[Trigger Warning] Question about Personal Statement

[ThrowAwayPreMedSoul]

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[doc05]

No. Don't put this in your personal statement.

 

[thegreengreatdragon]

First of all, I'm sorry to hear about your cousins. That's a pretty understandable reason for bad grades. While some people would mention this in their PS to talk about how it shaped them as a person and prospective doctor, I don't think I'd recommend that in this case, as you don't seem comfortable doing that, judging by what you've written above. I wonder if maybe the secondary is the best place to explain your grades.

I hope I'm not as bad as you guys will think I am

Don't say that! This is a difficult situation for sure, and one that I'm sorry you have to go through. Why would we think you're a bad person?

 

[ciestar]

Did all of this drive you to persue medicine? If not, do not put this in your PS. This is better in many of the secondary prompts school’s have.

 

[ndafife]

Your personal statement isn't the place to explain why your GPA was bad. It's also not a game of "who has had the worst life." If these events had a role in your desire to pursue medicine then use them, if not then don't.

 

[freedoctor17]

I'm sorry for your lost, I had a similar experience my freshman year and this person had been one of the people who helped me figure out my career plans but I still ended up not mentioning them because I couldn't comfortably talk about it and also felt like I was using them. People who read over my PS pretty much told me the same thing to not put that in as I didn't write about it well. I feel like my personal statement is "better" this way though as I don't have anything I'd feel uncomfortable talking about with an interviewer.

 

[HomeSkool]

[Trigger Warning]

Don't insult us by suggesting we lack the maturity and emotional well-adjustedness to handle charged subjects without being warned that our feel-bads might get hurt.

However, I feel like I'll be using them just to get in, as dirty as that sounds.

I used to suggest that people refer to these experiences in an indirect way. However, I've recently reconsidered based on @Doctor Strange's words in a recent similar thread: "Please do not use someone else's suicide to your advantage. It's not going to be looked upon kindly. Also do not highlight your own past mental health problems. Back to the drawing board." I agree.

 

[ThrowAwayPreMedSoul]

Did you mention this in your secondary or just avoid it?

 

[ThrowAwayPreMedSoul]

Don't insult us by suggesting we lack the maturity and emotional well-adjustedness to handle charged subjects without being warned that our feel-bads might get hurt.

It was more directed to those are affected by these issues and I rather not offend a minority just a pre-caution. It never hurts in case. I apologize if you found that belittling. That was not my intent.

I used to suggest that people refer to these experiences in an indirect way. However, I've recently reconsidered based on @Doctor Strange's words in a recent similar thread: "Please do not use someone else's suicide to your advantage. It's not going to be looked upon kindly. Also do not highlight your own past mental health problems. Back to the drawing board." I agree.

I agree. That was my guilt issue but I was just going to frame it as more about my adversity that I had to deal with family issues. Im not trying to spin it as "poor me" but this is what I dealt with. My mental health is fine, luckily with the support of family and friends.

 

[freedoctor17]

Did you mention this in your secondary or just avoid it?

Assuming you were asking me I haven't applied yet. I'm just referring to feedback I've had from proofreaders so far. I don't think I'd mention it in my secondaries either unless there was a question like "explain a time where you dealt with loss" which I Don't think I've seen anywhere. Maybe for the adversity questions you could discuss it? I'm not sure. I still have to look at the secondaries and start working on them.

 

[RTC19]

I don't have any advice, but I just wanted to say I am so very sorry for your loss. *Big hug*

I lost someone to suicide about a year ago and it really complicates the already difficult experience of grief/loss.