Reapplicant PS

[jt1106]

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Hi, I'm new the the forum but I've been reading the threads for quite a while now...
I'm reapplying this summer (filling out the application at the moment actually) since I didn't get in when I applied two years ago for entrance in 2008.
Last time: I applied really late in September because I thought it would be better to wait until summer was done and I could write about my summer activities in the app, but because the MCAT scores I got that summer were very low (27N), I was at a major disadvantage.

I am retaking the MCAT July 2nd, and should do much better this time since I am better prepared and not already stressed with an intense junior year behind me, as I was last time. That being said, I am pretty confident with my EC on the application, I've got some minimal research but good clinical and good volunteer work in both medical and non-medical arenas, and my GPAs are in the 3.6 range. The problem I am having is how to rewrite my personal statement.

The one I wrote last time was admittedly not very good since it was rushed wordy, peppered with my attempt at humour. The ideas I have for writing a new one have made my attempts thus far very different from the 2008 one, but two of my friends (reapplicants last year entering this fall) said that it wasn't very good...pretty generic, needing to be spiced up and draw the readers' attentions more.

Can anyone offer any words of wisdom on how to get started on a new draft?

I was going to touch on not being accepted my first time applying and what opportunities that gave me, is this a good idea?
Should I put a lot of focus on what I did this year and what I will probably do next year while I am in the application process?
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More than just all that, I guess I don't know how to be eloquent in describing WHY I want to be a doctor... the ideas and motives are all in my head, but I can't seem to find a way to say it without sounding cliche and unoriginal.

I'd really appreciate any help...
Thanks 🙂

 

[Krisss17]

First, has the reason for your pursuing medicine changed? I mean, one of the biggest reason for the PS is to share your reason why you want to be a doctor with the admission committee. I would think that had you written a good PS initially, you wouldn't really have to change your PS all that much. Also, you don't want to sound apologetic in your PS.

Second, as you mentioned,don't rush the writing. You really need to express why you want to go into medicine...what drew you to applying to medical school, what will you bring to the table, if there was a specific event that influenced you more than others, talk about that. Then once you read it, give it to a lot of different people to read...

I know that when I originally wrote mine (and I'm not applying until 2010 for 2011), I thought it was fine...boy was I off base. But I got a lot of good pointers, and I did a lot of re-edits to get it to read smoothly. I'm pretty satisfied with it, I'm just hoping that it will open the door wide enough to get a secondary and interview invite.

Best of luck!