Most people are looking for a silver bullet to get into
residency. Some rely on scores or on contacts which can help but to me the most
important thing is to present a solid application, in which you focus on doing
the various aspects very well. You need
to make sure that your LORs are good, your personal statement is captivating
and resume is strong. Today, I will share three tips that will hopefully help
you write a captivating personal statement.
First, do not make it too long. Put yourself in the shoes of
the admission committee. Would you like to read a 3 page personal statement
after you have gone through 100 personal statements? I know I wouldn’t want
that. Make sure your personal statement is about 1 page long, if theres more to
write then about 1.5 pages should be fine as well.
Second, your content should give them an insight into who
you are and it should grab them. You want them to read your statement and think
“ooo I want him/her.” Your passion for the specialty should shine through. Use
personal stories about growing up, or things you have done –NOT a recitation of
your resume- to show your connection to the specialty you are applying to.
Third, the little details count. Make sure you spell check
your work. Make sure your grammar is correct. Have someone that you know who is
good with English/writing proof read your work.
You can find samples of personal statements online or in
books. When I was applying I used First Aid for the Match mainly to have sample
personal statements to review- I did not use it for anything else.
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