Personal Statement Topic-Bad Idea?

[alexisfromtexas]

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I have dealt with chronic depression (dysthymia) for a few years now, and having depression is what encouraged me to pursue a career in medicine.

In my personal essay, I want to discuss the struggles I went through and how that pushed me toward medicine. But, do you think that is pretty much an automatic rejection? I don't focus purely on my depression, I sort of tie it in with another theme and story. But I'm not sure if saying that I have depression will make them think I won't be able to handle medical school.

Any feedback/opinions would be great!

 

[Web MD]

Right, so I probably wouldn't focus a PS on depression. Maybe a brief mention and how you've grown, or how it gave you perspective. The PS is really you saying why medicine is the right career for you, doesn't necessarily have to be a self-narrative

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

I have dealt with chronic depression (dysthymia) for a few years now, and having depression is what encouraged me to pursue a career in medicine.

In my personal essay, I want to discuss the struggles I went through and how that pushed me toward medicine. But, do you think that is pretty much an automatic rejection? I don't focus purely on my depression, I sort of tie it in with another theme and story. But I'm not sure if saying that I have depression will make them think I won't be able to handle medical school.

Any feedback/opinions would be great!

Hmm...I don't think it's a bad thing to include. It could be a jumping off point. I wouldn't however have 2 pages talking about dysthymic disorder. It's kind of hard to give you advice since we do not know what you wrote. If you want someone to read over your PS I would be glad to. Just PM me. GL

 

[NickNaylor]

Include it ONLY if you're reasoning for becoming a physician makes no sense without including it. Otherwise you risk coming across as an unstable nutjob that whines a lot. I'm not at all saying that's what you are, but people can only read what you write on the paper. Frankly I don't think you can somehow transform that experience into a positive light in 5300 characters, much less a sentence or two.

 

[alexisfromtexas]

Include it ONLY if you're reasoning for becoming a physician makes no sense without including it.

Well it's the entire reason I want to be a physician. I was pre-law before everything sort of came to light.

 

[phnerd1105]

Well it's the entire reason I want to be a physician. I was pre-law before everything sort of came to light.

So then include it, but don't make it your whole PS. Have it as a kind of introduction to establish "Why Medicine". Talk about other factors that may have encouraged you towards medicine as well, such as shadowing, volunteering, etc.

 

[Web MD]

Your reason for wanting to be a physician is because you were depressed? Or because of the insights you developed later on? I'd try to focus on the insights

 

[kexy]

Well it's the entire reason I want to be a physician. I was pre-law before everything sort of came to light.

But what about it is the reason you want to become a physician? Because of how improved your life was after you sought treatment? Because you realized what an enormous difference a good physician can make in someone's life? etc. Maybe if you can identify specifically what about the experience has motivated you, and then tie it into things you've done since then--such as volunteering, etc.--it would be okay to do. Just make sure you discuss things you've done that have "confirmed" this reasoning (like seeing how satisfying it is to volunteer/shadow and watch physicians relieve someone's pain/anguish/whatever). These things should probably also put you in a positive light as overcoming your depression.

 

[alexisfromtexas]

Because of how improved your life was after you sought treatment? Because you realized what an enormous difference a good physician can make in someone's life? etc.

Okay, it was mainly because of how it improved my life and because of how incredible my doctor was. But I think I will mainly try to focus on the "after" rather than "during".

 

[Ursa]

Focus on how you have overcome it more than the negative effects it had on you (besides, of course, the way that it made you want to become a physician).

 

[SisterDisco08]

I have dealt with chronic depression (dysthymia) for a few years now, and having depression is what encouraged me to pursue a career in medicine.

In my personal essay, I want to discuss the struggles I went through and how that pushed me toward medicine. But, do you think that is pretty much an automatic rejection? I don't focus purely on my depression, I sort of tie it in with another theme and story. But I'm not sure if saying that I have depression will make them think I won't be able to handle medical school.

Any feedback/opinions would be great!

The BEST thing you can do:
I worked on a paper that ended up being published in JAMA. It was called Depression, Stigma, and Suicidal Ideation in Medical Students (Author is Dr. Thomas Schwenk). Mental illness is a huge up and coming topic for med schools/students, because there is so much stigma against them about it. Read that paper (if you can't get it for free I can send it to you) and talk about the stigma, and how it needs to be combated because it's idiotic that med students are discouraged from getting help, and turn into depressed doctors with the third highest suicide rate of all professionals. We can't take care of others if we can't take care of ourselves. Zing. PS done.

But again, it can't just be this--you need to talk about your insights, goals, etc.

 

[mauberley]

I have dealt with chronic depression (dysthymia) for a few years now, and having depression is what encouraged me to pursue a career in medicine.

In my personal essay, I want to discuss the struggles I went through and how that pushed me toward medicine. But, do you think that is pretty much an automatic rejection? I don't focus purely on my depression, I sort of tie it in with another theme and story. But I'm not sure if saying that I have depression will make them think I won't be able to handle medical school.

Any feedback/opinions would be great!

My advice: I think reading too many people's opinions before you've started will paralyze you. Stop reading what anyone else says on this thread. Get something down on paper first. Write a draft of your statement the way you want to. Then ask for feedback from the volunteer reviewers.