What Would A Committee Think?

[superso]

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I've worked at a subway newsstand through college, it's an underground stand in brooklyn and obviously it has nothing to do with health. Do you think I might write about it in my personal statement? I figured it would demonstrate that I can deal with hard work but I don't want an adcom to think I couldn't find some health related work - it just happens to be a stand owned by my family and someone had to run it for the money. what do you think? any help is appreciated.

 

[Luck]

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I've worked at a subway newsstand through college, it's an underground stand in brooklyn and obviously it has nothing to do with health. Do you think I might write about it in my personal statement? I figured it would demonstrate that I can deal with hard work but I don't want an adcom to think I couldn't find some health related work - it just happens to be a stand owned by my family and someone had to run it for the money. what do you think? any help is appreciated.

I would put it. It shows you can deal with people and you can survive on the streets.

 

[dhoonlee]

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[superso]

hmm, anyone else? thanks for your replies so far, man this site is pretty damn helpful

 

[WatchingWaiting]

The key thing is to remember your personal statement needs to answer the overarching questions of, "Why medicine," and "Why will I be a good physician?" If the subway job flows into interpersonal skills/personal adversity or in some other way with your essay, it merits a couple of sentences. Just make sure your essay is coherent!

 

[Lonestar]

Superso,
as I have previously been in a adcom meeting I can tell you that IT'S all in the presentation. If you can do it tastefully without offending anyone (or better relate it to medicine), then go for it. Hell, I have read some Personal statements of lawyers relating law to medicine. This one guy was a medical malpractice attorney and he had the nerve to say that medicine was just like his field (obviously not something to brag about).
I would be interested in reading a PS talking about a job at a nightstand as long as it doesn't cover the entire page. If you can finesse it then go for it.
NP

 

[superso]

This feedback is very helpful! Thanks alot.

 

[LP1CW]

The main purpose, beyond why medicine, of your personal statement is to reveal aspects of your personality that aren't apparent in other parts of your application.

That's it. They want to know who you are and what makes you, you.

When writing an essay you need to do it from the basic rule of Show/Don't Tell. That's the key to success. So, if you were to write that you're a hardworker and not afraid of a challenge, that means nothing. But if you were to tell us about your work and the challenges involved with it with a few lines of narrative, we'll be able to infer it and draw our on conclusions. That's going to give life to your essay and serve you well.

So, your essay doesn't have to be formulaic and expressly about medicine. They have to be able to see who you are.

 

[felipe5]

The main purpose, beyond why medicine, of your personal statement is to reveal aspects of your personality that aren't apparent in other parts of your application.

That's it. They want to know who you are and what makes you, you.

When writing an essay you need to do it from the basic rule of Show/Don't Tell. That's the key to success. So, if you were to write that you're a hardworker and not afraid of a challenge, that means nothing. But if you were to tell us about your work and the challenges involved with it with a few lines of narrative, we'll be able to infer it and draw our on conclusions. That's going to give life to your essay and serve you well.

So, your essay doesn't have to be formulaic and expressly about medicine. They have to be able to see who you are.

Well put LP1CW......To the OP, if you think your job impacted you heavily and/or contributed to who you are as a person then definitely put it down. You can probably conjure up some great imagery with this activity (which IMHO always makes for a smoother, more enjoyable read) in your PS while still explaining (either explicitly, or as LP1CW stated, implicitly) how it affected you.