Personal Statement.

[ClaytonB543]

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🙂

 

[MedPR]

sure why not

 

[coolingglasses]

Could be good for schools that emphasize Spanish (I believe Nova does)

 

[113]

 

[DOsomegood]

From the personal statements I've done and from others I've read, the best one's seem to focus on a specific experience they've had that really had an impact on them. I'd say that story sounds like an awesome way to start your PS.

 

[EnergyDrink]

Did this actually happen? Seems like a pretty intense shadowing gig. What would have happened if you weren't there?

 

[coolingglasses]

From the personal statements I've done and from others I've read, the best one's seem to focus on a specific experience they've had that really had an impact on them. I'd say that story sounds like an awesome way to start your PS.

I think relevant story-based PSes are the way to go. I've read a few example ones in workshops. I remember one where the writer had an amazing resume, but they essentially just restated it in their statement. It was really boring... several paragraphs of "I did XYZ". There was another one where the guy talked about some experiences he had, but they all revolved around his fraternity.

 

[ClaytonB543]

🙂

 

[ClaytonB543]

🙂

 

[ClaytonB543]

🙂

 

[Roxas]

I have a similar question: I lived the the Phlippines for a while and learned a language thats slightly less useful in the US (Tagalog), so would this be something I could use to grab adcoms attention in a PS? If so, how should I go about that?

 

[MedPR]

I have a similar question: I lived the the Phlippines for a while and learned a language thats slightly less useful in the US (Tagalog), so would this be something I could use to grab adcoms attention in a PS? If so, how should I go about that?

If you just throw it into your PS instead of making it a theme or really working it into the main idea it will seem weird.

 

[Roxas]

If you just throw it into your PS instead of making it a theme or really working it into the main idea it will seem weird.

Thats what I was planning on doing, since a lot of my personal character developed during that time, ect all of which will help me be a better physician in the future. I was just asking if since it isn't as useful of a language, will they even care that I'm fluent in it?

 

[MedPR]

Thats what I was planning on doing, since a lot of my personal character developed during that time, ect all of which will help me be a better physician in the future. I was just asking if since it isn't as useful of a language, will they even care that I'm fluent in it?

My PS included the use of an even less useful language than Tagalog and 3-4 out of my dozen or so interviewers asked me about it. So yeah, I'd say they'll care.

Imo knowing a foreign language is as much about showing cultural diversity as it is about being useful in medicine. At least to adcoms.

 

[moocow47]

Did you actually translate? If you did, I wouldn't include it because they might think you went beyond your scope. If you didn't translate then I'd say it's fine and a good way of proving that you understand the less romantic side of medicine.

 

[NurWollen]

My foreign language studies have been a big part of my life, so I made them a big part of my first draft PS. I was thinking it would be unique and catch an Adcom's attention. To my surprise, more than one reviewing said it just left them wondering why I wasn't going into foreign language studies or something... so I reworked it so it was only one of several reasons I was going into medicine... basically I used it to talk about how it gave me an appreciation for culture that would help me be a better physician (which was the truth.).

What I took away from the whole PS writing experience is that it is best to be genuine rather than unique and eye catching. (Unless the reason for going into medicine is the $$, don't write that. Besides, that shouldn't be your reason.)

 

[coolingglasses]

My foreign language studies have been a big part of my life, so I made them a big part of my first draft PS. I was thinking it would be unique and catch an Adcom's attention. To my surprise, more than one reviewing said it just left them wondering why I wasn't going into foreign language studies or something... so I reworked

Everything in your PS should be tied into medicine somehow.

 

[NurWollen]

Everything in your PS should be tied into medicine somehow.

Yeah... I accidentally hit 'post' before I was done with that post and you quoted it while I was finishing it. I agree 100%. I did end up tying my love for languages and cultures into medicine.

 

[coolingglasses]

Yeah... I accidentally hit 'post' before I was done with that post and you quoted it while I was finishing it. I agree 100%. I did end up tying my love for languages and cultures into medicine.

😎 My advisor didn't give me a lot of written notes in editing my PS, but when she did it was usually a lot of that.

 

[ClaytonB543]

🙂