Paid assistance for personal statement?

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Hi,

Just wondering if anyone has used a personal statement service. I hate writing and I’m currently cringing at the thought of drafting a personal statement (I know, I need to get to over it..) I have all these thoughts in my head about what I would like to write about but I’m not sure what is appropriate or where to even begin. Did I mention I hate writing?

If anyone has advice on services that could be of use to me or just advice on how the get this thing started that would be great. Yes I’ve scoured the internet for guidance but I’m still at a standstill.

#sendhelp


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Hello! I didn't use a service to help write my personal statement, but I did hire an editor to clean up my personal statement and secondaries. I can definitely send you her link if you're interested. She's a brilliant writer and I'd highly recommend her. However, she does not write, she just edit. 🙂
 
CloverBale said:
Hello! I didn't use a service to help write my personal statement, but I did hire an editor to clean up my personal statement and secondaries. I can definitely send you her link if you're interested. She's a brilliant writer and I'd highly recommend her. However, she does not write, she just edit. 🙂
Click to expand...

Hi Clover,

Does she hardcore edit? I’m an alright writer when I want to be but gah, I am lacking motivation atm. I will gladly take her contact information from you just in case. Thanks.


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CloverBale said:
Hello! I didn't use a service to help write my personal statement, but I did hire an editor to clean up my personal statement and secondaries. I can definitely send you her link if you're interested. She's a brilliant writer and I'd highly recommend her. However, she does not write, she just edit. 🙂
Click to expand...

Is it cool if I got her link too? Just in case.
 
I technically didn't pay. I used my school's career specialist and pre-med advisor. Their services were included in my tuition. It helps if you start a couple years in advance so you can build your personal statement skills because you want it to be telling, but you also want it to be succinct as it has a strict character limit.
 
I don't think there's anyone out there that actually enjoys writing a PS. So do it in stages, write a paragraph about something, anything about you and why you want to be in medicine as a physician. Talk about experiences that have lead you to make this decision. Just write an amorphous amalgam of random musings and thoughts. After a month or two you'll have 8-9 paragraphs of stuff that you can go back and reflect on. Then start tying it together into something more cohesive and pointed. In regards to having others edit your drafts, choose one or two trusted at most. If you give it to 3-5, then you get too many opinions and conflicting viewpoints that it can frustrate you. But it should be yours.

Having said that, I'm willing to write your PS for some bitcoin... Cheers.
 
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drlemons said:
Hi Clover,

Does she hardcore edit? I’m an alright writer when I want to be but gah, I am lacking motivation atm. I will gladly take her contact information from you just in case. Thanks.


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Click to expand...
I used an editing service. She’s simply amazing and hardcore editing, and very qualified. I can send you her contact info if you like. Maybe it’s the same person who helped @CloverBale 😀 I wouldn’t be surprised.
 
But does your service do regular editing, or holistic editing?
 
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CloverBale said:
You know I got that ace hookup B)
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Can you send me a link also? Thanks!

Also, anyone get their secondaries checked by a company? There seem to be lots of companies that check essays so I was wondering if anyone knows which are good and cheap?
 
I used a service! It was worth the money and they were awesome. They are advertised on SDN. Message me.
 
drlemons said:
Hi Clover,

Does she hardcore edit? I’m an alright writer when I want to be but gah, I am lacking motivation atm. I will gladly take her contact information from you just in case. Thanks.


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Click to expand...

I used a editor/writer for my PS (both med school and residency). I wrote the first draft, he rewrote it, then I rewrote it and then he edited it.

He can write and edit as much as you want. PM me if you want his info. 25-75$


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A lot of you guys are wanting to pay for editing (not content), but I would highly recommend just reaching out to career services/writing centers at your university, even if you've already graduated. Don't waste money on an editing service when that's something that any english major can do...

(If you want, spend money for a service that will address content. That would actually be worth it IMO.)
 
Last edited:
tiramisucheese said:
A lot of you guys are wanting to pay for editing, but I would highly recommend just reaching out to career services/writing centers at your university, even if you've already graduated. Don't waste money on an editing service when that's something that any english major can do...

(If you want, spend money for a service that will address content. That would actually be worth it IMO.)
Click to expand...
Not every career service program at universities is that great though. My school’s service is just graduate students and they don’t do a good job of editing.

I don’t see there being in issue in wanting to get professional help, especially with people who are experienced academic writers who have had years of experience helping folks get into medical school. The woman who helped me with the professional editing service I used sat on an admissions committee for a medical school in California, and knew what medical schools are looking for in the personal statement. I think her help was very valuable and I cherished it.
 
FlyMissMD93 said:
Not every career service program at universities is that great though. My school’s service is just graduate students and they don’t do a good job of editing.

I don’t see there being in issue in wanting to get professional help, especially with people who are experienced academic writers who have had years of experience helping folks get into medical school. The woman who helped me with the professional editing service I used sat on an admissions committee for a medical school in California, and knew what medical schools are looking for in the personal statement. I think her help was very valuable and I cherished it.
Click to expand...

I mistyped in my previous statement. Meant to say that I don't see the point in paying for an editor that will only go over grammar, not content. Sounds like the person you worked with looked over everything!

The only reason I mentioned it is because I've read over finished applications from people who have used editing services that did not go over content, and the applications were extremely lacking in flow/cohesion/etc. While the grammar/syntax/etc. was fine, the meat of the essay was not.
 
As someone who has worked providing both editing and paid services, here are some thoughts.

1) Most applicants would benefit much more for an initial consultation prior to writing a PS to help them think it thru.
2) Paid editing works best if the above is done first and frankly I think less expensive.
3) Most students who just need editing can probably find a free lancer on the 'net sites to do so with same results.
4) using your schools career center or even asking former professors such as in English or Social Science to do so is alot cheaper
5) I typically send away 85%+ people who ask for my service after 15-30 minute phone convo as not needing me
6) I will say for absolute best results, working with someone from beginning to end, and not just editing, is the way to go for those who feel utterly lost or have atypical backgrounds. They are also the most expensive.
7) using SDN readers is a reasonable method as a) they have some idea of what it should say and b) they dont know you.
 
My friend edited mine. He used to work as an editor, so I trusted his opinion. We build and broke apart my PS several times till we both felt it was close to perfect. I was able to get I think about 16 II in my cycle (12 MD and 4 DO I think).
I paid him, mostly because he spent way too much of his time on me that it was only fair. He’d be down to help edit some too. And he can work as hard or as little as needed (I think). DM me if you want his contact.
 
CloverBale said:
Hello! I didn't use a service to help write my personal statement, but I did hire an editor to clean up my personal statement and secondaries. I can definitely send you her link if you're interested. She's a brilliant writer and I'd highly recommend her. However, she does not write, she just edit. 🙂
Click to expand...
Nice
 
gonnif said:
As someone who has worked providing both editing and paid services, here are some thoughts.

1) Most applicants would benefit much more for an initial consultation prior to writing a PS to help them think it thru.
2) Paid editing works best if the above is done first and frankly I think less expensive.
3) Most students who just need editing can probably find a free lancer on the 'net sites to do so with same results.
4) using your schools career center or even asking former professors such as in English or Social Science to do so is alot cheaper
5) I typically send away 85%+ people who ask for my service after 15-30 minute phone convo as not needing me
6) I will say for absolute best results, working with someone from beginning to end, and not just editing, is the way to go for those who feel utterly lost or have atypical backgrounds. They are also the most expensive.
7) using SDN readers is a reasonable method as a) they have some idea of what it should say and b) they dont know you.
Click to expand...

Hi Gonnif,

Thanks for the great advice. Where do I find these SDN readers? I recall there being a personal statement reader thread a while back, but I’m unable to locate it.


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I used someone I found on here too (the classifieds). They are in a health professional school and I felt like they knew about the application process. He is pretty affordable, just send me a pm if you need his information.
 
I had 3 drinks and then poured my heart out in a randomly long story..... then edited it down to the character limit.

Drunk writing = Good writing. Except for the typos.
 
CloverBale said:
Hello! I didn't use a service to help write my personal statement, but I did hire an editor to clean up my personal statement and secondaries. I can definitely send you her link if you're interested. She's a brilliant writer and I'd highly recommend her. However, she does not write, she just edit. 🙂
Click to expand...
Can I get her link too?! Thank you!
 
21Rush12 said:
If you send it to me by PM I can read it through for you!
Click to expand...

Hello! Would you be willing to look over my PS as well? I feel it's ready to be uploaded but I would really value another opinion on it!!
 
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