I'm a university student applying for a Scholars Program that prepares first generation graduate students for PhD programs (I will be pursuing my PhD in Epidemiology).
The program matches you with a mentor in your field, gives you the tools that you need to succeed in the research field, and pays you a stipend to conduct your own research. Should I be chosen for this program, my research topic will focus on maternal/child nutrition, and it's link to infectious disease, and will be conducted while I am interning in Uganda next year.
However, I need to write an essay detailing my research goals, and also my "strengths" and "weaknesses". I THINK I know what o say for my strengths (I work well with diverse populations, I have great written and oral communication skills, I'm ambitious) but I'm so nervous about listing WEAKNESSES.
Previously I had always heard to disguise a strength as a weakness (as in "I'm a perfectionist, I like all of my work to be perfect."). I took an informal Facebook poll of professional friends who say NO, don't do that. It's insincere.
Most of these people who gave the advice(made of of classmates I have become friends with, colleagues, and former coworkers) offered the opinion that my biggest weakness is my tendency to second guess myself, and not see my worth. I would agree with this, I rely way too much on external validation (i.e. I never look at my work and think "That's good!" until someone tells me so).
The drawbacks are:
1) I feel like it's more a personality flaw then a weakness.
2) I feel like it's talking them out of choosing me. Who wants someone who second guesses their work?
The pros are:
1) This is something I have truly been working on since I began school, so I can mention that.
2) This feeling of unworthiness likely stems from the fact that I was a high school drop out when I began college (I didn't even have a GED), and I can work that into my essay, to show how far I've come and what I've accomplished since then.
I'd love some opinions, from the collective wisdom of SI. You guys have never steered me wrong.
(Oh, and the essay needs to be turned in on Monday).
ETA: If you could also send me some mojo, in hopes that I will be selected for this opportunity, that would be awesome as well!
[This message edited by Want2help at 10:26 AM, May 3rd (Saturday)]