Someone put this question up in the WAMC, but I felt it was more appropriate here: I was actually wondering about a similar situation - in my PS I talked about three formative experiences, and these happen to overlap with the three most meaningful experiences. I don't feel that my other activities were truly the most meaningful; would it not be appropriate to pick the same three activities and just elaborate on them (ie, not be redundant, but describe them in more detail) in the 'most meaningful' section? I would guess that most people talk about the most meaningful activities at least somewhat in their PS..
most meaningful experiences overlapping with PS
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If they have been the most meaningful, then you should definitely pick them. Realize that what you write in your PS is different from what goes in this section. In the most meaningful section, you might write about your responsibilities and how they made an impact on you. Your personal statement is more about integrating these activities to support your interest in medicine. Obviously, you are going to have experiences from these activities that you do not include on your PS which you should put in this section.
Hey - I know exactly what you're sayin. I've had the same challenge. Ultimately, I think the PS should focus primarily on the WHY. Don't waste more space than necessary describing the WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHO, HOW, etc.
Of course you'll mention those formative experiences in your PS, but remember that you have 700 (and, lucky for us, 1500 more) characters to describe and discuss them elsewhere (namely, in the 15 things).
After having several people read my PS, almost all of them agreed that I was allocating too much space to my story, and not enough space to my synthesis of that story. "Wow, you've done a lot of interesting things...BUT WHY THE EFF DO YOU WANT TO BE A DOCTOR?"
I think the reason I keep leaving some of this stuff in my PS is because I'm paranoid that somebody might not read all of my 15 things, especially with the new longer versions. I don't want to miss an opportunity to make myself stand out, and I feel that there is less variance in people's WHY's.
Still, I'm starting to agree with everyone who's given me feedback - I gotta answer the question, not just write something fascinating about myself.
Question for the Wise Elders: Is it safe to assume that most people who read our PSes will also read our 15 Things, or are these tasks typically divided up? While I'm at it, do we have any data on how thoroughly each of these things are read?
I'm guessing like a minute of their time per week we put into writing it.
Of course you'll mention those formative experiences in your PS, but remember that you have 700 (and, lucky for us, 1500 more) characters to describe and discuss them elsewhere (namely, in the 15 things).
After having several people read my PS, almost all of them agreed that I was allocating too much space to my story, and not enough space to my synthesis of that story. "Wow, you've done a lot of interesting things...BUT WHY THE EFF DO YOU WANT TO BE A DOCTOR?"
I think the reason I keep leaving some of this stuff in my PS is because I'm paranoid that somebody might not read all of my 15 things, especially with the new longer versions. I don't want to miss an opportunity to make myself stand out, and I feel that there is less variance in people's WHY's.
Still, I'm starting to agree with everyone who's given me feedback - I gotta answer the question, not just write something fascinating about myself.
Question for the Wise Elders: Is it safe to assume that most people who read our PSes will also read our 15 Things, or are these tasks typically divided up? While I'm at it, do we have any data on how thoroughly each of these things are read?
I'm guessing like a minute of their time per week we put into writing it.
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I think the PS is where stories from clinical/volunteering experiences should go, and the meaningful activities blurb should have a mini-synthesis.
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For me, the personal statement is a piece that tells the story of who I am. Use it to talk about events in a personal light. If you are refering to your most meaningful activites then pick an aspect that you can reflect on personally.
On the other hand, the meaningful activites are elements that focus on others and how they transformed me. There is less time for personal reflections because you did'nt transform yourself in these activites.
For example, I could talk about clinical volunteering as a meaningful activity - the theme is how the hospital staff and patients transformed me.
I could talk about shadowing in my personal statement - a highly observation based activity where you I didnt do much else but personally contemplate the experience.
hope that helps
On the other hand, the meaningful activites are elements that focus on others and how they transformed me. There is less time for personal reflections because you did'nt transform yourself in these activites.
For example, I could talk about clinical volunteering as a meaningful activity - the theme is how the hospital staff and patients transformed me.
I could talk about shadowing in my personal statement - a highly observation based activity where you I didnt do much else but personally contemplate the experience.
hope that helps
This.
Mentioning the same thing in your PS and in your Activities should happen, but you should describe them differently. Your PS is a story telling how you decided to become a doctor. Include specific examples and stories from your activities. Your PS should include several experiences but form a single, coherent argument.
