Someone else asked a question like that on here...but I don't know where the tread is.
Well, I went and talked to a few of the AdCom people from schools where I got rejected. The basic message I got from all of them is they will NOT go back and look at last year's essay if you are a reapplicant. However, since they KNOW you are a second- (or third-) time applicant, they kind of expect to see something in the personal statement which indicates your ongoing passion for medicine.
As for me, I kept most of my previous personal statement. However, I added an experience that I had this year with a patient (in March). I also took out another part so that it could all fit. At any rate, it's mostly the same but there's fresh information in there, so AdCom at least knows even though I was rejected I kept my interest in medicine going.
If you really want to rewrite the whole thing, go ahead. But if you think last years was good, keep it and add some minor stuff.
Good luck!
