Crafting a residency personal statement is a crucial step in the application process, offering candidates a platform to showcase their journey, achievements, and aspirations in medicine. A well-written personal statement can distinguish you from other applicants by highlighting your unique experiences and qualities. 

This comprehensive guide outlines the essential residency personal statement components to include in your personal statement to make it cohesive, engaging, and reflective of your professional and personal growth.

7 Key Residency Personal Statement Components

1. Introduction: Set the Stage

Your introduction sets the tone for your personal statement and should immediately capture the reader’s interest. Begin with an engaging anecdote or a significant personal experience that led you to pursue a career in medicine. This could be a moment from your childhood, a pivotal experience during your medical training, or an inspiring patient encounter. Your aim is to draw the reader in and provide a snapshot of what drives your passion for medicine.

Example:

“As a child, I spent countless hours in my father’s clinic, captivated by the delicate balance of science and empathy in his work. One memorable day, a young boy with a severe asthma attack came in, struggling for breath. My father’s calm and swift response not only saved the boy’s life but also ignited my determination to pursue a career in medicine.”

2. Your Journey to Medicine

After setting the stage, delve into your journey toward choosing medicine as a career. Discuss any significant experiences that influenced your decision. Highlight your pre-medical education, volunteer work, internships, and key moments during medical school that shaped your path. This section should provide a clear narrative of your motivations and the trajectory leading to your chosen specialty.

Example:

“During my undergraduate studies in biology, I volunteered at a local free clinic where I witnessed the profound impact of healthcare disparities. This experience solidified my resolve to pursue a medical degree. My time at [Your Medical School] has been filled with rigorous coursework and diverse clinical rotations, each reinforcing my commitment to medicine.”

3. Why This Specialty?

Articulate why you have chosen a particular specialty. This section should be personal and specific, reflecting your experiences during clinical rotations that drew you to this field. Mention influential mentors or role models and explain what aspects of the specialty resonate with your skills and career goals.

Example:

“My passion for internal medicine emerged during my third-year rotations. The complexity and variety of cases challenged me intellectually and allowed me to develop strong diagnostic skills. Dr. Smith, my mentor, demonstrated how compassionate care could significantly impact patient outcomes, inspiring me to pursue a career in internal medicine.”

4. Professional Development and Challenges

Highlight the formative and clinical experiences that have shaped your approach to medicine and prepared you for residency. Reflect on the challenges you have faced, how you managed them, and the lessons learned. This section should showcase your resilience, adaptability, and growth.

Example:

“Throughout medical school, I faced numerous challenges, from managing demanding coursework to navigating complex patient cases. During my internal medicine rotation, I encountered a patient with multiple comorbidities that required a nuanced treatment plan. Collaborating with my team, I learned the importance of interdisciplinary communication and patient-centered care.”

5. Key Strengths and Personal Qualities

Identify the key strengths and personal qualities that make you an ideal candidate for the residency program. Highlight instances where you demonstrated empathy, leadership, and dedication. If applicable, describe situations where interpersonal skills were crucial in diverse environments and discuss any ethical dilemmas you navigated.

Example:

“Empathy and dedication have always been integral to my approach to patient care. During a particularly challenging rotation in the oncology unit, I formed a strong bond with a patient undergoing chemotherapy. By providing emotional support and listening to her concerns, I was able to help her navigate her treatment with a more positive outlook.”

6. Future Goals and Residency Program Fit

Outline your long-term career goals within your chosen specialty and how the residency program you are applying to aligns with these aspirations. Be specific about what you hope to gain from the program and how you plan to contribute. If you are an International Medical Graduate (IMG), explain why you are choosing the US for your residency training.

Example:

“My long-term goal is to become a leader in cardiology, focusing on advancing treatments for heart disease in underserved communities. I am particularly drawn to [Residency Program’s Name] because of its strong emphasis on research and community outreach. I look forward to collaborating with experts who share my commitment to improving patient outcomes.”

7. Conclusion: Bring It All Together

In your conclusion, tie together the key points of your personal statement. Reinforce your passion for the specialty, your readiness for residency, and your excitement about joining the program. Leave the reader with a strong, positive impression of you as a candidate.

Example:

“In summary, my journey to medicine has been fueled by a deep-seated passion for patient care and a commitment to addressing healthcare disparities. I am excited about the opportunity to join [Residency Program’s Name], where I can further develop my skills and contribute to the field of internal medicine. Thank you for considering my application.”

Final Tips for a Strong Personal Statement

• Be Authentic: Ensure your personal statement reflects your true self. Authenticity resonates more than exaggerated accomplishments.
• Be Clear and Concise: Focus on your key points and avoid unnecessary details.
• Proofread: Make sure your statement is free of grammatical errors and typos. Consider asking mentors or peers to review it.

Creating a residency personal statement that captures your journey and unique voice can be challenging. To ensure your statement is polished and effectively communicates your unique qualities, consider using professional services like ResidencyStatement.com. Our team of experts can help you craft a personalized statement, reflecting your journey and medical aspirations. For a more affordable and innovative approach, check out Match A Resident‘s new personal statement builder and assessor, which leverages AI to offer several benefits:

• Affordability: The Application Builder offers a cost-effective solution for residency applicants, making high-quality application drafting accessible to all.

• Quality and Speed: This tool allows applicants to craft compelling personal statement drafts within hours or a few days without needing external help. The results are instant and of high quality, ensuring applicants can move forward confidently.

• Personalization: By requiring users to answer specific questions and by meeting the minimum character count, the tool ensures that each draft is unique and reflective of the applicant’s voice and ideas. This personalized approach is crucial for creating impactful application components.

By using the available resources and incorporating these key residency personal statement components, you can craft an application that stands out. Our guide ensures that you highlight your strengths, experiences, and passion for your chosen specialty, setting you apart as a strong candidate for residency programs.

While you may not want to think about the Post-Match SOAP® unless it becomes your only option, it can be the key to your Match. If you do not fully Match– you may lose out on the opportunities afforded by the Post-Match if you do not complete your preparations with enough time.

First, among the preparations you should make is refreshing the application materials you have control over. Two prime examples are your Letters of Recommendation and Personal Statement.

Your Personal Statement plays a uniquely important role for the best Post-Match SOAP preparation. It is the sole place in your application where you have the most control and can have a great effect on how Program Directors view you. Personal Statements not only introduce you as a professionally and personally qualified candidate, but also demonstrate your dedication to the specialty of the program.

Preparing to Apply through the Post-Match SOAP

During the Post-Match there are positions in any number of specialties, and many applicants go into the Post-Match SOAP unprepared for vacant positions in specialties they do not have documents for. Without the time to write new Personal Statements, these unfortunate candidates may choose to use specialty specific application materials meant for a different specialty than the one they are applying to.  

It is important to review data from last year’s SOAP to get an idea of which specialties might have vacancies and which specialties probably won’t.

For example, the specialties with the most vacancies in 2022:

1. Preliminary General Surgery (537 positions)
2. Family Medicine (468 positions)
3. Preliminary Internal Medicine (451 positions)

Programs want to see genuine interest in the specialty you are applying to, even during the Post-Match. Fortunately, you have the time to reflect on your specialty choices and your Personal Statements.

If you have the specialty specific Personal Statements for your chosen specialties already, you should edit or revise them. If you are worried your Personal Statement affected you negatively during the regular Match season, consider rewriting your existing statement. If you don’t have a Personal Statement at all, you are able to spend time writing a brand new statement.

It may feel like a lot of extra work, but having the right, specialty specific Personal Statements will give you a significant edge during the Post-Match SOAP. Check out our service, Electronic Residency, which can help you instantly determine which of the unfilled positions you are qualified for.

Nervous about your Personal Statement or questions about the Post-Match SOAP? Contact us today for help! Call (858)-221-8590 or send an email to support@residencystatement.com

Going into Match week, you want to be prepared to participate in the Post-Match SOAP. Of course, we hope you will full Match come 10a EST Monday (3/13/23) morning! However, if you didn’t get many interviews or you are applying to categorical programs, there is a chance you may need to be ready. One of the best ways to prepare in advance is to craft your Post-Match Personal Statements with time to edit. 

Here are a few pointers to keep in mind when creating these Personal Statements.

7 Considerations for Post-Match Personal Statements

1. Plan ahead. Basically, create, edit and update your personal statements well before Match Week. Trust us, you will NOT have time come Monday morning to whip up personal statements on top of program research and applying. 
2. Update your personal statements. Many applicants have new experiences since applying earlier on in the season. Make sure your essays include new and relevant information.
3. Create statements for additional specialties. Many times, applicants apply to new and different specialties during SOAP because of the number of available positions in various specialties. See which specialties were most popular in last year’s Match here.
4. Do not mention the Post-Match SOAP in your statement. There is no need to discuss the fact that you may be applying during SOAP in these essays. Keep them focused on the topic at hand: you and your qualifications for the specialty you are applying to. 
5. Keep your discussion of potential red flags to a minimum and in a positive light. Take responsibility for all situations and focus on aspects of growth and how you are now better equipped as a future physician. 
6. Do not write personal statements for specialties you do not have supporting documents for. Essentially, only apply to specialties where you have at least 1 or more Letters of Recommendation for as well. The other LoRs should be general and not recommending you to a different specialty. 
7. Make the most of professional assistance with your Post-Match personal statements. If you did not get many residency interviews, it is very possible that your personal statement was turning programs off of your application for some reason. Be sure yours is the best it can be. Work with a trusted professional helping you to edit your statement or by having one written for you from scratch.

Putting it All Together

With these tips in mind, your Post-Match personal statements will give you the best chance during the SOAP! Be sure you utilize effective program research methods as well. Learn more about the instantaneous SOAP Program Compatability Search engine at Electronic Residency! 

Questions about the Post Match SOAP or crafting your Personal Statement? Reach out to us for help! Call (858)-221-8590 or email support@residencystatement.com

As the Post-Match SOAP® grows nearer and nearer, if you have any doubts about your chances of Matching during the Main Residency Match®, now is the time to look back and evaluate your application in preparation for participating in the SOAP. It is especially important to review, revise, and refresh any supporting documents you have control over to correct any possible errors. One of the common places residency candidates make a mistake is on their Personal Statement.

Writing a Personal Statement can be tricky, and candidates often make mistakes they did not realize were there such as being too negative, using cliche or tired language, and poor grammar. However, there is one mistake that rises above the rest.

The number one way to make or break your Personal Statement is whether or not it is specialty specific. Specialty specific means the Personal Statement is written directly for a given specialty such as Family Medicine or Dermatology.

According to a Program Director survey conducted by NRMP called Results of the 2014 NRMP Program Director Survey, some of the top factors Program Directors use to judge whether or not to invite a residency applicant for an interview is their perceived interest in the specialty and the Personal Statement. Your passion and dedication to a specialty is best demonstrated through your Personal Statement.

But, what does it mean to be specialty specific? It means the following items are written for one specialty:

• Language
• Traits
• Personal and professional anecdotes
• Medical knowledge

A generic Personal Statement covers a broad amount of subjects poorly, but a specialty specific Personal Statement can focus in on the values of a specialty. Each specialty values different personality traits and characteristics, skills and knowledge. You wouldn’t use the same information for General Surgery as you would for Pediatrics, would you?

Now you may ask– If I have a specialty specific Personal Statement written, can I just switch out some of the words to make a statement for another specialty? No. To have the strongest Personal Statements for the best possible residency application you will want to write fresh statements for each specialty. Trying to modify a preexisting statement can lead to a choppy, insincere sounding document. You may also accidentally leave in a word or phrase meant for the specialty you were originally writing about.  

Creating multiple Personal Statements may feel like a lot of extra work, especially for busy medical professionals. But, the benefits of having specialty specific Personal Statements can make all the difference in your residency application.

While you may not want to think about the Post-Match SOAP® unless it becomes your only option for Matching into a residency program– you may lose out on the opportunities afforded by the Post-Match if you do not complete your preparations with enough time.

Premiere among the preparations you should make is refreshing the application materials you have control over. Two prime examples are your Letters of Recommendation and Personal Statement.

Your Personal Statement plays a uniquely important role for the best Post-Match SOAP preparation. It is the sole place in your application where you have the most control and can have a great affect on how Program Directors view you. Personal Statements not only introduce you as a professionally and personally qualified candidate but also demonstrate your dedication to the specialty of the program.

During the Post-Match there are positions in any number of specialties and many applicants go into the Post-Match SOAP unprepared for vacant positions in specialties they do not have documents for. Without the time to write new Personal Statements, these unfortunate candidates may choose to use specialty specific application materials meant for a different specialty than the one they are applying to.  

It is important to review data from last year’s SOAP to get an idea of which specialties might have vacancies and which specialties probably won’t.

For example, the specialties with the most vacancies in 2015:

1. Preliminary General Surgery (446 positions)
2. Family Medicine (149 positions)
3. Preliminary Internal Medicine (118 positions)

Programs want to see genuine interest in the specialty you are applying to, even during the Post-Match. Fortunately, you have the time to reflect on your specialty choices and your Personal Statements.

If you have the specialty specific Personal Statements for your chosen specialties already, you should edit or revise them. If you are worried your Personal Statement affected you negatively during the regular Match season, consider rewriting your existing statement. If you don’t have a Personal Statement at all, you are able to spend time writing a brand new statement.

It may feel like a lot of extra work, but having the right, specialty specific Personal Statements will give you a significant edge during the Post-Match SOAP.

Your medical residency Personal Statement has a powerful impact on how programs view you, not only as a professional, but also as a person. You have a lot of material to cover in a very short amount of time– which is why you don’t want to waste precious space on mistakes which may hurt your image in the eyes of program application review committees.

Below is a list of the worst mistakes you can make on your Personal Statement.

• Plagiarism– This may seem obvious, but every once in awhile a residency candidate runs out of time before the Main Residency Match® opens for applications or the Post-Match SOAP®  kicks off, and decides to use words that do not belong to them. Copying and pasting phrases or sentences from the internet is one of the easiest ways to ruin a Personal Statement and possibly get your whole application discounted in the process.

• Negativity– Everyone has challenges and struggles they face on the path to becoming a doctor. You may have gotten sick, lost a family member, failed an exam, or faced financial difficulties. It’s tempting to bring up all of these circumstances in your writing as a reason or excuse for how they affected you (gaps, red flags, etc.), but putting negative sentiments in your Personal Statement shows programs you are not able to face adversity with maturity and adaptability. If you can’t grow and learn from your past, how can they expect you to handle the ups and downs of residency?

• Format Errors– There are some general rules residency candidates should follow with regards to formatting a Personal Statement such as:
  1. The length should be around a page (600-800 words)
  2. Paragraphs should be single spaced with one space between each paragraph
  3. There cannot be any special characters in the text ex. bold, italics, color, or accents

• Grammar Mistakes– Perhaps you didn’t read over your Personal Statement well enough, or you didn’t know about a specific grammar rule, but a mistake in grammar shows sloppy workmanship. As you re-read your Personal Statement, keep an eye out for:
  1. Punctuation (commas, periods, quotes, etc.)
  2. Spelling
  3. Sentence syntax (how the words are arranged)
  4. Redundancy (using the same words or ideas too close together)

• Cliches or over-used language– A cliche is writing and language that has been used so many times it has become more of a joke than a meaningful idea. You have to remember that residency application review committees read thousands of Personal Statements each year and it is up to you to avoid tired or worn out ideas or language. Of course, there are only so many reasons people want to become doctors, but you can make these reasons as unique as you are by adding your own personal stories. For example, it’s ok to say your dream is to be a general surgeon, but you need to validate the thought by adding your own personal story to make the content unique. What happened to you to make you want to be a surgeon?

• Templates– If you are pressed for time or don’t know how to write your Personal Statement, you may be tempted to turn to the internet for guidance. While it’s ok to use samples or templates for inspiration, to strictly follow a template takes away from the overall quality or individuality of your document. The use of a template makes a Personal Statement seem very stiff and awkward. You want a Personal Statement with your unique flair and a nice flow to the writing, not something that looks like you just filled in the blanks. Also, if you know a template was used, there is a good chance programs will figure it out too.  

• Giving other people the credit– It’s one thing to consider someone your inspiration or mentor, but remember this is a Personal Statement. Dedicating a whole paragraph to the professional achievements of your mentor is a waste of space that should be used to talk about your achievements. You can use a mentor figure or favorite professor as an anecdote for your growth as a doctor or a segway, but keep the shout out short.  

• Bad organization– Even the best, most fascinating content in the world can get lost if your Personal Statement is not organized properly. If your ideas are all over the place and there is no discernable organization to your thoughts, your document will lose much of its meaning, and without meaning, your Personal Statement is fairly useless. Avoid rambling and tangents. Stick to a 4 to 6 paragraph essay format with a thesis of your professional goals, body paragraphs for each goal with personal and professional examples, and a conclusion to tie it all together.

• Being generic (no specialty focus)– According to a Program Director survey conducted by NRMP called Results of the 2014 NRMP Program Director Survey, the Personal Statement is one of the top 5 factors used to judge whether or not a residency candidate will be invited for an interview. The Personal Statement is used not only to judge you as a person and professional, but also your dedication to the specialty you are applying to. Each specialty has its own unique set of skills and traits it values. What Surgery residency programs want to see in a candidate is very different from Pediatrics residency programs. Therefore, make sure your writing is specialty specific to demonstrate how fit you are for your chosen field of medicine. One Personal Statement does not fit all.  

It is surprisingly easy to ruin a Personal Statement by being too negative, formatting it incorrectly, using templates, wasting space on the wrong topics, or being too generic. The Personal Statement is too important to rush through and submit to programs without proofreading and checking for the mistakes above. Make sure you re-read your Personal Statement multiple times, and get a fresh set of eyes, like a friend or professional service, to ensure you are not making the mistakes listed above that could cost you an interview.  

You’ve reached that agonizing part of the season where your residency application efforts may have hit a dead end. Despite your best efforts, you may not have received as many interviews as you wanted. There’s a chance something was amiss with your application materials whether it was an error on your ERAS Common Application or a weak Letter of Recommendation. One of the most common places residency applicants can make a mistake is the Personal Statement.

If your residency application season isn’t going the way you want, you may want to consider getting professional assistance to review or rewrite your Personal Statement to make sure it is as strong as it can be in preparation for the Post-Match SOAP.

But, finding professional help can prove to be a hassle in itself. So many companies out there want to take advantage of IMGs who are just trying to improve their chances without being ripped off. You need to be careful when seeking professional Personal Statement help and not to be taken in by the wrong company.

While searching for the right company, try to ask yourself:

Is the company offering a guarantee, or 100% Match rate? I cannot stress this enough, there is no magical service in existence that can guarantee you a residency position by using their services. There are far too many factors in the medical residency application and your personal and professional background which need to be in order. While a well-crafted Personal Statement will certainly improve your chances, it won’t secure you a residency position if you do not fulfill a program’s requirements or have another outstanding error on your application. So, if you see a guarantee, flee!

Does the company have editors and writers trained to focus solely on Personal Statements? The best services have writers whose entire job is centered around medical residency Personal Statements. There are companies out there that have their editors working on Personal Statements, CVs, Letters of Recommendation and a slew of other documents at the same time. You know what they say about people who multitask, “They can do a lot of things at once…poorly.” When a person is spread out over a lot of different tasks, they may not be as careful with your Personal Statement as you want them to be.

You also want editors who are trained with knowledge specific to Personal Statements and medical specialties. Any friend with good grammar skills can look over your document. You need editors who know how to make your Personal Statement specialty specific with the right vocabulary to ensure Program Directors can tell you know what you’re talking about.

Does the company value quantity over quality? In this world of fast food and high-speed internet connection, it’s easy to get impatient with a service that doesn’t get your document back to you in a matter of hours. What’s important to understand and accept is that any rush job is just plain not going to be as good as the work of editors who are able to really take time and work on your statement. Now, it’s understandable to be a little impatient if the Post-Match is growing close, but unless it’s an absolute emergency, let your editors do their jobs the right way.

How does the company develop your Personal Statement? This may seem like common sense, but to be absolutely clear, NO TEMPLATES. Any company that uses a template is off limits. If you know a template was used, you better believe Program Directors will know too. You want your Personal Statement to be developed in a way that comes off as natural and has a good flow to the language. Templates are stilted and stiff– not exactly how you want to present yourself to Program Directors.

How old is the company? Now, older doesn’t always mean better, but like a fine wine, you want a company that has aged well and stood the test of time. A lot of companies pop up overnight and disappear just as quickly. Usually, these companies are in it to make a quick buck and give you sub-par service. Older companies are still around because people come back to them over and over, refer their friends, and provide a good quality service. Just remember, new is not the same as improved.

With these factors in mind, you should be able to find the right Personal Statement help to aid you during the Post-Match SOAP. Just follow the clues until you find a company that fulfills all of these criteria.

There are many ways to make an impression from bringing flowers on your first date to insulting someone’s shoes before realizing they’re your new boss. While applying for a medical residency program, you have many chances to make an impression such as your ERAS Common Application, Letters of Recommendations, and USMLE exam scores.

But, no part of the application gives you as much control and is the best for establishing who you are as your Personal Statement. Your Personal Statement is one of the few places where you can really introduce yourself and show your personality, not just as a faceless test score among a crowd of applications, but as a unique person.

Figuring out what to put in your Personal Statement can be challenging, especially when there’s so much you want to say and so little space. You want to think about what should belong in the picture and what shouldn’t.

Start by brainstorming “you”– your experiences (personal and professional), qualities, goals, interests and aspirations. Getting any assignment started can be difficult when you’re just staring at a blank page, but by brainstorming, you can take some of the pressure off.

You have all of the information you need, you just don’t know it yet. There are lots of resources out there to help you develop content for your Personal Statement. Google is a wonderful tool, isn’t it?

Below are a few questions to help draw out the right information:

• What made you want to enter this specialty? Was there some sort of lightbulb moment or trigger you can talk about?
• What are your goals, short and long term goals?
• What are some character traits YOU embody and how have you used them in a medical capacity?
• Are there any struggles that have helped you grow as a person or professional? (Don’t focus on the struggle, but how it made you stronger.)
• What are your accomplishments?
• Is there anything unique/unusual that distinguishes you?
• What knowledge do you have about the specialty?
• What can you bring to this specialty? This program?

To save yourself time in the future, feel free to answer these questions for more than one specialty. Meaning, just think of all of the wonderful qualities you have and experiences you’ve been through (maybe grouping them once you have enough down) and put them down in writing. After mentally drawing out the best parts of you, it’s time to focus that information into a concise, cohesive and stunning snapshot of you.

Those of you who thought you put those high school essays behind you– think again. Your general 4 or 5-paragraph essay format is the perfect way to organize your statement.

The key to an impressive Personal Statement is through proper organization. Think of this like those poetry fridge magnets where you can create phrases with pre-printed words. You can have incredible and engaging material, but if it isn’t organized correctly, it will get lost in the jumble.

Although every statement must be unique, you can follow this general format. Don’t worry too much about the length or perfection of the grammar for now, that will come later.

Introduction Paragraph

• Introduce yourself through a hook to grab the reader’s attention
• Connect the hook to your present medical aspirations
• Announce your goals through a thesis (at least three)
• ex. I want to specialize in (enter specialty) because I want to grow…improve…and teach…

Body Paragraphs

• Address the goals in the order of your thesis
• Include RELEVANT personal information/ experiences/ qualities
• Have at three different and well thought out points per paragraph

Conclusion Paragraph

• Recap your goals in new way to tie everything together
• What do you want from the specific specialty, what can you offer?

You really want to be yourself while showing residency programs you have the types of traits they are looking for like maturity, thoughtfulness, enthusiasm and teamwork. You don’t need to overstate what you’ve done or lie, just honestly let the reader know what you are made of as a residency candidate.  

When you have finally slogged through the first draft, now comes the difficult part: editing and revising. Until now,  you’ve been told you not to worry about being concise or having perfect grammar. Now is the time to fix, shape and finalize. Re-read your work- even better, read it out loud to yourself or to a friend.

As you go in for your next few read backs, keep in mind the following about your content:

Does anything come off as questionable or confusing?

• Is every piece of information relevant to the specialty you are talking about?
• Does having this information put you in a positive light?
• Does any of the wording sound awkward, cliche or forced?
• Is there any redundancy (repeat words, or ideas)?
• Do you focus too long on something irrelevant such as your mentor or personal stories that don’t relate?
• Did you SHOW the reader your qualities through your accomplishments or just tell? Can you reflect on your experiences?
  • Don’t just say you are motivated, show it through your activities

If the answer is doubtful to ANY of the questions, take it out or fix it! You can save this information for another written document, but it does not belong in your Personal Statement.

Other things to keep in mind are:

• The language you use, make sure it belongs to you, but feel free to dress it up a little
• Check your GRAMMAR
  • Spelling
  • Punctuation
• Do you use varied sentence structures?
  • Ex. Instead of: I am smart. I read a lot. I like books. Try: I increase my intelligence through some of my favorite pastimes such as reading.
• Did you use “I” too much?
• Did you just parrot what is on your CV or ERAS application?
• Are there any taboo topics such as religion or politics?

And to top it off, just a few formatting tips:

• Keep it between 4 to 6 paragraphs
• Single spaced, with one space between paragraphs
• No indentation
• 600-800 words
• Avoid anything over a page
• Mirror the ERAS format with one-inch margins and Courier 10-point font
• No special characters like bolding or italics

Once you have edited, revised, cleaned and polished, it is always a good idea to get a fresh set of eyes on your finished product whether it’s your friend, advisor or an editing service such as Residency Statement. You’ve been looking at this document over and over and there is a chance you missed something.

Make your final adjustments and you are done!…Sort of.

You will need Personal Statements for each specialty you are interested in. Generic statements are easy to spot and not a good reflection of you and Program Directors expect to see dedication to the particular specialty you are applying for. Writing specialty specific Personal Statements may feel like extra work, but can make all of the difference among a sea of spectacular applicants.

**Please Note: This articles only touches on some of the many aspects involved with crafting a Personal Statement. You may choose to try another way or look further into the content of the statement.

Should you have any questions, Residency Statement would be happy to help you, call 760-904-5484 ext. 3, or email support@residencystatement.com.