Linkage Application Question

[knerdyknitter]

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Hi guys!

I am in my final semester at a post-bac. I found out last week that a linkage agreement was just finalized between my school and my first choice medical school (PCOM). Obviously I'm inclined to apply for the linkage but the application is due September 30th and since I hadn't planned on applying through linkage I hadn't even started my AACOMAS (I sit for the MCATs) next summer (2014). If it were any other school I wouldn't put myself through this but they are my dream school and I don't want to give up the chance to get in sooner. So my issue is I'm throwing this thing together really quickly which is mostly fine, but the personal statement is giving me fits and I don't have the time I normally would to work on honing it. I have a few questions about it and would love your feedback:

1. Since I am only applying to PCOM this cycle (if I'm not offered linkage there I will apply through the usual process next year and can have a new statement for those apps) is it OK to specifically reference them in my personal statement?

2. My background is nontrad. I'm 30, have an MS in Mental Health Counseling and decided after working in my field to pursue medicine. I feel like I sort of have to atone for my non-science background though. I didn't take chem, or calc, or physics, etc...as an undergrad and even though I did well in my post-bac my undergrad gpa is extremely mediocre (even counting my post-bac grades I'll only be looking at a 3.3-3.4 overall). I have noted what about my background will make me a great doctor in the statement, but how much page space should I devote to talking about why I made the switch? Is it ok to just say "I did and here's my reason" or does it need a whole paragraph?

3. I wrote a "hobby statement" and it's a little left of center. Is it OK to forgo the formula for the sake of standing out? I think what I wrote is super relevant and I tied it into medicine throughout, but it's not about my work as a therapist, or patient stories, or shadowing experiances. My question is, from the perspective of an adcom, will I look "weird", or like I don't know what I'm doing?

Thanks for any input!

 

[Jumpstartmy5HT]

Hi guys!

I am in my final semester at a post-bac. I found out last week that a linkage agreement was just finalized between my school and my first choice medical school (PCOM). Obviously I'm inclined to apply for the linkage but the application is due September 30th and since I hadn't planned on applying through linkage I hadn't even started my AACOMAS (I sit for the MCATs) next summer (2014). If it were any other school I wouldn't put myself through this but they are my dream school and I don't want to give up the chance to get in sooner. So my issue is I'm throwing this thing together really quickly which is mostly fine, but the personal statement is giving me fits and I don't have the time I normally would to work on honing it. I have a few questions about it and would love your feedback:

1. Since I am only applying to PCOM this cycle (if I'm not offered linkage there I will apply through the usual process next year and can have a new statement for those apps) is it OK to specifically reference them in my personal statement?

2. My background is nontrad. I'm 30, have an MS in Mental Health Counseling and decided after working in my field to pursue medicine. I feel like I sort of have to atone for my non-science background though. I didn't take chem, or calc, or physics, etc...as an undergrad and even though I did well in my post-bac my undergrad gpa is extremely mediocre (even counting my post-bac grades I'll only be looking at a 3.3-3.4 overall). I have noted what about my background will make me a great doctor in the statement, but how much page space should I devote to talking about why I made the switch? Is it ok to just say "I did and here's my reason" or does it need a whole paragraph?

3. I wrote a "hobby statement" and it's a little left of center. Is it OK to forgo the formula for the sake of standing out? I think what I wrote is super relevant and I tied it into medicine throughout, but it's not about my work as a therapist, or patient stories, or shadowing experiances. My question is, from the perspective of an adcom, will I look "weird", or like I don't know what I'm doing?

Thanks for any input!

You have 10 days to work on your app. That should be plenty enough.

Since your PS will only be seen by PCOM, you can probably mention them, as long as you tie them into your overall goal and how their values mirror your own.


My approach to explanations is generally through eloquent narrative. The length would really depend on the scenario.

What is a hobby statement? I didn't put down as many hobbies descriptions in my AACOMAS application as my AMCAS application. In my AMCAS application, I always tried to mention the significance of the experience.