Recycling Your Own Personal Statement???

[az_drugdlr]

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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!

 

[dragonfly99]

Doubt that reusing the PS would hurt him, if it's still relevant. I would have a premed advisor from his university, plus others familiar with the application process, reread it to make sure they agree it is stellar. He is likely right about it not getting read the first time around.
MCAT = critical to successful med school application. The admission committees just don't know what a 3.9 GPA means from one school vs. another, and there are a lot of applicants floating around with 3.7-3.8 range GPAs.

I took Princeton Review and it helped my MCAT score quite a bit. You have to commit yourself to the class, though, doing all the homework and practice tests.

 

[Mobius1985]

Your friend is probably correct that they didn't read his PS in the last cycle, but some schools do keep old applications. If they compare, to see what's new and improved, it's probably best that there are some differences between the two essays. I am a proponent of tweaking and updating the second PS, but others on SDN feel it should be completely rewritten.