5 rules that can BREAK your DPT personal statement

Dr. Justin Lee, Doctor of Physical Therapy

23 Jul 202403:02

Summary

TLDRDr. Justin Lee, a physical therapist and mentor, outlines five crucial rules for crafting a compelling DPT personal statement. He emphasizes writing in the first person, maintaining consistency, and avoiding grammatical errors. Lee advises including two meaningful stories to support main points without over-saturating the essay. He also stresses the importance of not directly answering the prompt in the first sentence, instead painting a vivid picture, and answering the prompt in the last sentence of the first paragraph. Lastly, he encourages reflecting on personal growth from experiences. Lee offers additional tips and a free guide on his YouTube channel to assist in creating a standout personal statement.

Takeaways

📝 Write your DPT personal statement in the first person, using 'I' and 'me' consistently throughout.
🔍 Ensure grammatical accuracy, including correct use of past and present tenses.
📚 Include at least two stories or experiences to support your main points, but avoid more than two to prevent saturation and lack of depth.
🎨 Start your essay with descriptive language to paint a picture, saving the prompt answer for the last sentence of the first paragraph.
📖 Answer the prompt in the last sentence of your first paragraph to clearly state your purpose from the outset.
💡 Dedicate a paragraph to discussing your personal growth and reflections derived from your experiences.
📈 Follow these rules to stay on the right track, but remember that compelling content and storytelling are crucial to standing out.
🌟 Seek additional tips and strategies on the speaker's YouTube channel for further guidance on writing your personal statement.
📚 A free guide is available to help you start your personal statement, with a link provided in the description for download.
💼 Dr. Justin Lee, a physical therapist, mentors students to get accepted into physical therapy school.
🏋️‍♂️ The speaker encourages daily self-improvement through physical activity and personal growth.

Q & A

What are the five rules for writing a DPT personal statement according to Dr. Justin Lee?
-The five rules are: 1) Write in the first person point of view, using 'I' and 'me' consistently. 2) Include at least two stories or experiences that support your main points, but not more than five. 3) Do not answer the prompt in the first sentence; instead, paint a picture. 4) Answer the prompt in the last sentence of your first paragraph. 5) Spend a paragraph discussing your growth and reflections from your personal story or experiences.
Why is it important to write in the first person point of view in a DPT personal statement?
-Writing in the first person point of view allows you to narrate your experiences and thoughts personally, making the essay more personal and relatable. It's like writing a journal, which helps in maintaining a consistent voice throughout the essay.
How many stories or experiences should be included in a DPT personal statement according to Dr. Justin Lee's advice?
-Dr. Justin Lee recommends including at least two stories or experiences, but not more than five, as having too many can saturate the essay and prevent in-depth exploration of the true meaning and values you are trying to convey.
What is the recommended approach for the first sentence of a DPT personal statement?
-The first sentence should not directly answer the prompt. Instead, it should paint a picture and set the scene, using descriptive language to engage the reader.
Where should the prompt be answered in a DPT personal statement?
-The prompt should be answered in the last sentence of the first paragraph, providing a clear and direct response to the question posed.
Why is it crucial to discuss personal growth and reflections in a DPT personal statement?
-Discussing personal growth and reflections helps demonstrate how your experiences have shaped you and your perspective, showing the admission committee your maturity and self-awareness.
What should be the focus of the paragraph discussing personal growth and reflections in a DPT personal statement?
-The focus should be on what you have learned or how you have grown through your experiences, providing insights into your personal development and how these experiences have influenced your decision to pursue a career in physical therapy.
What is the purpose of having a consistent grammatical tense in a DPT personal statement?
-Maintaining a consistent grammatical tense helps in ensuring clarity and coherence in your essay. It avoids confusion for the reader and makes your narrative more engaging and easier to follow.
What additional resources does Dr. Justin Lee offer to help with writing a DPT personal statement?
-Dr. Justin Lee offers additional videos on tips and strategies on his YouTube channel and a free guide to help start your personal statement, which can be accessed through a link in the description of his video.
How can viewers access Dr. Justin Lee's free guide to start a personal statement?
-Viewers can access Dr. Justin Lee's free guide by following the link provided in the description of his video.
What is the overall goal of following Dr. Justin Lee's five rules for a DPT personal statement?
-The overall goal is to create a compelling and well-structured personal statement that effectively conveys your experiences, growth, and reflections, increasing your chances of standing out to the admission committee.

Outlines

00:00

📝 Five Essential Rules for a Successful DPT Personal Statement

Dr. Justin Lee emphasizes the importance of following five key rules when crafting a DPT personal statement. He warns that neglecting these rules can lead to a lack of seriousness from the admission committee. The video aims to guide viewers on how to avoid common mistakes and create a compelling essay. The first rule is to write in the first person, maintaining consistency throughout the essay and checking for grammatical errors. The second rule suggests including two stories or experiences to support main points, cautioning against too many which can dilute the essay's impact. The third rule advises against answering the prompt in the first sentence, instead recommending descriptive language to paint a picture. The fourth rule is to answer the prompt in the last sentence of the first paragraph. Lastly, the fifth rule encourages students to dedicate a paragraph to discussing personal growth and reflections derived from their experiences. Dr. Lee offers additional resources and strategies on his YouTube channel and provides a free guide to help start a personal statement.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡DPT Personal Statement

A DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) personal statement is a crucial document required for admission into physical therapy programs. It is a narrative that allows applicants to express their motivations, experiences, and qualifications for the field of physical therapy. In the video, the importance of adhering to specific rules in crafting this statement is emphasized to ensure it effectively communicates the applicant's suitability for the program.

💡First-person point of view

The first-person point of view refers to the narrative technique where the writer uses pronouns like 'I' and 'me' to describe events and thoughts from their own perspective. In the context of the video, Dr. Justin Lee advises using this perspective to make the personal statement more personal and relatable, akin to writing a journal.

💡Grammatical Errors

Grammatical errors encompass mistakes in the use of language, such as incorrect verb tense or sentence structure. The video script highlights the need to review and correct these errors, particularly in the context of past and present tense, to ensure the personal statement is polished and professional.

💡Stories or Experiences

In the video, Dr. Lee stresses the importance of including at least two stories or experiences that support the main points of the personal statement. These narratives should be chosen carefully to avoid saturating the essay, thus allowing for a deeper exploration of the applicant's values and motivations.

💡Prompt

The term 'prompt' in the context of a personal statement refers to the specific question or topic that the applicant is responding to in their essay. The video advises against directly answering the prompt in the first sentence, instead suggesting a more descriptive approach that leads to a clear response in the last sentence of the first paragraph.

💡Description

Description in writing involves providing detailed and vivid information about a subject, often to create a mental image for the reader. The video script encourages the use of descriptive language at the beginning of the essay to set the scene and engage the reader, leading to a more compelling narrative.

💡Growth and Reflections

Growth and reflections refer to the personal development and insights gained through experiences. In the video, Dr. Lee suggests dedicating a paragraph to discussing how these experiences have contributed to the applicant's personal and professional growth, which is essential for demonstrating maturity and readiness for the program.

💡Content

Content in the context of a personal statement refers to the material or substance of the essay, including the stories, experiences, and ideas presented. The video emphasizes the need for compelling and well-crafted content that stands out and effectively conveys the applicant's suitability for the DPT program.

💡Story Format

A story format in writing involves structuring the narrative in a way that is engaging and easy to follow. The video script suggests that the personal statement should be written in a compelling story format to help the applicant stand out among other applicants.

💡Free Guide

A free guide mentioned in the video is a resource provided by Dr. Justin Lee to assist applicants in starting their personal statement. It is offered as a helpful tool to guide them through the initial steps of crafting their essay, demonstrating the support available for those preparing for their application.

💡Lift Weights, Lift Others, Lift Yourself Up

This phrase encapsulates a holistic approach to personal and professional development in the field of physical therapy. It suggests the importance of physical strength (lifting weights), supporting others (lifting others), and personal growth (lifting yourself up). The video uses this phrase to inspire and motivate viewers to strive for excellence in their personal and professional lives.

Highlights

Importance of adhering to five key rules for writing a DPT personal statement.

The consequences of not following the rules can lead to a lack of seriousness from the admission committee.

Introduction of Dr. Justin Lee, a physical therapist and mentor for PT school applicants.

Rule 1: Write in the first person to maintain a personal and consistent narrative throughout the essay.

Attention to grammatical correctness, especially in tense usage.

Rule 2: Include at least two stories or experiences to support main points without over-saturating the essay.

Recommendation against using more than two stories due to the risk of superficiality.

Rule 3: Avoid answering the prompt in the first sentence; instead, paint a vivid picture.

Rule 4: Answer the prompt in the last sentence of the first paragraph to set the stage for the essay.

Rule 5: Dedicate a paragraph to discussing personal growth and reflections from experiences.

The significance of reflecting on growth to demonstrate learning from personal stories.

Advice on writing compelling content and crafting a strong narrative to stand out.

Offering additional tips and strategies through Dr. Lee's YouTube channel for further guidance.

Availability of a free guide to help start a personal statement with three simple steps.

The link to the free guide is provided in the description for easy access.

Encouragement to lift weights, others, and oneself as part of a holistic approach to well-being.