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Writing Personal Statements for Residency Programs
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 "All
graduating medical students want to help people, enjoy and
excel in science, and are driven, disciplined, and hardworking;
otherwise you would not have made it through medical school!
So how do you set yourself apart from all of the other would-be
internists, radiologists, pathologists, and ob/gyns out there?"
The
Doctor Job - Personal Statement Editing for Residency
Applicants
$50 discount code "STUDENTDOC"
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By: The Doctor Job Personal Statement Writing Staff
Drafting a personal statement for a residency application can be
akin to a trip to the dentist or a bikini wax. In other words, it
can be painful. Nonetheless, it is a necessary and important part
of the residency application, and one that should not be rushed
through or put off to the last minute - even if you think you are
a strong writer.
One thing that makes personal statement writing so difficult is
the "generic" factor. All graduating medical students want to help
people, enjoy and excel in science, and are driven, disciplined,
and hardworking; otherwise you would not have made it through medical
school! So how do you set yourself apart from all of the other would-be
internists, radiologists, pathologists, and ob/gyns out there?
Details! Details! Details!
What separates a great personal statement from a ho-hum personal
statement isn't flowery language or a really catchy opening sentence.
It is specific, clear details about your experiences and character
that give the reader a sense of who you are, what you've accomplished,
and what you're capable of accomplishing.
Even if you attended the same caliber medical school, participated
in the same activities, and earned the same grades as some of your
peers, each of you will have unique areas in which you excelled and
unique circumstances that helped to shape who you are. Before you
begin writing, spend some time brainstorming about what makes you
distinctive. Think about qualities or strengths that others frequently
complement you on. Are you good under pressure? Are you an excellent
teacher who others turn to for advice or instruction? Do you have
a way with children? Are you great with your hands? Do you have strong
diagnostic skills?
The qualities you think of do not all need to be related to your
medical training. Perhaps you juggled medical school with other
responsibilities, such as taking care of a sick parent, volunteering
for an organization, or raising a child. Anything that distinguishes
you from your medical school peers is something to consider writing
about in your personal statement.
In addition to being specific with regard to what makes you unique,
you also need to be specific when you are describing your experiences.
While you want to keep your descriptions brief, you need to include
one or two tangible details that will stick in the reader's mind
and help him/her get a better sense of what you've done. For example,
if you held a leadership role, how many people did you lead? What
was improved as a result of your leadership? If you volunteered
for a particular organization, did you work two hours a month or
fifteen hours a week?
Also, make sure you never assume that the person reading your
personal statement is familiar with certain organizations, awards,
or activities you talk about. For example, if you say: "I won the
John J. Arthur Award during medical school," no one except perhaps
John J. Arthur himself will know what that means. Instead you want
to say: "In medical school, I received the John J. Arthur Award
for outstanding leadership." Always make sure that you give enough
background on the things you mention so that there is no confusion
on the part of the reader.
Continued on Residency
Statement Tips p. 2 of 3
Resources
- The
Doctor Job - The Doctor Job has worked with thousands of
medical students and foreign medical graduates to create the
perfect personal statement to get the most interviews and subsequently
get into the best programs.
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