Specific content Personal Statement Question

[radshopeful5]

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So, I have my personal statement finished and all ready to go for tomorrow but as I read through it for the 100th time, I'm wondering if an analogy I use might come across in a negative fashion. Basically I have written many computer programs as a hobby since I was a teenager and I used the analogy of quickly going through many lines of code looking for a a single error equivalent to looking through a chest CT doing the same thing and how it has helped hone my skills of picking up subtle defects/errors. Does this send a bad message to PDs and would they even think this relates at all to radiology? It takes up around 3 sentences of my PS.

 

[tco]

So, I have my personal statement finished and all ready to go for tomorrow but as I read through it for the 100th time, I'm wondering if an analogy I use might come across in a negative fashion. Basically I have written many computer programs as a hobby since I was a teenager and I used the analogy of quickly going through many lines of code looking for a a single error equivalent to looking through a chest CT doing the same thing and how it has helped hone my skills of picking up subtle defects/errors. Does this send a bad message to PDs and would they even think this relates at all to radiology? It takes up around 3 sentences of my PS.

I think it's okay as long as you can pull it all together and have it make sense with your entire personal statement. If it's a random line about why this is going to make you a good radiology resident, I think it's of out of place. It wouldn't be detrimental, but the reader might just think, "Hmmm...Okay?"

 

[bjb305]

I would relate it more to why you want to do radiology, not that you will be good at it. Reading code does not mean you will be a good radiologist. But reading code may mean you like reading chest cts which sounds better I think. Let's put it this way, everyone reading your ps is a radiologist and they know what makes a good radiologist. I'm sure they would rather hear you tell them about your passion for radiology instead of that you think you are going to be a great one. Does that make sense? By implying that you think you are good can possibly come off as arrogance to some people

 

[radshopeful5]

Awesome! I will make those changes accordingly. Thank you both!

 

[bjb305]

You're welcome! Good luck this season!

 

[tco]

I would relate it more to why you want to do radiology, not that you will be good at it. Reading code does not mean you will be a good radiologist. But reading code may mean you like reading chest cts which sounds better I think. Let's put it this way, everyone reading your ps is a radiologist and they know what makes a good radiologist. I'm sure they would rather hear you tell them about your passion for radiology instead of that you think you are going to be a great one. Does that make sense? By implying that you think you are good can possibly come off as arrogance to some people

Yeah...This is good advice.

Maybe say, "I love to do boring s*** like hunt through hundreds of lines of code for an error, so you know I'll be looking for those 3mmx3mm lung nodules." 🙂

Just kidding, obviously.

I did a year in pathology between my second and third year of medical school. To tie it all together and make it seem relevant, I spun my PS to the tune of, "I love all things medicine, and just enjoy learning," and, "I have some experience with detail-oriented indirect patient care." It's all about how you spin your experiences.