What's the worst thing you can write in a PS?

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bears1992 said:
Mind if I copy and paste this into my PS?
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7e1.png
 
Saifa said:
I knew I was not stupid in school, especially in science. I knew it when I got a 110 percent on my first physiology exam.

My grandmother passed in March of 2012. I saw it and I was there for the last breath. But I knew the underlining reasons and I understood. From seeing her go from the talkative little granny with the potato farm to too sedated to the point that she could not walk up, my heart raced to help the Hospice nurse stabilize her. It was adrenaline and learning all in one.
Click to expand...

Admittedly, I write like this. I have to get my papers edited quite a bit for official applications and they end up looking so plain but... Can't stop, won't stop.
 
Just telling the truth is apparently too much for them.
 
I was at a pre-med organization meeting once and a doctor came to talk to us about personal statements and brought some examples of some REALLY bad ones.

No lie, one of them started out like "receiving nothing but A's throughout my academic career, I knew medicine was right for me."

:laugh::laugh::laugh:
 
Princeton Medical Student said:
"Pass me another baby this one is dead"
Nothing beats the classic 🙂
Click to expand...

At least post the entire thing for people who haven't experienced the joy of reading it yet

Mbuto.

My African driver springs to his feet.

Yes, Sahib.

Pass me another baby, I think this one has died. I lay the dead infant in the pile by my feet. What Id really like him to do is pass me an ice-cold bottle of the local beer. Compassion is hot, thirsty work. There is no ice in this wretched refugee camp, mores the pity, but as Im here to help I will suffer in silence. I stare into the eyes of the African baby who is suffering from HIV or dengue fever or something gross, look out into the hot, dusty savannah and ask, Why? Why gender-neutral and non-judgmental Diety (or Deities) does this have to happen?

And Why, Mbuto, is the air-conditioning on my Land Rover broken again?

One thousand pardons, Sahib, but the parts have not arrived.

I will suffer. I have lived a life of privilege and my suffering serves to link me to the suffering of mankind. I roll the window down. God its hot. How can people live here? Why dont they move where its cool? Still, I see by the vacant stare from the walking skeletons who insist on blocking the road that they appreciate my compassion and I know that in a small way, I am making a difference in their lives.

Africa. Oh wretched continent! How long must you suffer? How long will you provide the venue to compensate for a low MCAT score? How many must die before I am accepted to a top-tier medical school?

When did I first discover that I, myself, desired to be a doctor? Some come to the decision late in life, often not until the age of five. The non-traditional applicants might not know until they are seven or even, as hard as it is to believe, until the end of ninth grade. I came, myself, to the realization that I, myself, wanted to be a doctor on the way through the birth canal when I realized that my large head was causing a partial third degree vaginal laceration. I quickly threw a couple of sutures into the fascia between contractions so strong was my desire to help people.

My dedication to service was just beginning. At five I was counseling the first-graders on their reproductive options. By twelve I was volunteering at a suicide crisis center/free needle exchange hot-line for troubled transgendered teens. Ill never forget Jose, a young Hispanic male with HIV who had just been kicked out of his casa by his conservative Catholic parents. He had turned to black tar heroin as his only solace and he was literally at the end of his rope when he called.

How about a condom, Hose, I asked. The J, as you know, is pronounced like an H in Spanish.

Annoying silence on the line. Hesus, I was there to help him.

Condoms will solve all of your problems, I continued, In fact, in a paper of which I was listed as the fourth author, we found that condoms prevent all kinds of diseases including HIV which I have a suspicion is the root of your depression.

More silence. No one had ever had such a rapport with him. He was speechless and grateful and I took his sobs as evidence of my compassion.

Hey, it was double-blinded and placebo controlled, vato. Cultural competence is important and I value my diverse upbringing which has exposed me to peoples of many different ethnicities. I always say What up, Homes, to the nice young negroes who assemble my Big Mac and I think they accept me as a soul brother.

We also have needles, amigo. Clean needles would prevent HIV too.

My desire to be a physician has mirrored my desire to actualize my potential to serve humanity in many capacities. This may be something unheard of from medical school applicant but I have a strong desire to help people. I manifest this desire by my dedication to obtaining all kinds of exposure to all different kinds of people but mostly those from underserved and underprivileged populations. In fact, during a stint in a Doctors Without Borders spin-off chapter I learned the true meaning of underserved while staffing a mall health care pavilion in La Jolla, California.

Most of my friends are black or latino and I am a Junior Cousin of the Nation of Islam where I teach infidel abasement techniques to the Mohammed (PBUHN) Scouts. I also am active in the fight for womens reproductive rights except of course for women in Afghanistan who were better off before our current racist war.

As Maya Angelou once said, All men (and womyn) are prepared to accomplish the incredible if their ideals are threatened. I feel this embodies my philosophy best because the prospect of grad school is too horrible to contemplate.
 
FlameBroiledDoc said:
"I want to make big money and bed hot nurses".

"Ever since I was three and Mom put on my first bandaid..."

"Medicine is the most lucrative way to be a successful serial killer."
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"Ever since I was three and Mom put on my first bandaid.." This X's 10. Chasing your childhood dream isn't a good reason to go into medicine.
 
caxoo said:
At least post the entire thing for people who haven't experienced the joy of reading it yet

Mbuto.

My African driver springs to his feet.

Yes, Sahib.

Pass me another baby, I think this one has died. I lay the dead infant in the pile by my feet. What Id really like him to do is pass me an ice-cold bottle of the local beer. Compassion is hot, thirsty work. There is no ice in this wretched refugee camp, mores the pity, but as Im here to help I will suffer in silence. I stare into the eyes of the African baby who is suffering from HIV or dengue fever or something gross, look out into the hot, dusty savannah and ask, Why? Why gender-neutral and non-judgmental Diety (or Deities) does this have to happen?

And Why, Mbuto, is the air-conditioning on my Land Rover broken again?

One thousand pardons, Sahib, but the parts have not arrived.

I will suffer. I have lived a life of privilege and my suffering serves to link me to the suffering of mankind. I roll the window down. God its hot. How can people live here? Why dont they move where its cool? Still, I see by the vacant stare from the walking skeletons who insist on blocking the road that they appreciate my compassion and I know that in a small way, I am making a difference in their lives.

Africa. Oh wretched continent! How long must you suffer? How long will you provide the venue to compensate for a low MCAT score? How many must die before I am accepted to a top-tier medical school?

When did I first discover that I, myself, desired to be a doctor? Some come to the decision late in life, often not until the age of five. The non-traditional applicants might not know until they are seven or even, as hard as it is to believe, until the end of ninth grade. I came, myself, to the realization that I, myself, wanted to be a doctor on the way through the birth canal when I realized that my large head was causing a partial third degree vaginal laceration. I quickly threw a couple of sutures into the fascia between contractions so strong was my desire to help people.

My dedication to service was just beginning. At five I was counseling the first-graders on their reproductive options. By twelve I was volunteering at a suicide crisis center/free needle exchange hot-line for troubled transgendered teens. Ill never forget Jose, a young Hispanic male with HIV who had just been kicked out of his casa by his conservative Catholic parents. He had turned to black tar heroin as his only solace and he was literally at the end of his rope when he called.

How about a condom, Hose, I asked. The J, as you know, is pronounced like an H in Spanish.

Annoying silence on the line. Hesus, I was there to help him.

Condoms will solve all of your problems, I continued, In fact, in a paper of which I was listed as the fourth author, we found that condoms prevent all kinds of diseases including HIV which I have a suspicion is the root of your depression.

More silence. No one had ever had such a rapport with him. He was speechless and grateful and I took his sobs as evidence of my compassion.

Hey, it was double-blinded and placebo controlled, vato. Cultural competence is important and I value my diverse upbringing which has exposed me to peoples of many different ethnicities. I always say What up, Homes, to the nice young negroes who assemble my Big Mac and I think they accept me as a soul brother.

We also have needles, amigo. Clean needles would prevent HIV too.

My desire to be a physician has mirrored my desire to actualize my potential to serve humanity in many capacities. This may be something unheard of from medical school applicant but I have a strong desire to help people. I manifest this desire by my dedication to obtaining all kinds of exposure to all different kinds of people but mostly those from underserved and underprivileged populations. In fact, during a stint in a Doctors Without Borders spin-off chapter I learned the true meaning of underserved while staffing a mall health care pavilion in La Jolla, California.

Most of my friends are black or latino and I am a Junior Cousin of the Nation of Islam where I teach infidel abasement techniques to the Mohammed (PBUHN) Scouts. I also am active in the fight for womens reproductive rights except of course for women in Afghanistan who were better off before our current racist war.

As Maya Angelou once said, All men (and womyn) are prepared to accomplish the incredible if their ideals are threatened. I feel this embodies my philosophy best because the prospect of grad school is too horrible to contemplate.
Click to expand...
Haha, I can't believe I have never seen this before. I started reading it and at first I was like "I know this is pretty blunt but this guy is doing legit humanitarian work" then I read "One thousand pardons, Sahib, but the parts have not arrived." and I just busted out laughing. If I was an adcom and I got this letter, I would absolutely send this guy an II. After reading 1000 mundane boring PS, this one would make my day and I would without a doubt award this Land Rover driving applicant an II and a personal tour. I would make a terrible adcom.
 
DocMcMommy said:
I went the Michael Scott route with my PS.

ef23ed669f29a6cbba338ae30dc88fe6.jpg
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Worst thing i've read "I want to be a doctor to help people..." "I want to make a difference in the world by helping people by being a doctor," "I feel like I can best help people by being a doctor..."

The worst part is all these quotes were in the same PS.
 
bears1992 said:
Haha, I can't believe I have never seen this before. I started reading it and at first I was like "I know this is pretty blunt but this guy is doing legit humanitarian work" then I read "One thousand pardons, Sahib, but the parts have not arrived." and I just busted out laughing. If I was an adcom and I got this letter, I would absolutely send this guy an II. After reading 1000 mundane boring PS, this one would make my day and I would without a doubt award this Land Rover driving applicant an II and a personal tour. I would make a terrible adcom.
Click to expand...

He had a chauffeur. How classic is that?
I would also love to meet this applicant.
 
My grandmother passed in March of 2012. I saw it and I was there for the last breath. But I knew the underlining reasons and I understood If only someone had told her the dangerousness of having coffee and cigarettes for breakfast and fried eggs and cured meats for lunch. I want to help people so that no one, ever, ever dies like my granny did and no family suffers the death of a loved one ever again. From seeing her go from the talkative little granny with the potato farm to too sedated to the point that she could not walk up, my heart raced to help the Hospice nurse stabilize her. It was adrenaline and learning all in one. If only she had known how to take care of herself, she'd be alive today.

The essays that work in the idea that their family members had no clue that well publicized hazards were hazardous and that as physicians they will eliminate all death and sorrow are two ideas I cannot stomach.
 
LizzyM said:
The essays that work in the idea that their family members had no clue that well publicized hazards were hazardous and that as physicians they will eliminate all death and sorrow are two ideas I cannot stomach.
Click to expand...

This is in fact from a real "article." Apparently "I thought my granny dying was fun and interesting" = auto accept to med school
 
LizzyM said:
My grandmother passed in March of 2012. I saw it and I was there for the last breath. But I knew the underlining reasons and I understood If only someone had told her the dangerousness of having coffee and cigarettes for breakfast and fried eggs and cured meats for lunch. I want to help people so that no one, ever, ever dies like my granny did and no family suffers the death of a loved one ever again. From seeing her go from the talkative little granny with the potato farm to too sedated to the point that she could not walk up, my heart raced to help the Hospice nurse stabilize her. It was adrenaline and learning all in one. If only she had known how to take care of herself, she'd be alive today.

The essays that work in the idea that their family members had no clue that well publicized hazards were hazardous and that as physicians they will eliminate all death and sorrow are two ideas I cannot stomach.
Click to expand...

Well get ready to be sick because when I'm a physician I'm gonna stop all death. Thats right, people are gonna live forever. Soon there will be so many of us that we can't feed or house anyone but they can't die so they just kinda sit there suffering outside. After a few years all the eternally cold and hungry people will begin trying to find ways to end it, but none of them will work because I cured death so well. My name will be cursed throughout eternal human history as the banana who brought the plague of eternal life to humanity. My cruelty will be remembered and eventually turned into a mainstream religion where people pray and tell themselves that one day I'll return and end it all and bring death back to the earth...

or I'll just be a regular anesthesiologist.....


either one
 
Princeton Medical Student said:
I think a better question would be "What is the worst thing you can write in a PS and still get into Ross, SGU etc"
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"I an highly motivated to become a successful subspecialist so I can pay back all my med school loans."
 
RogueBanana said:
Well get ready to be sick because when I'm a physician I'm gonna stop all death. Thats right, people are gonna live forever. Soon there will be so many of us that we can't feed or house anyone but they can't die so they just kinda sit there suffering outside. After a few years all the eternally cold and hungry people will begin trying to find ways to end it, but none of them will work because I cured death so well. My name will be cursed throughout eternal human history as the banana who brought the plague of eternal life to humanity. My cruelty will be remembered and eventually turned into a mainstream religion where people pray and tell themselves that one day I'll return and end it all and bring death back to the earth...

or I'll just be a regular anesthesiologist.....


either one
Click to expand...
I read the bolded in Rick's voice.
 
What about "#blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter"?
 
Cruxomega said:
What about "#blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter"?
Click to expand...

Wow, now this is a very very funny post. You must be a comedian.
 
freak7 said:
I read the bolded in Rick's voice.
Click to expand...

W-Well get ready to be si*burrp*iiick Morty. Because when I'm a physician I'm gonna stop all death. Thats right, people are gonna live forever Morty. Soon there will be so many of us that we, we can't feed or house anyone bu*burrrp*uut they can't die so they just kinda sit there suffering outside. Out in the cold Morty. What kind of sick god would allow that? After a few years all the eternally cold and hungry people will begin trying to find ways to end it, but none of them will work Morty! None of them will work because I cured death so well. My name will be cursed throughout eternal human history as the Rick who brought the plague of eternal life to humanity.

*Takes pull from flask*

My cruelty will be remeeeeeeembered and eventually turned into a mainstream religion where people pray and tell themselves that one day I'll return and end it all and bring death back to the earth...

Heh, Idiots.

I want that..... Szechuan Nugget sauce Morty....

I don't care if I have to make people live forever to get it Morty..

If it takes 19 million seasons. Thats right, an eternity of seasons, I'll get that nugget sauce Morty.

This isn't about saving humanity, this isn't about my dead family! Its all about that Mulan McNugget sauce!

*Finishes Flask*
 
I see nothing wrong with talking about the death of a close family member being an influence on your desire to go into medicine as long as the story is true.

That essay just has some weird parts/style issues "it was adrenaline and learning all in one" is an exceptionally dumb statement
 
WunderMay said:
Admittedly, I write like this. I have to get my papers edited quite a bit for official applications and they end up looking so plain but... Can't stop, won't stop. But probably should stop...
Click to expand...

There. Fixed.
 
pseud0 said:
I see nothing wrong with talking about the death of a close family member being an influence on your desire to go into medicine as long as the story is true.

That essay just has some weird parts/style issues "it was adrenaline and learning all in one" is an exceptionally dumb statement
Click to expand...

If the only issues you see in that example are stylistic, you need to search for PS threads on this forum, because you need some help.
 
RogueBanana said:
"Both my parents are doctors, I was born to go into medicine"

and

"I've always had a passion for helping people"
Click to expand...

akinetopsia said:
"I like science and I want to help people."
Click to expand...

Why is saying "you want to help people" bad? I get that it is probably trite, but what if that is genuinely the primary reason I want to? Of course, I would explain that I want to help people and why medicine is specifically the best way to do so, but that is really the main reason I decided for medicine.(I'm a prospective nontraditional applicant.)

It's just a little frustrating that we have to go through the pageantry of writing PS's when at the heart of it, that's why I want to apply. It's like "why choose XYZ medical school?" -- well because you offer a medical education and I think I have a chance there but I'll go anywhere that accepts me. I face similar problems with my significant other... :/
 
Matthew9Thirtyfive said:
If the only issues you see in that example are stylistic, you need to search for PS threads on this forum, because you need some help.
Click to expand...

Lol. Im in school already, thanks. Literally everyone succumbs to the ridiculous "x post means you need to do x to get in. X post is true, i cant believe youre in" on this forum. Its seriously nauseating

If mentioning a family member's death as an overarching influence on ones desire to attend medical school is a bad idea, i dont want to hear good ideas.
 
sat0ri said:
Why is saying "you want to help people" bad? I get that it is probably trite, but what if that is genuinely the primary reason I want to? Of course, I would explain that I want to help people and why medicine is specifically the best way to do so, but that is really the main reason I decided for medicine.(I'm a prospective nontraditional applicant.)

It's just a little frustrating that we have to go through the pageantry of writing PS's when at the heart of it, that's why I want to apply. It's like "why choose XYZ medical school?" -- well because you offer a medical education and I think I have a chance there but I'll go anywhere that accepts me. I face similar problems with my significant other... :/
Click to expand...
Not so much "bad" as trite.

If you can phrase it to make it less of a lame answer then go for it. Think of it this way:

A lot of professions involve helping people, you could join the peace corps, you could become a nurse or PT or RT. You could run a charity as an MBA. What is it about medicine that makes you want to be a doc above all those other options?
 
"My mother always called me her little doctor..."
"I desire to integrate my rapturous love for science with an innate thirst to assist my fellow humans, and the field of medicine is one that would allow me to realize this lofty goal."
"An ambulance siren blared into the night, and this was when I first fell in love with the field of medicine."
"My perfect GPA and my MCAT score >35 clearly show my ability to succeed in medical school."
"Taking care of pediatric patients is a lot like caring for farm animals. They are totally dependent , sometimes malodorous, and may bite or kick when frightened."
"My aim to is specialize in pediatric plastic rhinolaryngeoscopic cardiothoracic surgery, as I realized on that fateful summer day that I shadowed my own pediatrician, old Dr. Barnes."
"Overall, I feel that my demonstrated academic prowess, coupled with my extensive volunteer experiences, show my potential as a future doctor."
 
Gryffindor20 said:
"My aim to is specialize in pediatric plastic rhinolaryngeoscopic cardiothoracic surgery, as I realized on that fateful summer day that I shadowed my own pediatrician, old Dr. Barnes."
Click to expand...
My sides!
 
pseud0 said:
Lol. Im in school already, thanks. Literally everyone succumbs to the ridiculous "x post means you need to do x to get in. X post is true, i cant believe youre in" on this forum. Its seriously nauseating

If mentioning a family member's death as an overarching influence on ones desire to attend medical school is a bad idea, i dont want to hear good ideas.
Click to expand...

You completely missed my point and completely misrepresented my post, but okay. Congrats on getting into med school!
 
Because every med school app in the world has this phrase, and one can help people without being a doctor.


sat0ri said:
Why is saying "you want to help people" bad? I get that it is probably trite, but what if that is genuinely the primary reason I want to? Of course, I would explain that I want to help people and why medicine is specifically the best way to do so, but that is really the main reason I decided for medicine.(I'm a prospective nontraditional applicant.)

It's just a little frustrating that we have to go through the pageantry of writing PS's when at the heart of it, that's why I want to apply. It's like "why choose XYZ medical school?" -- well because you offer a medical education and I think I have a chance there but I'll go anywhere that accepts me. I face similar problems with my significant other... :/
Click to expand...
 
Jalby said:
A common mistake actual people make is that they write their PS in a manner than any school wouldn't consider them because they know they won't go there. An example (fictional) is if a person writes about how he started teaching his surf club CPR, every school outside of Cali and Florida wouldn't consider him for a secondary because they know he wouldn't be a good fit.

I personally know I screwed up my Medical College of Wisconsin interview by saying I wouldn't like living in Milwaukee. I've also rejected people when I interviewed them for similar things.
Click to expand...
hahahahaha :laugh:
 
Cruxomega said:
What about "#blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter #blacklivesmatter"?
Click to expand...

To get admitted to Stanford Med you need to change it up a bit:
"#blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter"
 
LizzyM said:
To get admitted to Stanford Med you need to change it up a bit:
"#blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter #blackliversmatter"
Click to expand...

That Dubin-Johnson syndrome tho.
 
dwgrubbs1s said:
"Ever since I was three and Mom put on my first bandaid.." This X's 10. Chasing your childhood dream isn't a good reason to go into medicine.
Click to expand...
Or even "That time I applied neosporin on my Mom's paper cut when I was six... I knew then that I found my calling."

I know someone who actually wrote that story for his PS
 
sb247 said:
I'm mad that this thread is worst things we've seen and not the worst that could be done so I'll answer the better question...

"Now I'm not a racist but when you really think about it......"
Click to expand...
😕
 
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