Hey, everyone! So, before I get flamed by current users and lurkers who sign up just to flame me, here are some things of note:
1. I only found out about the field of podiatry through an e-mail in August (and it was sent because I took the MCAT).
2. I haven't shadowed a podiatrist yet, but I'm exhausting several outlets to do so.
3. I'm currently applying to med schools as well, so I have a personal statement for med school. But nothing in the mold of what pod schools might want to see?
With that being said, and since admissions are rolling, how do I construct a personal statement that doesn't make me look awful? Of the sample PS excerpts I've read, the author has either had a revelation / epiphany with their own lower extremities or have had friends / family members with problems. Personally, I've never had, or known anyone who had problems with their feet, nor experiences with DPMs, etc.
I know everyone says "only apply if podiatry is 1000% what you want to do for the rest of your life," but after researching the field and reading about podiatry, it is really appealing to me. I guess that could change depending on actual experience shadowing a podiatrist, but it usually doesn't.
I've already started on the application, and the only things left to do are to write the personal statement and input college coursework.
tl;dr? So I'm sure there are some people like me, eager to apply with fervor but without relevant experience to draw on. How do I construct a proper personal statement that won't allow me to come off as ignorant?
Finally, should I even apply for schools before I have that LoR? Do schools look at all the materials at once (app, LoR, transcripts, MCAT scores) or do they look at them as they come in?
Bash or flame me or whatever, but I'd rather apply early and find out I do/don't want to go into this field versus applying late, wanting to go into this field, and then having to wait until next year because there were no spots available.
1. I only found out about the field of podiatry through an e-mail in August (and it was sent because I took the MCAT).
2. I haven't shadowed a podiatrist yet, but I'm exhausting several outlets to do so.
3. I'm currently applying to med schools as well, so I have a personal statement for med school. But nothing in the mold of what pod schools might want to see?
With that being said, and since admissions are rolling, how do I construct a personal statement that doesn't make me look awful? Of the sample PS excerpts I've read, the author has either had a revelation / epiphany with their own lower extremities or have had friends / family members with problems. Personally, I've never had, or known anyone who had problems with their feet, nor experiences with DPMs, etc.
I know everyone says "only apply if podiatry is 1000% what you want to do for the rest of your life," but after researching the field and reading about podiatry, it is really appealing to me. I guess that could change depending on actual experience shadowing a podiatrist, but it usually doesn't.
I've already started on the application, and the only things left to do are to write the personal statement and input college coursework.
tl;dr? So I'm sure there are some people like me, eager to apply with fervor but without relevant experience to draw on. How do I construct a proper personal statement that won't allow me to come off as ignorant?
Finally, should I even apply for schools before I have that LoR? Do schools look at all the materials at once (app, LoR, transcripts, MCAT scores) or do they look at them as they come in?
Bash or flame me or whatever, but I'd rather apply early and find out I do/don't want to go into this field versus applying late, wanting to go into this field, and then having to wait until next year because there were no spots available.
