do adcoms expect to see from reapplicants who failed to convert multiple interviews into an acceptance? I assume new/improved essays, but what’s the standard for improvement for an applicant who was already good enough on paper? Asking for a friend…

 

[chilly_md]

Piggybacking off this thread, what sorts of application improvements do adcoms expect to see from reapplicants who failed to convert multiple interviews into an acceptance? I assume new/improved essays, but what’s the standard for improvement for an applicant who was already good enough on paper? Asking for a friend…

Focus mostly on interview skills. Add some new schools if possible.

 

[LindaAccepted]

Piggybacking off this thread, what sorts of application improvements do adcoms expect to see from reapplicants who failed to convert multiple interviews into an acceptance? I assume new/improved essays, but what’s the standard for improvement for an applicant who was already good enough on paper? Asking for a friend…

Most school have acceptance rates of 25 - 50% (and sometimes a little higher) for interviewed candidates. If an applicant can't turn 1 out of 4 interviews into an acceptance, I recommend interview coaching and mock interviews. There could be other issues, but that stat would indicate weak interview skills.

 

[JAK2-STAT3]

Focus mostly on interview skills. Add some new schools if possible.

Most school have acceptance rates of 25 - 50% (and sometimes a little higher) for interviewed candidates. If an applicant can't turn 1 out of 4 interviews into an acceptance, I recommend interview coaching and mock interviews. There could be other issues, but that stat would indicate weak interview skills.

Thank you! If I understand you correctly, it sounds like a lack of majorly significant improvement in terms of stats/ECs can be forgiven, and it’s just a matter of hoping one gets a chance to redo interviews.

 

[Goro]

Piggybacking off this thread, what sorts of application improvements do adcoms expect to see from reapplicants who failed to convert multiple interviews into an acceptance? I assume new/improved essays, but what’s the standard for improvement for an applicant who was already good enough on paper? Asking for a friend…

That situation says more interview skills are needed, not app improvement.

 

[anonymous426]

Ooh! Important follow up question: did you change your experience essays, for those that remained in your application from the time prior?

@LindaAccepted @Goro Same question here: do I need to update my experience essays for the experiences I'm keeping? These are more static, compared to your overall personal statement, since they already happened, and I've summarized what I thought about them. (Again, I fully understand that if I wrote them poorly they should change--but, that aside/assuming I did not do poorly there...)

I did not change any of my experience essays, I just added a new one and dropped one of the weaker ones.

 

[LindaAccepted]

Thank you! If I understand you correctly, it sounds like a lack of majorly significant improvement in terms of stats/ECs can be forgiven, and it’s just a matter of hoping one gets a chance to redo interviews.

Sorry. I didn't mean to imply that at all. (You're actually motivating me to do a podcast on reapplication. 🙂 ) The fact that your friend got several interviews and couldn't convert even one, tells me that interview skills may be weak. Does it mean that the rest of the application must have been good enough to get interview invitations? yes. Does it mean it can't be improved? Absolutely not.

A reapplicant needs to examine their qualifications and their presentations of their qualifications overall. It can be a very expensive mistake to assume that only one or the other was lacking.

"Qualifications" includes academics (GPA, MCAT, courses, grade trend, etc.) as well as clinical exposure, commitment to service, fit with the program's values and mission, and sometimes (but not always) research. "Presentation" includes the primary application (PS, MME, activities), secondary essays, and the interview. An SJT is also frequently in the mix too.

Finally, school choice is critical. If you are applying to a bunch of programs that don't take OOS applicants or only rarely accept them and you are OOS, you're probably not applying strategically. That needs to be fixed on reapplication. Also, if you apply to research-oriented schools and don't have research, it's a problem that will reduce likelihood of acceptance. If one or more of your stats are significantly below a school's average, you should change the schools you are applying to. And then there is timing. Apply early in the cycle.

Thanks for asking for clarification.