Like some of you, I'm looking at a very strong possibility of having to go through this damned process again. My question is, Is it acceptable to recycle your personal statement? I don't mean to brag, but mine was pretty damn good and I'd hate to scrap it only to struggle to write another one that won't be anywhere near as good. Anybody else pondering reusing the same PS? I've also saved my essay answers to the questions on the secondaries and plan on reusing them too. Do you think the Adcoms will notice this? I mean, if they know you're a reapplicant, are then gonna pull out your old app and compare it to the new one? Thanks in advance for your input.
Question for possible reapplicants
- Thread starter pnle119
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Well, if your PS was so good, you would have been accepted. You might think it's good, but others don't. Get a lot of people to read your old one and give you comments and then fix it accordingly. If you use the same one, you're going to have the same result.
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Using the same LORs is fine...Just make sure you add at least one new one. I had 2 interviews total (out of 30 schools applied to) last year. This year I only added one new letter.
DO NOT USE THE SAME ESSAY!!!!!!!
DO NOT USE THE SAME ESSAY!!!!!!!
I hope that is clear. After visiting all the places I have been to I have spoken with former members of the voting adcom and they HATE to see recycled essays. If you didn't get in the first time there is something wrong with your application. The one area that you have great power to make changes in is your essay. Use the fact that you are reapplying as a strength; as a demonstration of your commitment and desire to enter medicine. If you recycle your old essay that will definitely not be conveyed to adcoms and it will add to the perception that you really didn't change anything from the first cycle. Adcoms want to see that as a reapplicant you have made significant changes to your application. Using the same essay, no matter how good, will not convey that.
DO NOT USE THE SAME ESSAY!!!!!!!
DO NOT USE THE SAME ESSAY!!!!!!!
I hope that is clear. After visiting all the places I have been to I have spoken with former members of the voting adcom and they HATE to see recycled essays. If you didn't get in the first time there is something wrong with your application. The one area that you have great power to make changes in is your essay. Use the fact that you are reapplying as a strength; as a demonstration of your commitment and desire to enter medicine. If you recycle your old essay that will definitely not be conveyed to adcoms and it will add to the perception that you really didn't change anything from the first cycle. Adcoms want to see that as a reapplicant you have made significant changes to your application. Using the same essay, no matter how good, will not convey that.
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Caveat about reusing old letters....Only reuse them if you are POSITIVE they are strong. If you have no idea then it may be in your best interest to get completely new ones.
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You don't necessarily need to add a new letter. I didn't when I applied my second time.
Personal statements should most definately be rewritten. If you've lived for 20 odd years and can't come up with enough material to construct an additional essay, you are BORING. Med classes are small. Why would the school want to add boring people to the mix?
Good luck w/ your second application. I know it sucks, but ya gotta do it.
Personal statements should most definately be rewritten. If you've lived for 20 odd years and can't come up with enough material to construct an additional essay, you are BORING. Med classes are small. Why would the school want to add boring people to the mix?
Good luck w/ your second application. I know it sucks, but ya gotta do it.
If I don't get accepted this cycle (and that's a small IF), I know for damn sure that it's because of my MCAT (I completely bombed it) and not any other aspect of my app. I actually got a sneak peek at my LORs and one of evaluators even sent me a copy of his LOR (despite knowing that I'm not allowed to see it) and they all sounded pretty strong. As for my PS, the reason I don't want to write another one is because the one I have is so good and I don't think I'll be able to match it in terms of meaningful content. It's like my writing abilities peaked with that single essay. And once you get to the top, there's nowhere to go but down, and that's what I'm afraid of.
UCLAman,
How sure are you that they pull your old app and make comparisons?
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I had a member of an adcom help me proof my personal statement before submitting to AMCAS this year. He was very emphatic about changing the opening paragraph of my personal statement; otherwise the committee would just dismiss it as the same one. He told me that they <b>would</b> compare them. You don't want the adcom to think that you're arrogant and believe you're beyond correction do you?
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I am positive. Why do you think the school usually asks on their secondary if you are a reapplicant or not? I have spoken with former voting adcom members at the schools I have visited and they all say that they will pull your previous applications to compare.
You don't have to take my word for it. Do you really want to take that chance though?
You don't have to change the content(ie u can use the same experiences if u choose) but I would not recommend using the same essay verbatim for the reasons I stated in my earlier post.
I also find it difficult to believe that you cannot improve your essay. There is ALWAYS room for improvement. Furthermore if you were to reapply you could use "reapplication" as an added strength; added perseverance and dedication to medicine.
People here are just trying to help you out with their 2 cents. If you are so sure that it is a "small if" that you won't get into medical school this cycle then you don't need to listen to the advice of the people here. And if you do end up reapplyingand you really don't want to change your essay and want to use the same LORs next year then by all means go for it at your own risk.
I guarantee you that if you end up reapplying your interviewers will want to know how you have improved as a candidate for the second cycle. I have been asked that question at every interview. I'll say it again...
YOU DO NOT WANT TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT YOU ARE THE SAME APPLICANT AS LAST YEAR.
They want to see changes; improvement. The essay is the BEST place to demonstrate that. But if you are so intent on reusing your old essay then I hope that you have some other ideas on how you are going to convey how you've changed. You may be able to state how you have improved during the interview...but keep in mind you have to get an interview first. These interview invites will be based on your primary essay and secondary essays. Reusing your old essays will not convey improvement or change to the powers that be. Why would they even invite you for an interview if they rejected you the first time and you come in presenting the same ish?
Ok...I've said my peace...not trying to rip you down...I just want to help. Bottom line...I hope you are able to convey change and improvement somewhere on your application.
