should the PS be all-encompassing?

[cyanide]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Or in other words, should the PS tie in all the major EC's I did or mentioned in my work/activities section?
I'm still working on my PS, but as of now I think I'm mostly going to draw from my shadowing experiences. I'm concerned because I am not bringing up my research experiences at all, and research did influence my decision to become a physician somewhat, just not as much as shadowing did.
I think my PS would be much more cohesive if I only focused on shadowing instead of trying to cram in things about research and club activities and make it become more like a resume, but is it a bad idea to neglect these things?

 

[Practitioner]

My personal opinion is that you should keep it focused.

Mention research in the activities section.

 

[wickl087]

From what I've heard you should try and focus on your most valuable experience and try and get a LOR to back up that experience.

 

[heyyouyouyou]

I read a book about this once, called "Essays that will get you into Medical
School"

http://www.amazon.com/Essays-That-Me.../dp/0764106112

There were many different types of styles of essays. However, most were the type that you spoke-of (i.e., a sort of standard, hodgepodge of stuff, encompasing everything you've done).

However, after each essay, there were comments by the respective writer.

Most said something like...

... I wrote my essay to show ... However, my MCAT was very high, so I felt very confident about getting into School X....


So, after reading the book, I felt that the MCAT was the true reason why they got into medical school, and the PS was supplementary.

That said, as long as your PS is readable, and shows some spark of creativity, you should be fine...

 

[SweetRain]

Your PS should portray who you are and what your philosophy is for wanting to go into medicine. Don't list everything you've done, but write something that has a unifying theme that is supported by your ECs.
Your ECs are already listed in your application and research, volunteer work etc, are the things that everyone else did. If you feel like you truly got something from it, bring it up in your PS by all means. If it's something that you did for your resume or you just enjoyed doing it, it would be better for you to not mention it.

 

[OhioDoc]

Or in other words, should the PS tie in all the major EC's I did or mentioned in my work/activities section?
I'm still working on my PS, but as of now I think I'm mostly going to draw from my shadowing experiences. I'm concerned because I am not bringing up my research experiences at all, and research did influence my decision to become a physician somewhat, just not as much as shadowing did.
I think my PS would be much more cohesive if I only focused on shadowing instead of trying to cram in things about research and club activities and make it become more like a resume, but is it a bad idea to neglect these things?

With 5300 characters, it's impossible for the personal statement to be all-encompassing. That being said, I would address the topics (in your case, shadowing) that you felt were most significant in the development of your motivation to become a physician. I also had extensive research experience which, due to the mandated brevity of the PS, I did not mention because I felt they were less important. In fact, most of my interviewers didn't even ask me about my research/why I didn't talk about it in my PS.

 

[jm192]

One of my biggest problems with it at first was I was under impression that I was supposed to talk about everything. But if you list it in the Activities they can already see that. This isn't a resume'.

This is so they can get a sense of you as a person. They want to see your human/emotional side.

If you sit there and say I volunteered here here and here, I researched under these professors---that's great, but you're just repeating what you've already told them. Maximize your application. Tell them stuff they don't know.

I shared 2 shadowing experiences, and talked about how they affected me and influenced me to pursue a medical education.

 

[NotAsking4Much]

It definitely should not be. Highlight why med school is for you because of reasons that go beyond your activities but certainly can be supported by them. Also remember...the majority of schools have secondaries, and a good portion of them have that "diversity / why are you special" question. Consider that your "2nd" PS.