Preparing for reapp: Can I reuse my personal statement?

[scientisticy5325]

Hi all, at this point I am hoping for the best but would also like to prepare for the worst. I have identified weak extracurriculars as my falling point and started addressing that since August

As far as PS goes, can I reuse the same one from this cycle or do ADCOM's expect a new one to be made? I really like my PS and think it captures my "why medicine" well. I've also gotten compliments about it during interviews so I would really like to keep it if I could !

Thank you in advance!!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[AJS59]

Hi all, at this point I am hoping for the best but would also like to prepare for the worst. I have identified weak extracurriculars as my falling point and started addressing that since August

As far as PS goes, can I reuse the same one from this cycle or do ADCOM's expect a new one to be made? I really like my PS and think it captures my "why medicine" well. I've also gotten compliments about it during interviews so I would really like to keep it if I could !

Thank you in advance!!

Generally speaking, no. If you've been addressing weak extracurriculars those are new experiences that you should 100% mention in your personal statement.

That being said, don't quit entirely yet. You did mention interviews, plural, so you're ahead of where you should be at this point. If you're still waiting for results, I wouldn't sweat about not having an A until March.

 

[LunaOri]

Because the PS should reflect your journey to medicine, it’s okay for some of it to be similar to your first PS. Do a little rewriting and add whatever you have changed/improved/learned since your prior application.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

You'll get a mix of opinions, but @LindaAccepted 's interviews reveal a general consensus to significantly revise or rewrite. For me, strong applicants can write so well that they can submit 3 or more PS's showing different facets of their experience and their strengths.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Just because you had a good PS for this season doesn't mean it can't be better. Indeed if you had an issue with weak ECs coming into the year that you have since addressed, you likely can "show" the "why medicine" better than you did this year.

 

[LindaAccepted]

Hi all, at this point I am hoping for the best but would also like to prepare for the worst. I have identified weak extracurriculars as my falling point and started addressing that since August

As far as PS goes, can I reuse the same one from this cycle or do ADCOM's expect a new one to be made? I really like my PS and think it captures my "why medicine" well. I've also gotten compliments about it during interviews so I would really like to keep it if I could !

Thank you in advance!!

Congrats on addressing the weak ECs.

If you submit the identical PS you had last year you risk:

1. Appearing stagnant
2. Appearing lazy.

A main task of a reapplicant is to highlight how they are better than they were last year. Yes, not all readers will view last year's application; most won't. But many will review notes from evaluators. Also if the events you highlight in your PS end a year or two ago, readers may wonder "What has this applicant been doing lately." I realize that the new activities will be in other essays or the activity section, but presumably the new ECs have influenced or confirmed your "Why medicine."

So you don't have to throw out your old PS, but definitely include some new material. How much you change it is a matter of judgment and obviously I can't say without reading it.

Finally, as @Mr.Smile12 wrote, most adcoms that I have interviewed strongly recommend improving/changing the PS when reapplying. In addition he also made the excellent point that strong candidates could write a few different strong essays that would help them get accepted. So your PS is probably really good, but it's not the only one your could write.

Finally, almost everyone can improve their writing when they approach it with a fresh eye a year later.

And hopefully you still get in this cycle so that this discussion is purely academic.

 

[Goro]

Hi all, at this point I am hoping for the best but would also like to prepare for the worst. I have identified weak extracurriculars as my falling point and started addressing that since August

As far as PS goes, can I reuse the same one from this cycle or do ADCOM's expect a new one to be made? I really like my PS and think it captures my "why medicine" well. I've also gotten compliments about it during interviews so I would really like to keep it if I could !

Thank you in advance!!

Considering that a year has gone by since the last application cycle, right? Then tweak the PS. You don't need to rewrite an entire new one.