What if you don't have a "real" reason for choosing your specialty?

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MrDocMD

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Fourth year here. I'm trying desperately to write my personal statement. When I applied to med school, I had a real reason for wanting to be a doctor. I had personal obstacles that created who I was and why it was so important to me to dedicate my life to the field of medicine. But the specialty I'm going into has nothing to do with any of that and really, when asked WHY do you want to go into this, my answer would be "because I LIKE it." That's it. I don't have another reason. I enjoy doing the work. I enjoy the patient population. I enjoy using my medical knowledge to take care of them.

I've tried writing all that out and it makes for the most boring personal statement ever because there's nothing personal or unique about it. I had several meaningful patient encounters during third year -- all in other specialties. Don't get me wrong -- I loved my patients in this specialty too, but there was nothing extraordinary that I could write about that every other applicant to this specialty won't write.

Before anyone says it, yes, I'm 200% positive I want to apply to this specialty. It was the only one I rotated in that I really felt was for me. So now ask me why? Because I LIKED it. LOL. See what I mean? I liked going to work every day and I enjoyed what I did. I don't know what to say beyond that.

Anyone else in this position?
 
MrDocMD said:
Fourth year here. I'm trying desperately to write my personal statement. When I applied to med school, I had a real reason for wanting to be a doctor. I had personal obstacles that created who I was and why it was so important to me to dedicate my life to the field of medicine. But the specialty I'm going into has nothing to do with any of that and really, when asked WHY do you want to go into this, my answer would be "because I LIKE it." That's it. I don't have another reason. I enjoy doing the work. I enjoy the patient population. I enjoy using my medical knowledge to take care of them.

I've tried writing all that out and it makes for the most boring personal statement ever because there's nothing personal or unique about it. I had several meaningful patient encounters during third year -- all in other specialties. Don't get me wrong -- I loved my patients in this specialty too, but there was nothing extraordinary that I could write about that every other applicant to this specialty won't write.

Before anyone says it, yes, I'm 200% positive I want to apply to this specialty. It was the only one I rotated in that I really felt was for me. So now ask me why? Because I LIKED it. LOL. See what I mean? I liked going to work every day and I enjoyed what I did. I don't know what to say beyond that.

Anyone else in this position?
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Not even close to being in that position, but I would be honest and just explain why you like it. I'm not sure that even the most competitive residencies are as super-competitive as medical school admissions. Also, your reasons are very well personal - but not necessarily unique.
 
sounds like you don't even know why you like it. figure it out.
 
Anastomoses said:
sounds like you don't even know why you like it. figure it out.
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It doesn't sound like that at all. No offense, but as a first-year, you shouldn't try to guess what the OP means when it comes to choosing a specialty. I know a lot of people in the exact same position the OP is in.
 
Yes! I was in the same position. Fortunately, in undergrad, I had an amazing composition professor who taught me the art of bs-ing. Basically, you just have to turn "I like it" into a long drawn out statement with fancy pants vocabulary. People love that.
 
I'm right there with you, MrDocMD. I really have no other reason for my specialty other than "I like it and I think it's awesome." My personal statement is very boring and bland. I think it's terrible.

I think it's safer to go with a bland PS than some crazy convoluted story about how you had to emergently cric a baby on an airplane which subsequently led to you dedicate your life to research in air travel airway neonatal emergencies. Basically, I think (at least for my specialty) that bland is good.
 
Mass Effect said:
It doesn't sound like that at all. No offense, but as a first-year, you shouldn't try to guess what the OP means when it comes to choosing a specialty. I know a lot of people in the exact same position the OP is in.
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My year has nothing to do with whether I'm able to analyze my motivations better than the OP. A person either is in tune with why they like something or they aren't. This isn't a "medical issue" despite what you may have misled yourself into believing. A person in any career could have responded to this. If he said he "likes a girl" but he "just likes her" I'd tell him to figure it out. Wow, the dimness. Oh, no offense as well.
 
You're "200% positive" you want this specialty and yet you can't say why? hrmmmm
 
First of all, what is the specialty? Maybe we can tease out the parts of it that you enjoy.

Go through the day to day of it and correlate it with your personality. Why is it that you like it? What do you bring to the specialty? The PS isn't just about stating why you want to do something, it's about telling what you can bring to your field. It's also about stating what you want from a residency program.
 
a few attendings here said they want to know why you're interested in their field and why you would be the best resident they ever had. i don't think they mind if your reasons aren't unique although saying that you like pharmacology when you're applying for anesthesia is probably overdone. talk about your leadership skills, teamwork, critical thinking, work ethic, etc. they don't care about your obstacles and baggage can a bad thing for people under a lot of stress (like residents)
 
Anastomoses said:
My year has nothing to do with whether I'm able to analyze my motivations better than the OP. A person either is in tune with why they like something or they aren't. This isn't a "medical issue" despite what you may have misled yourself into believing. A person in any career could have responded to this. If he said he "likes a girl" but he "just likes her" I'd tell him to figure it out. Wow, the dimness. Oh, no offense as well.
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Your year has everything to do with it. Until you're there, picking a specialty yourself, you won't "get it," as evidenced by your response to the OP, who, by the way, did give reasons why he likes it. He just thinks his reasons are boring when you have people who have a "personal connection" to their specialty of choice. The fact that you interpreted his post as having no reason for liking his specialty should alert you to the fact that you're too far removed from residency selection to know what you're talking about.
 
Anastomoses said:
My year has nothing to do with whether I'm able to analyze my motivations better than the OP. A person either is in tune with why they like something or they aren't. This isn't a "medical issue" despite what you may have misled yourself into believing. A person in any career could have responded to this. If he said he "likes a girl" but he "just likes her" I'd tell him to figure it out. Wow, the dimness. Oh, no offense as well.
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Definitely agree with this. If someone asked why you liked a girl, you wouldn't just say "I don't know, I just do". You HAVE to like something about her, whether it's her nice rack, backside, face, personality, humor, etc. And this applies to everything so you really don't have to be in the thick of it to question this guy's motive. What's really happening is that you do have a reason and you just don't want to say it. At least I hope so, because if you really are having trouble voicing why you like that speciality, I feel bad for you son, you got 99 problems and coming off as clueless ain't one.
 
J DUB said:
I would say all that and then give an example of a patient. There has to be a patient in the field you are choosing that you remember well.
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I've talked to a few PDs and a lot of people that read personal statements that hate the overused patient routine. Yes, everyone has a "special case," but they're all usually boring to read.
 
Anastomoses said:
sounds like you don't even know why you like it. figure it out.
Click to expand...

he gave a bunch of good reasons why he likes it
his problem is that he doesn't think that his reasons are unique or interesting
as a first year in august, you're basically a glorified premed. try giving a fourth year at your school advice about residency. they'll laugh in your face
you need to go to some interest group meetings to start to get a hint of what fields are like. then you need to do rotations to see if you like the work, the people and the patients
 
did you never learn to write a Baconian essay in undergrad?

the art of persuasion disregarding personal beliefs is a fundamental concept in writing anything..
 
tco said:
First of all, what is the specialty? Maybe we can tease out the parts of it that you enjoy.

Go through the day to day of it and correlate it with your personality. Why is it that you like it? What do you bring to the specialty? The PS isn't just about stating why you want to do something, it's about telling what you can bring to your field. It's also about stating what you want from a residency program.
Click to expand...

Yep, this is what therapists get paid for. Helping tease out what people can't figure out themselves.

yehhhboiii said:
he gave a bunch of good reasons why he likes it
his problem is that he doesn't think that his reasons are unique or interesting
as a first year in august, you're basically a glorified premed. try giving a fourth year at your school advice about residency. they'll laugh in your face
you need to go to some interest group meetings to start to get a hint of what fields are like. then you need to do rotations to see if you like the work, the people and the patients
Click to expand...

I'm 2nd year, thanks. I guess that makes me a glorified first year. If the guy doesn't know how to spruce up his enjoyment of his preferred specialty, alternatively hire someone to write your letter expressing your enthusiasm. Done.
 
MrDocMD said:
I enjoy doing the work. I enjoy the patient population. I enjoy using my medical knowledge to take care of them.

It was the only one I rotated in that I really felt was for me. So now ask me why? Because I LIKED it. LOL. See what I mean? I liked going to work every day and I enjoyed what I did. I don't know what to say beyond that.
Click to expand...

You felt a connection, you find the job intellectually stimulating and emotionally rewarding...THAT'S AWESOME.

I believe you're overthinking this. Having met so many med students who choose a specialty because of $$$, because of an experience with one single attending, or for some other reason that doesn't tap into the core of the the medicine they're going to spend the rest of their life doing, it's great to see that you can at least say that you enjoy your specialty because of its inherent characteristics.

In all actuality, 90% of personal statements do nothing to advance or harm your application, they need to be done to check off the box. If you're lucky enough to write that stellar 5%er that blows everyone away, then great, but if you can at least stay out of that bottom 5% then it's a neutral entity.

Really, if you can tell me the five most common things your field sees on a week to week basis (ie the boring ****) and it's enough to get you out of bed at 2am excited to take care of a patient when they show up, then what more could a program director really ask for?
 
Anastomoses said:
Yep, this is what therapists get paid for. Helping tease out what people can't figure out themselves.



I'm 2nd year, thanks. I guess that makes me a glorified first year. If the guy doesn't know how to spruce up his enjoyment of his preferred specialty, alternatively hire someone to write your letter expressing your enthusiasm. Done.
Click to expand...

so what you're saying is that you have no relevant clinical experience and have no idea what various fields are like because you're busy studying powerpoint slides
 
imperturbable said:
It's cool, dude. She was already giving advice in the Step I forums right after she finished first year. Streets ahead. Anastomoses, tell us again how pretty and smart you are so we can fawn all over you.
Click to expand...

If I wanted to be fawned over, I wouldn't bother being so blunt about my standards. 🙂 I'm pretty and smart. Write it down, hater.
 
tco said:
I've talked to a few PDs and a lot of people that read personal statements that hate the overused patient routine. Yes, everyone has a "special case," but they're all usually boring to read.
Click to expand...

I would not write a paragraph but maybe mention some patients in there.

true they dont care, but I think you need to make a reference to patient care somewhere.
 
Anastomoses said:
I'm not sure why this is so complicated for you. You see...a person likes a tv show...I don't have to watch the same show to ask them why it's so difficult for them to explain why they like said tv show. Is this sinking in yet?

Bending over backwards to pull the "I'm a rung ahead of you in the medical ladder so you can't talk" is about the most pathetic thing I see done on here. Get a clue.
Click to expand...

And telling a bunch of people on a forum how "pretty and smart" you are so they should "write it down hater" is about right up there in patheticness.
 
Back to the OP, I would maybe ask this question in the specialty threads or on the ERAS thread. You'll probably get more responses from people who've been through it/are going through it now.
 
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MrDocMD said:
Fourth year here. I'm trying desperately to write my personal statement. When I applied to med school, I had a real reason for wanting to be a doctor. I had personal obstacles that created who I was and why it was so important to me to dedicate my life to the field of medicine. But the specialty I'm going into has nothing to do with any of that and really, when asked WHY do you want to go into this, my answer would be "because I LIKE it." That's it. I don't have another reason. I enjoy doing the work. I enjoy the patient population. I enjoy using my medical knowledge to take care of them.

I've tried writing all that out and it makes for the most boring personal statement ever because there's nothing personal or unique about it. I had several meaningful patient encounters during third year -- all in other specialties. Don't get me wrong -- I loved my patients in this specialty too, but there was nothing extraordinary that I could write about that every other applicant to this specialty won't write.

Before anyone says it, yes, I'm 200% positive I want to apply to this specialty. It was the only one I rotated in that I really felt was for me. So now ask me why? Because I LIKED it. LOL. See what I mean? I liked going to work every day and I enjoyed what I did. I don't know what to say beyond that.

Anyone else in this position?
Click to expand...

Forgive me if I missed this in the thread as I skimmed the responses, but Which Specialty are you interested in?

Some of us may be able to help formulate some angles or perspectives that you may not have yet considered.
 
Anastomoses said:
I'm not sure why this is so complicated for you. You see...a person likes a tv show...I don't have to watch the same show to ask them why it's so difficult for them to explain why they like said tv show. Is this sinking in yet?

Bending over backwards to pull the "I'm a rung ahead of you in the medical ladder so you can't talk" is about the most pathetic thing I see done on here. Get a clue.
Click to expand...

if you can't tell the difference between watching tv and doing a residency, you may be in the wrong field
 
calvnandhobbs68 said:
And telling a bunch of people on a forum how "pretty and smart" you are so they should "write it down hater" is about right up there in patheticness.
Click to expand...

Anastomoses is blunt. And a dbag at times. Sometimes she makes decent points, othertimes she's completely off-base. Either learn to live with the good and deal with the bad or ignore her and move on with your life. Yes she's full of herself, but whatever. She's a girl, so obviously she gets a pass :laugh:



ANYWAY - On topic. OP - You already stated what you enjoy about this mystery field of yours. Put that in your personal statement. As others have stated, your personal statement for residency is most likely NOT going to get you into a residency. Your goal of a personal statement is to not make you come off looking as a creep/a-hole/only in it for the money and thus hurting your application.

If you can avoid hurting yourself, you've won the personal statement.
 
evilbooyaa said:
Anastomoses is blunt. And a dbag at times. Sometimes she makes decent points, othertimes she's completely off-base. Either learn to live with the good and deal with the bad or ignore her and move on with your life. Yes she's full of herself, but whatever. She's a girl, so obviously she gets a pass :laugh:
Click to expand...

I'll respond to whatever I want, thanks for the life advice bud.
 
MrDocMD said:
I enjoy the patient population. I enjoy using my medical knowledge to take care of them.
Click to expand...

Anastomoses said:
sounds like you don't even know why you like it. figure it out.
Click to expand...

wat.jpg


Anastomoses said:
alternatively hire someone to write your letter expressing your enthusiasm. Done.
Click to expand...

That's called plagiarism.

Back on topic...

So it's pretty obvious to me that you do in fact like this specialty more than others, and the reasons you outlined describe why. I think the issue you're encountering is that these reasons don't really distinguish this specialty over others. Basically, try to be more specific - what about this patient population do you like? Why is using this medical knowledge more enjoyable than using medical knowledge geared toward other specialties?
 
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IonClaws said:
wat.jpg


That's called plagiarism.
Click to expand...

did you read the thread title? if he likes the patient population, he can go into details about that and why. and I'm not sure that's the strict definition of plagiarism. I believe there are companies you can hire to express your feelings more articulately.

but apparently you need to do rotations to realize you have only interchangeable reasons for picking your specialty.
 
Anastomoses said:
did you read the thread title? if he likes the patient population, he can go into details about that and why. and I'm not sure that's the strict definition of plagiarism. I believe there are companies you can hire to express your feelings more articulately.

but apparently you need to do rotations to realize you have only interchangeable reasons for picking your specialty.
Click to expand...

You are quickly becoming the most annoying poster on SDN. And that is saying something.
 
Anastomoses said:
did you read the thread title? if he likes the patient population, he can go into details about that and why. and I'm not sure that's the strict definition of plagiarism. I believe there are companies you can hire to express your feelings more articulately.

but apparently you need to do rotations to realize you have only interchangeable reasons for picking your specialty.
Click to expand...

In regards to the title - how are the reasons OP described not "real" reasons? As opposed to "made up" reasons? Aren't all reasons for liking something subjective and therefore "made up"?

The definition of plagiarism doesn't distinguish whether the person whose work was falsely represented as your own was compensated.
 
Totally understand where you are coming from, OP. It is hard to articulate gracefully that this is a specialty where you find the daily work enjoyable, as opposed to others that may have made you want to tear your hair out.

As others have stated, find particular things that you found exciting or interesting about the daily work, areas in the field that you want to investigate more deeply, and do your best to relate these things to your own personality and experiences.

Think about particular moments you may have taken pride in, and write about them. Think about aspects of the workday that fit well with the way that you like to do things. Think of the particular interests you developed in preclinical years, and how they apply to this field. Yes, the example of enjoying pharmacology is somewhat trite in applying to anesthesia, but not off base. Expound. What about it interested you? Write about it.

Good luck.
 
IJL said:
You are quickly becoming the most annoying poster on SDN. And that is saying something.
Click to expand...

look PUA schmuck. something annoys you that much, fix your own problem. skip. simple si Baat hai!
 
I had personal obstacles that created who I was and why it was so important to me to dedicate my life to the field of medicine. I would bring this up briefly, at the beginning or end. The story of how you got to where you are is unique and important.


I enjoy doing the work. Expand. Do you like the procedures, talking to patients, getting to know their stories, looking at lab values and trying to figure out the disease? Use examples.

I enjoy the patient population. Expand. Are they indigent, young and resilient, old and vulnerable, desperate need of help in a life-crisis, giving birth, have cancer, seeing things, a mixture of everything/all populations? What makes them so special?

I enjoy using my medical knowledge to take care of them. Makes you want to read more about the specialty? Inspires you to keep up to date in medical knowledge... this is important.


Before anyone says it, yes, I'm 200% positive I want to apply to this specialty. It was the only one I rotated in that I really felt was for me. I liked going to work every day and I enjoyed what I did. That's actually really important. Try to include it in your PS in a more eloquent way. I know I have the same feelings about my specialty of choice, and I was not shy about bringing up this feeling.


Also, don't forget to try and touch on your plans for the future.

There you go, just fill in the blanks and you got a good PS. 😎
 
Anastomoses said:
did you read the thread title? if he likes the patient population, he can go into details about that and why. and I'm not sure that's the strict definition of plagiarism. I believe there are companies you can hire to express your feelings more articulately.

but apparently you need to do rotations to realize you have only interchangeable reasons for picking your specialty.
Click to expand...

That's some personality you got there.
 
zenokaz said:
Well said.
Click to expand...

Feel free to elaborate. How exactly is it that medicine is the singular field in which it is ever so hard to express ones desire to choose one specialty over another? Please explain, doctor.
 
Anastomoses said:
Feel free to elaborate. How exactly is it that medicine is the singular field in which it is ever so hard to express ones desire to choose one specialty over another? Please explain, doctor.
Click to expand...

-Difference between what you do for the rest of your life vs tv show
-Significant overlap between specialties
-Largely influenced by random things that you cant put in your PS - mentor, lifestyle
-Still limited exposure -at most you mightve had 3-4 months.

I usually like most of your posts, but comparing choosing your specialty to a tv show is probably one of the dumbest things I have ever heard of, sorry.
 
prometheus09 said:
I had personal obstacles that created who I was and why it was so important to me to dedicate my life to the field of medicine. I would bring this up briefly, at the beginning or end. The story of how you got to where you are is unique and important.


I enjoy doing the work. Expand. Do you like the procedures, talking to patients, getting to know their stories, looking at lab values and trying to figure out the disease? Use examples.

I enjoy the patient population. Expand. Are they indigent, young and resilient, old and vulnerable, desperate need of help in a life-crisis, giving birth, have cancer, seeing things, a mixture of everything/all populations? What makes them so special?

I enjoy using my medical knowledge to take care of them. Makes you want to read more about the specialty? Inspires you to keep up to date in medical knowledge... this is important.


Before anyone says it, yes, I'm 200% positive I want to apply to this specialty. It was the only one I rotated in that I really felt was for me. I liked going to work every day and I enjoyed what I did. That's actually really important. Try to include it in your PS in a more eloquent way. I know I have the same feelings about my specialty of choice, and I was not shy about bringing up this feeling.


Also, don't forget to try and touch on your plans for the future.

There you go, just fill in the blanks and you got a good PS. 😎
Click to expand...

This is a great post that is constructive AND on topic. I recently wrote my personal statement and I found it to be difficult for the same reasons. I followed the basic outline above and it really helped organize my thoughts about my chosen specialty, desires for the future, how my strengths cater to the specialty etc. Also included some things about a couple of patients from last year. So hopefully that will help you out OP!
 
lraccord624 said:
this is a great post that is constructive and on topic. I recently wrote my personal statement and i found it to be difficult for the same reasons. I followed the basic outline above and it really helped organize my thoughts about my chosen specialty, desires for the future, how my strengths cater to the specialty etc. Also included some things about a couple of patients from last year. So hopefully that will help you out op!
Click to expand...

+1
 
Anastomoses said:
If I wanted to be fawned over, I wouldn't bother being so blunt about my standards. 🙂 I'm pretty and smart. Write it down, hater.
Click to expand...

post pics or you are lying and extremely unprofessional.
 
MrDocMD said:
Fourth year here. I'm trying desperately to write my personal statement. When I applied to med school, I had a real reason for wanting to be a doctor. I had personal obstacles that created who I was and why it was so important to me to dedicate my life to the field of medicine. But the specialty I'm going into has nothing to do with any of that and really, when asked WHY do you want to go into this, my answer would be "because I LIKE it." That's it. I don't have another reason. I enjoy doing the work. I enjoy the patient population. I enjoy using my medical knowledge to take care of them.

I've tried writing all that out and it makes for the most boring personal statement ever because there's nothing personal or unique about it. I had several meaningful patient encounters during third year -- all in other specialties. Don't get me wrong -- I loved my patients in this specialty too, but there was nothing extraordinary that I could write about that every other applicant to this specialty won't write.

Before anyone says it, yes, I'm 200% positive I want to apply to this specialty. It was the only one I rotated in that I really felt was for me. So now ask me why? Because I LIKED it. LOL. See what I mean? I liked going to work every day and I enjoyed what I did. I don't know what to say beyond that.

Anyone else in this position?
Click to expand...

Others have sort of said this already, but the bolded is really all you need for the "meat" of your statement. Expand on those ideas. You can begin with things you enjoyed while growing up, in college, etc and how those are things tie into the work you do in the field. When talking about the patient population, give an example of a patient. Tie everything together with a nice summary paragraph.
 
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