What not to mention in the CASPA essay

Jenlo · Post by **Jenlo** » Mon Mar 21, 2011 11:42 am

Hey, people. I'll be applying to schools this fall and I'm starting to think about my CASPA essay. I'm an alcoholic (sober now, and in recovery for 3+ years). AA and the recovery process has been a big part of my life, but I don't know if an admissions committee would look at it that way. Should I mention it, or not? And if I do, what should I say? Thanks for the awesome blog - keep up the great work!

Post by **PaulK** » Tue Mar 22, 2011 5:21 pm

That\'s a cool question - this type of thing seems to happen a lot. I can\'t say how every school would see it, but here\'s my thought. If you\'re clean and sober, that\'s probably something you\'re proud of (right?). Has it been important in your life - I mean, has it helped you to learn something that could be important to working as a PA? I suspect it has. If it has, it will add personality and color to your essay. I think essays are about stories, making your come alive as flesh and blood, as opposed to just paper and ink. So as far as I\'m concerned, it really depends on how you go about it. If you talk about it as a challenge you have overcome, a strength, a life lesson, it makes you more real, believable, and interesting. If you worry about it, apologize for it, or gloss over it, it only makes you look like you didn\'t learn the life lesson from it. In short, I\'d highlight it. What I wouldn\'t do is mention it in passing or try to minimize it. This is a question you should seek out mulitiple opinions on. Good luck, J!

afarmboy · Post by **afarmboy** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 12:26 am

I\'m in just about the same spot as you, Jenlo, in the app process, so take my advice for what it\'s worth... not too much.
First of all a big congrats on being sober. Not a small accomplishment.
I had many of the same thoughts that Paul had. This experience has definitely had a hand in shaping who you are, but you might want to selectively disclose it. What I mean is get to know the schools you are interested in. What feeling do you get from them? Visit the school if possible. Call and talk to the program director. Get on the PA forum (sorry P) and get a sense of how the current students feel about their school and ad-com. There are some that give me a comforting \"hold-your-hand\" type feeling, and there are others that are, to me, purely after the academic over-acheivers with the 4.00 GPA, research, published, and perfect history.
There are dark things in my history that, having made it through to a brighter side, have shaped who I am. I wouldn\'t put it in my essay because it\'s something I should write a book about, and I don\'t think what you can fit in a one-page personal essay, including all the other vital data, leaves room for adequately expounding on that deep of subject matter. That\'s just me though.
Here\'s an idea. Maybe wait until your interview, where you can gauge how it\'s going a little better. If you\'re comfortable in the situation, and the adcom seems accepting, be prepared to give the story of your journey. I personally would appreciate and value it.
The best of luck to you!
-Aaron

Post by **PaulK** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:50 pm

Good points, Aaron. In short: you get to decide what to tell and not tell, so (as long as you\'re honest) use it to your advantage.

sastacey7 · Post by **sastacey7** » Sat Jul 23, 2011 8:01 pm

Similar question. I come from a background that normally does not lead to this place (applying to ANY grad school). My parents divorce, (nothing unusual there), mother was drug addict/alcoholic w/ husband who beat her. I lived with my father, who was gone working all the time. I was the perfect student (it was an escape to get lost in books) and I was popular... With a 4.0 in high school and in a ton of extracirriculars, I became pregnant at 14. Of course there were three options for me, and my family tried to make that choice. I wouldn\'t let them. My father responded by saying \"you ruined your life\" and quite speaking to me for many years. I graduated high school at 16 with honors, lived on my own, worked, joined the military, was in intelligence and translated Russian. I married, have 5 beautiful children now, a healthy happy household, and am back in school pursuing my dreams. I knew I didn\'t ruin my life- it just took a different path, and one that has very much shaped who I am and how I see the world. I didn\'t \"kill any chance of going into medicine.\" I think I learned lessons that I will carry with me that will make be a better provider. Knowledge is power, and listening to someone, connecting with them, and having the honor of providing them with knowledge that they need to change their own life is one of the most amazing experiences in this world. It is amazing what people can do that doesn\'t seem possible, that breaks the statistics. We all empower each other.

Here is my question. I want very much to include this in my essay- but I want to be srue that I don\'t come across as a \"sob story.\" I don\'t ask for sympathy, and don\'t want in a program based on that. But, I do feel that this is my story- any specific examples of words to avoid, or how to/not to word things so that it doesn\'t seem like I am trying to cry my way in? Sorry this was long- and thanks in advance for any input- The PS is all I have left to complete before submitting my CASPA application.

Post by **PaulK** » Mon Jul 25, 2011 12:59 am

I think the key here is to make sure that whatever you say, you focus on the positive. Of course this has made you who you are, and your story is AMAZING. You don\'t want to attend ANY pa school that turns its nose up at you for it. So I would focus on what you\'ve learned from it all, how it\'s helped you to know this is the career, and what you have to offer the field. Don\'t focus on the sobs, focus on the cheers! If you write it with pride, own it, and use it, you will succeed. I don\'t want to sound corny, but this is terrific material for an essay - not to milk or manipulate, but to illustrate who you are, your leadership qualities, your persistence, and your self-awareness. Feel free to post a copy of it here for forum participants\' input - change any details you like to assure anonymity. We can all learn from the process.

lpsterns · Post by **lpsterns** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 4:08 pm

How do you guys feel about using humor in the personal statement? I have a pretty funny anecdote about my \"lightbulb\" moment (when I realized I wanted to pursue being a PA) that might make a good opening, but I don\'t want to give the impression that I\'m taking the whole thing lightly. Thoughts?

Post by **PaulK** » Thu Aug 18, 2011 11:47 pm

I think humor is fine, but I would avoid trying to be funny throughout - I think it would seem forced. But yes, a humorous anecdote could work well as an opener. Just be sure to show your deeper and serious side in there somewhere too. Good luck!

lpsterns · Post by **lpsterns** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 11:02 am

Okay this is a minute little thing, but is it okay to use \"PA\" in the essay instead of writing out \"physician assistant\" every time? With only 5000 characters, every one counts...

Post by **PaulK** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 1:02 pm

In most writing, for at least the very first mention, you should spell it out. Then you can use the abbreviation. It might be nice to drop the full name one or two other places, such as the closing paragraph. Not a dumb question at all...

lpsterns · Post by **lpsterns** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 1:18 pm

Great, that\'s what I\'ve been doing...thanks for the response!

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