I think it is important to determine what 3 experiences really caused you to sit and think critically about the path you are embarking upon. Then, from those 3 experiences, draw 3 conclusions that illustrate your enlightenment about medicine as a practice and as an idea. Write the statement almost as you would a documentary exploring different periods in your life, allowing each paragraph to flow into one another seamlessly. When you finally reach the concluding paragraph, then you can combine these three ideas you developed in the preceding paragraphs to ultimately draw your final conclusion: why these things matter to you so much that you cannot see yourself doing anything else besides practicing medicine as a profession. You have to make basically an inductive argument given your experiences, but of course without making it into an argumentative paper about your future competence as a physician. Make it to where that logic is first of all valid, and second of all sound given your experiences. At least this all worked for me a few years back when I received multiple acceptances. I also applied exclusively D.O. and didn't mention osteopathy once in my personal statement.
That sounds awfully hard- My writing style isn’t flowery like highschool English class or a English major. I wish the application could just be blunt and to the point.
Thanks for your insight Dr. Gray! Totally agree that the personal statement is nothing to be feared and is a wonderful opportunity to share your personal story to admissions!
Ok I'm so glad I watched your video. For the past couple of days, I've been trying to write my medical school personal statement and felt totally stuck and demotivated to write. As you said, I looked up tips to write a personal statement. I've read a number of sample essays and they seemed to convey the idea to share your unique experience and here I am feeling like my life has been so boring? But you wouldn't believe how reassuring it felt when I heard you say that "there is nothing unique about you" LOL. The experience that made me want to become a physician is when I got hospitalized for my heart surgery where I met great doctors and patients. I'm glad to hear the backstory about the deans how they read similar stories all the time and how it is ok to be cliche and being like everyone else. Now I think I can write with more confidence and honesty. Thank you!
Great video Dr. Gray! I wanted to add one thing that I did personally which I felt helped me greatly. During my early stages I talked over my rough personal statement with close friends. Talking about and having to explain it really showed me which experiences really impact me and which ones not as much. The feedback from my friends was also crucial in perfecting my personal statement.
When you say your not unique but then say have diversity as a applicant. I teach tai chi and qigong to seniors and seen amazing results from them and one of the main reasons I want to be a doctor
i definitely believe the I got sick, they got sick, someone got sick in my family is the most common ground between most pre-meds. I wrote about growing up in a warzone in Bethlehem (I originally middle eastern and lived there for a chunk of my life) and how I associated medicine with heroism and safety from an early age. It's my story, and there are probably others that have similar experiences. I am just trusting the process and hoping it all goes well.
I'm actually writing my personal statement for a summer intensive (SHPEP) at the moment and I was really getting stuck. This was awesome advice, thank you so much!
For the potentially unique experience, I had a great uncle who was sterilized and possibly lobotomized while he lived in the asylums of the 50s. He's always been a huge driving force in my journey for medicine because psychology and the inhumane treatments of the past have always been close to my heart. I want to become the type of psychiatrist that people aren't afraid to see because of the treatments of the past or being seen as damaged goods kind of thing. Not sure if you've ever seen an application like that !
I am currently an RN and have decided not to finish getting my DNP and apply to med school. How do I adequately explain “why wouldn’t you just be a nurse practitioner?” Without sounding ungrateful for the world or nursing?
How do you suggest going about writing essays for the topic, "What experiences have you had that have prepared you to be a physician?" I feel like its a trick question lol, I can talk about a lot of experiences but what do I know about what it's like to be prepared to be a physician? Being a premed and being prepared to be a physician I don't feel are easy sides to jump across.
Really stupid fkn messed up all of these requirements to stress kids out. Rich kids just hire good writers to make all this crap perfect regardless how good they are even are.
Possibly a unique personal statement, I wrote mine about listening to a former sex worker talk about the judgment she faced in the medical system. She had inspired me to write my master's thesis on the subject of physicians building trust with sex workers. Even if it isn't unique it got me where I wanted to be, and I'm passionate about both helping physicians build relationships with sex workers and building a practice to help give sex workers good and affordable medical care.
I hated my Medical school application personal statement......it was some technical essay on research I did at Hopkins. My grades were ok but the statement made me seem smarter than I actually was. .....as a result I got into med school in Boston. For my residency essay ( Psychiatry).....I wrote an essay on how being a former bouncer and bartender at a night club was like being a Psychiatrist. Everyone loved it except Northeast programs.....I ended up in California. Better choice.
Can I write about the field I am inspired to go into? Or that would shut some doors since I have a specialty in mind and the admissions would worry I'm not open to other options?
I hear you! However, sometimes the seed is the less interesting aspect of your ps, more important could be now that you have decided on this profession what have you done to show continued commitment. Could keep it short and sweet or even start the intro with a current experience in story form then do a quick this is how I first learned about medicine in par 2.
As a former flight surgeon in the Air Force, do you have any suggestions for students mentioning military experience, ROTC in my case, in their personal statement?
Hey Ryan! Long time lurker. Thank you for all of your wonderful content! You said to comment if we thought we had a unique experience so I wanted to run what could potentially be mine by you: I am the only undergraduate student to start a chapter of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Open School. I don’t know how familiar you are with IHI but I was fortunate enough to receive incredible training in leadership, quality improvement, safety, and patient/family-centered care at several conferences and workshops all around the world when I was an undergrad (which I think is unique because 99% of IHI members are at the grad school or professional level). My experiences with IHI are definitely what “watered the seed” for me and cemented that I want to be a physician in order to lead care teams dedicated to delivering top quality, relationship-centered care. I welcome your honest feedback. Thank you again for all of your generosity, wisdom, and service!
I was a competitive trampolinist. Just curious if you know about the sport of T&T since you say you've seen it all. I never meet anyone that's familiar with it!
Hi, Dr. Gray, I got adopted from Russia at age 7, was placed in an orphanage prior to being adopted. I had to overcome obstacles far as being behind in school, learning a new language and transitioning to a new culture and family. Can I put this in my personal statement or describe about this in my secondary essays? Thank you.
I don't know if you happen to comb through these comments anymore, but do you have any advice on my own personal statement? I don't have any significant events that made me have the realization that I wanted to be a physician. From the time I was a kid and someone defined what the word meant, I just wanted to be it and have had several reaffirming experiences since then. I don't know how to spin the "i wanted to be a doctor since I was a kid" narrative without it sounding hokey or unrealistic. But that's just how it happened for me. I've always been really empathic and hearing that there was a career dedicated to the holistic (here meaning emotionally as well as physiologically, not in the traditional sense of holistic care) care of others instantly resonated with me. I know this is a silly and dramatic sounding question, but is that just a cursed motivation to have?
Probably way late to help, but I would try and reflect on a specific event in your childhood that really made you interested in being a physician specifically. For example, if you really are just interested in helping people theres a lot of other jobs you could do (firefighter, nurse, teacher, etc.), but why specifically a doctor? and then fill out the rest of the essay with events along the way that reaffirmed your decision for that path. If you've really always been interested there has probably been at least one moment when you thought "Maybe I want this but I'm just not cut out for it", you could reflect on that and how you overcame it and pushed forward.
No unique experience? Have you had a stroke at the age of 21 because a doctor misplaced a central line and misread the X-ray and so did the radiologist?
Hi Dr. Gray, I believe I have a unique experience. I am part of a pilot program in Los Angeles. I help enroll patients into a portal where they can access their health information such as lab results, appointments, doctor’s notes etc through their phones. My team and I walk patients through the enrollment process and assist them with navigating their portal. The purpose of this pilot program is to help bridge the gap in digital divide, reduce barriers to accessing their health information, and it allows the patients to be proactive about their health (and much more, of course). Let me know what you think about this! 😊
I climbed all 58 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado in one summer for an American Cancer Society fundraiser and got to represent the ACS in the Chicago marathon for it.... is that unique enough to write about?
The thing I think that will be most unique to my story is that my wife and I are both applying (1 year apart) and we have six kids at home. I have not heard of another couple like that. Also, I'm finishing my Doctor of Business Administration and getting an FACHE, then applying. I've never heard of someone getting that exact degree before med school, but at the same time it is a research doctorate so it isn't too uncommon for research doctorates to then go to med school (though they are usually science based). And I've met one person who got their FACHE before med school, too (but they are at the Caribbean so take that as you will).
@@ShinySephiroth1 Got it. I know it feels like a long time but stick with it and this year if you make it a worthwhile one will give you some great experiences to possibly share in your ps! good luck
@@WriteYourAcceptance Thank you! It really is a little painful because (outside of the MCAT, waiting to take it in January), I'm fully ready to apply! Just gotta wait to finish that doctorate, haha.
Would writing about leaving a religion due to medical inaccuracies and wanting to pursue knowledge and truth be a good experience? I would write about 2 more also that discuss why specifically doctor through shadowing
Im not an expert or anything but I have also been watching a lot of videos on making good essays for applying. As long as you don't overly bash the religion (bc you don't know the religiosity of the person reading your essay) and instead use it as a starting point about how you personally grow I think that's a fine essay!
I want to write about global brigades (medical and fianance) and being a wish granter for make a wish and maybe my masters. Or should I write about my own sickness lol I know it’s cliche but it happened last year so maybe not?
I guaranfuckingtee I have a unique experience... I hit a half court shot at a Laker's game to win $95k which I used to help myself go back to school at age 37. Let me know if you want to interview me and hear my story. Also used CPR to revive my son who was in a near drowning accident.
My unique experience: Lived in 6 different countries by the age of 15. 6 different countries and 2 different states by the time I will be interviewing 🤣 My dad moved a lot with his work.
I see what he's saying. Every military brat has the same experience, and I'm sure there are thousands of similar applications every year. I lived in 8 different countries and attended 15 different schools before graduating high school, but I doubt that will set me apart from the other nomads that apply every year.
@@kris9074 same. We moved a lot. I was thinking of making this point a key in the personal statement I think you can actually derive a lot of good points from this that can make you stand out
My unique experience. I birthed 3 children, now all three are teenagers. The oldest was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 2, the day after I found out I was pregnant with my 3rd child. How many applicants share that life story, Dr. Gray?
it's a touching story that would make your statement be heartfelt but Ive met parents with a similar story. He meant unique like an unheard of shocking accomplishment that would make Harvard want to call you the next day lol.
On my very first day at my unit as an Army Medic, the electrician electrocuted himself and fell off the latter he was using... The whole building started calling for a medic.. that was my first patient... I bet that's pretty unique.. Mr. IvE HeArD iT aLl BeFoRe.... my next patient some newbie tanker crushed his head in the rotating turret of the tank.. also unique I guarantee
You’ll be surprised how not unique this is . Electrocution and crush injuries are not new ask paramedics, trauma nurse , bystanders at road accidents etc …unfortunately . There is nothing truly unique, but it’s the way you retell the story
How many times are those workers the SOLO medical professional... and sometimes the ONLY medical professional available for hours or even days??? Almost never, that's a situation pretty unique to the military
@@tylerlockwood9104 actually I recall a situation while working as a trauma nurse at a level one hospital: brother’s arm got caught in a combined harvester machine thing and got shredded to bits , his sister who is not medical and another farm hand saved his life but placing a tourniquet , he almost died but they managed to call for help and he was air lifted to the trauma hospital I was working at . This was rural Nebraska. It happened on a farm with non medical people. No military whatsoever. I heard later the sister was pursuing medical school because of that incident. I can tell you 100 more stories I gathered from 6 years working trauma. Good luck on your journey!
in lieu of a personal statement i present to you a gif attached to my application of Eric Andre yelling "LET ME IN" while holding onto a gate.
😂😂😂 gold!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I think it is important to determine what 3 experiences really caused you to sit and think critically about the path you are embarking upon. Then, from those 3 experiences, draw 3 conclusions that illustrate your enlightenment about medicine as a practice and as an idea. Write the statement almost as you would a documentary exploring different periods in your life, allowing each paragraph to flow into one another seamlessly. When you finally reach the concluding paragraph, then you can combine these three ideas you developed in the preceding paragraphs to ultimately draw your final conclusion: why these things matter to you so much that you cannot see yourself doing anything else besides practicing medicine as a profession. You have to make basically an inductive argument given your experiences, but of course without making it into an argumentative paper about your future competence as a physician. Make it to where that logic is first of all valid, and second of all sound given your experiences. At least this all worked for me a few years back when I received multiple acceptances. I also applied exclusively D.O. and didn't mention osteopathy once in my personal statement.
good thoughts!
That sounds awfully hard- My writing style isn’t flowery like highschool English class or a English major. I wish the application could just be blunt and to the point.
I'm going to definitely try this. Thanks for the advice!
would those 3 experiences end up being the same ones as your 'most meaningful'?
You are so brutally honest. I appreciate that.
I’ve literally been trying to write my personal statement for the past two weeks (to apply to post bacc programs). This came at a perfect time
good luck!!
Thanks for your insight Dr. Gray! Totally agree that the personal statement is nothing to be feared and is a wonderful opportunity to share your personal story to admissions!
Ok I'm so glad I watched your video. For the past couple of days, I've been trying to write my medical school personal statement and felt totally stuck and demotivated to write. As you said, I looked up tips to write a personal statement. I've read a number of sample essays and they seemed to convey the idea to share your unique experience and here I am feeling like my life has been so boring? But you wouldn't believe how reassuring it felt when I heard you say that "there is nothing unique about you" LOL. The experience that made me want to become a physician is when I got hospitalized for my heart surgery where I met great doctors and patients. I'm glad to hear the backstory about the deans how they read similar stories all the time and how it is ok to be cliche and being like everyone else. Now I think I can write with more confidence and honesty. Thank you!
"Common is not cliche!" quoted from the recent webinar lol
Great video Dr. Gray! I wanted to add one thing that I did personally which I felt helped me greatly. During my early stages I talked over my rough personal statement with close friends. Talking about and having to explain it really showed me which experiences really impact me and which ones not as much. The feedback from my friends was also crucial in perfecting my personal statement.
When you say your not unique but then say have diversity as a applicant. I teach tai chi and qigong to seniors and seen amazing results from them and one of the main reasons I want to be a doctor
"you are not going to find unique experiences"
*me who has done the Heimlich maneuver 3000ft up in the air while skydiving*
i definitely believe the I got sick, they got sick, someone got sick in my family is the most common ground between most pre-meds. I wrote about growing up in a warzone in Bethlehem (I originally middle eastern and lived there for a chunk of my life) and how I associated medicine with heroism and safety from an early age. It's my story, and there are probably others that have similar experiences. I am just trusting the process and hoping it all goes well.
That’s awesome. For someone who lacked of dramas in life like me having a difficult time writing personal statements
same here. but the professor who proof-read mine felt like it was too intense. lol
I'm actually writing my personal statement for a summer intensive (SHPEP) at the moment and I was really getting stuck. This was awesome advice, thank you so much!
SierraJanai M. Which ones?!?
Have you listened to my interview with SHPEP? It's medicalschoolhq.net/324
we all needed to hear that!!
yes!
For the potentially unique experience, I had a great uncle who was sterilized and possibly lobotomized while he lived in the asylums of the 50s. He's always been a huge driving force in my journey for medicine because psychology and the inhumane treatments of the past have always been close to my heart. I want to become the type of psychiatrist that people aren't afraid to see because of the treatments of the past or being seen as damaged goods kind of thing. Not sure if you've ever seen an application like that !
I am currently an RN and have decided not to finish getting my DNP and apply to med school. How do I adequately explain “why wouldn’t you just be a nurse practitioner?” Without sounding ungrateful for the world or nursing?
How did it go?
How do you suggest going about writing essays for the topic, "What experiences have you had that have prepared you to be a physician?" I feel like its a trick question lol, I can talk about a lot of experiences but what do I know about what it's like to be prepared to be a physician? Being a premed and being prepared to be a physician I don't feel are easy sides to jump across.
I love your videos. They are super helpful. Thanks so much, keep up the great work.
Really stupid fkn messed up all of these requirements to stress kids out. Rich kids just hire good writers to make all this crap perfect regardless how good they are even are.
Possibly a unique personal statement, I wrote mine about listening to a former sex worker talk about the judgment she faced in the medical system. She had inspired me to write my master's thesis on the subject of physicians building trust with sex workers. Even if it isn't unique it got me where I wanted to be, and I'm passionate about both helping physicians build relationships with sex workers and building a practice to help give sex workers good and affordable medical care.
I hated my Medical school application personal statement......it was some technical essay on research I did at Hopkins. My grades were ok but the statement made me seem smarter than I actually was. .....as a result I got into med school in Boston.
For my residency essay ( Psychiatry).....I wrote an essay on how being a former bouncer and bartender at a night club was like being a Psychiatrist. Everyone loved it except Northeast programs.....I ended up in California. Better choice.
Can I write about the field I am inspired to go into? Or that would shut some doors since I have a specialty in mind and the admissions would worry I'm not open to other options?
Thank you! Very very helpful :) I may even buy the book!
Is having a job as an employment training specialist for the mentally handicapped a unique experience?
I have preformed surgery as a premed. I think it’s important, it transformed my life.
You did illegal work without license how it will transform your life..
So should I never discuss it again?!?
anyone else need a "how to lie effectively when your 'seed' is stigmatizing" video?
I hear you! However, sometimes the seed is the less interesting aspect of your ps, more important could be now that you have decided on this profession what have you done to show continued commitment. Could keep it short and sweet or even start the intro with a current experience in story form then do a quick this is how I first learned about medicine in par 2.
As a former flight surgeon in the Air Force, do you have any suggestions for students mentioning military experience, ROTC in my case, in their personal statement?
So do you have a website that I can send in my personal statement similar to the book?
Hey Ryan! Long time lurker. Thank you for all of your wonderful content! You said to comment if we thought we had a unique experience so I wanted to run what could potentially be mine by you: I am the only undergraduate student to start a chapter of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Open School. I don’t know how familiar you are with IHI but I was fortunate enough to receive incredible training in leadership, quality improvement, safety, and patient/family-centered care at several conferences and workshops all around the world when I was an undergrad (which I think is unique because 99% of IHI members are at the grad school or professional level). My experiences with IHI are definitely what “watered the seed” for me and cemented that I want to be a physician in order to lead care teams dedicated to delivering top quality, relationship-centered care. I welcome your honest feedback. Thank you again for all of your generosity, wisdom, and service!
I was a competitive trampolinist. Just curious if you know about the sport of T&T since you say you've seen it all. I never meet anyone that's familiar with it!
Hi, Dr. Gray, I got adopted from Russia at age 7, was placed in an orphanage prior to being adopted. I had to overcome obstacles far as being behind in school, learning a new language and transitioning to a new culture and family. Can I put this in my personal statement or describe about this in my secondary essays? Thank you.
In our country. We take admission in med school after high school . So what courses do you recommend to take before joining college??
good idea
I don't know if you happen to comb through these comments anymore, but do you have any advice on my own personal statement? I don't have any significant events that made me have the realization that I wanted to be a physician. From the time I was a kid and someone defined what the word meant, I just wanted to be it and have had several reaffirming experiences since then. I don't know how to spin the "i wanted to be a doctor since I was a kid" narrative without it sounding hokey or unrealistic. But that's just how it happened for me. I've always been really empathic and hearing that there was a career dedicated to the holistic (here meaning emotionally as well as physiologically, not in the traditional sense of holistic care) care of others instantly resonated with me. I know this is a silly and dramatic sounding question, but is that just a cursed motivation to have?
Probably way late to help, but I would try and reflect on a specific event in your childhood that really made you interested in being a physician specifically. For example, if you really are just interested in helping people theres a lot of other jobs you could do (firefighter, nurse, teacher, etc.), but why specifically a doctor? and then fill out the rest of the essay with events along the way that reaffirmed your decision for that path. If you've really always been interested there has probably been at least one moment when you thought "Maybe I want this but I'm just not cut out for it", you could reflect on that and how you overcame it and pushed forward.
Great advice 👍 👌.
No unique experience? Have you had a stroke at the age of 21 because a doctor misplaced a central line and misread the X-ray and so did the radiologist?
I'm a street medic and help organize street medics. Have you seen that before?
love how Dr. Gray cuts through the crap.
Hi Dr. Gray,
I believe I have a unique experience. I am part of a pilot program in Los Angeles. I help enroll patients into a portal where they can access their health information such as lab results, appointments, doctor’s notes etc through their phones. My team and I walk patients through the enrollment process and assist them with navigating their portal. The purpose of this pilot program is to help bridge the gap in digital divide, reduce barriers to accessing their health information, and it allows the patients to be proactive about their health (and much more, of course). Let me know what you think about this! 😊
I climbed all 58 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado in one summer for an American Cancer Society fundraiser and got to represent the ACS in the Chicago marathon for it.... is that unique enough to write about?
The thing I think that will be most unique to my story is that my wife and I are both applying (1 year apart) and we have six kids at home. I have not heard of another couple like that. Also, I'm finishing my Doctor of Business Administration and getting an FACHE, then applying. I've never heard of someone getting that exact degree before med school, but at the same time it is a research doctorate so it isn't too uncommon for research doctorates to then go to med school (though they are usually science based). And I've met one person who got their FACHE before med school, too (but they are at the Caribbean so take that as you will).
So interesting did you finally write your PS? Did you capture the beautiful chaos I imagine you have sometimes at home?
@@WriteYourAcceptance I have not yet written! Unfortunately I have to wait till May 2022 to apply to finish my current program.
@@ShinySephiroth1 Got it. I know it feels like a long time but stick with it and this year if you make it a worthwhile one will give you some great experiences to possibly share in your ps! good luck
@@WriteYourAcceptance Thank you! It really is a little painful because (outside of the MCAT, waiting to take it in January), I'm fully ready to apply! Just gotta wait to finish that doctorate, haha.
@@ShinySephiroth1 All done now?
I bursted out laughing at the unique part lol.
Would writing about leaving a religion due to medical inaccuracies and wanting to pursue knowledge and truth be a good experience? I would write about 2 more also that discuss why specifically doctor through shadowing
Im not an expert or anything but I have also been watching a lot of videos on making good essays for applying. As long as you don't overly bash the religion (bc you don't know the religiosity of the person reading your essay) and instead use it as a starting point about how you personally grow I think that's a fine essay!
Welp, I don’t have a couple months to write my personal statement to dental school lol
I want to write about global brigades (medical and fianance) and being a wish granter for make a wish and maybe my masters. Or should I write about my own sickness lol I know it’s cliche but it happened last year so maybe not?
I guaranfuckingtee I have a unique experience... I hit a half court shot at a Laker's game to win $95k which I used to help myself go back to school at age 37. Let me know if you want to interview me and hear my story. Also used CPR to revive my son who was in a near drowning accident.
My unique experience: Lived in 6 different countries by the age of 15. 6 different countries and 2 different states by the time I will be interviewing 🤣 My dad moved a lot with his work.
I see what he's saying. Every military brat has the same experience, and I'm sure there are thousands of similar applications every year. I lived in 8 different countries and attended 15 different schools before graduating high school, but I doubt that will set me apart from the other nomads that apply every year.
@@kris9074 same. We moved a lot. I was thinking of making this point a key in the personal statement I think you can actually derive a lot of good points from this that can make you stand out
Is wiping out Tomato Town a unique experience?
My unique experience. I birthed 3 children, now all three are teenagers. The oldest was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 2, the day after I found out I was pregnant with my 3rd child. How many applicants share that life story, Dr. Gray?
it's a touching story that would make your statement be heartfelt but Ive met parents with a similar story. He meant unique like an unheard of shocking accomplishment that would make Harvard want to call you the next day lol.
@@chjeltness Not really - didn't ask for us to leave comments about our "unique" story? I was probably naive to think he'd reply, though. ;)
@@313Violator313 I was literally just wondering if he's ever had an applicant to medical school with that story.. .
On my very first day at my unit as an Army Medic, the electrician electrocuted himself and fell off the latter he was using... The whole building started calling for a medic.. that was my first patient... I bet that's pretty unique.. Mr. IvE HeArD iT aLl BeFoRe.... my next patient some newbie tanker crushed his head in the rotating turret of the tank.. also unique I guarantee
You’ll be surprised how not unique this is . Electrocution and crush injuries are not new ask paramedics, trauma nurse , bystanders at road accidents etc …unfortunately . There is nothing truly unique, but it’s the way you retell the story
How many times are those workers the SOLO medical professional... and sometimes the ONLY medical professional available for hours or even days??? Almost never, that's a situation pretty unique to the military
@@cardiyansane1414 Also its VERY uncommon for people DIRECTLY out of any medical training to have to do patient care by themselves just an FYI
@@tylerlockwood9104 actually I recall a situation while working as a trauma nurse at a level one hospital: brother’s arm got caught in a combined harvester machine thing and got shredded to bits , his sister who is not medical and another farm hand saved his life but placing a tourniquet , he almost died but they managed to call for help and he was air lifted to the trauma hospital I was working at . This was rural Nebraska. It happened on a farm with non medical people. No military whatsoever. I heard later the sister was pursuing medical school because of that incident. I can tell you 100 more stories I gathered from 6 years working trauma.
Good luck on your journey!
Unique experience: interned at NIH