Personal Statement: What NOT to do

[signomi]

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I don't think it sounds good to say anything too formal like "And thus, my realization of my desire to ascend into the field of medicine was crystallized"

Clearly, we have been reading the same personal statements.

 

[bigjer101]

don't pigeon-hole yourself into a perticular field of medicine you want to go into. both my interviews this year harped on that basically saying "you don't know what you want to do yet, you aren't in med school". basically saying, you aren't smart enough or educated enough to know yet. just a thought.

It's not a bad thing to describe your career goals or mention specialties you're interested in. Schools do like to see that you have plans (that's why everybody asks where you see yourself in 10-15 years), and they know that everybody has some kind of preference coming into med school, whether or not most people change their plans. Having an idea of what you want to do shows that you're serious about your career choice.

 

[8744]

here's the opening anecdote of my essay, where i discuss both helping to save a life and overcoming a weakness. are there any grammatical errors i should flag?

"The man in front of me had no choice but to deliver a fatal shock to himself, and hope that his female companion of love could then revive him. This happened a couple weeks ago in an alley dental clinic in China, in a room crowded with about 100 people. The shock was necessary because the man had a device implanted in his brain that would shortly explode and kill him for good. This was the moment I knew I had to be a doctor. As the man shocked himself into a code and the woman began to work on him, everyone else in the room just sat in their seats and stared. I, on the other hand, felt this urge to help out in some way. I felt this urge setting me apart from the other folks in the room that day, and I still have strong feelings of how much more I want to help others compared to the average person. As the woman started CPR, I scooted to the edge of my seat and uttered "come on, lady." I was a true cheerleader of life. The woman quickly scanned the office while doing CPR, and came across something that appeared to be a crash cart. Just as I was about to cry out "look in the cart," the woman started the man's heart back up using CPR! I hung around while they made out, but she never thanked me for my assistance. It was then that I had to overcome a personal obstacle, and realize that saving lives is often a thankless task and so the most heartfelt thanks to myself should come from myself. At the end of the day, it's not so much about the patients in front of you, but how they let yourself make you feel for yourself. Unlike other applicants who have greedy needs for even more rewards, the financial rewards medicine offers is thanks enough for me.

Really, since I was nine I knew that I would one day thanklessly save lives as a pathologist, and CSI has since confirmed that . . . "

oh crap! i forgot to put two spaces after periods!

Don't they have paragraphs in your country?

 

[Lbgem]

In reponse to all the don't put "I want to help people," statements in your essay ... I'm a little confused why not. I understand a lot of applicants must write this...but shouldn't this be one of the main reasons you want to go into medicine in the first place?

I admit I am a little concerned this this is one of the main themes of my essay. 😛 But I wouldn't have written it if I didn't feel it was genuine. I spent a good amount of time on my essay, and thought it was a good reflection of my feelings and motivations. I had a few people look it over and all of them thought it was a pretty good statement (even with the 'I want to help people' variations in there). The pre-med advisor said it was one of the best she had read in a while.

Wouldn't it be more of a concern if you didn't see some variation of that statement in the PS?

 

[e_phn]

Don't they have paragraphs in your country?

 

[45408]

These topics aren't forbidden, but they are heavily used:

Personal illness/condition
Illness/death of a close family member
Stories of volunteering in the ER
One patient that sticks in your mind
Importance of diversity/cultural awareness
The caring, compassionate, but also intelligent and skilled physician you shadowed
I did this, then that, and then I did this, but then I tried that, and then I did this
The hyperbolic enzymatic genomic property of the Occthysiziliuim fluriouzoomint blahblahblah (too much detail on your research)


So be careful. If it's a well-written story, that's okay, but most of them seem kinda thrown together.

 

[Gabby]

I'm really confused. I've read this whole thread and I see all kinds of things to avoid, but every thread I've read on what to write in the PS, people always say "be true, be genuine," etc. Half the stuff that is genuine -- for me and others, it seems -- is stuff that we're told not to write.

I really appreciate all the suggestions, but it seems like you guys have ruled out just about any logical reason that someone would have to become a doctor. I mean, if it isn't about helping people, if it isn't about serving the underserved, if it isn't about social policy, if it isn't about a loved one's illness/death, if it isn't about your own personal illness/condition, if it isn't about a dream, if it isn't about knowing what kind of medicine attracts you, if it isn't about once saving a life and how that felt, if it isn't about volunteering in a nursing home/hospital/ER and how that felt, if it isn't about the crappy career you're in now and how you're better suited for medicine, PLEASE, someone, tell me what it is about. What else would motivate someone (especially nontraditionals) to invest so heavily in medical school?

I was under the impression the PS was about why you want to be a doctor and I thought all the reasons cited above were genuine reasons for taking this path. So why are you guys suggesting we not write about them? I can't imagine what other reason there could be (except for the people who are in it to make money).

 

[riff raff]

...it seems like you guys have ruled out just about any logical reason that someone would have to become a doctor.

Yeah, I've noticed that asking questions on here usually leads to numerous different, and often conflicting, opinions. Which is kind of good in a way, cause you get to pick and choose what you want to go by. It's your personal statement, what someone else did or didn't do in their personal statement may not be right for you.

 

[istream]

Unfortunately it seems like those reasons have become watered down that it doesnt set you apart is what I keep hearing. I am in the same situation as you and am totally lost on your questions as well.

I'm really confused. I've read this whole thread and I see all kinds of things to avoid, but every thread I've read on what to write in the PS, people always say "be true, be genuine," etc. Half the stuff that is genuine -- for me and others, it seems -- is stuff that we're told not to write.

I really appreciate all the suggestions, but it seems like you guys have ruled out just about any logical reason that someone would have to become a doctor. I mean, if it isn't about helping people, if it isn't about serving the underserved, if it isn't about social policy, if it isn't about a loved one's illness/death, if it isn't about your own personal illness/condition, if it isn't about a dream, if it isn't about knowing what kind of medicine attracts you, if it isn't about once saving a life and how that felt, if it isn't about volunteering in a nursing home/hospital/ER and how that felt, if it isn't about the crappy career you're in now and how you're better suited for medicine, PLEASE, someone, tell me what it is about. What else would motivate someone (especially nontraditionals) to invest so heavily in medical school?

I was under the impression the PS was about why you want to be a doctor and I thought all the reasons cited above were genuine reasons for taking this path. So why are you guys suggesting we not write about them? I can't imagine what other reason there could be (except for the people who are in it to make money).

 

[frany584]

I think all of the topics discussed can be written about, but also what previous posters have said: it depends on how its worded. Sometimes you can read an essay and easily see its cheesy or insincere. Thats why when I asked ppl to read mine I ask them to tell me if I sound like a cheeseball or not 😛

 

[45408]

I was under the impression the PS was about why you want to be a doctor and I thought all the reasons cited above were genuine reasons for taking this path. So why are you guys suggesting we not write about them? I can't imagine what other reason there could be (except for the people who are in it to make money).

A single anecdote, written thoughtfully and with sincere intentions, is very different than a trite statement thrown in as an afterthought. Many of the PSs I read sound like someone decided to talk about their sick grandmother because they think it will add an air of seriousness to their PS, not because their grandmother's illness actually motivated them to enter medicine. Be honest, but show exactly what your path was. Some people have said "It was this situation that made me realize I wanted to go into medicine," and I'm skeptical that one single situation alone would motivate an entire career. If you back up and beef it up with other experiences, coinciding with your interests, it sounds much more plausible.

Also, showing is better than telling. It's along the lines of "a picture is worth a thousand words." Having DONE something is much more valuable than just talking about doing something. Not only that, but if you can make your point by telling a story that carries that point, it's better than just saying it. A few of the well-written PSs I've read have used stories that show their progression from ignorance/dislike to understanding/appreciation.


if it isn't about serving the underserved - if you want to serve the underserved, and you're going to talk about it, you should have something to back this up. Have you done it already? learned their language? taken steps to work with that culture/social group?

if it isn't about social policy - have you been active with your school's student organizations that deal with social policy? interned with a legislator? at least written letters/editorials/articles about social policy?

if it isn't about your own personal illness/condition - was it a serious condition? did it actually change your perspective, or does it just make a convenient way for you to make it sound like it did?

if it isn't about a dream - this one is tenuous at best. I dream of driving F1 cars and Lamborghinis.

if it isn't about knowing what kind of medicine attracts you - have you shadowed a physician in each possible field? Mentioning your possible interests is okay, but don't say that you're going to be a pediatric reconstructive surgeon specializing in finger amputations.

if it isn't about volunteering in a nursing home/hospital/ER and how that felt - at least make it interesting though. The 500th story about an interesting conversation you had with a patient is going to make your PS sound very run-of-the-mill.

If you answered "no" to one of the questions pertaining to your interest, then you probably shouldn't be talking about it. You need substance to back it up.

 

[nubbey24]

1) Don't talk about the endless, and uncontrollable erections you get whenever you happen to stand up. This may make people uncomfortable.

2) Don't mention the time you were in that college ameteur porn. They don't need to know that your artistic endeavors include contortionist sex acts.

3) Don't tell them about how you poop your pants frequently.

4) Oh and don't tell them about your goal of being the first doctor ever to offer salad tossing as a therepeutic option.

Besides that everything is fair game. Good luck.

 

[lsumedgirl]

The French term for "Doctors without Borders". M-something Sans Frontieres......

Medicines Sans Frontieres. And to think, mom said I'd never get to use those 3 semesters of French! (And I also know how to say, "I'm lost," and "I'd like a beer." Pretty damn handy, I think!)

To answer your question, I think it's okay to mention if that's one of your goals. You may not want to say, "I'm definitely going to work with MSF one day," but might mention it in the scope that it's a program you're very interested in, and would like work in a program like that to give back to the community (local or global).

Just keep it genuine. If it's from the heart, no problem. If you're b-s-ing, the ad comm can tell, and they hate it! (God, did I just sound like Randy Jackson? "Keep it real, dawg." I watched too much Idol this year!)

 

[cstar_24]

In all seriousness, do you guys recommend steering away from potential political topics even if they are really relevant to your application? I worked at a needle exchange and my experiences there had a lot to do with pursuing medicine, but I'm aware that a lot of harm reduction practices are pretty controversial so I'm nervous about basing too much of my essay on it.

 

[lsumedgirl]

In all seriousness, do you guys recommend steering away from potential political topics even if they are really relevant to your application? I worked at a needle exchange and my experiences there had a lot to do with pursuing medicine, but I'm aware that a lot of harm reduction practices are pretty controversial so I'm nervous about basing too much of my essay on it.

I think it's a good program that you worked in, as far as preventing the spread of disease, but I don't know about including it in the statement. You never know, you might get that one ultra-die-hard-conservative ad comm member, who's really hacked off by the idea. I could be wrong, but that's my opinion.

 

[DropkickMurphy]

Medicines Sans Frontieres. And to think, mom said I'd never get to use those 3 semesters of French! (And I also know how to say, "I'm lost," and "I'd like a beer." Pretty damn handy, I think!)

Here's what's really lousy....I took 4 years of French in high school...I should have known that, but 7 years of zero practice will really eat away at one's language skills. Good thing I'm brushing up in preparation for my trip to Paris next year Also it won't hurt to relearn this stuff so I can place higher in my major once I transfer (I'm majoring in French and psychology once I'm done at my current program). Currently all I can remember how to say beyond basic greetings and telling people my name, happens to be "grenouille" and how to say "F--k you all!"

 

[gujuDoc]

I'm really confused. I've read this whole thread and I see all kinds of things to avoid, but every thread I've read on what to write in the PS, people always say "be true, be genuine," etc. Half the stuff that is genuine -- for me and others, it seems -- is stuff that we're told not to write.

I really appreciate all the suggestions, but it seems like you guys have ruled out just about any logical reason that someone would have to become a doctor. I mean, if it isn't about helping people, if it isn't about serving the underserved, if it isn't about social policy, if it isn't about a loved one's illness/death, if it isn't about your own personal illness/condition, if it isn't about a dream, if it isn't about knowing what kind of medicine attracts you, if it isn't about once saving a life and how that felt, if it isn't about volunteering in a nursing home/hospital/ER and how that felt, if it isn't about the crappy career you're in now and how you're better suited for medicine, PLEASE, someone, tell me what it is about. What else would motivate someone (especially nontraditionals) to invest so heavily in medical school?

I was under the impression the PS was about why you want to be a doctor and I thought all the reasons cited above were genuine reasons for taking this path. So why are you guys suggesting we not write about them? I can't imagine what other reason there could be (except for the people who are in it to make money).

Well stated. While people like Panda and Lizzy M were saying many of the things premeds say are cliche, its almost what they want to hear. The fact of the matter is with soooooooooo many thousands of students applying, there's always going to be an overlap in what kind of things drove people torwards medicine.

Don't feel bad if you get in some of those things.

I'm about to send the PPT that our adcom gave us to those who requested it. If you didn't request it but want it to you can PM me.

 

[Depakote]

Sick bad.

Me doctor good.

Throw in a couple of smilies and emoticons to fill out to 5300 characters and you're set.

 

[gujuDoc]

Don't they have paragraphs in your country?

 

[gujuDoc]

A single anecdote, written thoughtfully and with sincere intentions, is very different than a trite statement thrown in as an afterthought. Many of the PSs I read sound like someone decided to talk about their sick grandmother because they think it will add an air of seriousness to their PS, not because their grandmother's illness actually motivated them to enter medicine. Be honest, but show exactly what your path was. Some people have said "It was this situation that made me realize I wanted to go into medicine," and I'm skeptical that one single situation alone would motivate an entire career. If you back up and beef it up with other experiences, coinciding with your interests, it sounds much more plausible.

Also, showing is better than telling. It's along the lines of "a picture is worth a thousand words." Having DONE something is much more valuable than just talking about doing something. Not only that, but if you can make your point by telling a story that carries that point, it's better than just saying it. A few of the well-written PSs I've read have used stories that show their progression from ignorance/dislike to understanding/appreciation.


if it isn't about serving the underserved - if you want to serve the underserved, and you're going to talk about it, you should have something to back this up. Have you done it already? learned their language? taken steps to work with that culture/social group?

if it isn't about social policy - have you been active with your school's student organizations that deal with social policy? interned with a legislator? at least written letters/editorials/articles about social policy?

if it isn't about your own personal illness/condition - was it a serious condition? did it actually change your perspective, or does it just make a convenient way for you to make it sound like it did?

if it isn't about a dream - this one is tenuous at best. I dream of driving F1 cars and Lamborghinis.

if it isn't about knowing what kind of medicine attracts you - have you shadowed a physician in each possible field? Mentioning your possible interests is okay, but don't say that you're going to be a pediatric reconstructive surgeon specializing in finger amputations.

if it isn't about volunteering in a nursing home/hospital/ER and how that felt - at least make it interesting though. The 500th story about an interesting conversation you had with a patient is going to make your PS sound very run-of-the-mill.

If you answered "no" to one of the questions pertaining to your interest, then you probably shouldn't be talking about it. You need substance to back it up.

While I thought the poster you were responding to had some good points, I think this is an even better post. You are correct. A lot of the personal statements I've read make a lot of claims but they don't really back up their claims with what they really learned from their experiences. They sound like they are just listing their whole resume.

There are at least only 3-4 out of the 10 that really really really sounded wonderful with little need of editing.



Also, I noticed quite a few of you keep using the term "I" in every other sentence.

In the ppt that I sent out, there are some tips which state that you should try to use slightly complex sentence structure rather then making every sentence sound like this.........

"I volunteered at xyz." "I did research at ABC" etc.

 

[gujuDoc]

Sick bad.

Me doctor good.

Throw in a couple of smilies and emoticons to fill out to 5300 characters and you're set.

 

[gujuDoc]

These topics aren't forbidden, but they are heavily used:

Personal illness/condition
Illness/death of a close family member
Stories of volunteering in the ER
One patient that sticks in your mind
Importance of diversity/cultural awareness
The caring, compassionate, but also intelligent and skilled physician you shadowed
I did this, then that, and then I did this, but then I tried that, and then I did this
The hyperbolic enzymatic genomic property of the Occthysiziliuim fluriouzoomint blahblahblah (too much detail on your research)


So be careful. If it's a well-written story, that's okay, but most of them seem kinda thrown together.

Ok so sorry all my posts are consecutive. But I don't have time to respond later. So in short, I'd say that this is a good point.

Too many of you guys who are sending me your Personal statement are trying to throw your whole resume on there.

Remember that you have 15 nice spots to put your resume. Put the most significant things only. Also remember the personal statement is a place to incorporate your talents and things that would normally not be known about you if you were strictly talking about medicine only.


A few years back a student I knew talked about things like her love for traveling, while others talked about how they loved fishing or art or music and incorporated it into their personality and who they are in their personal statement.

 

[Anastasis]

Sick bad.

Me doctor good.

Throw in a couple of smilies and emoticons to fill out to 5300 characters and you're set.

Awesome. I'm scrapping my PS and using this. Thanks for the suggestion.


And Guju: My PS was one of the 3 or 4 really excellent ones right. You don't need to tell me. I know how great I am.

 

[medanthgirl]

It's not a bad thing to describe your career goals or mention specialties you're interested in. Schools do like to see that you have plans (that's why everybody asks where you see yourself in 10-15 years), and they know that everybody has some kind of preference coming into med school, whether or not most people change their plans. Having an idea of what you want to do shows that you're serious about your career choice.

i agree, i'm an older applicant (28) that's been working in cancer studies and our university clinic for over 5 years, i am 90% sure i want to do medical oncology. general internal medicine and infectious disease are other ones that i know i will be attracted to. so i said as much in my application. i think it would look wierd that i would just say i want to go into medicine, where my ECs show a lot of work in clinical trials, etc.

 

[medanthgirl]

guju doc are you still volunteering to look at ps's? 😍 😀

 

[Its_MurDAH]

I'm really confused. I've read this whole thread and I see all kinds of things to avoid, but every thread I've read on what to write in the PS, people always say "be true, be genuine," etc. Half the stuff that is genuine -- for me and others, it seems -- is stuff that we're told not to write.

I really appreciate all the suggestions, but it seems like you guys have ruled out just about any logical reason that someone would have to become a doctor. I mean, if it isn't about helping people, if it isn't about serving the underserved, if it isn't about social policy, if it isn't about a loved one's illness/death, if it isn't about your own personal illness/condition, if it isn't about a dream, if it isn't about knowing what kind of medicine attracts you, if it isn't about once saving a life and how that felt, if it isn't about volunteering in a nursing home/hospital/ER and how that felt, if it isn't about the crappy career you're in now and how you're better suited for medicine, PLEASE, someone, tell me what it is about. What else would motivate someone (especially nontraditionals) to invest so heavily in medical school?

I was under the impression the PS was about why you want to be a doctor and I thought all the reasons cited above were genuine reasons for taking this path. So why are you guys suggesting we not write about them? I can't imagine what other reason there could be (except for the people who are in it to make money).

Yeah let me just tell you right now that most of the people that have responded in this thread and have dished out advice are current applicants/to-be-med students themselves. Thus, they are hardly experienced in deciding what constitutes a good personal statement and what doesn't. Sure a couple of the people that responded may have much experience in reading different statements and can give you a fair assessment; still others may be accomplished writers. But for the most part, everything that has been said on here is going to be useless to you because most people giving advice in this thread don't know what they are talking about. Their experience is mostly limited to their own personal statements.

I mean, how could anyone know? If you think you had a good personal statement and you got into medical school, how do you know that it was your PS that was really effective? Similiarly, how do you know that it was your PS that held you back from an acceptance? How do you know that what you wrote in your PS was construed as something that has been "done to death" by an adcom or that they thought it was dishonest or cliche. You won't know unless they come right out and tell you and that almost never happens.

My advice, for what it's worth (probably nothing), is to stay true to yourself and to your motivations when you write the PS. If you can make it interesting and captivating then more power to you. Just check it thoroughly for grammar and spelling mistakes. Don't worry so much about sticking to all the millions of ridiculous guidelines that people think you have to follow.

Go with the flow, yo.

 

[gujuDoc]

Awesome. I'm scrapping my PS and using this. Thanks for the suggestion.


And Guju: My PS was one of the 3 or 4 really excellent ones right. You don't need to tell me. I know how great I am.

Hahaha. I never actually finished reading yours because this lack of computer thing and I kept forgetting about it But I read parts of it and it looked good from what I saw. I liked the way it started especially. 😉

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

I'm really confused. I've read this whole thread and I see all kinds of things to avoid, but every thread I've read on what to write in the PS, people always say "be true, be genuine," etc. Half the stuff that is genuine -- for me and others, it seems -- is stuff that we're told not to write.

I'll make my contribution to this thread with a response to your statement above:

When in doubt, do what feels right to you, DON'T listen to the people on SDN, most of whom you don't know and are competing for the same spots in medical school that you are. (NOTE, this goes for the advice I'm about to give, as well)

Only you know why you want to be a doctor. I think people have gone way to far with the "unique PS" idea. It seems that lots interpret that to mean "Thou shalt not write about anything that has been written about before in thy PS." I think unique, in the context, of the PS means to describe YOUR thoughts, feelings, philosophy, and reasons to practice medicine in your own words. If you want to be a doctor because you want to help people, then say that. DON'T be fake. DON'T change your content because someone else told you to, unless you 100% agree with their reasoning.

In the end, I'm sure that ADCOMs will think that all of our PSs are boring as hell and skim through them all. I've posted before that every non-SDN "authority" that I have spoken to about PSs says that they are WAY down on the list of factors that will get you admitted to medical school. If the rest of your application is in good shape, write your PS, give it your all, be honest, answer the question(s) asked, have someone else proof it for spelling, grammar, and structure, submit your application, and try to enjoy your summer. DON'T waste it spending hour upon hour revising, rewriting, etc based upon what someone says on an Internet forum.

Jota

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

My advice, for what it's worth (probably nothing), is to stay true to yourself and to your motivations when you write the PS. If you can make it interesting and captivating then more power to you. Just check it thoroughly for grammar and spelling mistakes. Don't worry so much about sticking to all the millions of ridiculous guidelines that people think you have to follow.

Go with the flow, yo.

👍 👍 👍

Couldn't have put it better myself!

 

[Khanal007]

yo, from my experience, I showed my PS to a lot of friends and they all loved it. Then I showed it to some people on SDN...definitely more critical, and I really gutted my PS, changed the flow, and now I love it. So yes, stay true to yourself, but there IS definitely a way to use your same experiences, but weave it together in a different manner that will make your PS better.....that's my little bit of knowledge...

 

[thes_hunter]

You need to realize that MSF is MANY years down the road for you. You have to do 4 years of medical school and then 3-5 years of residency before you will have the skills they need. Even then, they prefer doctors with experience practicing in their fields. MSF can afford to pre-screen for only the most qualified candidates. Plus, you need to remember that if you are deeply in debt from school loans/car debt/mortgage/etc MSF looks at that as a negative for you, because who is going to pay your bills for you while you have no income?
Bottom line is: there are a lot of obstacles before MSF is a reality, so to talk about it now is a bit presumptuous.


You need to remember that the adcom could view this as a reason NOT to take you. What if it keeps happening while you are in medical school? The school doesn't want to have to deal with that if they can help it. Also, no matter how immoral you may think it, some adcom members may consider you high-risk to develop mental health issues yourself. In an ideal world no one would judge you based on your father's illness, but we don't live in that world.

With all this advice not to mention MSF, would it be presumptious to say simply that you have a goal to do medical relief work some time in the future?

I have a history of doing relief work, so at least that part is backed up.

 

[Severus]

This thread, with all of it's contradictory do's and don'ts, makes me want to set small, furry mammals on fire.


Or perhaps all this essay writing is turning me into an uber-vitch. 👎

 

[45408]

I'll make my contribution to this thread with a response to your statement above:

When in doubt, do what feels right to you, DON'T listen to the people on SDN, most of whom you don't know and are competing for the same spots in medical school that you are. (NOTE, this goes for the advice I'm about to give, as well)

It's one thing to be judicious when reading others' comments, but you're just unnecessarily cynical. I'm not competing with anybody for any seats at this point - anybody who has a PS that needs reviewing is a year behind me. Any of my advice is well-intended.

 

[Sol Rosenberg]

It's one thing to be judicious when reading others' comments, but you're just unnecessarily cynical. I'm not competing with anybody for any seats at this point - anybody who has a PS that needs reviewing is a year behind me. Any of my advice is well-intended.

My statement wasn't aimed at anyone in particular, and I'm sorry that you took offense. I DO stand by my statement, however. Its_MurDAH had a great point, those of you who are not on ADCOMs, how do you know what makes a good personal statement? This is the most subjective part of the application. How do you know whether or not an ADCOM admitted/rejected an applicant based upon their specific personal statement or not?

In the spirit of this thread, please DON'T answer my last questions with, "I know someone on an ADCOM...." or "A friend of a friend on an ADCOM once told me....." or "At one of my interviews, an interviewer told me that I had a great PS, so you need to make yours just like mine...."

 

[gujuDoc]

My statement wasn't aimed at anyone in particular, and I'm sorry that you took offense. I DO stand by my statement, however. Its_MurDAH had a great point, those of you who are not on ADCOMs, how do you know what makes a good personal statement? This is the most subjective part of the application. How do you know whether or not an ADCOM admitted/rejected an applicant based upon their specific personal statement or not?

In the spirit of this thread, please DON'T answer my last questions with, "I know someone on an ADCOM...." or "A friend of a friend on an ADCOM once told me....." or "At one of my interviews, an interviewer told me that I had a great PS, so you need to make yours just like mine...."

I actually think your original post made a good point. Its hard not to find personal statements that follow the same theme. I mean there are only so many amount of things you can write in a PS about why medicine. The only Do's and Don'ts I've followed have come from the PPTs that i'm still in the process of sending to some of you guys, which was put together by two of the permanent members of the USF College of Medicine's Admissions Committee. Both are also professors at the medical school.

 

[45408]

My statement wasn't aimed at anyone in particular, and I'm sorry that you took offense. I DO stand by my statement, however. Its_MurDAH had a great point, those of you who are not on ADCOMs, how do you know what makes a good personal statement? This is the most subjective part of the application. How do you know whether or not an ADCOM admitted/rejected an applicant based upon their specific personal statement or not?

In the spirit of this thread, please DON'T answer my last questions with, "I know someone on an ADCOM...." or "A friend of a friend on an ADCOM once told me....." or "At one of my interviews, an interviewer told me that I had a great PS, so you need to make yours just like mine...."

I really don't know what they're specifically looking for, and given that each applicant is applying to 10 different schools, it wouldn't really help to know what any one school wanted. I think that it's reasonable to review other applicants' essays because every essay should be well-written, easy to understand, thoughtful, at least a little bit original, and explanatory of the applicant. If I'm confused/bored/angered/saddened by an essay, there's a good chance that a reviewer might feel the same.

It would be much less useful for me to review secondary essays, because each school has a very specific goal in mind, but the PS is much broader in scope, and it think it's more relevant to have someone on the outside give it a once-over.

I might not be on an adcom, but I've read quite a few PSs at this point, and it's easy for me to see what topics keep on appearing. Some things are good every time, but a lot of them just get BO-ring, and I'm just as human as a reviewer is. LizzyM, who is on an adcom, frequently complains about Sirens In the Night, sick/dying grandmothers, and saintly physicians you've shadowed. I take note and try to advise applicants accordingly.

 

[signomi]

My statement wasn't aimed at anyone in particular, and I'm sorry that you took offense. I DO stand by my statement, however. Its_MurDAH had a great point, those of you who are not on ADCOMs, how do you know what makes a good personal statement? This is the most subjective part of the application. How do you know whether or not an ADCOM admitted/rejected an applicant based upon their specific personal statement or not?

I am a practicing physician, so no one here is competing with me. When I was in med school and in residency some of us looked at applicants' files as part of the admissions committee. We got to review their personal statements and meet with them. So I've seen my share of personal statements. As I have said to several people, if you are comfortable with your cliches, then the goal becomes writing them as well as possible.