Personal Statement Leading To Doubts

[confusedhokie]

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I've been brainstorming ideas for my personal statement for quite a while now and I literally have zero to show for it-nothing written down. I'm a junior preparing to apply this summer: good grades, a solid MCAT score, letters of rec, supporting myself through school with a job, research, and some volunteering.

I've worked hard through school to get to this point, and now I can't think of any personal statement worthy reasons that I want to go to med school. I know I don't want to do research forever and I don't care much for anything other than science. Other than the overused "I find the field of medicine fascinating and enjoy interacting with people", I can't think of any solid reasons and frankly it's scaring me.

Am I not meant for this field or does everyone struggle this much? Serious considerations would be much appreciated...

 

[confusedhokie]

That's probably been the most useful advice I've gotten from anyone. I suppose that you're right and the emotion is there, I just feel as though I've been lying to myself about the quantity and the depth of my volunteer experiences. Therefore, the bank of volunteer situations I can draw on is severely limited. I also need this done by January 31 to begin working with my school's committee.

 

[LizzyM]

Basically, everyone has done three things to prepare for medical school: been exposed in some way to the work doctors do (care of the sick/injured and/or provision of preventive services), engaged in scientific inquiry related to the natural world or human society, been of service to others. Your job is to think of as many little stories as you can based on your experiences in these three areas. Now string three of those little stories together in a unified theme. Don't come up with a theme until you have a few dozen stories to chose from.

 

[SN12357]

Remember it's more important to be convincing and genuine than original.

One of my favorite sayings is "don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good". It's important to remember, especially when working on something like a personal statement that seems to carry so much importance for your entire life. Yes, it is important to your application. But it doesn't have to be a previously unseen masterpiece. It just needs to communicate why you want to be a doctor. Don't work yourself to death over it.

 

[cookiemonsters]

LOL my man everyone just BSes for the personal statement, it's not supposed to cause you stress. Buy a book of example personal statements to get some inspiration.

 

[Lavan]

Many people hate writing about themselves, especially in a contrived "this is why you should love me" personal essay. Your hating it and not being comfortable doing it is entirely normal and says nothing about your future as a physician.

Just have multiple people read it, including people who aren't related to you.

 

[ShowandTell]

I have a slightly unrelated question. When filling out the primary or secondary applications for AMCAS, will they typically ask you to describe in detail your most significant experience gained from your extracurricular activities(research, volunteering, etc.)? I recently finished writing my PS and I wanted to talk about my research experience but decided to mention a different, medically related activity in its place and wanted to know typically if there's another opportunity to describe it.

 

[wiloghby]

Remember it's more important to be convincing and genuine than original.

One of my favorite sayings is "don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good". It's important to remember, especially when working on something like a personal statement that seems to carry so much importance for your entire life. Yes, it is important to your application. But it doesn't have to be a previously unseen masterpiece. It just needs to communicate why you want to be a doctor. Don't work yourself to death over it.

+1000 on the bolded part.

 

[DokterMom]

I've been brainstorming ideas for my personal statement for quite a while now and I literally have zero to show for it-nothing written down. I'm a junior preparing to apply this summer: good grades, a solid MCAT score, letters of rec, supporting myself through school with a job, research, and some volunteering.

I've worked hard through school to get to this point, and now I can't think of any personal statement worthy reasons that I want to go to med school. I know I don't want to do research forever and I don't care much for anything other than science. Other than the overused "I find the field of medicine fascinating and enjoy interacting with people", I can't think of any solid reasons and frankly it's scaring me.

Am I not meant for this field or does everyone struggle this much? Serious considerations would be much appreciated...

What would you say if you didn't have to worry about how some AdCom would react? What is the simple, unvarnished truth? Start there -- write like no one's looking. Then revise.