Personal statement advice

[princesslinda]

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Hello fellow non-trads- I need some advice regarding how I should go about framing my personal statement.

In short, I applied to med school 5 years ago, but didn't get in. Afterwards, I held a job for one year and went to get a master's degree in a hard science. After completing my degree this past year, I have been shadowing a physician and doing volunteer work.

Now I am beginning to write my personal statement and am having trouble with how I should go about framing my essay. In my previous essay (from 5 years ago), it was concentrated on two volunteer activites. However, I want to re-write the entire essay as too much time has passed.

I was thinking about writing about my progression and how my interest in medicine has been an accumulation of different experiences, including going to grad school for 3 years. However, I am not sure if this would be a good tactic since I am a re-applicant and they will know that I did not get in the first time. Also, I don't want to mention anything about being a re-applicant (and how I've grown since then, etc) since I will not be applying to some of the same schools this time. What is a good way to go about this?

Any advice is appreciated.

 

[theseeker4]

Hello fellow non-trads- I need some advice regarding how I should go about framing my personal statement.

In short, I applied to med school 5 years ago, but didn't get in. Afterwards, I held a job for one year and went to get a master's degree in a hard science. After completing my degree this past year, I have been shadowing a physician and doing volunteer work.

Now I am beginning to write my personal statement and am having trouble with how I should go about framing my essay. In my previous essay (from 5 years ago), it was concentrated on two volunteer activites. However, I want to re-write the entire essay as too much time has passed.

I was thinking about writing about my progression and how my interest in medicine has been an accumulation of different experiences, including going to grad school for 3 years. However, I am not sure if this would be a good tactic since I am a re-applicant and they will know that I did not get in the first time. Also, I don't want to mention anything about being a re-applicant (and how I've grown since then, etc) since I will not be applying to some of the same schools this time. What is a good way to go about this?

Any advice is appreciated.

If you took the MCAT before, they will see the old scores as well as the new ones, so your prior interest in applying to med school will be visible to everyone, even if they don't know you actually applied. Personally, I would frame the PS about what you learned, how you grew, etc. since applying the last time, why you stepped away from the pursuit of becoming a physician temporarily, and what brought you back.

 

[darmalee]

If you took the MCAT before, they will see the old scores as well as the new ones, so your prior interest in applying to med school will be visible to everyone, even if they don't know you actually applied. Personally, I would frame the PS about what you learned, how you grew, etc. since applying the last time, why you stepped away from the pursuit of becoming a physician temporarily, and what brought you back.

I agree. Since it's been five years I think you really have the opportunity to highlight things that you've done since then that will make you a good physician and/or makes you more sure this is what you want. I definitely don't think it's a negative thing. I think writing it as an accumulation of experiences is a good approach. It's probably going to be a much stronger statement now than your last one simply because I'd imagine you have a lot more meaningful things to say.