"Question 1: I really want to become an emergency physician, since I'm an emergency RN. I know that might change, but I am intensely interested and dedicated to EM. How does it seem when someone professes their love for a certain specialty in their essay?? Should I hold back?"
In your case, it makes perfect sense. You know what you're getting into and have the experience to back it up. Sure, you could hedge a bit, but presumably, it's your experience as an EM nurse that has convinced you that you really want to be a physician. Your beliefs are grounded in valid reasons, not what you've seen on TV.
"Question 2: @LizzyM you indicated that a wrong way to write your PS would be to say that you are called by God. I get that overt religiosity can be a turnoff, but what about those who state that medicine is a calling? I mean, I'm wanting to write statements like that. But I don't want to seem overly passionate and make people roll their eyes. Part of my draft talks about finding my calling in the medical field. OK? Too much?"
You can find many ways to say this -- a career that fits your strengths and interests, one you find rewarding and fulfilling, something to the effect of how you love going to work each day, how you feel you are able to make a difference, and as a physician, could make an even greater difference -- Try explaining your feelings (verbally in person) to someone senior to you (so not a buddy or peer) in words that wouldn't make you cringe. Then say that.
"Question 3: For applicants who are career-changers. How much do you want to know about our past life and our conversion? My conversion is kind of messy--is that okay to kind of gloss it over (not embellish or lie, just omit hairy details). Do you have any specific advice for DO's and DON'T's for career-changer essays?"
IMO, that really depends. You can learn a lot from tough times and past mistakes. Some paint you as strong and resilient; but others may cause you to look foolish. If your past mistakes were of the foolish variety, make sure they are long past. If your past difficulties are not of your own making, be brief and factual and show how you overcame the obstacles. Also make sure that anything you include is something you can talk about without crumpling.
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Overall, the narrative you craft should be coherent and internally consistent. So if you are claiming your passion for medicine stemmed from your strong interest in science, you probably shouldn't be a business major. If it's because of your passion for serving others, you should have some serious service and altruism on your resume. If it's about helping the less fortunate, you should have done something by now to help the less fortunate. In other words, make sure you have some demonstrated actions to back up your stated reasons --
The other area where I think many go wrong is in fussing up their words to the point where they become 'cringe-worthy'. Those are the '7%' awful essays. If reading your essay to a friend makes you blush, you're at risk. Use plain words when they suffice. Don't go so far as to 'dumb it down', but don't use long words just for the sake of trying to sound smarter; it more often works the other way.
One other tidbit: If there's something unusual in your background that your reader might remember -- a 'sound bite' so to speak -- give them something to remember you by. So for
@ED-RN2MD who posted above, it could be his/her time as an ED nurse. That way in the AdCom meeting where they are discussing your application, they can refer to you as something more interesting than "#23563"
