Odd question about PS

[VneZonyDostupa]

So I've finished up my primary, about to submit it, but my friends and I are unsure about one part of my personal statement. I start it off with a great quote about science/medicine which I have liked for a long time. The only issue is the quote is from a somewhat controversial person (long dead), that I happen to admire.

I have the sentence in quotes, so as to show they are not my words, but I don't cite who originally said it. Is that maybe the best way to approach it? I would really hate to take the quote out because it sort of sets the tone for the essay.

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[schismal]

Schismal once wrote, "change your syntax and all will be understood!"

 

[JackInTheBox]

JackInTheBox once wrote, "Starting off essays, speeches, or graduation ceremonies with quotes is horribly cliche."

J/k. It's not a peer-reviewed paper. Don't cite it if you're uncomfortable with the source, but leave the quotation marks.

 

[schismal]

JackInTheBox once wrote, "Starting off essays, speeches, or graduation ceremonies with quotes is horribly cliche."

lol, can't argue with that one.

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

lol, can't argue with that one.

Eh, it's cliche', I know, but so are 99% of the answers to "why medicine?" hehe. IT's a good quote, works for the theme of the essay, etc.

Thanks for the advice on citing or not citing, guys =)

 

[Dulcina]

Eh, it's cliche', I know, but so are 99% of the answers to "why medicine?" hehe. IT's a good quote, works for the theme of the essay, etc.

Thanks for the advice on citing or not citing, guys =)

im curious as to who said it now!

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

im curious as to who said it now!

V.I. Lenin

 

[bcat85]

What's the quote and who's the person?

If it's hitler, maybe consider dropping it.

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

What's the quote and who's the person?

If it's hitler, maybe consider dropping it.

Haha, yeeeah, I'm thinkin' Hitler would be a big no-no. Here's the quote, the person who said it is in the above post.

“We must not regard our knowledge as ready-made and unalterable, but must determine [...] how incomplete, inexact knowledge becomes more complete and more exact“.

 

[Dulcina]

V.I. Lenin

seems fine to me, i'd quote it

 

[amph119]

V.I. Lenin

Lenin is only a 7 on the 1 to 10 scale of controversial world leaders. Medical schools will only accept quotes from people below 8.5. If it is higher, they will automatically reject you.

For your information:

Stalin is a 9.4 and Hitler is a 10, so avoid them. George Bush is 8.4, barely making the cut. I'm 100% serious, this is an actual scale.

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

seems fine to me, i'd quote it

I'm kind of torn about quoting it or not. Some people still really respect Lenin, and a lot really hate him. Obviously, med schools can't discriminate against you for personal beliefs, but you can't force someone not to view you negatively, you know?

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

Lenin is only a 7 on the 1 to 10 scale of controversial world leaders. Medical schools will only accept quotes from people below 8.5. If it is higher, they will automatically reject you.

For your information:

Stalin is a 9.4 and Hitler is a 10, so avoid them. George Bush is 8.4, barely making the cut. I'm 100% serious, this is an actual scale.

Haha, wow, I don't know whether you're being sarcastic about that being an actual scale, but if it is, send me the link, lol

 

[Dulcina]

I'm kind of torn about quoting it or not. Some people still really respect Lenin, and a lot really hate him. Obviously, med schools can't discriminate against you for personal beliefs, but you can't force someone not to view you negatively, you know?

I think medschool adcoms can disagree with a person's lifestyle/choices, but still sympathize with one of their quotes. I don't think they'd discriminate against you, even subconsciously, for quoting Lenin (just dont say something like 'OMG i love this guy' )

 

[amph119]

Haha, wow, I don't know whether you're being sarcastic about that being an actual scale, but if it is, send me the link, lol

 

[amph119]

And yes, I'm being sarcastic

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

I think medschool adcoms can disagree with a person's lifestyle/choices, but still sympathize with one of their quotes. I don't think they'd discriminate against you, even subconsciously, for quoting Lenin (just dont say something like 'OMG i love this guy' )

Hmm, good point. Yeah, and I figure the only time I would even talk about it is if they ask me specifically about that quote, and even then it would be a one sentence answer, hehe.

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

And yes, I'm being sarcastic

Aww, now I'm disappointed. I'm bored at home and was hoping for a little entertainment, lol. I was already trying to decide who I think would be closest to "1" on the scale. Gandhi, maybe? hehe

 

[Gobblox]

I think your good. Lenin is actually one of the less controversial communist leaders as terms to his ideas...its more about what he DID to gain power and keep his power that people are not a fan of.

In fact...Lenin wasnt a bad leader (for a communist ) and he was one of the only russian leaders not support anti-semitism and is spoken of very highly in that aspect by jewish historians.

However REMEMBER that most of the people who read you PS were most likely around during the cold war...and they dont take kindly to "Pinko" propaganda.

 

[Begaster]

Lenin is only a 7 on the 1 to 10 scale of controversial world leaders. Medical schools will only accept quotes from people below 8.5. If it is higher, they will automatically reject you.

For your information:

Stalin is a 9.4 and Hitler is a 10, so avoid them. George Bush is 8.4, barely making the cut. I'm 100% serious, this is an actual scale.

"Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYN's aren't able to practice their, their love with women all across this country."

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

I think your good. Lenin is actually one of the less controversial communist leaders as terms to his ideas...its more about what he DID to gain power and keep his power that people are not a fan of.

In fact...Lenin wasnt a bad leader (for a communist ) and he was one of the only russian leaders not support anti-semitism and is spoken of very highly in that aspect by jewish historians.

However REMEMBER that most of the people who read you PS were most likely around during the cold war...and they dont take kindly to "Pinko" propaganda.

That's exactly what I'm hoping adcoms think when they read the quote, that he actually was a decent leader, relatively, with good ideas and not confuse his policies with Stalin's. Hopefully I won't get an interviewer who was a friend of McCarthy's or something...lol

 

[pianola]

Would you mind sharing the quote? It might help us decide about the overall appropriateness.

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

"Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYN's aren't able to practice their, their love with women all across this country."

"I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein." (Bush in Washington, D.C., May 25, 2004)

Best. Quote. Ever.

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

Would you mind sharing the quote? It might help us decide about the overall appropriateness.

It's a few posts up.

 

[Dulcina]

"I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein." (Bush in Washington, D.C., May 25, 2004)

Best. Quote. Ever.

2 hands! seems reasonable to me

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

2 hands! seems reasonable to me

It's still a very unfortunate choice of words, hehe. Not nearly as bad as when he asked the blind White House reported why he was wearing sunglasses indoors, but still bad nonetheless.

 

[Ubergeek]

a) Dulcina, you WOULD like the Lenin quote. Typical Brunonian! Just kidding!!

b) VZD, are you serious? You don't think med schools can discriminate against you for personal beliefs? Of course they can! Indeed, they have an obligation to. For example, if you were flagrantly anti-semitic in your PS, they would hold that against you. Likewise, if a single committee member feels as though the quote was in poor taste, it might be counted against you. I would be very wary of including a quote like that. There are a lot of people who look at the sickle and hammer and see a symbol of decades of oppression, persecution, censorship, and intolerance. I imagine that some adcoms might contain voting members that feel similarly.



EDIT: sickle and hammer

 

[Dulcina]

It's still a very unfortunate choice of words, hehe. Not nearly as bad as when he asked the blind White House reported why he was wearing sunglasses indoors, but still bad nonetheless.

yeah, i would have phrased it differently. at least he didnt say both hands were cut off! that would have been a difficult one to explain

 

[Dulcina]

a) Dulcina, you WOULD like the Lenin quote. Typical Brunonian! Just kidding!!

lol im such a communist.

medschool acceptances for all!

 

[Begaster]

"I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein." (Bush in Washington, D.C., May 25, 2004)

Best. Quote. Ever.

Doesn't hold a candle to:

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

b) VZD, are you serious? You don't think med schools can discriminate against you for personal beliefs? Of course they can! Indeed, they have an obligation to. For example, if you were flagrantly anti-semitic in your PS, they would hold that against you.

I meant "personal beliefs" in the sense that they cannot legally discriminate against you (in writing, at least) for being a democrat, republican, socialist, libertarian, Christian, etc.

Of course blantant racism and anti-semitism don't fall into that same protection, just late hate speech often isn't protected under "freedom of speech".

Likewise, if a single committee member feels as though the quote was in poor taste, it might be counted against you.

Well, then it's a good thing they are on a committee, and not making the decision by themselves =)

I would be very wary of including a quote like that. There are a lot of people who look at the sickle and hammer and see a symbol of decades of oppression, persecution, censorship, and intolerance. I imagine that some adcoms might contain voting members that feel similarly.

There isn't a sickle and hammer on my application. I'm still hesitant to put the source's name, as there may be people who don't know much about him, or may just completely disagree with them.

Thanks for the input, regardless =) It's very much appreciated.

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

Doesn't hold a candle to:

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."

I remember hearing him say that live (on radio), and I felt like my whole world was about to implode.

 

[schismal]

Doesn't hold a candle to:

"There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."

A profoundly painful moment for humanity.

 

[VneZonyDostupa]

And to think, he nearly won the election in 2000.

 

[daniellema13]

"Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB/GYN's aren't able to practice their, their love with women all across this country."

Haha, i saw this speech. was laughing my ass off.