PS rewrite advice

[axeon123]

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Hi. I applied to medical school last year and currently I'm still on three schools for wait-list and waiting for a fourth school to respond. I'm currently in the process of reapplying and am looking at my personal statement.

I know the main reason why I did not get many interviews or acceptances (I interviewed at 6 schools, was rejected from 2 and am still waiting for the rest of them). I did everything pretty late: I submitted AMCAS early September, I stupidly waited until a week or days or the day before the deadline to submit my secondaries, and I don't think I applied to any real safety schools.

I've done pretty much the same clinical activities this year, but focused more on lab research. My personal statement is in general three clinical experiences that I had and each one I found something that was part of medicine and motivated me towards this field. I'm not sure how else I should do. I can sit back and think about what being a doctor means to me now because there are some aspects that I think I feel differently, but I don't have any new significant experiences to put in. I'm still intent on applying and getting into medical school, but I'm not sure how to handle the personal statement situation.

I've looked at several threads on this forum. Some people tweak their personal statement, others change it completely, and some add some extra stuff explaining the rejection and how they dealt with it or see it as another chance, whereas others oppose mentioning that when applying to new schools. I'm on the borderline between tweaking and changing it around, but I'd like to keep the same experiences.

What do you guys think? I'm still keeping in touch with the schools I am waitlisted at and sending them updates at the same time, also.

Thanks.

 

[Tenk]

I'm in a similar spot (two waitlists, didn't apply broadly enough last year) so I can somewhat relate. For me, when I reread my personal statement from last year it just sounded completely awful. I threw it out and finished a new one last night. It was a refreshing start to this year and I'm very glad I did it.

Sit down, reread what you wrote and ask yourself: does this explain why I want to go to medical school? If it does, you're golden. If it doesn't... go on a walk and think about it =p!

 

[RxnMan]

Have you had a lot of other people read it? I've had some folks send me their PS and some were awful, reeking of "white man's burden" and arrogance. These kids did not mean to sound that way, but it was the only introduction an ADCOM was going to have to these people! Have a couple people who both know you (your motivations) and are honest (can be truthful instead of protecting your feelings). If they say it's ok, then just update it. Otherwise, just click on the link in my signature.

 

[axeon123]

Thanks for the comments. RxnMan, I've had several different people read my personal statement last year when I was writing to fix it all up and I believe they were honest about what was good and what was not. My essay is broken up into a clinical experience, a second clinical experience, and a research experience. I had a new research experience this year, though I'd really like to keep my first research experience, but I asked a friend to read it this year and they said my two clinical experiences conveyed the same general message. So maybe I could figure something else to add. Do you think you have time to take a look at it?

 

[musiclink213]

I would at least try to add something new. You want to show the ADCOMs that you've changed somewhat. For me, I actually wrote about being a reapplicant, and how humbling it was not even getting 1 interview. For me, it was a big slap in the face, one that really knocked me down to earth. And for me, I really did have to re-evaluate if medicine was what I wanted to do, because not even getting an interview is really disheartening, to say the least.

A lot of my experiences were the same, but I wrote about them in a different way. I'd say it worked, I did get a few acceptances this year, and actually turned down a couple interviews, which is more than I could have said for last year.

 

[RxnMan]

Thanks for the comments. RxnMan, I've had several different people read my personal statement last year when I was writing to fix it all up and I believe they were honest about what was good and what was not. My essay is broken up into a clinical experience, a second clinical experience, and a research experience. I had a new research experience this year, though I'd really like to keep my first research experience, but I asked a friend to read it this year and they said my two clinical experiences conveyed the same general message. So maybe I could figure something else to add. Do you think you have time to take a look at it?

Sure. But you need to send it today or tomorrow, because I'll not be be able to get back to you for two weeks after Saturday. Maybe also tag on your new experience paragraph so I can see all of the parts.