Touchy Personal Statement Issues

[Cells4life]

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Hi all,

i am writing my personal statement essay required for me to obtain letters of recommendation. I am definitely finding it harder than i thought. I wanted to write about how I was/am going through a rough patch in my life. I have not been diagnosed with depression or anything, but this was definitively not one of my stellar moments.

I did a search on this topic...a lot of people are vary of writing about such an "emotionally damaging" period on life. On the contrary, it did affect my work ethic since i was not employed for a few months. However in efforts to redeem myself, I am going to start seeing a therapist since I do not have a strong support system at all. In addition, I hope to be employed soon.

If anyone can offer advice, on how to positively reflect this or to even talk about it in the first place ( or has even been though this), it would be appreciated..thank you!

 

[Geebeejay]

Hi all,

i am writing my personal statement essay required for me to obtain letters of recommendation. I am definitely finding it harder than i thought. I wanted to write about how I was/am going through a rough patch in my life. I have not been diagnosed with depression or anything, but this was definitively not one of my stellar moments.

I did a search on this topic...a lot of people are vary of writing about such an "emotionally damaging" period on life. On the contrary, it did affect my work ethic since i was not employed for a few months. However in efforts to redeem myself, I am going to start seeing a therapist since I do not have a strong support system at all. In addition, I hope to be employed soon.

If anyone can offer advice, on how to positively reflect this or to even talk about it in the first place ( or has even been though this), it would be appreciated..thank you!

I'm a proponent of not writing about these issues. Unless you can positively spin it (very positively), then you want to stay away from subjects that make you seem weak. You do NOT want adcoms to think that future emotional baggage, which everyone surely encounters, will affect your ability succeed in medical school or to provide excellent care for patients. And you do not want them to think you are emotionally fragile, have a tough time maintaining employment, etc.

Your personal statement is supposed to sell yourself. If you're going to mention negative things, limit them to <1 sentence long, and immediately turn it into a learning/growing experience and explain how you are now stronger than before.

 

[Jas1360]

The fact that it sounds unresolved is a problem. It's one thing to write about what you have overcome and something different to point out what you are currently going through.

 

[VitaminVater]

Can you relate this to why you chose medicine in a way? I understand it may explain some shortcomings in your application, but you might not want to make it the body of your essay.

 

[Cells4life]

Hi there,

I mean mostly it was due to having negative energy around me( family, friends telling me I won't be able to make it) that kind of left me to be "limp". I mean I know everyone goes through it..i guess i just need some reassurance.As for relating it to medicine, I think it I believe more than ever how a strong support system can be such an uplifting spirit...and how by being a doctor I can be a "source" of support in whatever capacity, mentally or physically.

thank you!

 

[Geebeejay]

Hi there,

I mean mostly it was due to having negative energy around me( family, friends telling me I won't be able to make it) that kind of left me to be "limp". I mean I know everyone goes through it..i guess i just need some reassurance.As for relating it to medicine, I think it I believe more than ever how a strong support system can be such an uplifting spirit...and how by being a doctor I can be a "source" of support in whatever capacity, mentally or physically.

thank you!

You're going to have negative energy and negative people around you for the rest of your life, especially as a physician. It shouldn't affect you drastically if at all. I don't think you're gonna get good responses out of saying things like that in your statement. A physician needs to be emotionally tough to do his job well.

The last part you wrote is good - that going through this sort of struggle inspires you to help others in their struggle, but this also applies to social work, nursing, teaching etc....Your statement needs to answer the question "why do I want to be a doctor".