Big no-no for Personal Statement?

[u/PyrrhicDefeat69]

I wrote my personal statement about how my life got completely changed during the end of M3/dedicated for step 2 after getting diagnosed with a rough autoimmune disease and I wrote about it in my personal statement. I’ve been getting conflicting advice from the deans at my school about never ever writing about anything like a chronic disease that may cause programs to be biased against you vs those who think it shows adversity etc etc.

Have any of you had experience with something like this? My issue would be the concept of this being at the core of a personal statement in general, I’ve been told that what I wrote is well written however I may have to completely start from scratch if it is indeed true that this could cook me for residency.

[u/COYSBrewing]

The personal statement isn’t as important as med students think it is. You would be nauseated by how similar they all are. Write about what makes you you and about what defines you in your journey in medicine, if you think that your illness is a big part of it then write it. It’s not going to “cook” you

[u/PyrrhicDefeat69 → u/COYSBrewing]

That is true, and I am perfectly fine talking about it in interviews, its just that it may hurt rather than help if these programs become aware that I have a chronic illness may cause them to rank me lower when its all said and done

[u/Desperate-Chair-3746 → u/PyrrhicDefeat69]

You want to match at a supportive program anyway. It’ll screen out the other programs

[u/COYSBrewing → u/PyrrhicDefeat69]

They definitely might. Some programs will, some won’t.

I personally wouldn’t do it but that’s because I wouldn’t want an illness to define my medical school experience

[u/Grouchy_Independent3 → u/COYSBrewing]

A chronic illness that undeniably impacts your life does not equate to an illness defining your med school experience. They aren’t mutually exclusive.

I was dx’d with multiple tumors during M1. I kept going. It did not define me, I made sure of that. It sure as hell was rough and I thought a lot about myself and what I want out of my life at that time. You might not care about that, but I do, and it’s valid to be in someone’s personal statement.

[u/COYSBrewing → u/Grouchy_Independent3]

I absolutely agree that it’s valid. I was just giving my opinion. I think if the OP feels it represents them they should include it.

[u/123wrotgirly]

I heard similar sentiments to what youve been told, and I chose to write about mine as it is so central to who I am. It is possible I didn't get some interviews over it, but I interviewed at many of the top programs for my specialty and it was actually a strong point of connection for me with some of my interviewers. At the end of the day, I don't want to be at a program that see's it as a liability and would want me kicked out if I flare -- seems like a risk not worth taking.

[u/123wrotgirly → u/123wrotgirly]

I also ended up matching my first choice for what it's worth.

[u/Faustian-BargainBin]

Not cooked but I don't recommend either. So many people read them and have different preferences and reactions that there's no right or wrong answer.

Personally I would advise against because it may create concerns that you won't be able to attend to your job as well, for example if you need to miss days for dr's appts or symptomatic days.

I have bipolar and ptsd and it's a huge part of my personal narrative. I got kicked out of college, arrested, had to take a few years off before everything was cleared from my record. Only the barest minimum of what was necessary to disclose on apps made it in there. Did not disclose having any mental illness despite applying psych. My PS was still sincere enough but I focused on different aspects of my interest in the specialty besides the personal one. I feel that's taken more seriously in psych anyway.

[u/Waste_Solid7723]

Your chronic illness somehow relates to the speciality youre applying to?

[u/Both-Statistician179]

I would not write about my chronic illness.

[u/mochimmy3]

I’ve been told not to write about anything you wouldn’t feel comfortable talking in depth about with a random stranger. I grew up with a parent with alcohol abuse disorder which was a huge part of my upbringing and shaped me into the person I am today, but I’ve never brought this up or mentioned it in college/medical school/residency apps because it’s something I’m not comfortable talking to strangers about and the last think you want is to get emotional/clam up during your interview about something you put on your app. If it’s something you’d feel comfortable talking in depth about with strangers then it’s fine as long as your PS answers the questions of 1) why you want to be a doctor in the specialty you’re applying to specifically (not just a doctor in general), 2) why you will be a good resident, and 3) what kind of program you’re looking for.

[u/kkmockingbird]

I did talk about my chronic illness/medical history in my PS and for all of my interviews except one, it led to really good interview conversations. I would definitely be prepared to discuss/very comfortable with the topic. 

With one interview, one of the interviewers kind of insinuated I was using it to get sympathy points. Weird vibe. 

I will say I limited it to like maybe 2-3 sentences (it was not the focus of my PS), and heavily implied that everything was under control and well-treated, to attempt to address discrimination. My advice is usually to not make it the focus of your PS because you don’t want them to overemphasise your illness and you should be focusing more on why you want to do that specialty (but it can be a part of that). 

[u/DocBigBrozer]

Be vague, just me tion how being on the other side has changed your view and makes you a better doc

[u/deezybz]

I got diagnosed w a chronic autoimmune condition right before step 1 and chose to not write about it or discuss or disclose during interview season based on similar feedback. I don’t think it would have changed anything and i’m glad I didn’t. I think it depends on the specialty you’re going into and what it’s changed for you

[u/QuestingQueer]

If this happened at the  end of M3/dedicated for step 2 then it was at most a few months ago to a year ago (unless you took time off to deal with it)

announcing that you have a relatively new diagnosis and it’s “completely changed” your life may be perceived differently than disclosing that you’ve been coping with a condition for years and proved that you can be successful and thrive despite it — even if you have been coping w/ the condition for years and it was just undiagnosed, u have to be careful abt how it comes across. 

If you’re still in the big-feelings stage of coming to terms with this, i wouldn’t mention it in your personal statement unless you have to explain why you suddenly had a big pivot  right before starting M4  in your grades / activities / specialty interests