Personal Statement Tips

smmathurin · Sep 12, 2008

I NEED ANSWERS!

HI, my name is Stephanie and I'm currently working on my LPN degree. I will attend RN school sometime in spring of 09'. I have always wanted to be a doctor but chose the nursing route for the experience. Don't get me wrong I love it so far and figured I want to be in Pediatrics trauma. I wanted to know if anyone knows whether they would allow someone with a BSN to sit for the MCAT, or are there some other prereqs that needs to be completed, or will it still be 8yrs of school after obtaining your BSN to be a doctor? Thanks.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Sep 12, 2008

I NEED ANSWERS!
HI, my name is Stephanie and I'm currently working on my LPN degree. I will attend RN school sometime in spring of 09'. I have always wanted to be a doctor but chose the nursing route for the experience. Don't get me wrong I love it so far and figured I want to be in Pediatrics trauma. I wanted to know if anyone knows whether they would allow someone with a BSN to sit for the MCAT, or are there some other prereqs that needs to be completed, or will it still be 8yrs of school after obtaining your BSN to be a doctor? Thanks.

You'll need to start your own thread rather than hijack someone else's to get answers to your questions. It's poor form to take over a thread where someone else is in need of help, and posted first.

That said, I'd rather help you first before kicking you out the door

First, a nursing degree is not a shortcut in any way, shape or form toward becoming a doctor. They are two different disciplines, with different models of practice. If you want to become a doctor, do that, but don't become a nurse "for the experience". You'll be wasting your time and money.

What do you mean by "working on your LPN degree?" I wasn't aware that there were LPN programs that led to a degree...? The only degrees I know of lead to RN licensure, either Associate's or Bachelor's....?

The requirements for the MCAT will be spelled out by the body that administers that test. They're the ones to contact. As it's only a medical aptitude test, I'm not sure that you have to have ANY degree to sit for it, but I'm only guessing there. Passing the MCAT is not a ticket into medical school; you'd still have to have the pre-reqs each school demands. Again, getting a BSN as a start on your doctor career is a foolish move. You'll need to complete pre-med courses that may or may not be included in your nursing (RN) degree. Why not just take the courses you DO need?

You will need four years of college, including whatever pre-med courses are needed for your particular medical school's requirements. Three years of medical school. Three years' residency. Then internships in your specialty. So yes, it's not going to be 8 years, but rather 10 years before anyone lets you alone as "the" doctor, BEFORE specializing, regardless of whether you've got a nursing license...which is why it's foolish to go into nursing as a stepping stone. It isn't.

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Sep 12, 2008

Hi everyone! I'm in the process of starting to apply for nursing programs in New York and I was wondering if anyone has any certain tips for writing their personal statement? Is there a certain length, certain format, font, and do you need a heading?
Also, I don't have any prior experience related to nursing and I already have a Bachelor in Economics from a previous University [which doesn't relate to anything medical at all and I am worried that it may affect my acceptance ]. I am starting my first personal statement for St. Vincent's Catholic Medical Center and I'm pretty sure the personal statement has a big part in your acceptance for every school because it's supposed to show how dedicated you are if you get accepted in the program? Correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks in advance!

I'm sorry I can't be of much help to you; my school never required a "personal statement" as part of the admission application. Is this new, or particular to this school? Maybe I'm out of the loop!

Anyway, I'm hoping someone else out there has done this already and succeed, and can head you in the right direction. The obvious things that come to mind are good grammar, spelling, punctuation. Know proper uses of words and phrases, and don't EVER use slang or jargon. Sounds obvious, perhaps, but I think you'd be floored as to what people have written on this site alone, thinking they're writing perfectly well. They aren't. From what I've seen, you'll do fine :)

Best of luck to you!

SweetTeaRN, BSN, RN · Sep 12, 2008

The length requirement will probably depend on the individual schools where you are applying- sometimes, the school will specify a page limit, others will give you the limit at a number of words (like "in 500 words or less.") However, a good personal statement can be tailored for each school by changing a few things around. As far as format, I don't know exactly what you mean, but again would look to instructions for applicants on the school's website. You can never go wrong when writing anything formal for a school if you use Times New Roman size 10 or 12 font.

I had a BA in Biology prior to nursing school and I think that a degree can only help you. Lots of people are now choosing nursing as a second career. I do not think your background will hurt you at all.

Lastly, I would recommend thinking about what inspired you to pursue nursing for your personal statement. When I wrote mine, I knew I couldn't say something like, "I have always wanted to be a nurse" because I obviously wouldn't have majored in biology if that were the case. So instead, I recalled a specific instance where I knew I wanted to take care of people, which for me, happened when I was in elementary school. I said something like, "I knew at a very young age that I wanted to take care of others. When I was in elementary school, a classmate fell off the swing set and I immediately went to help him(...blah blah blah.) Even at such a precocious time in my life, I was aware of the need to take care of others, and committed myself to a career in the medical profession." Something like that (it has been awhile and I don't actually remember what I wrote). So just figure out what it was that inspired you to become a nurse, even if you don't remember the exact moment. Then just come up with more similar examples. Then just talk about why you are pursuing nursing right now, and how being a nurse will change your life or allow you to meet your ultimate dream of being compassionate towards others, or something like that.

Good luck! Just make sure that it is true and heartfelt and you shouldn't have a problem.