How personal can you get with your personal statement?

[Zara09]

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I'm in the middle of writing my personal statement. One event in my life that I would like to mention started out with my menstrual bleeding not stopping for over a month ( I know, too much info. SORRY!) what should I do about this? I feel like it would be weird to mention it in that way, but then again they are all physicians and were not in elementary school, it was the start of many trips to doctors and finally getting a diagnosis. Can anyone give me some advise on this, please!!!!???? should I leave it out or just skip to the doctor parts?

😕


Thanks

 

[jesse120]

Just my initial thought: if it's important in explaining why you're passionate about medicine, it should be included.

 

[wilberforce72]

0.1/10

 

[kautionwirez]

By the way you just presented this to the SDN community, don't.

 

[saveourpens]

I'm in the middle of writing my personal statement. One event in my life that I would like to mention started out with my menstrual bleeding not stopping for over a month ( I know, too much info. SORRY!) what should I do about this? I feel like it would be weird to mention it in that way, but then again they are all physicians and were not in elementary school, it was the start of many trips to doctors and finally getting a diagnosis. Can anyone give me some advise on this, please!!!!???? should I leave it out or just skip to the doctor parts?

😕


Thanks

Maybe if you could be a bit more vague about what you had, then it may work. You don't want admissions officers going WTF from the beginning of your essay.

 

[kexy]

Maybe you can be vague and say like "disturbing and embarrassing symptoms" or something?

 

[iqe2010]

There is some serious trolling going on in ALL the messageboards I visit tonight. Is it something in the water?

 

[Santorum Surge]

0.1/10

Thank you for this, I literally lol'd.

OP: No

 

[ppfizenm]

I'd definitely bring it up. You should also quote heavily from the Vagina Monologues as well.

 

[RedSox10]

I would probably say it began with unexplained bleeding, or something.

Also, the initial reading of your personal statement will not be read by an MD. It will be read by admissions staff, many, if not most, of whom have never taken a science course in their lives.

Secondly, I don't know what your essay is actually about, but be sure to have it less about the actual issue and more about why this sparked your interest in medicine. Lots of people have medical issues, no matter how rare or hard to diagnose, you need to explain why this helped you decide to pursue medicine.

 

[LizzyM]

I'm in the middle of writing my personal statement. One event in my life that I would like to mention started out with my menstrual bleeding not stopping for over a month ( I know, too much info. SORRY!) what should I do about this? I feel like it would be weird to mention it in that way, but then again they are all physicians and were not in elementary school, it was the start of many trips to doctors and finally getting a diagnosis. Can anyone give me some advise on this, please!!!!???? should I leave it out or just skip to the doctor parts?

😕


Thanks

Not all adcom members are physicians or medical students. Some are engaged in medical ethics, public health, library science, anthropology, and so forth. They include men and women, some born in America and some not, with ages ranging from 24 to 84.

Get as many readers as you can for your PS. If you are embarrassed to let people who know you read your essay, it might be TMI.

 

[circulus vitios]

I'd definitely bring it up. You should also quote heavily from the Vagina Monologues as well.

 

[CodeBlu]

Not all adcom members are physicians or medical students. Some are engaged in medical ethics, public health, library science, anthropology, and so forth. They include men and women, some born in America and some not, with ages ranging from 24 to 84.

Get as many readers as you can for your PS. If you are embarrassed to let people who know you read your essay, it might be TMI.

TMI... always TMI.

 

[catzzz88]

If it is still important to your story, you could name it something different rather than "I bled from my vagine for a really long time," you can use a clear diagnosis name like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or Menorrhagia (with a brief description that does not include the words blood or vagina)....

Good luck making this decision.

Best,
C

 

[Zara09]

For those that actually answered my question and didn't make fun, thank you so much.

 

[druggeek]

I would go more in depth and include as much sexual/erotic terminology as possible. If the person reading your personal statement starts fapping to your beautiful and erotically hot story... you're a clear winner.

 

[DoctorSeussMD]

I don't know why OP is getting all of these negative responses. Personally, I think it's a great topic, actually. There's no better way to catch the admissions officers' attention than starting out your essay with, "A continual stream of blood gushed out of my snatch as I sat at my desk and fondly thought about my bright future as a doctor."

 

[Dr. Ducky]

Reading this thread has gotten me so excited to start working with guys/gals like some of the ones who have posted here. The intelligent, mature, and professional. The best of the best..... 🙄

 

[couldabeenadoc]

Just my opinion, but I think that you run the risk of putting a reader in a bad mood by discussing your frequent/copious menstrual bleeding. It may be pushing the limits of discussing "personal" experiences. Just my .02

 

[1289]

i agree with what was said above about talking in a professional/medical sounding way about it. or if you're not sure if the medical terms you're using are correct (ive heard you don't want to try too hard to sound like a doctor w/ fancy terms/etc, they don't expect you to already know this) than I would label it a "female problem". or something like that. i don't think you want a graphic image in their head, you never know who that person is gonna be who first picks up your app... not to mention this could be uncomfortable if you interview with a male medical student who has access to your app beforehand..

 

[tn4596]

OP, dont do it

 

[NickNaylor]

Frankly even if this was important to you becoming a physician (amd I struggle to understand how that would be the case) I wouldn't include that. If I read that as I was preparing to interview you would already be starting from behind.

 

[druggeek]

Reading this thread has gotten me so excited to start working with guys/gals like some of the ones who have posted here. The intelligent, mature, and professional. The best of the best..... 🙄

People who are mature outside of the workplace are boring as hell...serious.

 

[theseeker4]

People who are mature outside of the workplace are boring as hell...serious.

It is one thing to not be 100% professional 100% of the time. It is another to frequently come across as a pre-pubescent boy posing as a college student from Canada hoping to soon apply to med school. Even worse if you ARE a college student from Canada hoping to soon apply to med school and you come across as a 11 year old poser....

Just saying.

 

[tenndoc]

Things thAt make you go Bleh lol I'd say that's TMI

 

[xXIDaShizIXx]

I don't think I would want to read this if I were on an admissions committee.

 

[tenndoc]

I don't think I would want to read this if I were on an admissions committee.

I think you are stalking me today lol

 

[druggeek]

It is one thing to not be 100% professional 100% of the time. It is another to frequently come across as a pre-pubescent boy posing as a college student from Canada hoping to soon apply to med school. Even worse if you ARE a college student from Canada hoping to soon apply to med school and you come across as a 11 year old poser....

Just saying.

cool story brah. will tell to my grandkids.

 

[eam208]

I wrote about my own menstrual problem where I didn't stop bleeding for 6+ months in the opener of my personal statement. None of my interviewers thought it was weird. Some asked about it and some did not. The only reason I included it in my personal statement is because it led me to discover medicine. If it doesn't relate to your story of medicine, then don't include it. If it does, then why not?

 

[Dr. Ducky]

People who are mature outside of the workplace are boring as hell...serious.

There's a difference between being "uptight" and just being inappropriate. This is a public forum where people who aren't affiliated with medicine could come and peruse. You may be able to act childish and vulgar on here while hiding behind anonymity, and be completely professional in the office. But frankly, you are hurting the professional image of medicine.

It is one thing to not be 100% professional 100% of the time. It is another to frequently come across as a pre-pubescent boy posing as a college student from Canada hoping to soon apply to med school. Even worse if you ARE a college student from Canada hoping to soon apply to med school and you come across as a 11 year old poser....

Just saying.

This^ X 1000000. 👍

cool story brah. will tell to my grandkids.

👎 Not sure how you plan on the grandkids playing out, but typically, adult members of the opposite sex (with an IQ over 50) find teenage potty humor unattractive, so, good luck picking someone up with your fart jokes and vulgar vocabulary.

 

[NickNaylor]

I wrote about my own menstrual problem where I didn't stop bleeding for 6+ months in the opener of my personal statement. None of my interviewers thought it was weird. Some asked about it and some did not. The only reason I included it in my personal statement is because it led me to discover medicine. If it doesn't relate to your story of medicine, then don't include it. If it does, then why not?

Because there are some things that aren't appropriate for discussion. If, for example, I "discovered" medicine because I was engaging in some autoerotic asphyxiation and ended up in the emergency room, it would be entirely inappropriate to mention that in the PS, EVEN IF without that event happening I wouldn't have decided to become a physician.

I'm pretty sure OP is trolling, but regardless this topic is on the edge of appropriate/not appropriate for most people. Sure, most physicians probably wouldn't care, but it's incredibly important to keep in mind (as Lizzy mentioned) that many people that look at your application may not be physicians.

 

[Dr. Ducky]

Because there are some things that aren't appropriate for discussion. If, for example, I "discovered" medicine because I was engaging in some autoerotic asphyxiation and ended up in the emergency room, it would be entirely inappropriate to mention that in the PS, EVEN IF without that event happening I wouldn't have decided to become a physician.

I'm pretty sure OP is trolling, but regardless this topic is on the edge of appropriate/not appropriate for most people. Sure, most physicians probably wouldn't care, but it's incredibly important to keep in mind (as Lizzy mentioned) that many people that look at your application may not be physicians.

For the record, I agree with this. I do think that OP's PS should not include specifics about her "discovery". There are more tactful ways to go about it....

 

[tenndoc]

For the record, I agree with this. I do think that OP's PS should not include specifics about her "discovery". There are more tactful ways to go about it....

unfortunately, many ppl today happen to lack tact and courtesy

 

[sector9]

If you wouldn't be comfortable discussing an issue in person with an interviewer (male and female from a wide range of ages and backgrounds) then I wouldn't talk about it in your PS. If you're excessively outgoing and such a conversation wouldn't phase you, then consider your interviewer's feelings about trying to broach the subject with you.

I for one wouldn't want to be known as the "menstrual bleeding chick" in adcom meetings 😛

 

[bigloley]

Because there are some things that aren't appropriate for discussion. If, for example, I "discovered" medicine because I was engaging in some autoerotic asphyxiation and ended up in the emergency room, it would be entirely inappropriate to mention that in the PS, EVEN IF without that event happening I wouldn't have decided to become a physician.

I'm pretty sure OP is trolling, but regardless this topic is on the edge of appropriate/not appropriate for most people. Sure, most physicians probably wouldn't care, but it's incredibly important to keep in mind (as Lizzy mentioned) that many people that look at your application may not be physicians.

Are you seriously going to compare autoerotic asphyxiation to a natural process like a woman's menstrual cycle?

 

[NickNaylor]

Are you seriously going to compare autoerotic asphyxiation to a natural process like a woman's menstrual cycle?

For the sensibilities of some there may not be much of a difference. My example was obviously extreme, but the point still stands.

 

[circulus vitios]

If, for example, I "discovered" medicine because I was engaging in some autoerotic asphyxiation and ended up in the emergency room, it would be entirely inappropriate to mention that in the PS, EVEN IF without that event happening I wouldn't have decided to become a physician.

Welp, there goes my personal statement.

 

[seracus]

Opening paragraph:

Three weeks had passed and still the blood gushed forth between my legs. The pain had reduced me to crawling from one doctor's office to the next, seeking out answers only alluded to as I grimaced and slowly purged the details of my trauma. The pungent odor marked me as a scarlet letter, and only then did I begin to understand the true role of a physician: a Mecca for the ill where the heavy flow of stigma and pain can be wiped clean and purified.

Definitely a hook!

 

[sector9]

Opening paragraph:

Three weeks had passed and still the blood gushed forth between my legs. The pain had reduced me to crawling from one doctor's office to the next, seeking out answers only alluded to as I grimaced and slowly purged the details of my trauma. The pungent odor marked me as a scarlet letter, and only then did I begin to understand the true role of a physician: a Mecca for the ill where the heavy flow of stigma and pain can be wiped clean and purified.

Definitely a hook!

Not quite Panda Bear quality but effective nonetheless 😛

 

[JESSFALLING]

I'm not a fan of your idea in its current form. The fact is, mere exposure to the medical profession is not really impressive. What matters is how such experiences drive you to help others and reinforce your motivation to make the sacrifices needed to attain professional stature.

 

[thelaw986]

Opening paragraph:

Three weeks had passed and still the blood gushed forth between my legs. The pain had reduced me to crawling from one doctor's office to the next, seeking out answers only alluded to as I grimaced and slowly purged the details of my trauma. The pungent odor marked me as a scarlet letter, and only then did I begin to understand the true role of a physician: a Mecca for the ill where the heavy flow of stigma and pain can be wiped clean and purified.

Definitely a hook!

I'm so copying and pasting this! NOT

 

[Neurosis]

Omg, this is just so precious. So funny. I lol'd when I read OP's first post. 👍

 

[Morsetlis]

Maybe if you could be a bit more vague about what you had, then it may work. You don't want admissions officers going WTF from the beginning of your essay.

I've just had the pleasure of talking casually with a girl (medical student) who interviewed somebody for an undergraduate spot at a prestigious Ivy college. Between two applicants, the applicant she recommended against, amongst his other faults, also admitted to her about certain cheating fantasies and plans he devised with the ACT.

I'm not sure how that applies to your situation, but I just wanted you to know that, stories used to demonstrate a completely different point may in and of themselves contribute and stick out as a very sore point to the interviewer / reader.

Sorry to be completely off-track if that is not relevant.

 

[LizzyM]

For some reason I am reminded of an application from some years ago written by someone who idolized his surgeon because of the compassionate care he received when suffering with painkiller-induced constipation after a surgical procedure.

It was memorable but it wasn't impressive.

 

[DoctorLacrosse]

Just to be safe I really wouldn't include it. Period.


...See what I did there? 😉

 

[1289]

Opening paragraph:

Three weeks had passed and still the blood gushed forth between my legs. The pain had reduced me to crawling from one doctor's office to the next, seeking out answers only alluded to as I grimaced and slowly purged the details of my trauma. The pungent odor marked me as a scarlet letter, and only then did I begin to understand the true role of a physician: a Mecca for the ill where the heavy flow of stigma and pain can be wiped clean and purified.

Definitely a hook!

omg I'm dying..