Need some advice on PS

[Maschka1]

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Hello everyone!

Since everyone has been so helpful I thought I would ask another question that really has me stumped. this is kind of personal but I really dont know how to approach it. I am kind of a strange Vet school applicant (or maybe I am not and that would make me feel so much better).

A little background:
First off I was born with an autoimmune disorder that causes issues with chronic pain and mobility problems. I have learned to adapt and I do not think it will effect my overall ability to be a vet (I may not be a surgeon, but that doesn't interest me anyway). My freshman year in college I sustained a traumatic brain injury. I had amnesia, difficulty with balance, walking, memory, ect... I REALLY struggled through my first undergrad with the effects of the brain injury on top of my autoimmune disorder. Over the years (its been about 9 1/2 years). my head has healed and I finally am starting to have better recall and short term memory. After 9 years of going to this specialist and that, I was finally diagnosed with Narcolepsy (most likely a result of that injury). Now that I am being treated I have a whole new life. I started back to school and it is incredible! things are so much easier for me and now I feel I could actually succeed in vet school (before I thought my dream was lost forever)

My Question:
I dont know if I should address this in my PS. I dont want to come off as a whinny person, or be labeled as some one with a disability who cant complete the program. on the other side, this has really effected my life, who I have become, and my determination and fight to become a veterinarian. I have over come a lot to get from not being able to remember 3 simple words given me by a doctor and now getting A's in upper division science classes.

I tried to include this in the explanation section, but 2000 characters does not let me explain this plus the other issues that effected my first go around (dying parent, Meningitis, West Nile, ect...). I am stuck, I have written 3 different PS but really dont know which direction to go in. I would absolutely love your thoughts and appreciate your advice!

 

[Willowhand]

First off, kudos to you for surviving all that and pressing on to follow your dream. That is an impressive accomplishment in itself.

My suggestion for what to include or not include is this: think about all those things you listed, and pick out the ones that had the largest impact on who you are and what you have done/plan to do in life. Look at each of these, and ask yourself if and why you think it would be important for an admissions committee to know this about you. Does it reveal something important and unique about you that is pertinent to your becoming a vet? If so, then you might find that it fits naturally into the writing of your personal statement (or explanation statement, as might be more appropriate). If you find yourself struggling to fit it in, go back to the reasons why you want to include it and question whether it is really something you should share.

Keep in mind that most --if not all-- people at this point in life have surmounted challenges or carry burdens. Many of us have struggled through disease, loss, family issues, natural disasters, etc. From my perspective, listing all the obstacles I had to overcome would not have added anything to my application. But there were a few things which stood out as strongly affecting my academic history and/or who I am as relevant to my future as a vet. Those things made brief appearances in my personal or explanation statement, where appropriate.

In your case, it definitely sounds like there are things which it would benefit your application to have the admissions committees know. I would recommend that you think about the things that are most important and discuss their relevance in a concise manner. Tie them in to your other experiences and life as a whole without overwhelming these other elements. Keep the tone positive, don't say more than you need to, and don't forget to show what you have gained from these difficult experiences.

If you are still worried, have a few people (perhaps ones who don't know you) read your statements over and tell you what they learned about you from them --both from what you explicitly wrote and from the tone of the writing. If their feedback matches your goals, then you're probably headed in the right direction 🙂

 

[katryn]

I agree with willowhand, and will add a caution to it. Be very careful not to just tell the story. What is most important to an interview committee is how your experiences changed you and your perspective on vet med. One sentence saying "I sustained a brain injury that required extensive recovery." is enough to let them know what happened.

 

[Maschka1]

Thanks guys! I feel much better now. and cowgirla, you are my hero for surviving through cancer. My mom has gone through it twice now and I would not wish that sort of suffering on anyone. I am glad you are still here!