Stupid Personal Statement Idea?

[xStormWarningx]

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So I have an idea for a personal statement and wanted to know whether it might work or not. I've been lurking for a couple days, reading other's personal statements to get an idea of what people were writing and it kind of inspired me to write a personal narrative style.

However, one of the landmark experiences that defines me as a person did not occur in a veterinary setting. When I was 19, I worked on a cattle ranch and assisted in breaking 2 and 3 year old horses for the ranch. I was somewhat novice to this process and on one occasion a colt was particularly difficult, bucked me off and I nearly broke my neck. Ended up with a broken cheekbone, severely abraded face and a black eye for three weeks. But, the day workman's comp cleared me to go back to work, I was there and back at it again. I'd then go into how I'd found my interest in veterinary medicine but extremely late in my college career and how this determination helped me to succeed.

But is it irrelevant? D: I am so stuck on this personal statement, it's such a psych out more than anything. Of course, I will not write in that style for the essay, it was just to convey my concepts in general. If you could give me your general impressions, it would be great!

 

[twelvetigers]

Someone who has done admissions before told me that her favorite personal statement that she'd ever read was about how a person felt when they were riding their horse. As long as it's memorable and you DO mention the vet thing eventually, it's great to start off with an experience or line of thought that will truly set you apart (in a good way).

 

[xStormWarningx]

Thanks! For some reason that puts me more at ease with the topic, it's really the only idea I've had that I've felt passionate about so far.

 

[JustCats]

It's apparently not irrelevant to you and it sounds interesting.

But is it irrelevant? D: I am so stuck on this personal statement, it's such a psych out more than anything. Of course, I will not write in that style for the essay, it was just to convey my concepts in general. If you could give me your general impressions, it would be great!

 

[InanOven]

From what I've heard in my years of over-analyzing and stressing over the subject is that poignant personal experiences like that make great statement starters, and can really solidify you interest and passion in your statement. Keep in mind though, you do need to be able to do it well in the space of a small paragraph because you have a limited word count on these things and you also have to address why you deserve to be one of the finite amount of students each school admits (good narrative writer not qualifying skill)
-what experiences make you qualified
-that you will be successful in the program
-what you will do with your degree that will better animal welfare, animal-human interaction, the profession, public health, food safety etc. (whichever apply)

I have a friend who did a full narrative first time around and didn't get in and later realized how ridiculous his statement was. You do want to make it interesting for the reader but there is also a certain amount of info they need to get out if it in order to legitimately consider you as an applicant.

 

[HandD42]

Yeah, you have a got bucked off = broken bones story too (I broke my back after getting bucked off my mare). Live and learn. Didn't slow me down much either. In fact my experience propelled me into applying for vet school too. Nothing brings your life into sharper focus then a potentially life-changing injury.

I did have a version of my PS where I talked in depth about that experience and what I learned from it. I ended up scraping it in favor of a PS that focuses more on my research background, but then I am applying for a DVM/PhD programs so I think that makes more sense for me.

Not much advice here I guess since I am only an applicant and don't know what adcom comittees look for. Just had to share that I've felt your pain (literally and figuratively)

 

[shelterURIgirl]

I think this is a great starter. You do not have to be working with a vet or holding a dying pet in your arms as a child to have a revelation that you want to be a vet. I think working with horses at age 19 clearly demonstrates that you've always been drawn to a career working with animals. And since having your face smashed in by a young colt did nothing to deter you away from such a career...well, that's something many of us call destiny. 🙂

I would be careful, though, to not give to many details. Limit your opener to just a few sentences, something like below. Hopefully between all of us SDNers we can help you get started!!

"I've always been drawn to a career working with animals. When I was 19, I worked on a cattle ranch and assisted in breaking young horses for the ranch. On one occasion a colt bucked me off and I ended up with a broken cheekbone, severely abraded face and a black eye for three weeks. However, the day workman's comp cleared me to go back to work, I was there and back at it again. It was a defining moment for me, one that would stay with me and I began my pursuit of a career in veterinary medicine..."

 

[shelterURIgirl]

Oh, and can I just say that I also have been bucked off and injured by my horse, and I was unable to walk/ride again for weeks. Getting seriously injured changed everything. Still, to this day, I struggle with shaky confidence when riding and I did lose the desire to become an equine vet. My hat goes off to you xStormWarningx and anyone else who has been through a serious injury. If you speak to anyone who was equine and changed paths, its usually stems from an injury like the one you suffered. So I definitely think your story is both relevant and special. Good luck!

 

[spikey]

I think its a great idea to incorporate into a personal statement! The more interesting and individual and memorable the statement is, the better. Mine was about how I really didn't want to be a vet - not the typical story you hear from applicants! 🙂

 

[xStormWarningx]

Hey everyone, thanks for the amazing advice. It's really comforting to know I'm not totally off base!

Shelter and Hand: A good wreck is really scary, but it might have helped that several of my coworkers had gotten beaten around during the summer and it was kind of like joining the club. 🙂 I just tell people now that "I bounce well". As for deterring me from becoming an equine vet, the only misgivings about horses I have are actually not even from that wreck, it was from being kick while putting shoes on a horse. I still hate back feet, but I deal. 🙂 Glad to see some fellow equestrians out there!

 

[HandD42]

Hey everyone, thanks for the amazing advice. It's really comforting to know I'm not totally off base!

Shelter and Hand: A good wreck is really scary, but it might have helped that several of my coworkers had gotten beaten around during the summer and it was kind of like joining the club. 🙂 I just tell people now that "I bounce well". As for deterring me from becoming an equine vet, the only misgivings about horses I have are actually not even from that wreck, it was from being kick while putting shoes on a horse. I still hate back feet, but I deal. 🙂 Glad to see some fellow equestrians out there!

Oh yes those back feet are nothing to laugh at. I got even more nervous when I heard a story about a local gal who went into heart failure after getting kicked in the chest while changing a leg wrapping, and it was her own horse! I guess you just have to be as careful as you can but there are no guarantees.

I think there is some saying like you have to fall off 100 (1000?) times to be a true equestrian. Fair enough but ouch😀

 

[aprilm]

I think there is some saying like you have to fall off 100 (1000?) times to be a true equestrian. Fair enough but ouch😀

I'm halfway there. 😆 Actually, I think my number is around 35 or 40. (I used to have a naughty horse. 😀) When I was young, that number was always changing. First it was 100, then it was 300, then 500...