Using quote in PS???

[whatsupDO]

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Hey everyone,

I was wondering if it is okay to use quotes in your PS. For example, quoting something a doctor or patient says. I think it helps personalize your PS by introducing a sort of dialogue. What do you guys think? I have already gotten my PS reviewed by a handful of people (med students, grad students, professors, TAs, PI, and a resident). The only person that brought this up was the resident. He said that I should avoid quoting anyone because adcoms don't like that. Is this true? I know it may not be seem good to quote a book or movie or something. But, I am quoting something a doctor or patient said directly to me and it contributes to my overall theme. What do you guys think?

 

[AlteredScale]

It is my understanding that starting a PS off with a quote is cliche for many reviewers in admissions.

The wise @Goro can def provide an opinion on this that you should take into serious consideration!

 

[whatsupDO]

No, I am not starting off with a quote. I just have two quotes throughout the PS.

 

[MedNation907]

I would need the exact context to say for sure but I suppose if the quotes aren't long and they do in fact add to your overall theme -- it seems okay. I would still wait to hear from an adcom though..

 

[Goro]

I personally am OK with a quote. If you use one, I suggest that the theme of your PS circle around it. Just don't use something common.

It is my understanding that starting a PS off with a quote is cliche for many reviewers in admissions.

The wise @Goro can def provide an opinion on this that you should take into serious consideration!

 

[touchpause13]

I did. I'm sure it was fine

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

"You miss all the shots you don't take - Wayne Gretzky. - Michael Scott"

Instant accept.

 

[kinzav]

I'm sure it's fine, I personally think it comes off a little dramatic though. Instead of saying something like "I'll never forget those words my physician told me, "just do your best"etc....", I'd just say something more like "working with the physician taught me perseverance, discipline, and the value of hard work, blah blah blah". I guess using the quote makes it a lot more personal, but the other way conveys things more directly. I err more on the safe side of things though, so maybe some admissions people eat it up.

 

[whatsupDO]

Well, in my PS I quoted something a doctor said to me. I believe that it was integral to my development and set the foundation for rest of my PS.

 

[kinzav]

Well, in my PS I quoted something a doctor said to me. I believe that it was integral to my development and set the foundation for rest of my PS.

Well at the end of the day, if it conveys the type of person you are, don't hold back. I think that's something that a bunch of stressed premeds don't have eprspective on while they're in the hunt. The admissions committee isn't there to screw you out of a good education, they're there to see if your a good fit for their program, so show your stripes and let the chips fall where they may. If the admssions board views your writing style as something not compatible with their program, then you didn't belong there, and people shouldn't feel like they're trying to make life miserable for everybody. And just a heads up, that last sentence should come off kind of ridiculous... no admissions committee should be eliminating applicants because they write a little more frills, it's about the substance of your statement that will provide most of the influence on their admissions decision./endrant

 

[ortnakas]

It's hard to pull off without being melodramatic or cliche, but you can make it work. Especially if Goro says so.