LifeInTheFastLane
Forum Elite
Topics: 33
Posts: 445
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This is in response to all those private messages I've been getting regarding personal statements.
Here are the facts:
1. PS is an important component of your application - how important? varies from program to program. Some of the places I went to hadn't even cared to look at my ps - you can tell from the questions they ask you. However, this observation may not be entirely true. It is quite likely that the people who short-list your application as "to be interviewed" are different from the one who actually interviews you. In any case, there were also places which dissected very fine points from my PS and asked me about it. One place used this tactic : "is there any particular aspect in your PS that you want to draw my attention to?" and just as I had anticipated...this question was immediately followed up with a "why this particular aspect?" ...thus the take-home fact is: write your ps carefully, and know what you have written in and out!
2. Correct grammar is more important than flowery language. Period. Cannot over-emphasize this fact. With d incrsing popularity of instnt msngrs & chat prgms, its imp dat u hav smne not into this whole chat thingy proof-read yr PS b4 u submit it.
3. Try to be honest as far as possible. You can stretch honesty a bit, but try not to fake it. A fresh grad having done is 2 CABGs is just as likely as the cow jumping over to the far side of the moon. Anyway, PDs are good PS readers - they can tell fact from fiction - most of the times.
4.Keep it short. 1 page is sweet, 1and a half is still decent and over 2 pages is being a pompous, verbous,superfluous, grandiloquent, redundant jackass braying into his/her own trumpet instead of blowing it. If you cant tell it in 2 pages, maybe you shouldnt tell it at all.
4. Keep your sentences short. Actually, a mixture of short and long is perfect, but but pursuing a train of thought along a sentence that spans 4 full lines is not easy.
5. Under no circumstances copy. Take this as your 11th commandment..and even if you regularly break the other 10, please honor this one - atleast till march 12th. I know a girl who as much as borrowed 3 lines from somewhere, because she thought they were beautiful and is now reported a s a plagiarism case. You dont want to do the same. Be a plain jane but dont try to imitate pamela anderson - you will be busted. (no puns here)
6. PS writing takes time. Give it the space of a week atleast, to evolve. Try it and you will find that writing about onself can be one of the most difficult tasks. Maybe because you know the subject so well. Or maybe because you dont know it at all! Either way, give it time.
7. The obvious: if you are applying to multiple specialties, write multiple, convincing PSes. And assign the right one to the right program. I remember someone posting on these forums this year about assigning FM ps to IM or something likewise. Dont do this!
8. Dictionaries have already been invented. Dont attempt to re-write one with "new" words or old words with "new" spellings/meanings. Consult one prn.
Happy PS writing fellas! May the shakespeare within you find the right expression.
Edited by LifeInTheFastLane on 03/20/07 - 04:18 PM
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The best thing about growing older is that it takes such a long time....
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| minang
Forum Senior
Topics: 3
Posts: 229
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Also important to PS is to ask others, e.g., your friends or colleague, to read it and give a feedback, e.g., about the clarity, message conveyed etc.
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| bbb
IM Program Coordinator
Topics: 32
Posts: 4,710
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5. Under no circumstances copy. Take this as your 11th commandment..and even if you regularly break the other 10, please honor this one - atleast till march 12th. I know a girl who as much as borrowed 3 lines from somewhere, because she thought they were beautiful and is now reported as a plagiarism case. You dont want to do the same. Be a plain jane but dont try to imitate pamela anderson - you will be busted. (no puns here)
So very important. If you find something you like - borrow the idea, not the original.
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bbb - trying to combine common sense and humour into realistic answers, but not going to guess on anyone's chances of getting into a position....
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| Moozy
Forum Guru
Topics: 45
Posts: 783
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Furthermore, try to write your own PS. Take guidance from people but PLEASE, do not ask for others to email their PS to you. I dont know, but I jsut have this wierd feeling about emailing my PS to others later finding my PD reading PS similar to mine for next years match.
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Inability is a disaster; patience is bravery; abstinence is a treasure, self-restrain is a shield; and the best companion is submission to Divine Will
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