Should my personal statement discuss my intended speciality?

[NYCmedschoolapp]

My tutor who is currently at Columbia Medical doesn't think it should be mentioned in the statement, but my pre-medical advising committee say that I should definitely discuss it. Tie breaker?

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[slatermd]

My tutor who is currently at Columbia Medical doesn't think it should be mentioned in the statement, but my pre-medical advising committee say that I should definitely discuss it. Tie breaker?

Probably not, but what specialty?

 

[rhesuspieces]

If there's a certain specialty that is the basis for your pursuit of medicine, then by all means discuss it. However, medical schools might see you as a little naive and close-minded if you seem overly dedicated to a particular specialty. You have to understand that there is really no way of knowing what specialty you want to do until you've had direct experience (i.e. rotated through) several specialties.

So basically, you can mention a specialty as the reason for your initial interest in medicine, but don't act like that's the specialty you're ultimately going to match into.

 

[cpants]

Unless it's primary care in an underserved area I wouldn't bring it up. You don't really know what you want to do yet.

 

[Lokhtar]

Mine did (and it wasn't primary care), but because (as a non trad) it was a defining moment in me giving up my career and choosing to do medicine. So I honestly mentioned its influence and why it motivated me.

Youd on't want to say that you could ONLY see yourself doing that because frankly, you (and me) have no clue what else is out there. We don't have experience with every single residency and fellowship. But if it drew you to medicine, I think you should absolutely mention it.

 

[Tolip]

If you can talk about your reasoning, and related it to your drive to go to medical school, sure.
There's no pressing reason to mention it, though.

 

[Champaigne]

If there's a certain specialty that is the basis for your pursuit of medicine, then by all means discuss it. However, medical schools might see you as a little naive and close-minded if you seem overly dedicated to a particular specialty. You have to understand that there is really no way of knowing what specialty you want to do until you've had direct experience (i.e. rotated through) several specialties.

So basically, you can mention a specialty as the reason for your initial interest in medicine, but don't act like that's the specialty you're ultimately going to match into.

This 👍

 

[ILikeDrugs]

You might sound like a haughty bastard if you say, "I'm going into medicine because I need to become a world renowned neurodermopathosurgeon just like my daddy." Saying that you were more inclined to go into medicine after witnessing such and such by a *specialists* will/may not have the same effect.

 

[BiopsychStudent]

From this post I gather that its probably not a good idea to declare your intended specialty outright in a personal statement unless you have a very good. But what if it looks like you have an intended specialty on paper?

If a student hypothetically...
1) Did research in cancer biology on multiple projects.
2) Volunteered at a facility which specifically cares for cancer patients.
3) Shadows an oncologist (in addition to other specialties and primary care).


Will an admissions committee typically look upon that kind of experience in a negative light: in the same sense as declaring your intended specialty in a personal statement? Or will more focused EC's convey a passion for that field of medicine and patient population and be seen more positively?

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Unless it's primary care in an underserved area I wouldn't bring it up. You don't really know what you want to do yet.

This. Nice and short.

 

[slatermd]

From this post I gather that its probably not a good idea to declare your intended specialty outright in a personal statement unless you have a very good. But what if it looks like you have an intended specialty on paper?

If a student hypothetically...
1) Did research in cancer biology on multiple projects.
2) Volunteered at a facility which specifically cares for cancer patients.
3) Shadows an oncologist (in addition to other specialties and primary care).


Will an admissions committee typically look upon that kind of experience in a negative light: in the same sense as declaring your intended specialty in a personal statement? Or will more focused EC's convey a passion for that field of medicine and patient population and be seen more positively?

I listened to a webcast by an adcom at University of Washington/Seattle who said that it is not a bad thing to say that you want to specialize, as long as your extra-curricular activities are consistent with what you say.

I believe she was referring to answering an interview question about intended specialty, so I may still exercise moderation discussing it in the personal statement.

EDIT: Also, this was one person at one med school, and she is an orthopedic surgeon keep in mind that other adcoms may have different opinions.

 

[Torr]

+1 !!! For what Cpants said

Go into this with an open mind and expect that you will form a better opinion with more clinical exposure. The more set in stone your desire for the specialty is the more naive you look IMO.

 

[deleted357625]

No i wouldn't do it. Be broad and general, don't risk anything

 

[LizzyM]

In some cases, you just have to go out on a limb. However, you may also need to be prepared to eat crow if you end up hating that field and decide on something else.

I can see someone totally devoted to women's issues, involved in health education, advocacy, volunteering in clinics, etc stating "I want to be a OB-GYN because..." and that would not be a bad thing. Pediatrics, psychiatry, a few others might fit this paradigm.

I get a little nervous when someone says, "my grandpa died of lung cancer and so I want to be a cancer doctor to give people like my grandpa a chance at life". (there are many different specialists who treat cancer but that's the least of the problems with that topic sentence) or "I admire the the orthopedic surgeon who treated by torn ACL and this motivates me to become an orthopedic surgeon". (hero worship, anyone?)

 

[BiopsychStudent]

I listened to a webcast by an adcom at University of Washington/Seattle who said that it is not a bad thing to say that you want to specialize, as long as your extra-curricular activities are consistent with what you say.

I believe she was referring to answering an interview question about intended specialty, so I may still exercise moderation discussing it in the personal statement.

EDIT: Also, this was one person at one med school, and she is an orthopedic surgeon keep in mind that other adcoms may have different opinions.

More specifically, I wasn't asking so much of it was okay to say you want to specialize so much as... if you're EC's seem to suggest it (If your research and clinical work is focused around a certain patient population or field of medicine) is it just as bad as saying you want to specialize outright?

 

[LizzyM]

More specifically, I wasn't asking so much of it was okay to say you want to specialize so much as... if you're EC's seem to suggest it (If your research and clinical work is focused around a certain patient population or field of medicine) is it just as bad as saying you want to specialize outright?

Anyone who has been here long enough knows that some students change their minds with experience and exposure to other fields and that's ok. If you have done what you love and it all points in a specific direction, there's no harm in that.

 

[slatermd]

More specifically, I wasn't asking so much of it was okay to say you want to specialize so much as... if you're EC's seem to suggest it (If your research and clinical work is focused around a certain patient population or field of medicine) is it just as bad as saying you want to specialize outright?

Good question. The Dr./Adcom I mentioned said that this is not a bad thing, as long as you don't contradict yourself elsewhere in your application or during your interviews.

You just need to be consistent in reality with whatever it is you present on your application. In the hypothetical situation you mentioned with shadowing an oncologist and PCP/other specialties, it wouldn't hurt to state an interest in oncology and qualify by saying "I'm keeping an open mind."

For anyone who wanted to take a look at those "webinars" from U-Washington, they are available here:

http://uwmedicine.washington.edu/Ed...pplicants/Pages/AdvicefromAdmissionsDean.aspx

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

I disagree with a lot that has been said on here, in my case I 'm interested in a particular surgical specialty (wouldn't be hard to figure what with my avatar/EC's) and I feel if you've been exposed to multiple specialties through shadowing, done research in said area of interest and is a motivating factor to go into medicine....why would I not discuss it? I know the road is long and am more than open to change along the way, but I have an interest and I'm going to run with it because the experience I again will be beneficial regardless of the specialty I chose in the end.

 

[slatermd]

I disagree with a lot that has been said on here, in my case I 'm interested in a particular surgical specialty (wouldn't be hard to figure what with my avatar/EC's) and I feel if you've been exposed to multiple specialties through shadowing, done research in said area of interest and is a motivating factor to go into medicine....why would I not discuss it? I know the road is long and am more than open to change along the way, but I have an interest and I'm going to run with it because the experience I again will be beneficial regardless of the specialty I chose in the end.

There's actually plenty of support for this point of view in this thread.

I think it would be a bigger problem for your EC's to scream surgery and you to go into an interview and say, "I am very committed to being a PCP in an under-served area....I promise 😉"

 

[YouNeverKnow22]

There's actually plenty of support for this point of view in this thread.

I think it would be a bigger problem for your EC's to scream surgery and you to go into an interview and say, "I am very committed to being a PCP in an under-served area....I promise 😉"

yeah true, I think this issue is more of a case by case thing (EC's, research, LOR,etc.)

 

[Torr]

This thread bothers me. This is obviously not something we can advise about without knowing what the desired field is that you're going to be mentioning in your PS or knowing how much experience you've had in the area.

Write the PS, have as many EXPERIENCED people read it as possible (ie: doctors, 4th year med students, people who've served on adcoms).

I've read many many PS's and I think pre-meds (I'm one of em') are so desperate to make their reasons for entering medicine sound substantial and concrete that they believe taking a hard stance is sometimes necessary. Believe me, you can show conviction and passion for medicine without knowing exactly what field you want to enter yet!

You can play it safe and still have profound experiences and reasons to talk about. However, you can take a risk and have it mess up your chances.

 

[NYCmedschoolapp]

This thread bothers me. This is obviously not something we can advise about without knowing what the desired field is that you're going to be mentioning in your PS or knowing how much experience you've had in the area.

Write the PS, have as many EXPERIENCED people read it as possible (ie: doctors, 4th year med students, people who've served on adcoms).

I've read many many PS's and I think pre-meds (I'm one of em') are so desperate to make their reasons for entering medicine sound substantial and concrete that they believe taking a hard stance is sometimes necessary. Believe me, you can show conviction and passion for medicine without knowing exactly what field you want to enter yet!

You can play it safe and still have profound experiences and reasons to talk about. However, you can take a risk and have it mess up your chances.

I really have no idea how anything I said could qualify as "desperate to make their reasons for entering medicine sound substantial"

 

[NYCmedschoolapp]

For everyone else, thank you for the responses. I was referring to the fact that I am very interested in obstetrics. I've shadowed an Ob/Gyn for over 100 hours, my research involved obstetrics, I volunteered in a free clinic for pregnant women and I did three mission trips abroad, where I worked with expecting women and in labor and delivery. I am 100% open to exploring different fields of medicine and I am excited to do that in medical school. However, because my EC's were chosen based on what I was interested in, they are all related to women's health. Thus, my personal statement (which centers around my accomplishments and reasons that motivated me to apply to medical school) is about my penchant for Ob/Gyn. I never SAY that I want to be an Ob/Gyn, but just that my commitment to women's health was a significant motivating factor. Oh and my shadowing, clinic work and mission work have all been in disadvantaged areas, so the "theme" of my statement centered around women's health and work with the disadvantaged.

Now that you have a little more perspective, what do you all think? Should I try to cut out Ob/Gyn, or is it okay because it is just being spoken about in terms of my accomplishments?

 

[glasshalfMD]

For everyone else, thank you for the responses. I was referring to the fact that I am very interested in obstetrics. I've shadowed an Ob/Gyn for over 100 hours, my research involved obstetrics, I volunteered in a free clinic for pregnant women and I did three mission trips abroad, where I worked with expecting women and in labor and delivery. I am 100% open to exploring different fields of medicine and I am excited to do that in medical school. However, because my EC's were chosen based on what I was interested in, they are all related to women's health. Thus, my personal statement (which centers around my accomplishments and reasons that motivated me to apply to medical school) is about my penchant for Ob/Gyn. I never SAY that I want to be an Ob/Gyn, but just that my commitment to women's health was a significant motivating factor. Oh and my shadowing, clinic work and mission work have all been in disadvantaged areas, so the "theme" of my statement centered around women's health and work with the disadvantaged.

Now that you have a little more perspective, what do you all think? Should I try to cut out Ob/Gyn, or is it okay because it is just being spoken about in terms of my accomplishments?

I think given the well-rounded analysis of your interest in the field, it wouldn't be terribly out of place to say that your interest for the time being lies in Ob/Gyn. However, I think the bolded portion is important to highlight as well.

 

[jsh52]

I'm not, even though i'm pretty sure I want to do EM. Because that's subject to change in med school, I'm just keeping my mouth shut. Plus, they will probably ask at the interview.

 

[OneOfShempsKids]

I don't think there's any harm in mentioning that this is a speciality that has really peaked your interest but you are open-minded to other areas as well. I think it shows that you have a keen interest that has led you to research enough that you have found enough information about medicine in general.

 

[mauberley]

I don't think there's any harm in mentioning that this is a speciality that has really peaked your interest but you are open-minded to other areas as well. I think it shows that you have a keen interest that has led you to research enough that you have found enough information about medicine in general.

Just, please, if you do, OP, make sure you spell "pique" correctly. 😉

 

[NYCmedschoolapp]

I think given the well-rounded analysis of your interest in the field, it wouldn't be terribly out of place to say that your interest for the time being lies in Ob/Gyn. However, I think the bolded portion is important to highlight as well.

Thanks. I'm working on my statement right now and I'm not sure how to highlight the sentence you bolded. I'm finding it kind of awkward to go from "I did A, B and C related to women's health" to wrapping it up with "I'm open to explore other specialties." Any advice?

 

[Pons Asinorum]

Thanks. I'm working on my statement right now and I'm not sure how to highlight the sentence you bolded. I'm finding it kind of awkward to go from "I did A, B and C related to women's health" to wrapping it up with "I'm open to explore other specialties." Any advice?

"My work in women's health opened my eyes to the way transformative, expert health care, in any specialty, can positively impact every aspect of a patient's life."

Or something better, and less banal. Just use OB/Gyn as the springboard into the ways medicine can affect, and how you see your future roll in that transformation.

 

[LizzyM]

I think that women's health is one place where it seems very natural to say, "I've been active in this area and I'm interested in pursuing this as a career". Of course, you could get in, find that you hate some aspect of it and switch to another field and no one will fault you.

The same goes for people who feel that they are most interested in serving an underserved population (non-English speaking, urban poor, rural area, LGBT, etc). If you have worked extensively with such a population, your expressed interest in providing care to that group or in that setting will seem credible and well thought out.

I find no harm in having someone say, "I want long term relationships with patients and to collaborate with them in their care." That could be anything from primary care to specialty care for chronic disease like diabetes or AIDS. It is also reasonable to say that you like working with your hands and can see yourself in a surgical specialty or as an interventionist without being specific.

As I said earlier, it shouldn't be hero worship or based on exposure to one specialty due to a personal or family illness.

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

It is also reasonable to say that you like working with your hands and can see yourself in a surgical specialty or as an interventionist without being specific.

As I said earlier, it shouldn't be hero worship or based on exposure to one specialty due to a personal or family illness.

This definitely describes me, and I was actually wondering if I should say this. I didn't want them thinking I was being naive. Thanks! 🙂

What did you mean by this? For example, my grandfather had a neurodegenerative disease, and that contributed to me being interested in psychology. I ended up majoring in neuroscience instead, and I shadowed a neurologist for a long time. I don't see an issue with saying that this area of medicine/science is what got me interested in medical school... 😕. This is not to say I'm only considering neurology, but it interests me and did contribute to my academic path.
Sorry for the:

 

[StudyShy]

Yeah, I guess there are really two camps. I have been in health care now for a decade. Though, not as a doctor, I've spent my youth working in the hospital in different settings. As such, I definitely feel that I have a small degree of insight into what I'm getting myself into when talking about different specialties. I know that I don't like XYZ but like ZZ just from working in different settings with different people. For instance, I don't think that I would like EM. I'm sick of the ER.

I fall into the category of "my personal illness has changed my view of patient care and I want to BE the specialist who manages the same illness that I had." It's difficult to be vague, but at the same time, to be focused. I'm finding the balance to be challenging when I have to explain why I'm switching camps from nurse to doctor.

 

[surftheiop]

The fact that I as an engineer (cue thoughts of rads/ortho), discussed an interest in pediatrics and psychiatry in my personal statement made for great interview material and my explanations got a lot of nods out of interviewers.

 

[Freigeist]

My whole personal statement is about neuro. It starts with reading neurophilosophy in high school, builds up with my developmental neurobiology research, continues with experiences shadowing a neurologist, and ends with the hope to do clinical research in neuro patients with no current cure. And I didn't even mention my family members with neurodegenerative disorders. Honestly, I love the brain and if for some terrible reason I didn't get into med school I would fall back on something else neuro-related. A lot of people have been against being so specialized already but I have some experiences to back up my conviction.

Plus, this would include neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry.

With all this in mind, what is your opinion on taking this approach?

P.S. I would love if anyone would read + critique my personal statement, but would send it in a PM or email