how to show passion on paper?

[ssee77]

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hi! So I am currently filling out my app and yes I have read the threads about tips for filling out the work sections and personal statement etc. but didnt quite find my answer.

Every physician and prof I have worked with or had has told me that they can feel how passionate I am about medicine and ethics (which I am applying for md/ma ethics 5 year programs) when we talk. Luckily, I know every LOR I have says this too, however I am not able to convey this passion on paper?

I'm not sure why but I think it is more my energy and personality that shows my passion to people in person, I don't know how to get across how much I truly enjoy my clinical research and ethics head TA position on paper. I don't want the reader to get lost in lengthy descriptions in my activity descriptions but I haven't found a way to concisely get this passion on paper.

Any tips?

 

[dahassa]

There is a word limit on the activities page of AMCAS. So, instead of spending a lot of time describing the activity, try to emphasize what you got out of it/what it meant to you. Just briefly describe what you did and try to give it a more holistic approach if that makes sense.

If you are referring to the personal statement, then my advice is to not get too focused on the technical aspects of the activity. Let yourself relax and dont stress yourself out. Try to get your emotions down, and most importantly, be critical which each sentence you write. Don't write it until you find the right way to say what you want to convey. Fitzgerald, Kerouac, and many other writers spent hours on one page, constantly writing and rewriting the same sentence until it was perfect. Obviously, your PS is not going to be a great work of American fiction, but treat it like it is. One last point: look at it with fresh eyes. Get through it now diligently, and when you are finished, don't look at for a week. Next week, you will get fresh ideas when you re-read it and you will notice countless flaws/improvements.

 

[ssee77]

you reciprocate (Would be really impressed if you understood the reference)

but seriously, I'm also wondering this. I feel like my activity descriptions are boring.

care to explain reference ? and I know like 700 characters is tiny... so theyre just boring facts :/

 

[ssee77]

There is a word limit on the activities page of AMCAS. So, instead of spending a lot of time describing the activity, try to emphasize what you got out of it/what it meant to you. Just briefly describe what you did and try to give it a more holistic approach if that makes sense.

If you are referring to the personal statement, then my advice is to not get too focused on the technical aspects of the activity. Let yourself relax and dont stress yourself out. Try to get your emotions down, and most importantly, be critical which each sentence you write. Don't write it until you find the right way to say what you want to convey. Fitzgerald, Kerouac, and many other writers spent hours on one page, constantly writing and rewriting the same sentence until it was perfect. Obviously, your PS is not going to be a great work of American fiction, but treat it like it is. One last point: look at it with fresh eyes. Get through it now diligently, and when you are finished, don't look at for a week. Next week, you will get fresh ideas when you re-read it and you will notice countless flaws/improvements.

thanks for the tip! I always put my poetry away for a week and it helps so much when I go back to edit- idk why I didnt think of that for the app!

 

[punkedoutriffs]

Agree with above comments, with the addition that to effectively get emotions down on paper, you must feel them at the time you are writing them. The state of your emotions/mind while you are writing will affect word choices, syntax, etc. that will have one of those x-factor, can't put your finger on it, "je ne sai quoi pas," effects on your writing. The reader will pick up on that subconsciously.

 

[ssee77]

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pi5TnqjfbG8[/YOUTUBE]

Scene from Dexter (around 30 second mark)

Lol ironically I figured this is what you meant -_____-