Paul Farmer Personal Statement

[AllDay24]

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I did use the Search function, so I apologize if there are threads that I did not find concerning this topic.

So, I read Mountains Beyond Mountains and I thought it had a big impact on me throughout college as a pre-med student. I am writing a personal statement that outlines how the book affected my life (it led me to be fully committed to clinical service, etc). It sounds passionate, but do you think that the topic might be a bit to cliche? Thanks.

 

[docelh]

Celtics in 6.

 

[hithere3387]

Celtics in 6.

haaaaaaaaa

OP: My experience (anecdotal) has been that adcoms get several interviewees each year who mention Paul Farmer. However, if your personal statement is truthful, passionate, well written, and you can back it up with clinical experience, then I see no reason not to include it or even make it the central topic of your personal statement.

 

[ronaldo23]

Celtics in 6.

.....

 

[wingiv]

Be a little wary of doing this. His book also really affected me in my pursuit of medicine. I mentioned him in one of my interviews, and the interviewer got hostile towards me. Just make sure that you're making it clear that you're not trying to be a social worker, but someone that loves treating diseases. That distinction is made in his book, but it can easily be missed with all the social work that he has been doing.

 

[Don Draper]

Celtics in 6.

I think the Lakers are too tall and age is a factor in Boston.

If I had to bet, Lakers in 6. Am I surprised if Boston wins? No.

 

[bobsmith]

OP: My experience (anecdotal) has been that adcoms get several interviewees each year who mention Paul Farmer. However, if your personal statement is truthful, passionate, well written, and you can back it up with clinical experience, then I see no reason not to include it or even make it the central topic of your personal statement.

👍 to this post, but the part about backing it up with clinical experience is really key here. Anyone could presumably talk about how Farmer's story is inspiring to them, really makes them want to help people, etc, but it's the concrete examples about what you actually did after you were inspired that makes it a personal statement

 

[docelh]

I think the Lakers are too tall and age is a factor in Boston.

If I had to bet, Lakers in 6. Am I surprised if Boston wins? No.

I hear ya'. Lakers are lookin' good in all areas including the bench. Artest is filling in that key Scottie Pippen role, and Odom is decent.

Celtics probably have a better D, and Rondo is stepping up. We will see...

 

[bigballer27]

Celtics in 6.

u muuuusttt be tripppppin

 

[morning]

Pfeh @ basketball


Flyers >>>>> Blackhawks

 

[AllDay24]

OK cool. Yeah in my first draft I spent a paragraph saying how I admired his treatment, and in the next one I talked about how it led me to do more clinical work. But my clinical work is just EMT, hospital volunteering, and local medical care for the poor and homeless. Do you think they'll say, "Why didn't you go abroad to help others like Farmer did?"?

P.S. Lakers and Flyers in 6.

 

[rbnsafsadgf]

In my first PS, I mentioned Paul Farmer. I was rejected everywhere. In retrospect, it sounded *very* naive.

In my second one, I wrote about *my* experiences. I got complements on my PS during interviews and got accepted.

YMMV.

 

[UMICHPremed]

Lakers in 6.

Here are the 6 reasons why...
6) Ron shuts down Pierce

5) Boston front line is offensively challenged. Odom, Gasol, and Bynum will dominate Perkins, Big Baby or better termed FAT Baby, K.G. (who btw was shut down by Rashard Lewis in the Magics series LOL). and Rasheed (who really needs to retire).

4) Rondo will be effectively neutralized by Farmar, Vujacic, Brown, and Fischer. We have a plethora of guards to rotate on him.

3) Lakers are more offensively balanced than any other opponent Boston has faced.

2) Home court advantage and the Zen Master

1) The Lakers have KOBE BRYANT. (Lebron James, Steve Nash, and Dirk please forward your MVP trophies to Kobe's house.)

 

[chronicidal]

Who else is often mentioned by interviewees?

 

[ScronCron]

I remember LizzyM posted a few months back that this topic was one of the top 5 biggest cliches for personal statements. Don't mention the book. At All.

 

[mmmcdowe]

I remember LizzyM posted a few months back that this topic was one of the top 5 biggest cliches for personal statements. Don't mention the book. At All.

A book is your biggest motivation to go into medicine? Not only is it a cliche, it's a damn poor reason to go into medicine. This may not be the case, but if you are dedicating your PS to it that's how it will read.

 

[LetsGo352]

Lakers in 6. The X factor = PAU!

 

[UMICHPremed]

Lakers in 6. The X factor = PAU!

Yes. I actually see Odom being more of a X-factor... well actually, Odom or Gasol. K.G. will do a decent job guarding either Odom or Gasol; however, the guy not guarded by K.G. will probably be guarded by Kendrick Perkins. Odom and Gasol will have too much speed and versatility for Perkins. He and Glen Davis's fat butts will be owned.

 

[rbnsafsadgf]

Do you think they'll say, "Why didn't you go abroad to help others like Farmer did?"?

No.

They will ask, did this darn Lakers fan learn anything meaningful from his experiences rather than a cliche book?

 

[SouthernSurgeon]

I imagine this is somewhat comparable to an applicant to Notre Dame citing the movie Rudy as their inspiration...

 

[RB93]

Yes. I actually see Odom being more of a X-factor... well actually, Odom or Gasol. K.G. will do a decent job guarding either Odom or Gasol; however, the guy not guarded by K.G. will probably be guarded by Kendrick Perkins. Odom and Gasol will have too much speed and versatility for Perkins. He and Glen Davis's fat butts will be owned.

Don't forget that last time the teams met in the finals Luke Walton and Vlad Radmanovic were guarding Paul Pierce, plus the Lakers didn't have Bynum and Ariza (Artest now). Artest is gonna make Pierce work for it. Posey and House also did a great job against the Lakers. Lakers have HCA this time, gonna be tough no doubt with Rondo's improvement but Kobe is the best in the game and a man possessed. GO LAKERS!!!!!

 

[TreeOfSouls]

What does the game have to do with the OP's question? Why not take it to the Off Topic thread?

Regarding the OP's question: yes, I think it would be too cliche to make it a central theme of your PS. BUT, you could take a little from it- a quote/thought or a specific scenario and weave it into your overall PS.

 

[TFS]

.

 

[riceman04]

u muuuusttt be tripppppin

yup...he's been smokin' that good stuff all day!

 

[279866]

One of my essay topics is "Describe a recent activity or experience that has been or is currently especially important to you." Now, I am a rising sophomore who is applying to the Humanities and Medicine EAP at Mt. Sinai. Since I cannot be held to the same standards in terms of clinical experience, do you guys think it would be acceptable to write about the impact of his book on me? Anyway, the essay isn't like a personal statement---it doesn't want reasons why I want to be a doctor. Thoughts? Is it still too cliche?

 

[cdlub]

I saw a kid blatantly dragging around a copy of Mountains Beyond Mountains at an interview. It was hysterical.

 

[Ishiguro]

I don't have an answer to the PS statement, except to say I would be turned off by someone extensively discussing Mountains Beyond Mountains.

MBM is a great introduction to Farmer's life, but what drives me crazy is that so many people cite that book, and not Farmer's own writing, when discussing his influence. Farmer didn't write MBM; it's just a great overview of what he's done. He did write, among others, Pathologies of Power. That's a pretty damning critique of the way industrialized nations approach medicine for the poor. Please, please, if you're a fan of Paul Farmer or think you might be, look at his writing. Pathologies of Power is certainly a lot denser than Kidder's biography, but it is worth the effort.

 

[r1oid]

Farmer has some personality quirks that have rubbed some people the wrong way in academic medical circles. His work is great but his people skills are not as diplomatic as you'd hope. You might want to talk more about yourself and what you've done.

 

[45408]

I think that about 1 in 3 personal statements that I've read on SDN mention him. DON'T DO IT.

 

[basementcat]

I don't have an answer to the PS statement, except to say I would be turned off by someone extensively discussing Mountains Beyond Mountains.

MBM is a great introduction to Farmer's life, but what drives me crazy is that so many people cite that book, and not Farmer's own writing, when discussing his influence. Farmer didn't write MBM; it's just a great overview of what he's done. He did write, among others, Pathologies of Power. That's a pretty damning critique of the way industrialized nations approach medicine for the poor. Please, please, if you're a fan of Paul Farmer or think you might be, look at his writing. Pathologies of Power is certainly a lot denser than Kidder's biography, but it is worth the effort.

This. You can't cite someone who has published widely as a professional influence if you haven't read anything they've written. I recommend Partner to the Poor, a collection of medical anthropology articles by Farmer spanning his entire career.

 

[amine2086]

Pfeh @ basketball


Flyers >>>>> Blackhawks

No Chance. Blackhawks 2 Flyers ZERO.

On a more serious note, OP it is ok to mention that a particular book has influenced your decision to go into medicine. But you have to be very articulate in how you convey the message to the adcom. Be genuine and prepare to defend your choice during the interview.

 

[searun]

I read this book before I applied to med school. I thought it was inspiring, as do most premeds. I did not mention it in my application. Neither should you. You will never be able to overcome the cliche factor so leave it alone.

 

[Infinitydrop]

I mentioned it in my ps because it truely did impact my pursuit of medicine. i just couldn't leave it out because it was so important a catalyst for me, but it is also a cliched topic, so i cut it to about 2 sents and focused the rest on more personal experiences and i got plenty of interviews. so mention it if you must, don't write an essay on it though.

 

[279866]

One of my essay topics is "Describe a recent activity or experience that has been or is currently especially important to you." Now, I am a rising sophomore who is applying to the Humanities and Medicine EAP at Mt. Sinai. Since I cannot be held to the same standards in terms of clinical experience, do you guys think it would be acceptable to write about the impact of his book on me? Anyway, the essay isn't like a personal statement---it doesn't want reasons why I want to be a doctor. Thoughts? Is it still too cliche?

BUMP

 

[mmmcdowe]

One of my essay topics is "Describe a recent activity or experience that has been or is currently especially important to you." Now, I am a rising sophomore who is applying to the Humanities and Medicine EAP at Mt. Sinai. Since I cannot be held to the same standards in terms of clinical experience, do you guys think it would be acceptable to write about the impact of his book on me? Anyway, the essay isn't like a personal statement---it doesn't want reasons why I want to be a doctor. Thoughts? Is it still too cliche?

BUMP

I'd recommend trying to find something more "real life" than reading a book to write about. It does fall under an experience, but I think they are still looking for something a little more personalized.

 

[LizzyM]

One of my essay topics is "Describe a recent activity or experience that has been or is currently especially important to you." Now, I am a rising sophomore who is applying to the Humanities and Medicine EAP at Mt. Sinai. Since I cannot be held to the same standards in terms of clinical experience, do you guys think it would be acceptable to write about the impact of his book on me? Anyway, the essay isn't like a personal statement---it doesn't want reasons why I want to be a doctor. Thoughts? Is it still too cliche?

BUMP

If a recent activity or experience that was important to you was reading a book....😕 you have a sorry life. Can you think of something less passive such as research, a service activity, a job, or a relationship (such as weekly visits to a disabled relative)?

 

[Seven of Nine]

One of my essay topics is "Describe a recent activity or experience that has been or is currently especially important to you." Now, I am a rising sophomore who is applying to the Humanities and Medicine EAP at Mt. Sinai. Since I cannot be held to the same standards in terms of clinical experience, do you guys think it would be acceptable to write about the impact of his book on me? Anyway, the essay isn't like a personal statement---it doesn't want reasons why I want to be a doctor. Thoughts? Is it still too cliche?

Is this the prompt in its entirety? I think you may be stuck in a corner and need to take a step back so to speak. I don't think you necessarily have to speak about something medically related. You just need to explain how something you've experienced recently in any part of your life has impacted you. You could write about a personal hardship, any sort of volunteering experience, mentors, events that triggered enlightening introspection, etc. Don't be too focused on medicine and be blinded by everything else. Instead tie this experience into "the bigger picture."

Also, as a side note in reaction to "since I cannot be held to the same standards..." you need to figure out what your hook is. I remember as a junior & senior in HIGH SCHOOL, a friend of mine was participating in clinical care and related research in our local but world-reknown medical center, which resulted in multiple publications. 😱 In the past 6 mos, I've seen even middle schoolers and high schoolers shadow (granted family friends, relatives) at my university's hospital. It was strange that they, at their age, were doing exactly what I was doing. Don't sell yourself short. It is easy to be simply oblivious to things (i.e. expectations)... you can't know what you don't know. So you better be ready to prove what makes you a competitive candidate based on your background and experience. That is what the question [could be] asking.

good luck!

 

[279866]

..Thanks everyone for the responses. I don't mind moving to a different topic (I have another one in my head that sounds good). I 100% agree with you guys, but I guess I want some reassurance that I am not leaving a seemingly good essay on the table.

 

[279866]

If a recent activity or experience that was important to you was reading a book....😕 you have a sorry life. Can you think of something less passive such as research, a service activity, a job, or a relationship (such as weekly visits to a disabled relative)?

I agree that reading a book by itself is a little passive, but the way I have everything constructed, most of the essay is me doing clinical stuff in response to me reading the book. In a sense, then, it is a bit more active. But enough?

 

[279866]

Is this the prompt in its entirety? I think you may be stuck in a corner and need to take a step back so to speak. I don't think you necessarily have to speak about something medically related. You just need to explain how something you've experienced recently in any part of your life has impacted you. You could write about a personal hardship, any sort of volunteering experience, mentors, events that triggered enlightening introspection, etc. Don't be too focused on medicine and be blinded by everything else. Instead tie this experience into "the bigger picture."

Also, as a side note in reaction to "since I cannot be held to the same standards..." you need to figure out what your hook is. I remember as a junior & senior in HIGH SCHOOL, a friend of mine was participating in clinical care and related research in our local but world-reknown medical center, which resulted in multiple publications. 😱 In the past 6 mos, I've seen even middle schoolers and high schoolers shadow (granted family friends, relatives) at my university's hospital. It was strange that they, at their age, were doing exactly what I was doing. Don't sell yourself short. It is easy to be simply oblivious to things (i.e. expectations)... you can't know what you don't know. So you better be ready to prove what makes you a competitive candidate based on your background and experience. That is what the question [could be] asking.

good luck!

That is the entire prompt, so it is indeed open-ended---it does not necessarily have to deal with medicine. I think you make a great point with "So you better be ready to prove what makes you a competitive candidate based on your background and experience." They might want to see how I fit the program based on my experiences and how they fit into the bigger picture, as you suggested.

 

[karayraisu]

Just wanted to point out like others did above that Paul Farmer is quite controversial, depending on who you talk to. I've worked both global and domestic health locales and I'd say that the doctors I've worked with are split 50-50 on his contributions to medicine (many - especially doctors in domestic homeless clinics - are very critical of his approach of buying Ensure for his Haitian patients, for example).

 

[LizzyM]

Write about all the neat clinical stuff you've been doing without mentioning the book... if you knew how damn tired we are of hearing about that book. It is a cliche.

Go read Healing the Wounds by David Hilfiker, M.D. He's also written Not all of Us are Saints. Anyone else have other books by or about physician-humanitarians that might be considered inspirational?

 

[Emnibhalo]

During my undergraduate years, I particularly enjoyed Schweitzer's Out of My Life and Thought, although Schweitzer might also be considered somewhat of a cliche.

While I haven't read them, good friends have recommended The Hospital by the River: A Story of Hope by Catherine Hamlin and John Little as well as Abraham Verghese's fictional work Cutting for Stone.

And I know it might not be the best bedtime reading or snuggle up in your chair with some hot chocolate fiction, but check out the academic literature (i.e. Lancet, PLoS Medicine) and the passion surrounding debates ranging from user fees for primary health care services to the purpose of epidemiology to global health financing.

 

[Lacipart]

I saw a kid blatantly dragging around a copy of Mountains Beyond Mountains at an interview. It was hysterical.

I really want to hear the guy talking to his friends the following day. They be like "hey how was the interview" and he says "Oh man, i NAILED IT. I brought MBM with me and I totally held it in my hand so it was visible the entire interview, two words for you: guaranteed admission"

 

[mmmcdowe]

I really want to hear the guy talking to his friends the following day. They be like "hey how was the interview" and he says "Oh man, i NAILED IT. I brought MBM with me and I totally held it in my hand so it was visible the entire interview, two words for you: guaranteed admission"

You'd be surprised what crazy stuff kids can get into their head. I had a kid ask me to write him a LOR to Columbia's adcom after hosting him.

 

[Kangaroo Paw]

@dlew: Since the application to Humanities and Medicine hasn't been released yet, how do you already know what the prompts are? Are they posted somewhere?

 

[AllDay24]

@dlew: Since the application to Humanities and Medicine hasn't been released yet, how do you already know what the prompts are? Are they posted somewhere?

It's the same topic every year.

 

[Kangaroo Paw]

Oh, seriously? What is it/where did you find it?
And for some reason I was under the impression that there were multiple essays?

 

[Kangaroo Paw]

For this prompt, would it be appropriate to talk about a non-medically related service activity? It was an elementary school outreach type thing, and it was an incredible experience, despite how clichéd that might sound.

 

[AllDay24]

For this prompt, would it be appropriate to talk about a non-medically related service activity? It was an elementary school outreach type thing, and it was an incredible experience, despite how clichéd that might sound.

Absolutely, the prompt is very open-ended.