You’ve started out your medical residency personal statement with a bang. Your strong hook could grab the attention of anyone within ten meters! But now comes the hard part: persuading your readers that you are an ideal residency candidate through engaging body paragraphs in your personal statement.

Let’s begin by re-affirming our understanding of the four essential components of the residency personal statement: 

1. Introduction to your background and experiences which led you to your chosen specialty
2. Detailed evidence of your character and strengths which make you ideal for this specialty
3. Your expectations of residency training
4.  Future goals and a long-term vision 

Your personal statement body paragraphs should largely be focusing on numbers two and three (although, aspects of one and four may be included).

Detailed Evidence

The best way to sum up this idea is as such: show, don’t tell. Residency programs want evidence as to why you are highly qualified.

Thus, bring up the clinical examples in which you demonstrated your excellence. Explore the points in your training which reaffirmed your specific strengths and passion.

It is very important that your body paragraphs are helping create a narrative of your path as a physician, supported by ample evidence of your potential.

Tips

1. Avoid dwelling on one story for too long – each word counts!
2. Speaking of counting words, remember, the ideal statement is only 600-800 words, so be concise.
3. Confidence is different than arrogance, so do your best to avoid the latter.
4. Keep your examples relevant to the specialty as often as possible.
5. We generally recommend a minimum of 2 body paragraphs and a maximum of 4. 

Dealing with Red Flags

The body paragraphs of your medical residency personal statement are also where red flags are addressed. Although this is a daunting prospect for many, it is better to never over-complicate matters.

Introduce the red flag without a long back-story (sympathy-seeking is generally not advised), and then explain the outcomes in a positive manner. How did you grow from these experiences? How are you better equipped as a future physician?

Conclusion

Your body paragraphs should effectively lead into  your persuasive conclusion paragraph. By the end, the reader should have a thorough understanding of you, your experiences, your passion, and will hopefully feel that you would be an ideal candidate in their program.

Seeking professional help?

Remember, you don’t have to do this alone. Residency Statement is here to help make sure your medical residency personal statement is going to help you win interviews, offers, and a bright career.

Register to begin working with our professional Writers and Editors, today.