Story-Like personal statements

**The Caretaker** · 19-09-2005, 04:26 PM

I have read some personal statements on the web (admittedly mostly for American applicants) which read a lot like a short novel. The language used is not strictly formal and there are numerous anecdotes as well as frequent use of humour. I'm not sure if this is the way to go about it in the UK, they seem to be allowed much longer statements and so can afford to go beyond the bare bones

. Anyways any light that can be shed on this would be appreciated as my PS at the moment is basically just a tick the boxes exercise.

**pilly84** · 19-09-2005, 04:33 PM

I would strongly advise against the story approach. When done well I'm sure it sounds great but in the vast majority of cases it sounds ridiculously cheesy. I like the approach where you right a short paragraph on why you want to be a docotor, your work experience/voluntary work etc. In the end, the admissions tutors often have a checklist of things candidates should have/have done. If you make it easier for them (i.e. by doing the paragraph thing I just mentioned), I think you are more likely to get an interview (obviously presuming you have the right qualifications, explanations etc!)

**The Caretaker** · 19-09-2005, 04:39 PM

Your light shedding has officially been appreciated! Anyone else???

**pilly84** · 19-09-2005, 04:49 PM

Hehe no probs!

**The Caretaker** · 19-09-2005, 04:51 PM

I said "anyone else" didn't I??? what are you still doing here?!!!

Ok I'll stop spamming my own thread now...

**Fried_Rice** · 19-09-2005, 06:57 PM

Lol. I agree with above. I think to make a good dtory PS so much more work needs to be spent that it's not really worth it.

**minako** · 19-09-2005, 07:11 PM

I agree. There are some basic things that need to be there in a satement, such as why you want to be a doctor, how you think you are suited to it, what qualities you think you could bring to the studies and job, what you've learned/done so far and how it has benefited you and so forth. I'm not an expert, though.

**miSs_T** · 20-09-2005, 02:32 AM

someplace or some book which i read strongly advised against humour in your ps as you don't know who will be checking your ps so best not to assume they will have the same sense of humour as you

well i do agree that you should make the ps easier to read for the person reading it but a tutour advised me to make my ps flow like a story linking from one point to the other but don't babble on make it concise and to the point.