In your personal statement, which term did you use to refer to doctors?

[monkeyMD]

Doctor or physician? Which is more proper for use in the personal statement?

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[sector9]

I used both so that it wasn't too repetitive

 

[flatearth22]

Healers

Medicine Men

 

[iniquus]

I used physician solely and only had to use the term sparingly. I feel that doctor has a slightly informal tone to it. If I said I wanted to be a doctor, someone could ask me "a doctor of what?"

 

[CodeBlu]

Both.

 

[gravitywave]

I used both so that it wasn't too repetitive

me too. it was an easy out from saying "doctor... doctor... doctor...."

 

[DISCOSTEW]

I used D.O

 

[NickNaylor]

I used "physician." Doctor comes across as informal in that context for some reason. I agree with iniq.

Props to the smartass responses. I lol'd.

 

[PlacentaSac]

Both

 

[music2doc]

Neither. At least not to refer to myself or what I was pursuing. I described what I wanted to do and alluded to it but never stated it as physician/doctor; they already know my career choice based on the type of application being submitted. They also know I know what I want from the clinical experience I have. I used the word doctor when referring to physicians, however.

 

[PlacentaSac]

Neither. At least not to refer to myself or what I was pursuing. I described what I wanted to do and alluded to it but never stated it as physician/doctor; they already know my career choice based on the type of application being submitted. They also know I know what I want from the clinical experience I have. I used the word doctor when referring to physicians, however.

Please let me know how this ends up working for you. I'm just curious.

 

[mauberley]

I used "physician." Doctor comes across as informal in that context for some reason. I agree with iniq.

I agree that "doctor" is informal compared to "physician," but depending on the context or tone you're adopting in a particular passage, "doctor" might fit more. If I wrote, "I want to be a physician," it sounds forced. No one says that.

 

[NickNaylor]

I agree that "doctor" is informal compared to "physician," but depending on the context or tone you're adopting in a particular passage, "doctor" might fit more. If I wrote, "I want to be a physician," it sounds forced. No one says that.

I did...

 

[mauberley]

I did...

This is why you're a special snowflake.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

i as a rule avoid the word "doctor," i use physician. i don't think i used either in the entire PS though

 

[StudyShy]

Physician and health care provider in one instance

 

[pkwraith]

Depends on the character limit.

 

[Stewabeet]

I generally used "doctor" and specifically "oncologist" as needed. "Physician" would've felt forced to me. But maybe my prose just isn't as high class as Nick's🙂.

 

[unhappytnt]

I used D.O

in before DOs are not doctors reply

 

[HINKLO]

Used both, depending on the context. Mostly physician though because of it's more formal tone. "doctor-patient relationship" sounds way better than "physician-patient relationship" for instance.

 

[Web MD]

I used surgeon. I think physician implies family practice, which is definitely not an aspiration I wanted to convey to adcoms

 

[Charles_Carmichael]

Gods.

Kidding. I used physician and doctor.

 

[jm192]

physician most of the time. When I filled out secondaries for osteopathic schools, I made sure to say osteopathic physician. They sure give the impression they want people that WANT to be D.O.'s as opposed to a person who will take DO if it's all they get. (I realize this is MD, but in case anyone is applying both).

 

[circulus vitios]

Medicinæ Doctor

 

[music2doc]

Please let me know how this ends up working for you. I'm just curious.

I didn't really leave it ambiguous. I stated a desire to practice medicine, etc. I just never said "I want to be a doctor/physician." My clinical experience and ECs do a pretty good job of speaking to that desire and my PS gave support for it in the form of a themed set of short narratives.

 

[Whatyousay]

Doctor = 6 characters
Physician = 9 characters

Not even close

 

[eli20]

Both. Perceived tone about words like this makes me laugh.

 

[juliedi]

I used both so that it wasn't too repetitive

+1

Doctor = 6 characters
Physician = 9 characters

Not even close

Haha, I like your style.

 

[jmath27]

I used doctor or seuss interchangeably. I thought the title "jmath27, Doctor Seuss" would be baller.

 

[Glazebrook]

Doctor = 6 characters
Physician = 9 characters

Not even close

+1 👍