personal statement question

[organichemistry]

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is simply writing a page or 2 explaining why you desire to be a dentist an acceptable personal statement?

would this be looked down on?

to be quite honest, i don't have any touching stories from my past... i didn't come from a bad family situation, etc...

i'm just a normal, white middle-upper class citizen that wants to be a dentist.

would it be a poor personal statement for me to simply give the reasons why i want to be a dentist and why i would make a good dentist (there may be some slight overlap with the rest of my application)?

i know my personal statement isn't going to WOW anyone... but i feel like nothing i write will... so really i'm just looking for one that will work.

 

[EmanUT]

I was in a similar situation to you 2 weeks ago when I wrote my PS. I just focused on what I had done in my past that made me want to be a dentist, ie shadowing, research, etc. Can you think of anything that you could put in there to make yourself stand out from the other 3000 apps the adcoms are reading? I threw in a little humor to lighten the mood. I know I wouldn't want to read 3000 essays saying "I love teeth and making people smile"

 

[organichemistry]

bump

 

[samiam0252003]

I'm doing the same thing write now, writing my personal statement. I mean trying to write this thing is kinda nerve wrecking, because it's like oh how do I make myself sound interesting among 3,000 other people that are applying? If you really don't have any experiences, I guess state some reasons why you would want to head into it? Why out of all professions you could've went for, that you chose dentistry? Also you could throw in why you would be a good candiate, mention some strengths/weaknesses and why it's good for dentistry. Job shadowing helps quite a bit if you haven't done that already, it's amazing and I can't wait to shadow again, it's just trying to find the time with studying for the DAT and finding willing dentists in the area to sign me up for shadowing. Best of luck on the PS!

 

[SuperC]

I wrote three rough essays. Each one with a different approach: Why I want to be a dentist, How I decided to persue dentistry, and another one (can't remeber)... I emailed some copies to friends and had them decide.

In the end, what made my essay good is I tackled some of my major flaws up front in a frank yet positve manner. So this helped me in my interview because there was not too much for them to question me on (EG bad grades in the past, procrastination, ect)

Your essay does not have to be heart stopping, but it needs to be an honest apprasal of who you are and how you came to realize dentisry is the path you have chosen

I might also strive for something unique. Something other that the "I want to be a dentsit because I like science and working with my hands" You should include this certainly, but there is a lot more to being a dentist than that.

I hope that this helps.

-C

 

[flylab101]

is simply writing a page or 2 explaining why you desire to be a dentist an acceptable personal statement?

would this be looked down on?

to be quite honest, i don't have any touching stories from my past... i didn't come from a bad family situation, etc...

i'm just a normal, white middle-upper class citizen that wants to be a dentist.

would it be a poor personal statement for me to simply give the reasons why i want to be a dentist and why i would make a good dentist (there may be some slight overlap with the rest of my application)?

i know my personal statement isn't going to WOW anyone... but i feel like nothing i write will... so really i'm just looking for one that will work.

you gotta do with what you got. If that's your story, then stick with it. Not all applicants are going to have spectacular stories.

 

[mellowt]

If you get stuck you can talk about certain issues such as oral cancer exams, oral health and how it affects the entire body, or how domestic abuse can be detected through visits and oral exams. It kind of shows your awareness of dentistry pertaining to other health issues and that dentists aren't simply restricted to oral problems but can also help with other social and health problems. Hope this helps and goodluck.