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Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone has written a PS about cancer. If you have, I was wondering if you could send me a copy. I am trying to figure out how to strike a healthy balance between the positive and the negative.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

OmbreGracieuse wrote:Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone has written a PS about cancer. If you have, I was wondering if you could send me a copy. I am trying to figure out how to strike a healthy balance between the positive and the negative.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

I have had cancer, and I considered putting it in my PS, but have decided against it. I am, however, using it as an addendum to my GPA (I never withdrew from classes during treatments and even 2 month hospital stays). I have been advised against using it in a PS, unless of course someone asks me specifically for something I've overcome...

In this thread, we find out if it is possible to steal someone's PS about cancer, even if you have never had it. Let's see if it works.

sumus romani wrote:In this thread, we find out if it is possible to steal someone's PS about cancer, even if you have never had it. Let's see if it works.

I should hope not; anyone who would do something like that should probably not be going law school, IMHO.

If you were implying that about me, I must admit you are sadly mistaken. Cancer is something I need to address in my personal statement or in an addendum because it has impacted my grades, attendance, and past morale, but I don't know how to talk about my diagnosis or treatment while still balancing it to something well rounded and positive by the end of the essay.

I also had issues trying to word the right question. I searched TLS to see if anyone had given advice on a similar topic but hadn't seen one, so I felt it might benefit people to have a reference post such as this one. I feel that this is kind-of uncharted territory, and hopefull this post will aid someone when it is all said and done.

I just wanted to note how important it is to separate any attempt to talk about how your condition affected your grades from your PS. I really think that should only be in your addendum. Also, you don't really need to talk about this issue in your PS. Unless you can tie it into why you want to become a lawyer, I don't really think it's a great topic - but this is merely my opinion on the matter.

This is going to sound terrible... but writing about cancer can get cliche very quickly. So unless there's something really out of the ordinary about it, I wouldn't write about it.

billyez wrote:I just wanted to note how important it is to separate any attempt to talk about how your condition affected your grades from your PS. I really think that should only be in your addendum.

True story.

billyez wrote: Also, you don't really need to talk about this issue in your PS. Unless you can tie it into why you want to become a lawyer, I don't really think it's a great topic - but this is merely my opinion on the matter.

I'm not in 100% agreement on this part though. You don't think it could be made into a good story? Why do people like that douchemonster Lance Armstrong? Because he won a bunch of athletic competitions that no Americans care about? It's because his battle from cancer to a supreme athlete inspires us and could be a sweet challenge which would be the hallmark of a good PS. The challenge is to not frame it in a "whoa is me" kind of way. I don't think it's easy to do, but I bet it could end up being solid*

*full disclosure - i don't know what i'm talking about.

TommyK wrote: I'm not in 100% agreement on this part though. You don't think it could be made into a good story? Why do people like that douchemonster Lance Armstrong? Because he won a bunch of athletic competitions that no Americans care about? It's because his battle from cancer to a supreme athlete inspires us and could be a sweet challenge which would be the hallmark of a good PS. The challenge is to not frame it in a "whoa is me" kind of way. I don't think it's easy to do, but I bet it could end up being solid*

*full disclosure - i don't know what i'm talking about.

Well, don't worry, none of us (besides amy and Darby) really know what we're talking about on this issue; so it's cool.

I'm glad you posted this though, because after re-reading what I said, I think you're correct. I think what really matters is that the cancer isn't the defining element of the PS, but rather the effect it had on the OP. Honestly, the only way we can really talk about this is by seeing the PS.

P.S. Armstrong is not a douchemonster.

No, but I'm sure someone wrote about being a taurus. Hey-OHHH!

.

billyez wrote:

TommyK wrote: I'm not in 100% agreement on this part though. You don't think it could be made into a good story? Why do people like that douchemonster Lance Armstrong? Because he won a bunch of athletic competitions that no Americans care about? It's because his battle from cancer to a supreme athlete inspires us and could be a sweet challenge which would be the hallmark of a good PS. The challenge is to not frame it in a "whoa is me" kind of way. I don't think it's easy to do, but I bet it could end up being solid*

*full disclosure - i don't know what i'm talking about.

Well, don't worry, none of us (besides amy and Darby) really know what we're talking about on this issue; so it's cool.

I'm glad you posted this though, because after re-reading what I said, I think you're correct. I think what really matters is that the cancer isn't the defining element of the PS, but rather the effect it had on the OP. Honestly, the only way we can really talk about this is by seeing the PS.

P.S. Armstrong is not a douchemonster.

Any PS should not be about the topic chosen but about the person writing it. The topic is only the vehicle a person uses to display what they want to say.

billyez wrote: P.S. Armstrong is not a douchemonster.

Whenever faced with a difficult call like this, I defer to google. Exhibit A
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