I've had the unpleasure of having a drug addict for a brother who was extremely successful in hiding his addiction and stealing money. Because of this I was forced to transfer to a smaller (cheaper) school after my freshman year to gain additional scholarships and increase working hours since my brother stole a tremendous amount of money from my parents and myself. Over the past three years I have been required to work 35+ hours a week in order to ensure the household keeps going and fully support myself. My fear is that I have not completed the amount of volunteer and health related work as many other applicants and will be rejected before given a chance to explain. I worked in a hospital with close patient and physician contact for four months, but left that job to increase my hours. I've worked mostly at a micro prep lab at school and a local construction crew due to the flexible schedule. Do you think I should include this kind of detail in my PS or hold off on it. I don't want the fact that my brother is an addict to hurt my chances of acceptance. I've made a 3.7 overall and science and a 29 (9,10,10). Sorry this is so long, but I'm really not sure what to do.
Serious question about my PS/Experience
- Thread starter jspier1
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I have heard that the PS is a place for a chronicling of why you want to go into medicine, and that it is not a place you should bring in negatives such as (I don't want to say this, but for lack of a better word) excuses~
Your situation is difficult, and a valid reason for hardship.
But I would try and keep the PS a place for positive appeal. More of a place for "why I want to be a doctor," instead of "why my application is not as good as it could have been."
Your situation is difficult, and a valid reason for hardship.
But I would try and keep the PS a place for positive appeal. More of a place for "why I want to be a doctor," instead of "why my application is not as good as it could have been."
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You can bring it up under the "hardships" section. Try to focus on the positive on your personal statement.
If you do decide to bring it up, do so very briefly, and highlight your success despite being in this situation.
If you do decide to bring it up, do so very briefly, and highlight your success despite being in this situation.
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Agree with the above posters. A lot of secondaries will have a section for additional comments, and some might even have a whole essay question about overcoming adversity. Rather than repeating info about your brother in both your PS and secondaries, use the PS to focus on your motivations for medicine.
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The experience section gives an opportunity to list your jobs & the hours per week. Adcoms do take those hours into account when considering everything else.
In the primary or in a secondary about overcoming adversity, dealing with a difficult situation, etc. you could state that your family was the victim of a crime that resulted in the loss of a large sum of money that could not be recovered. This necessitating you changing schools and going to work. No need to go into details about the crime or drugs. The material fact is that your family had money, lost money and your financial circumstances changed.
In the primary or in a secondary about overcoming adversity, dealing with a difficult situation, etc. you could state that your family was the victim of a crime that resulted in the loss of a large sum of money that could not be recovered. This necessitating you changing schools and going to work. No need to go into details about the crime or drugs. The material fact is that your family had money, lost money and your financial circumstances changed.
