<p>What exactly is the PS supposed to be? Are there certain bullet points that should be addressed, or can it be a narrative of your life that shows who you are? Is the PS meant to want to know that person, thus giving them an interview invite? My daughter did a unconventional essay for undergrad, and I guess I'm asking if there are certain perameters that need to be addressed on the PS or can she go a bit outside the box?</p>
<p>I think the best advice I heard came from curmudgeon who said that the PS is “a story only you can tell.”</p>
<p>I think the PS is something that can really make a student stand out. I know my D started hers in February, just so she would be able to have the time to really work through what she wanted to say, since the length allowed is not very long. She had MANY people review it for her, and felt really comfortable when she pushed the button to submit this morning. It also took a lot longer to enter all 15 activities and have them properly edited. All in all, I can’t beleive how many hours she has invested in the process already. Now she is working on secondaries, particularly those that don’t screen.</p>
<p>This is from the instruction page:</p>
<p>Use the Personal Comments essay as an opportunity to distinguish yourself from
other applicants. Some questions you may want to consider while writing this essay
are:
Why have you selected the field of medicine?
What motivates you to learn more about medicine?
What do you want medical schools to know about you that hasn’t been
disclosed in another section of the application?
In addition, you may wish to include information such as:
Special hardships, challenges or obstacles that may have influenced your
educational pursuits.
Commentary on significant fluctuations in your academic record that are not
explained elsewhere in your application.</p>
<p>Pm incoming. I’m helping a wonderful young lady who sings like an angel, paints like a pro, and volunteers just because. Funny. The PS I read made her seem duller than dirt. She can do much better.</p>
<p>Other people have said it much more eloquently than I will, but in my opinion, a PS should cover the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>describe a part of you that is not readily apparent on any other part of your application: that is to say, the PS is not for recapitulating your amazing resume or your 3.99998973 GPA.</li>
<li>convince the adcom that you are more deserving of one of those scarce acceptance letters than one of the other thousands of applicants</li>
<li>articulate your reasoning for wanting to be a doctor</li>
<li>provide an explanation for any black marks against you on your application</li>
</ul>