How to add non-medical research into PS?

[sully677]

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Hello all,

I am preparing my PS, and I have done a considerable amount of research at NASA as a undergrad. I was wondering how to incorporate this into my PS if it is not medically related?

Thanks

 

[orrghead16]

If the NASA experience didn't contribute to why medicine, leave it out of the actual PS. Even if you are applying MD-only, it makes little sense to talk about it in depth. If MD/PhD, you have a 10,000 character monster to explain as little or in as much detail as you want.

I had a ton of research, and I wrote about 2 sentences in my actual PS about it. Even then it was more like "I did research. That is a reason I want to go into medicine." type thing. You have 2 other essays that will be heavily research focused. The folks who read your PS alone are going to be clinically-oriented and won't likely raise much to rocket engines.

 

[bd4727]

If the NASA experience didn't contribute to why medicine, leave it out of the actual PS. Even if you are applying MD-only, it makes little sense to talk about it in depth. If MD/PhD, you have a 10,000 character monster to explain as little or in as much detail as you want.

I had a ton of research, and I wrote about 2 sentences in my actual PS about it. Even then it was more like "I did research. That is a reason I want to go into medicine." type thing. You have 2 other essays that will be heavily research focused. The folks who read your PS alone are going to be clinically-oriented and won't likely raise much to rocket engines.

This is good advice.

PS should only mention research in the sense that you want to pursue a medical career investigating disease and that's why you want to go to medical school, etc. It is not the place to discuss any research that you did, including anything medically-related. It is a non-technical essay designed to articulate your personal story about why you would be someone a medical school would want to admit. I would, however, talk about the NASA research in your research essay, espcially if you spent significant time doing it (in which case you should dedicate significant space for it).

 

[sully677]

Thanks for the responses. One more question. If I apply to MD/PhD and some MD only, should I write two Personal statements?

 

[SBR249]

From what I understand from talking to advisors and other applicants, your PS should really be +90% about why you want to do medicine. Even for MD/PhD programs, you have a whole other essay to talk about why you want a joint degree plus another research statement. Thus the PS should really be targeted toward those in the medical school in order to convince them that you have a few really good reasons to want that MD instead of just another degree tacked onto a PhD.