PS and Names

[misscompassion]

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ok so I have a small question...

is it ever ok to include a real name in a personal statement?

for instance, I was going to mention a particular experience that I had with my GP, is it wise to give his real name?

Thanks

 

[Bap2qwrq7]

I included real names (full) in my PS from various people I worked with and ran into no problems. But I also talked about them and the experiences I had with them in a positive light.

If it's something negative you want to discuss, I'd think twice, but if not, go ahead.

 

[Shredder]

ok so I have a small question...

is it ever ok to include a real name in a personal statement?

for instance, I was going to mention a particular experience that I had with my GP, is it wise to give his real name?

Thanks

i gave a real name of a resident i shadowed briefly. i thought it made the story more personal and genuine instead of generic.

 

[Avalanche21]

ok so I have a small question...

is it ever ok to include a real name in a personal statement?

for instance, I was going to mention a particular experience that I had with my GP, is it wise to give his real name?

Thanks

You could just include the first name if you weren't sure, I don't think that could hurt.

 

[gujuDoc]

ok so I have a small question...

is it ever ok to include a real name in a personal statement?

for instance, I was going to mention a particular experience that I had with my GP, is it wise to give his real name?

Thanks

If it is a doctor's name, I don't think it will hurt you. If it is a patient's name, that would break confidentiality rules. So don't use the patients name.

 

[CanIMakeIt]

I included not only the full name of GP but also the place of practice because it was important and it makes it authentic. The names of the patients, however, I changed for obvious reasons. It came up during the interviews several times and it helped to discuss "real" people.

 

[jbing]

I included not only the full name of GP but also the place of practice because it was important and it makes it authentic. The names of the patients, however, I changed for obvious reasons. It came up during the interviews several times and it helped to discuss "real" people.

hmm, i used the first letter of the last name (eg. Dr. S or Dr. D) and didn't mention specific locations because i wanted the emphasis to be on the story i was telling, not who or where the people were from.

 

[LizzyM]

I was reading a PS one day and the writer identified "Dr. So-and-so" at her University clinic as an example of a "good doctor". It so happens that "Dr. So-and-so" is my brother! I recommended that the writer be interviewed because the applicant had an excellent application and was obviously a good judge of character. 😉

In another instance, a PS described an interaction with a boy named "Daniel" at a school for children with special needs. The EC listed the name of the school where the applicant had volunteered. What are the odds??... the person who reviewed the application was "Daniel's" mom -- and Daniel had died suddenly just a few weeks earlier. 🙁 She turned back the application and had someone else make a decision.

If you had a good interaction with a professional, I think it is a good idea to mention the name. If you think poorly of the professional, do not mention the name under any circumstances!

Change patient's names.

 

[gujuDoc]

I was reading a PS one day and the writer identified "Dr. So-and-so" at her University clinic as an example of a "good doctor". It so happens that "Dr. So-and-so" is my brother! I recommended that the writer be interviewed because the applicant had an excellent application and was obviously a good judge of character. 😉

In another instance, a PS described an interaction with a boy named "Daniel" at a school for children with special needs. The EC listed the name of the school where the applicant had volunteered. What are the odds??... the person who reviewed the application was "Daniel's" mom -- and Daniel had died suddenly just a few weeks earlier. 🙁 She turned back the application and had someone else make a decision.

If you had a good interaction with a professional, I think it is a good idea to mention the name. If you think poorly of the professional, do not mention the name under any circumstances!

Change patient's names.

LizzyM,

So was I on target when I said not to include patient names due to confidentiality issues??????

 

[LizzyM]

LizzyM,

So was I on target when I said not to include patient names due to confidentiality issues??????

Yes.

 

[gujuDoc]

Yes.

Cool. Thanks for the fast reply.