Recycling Your Own Personal Statement???

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What do you think about recycling a personal statement? My friend wrote an amazing personal statement last year and doesn't think he can create anything from scratch that could meet or beat last year's. His GPA is exceptional (3.9+), and he was probably rejected based on a lower than desirable MCAT score. He would like to just update his personal statement to reflect the previous year, but is worried that schools might recognize it and reject him. However, he feels that many schools may not have read his PS at all and just rejected his application based on numbers... Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[chessknt]

What do you think about recycling a personal statement? My friend wrote an amazing personal statement last year and doesn't think he can create anything from scratch that could meet or beat last year's. His GPA is exceptional (3.9+), and he was probably rejected based on a lower than desirable MCAT score. He would like to just update his personal statement to reflect the previous year, but is worried that schools might recognize it and reject him. However, he feels that many schools may not have read his PS at all and just rejected his application based on numbers... Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Err... What was his MCAT/did he improve it? What makes him think it will get read this time around?

 

[Livingapparatus]

What do you think about recycling a personal statement? My friend wrote an amazing personal statement last year and doesn't think he can create anything from scratch that could meet or beat last year's. His GPA is exceptional (3.9+), and he was probably rejected based on a lower than desirable MCAT score. He would like to just update his personal statement to reflect the previous year, but is worried that schools might recognize it and reject him. However, he feels that many schools may not have read his PS at all and just rejected his application based on numbers... Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I dont think they will remember him.

 

[njbmd]

If this person is applying to the same schools as last year, they will put the applications side by side and compare them. His application didn't work last year and thus, he needs to change everything that he can change for this year. If this person has a uGPA of 3.9, I am sure that he is creative enough to write another personal statement. If not, he has more than the MCAT to worry about.

When I see "recycled" personal statements, I think "lazy" and "not very motivated". This is an expensive process with plenty of uncertainty and plenty of competition. Why take a change with any part of the application?

 

[186321]

I used a recycled PS this year. It hindsight it was a stupid move, but at the time I never though they would compare my old app to my new one. I ended up getting in and my repeated PS was never mentioned in any of my interviews. But who knows... Best thing to do is at least modify it.

 

[Myuu]

If this person is applying to the same schools as last year, they will put the applications side by side and compare them. His application didn't work last year and thus, he needs to change everything that he can change for this year. If this person has a uGPA of 3.9, I am sure that he is creative enough to write another personal statement. If not, he has more than the MCAT to worry about.

When I see "recycled" personal statements, I think "lazy" and "not very motivated". This is an expensive process with plenty of uncertainty and plenty of competition. Why take a change with any part of the application?

Don't mind me, but can you define "recycled" for us?

 

[mbe36]

+1 Do you mean using the SAME EXACT PS or revising the original?

 

[FullTiltMD]

if you think your personal statement from the previous year is good and says everything you wanted to say in a personal statement, then there is no reason to change it. improve the things that may have been weaknesses and if possible, just edit the ps to maybe show your improvements in the last year. but just because you did not get in the first time, that does not mean the ps needs to be redone.