Personal Statement Blues.

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I have a few questions, actually as many as I have drafts of my personal statement. First does anyone know what schools look for in an essay? If you have already mentioned something in your aadsas application then is it just a waste of words to put it in your essay? Are we supposed to write about ourselves, tell a story, explain our opinions or ideas on something like ethics and dentistry...? Am I over-analyzing? I'm currently at square zero and I need to get that app in soon. Any ideas (especially from someone with experience) would help. Thanks in advance for the advice 'yall.

 

[NAVY DDS 2010]

I have a few questions, actually as many as I have drafts of my personal statement. First does anyone know what schools look for in an essay? If you have already mentioned something in your aadsas application then is it just a waste of words to put it in your essay? Are we supposed to write about ourselves, tell a story, explain our opinions or ideas on something like ethics and dentistry...? Am I over-analyzing? I'm currently at square zero and I need to get that app in soon. Any ideas (especially from someone with experience) would help. Thanks in advance for the advice 'yall.

Yes, you are over analizing. Let the personal statement be a representation of you and why you want to be a dentist. This can be in a form of a story, life experiences, life ambitions, etc. There is no right or wrong way to write a personal statement. The biggest thing to do is make it come from the heart. Don't try to BS the thing. Don't try to write it in a manner that you think they want to hear. Just be yourself. Now, if you are only in it for the money - then you may want to reconsider telling the truth of why you want to go into dentistry.