personal statement?

[Aegis]

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Is anyone else finding it hard to write your personal statement without knowing your MCAT scores. If I have to retake the MCAT then im gonna worry about that and not my essay, so I wish I could just know what to devote my time to. I think its just becoming a bad case of procrastination, my brain pretty much shut down after april. 😱

 

[bigdan]

A-

Not me. Although the whole application package is indeed related, I found my MCAT and my PS mutually exclusive. Why I want to be a doctor, and what got me to that point had no relation to the MCAT. I do understand the thought that the MCAT studies take time from developing a good PS, but since we know that June 15th is the time for scores, maybe now would be optimal for locking down that PS...

dc

 

[Sahani]

I agree that writing/completing the PS now without the scores would make for a more honest and genuine statement.

 

[dpill]

YES! I just can't get motivated about the whole application process until I get my scores. I know that everyone in the world would advise me to get my butt in gear (for all those reasons that taking the April MCAT is such a good idea), but I just can't seem to focus on my app while I am obsessing over my scores I hope good scores will motivate many hours of hard work next week!

 

[txguy]

YES! I just can't get motivated about the whole application process until I get my scores. I know that everyone in the world would advise me to get my butt in gear (for all those reasons that taking the April MCAT is such a good idea), but I just can't seem to focus on my app while I am obsessing over my scores I hope good scores will motivate many hours of hard work next week!

I feel you man/woman (sorry, can't tell from your screen name). I already wrote my PS, but I am having a hard time writing my secondaries and finishing my AMCAS app w/o my MCAT scores. In other words, I am having a hard time concentrating on ANYTHING w/o my scores! ahhhh!!

-tx

 

[gaf]

My PS said something about studying and doing well on the MCAT. I didn't submit the AMCAS until I got the scores and new I had >20.

 

[Sahani]

I feel you man/woman (sorry, can't tell from your screen name). I already wrote my PS, but I am having a hard time writing my secondaries and finishing my AMCAS app w/o my MCAT scores. In other words, I am having a hard time concentrating on ANYTHING w/o my scores! ahhhh!!

-tx

How are you doing your secondaries already?

 

[MoosePilot]

I even mentioned my MCAT in my essay. I'm assuming I did well. If my assumption was bad, that will destroy my application such that the essay no longer making sense doesn't matter anyway.

They mention you can explain deficiencies in your essay. I put a short paragraph in there contrasting my grades with my MCAT scores.

 

[medic170]

How are you doing your secondaries already?

I wondered that too. Am I that far behind? I have not even submitted AMCAS yet 😱

 

[rapshi]

You ain't the only one! Although any time in June is early as "I heard" the schools don't get anything before July.
I wonder if any of that is true?

 

[nicholasblonde]

According to the MSAR and the AMCAS website it takes 4 to 6 weeks to process your application subsequent to submission...I really doubt it's going to be a significant advantage submitting it a week early as long as you get it in soon after the scores are returned

I'm not sending mine in til I have my scores b/c I have like 20 schools on my list...I would feel stupid if I sent it to Harvard, Yale, and Penn and then find out I got lower than a 32...one of my friends sent his AMCAS app in before the scores last year, then he ended up getting a 30 and Stanford and Harvard both sent him pretty vicious rejection letters that essentially said "quit wasting our time punk a@@ idiot"

 

[leiface]

I'm sure he/she mean't secondaries as in secondary experiences, not secondary applications. No worries 🙂

 

[freaker]

he ended up getting a 30 and Stanford and Harvard both sent him pretty vicious rejection letters that essentially said "quit wasting our time punk a@@ idiot"

This reflects very poorly on these schools. Is it just me, or do med schools seem to lack a sense of decorum that you see in other graduate/professional programs? I hear a lot about vicious interviewers and that sort of thing. You pull that crap in the business world, and you're going to get a bad reputation.

Just a suggestion for those waiting on your scores...

You might just want to submit your AMCAS application now while just selecting to apply to your state schools. That way, you get the ball rolling on your verification and can just add more schools later when you get your scores.

Unfortunately, I'm still waiting on transcripts, so not an option for me.

 

[MoosePilot]

According to the MSAR and the AMCAS website it takes 4 to 6 weeks to process your application subsequent to submission...I really doubt it's going to be a significant advantage submitting it a week early as long as you get it in soon after the scores are returned

I'm not sending mine in til I have my scores b/c I have like 20 schools on my list...I would feel stupid if I sent it to Harvard, Yale, and Penn and then find out I got lower than a 32...one of my friends sent his AMCAS app in before the scores last year, then he ended up getting a 30 and Stanford and Harvard both sent him pretty vicious rejection letters that essentially said "quit wasting our time punk a@@ idiot"

I think they say 4-6 weeks because that's how long it takes during peak traffic. Mine took 5 days recently.

 

[Kent]

The process of getting a good personal statement is difficult. Get as many people as possible to edit your statement. The more the merrier. If you don't know who to turn to, try an editing company like Essay Edge. They do great work and a good personal statement may be just what you need to be pushed over the edge to get an interview. Good luck.

 

[docjolly]

The process of getting a good personal statement is difficult. Get as many people as possible to edit your statement. The more the merrier. If you don't know who to turn to, try an editing company like Essay Edge. They do great work and a good personal statement may be just what you need to be pushed over the edge to get an interview. Good luck.

Kent,

Should all of my readers have some relation to the field of medicine (ex. doctors, nurses, premed. advisor)? Or do you suggest that I get many different types of people to read my PS?

 

[Potato!]

Kent,

Should all of my readers have some relation to the field of medicine (ex. doctors, nurses, premed. advisor)? Or do you suggest that I get many different types of people to read my PS?

Docjolly,

I wouldn't bother asking Kent for any specific advice. I'm pretty sure he works for the "Essay Edge" website editing company. That being said, you need to take any advice he gives with a grain of salt, knowing his motivation. 😉

 

[Premedtomed]

Docjolly,

I wouldn't bother asking Kent for any specific advice. I'm pretty sure he works for the "Essay Edge" website editing company. That being said, you need to take any advice he gives with a grain of salt, knowing his motivation. 😉

I like your name "potato". Besides, any educated person can give you good advice about your PS. It is like the basic interview thing - what makes you qualified enough to enter med. school/get a job?
Get it 😉

 

[Potato!]

I like your name "potato". Besides, any educated person can give you good advice about your PS. It is like the basic interview thing - what makes you qualified enough to enter med. school/get a job?
Get it 😉

Yah, I hear ya Premedtomed. I just wanted to throw a "heads up" out there, in case people start thinking things like "Wow, it sounds like Kent has had a lot of good experiences with Essay Edge, it probably helped him get in to Med school. I better pay someone $80 to read my PS". There are so many generous people on SDN alone who are willing to read people's PS for free. I guess it just irks me that someone comes on to the forum and acts genuinely concerned, but actually has a secret agenda. It's all good though.

ps. Thanks for the name complement. Potatoes are so versatile, who doesn't love them? (hmmm, I think that's going to be my new signature) 🙂

 

[Pinkertinkle]

Yeah, and I think essay edge is illegal, and or at least shady.

 

[Kent]

No harsh feelings...but I don't work for essay edge. It was just a suggestion if you can't find anyone else to read it. I am having everyone that is literate read my statement (I'm applying now). That includes doctors, teachers, family, and friends. When giving the statement to family members just explain to them the purpose of the statement. In fact, it was my father who gave me my best advice. Good luck.

 

[liverotcod]

Yeah, and I think essay edge is illegal, and or at least shady.

My understanding is that determined law school applicants use services to actually write their essays for them. Rumor?