Does it look bad to write that I'm a perfectionist in my personal statement?

[malikhind]

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Hi, was wondering if it seems cocky or pretentious to write that I'm a perfectionist in my personal statement.

 

[Moose A Moose]

Ehhhhhhh.

Careful.

I guess if you can deliver it really well.

 

[deleted678432]

Not cocky or pretentious, but unoriginal and cliche. Everybody in dentistry is a “perfectionist”

 

[allantois]

Is that why you want to be a dentist?

 

[DMDDDSHopeful]

I can’t speak for adcoms and nobody here can either (unless they serve as one or something similar). I don’t think you should say it. Everyone says it and nobody/nothing is perfect. It would be a turnoff I feel. However, do what feels right for you.

 

[deleted480308]

Hi, was wondering if it seems cocky or pretentious to write that I'm a perfectionist in my personal statement.

Do you have a 4.0?

 

[oralcare123]

Yes

 

[PhansterZ]

Like others have said, be very careful of the wording. You don’t want to seem to be OCD about being perfect. Also, don’t give off the narcissist vibe. The easier things are, the easier it is to be perfect, and we’ve been sheltered in the academic environment for so long that we forget that that striving for perfectionism in the real world would just bring an insane amount of anxiety.

 

[2jz]

I took a class on professional communication and it often had employers from biotech companies visit to discuss how they hire. One thing I heard several times is that people who describe themselves as perfectionists tend to lack self confidence; they obsess over something minor to the point they refuse to call it done, or they won't even start their project if they're missing any information or expertise. I'll never describe myself as a perfectionist after hearing that.

 

[Its_Me_G]

When I interviewed last year, the lady leading the opening session of the interview day actually said we don’t use the “p” word here because there is always room for improvement. Seems like dental schools would frown on calling yourself a perfectionist because when you’re at school, and especially in operative lab, the goal is to keep improving

 

[luisfigo]

Word it differently. Say something like "I'm always looking to improve myself and do better, dentistry will always give me the opportunity to learn more, grow, and improve"... or something hokey like that

 

[GoodAsGold]

Please don't write that.

 

[DigitalDental]

Be careful with that. By saying that in your PS you're kinda painting a big target on your back and just begging adcoms to shoot you down by calling a bluff. If you make even 1 mistake in your PS after you claim to be a perfectionist you'll look kinda dumb feel me?