How much weight does a PS hold?

[acesofseven]

Assuming it was average-bad, but you had some pretty decent stats and LORs.

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[DMDDDSHopeful]

From my understanding, and a little bit about realistic reasoning, your LORs and PS have little bearing because admission folks aren't publication agencies to read manuscripts all day. They aren't going to read 4 pages of LORs x 1-2 pages of PS x 2,000+ applicants. If your stats are decent, they review your application. If they are interested, they move onto LORs and PS. If they are on the fence, your LORs and PS may sway them in either direction.

 

[FrenchyM.D/D.O]

A LOT!!

 

[nice_guy1]

I think if you have great stats, an average-bad personal statement won't really affect you. If your stats are average, it will play a bigger role because there will be lots of applicants with the same stats as you. If you have bad stats, you will need a great personal statement to make it up.

 

[osker246]

I believe your PS carries a tremendous amount of weight when it come to your application. Think about it, your PS is what sets you apart from the thousands of other 3.5 gpa's and 20 AA/TS scores. This is how admissions gets to know you without having to meet you.

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[Viva Terlingua]

I think it makes a big difference, even for high stats folks. A good PS can make you a very intriguing candidate since standard essays tend to run together.

High stats? Thats nice, lets see if s/he has something good to say so we can be sure they aren't just awkward bookworms. It won't make or break you but plenty of schools want candidates with a good story to tell

Average stats? You can bet that good PS will separate you from 1000 other essays saying the same generic stuff

Low stats? Well, your PS imay be the only thing that will make a school interested in you

 

[wildzodiac]

A good personal statement will never offset a mediocre/ poor gpa/Dat. It will never be the reason why you get into school, but it can certainly be a reason why someone doesn't get in.

 

[Viva Terlingua]

A good personal statement will never offset a mediocre/ poor gpa/Dat. It will never be the reason why you get into school, but it can certainly be a reason why someone doesn't get in.

Disagree. Theres a reason why the school ranges listed on the ADEA guide book always have someone below a 3.0 (even down to the 2.2s). I sincerely doubt they all got 27 AAs to offset that GPA. Most schools would take their chances offering an interview to a 3.2/20 AA with an amazing PS over a 3.5/22 AA with a junk PS.

Saw a couple guys/girls from last cycle with those lower stats get into Columbia. You can take it to the bank that they had a great PS and got consideration over some bookworm that had no compelling reason to become a dentist.

 

[nice_guy1]

A good personal statement will never offset a mediocre/ poor gpa/Dat. It will never be the reason why you get into school, but it can certainly be a reason why someone doesn't get in.

I interviewed with someone this year that had a 3.1 gpa and 20aa. I can guarantee you he didnt get that interview because of his stats. Im sure his personal statement and lors play a huge part in getting that interview.

Let just put it this way. I talk to a dean of admission at a dental school and he told me your reason for dentistry is more important than stats to him. So make sure you have a great reason for why you pursuing dentistry in your ps.

 

[Charles_Darwin]

A good PS might not be your determining factor, but a bad PS sure could be. So give it your best!


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[blenise]

I don't personally know the answer to this question. But what I can say is that my last interviewer said he read one of my LOR twice before my interview because he was so impressed with it. He had even already made a note of it in my file. So I'd say it at least made a small difference for me.

Edit: oops, I clearly don't have reading comprehension skills. This post isn't even about LOR and I don't know how to delete on mobile

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[Sm101]

After you get an interview, the PS can be a dealbreaker from my experience for some schools. Either way, it's best to put into a good amount of effort in your PS.

 

[DLA Editors & Proofers]

We've seen candidates with terrible PS's get accepted and candidates with good PS's not get accepted. It's impossible to have a great PS without substance to back it up. The majority of candidates do not put the time into writing a great PS, so that part of their application can't do much for them. What is our advice? Take the time, get the advice and put in the effort to make all parts of your application the best they can be. You never know which of them will make the difference!