Posté le 11/03/2016 � 10:01 puis édité
6 fois 
Bonjour tout le monde,
Mes partiels approchent, mais avant quitter le remede je voudrais partager un "check list" de John's Hopkins qui m'a beacoup aidé avec la structuration de mon lettre (personal essay in the US). C'est en anglais, mais facile à lire.
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• Why do you want to be a physician (or dentist, or midwife)? What experiences have motivated and reinforced your desire to pursue this profession? Something to think about – but not necessarily state – is
what can medicine offer that other professions do not. For instance, you can help people by being a teacher or social worker or nurse. What draws you specifically to medicine?
• What experiences have allowed you to develop the skills necessary to be successful in medical school and to become an effective physician?
• What have you learned about medicine and what do you want to learn more about?
• What do you want admissions committees to know about you that is not addressed elsewhere in your application?
QUALITIES TO PORTRAY
Maturity
Reflectiveness
Honesty and integrity
Clarity of thought
Passion
Individuality
Positivity
Logic
Distinctiveness
Commitment
Ability to relate to diverse people
Insight into the chosen health profession
Strong written communication skills
Compassion and empathy
Genuineness and sincerity
Leadership
Insightfulness
Humanity
A realistic perspective
Enthusiasm
“Distance traveled”/lessons learned
Industriousness and persistence
Self-awareness
THEMES TO AVOID
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Clichés: How many times do you think admissions committees have read the phrase, “I want to become a physician because I like science and I want to help people”?
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The “epiphany into medicine”: Your pursuit of the health professions should be the result of a series of thoughtful, conscious, and reflective decisions, NOT an instantaneous realization.
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anifest Destiny: You have not “always known” that you want to be a physician (or dentist, etc.). See above. Similarly, who cares if “everyone has always said that I would make a good physician.” What do they know?
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The narrative resume: Do not rehash all of your activities and achievements. Choose ONE or TWO significant and distinguishing experiences to elaborate upon.
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“I know what it is like to be a physician from [shadowing, clinical volunteer experience, etc.].” No, you do not. That is why you are hoping to go to medical school – so you might be lucky enough to find out one day.
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Grandiosity: Claiming that you plan to cure cancer (or HIV, or healthcare disparities, or anything else) shows a grave lack of understanding of whatever problem you are planning to solve.
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Negativity: No one likes a complainer. In particular, do not be negative about Johns Hopkins, your professors, or your research mentors.
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"I am special“: Of course you are special. But claiming “you probably do not see many applicants like me” is not only arrogant but is also likely untrue. Admissions committees have seen it all.
• Anything potentially inflammatory or controversial: You do not know the values, beliefs, and background of the person who is reading your essay. Additionally, your beliefs are not the only “correct” beliefs. Furthermore, some people – including admissions officers – have personal biases and prejudices. For these reasons, it is advisable to avoid making any strong statements regarding politics, religion, and other polarizing topics.
Be extremely cautious to avoid expressing any views that could be construed as derogatory to any group or another health care profession
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“I am a victim”: Victims are never attractive candidates. If you have experienced difficulties, explain your experiences dispassionately and focus on how you overcame these difficulties, what you learned from your experiences, and how you are a stronger person because of your experiences.
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Excuses: In general, there are better uses for your personal statement than explaining away and justifying poor grades, incidents of misconduct, etc. However, if you choose to address these subjects, be sure to focus on what you have learned from those incidents and how your experiences have made you a stronger person. Never, ever blame anyone else for your mistakes.
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Lies: This includes information that may be factually accurate but is presented in a misleading way.
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Leading with a quotation written by someone else: Admissions committees are interested in what you have to say.
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Any unusual formats: Do not submit artwork, photographs, collages, videos, etc. in lieu of a written essay. Likewise, do not write your personal statement in verse, limerick, haiku, etc.
HELPFUL HINTS & TIPS
• Keep in mind the purpose of the personal statement.
• Do not wait until the last minute. Go through several drafts.
• Organize your essay in a logical manner. It may be helpful to develop an outline before you begin writing.
• In general, stick to recent experiences and accomplishments (i.e., things you have done since beginning college).
• Do not repeat information that is found elsewhere in your application.
• Know your audience. This will involve researching the schools and programs to which you are applying.
• Be interesting and engaging.
• Be concise.
Every single sentence must be crucial to the essay. Do not waste words (e.g., “for instance,” “in conclusion”).
• Use active voice, use strong verbs, and vary your sentence structure.
Avoid beginning every sentence with “I.”
• Use normal rules of capitalization, punctuation, spelling, etc. (ur writin n essay not a txt msg)
• Use appropriate vocabulary. Use your thesaurus judiciously. Do not try to impress with “million dollar words,” but also avoid the use of slang and colloquialisms. If a sentence sounds awkward when spoken, it probably sounds awkward when read, too.
• Humor is really tricky to pull off, and application to health professions school should be taken seriously.
• Be sure you have an actual conclusion to your essay so that it does not look like you continued writing until you ran out of characters.
• Verify that there are no inconsistencies between your personal statement and the rest of your application
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PROOFREAD. Then proofread again. Then proofread some more. Then have others proofread for you. Then proofread one more time.
• Do not even think about plagiarizing.
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BE YOURSELF. Make sure the personal statement that you submit is: 1) reflective of your personality; and 2) in your own words (not those of your editors).
• Be prepared for the fact that your personal statement and essays will be conversation material for your interviews!