Personal Statement: Mention reasons for switching professioal programs?

[xylem29]

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Do you guys think it would be wise to mention in the PS why you are switching from one program (healthcare) to medicine? Inherent in this effort, or maybe I can't figure out a way of doing so, I find myself somewhat stating the negative (or what I consider to be negative) aspects of profession X and why I'd rather do medicine...is this a good idea?

Perhaps I can save it for when they ask during interviews?

 

[nick_carraway]

For sure, don't mention negative aspects of anything. Unless you can extoll the benefits of medicine rather than your previous career plan, save it for a secondary or interview.

If it's a sizeable portion of your past experiences, however, you want want to think harder of how to incorporate it into a PS.

 

[kingofthehill]

Definitely talk about it in your PS. Schools will want to know the reasons WHY you are switching, so in your situation it's imperative. Mentioning a few negatives about your current vocation is fine, but you should also convey that you fully understand the negatives involved in medicine as a career and that your choice to switch has placed considerable weight on the negative aspects you mention.

Basically, they want to know how you have come to your decision of "why medicine" and in your case this includes your past experience in another healthcare field. The burden is on you to convince them that your decision is well thought out and mature.

 

[Podalarius]

While I wasn't already enrolled in a different program, I have transcript and EC's that could have been for a applicant to law school (yes, those reqs are less specific, but more politics/debate than the typical pre-med), since that's what I planned on doing when I started college. I mentioned making the decision in my personal statement, and it came up in interviews as a good way to explain why I wanted to do medicine. I think adcoms are more likely to believe that you know why you want to do medicine if you've clearly had to think about leaving something else to enter the profession.

EDIT: Don't mention the negative aspects of other profession - adcoms can infer what they want to, but you don't want to look like you're badmouthing other people who have made that choice or will just end up complaining about medicine. You should have positive reasons for entering medicine, and your experiences elsewhere can provide you with valuable perspective.

 

[Caprica6]

I think you have to mention it. I have an employment background that would make me appealing to graduate schools, as well as a healthcare field other than medicine. I know when ADCOMMs see my app, they are going to think, why MD? I'm using my PS to explain that.

 

[BlauMac]

I'm in the same boat as you. To try and keep it on a positive side I point out the aspects of my previous health care ambitions that are also in line with becoming a physician.

Then to answer WHY I switched I'm pointing out the things I really want to do as a physician that I could not do as a different health care provider.

I think what will also make you stand out is the fact that you will have a different perspective on medicine and health care as a whole than people who only ever wanted to be a doctor. So again tie into the stuff you already know from your previous health care experience.

 

[Stratego]

From your post it sounds like you're still in college, not in another healthcare profession. Medicine is just another face of healthcare. I don't think you have much to explain, other than that you explored other options, but for X and Y reasons, and due to Z experience came to realize you would be most satisfied with the decision-making component/broader application that medicine entails (or whatever). But yeah, keep it positive.

 

[alibai3ah]

Can you be a bit more specific about what program you are in now? Sorry, it's just that medicine and healthcare are very much intertwined, so badmouthing one profession will not help your case....But I would for sure mention it on the PS. Do not say anything negative about it though, because I have heard med schools are not too thrilled about the "I hate this, so i want to go into medicine" kind of personal statements. I know a lot of people who do that when they go from research to medicine.