Struggling to determine personal statement topic (no exciting event + major change)

[agirlwithdrdreams]

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[stickgirl390]

Hey, found your original thread so I figured we’d continue the convo here.

why don’t you start by writing about your medical mission trip, and go from there? Write about some specific things you got to do, what you learned and how you think that will make you be a better doctor.

my advice is to not mention any internet searches or “day in the life” videos, as those are very unrealistic as to what being a physician day to day is actually like.

And don’t feel bad about being “greedy”, you can write about what excites you about medicine without it having to be awe inspiring and full of meaning. You can just say “studying the immune system was super cool, I really enjoyed it and want to learn more”

 

[stickgirl390]

Replying to your post in the other thread:

you say that nothing major or exciting has happened during your clinical experience, so you don’t know what to write about.

THAT is what you write about. Nothing dramatic had to happen and you’re still interested in medicine. Why? What is it? What kept you hooked must have had meaning otherwise you would have been bored and quit.

 

[wysdoc]

Also go read the posts that are "stickies" on the main premed forum, lots of pithy advice.

To Premeds: General Advice on Personal Statements

Okay, so I’m exhausted as heck but had a chance to go through about 10 personal statements recently, and I can say that here are some common issues that we see in essays (as I’ve talked to peers, other admissions members, and the like): 1) Numero Uno: On SDN: If a reader says they are UNABLE...

forums.studentdoctor.net

 

[LunaOri]

You pretty much outlined your PS in your post above. Don't feel that there had to be a single event that led to your decision. Write about your personal journey to medicine, as you did above.

 

[deleted1032897]

Coming from someone who did not consider medicine until halfway through college, I think the anti- "I've wanted to be a doctor since I was 5" angle can actually benefit you. You don't need a dramatic one-off event to rally behind for sure. In fact, I think unless those experiences are GENUINELY very reflective and life-shaping, it comes off contrived and makes adcom want to do an eye-roll. Your days as a physician are (mostly) not going to be Grey's Anatomy reenactment-esque scenes of rescue, bravery, and life-saving. Anyone reading your PS will know that. I framed my PS around the chronological experiences and subsequent reflections that led me to know that the mundane, everyday, unassuming responsibility of a physician was what I found the most satisfaction in. That those often-overlooked interactions were actually where I could enact the most service and change. The anti- grandiose dreamer, realist angle worked quite well for me so I would say don't shy away from it if that's who you are. It shows you can be trusted to know what you're really getting into and still want to do it.

 

[GoPenguinsGo]

Its actually quite simple: WHY do you want to go to medical school?

 

[Talldoctor96]

In my personal statement, I spoke about 3 or 4 major moments that impacted why I wanted to be a doctor. It is incorrect thinking that you need to focus on one.

 

[Orangekiwi]

In my personal statement, I spoke about 3 or 4 major moments that impacted why I wanted to be a doctor. It is incorrect thinking that you need to focus on one.

To build on this, I would recommend that you not focus on just just one moment. Try to bring in at least three anecdotes that when combined, show a clear reasoning for why you want to be a doctor and not do something else. So think about what aspects of medicine appeal to you- maybe it’s the ability to think scientifically, making a concrete, positive impact on people’s lives, and being able to take a leadership position in a team setting. In this case, you’d want three stories from your path to medicine that showed how you came to each of these conclusions as a draw for you to medicine. Maybe you’d start with a time you made a small impact on someone while volunteering, and being able to make a bigger impact on more people as a doctor appeals to you. Then talk about time you’ve spent doing research and how you like thinking scientifically and solving problems, you felt that the positive impact you were making was a little too abstract for your taste. Then a story from a leadership experience that showed you what it takes to be a good leader and, more importantly a team player when solving problems. Bonus points if the experience required you to recognize your own lack of knowledge or shortcomings and seek outside help. Sometimes being a leader means recognizing when to take a step back too, and there’s a lot of value in that. Do you see how with those three stories you would not only allow the person reading your personal statement to get a sense of who you are and what kinds of things you’ve done, but also answer the question of why you want to be a doctor with examples proving you’ve considered other options and that you want to work with a set of skills that would be very difficult to combine in any other profession? Don’t try to reinvent the wheel here- every good reason that there is for wanting to be a doctor, ADCOMs have heard before. Its not about having unique reasons or one “aha” moment that led you to medicine. Its about showing you have reflected on the question “why do I want to be a doctor” for long enough and deep enough to show maturity and that you know what you’re getting into.

 

[deleted889094]

I think most people's interest in medicine is a slow burn rather than a firework. That's totally normal and way less likely to seem naive and overly idealistic.

Here's what helped me a lot when I wrote mine: Not Another Crayon in the Box: Writing a Successful Personal Statement for Medical School Part 1