PS Cliches

[mafunk]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

In the past month I've been fortunate to read about 20 PS's from SDN posters. Here is my humble opinion on what works and what doesn't work:

WORKS

• Demonstrating work ethic, maturity and commitment through a sincere story that illustrates these things without 'stretching' to do so.
• Starting with a captivating story that is NOT about patient care
• Overall... telling a story, painting a picture
• Being real, unique, candid

DOES NOT WORK

• Starting your essay with some medical story. The majority of the essays I read started this way... it got old and boring real fast.
• Trying to turn an experience into something it's not... seems students are desperate to show their compassion or demonstrate that they had a life changing interaction with a patient... but often it comes across as flat, somewhat insincere and like they are reaching
• Spending a large portion of their essay trying to explain their past.. often it sounded like excuses.
• Harping on 'disadvantages'. I think you address it briefly and positively, then move on. Several essays I've seen appear to focus on 'poor me' and did not adequately show the positive growth they got from a set back or rough experience. But...I'm from the school of 'hard knocks' and worked hard to build a good life, so I get annoyed when it seems like people are whining about relatively benign things like divorced parents, parents without college education, low income...

 

[0919mmk]

In the past month I've been fortunate to read about 20 PS's from SDN posters. Here is my humble opinion on what works and what doesn't work:

WORKS

• Demonstrating work ethic, maturity and commitment through a sincere story that illustrates these things without 'stretching' to do so.
• Starting with a captivating story that is NOT about patient care
• Overall... telling a story, painting a picture
• Being real, unique, candid

DOES NOT WORK

• Starting your essay with some medical story. The majority of the essays I read started this way... it got old and boring real fast.
• Trying to turn an experience into something it's not... seems students are desperate to show their compassion or demonstrate that they had a life changing interaction with a patient... but often it comes across as flat, somewhat insincere and like they are reaching
• Spending a large portion of their essay trying to explain their past.. often it sounded like excuses.
• Harping on 'disadvantages'. I think you address it briefly and positively, then move on. Several essays I've seen appear to focus on 'poor me' and did not adequately show the positive growth they got from a set back or rough experience. But...I'm from the school of 'hard knocks' and worked hard to build a good life, so I get annoyed when it seems like people are whining about relatively benign things like divorced parents, parents without college education, low income...

Great advice! I starting reading your post having written my PS a couple weeks ago, and I holding my breath in the "Does not work" part 🙂 Luckily I didn't see myself in there. Actually, can I send you mine? PM me if so -thx.

 

[curt656]

I agree that this is great advice, and it pretty much echos the guidelines that I have set for myself. I still have a fair amount of time before I am applying, but I keep having these ideas pop into my head so I have to start writing. So far I have three different PS's started each with their own rhythm and flow.

You never really know exactly what to address, and how to address it. There are things that the little voice inside my head tells me that I need to explain, but like you say, I do not want to come off as making a bunch of excuses. Should I explain my crappy grades from 20 years ago, how the recession caused me lose everything, or how my son's medical problems and the unusual kindness of his doctors sparked my interest? Should I try to weave in one, two, all three, or none? Most say that this is a time to address only the positives, so I guess that leaves an explanation of the grades out? Should I just let my current grades stand on their own merit and save the explanation for secondaries? The questions never cease, lol! Sometimes it is hard trying not to get worked up into a frenzy as there is so much at stake.

Oh well, at least I have plenty of time to figure it out...

 

[QofQuimica]

Good advice. Nothing lets me know that reading this PS is going to be painful like a first line that starts out something to the effect of, "With sirens wailing and lights flashing..." I've been told by a few premeds that their advisors told them to write like that. Those advisors should find a new line of work, IMO.

Curt, I suggest leaving out the grades from your PS entirely. Remember, the purpose of the PS is to explain, "why medicine?" not "why did I get bad grades a few years ago?". In contrast, talking about your son is entirely appropriate, since your experience dealing with his illness is what got you interested in going to med school.

In general, if a topic you're considering writing about doesn't go along with the "why med school" theme, then either mention it very briefly (sentence or two), or leave it out altogether.

 

[mauberley]

WORKS

• Overall... telling a story, painting a picture

I would add that if your "story" consists solely of rehashing your ECs, then it falls into the "does not work" category. 🙂

 

[EdLongshanks]

DOES NOT WORK

Reading any book with a title such as "Essays that will get you into medical school."

 

[MarshallW]

Reading any book with a title such as "Essays that will get you into medical school."

The first part of the book was helpful, but I'm pretty sure reading the essays have contributed to my paralysis.

I don't think my PS will have the words: AIDS, cancer, emergency room, Africa, babies, or the name of any Ivy League school.

Thanks for the advice Mafunk. I have been leaning towards the type of essay you have outlined in the "works" category.

 

[PharMed2016]

Just one sentence: DO NOT MAKE IT INTO A SOB STORY. 😉
​

 

[StudyShy]

I would add that if your "story" consists solely of rehashing your ECs, then it falls into the "does not work" category. 🙂

👍