Writing a new PS?

[shnuffles]

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I'm currently in the application process. I certainly haven't given up hope, but realize that I need to start thinking about next year. I've always said that if I don't get in the first time, I will reapply the next year, but now that that is quickly approaching, I'm struggling with the idea of it. Everyone always says to make sure you have improved your application before reapplying, but, quite sadly, I'm not sure that I can say I will have done so by late spring! I've put all my energy into applications/interviews that I haven't picked up any new ECs or had any life-changing experiences(my MCAT and GPA are solid). Basically, how do you rewrite a personal statement after pouring everything into it the year before? My initial motivation and story haven't changed in the past months....? Am I missing something?

Best of luck to all

 

[gman33]

It's hard to change your PS much if you haven't done anything in the past year. You can have a few people read it and give you some feedback. As long as it's not horrible it probably doesn't have that big of an impact on your app.

Did you get any interviews this cycle?
Post your stats and schools to which you applied if you want some more specific advice.

 

[shnuffles]

Yes, I've had 4 interviews and have 2 more coming up so I feel extremely lucky...but I realize that its already almost Feb. and its a bit scary not having an acceptance (thank you, SDN). I'd rather be completely ready to press "submit" June first and prepare myself mentally for the worst than be overly optimistic.

I suppose I'm just wondering if anyone else had this problem, and what they did about it. I would feel silly telling the exact same story all over again and wonder if it wouldn't be a terrible idea to take two years off to have something new to talk about. Is this drastic? Or normal?

 

[NPEMTIV]

Yes, I've had 4 interviews and have 2 more coming up so I feel extremely lucky...but I realize that its already almost Feb. and its a bit scary not having an acceptance (thank you, SDN). I'd rather be completely ready to press "submit" June first and prepare myself mentally for the worst than be overly optimistic.

I suppose I'm just wondering if anyone else had this problem, and what they did about it. I would feel silly telling the exact same story all over again and wonder if it wouldn't be a terrible idea to take two years off to have something new to talk about. Is this drastic? Or normal?

You can use a service like http://www.essayedge.com/ to help you with editing and refining your PS. Note that this company doesn't write your PS (that'd get you in some trouble), but they are professional editors. It's a good service and probably worth the money if the PS is the only thing you can change for next cycle.

 

[fizzle]

Yes, I've had 4 interviews and have 2 more coming up so I feel extremely lucky...but I realize that its already almost Feb. and its a bit scary not having an acceptance (thank you, SDN). I'd rather be completely ready to press "submit" June first and prepare myself mentally for the worst than be overly optimistic.

I suppose I'm just wondering if anyone else had this problem, and what they did about it. I would feel silly telling the exact same story all over again and wonder if it wouldn't be a terrible idea to take two years off to have something new to talk about. Is this drastic? Or normal?

I am currently a re-applicant in this cycle, and like you, I didn't have any new activities to write down. I just rewrote my essays and chose a different school list, and I've received a much better response (8 interviews, including 1 acceptance so far vs. only 1 interview last year). Funny enough, my new personal statement was just a re-organization of my first personal statement--I used the same three or four anecdotes and merely re-organized them into a more cohesive story of my motivation for medicine. Looks like that change worked wonders!

 

[NPEMTIV]

Funny enough, my new personal statement was just a re-organization of my first personal statement--I used the same three or four anecdotes and merely re-organized them into a more cohesive story of my motivation for medicine. Looks like that change worked wonders!

Sometimes that's all it takes! 👍 Congrats!!

 

[shnuffles]

I am currently a re-applicant in this cycle, and like you, I didn't have any new activities to write down. I just rewrote my essays and chose a different school list, and I've received a much better response (8 interviews, including 1 acceptance so far vs. only 1 interview last year). Funny enough, my new personal statement was just a re-organization of my first personal statement--I used the same three or four anecdotes and merely re-organized them into a more cohesive story of my motivation for medicine. Looks like that change worked wonders!

Congrats! Your story is very encouraging! Thank you all for the advice!

 

[error404]

Never underestimate the power of a well-written personal statement.

For med school, my PS was so-so, and it hurt. Over the years, I've spent a lot of time thinking about what makes a good statement. I've now gotten comments at every place I've interviewed about how strong mine was, including, "we weren't really that interested in your application, until...."

Do not write something generic. If your proofreader says, "I'm not sure you really come through in this," trash your essay and start over. Get a LOT of people to read it-- friends, parents, your letter writers, that English major you once helped out in your physics class, everyone. Saves you the money of a professional service, and you get much more personal results.

Remember that the PS is one of the few things in your application you still have control over. Your MCAT scores, your GPA... these are fixed. All you can do over the year is add some leadership and community service to your resume, and write a kick-ass, "I want this dude in my program" PS.

 

[fizzle]

Congrats! Your story is very encouraging! Thank you all for the advice!

Keep in mind that, along with the re-written essays, I also chose a different set of schools to apply to. This is important; 6 out of my 8 interviews have come from schools I added this cycle.

 

[pasdechat28]

I'm currently in the application process. I certainly haven't given up hope, but realize that I need to start thinking about next year. I've always said that if I don't get in the first time, I will reapply the next year, but now that that is quickly approaching, I'm struggling with the idea of it. Everyone always says to make sure you have improved your application before reapplying, but, quite sadly, I'm not sure that I can say I will have done so by late spring! I've put all my energy into applications/interviews that I haven't picked up any new ECs or had any life-changing experiences(my MCAT and GPA are solid). Basically, how do you rewrite a personal statement after pouring everything into it the year before? My initial motivation and story haven't changed in the past months....? Am I missing something?

Best of luck to all

This application cycle was my second one, and I felt much what you are feeling now re: your personal statement when I was just starting to apply. I really liked my original PS and even got great feedback from schools re: it--that it was really original and my motivation came across clearly--so I was very hesitant to change it. What I ended up doing was just updating it--basically I kept the same theme and just used a different example from a more recent, salient clinical experience (my PS was written in a story-like theme, starting out with a short narrative of one of my clinical experiences) and made sure the rest of it still fit. It turned out very good--perhaps even better than mine last year because I think it demonstrated more maturity and growth. So, long story short, try updating instead of changing your statement completely (unless you received poor feedback from it)--it worked for me! I'll be entering medical school this fall.