Medical How should I describe activity in personal statement?

[TheBoneDoctah]

Hello,

If I am mentioning a research study that is important to me in my personal statement and I already describe it in the Work/Activities section, can I assume that I do not need to re-describe the purpose of the study in my personal statement since the admissions officers could just look at my work and activities section as a reference? Or do I have to briefly describe its purpose in both? I would like to avoid doing that in both since I lack any more space in my personal statement.

Keep it brief in the statement. You can expand in your other sections.

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[Goro]

So do I not have to mention the purpose of the study in the personal statement? In my personal statement, I mention how I worked with some doctors to convince a patient to enroll in a study and have treatments help him live longer. Can I just mention how the study helped him when it comes to talking about the study itself?

As someone who has to read these things, please don't

And remember that tens of thousands of people apply to each medical school, and some 80% of these have to be weeded out by screeners. Don't give them fodder.

The research may be important to you, but you're not writing an abstract for FASEB.

 

[tantacles]

Hello,

If I am mentioning a research study that is important to me in my personal statement and I already describe it in the Work/Activities section, can I assume that I do not need to re-describe the purpose of the study in my personal statement since the admissions officers could just look at my work and activities section as a reference? Or do I have to briefly describe its purpose in both? I would like to avoid doing that in both since I lack any more space in my personal statement.

your goal is to create a good piece of writing that people want to read. If your description fits into your personal statement in that way, put it there. If it doesn’t and your personal statement stands without it, don’t bother.

 

[tantacles]

So to clarify, I can talk about the study in my PS if it is relevant to it, but I should not have to re-state the purpose of the study in my PS when I do mention it, correct? Can I assume all admission officers can look to my Work/Activities if they want to know the purpose of the study in my PS since I would imagine some look at my PS before my Work/Activities?

If one NEEDS to know something about the activity to understand your personal statement, put it in there. Otherwise, leave it out. Your personal statement needs to stand on its own, and you may or may not need to include details to involve your reader more. There is no one right answer.

 

[Goro]

So to clarify, I can talk about the study in my PS if it is relevant to it, but I should not have to re-state the purpose of the study in my PS when I do mention it, correct? Can I assume all admission officers can look to my Work/Activities if they want to know the purpose of the study in my PS since I would imagine some look at my PS before my Work/Activities?

Yes and yes