Writing the Personal Statement

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Writing the Personal Statement

• Questions to Guide You
• May 9, 2008

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• Write about your first days and weeks of medical
  school.

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• How have you changed in the past three years?

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• Pick one specialty to focus on what attracts
  you to this specialty?

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• Who has been most influential and why?

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• Write about your important accomplishments.

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• Describe your ideal residency program.

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• What can you contribute to your residency program?

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• What will you be doing after your residency ends?

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• What makes you happy?

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• What is your objective? What do you want to
  convey in your statement?

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Writing the Personal Statement

• General Thoughts and Tips
• May 9, 2008

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The Introduction

• Catch your audiences attention
• Be reflective of your objective
• Create a thesis for your statement
• Three to four following paragraphs should support
  your thesis
• Transition from introduction to your first
  paragraph

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First Paragraph Post Intro

• Support your thesis
• Personal Example of experience
• Clinical/Hospital Setting
• With a Patient
• How youve changed over the past three years
• Relationship which has influenced your choice for
  specialty

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Second Paragraph

• Could be linked to the first point or a dichotomy
  from your first point
• Another example which relates to your objective
• International experience
• Adventure experience

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Third Paragraph

• Highlight your future in medicine
• Plans for your residency

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Third Paragraph (Weakness)

• ONLY IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT STANDS OUT IN
  YOUR RECORD AS A WEAKNESS THAT NEEDS TO BE
  EXPLAINED
• Use the third paragraph to briefly and positively
  explain weaknesses
• Academic difficulties
• Low board score
• Turn the negative into a positive
• How will overcoming this weakness make you an
  excellent physician in your chosen specialty?

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Final Paragraph

• Tie everything together
• Remind reader of qualities you will bring to
  their residency program
• Refer back to your introduction

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Sample Outline (Urology)

• Tell a story tell YOUR story
• Beginning
• Where have you been?
• Where are you now?
• Where are you going?
• KEY Integrate your STRENGTHS, accomplishments,
  honors, adversity overcome to support career
  plans not to brag
• Avoid Walt Whitman or other literary quotations
• Accentuate the positive
• Remember, no one will tell your story for you
• It is okay to mention publications

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Writing the Personal Statement

• One Page Essay 12 pt font
• Outline motivations, interests and strengths as
  they pertain to your objective
• Create logical flow
• Strong structure with each paragraph focused on
  one central idea
• Be concise and direct
• Spelling and Grammar
• No cliches, analogies, metaphors
• Vary sentence structure

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Writing the Personal Statement (continued)

• Do not exaggerate, do not lie. Do NOT LIE!
• Distinct from your CV
• Begin and end statement in strong, positive,
  engaging manner
• Be confident not arrogant
• Professional tone of voice
• Be careful with humor
• Any weaknesses should be handled quickly and
  positively

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Writing the Personal Statement (continued)

• Write in First Person Narrative
• Give specific examples to make your writing
  colorful
• Be CONCISE
• 12 point font1 PAGE12 POINT FONT! (ERAS will
  change the font, but the length of your statement
  will be good)

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Avoid Taboo Topics

• Religion
• Political Beliefs
• Romantic Relationships
• Opinions about sex, abortion or other political
  issues