Having a hard time making my PS not sound like a "sob" story

[runner28]

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[darklabel]

The way I did it (nothing comparable to what you had) was just how it was a struggle for me but I overcame it. At one interview I was actually praised for not giving a sob story. I think you're welcomed to include everything, just make sure not to make it seem like "woe is me"

For instance, if something impeded your grades, spin it to how you turned it around and did better while explaining why you couldn't withdraw or why you withdrew or anything of the sort. Just make sure to not make it seem like "woe is me" sort of thing. Which is usually when you bring up something without really explaining it through.

 

[runner28]

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[kairos18]

I think it's really important to be honest with the things that led you to medicine. I was also diagnosed with an autoimmune disease before I applied, and used it as a framework for my PS. I told my story, but also focused on what I learned and how I grew from it rather than dwelling on the diagnosis itself. These things are by no means easy to deal with in real life, so they shouldn't come through like that in your PS. There are ways to use your life/story as a springboard to reveal your strengths, resilience, etc.

Good luck! PM me if you want! 🙂

 

[kyamh]

I would stay away from your sister's story. It doesn't really fit into the narrative as prettily..at least not from how you have described it so far. Talking about transitioning from family to patient is a good narrative where you can talk about experiencing different sides of medicine and how you came to the decision that you would like to be on the administering medicine side.

 

[runner28]

thank you both @kyamh and @kairos18 🙂

I have started a draft that is just like what kyamh said. I feel much better about this now. Those two scenarios are definitely the reasons why I'm pursuing medicine, and it makes me feel a lot better knowing at least a few people don't think it's a bad idea! I can't wait for my premed advisor to read my draft, she'll just love it 🙄

 

[Goro]

Write as much as you can, and then edit down. The more eyeballs that look at your writing, the better.

Hey everyone.

I've been working on my personal statement for a couple of days, trying to articulate the path that led me to medicine. It's not that I don't know why I want to be a doctor, but the reasons sound a bit dramatic as I type them up. I'll just list some of them below:

1. I have been going to my dad's neurology appointments since I was in high school (he has MS) -- involvement in his health and treatment plan is definitely what got the ball rolling for me
2. Sister has bipolar disorder, which resulted in cascade of other health issues (anorexia, bulimia, addictions, etc) -- in this case, I see the very dark side of mental illness
3. And finally, I have recently been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Ironically, when I was first diagnosed, I was so upset about it (especially after consulting google and reading all the possible outcomes), that I said I did not want to study medicine. So that idea (not becoming a doctor) lasted only about 2 months. I am an accounting major and I figured that I would just do accounting -- welp, taking accounting classes with the intent of actually becoming an accountant and not a doctor really showed me that medicine is what I want to do.

Ok, so with all of that out there, I can't possibly put that into a personal statement format without it sounding like a telenovela. My premed advisor said I should focus on either #1 or #3, but I should NOT mention that part about me not wanting to be a doctor for 2 months. For me though, that was a really important time for me, and I feel like I should include it if I were to write about it.

So basically, I was wondering if I could have opinions on which topic I should include, exclude, etc!

 

[kittykattat]

Hey everyone.

I've been working on my personal statement for a couple of days, trying to articulate the path that led me to medicine. It's not that I don't know why I want to be a doctor, but the reasons sound a bit dramatic as I type them up. I'll just list some of them below:

1. I have been going to my dad's neurology appointments since I was in high school (he has MS) -- involvement in his health and treatment plan is definitely what got the ball rolling for me
2. Sister has bipolar disorder, which resulted in cascade of other health issues (anorexia, bulimia, addictions, etc) -- in this case, I see the very dark side of mental illness
3. And finally, I have recently been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. Ironically, when I was first diagnosed, I was so upset about it (especially after consulting google and reading all the possible outcomes), that I said I did not want to study medicine. So that idea (not becoming a doctor) lasted only about 2 months. I am an accounting major and I figured that I would just do accounting -- welp, taking accounting classes with the intent of actually becoming an accountant and not a doctor really showed me that medicine is what I want to do.

Ok, so with all of that out there, I can't possibly put that into a personal statement format without it sounding like a telenovela. My premed advisor said I should focus on either #1 or #3, but I should NOT mention that part about me not wanting to be a doctor for 2 months. For me though, that was a really important time for me, and I feel like I should include it if I were to write about it.

So basically, I was wondering if I could have opinions on which topic I should include, exclude, etc!

I didnt read this because I suck at personal statements but I just wanted to say that Your avi is amazing 😍

 

[ChemNerd07]

So aside from the autoimmune diagnosis I'm pretty similar. My mother died when I was 17 from alcoholism and my brother is severely autistic (hence the <---).

I actually worked in a hospital and first hand saw patients like my brother and mother so I just kind of wrote about how some people don't know how to react in those situations and can't relate very well, where as I'm blessed to have experienced these situations first hand which is why I want to be a doctor. My interviewers and everyone who has read my PS has been impressed so far. I did notice that interviewers don't care as much about your own problems or the fact that you yourself have been a patient, like you can mention your struggles but when it comes to the actual interview you won't really be asked about them. I would definitely mention how you tried a different route and realized it wasn't for you. People always look at this highly as it shows that you have explored other options and know that medicine is what you want to do.

Feel free to PM me if you have more questions 🙂

 

[runner28]

@kittykattat It's pretty quiche, right? Like so random.

@ChemNerd07 Thank you for your ideas! It's so true ... we definitely do know how to react in certain situations where others may stall. The theme in my paper has definitely changed since I first started because of everyone's help here. So thank you all! These boards are amazing

 

[kittykattat]

@kittykattat It's pretty quiche, right? Like so random.

hahahahaha You are my new favorite person on SDN

 

[Doctor Strange]

If you're going to mention a family member's illness, make sure to get permission from them to do so.

 

[1badmamajama]

To answer your question.. Put it in! If it contributed to your decision to become a doctor, do it (I'd probably leave out illegal stuff though). I told my interviewer that I stopped wanting to be a doctor for almost 4 years..... But that time was necessary so I could make an informed decision, not one based on family expectations.

I had a "sob story" in my PS. I was really nervous about sharing it, because I thought adcom would look at it like a cliched ploy to get into medical school. but someone had to remind me that at the root of it all, it's MY story.. no one else's. As long as I told my truth and showed how much I've learned and grown from my personal situations, and why my struggles have made me into the best candidate that I can be for this particular program, it can't be hackneyed. I'm sure there are plenty of similar situations and PS with the same themes and ideas, but no one has MY personal statement because it's me. During interviews, my interviewers always commented on my honesty and passion.

very cheesy.. and maybe some people disagree that we're all snowflakes.. but it's your life and your story, it's up to you to tell it 😛

 

[pietachok]

before you write about your own illness, consider that it puts an otherwise private matter on the table for the adcom to discuss & to ask you about in interviews. This is not such a big deal if the illness is remote & you're convincing that you've moved past it, but your illness sounds relatively recent & ongoing (even if currently well managed, physicians will know if your disease is progressive). Is your academic record etc. strong enough to outweigh concerns about how this will impact your ability to succeed in med school? will you look naive if you assert that it won't? if you aren't comfortable speaking about it to friends, how will you react in an interview?

I'm not opposed to writing about it, but you need to be aware of the baggage.

It sounds like you already have gotten over including #2, but if not, I would totally nix that--mental illness is ridiculously stigmatized.

 

[runner28]

Permission has been received, so I'm good on that front.

@pietachok -- you raise really great questions I haven't asked myself. It's been over a year since my diagnosis, and I can truly say its effects are minimal, if not nonexistent. One of my reasons for not wanting to pursue medicine after my diagnosis was after reading online forums with those who have my disease. Suffice it to say, some on those websites seem to dwell, or even thrive, on their illness and stress out over every little thing that happens. That, in addition to other factors, made me realize that my disease really has no impact on my life (other than taking a few pills a day), and should in no way stop me from pursuing medicine.

Regarding my academic record, I say I'm ok. I actually don't really know what is considered competitive. I have a GPA/scGPA of 3.7/3.72.
I can't say my health won't be a concern in the future -- no one could ever say this. I haven't told my friends basically because I know they'd freak and would think it's the end of the world for me. I just see it as my illness in no way influences my relationship with them, so I just don't mention it. Medical school is a different story -- my illness, though at first had a "negative" impact, I would say was for the best in the end. I'm very comfortable talking about it with those who do know, like my family. The most professional conversation I had about it was with my boss. I had to miss work for 3 days when I got a biopsy, and I decided I would just tell her the truth. It's what I have, and I don't have any discomfort discussing it.

EDIT!: thank you again for posing those questions, it really made me think. I also realized I never said what I have, should I just tell you or do you guys want to guess? 😛

 

[kairos18]

Ahh, your story is SO similar to mine! That's good that you have no problem discussing it. Just for the record, I was never interrogated about my illness in any interviews. They were way more interested in what I had learned and how it offered me a unique view into medicine from the viewpoint of a patient rather than the illness itself. Sounds like you're well on your way to a good PS. Best of luck to you!! 🙂

 

[whatever5]

I think you should scrap that whole idea - instead, you should talk about your long struggle trying to achieve a thigh gap, and how you deliberated for a long time whether or not to just accept the fact that you'd never be quiche, but even in the face of all that adversity you overcame the obstacles, lost weight, and got a boyfriend.

 

[runner28]

@whatever5

I've always been effing quiche, I'm f*cking Ja'miezing

 

[whatever5]

@whatever5

I've always been effing quiche, I'm f*cking Ja'miezing

I really hope we end up in the same school.

 

[MerickManual]

Just my $0.02: focus on one story, develop it (I would go with your father's story and how that help pursue your career into medicine) and leave out mental disorder or your own health story. One is just for simplicity, and the other is because I have learned the less your school knows about your personal issues the better.

 

[dbeast]

I hate that mental illness has been stigmatized to the point where it should be left out of a personal statement. That being said, everybody's right not to include it. Any sign of perceived instability (true or not) = a chance that you won't graduate = bad for the school. Ugh.

I hate admissions.

 

[Escape_Goat]

In my personal statement, I discussed how I lost interest in medicine and turned towards evolutionary biology and ecology, and how my interest in medicine was eventually renewed after my wife and I lost a pregnancy, had our first son, and then lost another pregnancy.

At no point did any of it come off as a sob story or an appeal to emotion. There's a way to convey significance of major events and circumstances without playing on the reader's own emotions.

That's why we write multiple drafts of personal statements. For me, I spent more time writing that than I did studying for the MCAT.

 

[lobo.solo]

It is is a PERSONAL statement... Include things that are personal and intimate to you that convey your interest and passion for medicine. GL