Personal Statement question

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

JustDoMed

Full Member
5+ Year Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2018
Messages
57
Reaction score
12
When writing your personal statement is it okay to be vague in your research/volunteering?

I'm trying to write a particular moment in my childhood that shaped my desire to be a physician and subsequent experiences as a whole vs multiple things.
I'm aware that AMCAS has slots like this in your application and I'd rather not rehash this too much in detail if I have a spot for it already/ trying to also avoid making it sound too much like a resume.

How did you guys write your personal statements?

Much Appreciation in advance~
 
In your personal statement, you're trying to answer two questions:
  1. Who are you?
  2. Why do you want to be a doctor?
How you choose to do that is up to you. It's OK to be vague about events/activities, but make sure you provide enough detail that adcoms can understand why and how those events/activities impacted you. You should also avoid excessive detail about activities that get adequate exposure elsewhere in your application.

General rule of thumb: if adcoms read your statement and say, "Huh?", "Awkward...", or "WTF?!" you've done it wrong.
 
In your personal statement, you're trying to answer two questions:
  1. Who are you?
  2. Why do you want to be a doctor?
How you choose to do that is up to you. It's OK to be vague about events/activities, but make sure you provide enough detail that adcoms can understand why and how those events/activities impacted you. You should also avoid excessive detail about activities that get adequate exposure elsewhere in your application.

General rule of thumb: if adcoms read your statement and say, "Huh?", "Awkward...", or "WTF?!" you've done it wrong.
May I ask your opinion on this scenario:
Can I simply say: "Through volunteering....." and then go on to reflect on the aspects that I learned and shaped my goal to be a doc? Or should I explicitly list what those volunteering areas were?
 
May I ask your opinion on this scenario:
Can I simply say: "Through volunteering....." and then go on to reflect on the aspects that I learned and shaped my goal to be a doc? Or should I explicitly list what those volunteering areas were?
I'd at least say what kind of volunteering it was. "Through my volunteer work in a local soup kitchen," "By volunteering in the county hospital," "When I volunteered as a test subject for a scabies vaccine," etc. But I'd avoid exhaustive detail unless it actually enhances and develops your narrative.
 
I'd at least say what kind of volunteering it was. "Through my volunteer work in a local soup kitchen," "By volunteering in the county hospital," "When I volunteered as a test subject for a scabies vaccine," etc. But I'd avoid exhaustive detail unless it actually enhances and develops your narrative.
Ahh I see, thanks for the info and example!
I was kinda hoping to group them all under "volunteering" Guess I'll try to be more selective and highlight the most memorable of the bunch to make an anecdotal moment to keep it interesting. If I do this in the PS should I not include that on my AMCAS or can I still do so?
 
Top