New here. Need some advice about PS for AACOMAS

[TerpDO]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi everyone, thanks for looking. This is my first time applying to DO schools, I have applied to MD schools before so I am somewhat familar with the process but I have some questions to ask that would be extremely helpful if someone with more insight could address them:

1)So I finished my PS which is just at 5300 characters, then I learned that AACOMAS only allows 4500 character. How do you guys include all that you wanted to include in such a limited space. I already cut out why I want to do osteopathic medicine specifically (made it more just medicine in general and saved what I cut out for the secondaries). Still I feel that if I made my essay 4500 characters only it would lose a lot of its message. If anyone has any suggestions that would be much appreciated. In addition I would be more than grateful if someone would like to take a read of my PS and offer more detailed suggestions of what I should keep or not keep. Thank you.

2)I was in a social fraternity during college? Should I list this in my extracurriculars? I also worked in a fast food restaurant for an entire summer during college plus half of the academic semester after that summer. List or not list?

I have been reading this site for about a year but have never posted. I know that there are some great people here that will be able to help me out. In addition hopefully I can do my part as well once I am more knowledgeable myself.

Also best of luck to those currently on waitlists at DO schools! I'm sure everything will work out.

 

[DragonWell]

Last year the PS was 3000 characters (!), so you may not find a lot of sympathy here. I know of no easy solution to shorten the PS, except to condense your thoughts, eliminate unneeded descriptors, and in general just pare it down. Sounds like a good call to leave most of the "why DO" till secondaries. Feel free to PM your PS to me and I will try to give a bit more specific advice.

 

[erleichda]

Hi everyone, thanks for looking. This is my first time applying to DO schools, I have applied to MD schools before so I am somewhat familar with the process but I have some questions to ask that would be extremely helpful if someone with more insight could address them:

1)So I finished my PS which is just at 5300 characters, then I learned that AACOMAS only allows 4500 character. How do you guys include all that you wanted to include in such a limited space. I already cut out why I want to do osteopathic medicine specifically (made it more just medicine in general and saved what I cut out for the secondaries). Still I feel that if I made my essay 4500 characters only it would lose a lot of its message. If anyone has any suggestions that would be much appreciated. In addition I would be more than grateful if someone would like to take a read of my PS and offer more detailed suggestions of what I should keep or not keep. Thank you.

2)I was in a social fraternity during college? Should I list this in my extracurriculars? I also worked in a fast food restaurant for an entire summer during college plus half of the academic semester after that summer. List or not list?

I have been reading this site for about a year but have never posted. I know that there are some great people here that will be able to help me out. In addition hopefully I can do my part as well once I am more knowledgeable myself.

Also best of luck to those currently on waitlists at DO schools! I'm sure everything will work out.

1) You can PM me your PS and I will take a look at it. Although, I'm an applicant for 2007 myself, so I don't know how helpful that will be for you.
2) What did your fraternity do? Were you in a leadership position?
Definitely list whatever jobs you've had during college.

 

[Jezzielin]

If you want you can give me you PS, I'll give a quick response! 🙂

 

[TerpDO]

1) You can PM me your PS and I will take a look at it. Although, I'm an applicant for 2007 myself, so I don't know how helpful that will be for you.
2) What did your fraternity do? Were you in a leadership position?
Definitely list whatever jobs you've had during college.

Thank you for all your offers to read my essay so far! I was in a social fraternity, and unless you count beer pong champ a leadership position.... but seriously, no I unfortunately was not in any leadership positions.

BTW, I just remembered that I did attend an open house at PCOM in the last 3-4 weeks and one of the speakers (the doctor who demonstrated OMM for those who may have been there) did mention something about how a person can build character through wage-earning jobs such as waiting tables in a restaurant, etc. I think the point he made was that as doctors we will be taking (chief) complaints for the rest of our career, so if we are already adapted to taking them whether as a waiter or some other job dealing with customers then we are one step ahead. I hope this makes sense. Thanks again!

 

[Khenon]

Last year the PS was 3000 characters (!), so you may not find a lot of sympathy here. I know of no easy solution to shorten the PS, except to condense your thoughts, eliminate unneeded descriptors, and in general just pare it down. Sounds like a good call to leave most of the "why DO" till secondaries. Feel free to PM your PS to me and I will try to give a bit more specific advice.

You'd be surprised how far just this one step will get you. I managed to include all of my significant information without short-changing just by losing most of my descriptors.

 

[scpod]

How do you guys include all that you wanted to include in such a limited space.

Try to think of your PS in a little bit different way. What you want to do is convey something about your character. In other words, who are you as a person? Try to avoid making it a synopsis of your life. This is not a book report. You don't want to make this a listing of the things that you have done in your life, the things you are doing now, or the things you plan to do. All of those things are either already listed in your primary application or will be answered in your secondary application.

Some of the best personal statements are stories. Most people don't like to read biographies, but if you give them a good story they will read on and on forever-- and they will remember it. A well-told tale will stand out far above all the "I want to be a doctor because..." statements that the adcoms are already reading. Tell them a good story and you will capture their attention. They'll want to know more about you...and you'll get the interview. There, you'll be able to tell all those things that you wanted to put in your statement in the first place. But...you've got to get that interview first. Be different. It works!

 

[TerpDO]

A well-told tale will stand out far above all the "I want to be a doctor because..." statements that the adcoms are already reading. Tell them a good story and you will capture their attention. They'll want to know more about you...and you'll get the interview. There, you'll be able to tell all those things that you wanted to put in your statement in the first place. But...you've got to get that interview first. Be different. It works!

ok, this is awesome advice (and the one previous too). The few people that have read my essay said that it has good content, but I really do need to rethink it if I am to make the character limit and make it memorable!! I got only a few days left unitl June 1st!


BTW I had no idea that DO applicants were given on 3000 characters in the past, I completed several MD secondary applications that asked for longer essays... go figure 🙄