Letting people read your personal statement

[thedelicatessen]

Who are you going to allow to read/proof your personal statement? It seems that some of that stuff is kind of personal, and hearing too many opinions is not always productive. What's the right balance?

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[etf]

i let anyone read my personal statement (except for random people off the internet ) - in my opinion, something that is universally appealing is bound to be a hit. I made mine pretty humerous, and most people that read it laughed at it. I also got compliments on it at my interviews. Then again, I also got waitlists at my interviews. So I guess it's a delicate balance...

 

[Avalanche21]

I let some of my professional friends look at it because I knew they would offer good feedback while being respectful of the contents

 

[dbhvt]

Who are you going to allow to read/proof your personal statement? It seems that some of that stuff is kind of personal, and hearing too many opinions is not always productive. What's the right balance?

Give it to everyone you know and trust. Then do what you want with their comments.

 

[baylormed]

Give it to everyone you know and trust. Then do what you want with their comments.

I don't know many people whom I would trust to correct any paper...so far, one of my roomates (journalism major and a pretty good writer) is the only one revising it. I might read it to my mom if I feel like sharing it. If not, I'll just do with what I feel is best and pray I didn't say something stupid. 😳

 

[dbhvt]

I don't know many people whom I would trust to correct any paper...so far, one of my roomates (journalism major and a pretty good writer) is the only one revising it. I might read it to my mom if I feel like sharing it. If not, I'll just do with what I feel is best and pray I didn't say something stupid. 😳

Give it to your premed advisor. You need more opinions. Maybe you know others who could give pointers on content, even though they won't know a semicolon from their dingus?

 

[baylormed]

Give it to your premed advisor. You need more opinions. Maybe you know others who could give pointers on content, even though they won't know a semicolon from their dingus?

Good idea, maybe I'll e-mail him about it. It hadn't occured to me.
I have a relative who's a doctor, he might be able to help...mmmmmm.

 

[lilnoelle]

I let my sister edit it (she's good with grammer and punctuation and clarity of writing) and my father in law edit it, (he's good at editing for content) and my husband, who is a very picky person and wouldn't let me send it until it was perfect to his tastes.

 

[Thundrstorm]

I let my family read it after I submitted. I went against my own advice and didn't have anyone look over it for me; I just trusted that I'd do a good enough job.

 

[plainolerichie]

I only let some of my friends read it. I think it kinda sucked to be honest. I'd been told at interviews that I was a good writer though (I think everything but the PS was pretty good).

 

[GujjuNo1]

Who are you going to allow to read/proof your personal statement? It seems that some of that stuff is kind of personal, and hearing too many opinions is not always productive. What's the right balance?

Find a medical student or someone who is aware of the admissions process (may be an ex adcom member).

I would recommend not to have your parents, friends or relatives read your personal statement. While they know you, they do not know the admissions process and you want to make sure that you write an essay that is meets the admission committee's expectations (and not necessarily just a "personal statement"). Does this make sense?

 

[BlackBantie]

I'm asking one of my bosses at the school who also happens to be an ex adcom member. She says that she has helped many students over the years write PS statements and she teaches writing classes at the university so hopefully I'm in good hands. I need good hands right now.

I agree with the previous poster about having your friends, etc. read your personal statement. I don't care what a friend or parent might claim, they most likely will not be as critical as they should. Find someone who is willing to rip your paper apart. It will help you in the long run.