My SMP Personal Statement strategy...what do you think?

[BullOverBear]

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I think that there is a very important difference between the AMCAS personal statement and the personal statement that you would write for an SMP. In your AMCAS, you are trying to make yourself look like a great medical school applicant. However, if you are applying to an SMP, then you are not yet a great medical school applicant (otherwise you wouldn't be applying to an SMP). So, do you think it's a good strategy to actually talk about your weaknesses, as opposed to focusing on the positives and making yourself look like a great med school applicant?

For my personal statement for an SMP, I wrote:
Intro
- Thanked them for reading my application (is this a good idea?)
- Named the school specifically
- VERY BRIEFLY said why I want to be a doctor
A short paragraph for each of my three main weaknesses
- My GPA is too low (3.29) to get into the schools that I want to attend. This is why I am a good fit for your program.
- My MCAT score went down the second time I took it (which was two years ago). I am retaking a third time in April.
- I am lacking a good amount of clinical experience. I plan on working in a local hospital in April as soon as my MCAT is over
Tied everything together
- Basically, I named my three main weaknesses to show that I have identified them and that I am taking steps to fix them. This is why I will be a good fit at their school, and why I will be a good medical school applicant in the near future.


I haven't sent this PS in yet, because I wanted to see what you guys thought about the strategy. What do you think?

 

[laddr]

I'm going to go ahead and say that I personally don't think that's a great strategy.

It's obvious that almost all who apply to SMPs are doing so because their credentials lack in some way or another, and that they are taking the steps necessary to rectify those issues (which is why they're applying to SMPs). Therefore, I think that using your personal statement to discuss the areas in which you need improvement does not set you apart from the 100s of others who are also applying.

Instead, I feel that you should talk about why you want to be a doctor (i.e. the events that have compelled you to continue pursuing your goals of becoming a doctor, despite your weak credentials). You can then conclude your personal statement with a few sentences discussing your ultimate educational/career goals and how that particular program will help you attain them.

That's just my personal opinion.

P.S. I would also not thank them for reviewing your application...I don't think the personal statement is intended to be written like a letter...

 

[jwied73]

I think laddr is on the right track here. I agree that your personal statement should be more tailored to why you want to help patients heal and become a medical scientist. You really need to sell yourself here using your strengths. It's understood that you're not the cream of the crop- that's why you're applying to this program. (don't feel offended here, I'm applying to an SMP too.) If you feel like it is still really necessary to explain your reason for applying in detail, perhaps claim disadvantaged status or just add an extra document to your application.