Regular MD app PS says that laboratory work "isn't ideal for me"; is this okay?

[EthylMethylMan]

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The main theme of my PS is a story of how I used my Spanish to interpret for a trauma patient when no other interpreters were immediately available. I prefaced the narrative by saying that I started out as a regular biology major with plans to go to graduate school eventually, but then said that the above-mentioned trauma patient's case was the real pivotal moment that made me want to pursue medicine. I said, "While I enjoy laboratory work, I realized that it's not the ideal career choice for me." Should I reword it to not imply that I wouldn't want anything to do with laboratory work? Would something like that turn regular MD programs off to me? I'm not applying MD/PhD anywhere, but I don't want to shoot myself in the foot with this.

 

[Johansef]

I think the important part is to not come off as cocky or entitled in your PS by saying anything negative at all and being very respectful. As long as you exhibit humility, reflection, and understanding then I am sure saying that your work in research helped you understand that a career consisting laboratory work wasn't for you is perfectly fine. I don't think that will turn off regular MD programs. It's not like most doctors are pathologists right? Just my 2 cents.

 

[cubssox2000]

Is that line really necessary for your PS? It seems like it is an outlier from the story and doesn't contribute to why you want to go into medicine beyond what your personal experience. If it doesn't make you look good, take it out. Leave no questions.

 

[IncognitoGuy]

Is that line really necessary for your PS? It seems like it is an outlier from the story and doesn't contribute to why you want to go into medicine beyond what your personal experience. If it doesn't make you look good, take it out. Leave no questions.

Agreed here. It seems like your statement would be implied based on the path it seems your PS is taking. No need to draw attention to it if it makes you feel uncomfortable about it.

 

[ericksonj15]

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[thesauce]

My approach for these kinds of essays has been to be positive in my wording. No one wants to hear "I did this because I didn't want to do that." Instead, you might try something like "I enjoyed a lot of things and this is what I liked best."

 

[survivordo]

Always, always stay positive. Just say something like "after being involved in this case I re-oriented my career goals toward medicine" simple as pie...

Survivor DO

 

[Mountaineer12]

OP, I had something similar in my PS because I wanted to highlight how I had looked into a few different career options, but through experience realized they weren't for me and that medicine was my true passion. If you want to keep the line, add a sentence explaining what medicine gives you that research doesn't. Maybe something like "While I enjoy laboratory work, I do not believe it is the ideal career choice for me because I realized how important directly interacting with and helping people is to me. I feel that the best way I can achieve these goals is through a career in medicine." That's very rough and I have no idea if it's true for you, but maybe you get the idea.

 

[LizzyM]

This sentiment (I did lab work, I was exposed to medicine, and I think I would prefer medicine as a career) is present in at least 10% of the applications I read (mostly high scoring applicants to a research oriented medical school).

It will not be seen as a negative.... although it may be a bit vanilla. I'm just speaking as someone who sees a few hundred essays each year.

 

[Narmerguy]

I always tend to focus more on what I do want to do, and not telling people what I don't want to do.

 

[LizzyM]

I always tend to focus more on what I do want to do, and not telling people what I don't want to do.

But it is also legit to describe what other careers you have considered and why medicine came out on top.... A decision not based on a reflection of one's options may be considered less strong.

 

[thesauce]

But it is also legit to describe what other careers you have considered and why medicine came out on top.... A decision not based on a reflection of one's options may be considered less strong.

Right, but I think his point is to use positive wording: i.e. "I enjoyed X, Y, and Z and this is what I liked best" as opposed to "I'm applying to medical school because I didn't like X, Y, and Z."

 

[LizzyM]

Right, but I think his point is to use positive wording: i.e. "I enjoyed X, Y, and Z and this is what I liked best" as opposed to "I'm applying to medical school because I didn't like X, Y, and Z."

I'd go further to say, "...this is what I liked best because unlike X, it gave me an opportunity to ___."

I don't think it is bad-mouthing research science to say that it isn't a career where you can make a connection to the sick and attempt to assist them personally, one-on-one, but it makes it clear that you value that aspect of a career and went looking for a career that was a good fit with your goals.