- Joined
- Nov 15, 2016
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Hi all,
I'm an incoming M1, and I am reflecting on my AMCAS application experience. There were a couple things that I wanted to share about the personal statement, so I made a video! It's hyperlinked in my signature (so as to not violate SDN policies).
HOWEVER, on top of the video, just wanted to include the tips in writing:
In case you're having trouble getting started, consider answering these questions for yourself and using the answers to guide you:
1. In two sentences max, why do you want to become a doctor?
2. In one sentence, what ONE message about yourself would you like the admissions committee reader to take away after reading your PS?
3. What are 1-3 skills that you are particularly good at that would make you a fantastic physician? What experiences/activities have helped you hone those skills?
4. In a perfect world, where do you see yourself as a physician in 20 years?
REALISMS (Stuff that's hard to hear, but generally true based on my experience) ABOUT THE PERSONAL STATEMENT:
•Focus your PS on YOU – NOT someone else.
•Experiences about someone close to you being saved by a doctor = cliché (at least based on my limited experience)
•Get people to edit that can be REAL about stuff like this and tell you when something is too cheesy or may be overused.
•Expect MULTIPLE drafts! It will ultimately also get to a point where different editors will give you different advice! FOLLOW YOUR PERSONAL BELIEFS AT THAT POINT!
•PS does go to every school, but RARELY is the reason you GET in or NOT.
•PS is a time for you to talk about YOU – not your activities section. Use space to talk about things you can’t talk about elsewhere objectively.
I'm an incoming M1, and I am reflecting on my AMCAS application experience. There were a couple things that I wanted to share about the personal statement, so I made a video! It's hyperlinked in my signature (so as to not violate SDN policies).
HOWEVER, on top of the video, just wanted to include the tips in writing:
In case you're having trouble getting started, consider answering these questions for yourself and using the answers to guide you:
1. In two sentences max, why do you want to become a doctor?
2. In one sentence, what ONE message about yourself would you like the admissions committee reader to take away after reading your PS?
3. What are 1-3 skills that you are particularly good at that would make you a fantastic physician? What experiences/activities have helped you hone those skills?
4. In a perfect world, where do you see yourself as a physician in 20 years?
REALISMS (Stuff that's hard to hear, but generally true based on my experience) ABOUT THE PERSONAL STATEMENT:
•Focus your PS on YOU – NOT someone else.
•Experiences about someone close to you being saved by a doctor = cliché (at least based on my limited experience)
•Get people to edit that can be REAL about stuff like this and tell you when something is too cheesy or may be overused.
•Expect MULTIPLE drafts! It will ultimately also get to a point where different editors will give you different advice! FOLLOW YOUR PERSONAL BELIEFS AT THAT POINT!
•PS does go to every school, but RARELY is the reason you GET in or NOT.
•PS is a time for you to talk about YOU – not your activities section. Use space to talk about things you can’t talk about elsewhere objectively.
