Personal Statement

[ferroportin]

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Suppose I am describing a particular patient experience in my personal statement. I know that one should never exaggerate, but if creating an "amalgam patient" (one that is actually a combination of stories that happened with different patients) would make for a more cohesive PS, is that kosher? In other words, all the events did happen, but with various patients instead of one; but running through multiple patients to illustrate various points would make for an overly disjointed PS.

 

[Girfaroo]

I wouldn't really want to do this. Yeah, it makes for a better story and personal statement, but it wasn't really a patient experience. If you're asked more about it on an interview, then you either have to lie, or tell them you combined multiple experiences into one. One is ethically bad, the other looks bad.

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

The patient experience is kind of cliched. I wouldn't blend patients. If you want to talk about one, pick one and don't make it too dramatic and sappy.

 

[shiftingmirage]

If you have to ask, it's probably not kosher.

 

[ferroportin]

The patient experience is kind of cliched. I wouldn't blend patients. If you want to talk about one, pick one and don't make it too dramatic and sappy.

It definitely is cliched, but there are really on two ways to write a PS: a dry direct statement, or an illustrative patient case scenario. Both have been done to death. But trying to do anything creative is much more risky than plugging the same format as every other applicant. C'est la vie.

 

[Stellar Clouds]

It definitely is cliched, but there are really on two ways to write a PS: a dry direct statement, or an illustrative patient case scenario. Both have been done to death. But trying to do anything creative is much more risky than plugging the same format as every other applicant. C'est la vie.

I disagree. I did something completely different when I applied last year. I had so many positive comments about my PS; may have helped, certainly didn't hurt.

 

[mercaptovizadeh]

I disagree. I did something completely different when I applied last year. I had so many positive comments about my PS; may have helped, certainly didn't hurt.

In general terms, what did you do that was different?

 

[scoutnj19]

I wouldn't really want to do this. Yeah, it makes for a better story and personal statement, but it wasn't really a patient experience. If you're asked more about it on an interview, then you either have to lie, or tell them you combined multiple experiences into one. One is ethically bad, the other looks bad.

trying to describe multiple experiences by creating a single fictional experience would probably do a great disservice to each individual experience. by that, i mean that if it's emotion you want, you'd rush the emotions in a few sentences when each experience deserves more than that...

it'd come out reading like it was a rushed description. i do agree that there are only a few ways to write a personal statement. rather than trying to out flank everyone with something out of the ordinary, just write better and tell your story better than everyone else.

 

[Brainhurts]

Hi,

Do you mind sharing what you did differently in your personal statement? I'm writing mine and have gone through about 20 drafts cause each time I read it, it either sounds sappy, cliched, boring, or "trying to hard." I want to stick out, but not in a negative way. Any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[Stellar Clouds]

In general terms, what did you do that was different?

I picked something that I enjoy doing outside of the hospital and compared it to my chosen specialty

 

[TGF beta1]

I would not include a patient experience to PS at all. As it was mentioned above it is so cliche that it is boring to PD to read it. The PS should answer the question: "what is so special about this applicant that I have to pick him/her for interview among hundreds of others?". Everyone have interesting and sometimes career changing patient experiences, but it does not tell anything about you. Stellar Clouds approach is a good one - it tells something about who you are. I went by telling my personal story and in second half summarized for PD point by point (as 1., 2., etc.) why I am a best fit to the program.

 

[ferroportin]

I picked something that I enjoy doing outside of the hospital and compared it to my chosen specialty

With all due respect, that's not particularly original as a frame. That is not to say that you didn't have a good PS. As scoutnj19 said, in general terms, the options are limited; but you can make yours special by writing in a way that displays authenticity and thoughtfulness with respect to your program of choice.

 

[life1234]

Hello all,

I have a question please.
If someone passed CS from second attempt, shall he/she write about it in the personal statement and explain why he did not pass from the first attempt? Or is it better not to mention it in the personal statement ???
Thank you so much