personal statement--should i explain scientific concepts?

[doeordie]

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I talk a bit about a pathogen I am researching. It's not exactly something everyone knows about like E. coli, but it should be familiar to anyone who's a dentist.

Should I bother explaining what it is? For example, should I write:

...I study Dentalitis bacterium, which is implicated in tooth loss,...

or

...I study Dentalitis bacterium.

Also, I use some dental terms in the text, like pocket depth. Worth explaining what it is or nah? I'm just wondering if all the adcoms who are reading these things are familiar with dentistry. I bet there are at least some adcoms who don't know much about dentistry but are still able to pick out good candidates based on the overall strength of the essay and context clues. Any opinions?

 

[WheatLom]

Your personal statement shouldn't go in depth about the research, focus how the research shapes you as a person how doing research has helped you grow as a person academically and professionally.

 

[doeordie]

Your personal statement shouldn't go in depth about the research, focus how the research shapes you as a person how doing research has helped you grow as a person academically and professionally.

Yea, I'm not trying to squeeze a thesis into my statement; I just initially put in a short description of my research topic inside a sentence so that my letter writers, who are not dentists, at least had an idea of what I was talking about. I'm guessing I should take it out before submitting it to the adcoms right?

 

[WheatLom]

Well it depends, you want to introduce them to the type of research you do and what it is on, but then explain how it has helped you learn and grow.

No need to tell them the nit and grit. Just enough flr them to know. Your AADSAS experience offer a descriptor box for you to tell them more in depth

 

[fit2]

Yeah ultimately they should get to know you better. You have the experience section to explain what you do

 

[Michael_Scott]

I did research but I only talked about it translating into dentistry. not enough space to talk about research and it will take away from your. PS is about YOU not your research.

 

[sgv]

I haven't read your personal statement but that sounds like it could be a boring personal statement. They already have your CV and transcripts. They want to get to know you. You should tell a story. I like to think of writing the personal statement as if I were to write down a transcript from a dinner table conversation about why you want to become a dentist. Having to "explain" anything, especially microbiology, is a real downer for real-life small talk or dating conversations. Or any conversation where the point is to get to know somebody. Instead tell a story or an anecdote.