I love hospitals.

[doctorshateher]

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...is this a weird thing to write on my personal statement?

I mean, obviously I would phrase it less bluntly than that, but one of my main motivations (at least initially anyway) for pursuing medicine is because ever since being a child I have been fascinated by hospitals. Every time I drive by a hospital I just think of how cool they are and my friends always make fun of me because I know most major cities by the well-known hospitals and healthcare centers that they have.

Every time a friend or acquaintance gets injured or ill, I accompany them to the hospital because I just love to be there. I am also pretttty accident prone so I end up there somewhat often myself (ie, tweezers 2 inches into my foot once this summer)

My pre-health advisor gave seemed unimpressed by this as a focus of my personal statement, but if I were to be perfectly honest, my draw to healthcare facilities is one of the main reasons why I want to go into medicine.

Is this too weird of a thing to include in my personal statement?

 

[sideways]

It's kind of fruity. I'd go with something of more substance. Maybe use it as an opening theme then transition on how this lead to your deeper exploration of medicine.

 

[Lucidity]

I think adcoms would feel it is half hearted because during your clinical years and especially during intern year I would believe your love of being in a hospital may change. Just my two cents.

 

[Lucidity]

It's kind of fruity. I'd go with something of more substance. Maybe use it as an opening theme then transition on how this lead to your deeper exploration of medicine.

Definetely would agree with this as an opener to why it lead you to explore the field further.

 

[Torr]

Comes off really naive. You want to enter medicine because of the facilities!? There's got to be more to your interests in medicine than that. I want to hear that you care about people.

 

[doctorshateher]

ok, thats kind of what I was thinking of doing. I mean, I have done a lot of shadowing, career exploration type things and looking into other health professions as well and I have more in depth reasons why I want to go into medicine but the fact that I really liked hospitals it what originally peaked my interest.

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

...is this a weird thing to write on my personal statement?

I mean, obviously I would phrase it less bluntly than that, but one of my main motivations (at least initially anyway) for pursuing medicine is because ever since being a child I have been fascinated by hospitals. Every time I drive by a hospital I just think of how cool they are and my friends always make fun of me because I know most major cities by the well-known hospitals and healthcare centers that they have.

Every time a friend or acquaintance gets injured or ill, I accompany them to the hospital because I just love to be there. I am also pretttty accident prone so I end up there somewhat often myself (ie, tweezers 2 inches into my foot once this summer)

My pre-health advisor gave seemed unimpressed by this as a focus of my personal statement, but if I were to be perfectly honest, my draw to healthcare facilities is one of the main reasons why I want to go into medicine.

Is this too weird of a thing to include in my personal statement?

Yes. I agree with your adviser.

 

[doctorshateher]

well and it's not just about the facilities, but really the possibilities and outcomes that can be achieved there through the people who work there and what they are able to do for their patients

 

[ButImLETired]

I tend to think that being honest and light-hearted isn't necessarily a bad thing, and can be a nice change for adcoms who do nothing but read really serious, stodgy personal statements about that patient that died or how going to Somalia made you realize you're meant to care for the sick etc etc.

On the other hand, I don't think that should be the main "focus" of your essay. I would think about why it is that you love them in the first place. I know I absolutely love hospitals and always have, and it's for a number of reasons- I never sleep, so I like that it's the one place that's bright and active even at night. I love that it's the safest place to be- if something bad happens, you want to be in a hospital. I love that you're surrounded by experts in their field, and the "intellectual buzz" of all that. Those are my reasons, what are yours?

And regardless, I think you need to think about the other reasons you want to be a doctor as well. In general, personal statements are supposed to be just that- personal. People often get really anecdotal and tell some great stories or some great factoids or what they like and don't like but they don't talk about their true motivations, what gets them going, why they like what they like, why their story is really meaningful to them, etc. Adcoms aren't looking for a great story, they're looking for the person behind it- so that's what you should stick with.

But don't be afraid of putting in something a little silly or funny or cheeky. I don't think it hurts you, especially if that's as much a part of your inner self as the serious stuff. For what it's worth, in my personal statement I mentioned how I think Oliver Sacks is a rockstar and about how I used to watch ER with my family and want to be Dr Carter when I grew up. I still got in.

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

Well if anything, write it up then sit on it for 2 weeks. If it turns out to be lame then that should be enough time for you to realize it.

 

[sideways]

ok, thats kind of what I was thinking of doing. I mean, I have done a lot of shadowing, career exploration type things and looking into other health professions as well and I have more in depth reasons why I want to go into medicine but the fact that I really liked hospitals it what originally peaked my interest.

Remember something very important about the admissions process: it's not about honesty. It's about strategy. There's no overstating this fact.

While these early feelings may very well have instilled an affection for all things medicine in you, the people in charge of your fate don't care. They are a congregation of blue-hairs with erectile dysfunction and missing uteri - they aren't your friends and they don't care about you - they are there to admit people who they think will give their school the best reputation/numbers. So proceed accordingly and play their game.

Medical training is a nightmare. They want to ensure that you have a passion so large, that even when you're in the pits of hell, you'll still push on and get through it. Because if you don't, it's not good for THEM. So you need to come up with a reason that proves to them that there's no turning back for you. Because you like x-ray machines, gauze, and the smell of disinfectant isn't enough.

well and it's not just about the facilities, but really the possibilities and outcomes that can be achieved there through the people who work there and what they are able to do for their patients

Your BS is taking shape nicely. Go in this direction.

 

[CardiacIntensivist]

Don't say 'fascinated'
Don't say 'cool'
Don't say 'friends made fun of me'

It also sounds like you find pleasure from watching sick or injured people. Like watching them

 

[airplanes]

Liking hospitals is as generic as wanting to help people. You could serve food at the hospital cafeteria and (technically) still be living your dream.

Explain what it is about the hospital setting and MEDICINE specifically that fascinates you. And make sure you have experiences to back it up.

 

[fizzgig]

yeah i think it's been said but i'll put my opinion in the hat. it's not weird to love hospitals in that you plan to work in one, but the way you phrased it was a bit odd. you need more depth. WHY do you like them, what kind (big academic atmosphere? little rural personal feeling hospital?), what is it that goes on there that fascinates you, etc.