how much info in application essay( for those with troubled paths)

[eflwon]

---

Members do not see this ad.

hey,

i was just wondering if it was ever bad to talk about past stuff. i dropped out of high school, got GED, and ... before getting my act together. Has anyone had a bad experience talking about the past or is it generously seen as a positive thing.

thanks

 

[DragonWell]

hey,

i was just wondering if it was ever bad to talk about past stuff. i dropped out of high school, got GED, and ... before getting my act together. Has anyone had a bad experience talking about the past or is it generously seen as a positive thing.

thanks

Just my opinion, but I'd keep the personal statement on as positive a note as possible. I understand the compulsion to explain things from the past that might look questionable on a resume, but just remember that the adcoms are reading this in an attempt to get an objective picture of you, not to hear your life story or your analysis of it. Focus on the positive things that came out of the adversity, not the details of what happened or your feelings about them. If you find yourself veering into your past, I suggest just going with it, writing it all out in detail and then distilling what you just wrote into MAYBE one line of your personal statement. It's important to be honest, but stay positive.

 

[HunterGatherer]

Just my opinion, but I'd keep the personal statement on as positive a note as possible. I understand the compulsion to explain things from the past that might look questionable on a resume, but just remember that the adcoms are reading this in an attempt to get an objective picture of you, not to hear your life story or your analysis of it. Focus on the positive things that came out of the adversity, not the details of what happened or your feelings about them. If you find yourself veering into your past, I suggest just going with it, writing it all out in detail and then distilling what you just wrote into MAYBE one line of your personal statement. It's important to be honest, but stay positive.

I agree. keep it to 2 sentences max if it influenced college grades/lifestyle otherwise don't write about it. If you write about anything negative there should be some consistency in your PS and application showing improvement.

 

[OMMFan]

I think it depends. If your experiences heavily shaped your decision or ability to pursue medicine then it might be appropriate to weave that into your essay. If it reads more as an addition to your essay, then it may be better to leave it out.

If you think not explaining would keep you from an interview, then it may be good to offer some explanation.

I agree with other posters that the tone of the overall essay should be positive.

 

[scpod]

hey,

i was just wondering if it was ever bad to talk about past stuff. i dropped out of high school, got GED, and ... before getting my act together. Has anyone had a bad experience talking about the past or is it generously seen as a positive thing.

thanks

Keep in mind that you have a very limited amount of space and your main focus should be to sell yourself. Think of this as sort of an advertisement for you. Why would an admissions committee want to buy you instead of all the other candidates out there? This is just like a TV commercial. Make it memorable and different. Try to limit your focus somewhat so that there aren't hundreds of facts and details to wade through. People get lost sometimes when you tell a story-- hit the major points only. Think of a very few main points that you want to make and focus on those. You'll have plenty of time to explain the rest once you get the interview, but you have to get that first. Remember that there are plenty of other people out there with your same (or better) scores, LORs and ECs, so you need to use this to differentiate betwen yourself and all the others.

Use those techniques that they taught you in freshman English. Use "action" verbs, good description, and avoid passive tense. Try the "show-me-don't-tell-me" method. For instance, if you were to say, "The man was happy," you are telling me that he was happy. If you said, "The man slowly crooked his head in my direction, relaxed his furrowed brow, and broke into a huge, knowing grin," you are showing me he was happy. You didn't have to tell me at all. I can vividly picture the scene in my mind. Make the committee see a picture of you in their minds and you will stand out above the rest.

 

[Sundarban1]

I think it depends. If your experiences heavily shaped your decision or ability to pursue medicine then it might be appropriate to weave that into your essay. If it reads more as an addition to your essay, then it may be better to leave it out.

If you think not explaining would keep you from an interview, then it may be good to offer some explanation.

I agree with other posters that the tone of the overall essay should be positive.

This is great advice. We had an admissions panel come speak to us at Harvard and they said to treat your primary application like you would a first date (ie don't air all your dirty laundry). If there is something in your past that was significant to your interest in medicine, that is a different story. Overall you should be as positive as possible and highlight your strengths. If you have weaknesses they can be addressed in other areas of your application.

 

[Nomemory]

treat your primary application like you would a first date (ie don't air all your dirty laundry).

Maybe THAT'S what I'm doing wrong! 😕

 

[Sundarban1]

Maybe THAT'S what I'm doing wrong! 😕

Yes! Otherwise you lose the date and the acceptance.

 

[Khenon]

I talked about my "troubled" past, but only as it pertained to how I decided to go to medical school. Basically, I probably would have never gone to college, or even really "grew up", if I hadn't become a single mother. I didn't dwell on it, or tried to pull the sympathy card, but did tell my story on my path towards applying for medical school. That path started when I was at my lowest point in my adult life (19 year old, divorced, single mother). Like others mentioned, you need to make the overall tone a positive one though. So it's not like I said "Oh, woe is me! I'm a single mother and it's SOOOOO hard!" I simply relayed that being in that position made me wake up and start making smarter, and more responsible choices because now I had someone else to think about. Then I moved on and didn't bring up my troubles again. So I guess I'd say if your previous troubles were integral to why you're applying to medical school, then explain it in such a way. But if it's just going to come off as feeling sorry for yourself, then leave it out.