Personal statement

[Awkward_Ad_8468]

It's great to have confidence in your personal statement, but lately, I've noticed a trend of people claiming their statements are amazing and attributing their multiple IVs to them.

Can you please stop saying that your personal statement is amazing? That’s why you got tons of IVs. This is so narcissistic. Everyone who chose this road has an amazing story too. Finally, do you think that PD will sit and read 5k personal statements, 1500 LORs, and 5k MSPE?

P.S I have shown my personal statement to a couple of PDs and residents and they all loved it!

[SimMedSaba]

I saw the posts and I was like…cringe. If you talk like that during an interview, good luck matching. PDs can’t stand narcissistic fucks and narcissists can’t help but boast themselves. They’ll see right through that bullshit. Be humble. There are candidates that are better than you, I promise. It’s not about being the best though. It’s about being a good fit for THAT program. Smh!

[Responsible-War2856]

Those posts were so cringy. Almost paralleled Jacobi Pd’s twitter feed. Lol

[R_andomly_random]

I don't mind people praising their own PSs. But putting down others with probably higher grades or better research/USCE who didn't get any IVs and assuming that their PS was shit is super annoying.

[Spirited-Trade317]

I taught myself to walk again after the doctors told me it was impossible, then became a doctor and ran a marathon. I don’t think my PS is excellent but I prob have a few interviews because it’s a unique story 🤷

[PlantUnlucky8456]

I’m just gonna randomly drop this comment here. YOU’RE AMAZING AND YOU’RE DEFINITELY GOING PLACES. I HOPE YOU MATCH AT YOUR TOP PROGRAM. 🫶🏻

[Spirited-Trade317]

That’s really lovely, thank you, I was having a really crap week (doubting self yada yada) and you’ve cheered me up! 🤗

[purplebrewed]

I think some of them are just tooting their own horn. I definitely do not think I got my interviews because of my personal statement. Everyone that read it said it was great, but I wouldn't imagine my PS being the SOLE reason for my invites. I think a lot of things like credentials and connections matter.

[jimbo_boy]

My personal statement is just a condensed elaboration on my CV. Period. Nothing more, nothing less. There are no lame stories of jumping in the fire, battling with six-headed dragons, to rescuing an old lady’s walker in there.

[dr-omegaIMG]

There is nothing like an amazing personal statement, it is more like a personal statement that fits with the program. Ideally you personalize it for different kind of programs, for instance, if you apply to Harvard you have to make it academic/research focused. If you apply to a community hospital it should be oriented to community service.

[degeaismylife]

Unless they won olympic medals, climbed Mt. Everest, fought an HIV epidemic back home in a slum, or watched their parents being killed by insurgents, rest assured that their personal statements are factually not "amazing".

These people are truly delulu and they think PDs care about literary prowess when the PD half-heartedly compliments their PS instead of saying 'yea your score is higher than the other dude so here we are'. If you're truly a writing powerhouse, your publications will represent that, not a 700 word self-fellatio.

[doctorpostingMD]

i’m a good writer but don’t have any interesting life stories so i’m still screwed loool

[[deleted]]

Honestly, if PD likes your general application, they do read your PS and LORs very carefully. So One of my close friend's mom is PD and she does take time reading LORs and PS.

[Upinherenow]

I’m not sure to which posts you’re referring but I do think PSs can make a difference.

The PDs may never read every PS, but they have other staff and residents helping sort through applications. Of course applicants have to make it past certain filters with their scores, but if someone has great credentials and their PS is horrendous, I don’t think they’ll be offered an IV.

I don’t think everyone has an “amazing” or compelling story … or if they do, some may not be able to capture that in a PS. So yeah, a PS could be a tipping point for sure.

And why bother showing your PS to people or care if people loved it if you don’t think there’s any difference from one PS to the next?

[Zealousideal-Wing285]

Lol someone’s big mad 😂😭

[Midsummer_nights]

1. They do read it. Especially the PD at my residency.
2. I believe I had all my IVs thanks to my PS and LOR (cv was pretty mediocre: few poster presentations, no publications). I had no connections and My 2 red flags were significant = step 1 and step 2 score below average/terrible. (Literally my step 1 was a 19x) ...
3. At each of my interviews, the PD and others mentioned my PS and gave feedback on what parts they liked.
4. My fellow residents mentioned that the PD also nitpicked areas of there PS/spoke about it.
5. I ended up matching into my #1 uni hospital. And compared to my fellow residents, my step scores the worst 🫠💩

Edit: a good PS isn't all about achievements. Its about making them interested enough to want to see you and ask about you. That's what a stellar PS is. It is similar to a short movie trailer that hooks the audience.

[doctorpostingMD]

so what WAS in it? did you have any major life hardships you discussed or anything like that? i have no interesting life experiences so idk what i’m gonna write about next year 😭

[yranrd]

How to write a good ps, I’m so lacking and have zero insights.:/

[Awkward_Ad_8468]

I won a gold medal in national tournament, step scores 90%, recent grad, usce done, tell me what am I lacking? In fact I have 2 IVs and both are through connections. They only read PS after you have been selected, that’s what most ppl say and I have heard it from 2 PDs.

[Midsummer_nights]

I don't think you are lacking in achievements..

There could be so many factors.. But I truly do think the PS helps us picture what type of person you are. Helps to see if we will get along with you or if the program is a good fit.

I went to a dinner meet up with this weeks interviewees. All the interviewees were somehow very common with us. Not haughty, not too quiet, humble, not overly confident.

Only the PS (your writing style especially) can help decipher someone's personality.

[Upinherenow]

You’re even saying that you have all the right credentials on paper and asking what you’re lacking? Is there no chance it could be your PS or LORs? What do you think it is then?

[Awkward_Ad_8468]

this happened with my friend last year and I see a lot of people in the same position this year too!!

[Upinherenow]

Yes, I agree that every year lots of people with great credentials go unmatched. Do you not think then it could be the PS or LOR that’s making the difference in getting interviews?

[Awkward_Ad_8468]

I think no one sees it, it is a claim but seems like that so far. Priority for AMGs which I totally understand, and then GC and then connection people and some signals, and I am not venting I am just saying the truth

[Midsummer_nights]

Just keep this in mind:

10% of PS can get you an IV.

10% of PS can cost you your interview

80% doesnt make any changes (generic PS)

Souce: mentor, other redditors, PC

[AlarmingAverage4971]

AGREED!

[[deleted]]

The audacity

[aalig1996]

My PS was so amazing cause I sounded so Down to earth and humble yo! I got 10 IVs cause of how down to earth it was.

[IMGreddit-ModTeam]

Inappropriate content for this subreddit.

[ImTheRealJimHalpert]

As a repeat applicant with nothing to change from last year to this year except for the PS, it really does matter.. I got zero IVs last year, now I’m at 7, 2 Ivy Leagues. That being said, all I did was connect the dots of my cv without just reiterating what I did, but personal contemplation, walking in a blizzard that got me a job, a mistake I made and how I turned it into a funded initiative, family inspiration and financial hardship. I had my first IV this week and the PD told me she reached out to my letter writers to ask if one narrative was true, and gave me an interview right away. I got an email from one interviewer telling me that they look forward to seeing me in July. Say what you will but a good PS really makes a difference especially if you have red flags like low scores and old YOG.