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hi, i was going to post this on the other thread about personal statements that smooth operator opened, but i thought only people interested in reading his/her PS would look there. but here's what i was interested in asking...
do you think, for dental schools at least, that it's taking too much of a risk to submit a personal statement that may come off as "philosophical" in some way? i asked one of my professors to read it over and he said that the opening of my statement, where i attempt to relate that my decision to choose dentistry wasn't arrived at without some difficulty, sounded too "philosophical".
he said he always encourages his students to stick to facts and evidence (like describing your ec's, leadership, teamwork, etc). but i didn't want my PS to read like a cover letter for a job, so i tried to balance objective descriptions of my ec's and dental experiences with a narrative of how i came to choose dentistry, from my own subjective, personal perspective.
anyhow, i guess my professor felt i should have stuck strictly to objective descriptions of why im a good applicant. i found that kinda funny, because he mostly advises med school applicants and id imagine that premed personal statements would have an even wider latitude of styles. i can't imagine that the majority of premed personal statements stick to facts and evidence, like my professor says he advises his students to do.
but maybe it's quite different for dental admissions. perhaps dental adcoms like more "practical" and "tangible" personal statements, since that's the nature of the profession's work. well, i hope they allow some room for some creative and subjective writing, since artistry and aesthetic sensibility also has a growing place in the profession.
despite all this, i think i'll submit my PS just as it is. i think ive achieved a good balance, though if there are any individuals sitting on an admissions committee with a similar personality as my professor, i guess my statement will come off as too "philosphical". but i'll take that risk.
anyone else feel like they're taking a risk, great or small, with their personal statements this year? or maybe someone has in the past, but were successful in the end?
do you think, for dental schools at least, that it's taking too much of a risk to submit a personal statement that may come off as "philosophical" in some way? i asked one of my professors to read it over and he said that the opening of my statement, where i attempt to relate that my decision to choose dentistry wasn't arrived at without some difficulty, sounded too "philosophical".
he said he always encourages his students to stick to facts and evidence (like describing your ec's, leadership, teamwork, etc). but i didn't want my PS to read like a cover letter for a job, so i tried to balance objective descriptions of my ec's and dental experiences with a narrative of how i came to choose dentistry, from my own subjective, personal perspective.
anyhow, i guess my professor felt i should have stuck strictly to objective descriptions of why im a good applicant. i found that kinda funny, because he mostly advises med school applicants and id imagine that premed personal statements would have an even wider latitude of styles. i can't imagine that the majority of premed personal statements stick to facts and evidence, like my professor says he advises his students to do.
but maybe it's quite different for dental admissions. perhaps dental adcoms like more "practical" and "tangible" personal statements, since that's the nature of the profession's work. well, i hope they allow some room for some creative and subjective writing, since artistry and aesthetic sensibility also has a growing place in the profession.
despite all this, i think i'll submit my PS just as it is. i think ive achieved a good balance, though if there are any individuals sitting on an admissions committee with a similar personality as my professor, i guess my statement will come off as too "philosphical". but i'll take that risk.
anyone else feel like they're taking a risk, great or small, with their personal statements this year? or maybe someone has in the past, but were successful in the end?
