Don't adcoms get tired of reading the same jibberish over and over again?

[LIC2015]

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Is it possible that all of the interviewed applicants at any medical school have very unique personal statements? Doesn't the "I saved Africa" and "I just want to help people" theme get boring to read? Do adcoms look past the stereotypical fluff and scan paragraphs for concrete examples of a commitment to medicine?

And if we can be honest for a moment. Let's agree that the PS is biased toward those with excellent writing/communication skills, and not those with the most relevant/interesting experiences. When a med school wants to know "why medicine?" when reading my PS, they'll be sorely disappointed to find out that I didn't have a parent who fought a hard battle with cancer or a sibling that died of a drug overdose. In fact, I've never been hospitalized. My reasons for pursuing medicine are simple.

How does originality in the PS come from simplicity? How do I keep the adcom from crashing onto a pile of rejection letters destined for future Masters students?

 

[chibaddie]

And if we can be honest for a moment. Let's agree that the PS is biased toward those with excellent writing/communication skills, and not those with the most relevant/interesting experiences. When a med school wants to know "why medicine?" when reading my PS, they'll be sorely disappointed to find out that I didn't have a parent who fought a hard battle with cancer or a sibling that died of a drug overdose. In fact, I've never been hospitalized. My reasons for pursuing medicine are simple.

Yeahhhh, because every adcom wishes that for their applicants... Da fuq.

Think about those that have actually gone through those experiences that you are so carelessly throwing out there, out of spite, and acting like this is going to be your biggest disadvantage in acquiring a seat.

 

[liquidsodium]

My PS was very sans-fluff (solid, honest reasoning and good grammar) and IIs are happening. If the truth is simple, keep it simple.

 

[Lost In Transcription]

They see plenty of the "straightforward" PSs too. They just get tired of doing it. This is why getting your app in early is good...you won't wear them out.

On the subject of what I am tired of, I am tired of seeing people completely rip on those who have faced very difficult times. People act as if this is somehow a great advantage and that they are at a "disadvantage", not realizing the incredible personal difficulties that go along with sufferring a great tragedy. It's frankly incredibly superficial and completely flippant.

"Oh, I'm not one of those people who had to survive cancer who worked way less hard than me to get a seat!! 🙄"

 

[LIC2015]

Yeahhhh, because every adcom wishes that for their applicants... Da fuq.

Think about those that have actually gone through the experiences that you are so carelessly throwing out there, out of spite, and acting like this is going to be your biggest disadvantage in acquiring a seat.

Don't take it personally. Many people go through that (perhaps I have but chose not to share it for the sake of my point?) and never make it to medical school, nor do they want to pursue medicine. I'm asking what it is that adcoms see in a personal statement that gives them that moment of "I want to meet this person." We can all make claims about our interest in medicine and what got us there, but for most of us the reasons are very similar (family history of illness, experience in a hospital, volunteering at an overseas or domestic clinic, etc.).

I am suggesting that an applicant's exceptional writing skills are essentially what separates them from the mediocre majority. If an adcom enjoys reading the PS, regardless of whether or not the applicant has a laundry list of evidence supporting their interest in medicine, they'll want to meet the applicants who are interesting, and not necessarily the most objectively qualified. True or false?

 

[Lost In Transcription]

I am suggesting that an applicant's exceptional writing skills are essentially what separates them from the mediocre majority.

Yes, of course it is! What else should they use?

That would make me want to meet someone.

Also, being a good writer doesn't require the tragic situations you describe.

 

[7331poas]

Ah please man. Every person who had a family member with a disease feels the need to talk about it.

 

[LIC2015]

Yes, of course it is! What else should they use?

That would make me want to meet someone.

Also, being a good writer doesn't require the tragic situations you describe.

You're saying an adcom is using my exceptional writing skills, and not the actual topic I wrote about?

If I can write like Twain but have straightforward, simple reasons for wanting to become a physician, do I have an edge over the grammatically-challenged person who may be more emotionally connected to medicine because they spent months in a hospital recovering from illness or taking care of their sick grandparent for years?

 

[Lost In Transcription]

Ah please man. Every person who had a family member with a disease feels the need to talk about it.

Weird. Almost like it's because med schools ask what your exposure to medicine has been!

Perhaps having a dying sister/mother/etc might give you some exposure to that?

 

[Lost In Transcription]

You're saying an adcom is using my exceptional writing skills, and not the actual topic I wrote about?

If I can write like Twain but have straightforward, simple reasons for wanting to become a physician, do I have an edge over the grammatically-challenged person who may be more emotionally connected to medicine because they spent months in a hospital recovering from illness or taking care of their sick grandparent for years?

I dunno. I am beginning to think more and more than no one has an "edge". As long as it is well-written, it will be fine is what I gather from the process.

 

[Lost In Transcription]

You're saying an adcom is using my exceptional writing skills, and not the actual topic I wrote about?

If I can write like Twain but have straightforward, simple reasons for wanting to become a physician, do I have an edge over the grammatically-challenged person who may be more emotionally connected to medicine because they spent months in a hospital recovering from illness or taking care of their sick grandparent for years?

Also on that note, I think many of them just want you to *get to the point* and not waste their time with anecdotes and stories. So yes, it is good in that way!

 

[LIC2015]

Weird. Almost like it's because med schools ask what your exposure to medicine has been!

Perhaps having a dying sister/mother/etc might give you some exposure to that?

We all have exposure to a sick relative, direct or indirect. And most of us choose to write about it in the PS. That's the OP's point. At some point the person reading the statements is going to become increasingly insensitive toward "I want to become a doctor so I can help people like my father who has type 2 diabetes."

My original hypothesis, and what I believe you're saying is that it's how the experience is described, and not the experience itself that earns an interview, correct?

 

[Lost In Transcription]

We all have exposure to a sick relative, direct or indirect. And most of us choose to write about it in the PS. That's the OP's point. At some point the person reading the statements is going to become increasingly insensitive toward "I want to become a doctor so I can help people like my father who has type 2 diabetes."

I'd imagine it's how the experience is described, and not the experience itself that earns an interview.

I think you gravely underestimate how many people spin the "my ____ died from ____" in their personal journey with medicine. I have seen/read/talked with many people that use it as more of a diversity essay/adversity essay: they have a more realistic understanding of the disease/hospital process, etc.

Also, everyone has exposure to diseased relatives, yes. But having a dying grandmother in her old age whom you never saw is going to be a very different experience than having a dying father during your childhood from cancer/terrible disease.

 

[Lost In Transcription]

My original hypothesis, and what I believe you're saying is that it's how the experience is described, and not the experience itself that earns an interview, correct?

Dangit you editted haha.

Yes, exactly. It is all about YOUR journey to medicine. You can have your sister die from leukemia but that doesn't say anything about your *journey* to deciding to be a doctor. You can volunteer at a hospital but that is also not your *journey*. It is all about how you weave your argument for "why I am applying and why it is a thoughtful decision that I can be successful in".

 

[Lucca]

Is it possible that all of the interviewed applicants at any medical school have very unique personal statements? Doesn't the "I saved Africa" and "I just want to help people" theme get boring to read? Do adcoms look past the stereotypical fluff and scan paragraphs for concrete examples of a commitment to medicine?

And if we can be honest for a moment. Let's agree that the PS is biased toward those with excellent writing/communication skills, and not those with the most relevant/interesting experiences. When a med school wants to know "why medicine?" when reading my PS, they'll be sorely disappointed to find out that I didn't have a parent who fought a hard battle with cancer or a sibling that died of a drug overdose. In fact, I've never been hospitalized. My reasons for pursuing medicine are simple.

How does originality in the PS come from simplicity? How do I keep the adcom from crashing onto a pile of rejection letters destined for future Masters students?

Lol @ "the PS is biased toward those with excellent writing and communication skills."

heAvEn FOrBid /massive eyeroll

 

[LIC2015]

Dangit you editted haha.

One of about ten thousand reasons it took me weeks to write my PS. I can't stop editing...lol...

 

[wagonwheel23]

Doesn't the "I saved Africa" and "I just want to help people" theme get boring to read?

I think adcoms would like to read multiple PS that say "I saved Africa" because then they could just trash them and move on to the next. Timesaver!

 

[Lost In Transcription]

One of about ten thousand reasons it took me weeks to write my PS. I can't stop editing...lol...

I feel ya! One of the main reasons i am waiting til next cycle 😉

 

[7331poas]

Weird. Almost like it's because med schools ask what your exposure to medicine has been!

Perhaps having a dying sister/mother/etc might give you some exposure to that?

being sick isnt medicine.

 

[DokterMom]

Don't take it personally. Many people go through that (perhaps I have but chose not to share it for the sake of my point?) and never make it to medical school, nor do they want to pursue medicine. I'm asking what it is that adcoms see in a personal statement that gives them that moment of "I want to meet this person." We can all make claims about our interest in medicine and what got us there, but for most of us the reasons are very similar (family history of illness, experience in a hospital, volunteering at an overseas or domestic clinic, etc.).

I am suggesting that an applicant's exceptional writing skills are essentially what separates them from the mediocre majority. If an adcom enjoys reading the PS, regardless of whether or not the applicant has a laundry list of evidence supporting their interest in medicine, they'll want to meet the applicants who are interesting, and not necessarily the most objectively qualified. True or false?

"I'm asking what it is that adcoms see in a personal statement that gives them that moment of "I want to meet this person."

I can tell you that it won't be your grandmother's medical crisis or even your own, and the incredibly good/bad medical care they/you received. It also won't be your strong interest in science (unless you've done something significant to demonstrate that interest) or even your your compelling desire to help the suffering (unless you've done something significant to substantiate that claim).

And 95 times out of 100, it won't even be your superlative writing skills -- though if you get your application in early and have strong writing skills, your 'same ole story' won't be quite as yawn-inducing or quite as cringe-worthy as the next 100 same ole stories.

What can make an AdCom want to meet you? That's why they call is a personal statement -- because it's personal to you. I had a friend in college who dropped out to attend Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Clown College -- yes, that's a real thing and in case you're wondering, it's even harder to get into than our [ivy-league] school. If he were to apply to medical school, that would be why I'd want to meet him. The applicant who volunteered with a suicide hotline and spoke about how that helped her spot a friend's depression and convince her to get help -- that would be why I'd want to meet her.

Why would they want to meet you?

 

[ace_inhibitor111]

Surely this is why the personal statement is a 900 word document as opposed to a 100 word document. The depth of thought and how it is expressed is way more important than the basic reasoning that could be summarized in a few sentences.

 

[confidentandgood]

Doesn't the "I saved Africa" and "I just want to help people" theme get boring to read?

Wait — someone else saved Africa already? God d*mn it, there go my years of work towards originality.

 

[LIC2015]

Wait — someone else saved Africa already? God d*mn it, there go my years of work towards originality.

I know. Total buzzkill.

 

[RealHumanBean1]

Taking an honest and thoughtful look at your reasons for pursuing medicine in the context of the experiences that developed those motivations is what will set you apart from other applicants. It will also be the most rewarding to you personally. And yes, the ability to communicate effectively will give you an edge on the personal statement - just as it will give you an edge as a physician. Since when is prioritizing an essential skill considered a bias?

 

[7331poas]

Taking an honest and thoughtful look at your reasons for pursuing medicine in the context of the experiences that developed those motivations is what will set you apart from other applicants. It will also be the most rewarding to you personally. And yes, the ability to communicate effectively will give you an edge on the personal statement - just as it will give you an edge as a physician. Since when is prioritizing an essential skill considered a bias?

I dont think OP is saying that good writing is a bias...

he is saying that people with sob stories are advantaged.

 

[LIC2015]

I dont think OP is saying that good writing is a bias...

he is saying that people with sob stories are advantaged.

No I'm definitely not saying that, in fact I'm proposing the opposite. I'm talking about the advantage of effective communication compared to life experience. This is why I asked how simple rationale for pursuing medicine can be interesting to adcoms. I'm curious about the "wow factor" in a PS regardless of the specific experiences described.

 

[LIC2015]

Taking an honest and thoughtful look at your reasons for pursuing medicine in the context of the experiences that developed those motivations is what will set you apart from other applicants. It will also be the most rewarding to you personally. And yes, the ability to communicate effectively will give you an edge on the personal statement - just as it will give you an edge as a physician. Since when is prioritizing an essential skill considered a bias?

How would this set anyone apart if every single applicant is doing this on their PS?

 

[liquidsodium]

How would this set anyone apart if every single applicant is doing this on their PS?

Although many of our reasons may be similar (e.g research, clinical work, desire to help people), our perceptions and explanations of how those things led us to medicine are unique. They're not expecting us to reinvent the wheel here -- just present your own well designed and smoothly rolling wheel


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[mehc012]

Lol @ "the PS is biased toward those with excellent writing and communication skills."

heAvEn FOrBid /massive eyeroll

Yeah, that's like saying the MCAT is biased towards those who studied, practiced, and have solid test-taking skills. Can't think of why a med school would want to see that 🙄

 

[LIC2015]

Yeah, that's like saying the MCAT is biased towards those who studied, practiced, and have solid test-taking skills. Can't think of why a med school would want to see that 🙄

Med schools want solid test-takers, eh? I thought they were looking for solid wannabe physicians. 😵

 

[RealHumanBean1]

Although many of our reasons may be similar (e.g research, clinical work, desire to help people), our perceptions and explanations of how those things led us to medicine are unique. They're not expecting us to reinvent the wheel here -- just present your own well designed and smoothly rolling wheel

Well said. Although our motivations are likely to be similar at the most general level, but the experiences that led to the development of those motivations and the method with which we describe those experiences should be unique. Also - I apoligize for misinterpreting your original post LIC2015! That's what I get for trying to skim read during a shift in the ER 🙂

 

[mehc012]

Med schools want solid test-takers, eh? I thought they were looking for solid wannabe physicians. 😵

¿Por qué no los dos?

Sent from my phone, sorry for any typos or brevity.

 

[7331poas]

Yeah, that's like saying the MCAT is biased towards those who studied, practiced, and have solid test-taking skills. Can't think of why a med school would want to see that 🙄

and rich. Dont forget that part

 

[Lost In Transcription]

and rich. Dont forget that part

Not so much anymore.
Khan Academy is pretty comprehensive, and AAMC materials are cheapish.

It is difficult to study and work though. But not if you plan to take over 6 months to study. ..

 

[Mad Jack]

I don't have a sob story. My essay got me 12 IIs. It's not about the story, it's about how you tell it.

 

[7331poas]

Not so much anymore.
Khan Academy is pretty comprehensive, and AAMC materials are cheapish.

It is difficult to study and work though. But not if you plan to take over 6 months to study. ..

For people that work to support themselves its hard to mcat + research + volunteer and all the other **** they do.

 

[7331poas]

I don't have a sob story. My essay got me 12 IIs. It's not about the story, it's about how you tell it.

MDApps?

 

[Mad Jack]

MDApps?

Nope, never made a profile. I only applied bone wizard tho, so don't be too impressed.

 

[Pusheen]

For people that work to support themselves its hard to mcat + research + volunteer and all the other **** they do.

Yea, that's why med schools look at employment and take economic factors into consideration.

This thread is so whiny about everything, I can't even tell what the point is anymore

 

[liquidsodium]

Hooooww about you present yourself the best way you can and don't worry so much about the rest?

 

[MaxPlancker]

Well, 97/100 times, your PS will not impact your application much...

Chillax broski.

 

[mehc012]

and rich. Dont forget that part

I've never understood test prep classes, so I tend to undercount that part. I think if I'd taken an official course I would have scored lower by far.

 

[LIC2015]

Hooooww about you present yourself the best way you can and don't worry so much about the rest?

That's the idea.

 

[ATPsynthase123]

I mean I think some of this stuff is okay and not okay if you have a unique reason. For me I talk about my Grandfather dying from Lung Cancer as a way to lead into the lack of access to medical treatment in the south, which is the crux of my essay and primary reason for applying to medical school.

Is it possible that all of the interviewed applicants at any medical school have very unique personal statements? Doesn't the "I saved Africa" and "I just want to help people" theme get boring to read? Do adcoms look past the stereotypical fluff and scan paragraphs for concrete examples of a commitment to medicine?

And if we can be honest for a moment. Let's agree that the PS is biased toward those with excellent writing/communication skills, and not those with the most relevant/interesting experiences. When a med school wants to know "why medicine?" when reading my PS, they'll be sorely disappointed to find out that I didn't have a parent who fought a hard battle with cancer or a sibling that died of a drug overdose. In fact, I've never been hospitalized. My reasons for pursuing medicine are simple.

How does originality in the PS come from simplicity? How do I keep the adcom from crashing onto a pile of rejection letters destined for future Masters students?

Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[Lucca]

I've never understood test prep classes, so I tend to undercount that part. I think if I'd taken an official course I would have scored lower by far.

Same. I think if I had to sit through classes I wouldn't have had energy left to actually practice and study lol

 

[7331poas]

I've never understood test prep classes, so I tend to undercount that part. I think if I'd taken an official course I would have scored lower by far.

and you didnt use test prep books and you didnt take time off from a full time job?

Yea, that's why med schools look at employment and take economic factors into consideration.

Where did you see this? From what I saw SES is one of the least important factors in admission

 

[7331poas]

.

 

[Goro]

Yes.

Is it possible that all of the interviewed applicants at any medical school have very unique personal statements? Doesn't the "I saved Africa" and "I just want to help people" theme get boring to read? Do adcoms look past the stereotypical fluff and scan paragraphs for concrete examples of a commitment to medicine?

And if we can be honest for a moment. Let's agree that the PS is biased toward those with excellent writing/communication skills, and not those with the most relevant/interesting experiences. When a med school wants to know "why medicine?" when reading my PS, they'll be sorely disappointed to find out that I didn't have a parent who fought a hard battle with cancer or a sibling that died of a drug overdose. In fact, I've never been hospitalized. My reasons for pursuing medicine are simple.

How does originality in the PS come from simplicity? How do I keep the adcom from crashing onto a pile of rejection letters destined for future Masters students?

 

[DingoPingo]

I was going to reply to OP with angry post but decided that passive-aggressiveness is a better treatment for the misguided.

 

[hopefulERdoc251]

I can't speak for any of the adcoms but in my opinion, I can't imagine clumping all family illness stories into one big category and generalizing that they're all cliche.

Having a parent/brother going through a significant medical crisis is very different than having an uncle, cousin, grandmother go through it. When my father was diagnosed with cancer, it impacted me in a significantly different and more personal way than when my uncle when he was having his own problems. That's because I actually had to take care of my father, take him to appointments, understand what docs were saying when he wasn't in the right mental or physical state to comprehend it, and understand what he's going through and provide for him to whatever extent I could.

Disclaimer: Did not write about this as my PS, but this is just my 0.02.