One of the keys to a strong residency application is to integrate the documents you need to provide. As you are providing the reader with a variety of information, it is important that you present a clear, unified message. It can be difficult to know what details are best to highlight, but there are tricks to help you identify. In this blog, we will discuss how to reinforce your application using your Personal Statement and Letters of Recommendation.

What information should be included in both your LoRs and PS?

A strong Personal Statement is about one page and gives a well rounded view of the applicant, as well as details about your medical education journey. It is important to include examples of skills you learned, experiences that shaped you and patient stories. The goal in your Personal Statement is to paint a picture for the reader, rather than just list details. You should cite specific details to allow the reader to understand at what point in your life these events took place.

This is where you will have some crossover between your Letters of Recommendation and Personal Statement. Based on the experiences you include in your Personal Statement, you can get LoRs from those mentors to back up your claims. For example, if you mentioned an award or recognition, an LoR from the person that gave it to you would be helpful. 

In addition, you want the reader to get an idea of your personality, characteristics and skills. This is why it is vital that the author knows you personally. Both your Letters of Recommendation and Personal Statement are the chance for a Program Director to get to know you, outside of credentials. Presented with both, the reader should have an understanding of how you will be an asset to a residency program.

How can you integrate your Personal Statement with your LoR?

As you can see there is a common goal with these documents, it is a great opportunity to make your points clear. Below are some tips to integrate your Personal Statement and Letters of Recommendation:

• Determine what skills, achievements and qualities make you a strong candidate
• Reflect any characteristics mentioned in both documents
• Share available documents with letter writers
• Utilize similar word choices
• Try to obtain LoRs for experiences you would like to mention in your Personal Statement
• Compare the documents to ensure the message is similar

If you waived the right to see your Letter of Recommendation, you may not have access to it. In that case, consider asking your letter writer what main points they plan on including (characteristic, skills, etc.). If appropriate, you can provide documents such as your CV or Personal Statement to assist with aligning the content.

A great way to help your letter writer is to provide your Personal Statement. If you’re unsure of where to start or if your Personal Statement is in good shape, reach out to our team for help! We can help you identify and highlight why you are the perfect residency candidate. Call (858)-221-8590 or email support@residencystatement.com

When you are writing your Personal Statement, you may find yourself wanting to share too much detail. While it is important to share your story, it is important to keep in mind Program Directors read thousands of applications a year. So, it is best to keep it concise, to the point and relevant to why you are an asset to a residency program. In the end, if you find yourself wondering, is this too long? We have the answers for you!

How long should a Residency Personal Statement be?

We recommend that a strong Personal Statement should be around 600-750 words in length. This means it should be about one page of a document. However, do not get so caught up on the word count that you don’t organize your Residency Personal Statement properly. Highlight important experiences and characteristics that make you a good candidate. Be sure to address how they relate to the program/specialty you are applying to.

Remember, this is one of the most important parts of your application, so pick the information you include carefully. Whatever you do include you should give relevant details, what you learned from it and how it will help you grow in residency. The more you focus on these key points, the better your Personal Statement will be.

Can A Residency Personal Statement be over one page?

A common question candidates have is, what if my Personal Statement is more than one page? Will this hurt my chances at a residency placement? 

Generally, the answer is no. However, it is ideal to keep your Personal Statement as close to one page as possible. If you do go over one page in length, be sure that all of the information and experiences you include are helpful to your application. Reviewers will typically read past the one page as long as it is engaging and informative. 

If you are having a hard time writing your Residency Personal Statement, or would like assistance editing it to be as concise as possible, reach out to us today! Our experts are highly skilled at highlighting your skills and experiences to show you are a strong candidate. Call our support team at (858)-221-8590 or email support@residencystatement.com

It is very important to craft a strong residency statement, as it will increase your chances at an interview or residency placement. This is your chance to share personal details, address any red flags and connect with the reader. It can be a confusing process, so we will be exploring the key parts of a successful Residency Personal Statement.

What are the 4 Keys to a Successful Residency Statement?

While there are many factors that contribute to an effective residency statement, there are four qualities that are vital.

1. Specialty specific: It is best to have a Personal Statement for each specialty you apply to. Detail why you are choosing that specialty. Consider an impactful experience that influenced your decision. You can display knowledge and experience of this specialty, but you want to avoid sounding arrogant. Mention some skills you would like to learn, and how it would help you grow. However, be sure to include what you can bring to the specialty and program. 
2. Organized and Well Written: An important part of a Residency Statement is proper organization and grammar. You can have incredible material, but organized incorrectly, you will fail to get your point across. A great way to grab the reader’s attention is to introduce yourself with a hook. Then, to organize it well within your statement, connect the hook to your present medical aspirations. Another great way to organize your Personal Statement is with a strong thesis. Include your medical goals in your thesis, and then address these goals in the order of your thesis.
3. Exemplifies Strengths and Experiences: This is the opportunity to show the reader you will be an asset, rather than just tell them. An effective way to do this is including experiences where you are the active agent. This means you are the star of the story. Include RELEVANT experiences and qualities, in other words keep it medically related. An engaging patient story, an experience where you learned a useful skill, or something that affected your medical journey are useful ways to do this.
4. Make it Personal: A big part of selection for an interview or a residency program is a belief that you will be a good fit for the program personally. This means fostering relationships with coworkers and creating connections with patients. In addition, describe why you’re passionate about your goals. If you have any red flags, you can address it with a more personal perspective. Highlight how these struggles have helped you grow as a person or professional. 

What should a Successful Residency Statement look like?

The end result should be about 600-750 words in length, be specialty specific and contain pivotal experiences that are personal to you. This is not a typical essay, as it should give the reader a feeling of your personality. However, you want to be sure to structure it with an introduction, body and conclusion that ties it together to give a unified message.

A great way to ensure a beneficial Residency Statement is by asking our experts for help! We can help you create a Personal Statement that shows you in the best light possible. Call us at (858)-221-8590 or email us at support@residencystatement.com

The process of creating a strong Personal Statement can be stressful and confusing, but you can’t let that hold you back from a successful Match. As 83% of Program Directors rank the Personal Statement as one of the most important factors in considering applicants, it’s important that you showcase your skills while making personal connections. In this blog, we’ll teach you how to include patient stories in your Personal Statement that capture the reader’s attention. 

What information should be included in your Personal Statement?

The purpose of the Personal Statement is to provide the information not listed in your CV. You should include important relevant experiences you’ve had, as well as some personal details about your background.

Some important topics to discuss are:

• Why you are passionate about your chosen specialty
• Your strengths, experiences, and background 
• How you will be an asset to the program
• Enough about who you are to show your personality

What patient stories should I tell in my Personal Statement?

It is important to note that patient stories are NOT a requirement or expectation for your Personal Statement. The only patient stories you include should capture an important and memorable aspect of who you are as a person/physician. Otherwise, SKIP IT! Seriously, after you’ve read 100 patient stories you’ve read them all. Ask yourself if this will help build a deeper understanding of YOUR character, especially to someone who reads hundreds of statements every year.

Keeping that in mind, you should consider which patient stories were impactful in your medical journey. This will create a narrative of your path as a physician, and support your claims with evidence.

The type of story you should choose will have the following elements:

• You learned a valuable lesson: It is important that you show your skills in action. 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.
• You are the star of the story: One of the main purposes of the Personal Statement is to get to know you better, so make sure the story is about you! Avoid stories where you are only shadowing or observing. Your story should be focused on your active role and what you learned from the experience. While it’s important that your reader understand some details about the patient, this section of the Personal Statement should be more about you than the patient.
• Faced a difficult choice– It is not strange for some cases to weigh heavier than others, and they often impact you. A story with a challenge you overcame, or an interesting case study are both examples of a way to show your character in times of stress.
• Made a connection: Forming connections and relationships are an important part of a successful residency. Patient stories where you made a connection shows your personal side.
• Related to desired specialty: It is important you can relate your patient story to your chosen specialty. This will reinforce to the reader why that specialty is the path for you.

Writing tips for engaging patient stories in your Personal Statement

How can you be sure that the reader will understand your point? The best way is to illustrate your traits, don’t just tell the reader about them. Some tips to a successful story are below:

• Show a personal connection–  No matter the content of the story, its primary goal should be to convey your personal reasons for pursuing medicine or your unique traits that will make you a great doctor.
• Use clear descriptive language–  When telling your patient story, make sure to express details that engage the reader’s senses. In other words, focus on things you can describe what it was like to feel, see, hear, smell or taste. However, don’t lose sight of the point of your story by including too many details. We recommend each Personal Statement to be 750-800 words, so every sentence should have a purpose.
• Highlight your displayed traits– So what details should you focus on? More importantly, what is the point of your story? For example, if you’re telling a story to show your bedside manner, then it would make sense to include details that establish the patient’s situation and how you were able to empathize to help them. 
• Focus on your specialty– It is important that your Personal Statement be specialty specific, therefore it is best to focus on patient stories within your desired specialty.

If you’d like help making your patient stories stand out, contact us at Residency Statement! Call (858)-221-8590 or email us at support@residencystatement.com. We can help you write or edit your Personal Statement to increase your shot at an interview, residency placement and a great career!

With 78% of Program Directors ranking the Personal Statement as one of the most important factors in considering applicants for interviews, it’s no wonder that composing this document can be a demanding and stressful experience. In this blog, we’ll break down the Personal Statement from start to finish to help you get started writing. Don’t let confusion about how this document should be written stand in your way of writing, or even worse, lead you into the dreaded writer’s block!

Writer’s Tip: The only way out of writer’s block is to write – it doesn’t really matter if the words are any good, just start typing!

What IS the Personal Statement (and what ISN’T it)?

The Personal Statement is a professional document, much like a cover letter for a resume. Its purpose is to go beyond the content listed in your CV. You should expand on the most important/relevant experiences you’ve had and share some personal details about your background that don’t fit into the CV.

Program Directors reading your Personal Statement want to know:

• Why you love the specialty you’re applying to
• How your strengths, experiences, and background align with the specialty
• How you will be an asset to the program
• Enough about who you are/your personality to determine if you’re a good fit for their program’s culture

If you can convey answers to those items in the recommended 750-800 words, you’ve put together a strong statement.

The Personal Statement is NOT meant to be a creative writing piece with lots of dialogue and dramatic details. Is it okay to include some meaningful or impactful dialogue? Definitely! Can you share an emotional experience using colorful words? Absolutely! But you should do so with careful consideration of the purpose of such elements and how they fit into the overarching purpose of the document. Dialogue and drama should not dominate the entire Personal Statement. They should be used sparingly (this is how they have the most impact anyway). When using these elements, it is crucial not to be cliché or to go overboard.

The Personal Statement is NOT a five-paragraph themed essay (like the ones you wrote in college). There is no need for a formal thesis statement and you can definitely have less or more than five paragraphs!

Writer’s Tip: Paragraphs should be of varied length (and never more than 10 lines, which often leads readers to skim). This makes the document more appealing to your readers. The same goes for sentences. Most people tend to write sentences of the same length, but a document flows better when it contains very short sentences, medium sentences, and long, compound sentences. Just like the ones in this paragraph!

The Personal Statement from Start to Finish

Introduction

Like any good piece of writing, the introduction will capture your reader’s attention and make them want to keep reading. Most online sources will give similar suggestions for achieving this goal: Start with a shocking statistic! Open with a famous quote! Begin with a dramatic element that will keep your reader guessing until they reach the end! These strategies don’t work for the personal statement.

Here’s why:

Program Directors are not your typical reader. They are not likely to be reading for entertainment. They are likely to be reading with a purpose in mind: to learn about you. This means your introduction should be all about you. Whether you choose to open with a story about your childhood or teen years, an experience during rotations, or the reason you chose to pursue medicine, aim to keep your reading thinking about you.

Your introduction should also:

• Open with a short to medium-length sentence (1 to 15 words; yes, a one-word sentence can work!)
• Explicitly state the specialty you’re applying to
• Not be longer than 8 lines (this could be 6 sentences or 16; it’s the visual length that matters, not the number of sentences)

Body Paragraphs

Each of your body paragraphs should be focused on one main theme, and that theme should be implied or clearly stated in the opening sentence of the paragraph. Trying to cram more than one main point into a paragraph just doesn’t work. Your reader will lose focus and get lost.

Transition Sentences

Transitions sentences are the first and last of each paragraph (with the exception of your opening line). For example, the last sentence of your first paragraph and the first sentence of your second paragraph are transition sentences. These two sentences should complement each other and connect in some way. This helps with the flow of the document and allows your reader to follow along with the content.

Overall Organization

While each paragraph is important in its own right, the overall organization and flow of the Personal Statement is key to ensuring it is read in its entirety. There are different organizational approaches:

• Chronological: in order of time
• Relevancy: most relevant topics first
• Significance: most important topics first

The right approach for you is the one that works with your content.

Writer’s Tip: When you sit down to write your Personal Statement (or anything for that matter), don’t force yourself to write the introduction first, and then the second paragraph, followed by the third, etc.. Write whatever feels easiest first, because writing leads to more writing. If you have lots of ideas about why you chose your specialty, get that paragraph going! If you know how you want to close the statement, write the ending first! Writing is a process, and good writing always involves revision, so don’t force an orderly approach. Embrace the chaos, and let your thoughts flow.

Purpose of the closing paragraph

Your final paragraph is likely what your readers are going to remember the most, so it’s important to end strong. This means you should not summarize your Personal Statement (the document is too short to necessitate that). Instead, you should confidently tell your readers why they should choose you:

• What do you bring to the table?
• How will you help the program shine?
• How are you different than other applicants?

Just like the introduction, this paragraph shouldn’t exceed 8 lines and should start, and end, with a short to medium-length sentence.

And there you have it – the Personal Statement from start to finish! We hope this blog has helped answer any questions you have about composing your Residency Personal Statement! If you’re considering professional help with drafting or editing your Personal Statement, visit Residency Statement’s website or email us at support@residencystatement.com.

Your Residency Personal Statement is a crucial component of your application package. In just one page, you need to communicate several important ideas. Of course, you’ll want to write about why you chose the specialty you’re applying to and why your experiences and strengths are aligned with the field. You will also want to stand out as a unique applicant who has something to offer the program. But what about less impressive aspects of your background? Many residency candidates wonder if they should address low USMLE Scores in the Personal Statement. Read below for our advice.

Addressing Low USMLE Scores in the Personal Statement

When it comes to writing about low USMLE Scores in the Personal Statement, you’ll want to consider a few factors. First, are your scores actually considered low for the specialty you’re applying to? Review average scores for Matched IMGs in the 18 most IMG-friendly specialties here. Just because you didn’t earn the score you’d hoped for doesn’t mean your score isn’t competitive. Next, think about the reason your scores were low. If there were extenuating circumstances in your life when you took the exam, it makes sense to explain them in your Personal Statement. If, however, the reason for low scores was failure to adequately prepare, rushing to take the exam, or another reason that, while true, does not reflect positively on you, addressing this topic in the Personal Statement might not be a great idea.

Pros

“Leaving something to the imagination” isn’t always a good thing! Taking the time to explain why you did not earn the score you hoped to on your USMLE exams can prove beneficial. Doing so gives readers insight into the circumstances that played a role in your exam score(s). Not offering any type of explanation could leave your readers wondering if your score matters to you. Or, they could come to the conclusion that you don’t want to acknowledge the score.

If you do address low USMLE scores in the Personal Statement, make sure not to go overboard. A few sentences are enough to offer your explanation. Your PS should focus on your strengths and experiences!

Cons

If your scores were significantly below a program’s typical ranges and they are reading your Personal Statement, it means your readers were likely impressed with other aspects of your application and aren’t looking to read about your scores. If you spend time explaining this topic, you’re losing valuable space to write about what readers really want to know: why you are an awesome candidate!

For more tips on writing a great Personal Statement, check out our blog Creating a Well Crafted Medical Residency Personal Statement. If you need assistance with your Personal Statement, visit Residency Statement. Our expert editors and writers are dedicated to helping you craft the perfect Personal Statement!

There’s no denying it, your Residency Personal Statement is an important part of your application package. Of course, you’ll want to convey the reasons you chose the specialty you’re applying to and why your experiences and strengths are aligned with the field. You will also want to stand out as a relevant and dedicated applicant who has something to offer the program. But what about those areas of your background that are less impressive? Many residency candidates wonder if they should address multiple attempts on the USMLE exams in the Personal Statement. Read below for our advice.

Addressing Multiple Attempts on the USMLE Exams in the Personal Statement

All residency candidates hope to pass their Step exams on the first attempt, but of course not everyone does. While failing an exam is definitely not the end of the world, it is considered a “red flag,” so explaining it in your Personal Statement is usually beneficial. The trick to doing so successfully is avoiding too much focus on the topic and conveying a humble attitude about the experience. If your explanation comes across as an excuse or as though you’re blaming someone other than yourself, it won’t be well received.

Best practice for writing about this topic is:

1. Devote one paragraph (or about 5 – 7 sentences) to this content
2. Acknowledge the failure
3. Concisely discuss the reason why it occurred (death in the family, illness/injury, difficulty with test taking/study methods, etc.)
4. Explain how you went on to pass the exam in your next attempt
5. Share specifics of how the experience helped you grow

Program Directors don’t read the Personal Statements of every single applicant. So, if they are reading yours, it means they were impressed with other aspects of your application! They are likely curious about your background and will be receptive to your explanation.

Personal Statement Assistance

If you need assistance drafting or polishing your Personal Statement, let the expert editors and writers at Residency Statement help! We are dedicated to your success and our personalized process will save you time and stress.

Your Residency Personal Statement is your chance to shine. After all, you have an entire page to fill with your positive attributes and strengths. If you’ve started drafting this supporting document, you may be wondering just how personal it should be. The answer is…it depends.

Appropriate Personal Content for Your Residency Personal Statement

Relevant background/Childhood experiences

If your background story is relevant to your path toward medicine/residency, it’s a good idea to include it. For example, perhaps you grew up in a family of doctors and spent a lot of time in clinics/hospitals. Or, maybe you had a serious illness or injury and had a lot of exposure to doctors. Other relevant experiences could include:

• Growing up with little access to healthcare
• Spending time caring for a friend or family member who was seriously ill or injured
• Meeting a strong physician role model early in your life

Keep in mind that the Personal Statement is not a narrative-style document, so “story-telling” should be kept to a minimum.

Circumstances that caused a delay in your education

If there are personal circumstances that caused a break in your education, including them in your Personal Statement is smart. Taking care of a sick family member, the death of a loved one, or dealing with personal medical/mental health issues are all circumstances that are appropriate to discuss.

Circumstances that resulted in a USMLE Exam failure

If you have multiple attempts on a Step exam, and there are mitigating circumstances, you can certainly include them in the Personal Statement. Keep your explanation brief, 3-5 sentences, and then transition into a discussion about what you learned/how you have grown from the experience.

Content to Avoid in Your Residency Personal Statement

Stories About Ill/Injured Friends and Family

Unless you played a direct role in their care, sharing stories about other people’s illnesses or injuries isn’t smart. Your readers aren’t interested in what happened to someone else—even if it made an impression on you. Stick with actionable content that demonstrates your skills and strengths.

Information about your spouse/children

Your Personal Statement needs to focus on you. Spending time writing about your immediate family is not a good idea. Think about it: If your readers are learning about your spouse’s or children’s struggles or achievements, how does that help them understand why you’re a good fit for the program? The same goes for events like divorce. Unless there is specific relevance to your application, avoid writing about this kind of content.

There are, of course, exceptions to these suggestions! If you feel a story about a friend or family member is particularly relevant to your application for a specific specialty, it can be included.

 We hope these tips are helpful as you’re drafting your Residency Personal Statement! If you need assistance, visit us at Residency Statement. Our expert editors and writers are committed to helping you craft the perfect Personal Statement. For more ideas and suggestions for your Residency Personal Statement, read our blog Creating a Well Crafted Medical Residency Personal Statement.

Getting residency interviews can be tough enough. But, then you have to actually attend them and perform as well!

As such, there are several things you should keep in mind before attending a residency interview. We’ll be discussing these ideas in the approximate order they should be completed. 

10 Things to Do Before Attending A Residency Interview

1. Record – We recommend keeping track of all your interviews in one place. Match A Resident’s Interview Manager is the perfect (and free) tool to do so.
2. Update Personal Statement – You can update your personal statement throughout the residency application cycle. If yours was not a perfect 10/10, we recommend taking another look. Residency programs rely heavily on personal statements for final decisions, especially after having met you during an interview. 
3. Research – Begin researching the program. You should be keeping track of what interests you about the program AND the region. Make sure to start logging questions you may have as well. During an interview, the more tailored and specific your questions are to the potentially unique aspects of that program – the better. It shows a more genuine and potentially invested interest than do generic questions. 
4. Learn – Preparing for the actual skills necessary to complete interviews cannot be understated. Overconfidence KILLS when it comes to residency interviews. This means you need to cover all your bases – in terms of the knowledge, skills, and best practices associated with conducting interviews. There are many resources available, but we recommend Interview Prep available through Match A Resident. 
5. Practice – Once you have foundational knowledge built, it is time to take it to the next level with practice and repetition. And actually seeing how you do is so critical to objective analysis. That is why Interview Prep through Match A Resident offers unlimited recordings of practice answers. Plus, AI Feedback can help you determine your strengths and areas for improvement instantaneously. 
6. Feedback – Make sure to analyze your own practice answers, send them to peers or mentors for review, or to an interview coaching expert for detailed feedback and critique. It is important that you are able to understand your performance from a different perspective than your own. 
7. Mental Preparation – Visualizing and practicing embodying the feelings you wish to own and portray during the interview can be a powerful tool. Consider looking into meditations or relaxation techniques that can help you get into a centered state of mind leading up to the interview – including the days before, the night of, and right beforehand as well. 
8. Physical Preparation – The body holds stress and tension. Simple breathwork, yoga, or tai chi are excellent ways to help alleviate these tensions which can make you appear uncomfortable during an interview – both online and in person. Developing a healthy practice, even just a few minutes a day will help you get mentally and physically prepared for confidence and success. 
9. Setting – If your interview will be virtual, make sure your space is set up well in advance. This means where you will be sitting, the background, lighting, camera, and beyond are all determined and set up. You’ve verified that this is a very professional and reliable set up. Also, consider setting your clothes out the night before and have your breakfast planned. The fewer distractions and variables the better. 
10. Succeed! – Go into the interview with all the tools in your belt sharp and ready. You’ve completed your preparations and are ready for success. Feeling confident and prepared will help you perform optimally. So, now it is time to go and GET IT!

Additional Preparation Resources

If you would like access to Interview Prep Services – log in or register with Match A Resident. Interview Prep is available through registered member’s Dashboards.

If you would like assistance making final tweaks or complete re-writes of your Personal Statement, go to Residency Personal Statement Editing & Writing Services.

You can no longer edit many documents in ERAS once you have begun applying for medical residency. Yet, applicants may wonder, “Can I still update my personal statement?”  

According to the AAMC, the Personal Statement can be updated throughout the residency application season, even for programs you have already applied to. The following is directly from the AAMC:

Can I edit my Personal Statement after I apply to programs?

Yes, Personal Statements can be edited at any point during the application season – even when assigned to programs applied to.

(Source – MyERAS Documents section of: https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-residency/faq/faq-eras-residency-applicants/)

Now, you may be wondering, “Why would I want to update my personal statement in the middle of the season?” 

Reasons to Consider Updating Your Personal Statement

1) Not getting enough interviews.  

Perhaps you are running low on interview opportunities. As such, it is common to wonder what could be going wrong. One issue could be that you did not get the right help or enough help crafting your personal statement(s). It is very possible that your personal statement might be completely missing the mark. Additionally, it could be turning programs off from you as an applicant for reasons you did not realize before. 

2) Outdated or irrelevant information.

For example, some applicants leave an asterisk noting the arrival of test scores. Or, perhaps there were extenuating circumstances that you included in your original application which are no longer relevant to you anymore. 

3) New and important experiences. 

The application season takes many months. In September, when you may have applied, perhaps you didn’t have US Clinical Experience. But now you have a wonderful experience that would be very powerful and helpful for you to share. Of course, this is another great opportunity to keep fine-tuning your application throughout the season. 

In Summary

Landing a residency position is challenging. Optimizing your application at all points of the residency season is important to overcoming the hurdles of residency. This is especially true for IMGs and/or those who have red flags in their application.

Now, you may be thinking, “Should I update my personal statement?” Our support staff is happy to provide guidance and input regarding this extremely important document. 

Call Residency Statement at 858-221-8590 or email support@residencystatement.com today.