Wrong PS theme?

[LightShallBringVictory]

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Hello!

First of all, thank you for taking your time to read my post.

I have a concern about my PS -- I recently finished my rough draft and started asking people for advice on how to improve it.
One of them, who knows about my ECs relatively well, pointed out that my PS focused on volunteer experience too much.

This would not be a problem at all for other applicants with solid ECs, but the thing is my ECs are heavily research-oriented. I focused on my volunteer experiences and personal stories, because they were the biggest motivations for me to pursue primary care.

Then do I have a lot of volunteer hours? They were mostly volunteering for the underserved. However, my activities were short-term (done in summers), largely non-clinical, and total of ~150 hours. I had family/financial issues that forced me to spend a lot of time on helping my family out during school. I could have used some free hours on volunteering, but I had thought that research would be more valuable, in addition to my interest in it.

Should I keep my PS? I did mention my research experiences a little bit, but I used them to talk about challenges I faced and how I overcame them. I live in a lucky state, and my GPA is 3.7. MCAT is to be taken on June 30th -- current practice test scores are around 505. Thank you for time to read my post!

 

[DrHart]

Hello!

First of all, thank you for taking your time to read my post.

I have a concern about my PS -- I recently finished my rough draft and started asking people for advice on how to improve it.
One of them, who knows about my ECs relatively well, pointed out that my PS focused on volunteer experience too much.

This would not be a problem at all for other applicants with solid ECs, but the thing is my ECs are heavily research-oriented. I focused on my volunteer experiences and personal stories, because they were the biggest motivations for me to pursue primary care.

Then do I have a lot of volunteer hours? They were mostly volunteering for the underserved. However, my activities were short-term (done in summers), largely non-clinical, and total of ~150 hours. I had family/financial issues that forced me to spend a lot of time on helping my family out during school. I could have used some free hours on volunteering, but I had thought that research would be more valuable, in addition to my interest in it.

Should I keep my PS? I did mention my research experiences a little bit, but I used them to talk about challenges I faced and how I overcame them. I live in a lucky state, and my GPA is 3.7. MCAT is to be taken on June 30th -- current practice test scores are around 505. Thank you for time to read my post!

If your ECs are research heavy, it might smell like a fishy PS unless it comes across as authentic. Its hard to say without reading it - but usually if you're honest and don't add much fluff, you should be fine. Don't force a theme where there isn't one - but if your volunteering experiences are truly what motivated you to pursue medicine... i say go for it.

 

[Neuro25_]

Don't take all suggestions to heart. If you feel strongly about your statement and it's connection to your passion for medicine, stand behind it.

 

[vellez]

Does the PS address the question as to whether you want to be a doctor? When I had people read mine, I would ask them two things: 1) did my PS answer the question of why i want to be a doctor and 2) did it sound like "me".

 

[Goro]

Hello!

First of all, thank you for taking your time to read my post.

I have a concern about my PS -- I recently finished my rough draft and started asking people for advice on how to improve it.
One of them, who knows about my ECs relatively well, pointed out that my PS focused on volunteer experience too much.

This would not be a problem at all for other applicants with solid ECs, but the thing is my ECs are heavily research-oriented. I focused on my volunteer experiences and personal stories, because they were the biggest motivations for me to pursue primary care.

Then do I have a lot of volunteer hours? They were mostly volunteering for the underserved. However, my activities were short-term (done in summers), largely non-clinical, and total of ~150 hours. I had family/financial issues that forced me to spend a lot of time on helping my family out during school. I could have used some free hours on volunteering, but I had thought that research would be more valuable, in addition to my interest in it.

Should I keep my PS? I did mention my research experiences a little bit, but I used them to talk about challenges I faced and how I overcame them. I live in a lucky state, and my GPA is 3.7. MCAT is to be taken on June 30th -- current practice test scores are around 505. Thank you for time to read my post!

The PS should answer those two questions:
Who am I
Why Medicine?

 

[Goro]

As above. The only addition I would make is sometimes "why medicine" is intertwined with "path to medicine" which simply another way to express it.

Yup. The path one travels can be very important.

 

[begoood95]

Don't take all suggestions to heart. If you feel strongly about your statement and it's connection to your passion for medicine, stand behind it.

This. Many of my PS reviewers often gave conflicting suggestions, leading to both frustration and confusion as to what I thought should be expressed. Remember, it's a personal statement. So while other's advise can be helpful at times, make sure it doesn't lose what you intend to relay to ADCOMS, what your personality is, and what your reasons are for going into medicine.

 

[LightShallBringVictory]

Thank you everyone for your responses; I apologize for not getting back to you on time, @DrHart -- I had forgotten that I made this thread! (I don't auto log-in). Fortunately those whom I asked to read over my PS said that it has structural problems rather than theme itself. Whew -- need to work on the structures!

@vellez - I did not ask them if the PS sounded like mine, but a physician who read my PS said that he could see the why I want to pursue medicine. I should ask others if my PS does sound like me from now on. Thank you for your response!

@gonnif - Thank you so much for your great advice. I tried to express what I learned from the volunteer experiences as genuinely as possible, because they were what motivated me to pursue medicine. I will indeed add a line or two to make the transition. May I ask you and @Goro a question on what makes a PS good at addressing Why Medicine? I know it sounds vague, but I would appreciate any guidelines so I can revise my PS rough draft better! Thanks in advance.

@begoood95 - I appreciate your response! I think it is very important to be myself and support my reasons, while making sure when others read my PS they can understand. Thanks again!

 

[Goro]

One that answers the question. Simple.

Thank you everyone for your responses; I apologize for not getting back to you on time, @DrHart

@gonnif - Thank you so much for your great advice. I tried to express what I learned from the volunteer experiences as genuinely as possible, because they were what motivated me to pursue medicine. I will indeed add a line or two to make the transition. May I ask you and @Goro a question on what makes a PS good at addressing Why Medicine? I know it sounds vague, but I would appreciate any guidelines so I can revise my PS rough draft better! Thanks in advance.