New PS - talk about old PS?

[hildaluc]

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Hey Guys,

So I am wondering....I have what I think is a good PS for 2006, but it references having applied unsuccessfully before. Is this dangerous? I ask because:

1. I am applying to some new schools - do they know I am a reapplicant?
2. Will it reflect badly on me that I didn't get in the first time?

Any thoughts? Is anyone else doing this?

 

[BaylorGuy]

I'm mixed about this....while i understand that you could take the angle of learning from mistakes (I.E. last year's application cycle), i think this may be a bad idea. If you are trying to take the angle of recovering from disappointment, or learning from experience or what not, i would highly suggest using another experience and punching it up a bit.

Personally, think how you would feel if someone wrote about their old PS in their new PS (not the same as taking ideas from an old PS and re-working them in your new PS). I just think it would be weird....also, i dont know what you are writing about or anything, so its' kind of hard to judge.

 

[hildaluc]

I'm mixed about this....while i understand that you could take the angle of learning from mistakes (I.E. last year's application cycle), i think this may be a bad idea. If you are trying to take the angle of recovering from disappointment, or learning from experience or what not, i would highly suggest using another experience and punching it up a bit.

Personally, think how you would feel if someone wrote about their old PS in their new PS (not the same as taking ideas from an old PS and re-working them in your new PS). I just think it would be weird....also, i dont know what you are writing about or anything, so its' kind of hard to judge.

I guess what I mean is this: should I be very clear that "I am a reapplicant and that since the last (exquisitely painfull) cycle in 2005, I have done x,x,x and x to make myself a better candidate."

Should you even talk about having to apply again? 🙁

 

[deleted50541]

I would save such comments for the secondaries, especially the ones that specifically ask "what have you been doing?". It does not seem appropriate to bring your status as a reapplicant up in the ps.

 

[BaylorGuy]

I understand now, but i still agree that it shouldnt be mentioned. If anything i would still bring up the awesome thinhgs that you have done, but not mention that you are a reapplicant.

Someone explained the AMCAS PS as your giant advertising campaign...you need to make yourself look like the best applicant that has ever applied...now the question is, how to do this??? this is why its a personal statement and not group statement.

I know for the texas application there is a space that if you are reapplying, put what you have been doing, but i dont think there is one for the amcas.

 

[cammy1313]

I concur with those advocating NOT to include a reference to your previous application. As BaylorGuy similarly expressed, consider this a billboard on paper. You want to put your best foot forward rather than rehash past failures. You should most definately elaborate on the perspective and introspective knowledge you've gained from having had to apply a second time. But this would best be conveyed by highlighting the new experiences you've taken on as a result of this. For me, I actually rewrote my statement in its entirety. I think I did too much "telling" rather than "showing" in my original statement. I chose to convey my personality and dedication by elaborating on my experiences and uniting them under a common heading. At any rate, see if you can get around expicitly mentioning your reapplicant status.

 

[dontstuddy]

This was just my experience and I can't vouch for adcoms, but last year I wrote the I'm a reapplicant and this is what I have done to improve my application PS. At every interview I had they commented on how well I adressed my situation in my personal statement and I am now finishing my first year of med school. Of course, I didn't get any interviews at schools that I had not applied to the year before( only 2 were new).

 

[DoctorFunk]

In general I would suggest against it. I applied as a reapplicant this year and found that I had more than enough opportunity in secondary applications to address my reapplicant status and delineate exactly what I had done since my first attempt to address any deficiencies I had in my application.

As suggested by others here, use the PS to convince the adcoms that you are Superman (or Superwoman)...no need to let them in on that time you got nailed by Kryptonite way back when 😉

 

[wei28]

In general I would suggest against it. I applied as a reapplicant this year and found that I had more than enough opportunity in secondary applications to address my reapplicant status and delineate exactly what I had done since my first attempt to address any deficiencies I had in my application.

As suggested by others here, use the PS to convince the adcoms that you are Superman (or Superwoman)...no need to let them in on that time you got nailed by Kryptonite way back when 😉

So did you submit the same PS? i dont' feel my motivations for entering medicine have changed much..

 

[Maxmuscle27]

So did you submit the same PS? i dont' feel my motivations for entering medicine have changed much..

I have the same question. Do med schools keep your previous PS? It took me probably 2 months of many revisions to complete my PS. Just curious, if anyone knows the answer to my question.

 

[DoctorFunk]

So did you submit the same PS? i dont' feel my motivations for entering medicine have changed much..

I actually rewrote my personal statement entirely. If you spent a ton of time working on your last PS and are convinced it is the best you can write, maybe just trying to work in a few sentences talking about what you have been doing during the last year might be worthwhile. It at least shows the adcoms (who I think will have your old PS if you applied there before--especially if you were invited for an interview, I would think) that you revisited the PS.

 

[beefballs]

In general I would suggest against it. I applied as a reapplicant this year and found that I had more than enough opportunity in secondary applications to address my reapplicant status and delineate exactly what I had done since my first attempt to address any deficiencies I had in my application.

As suggested by others here, use the PS to convince the adcoms that you are Superman (or Superwoman)...no need to let them in on that time you got nailed by Kryptonite way back when 😉

Congrats on MCW Funkenstein