Make a Statement!
(or, How to Write a Fabulous Personal Statement)
BUSM Office of Student Affairs Summer 2005
The Residency Selection Process STEPS
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TIMING
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Outline
• • • • • • • Purpose of the Personal Statement Preparing to write Basic anatomy What to include, what to omit Resources Examples of Personal Statements Q&A
Purpose of the Personal Statement
• First impression, or “snapshot” of who you are • Positive focus on who you are and what you are seeking • Gives residency programs a reason to want you • Chance to present yourself in a favorable light
Preparing to Write
• Define your audience and purpose • Define your thesis statement • Construct an outline
Thesis Statement
• A sentence that explicitly identifies the purpose of the essay and previews its main ideas • A persuasive assertion, not a statement of fact • Narrow, not broad • Helps both the reader and the writer • OK to revise as you refine your thoughts as you write • Essay, therefore, is written to support the thesis
Four “A’s” of Success
• • • • Attitude Affability Availability Ability
Anatomy of a Personal Statement
• Personal statement has an overall main theme • Each paragraph has one main focus
– Past – Present – Future
The Past
• What made you decide to pursue a career in medicine? • OK to offer specifics to illustrate the thesis statement
The Present
• What led you to choose the field to which you are applying? • Explain why you think you would be well-suited to a career in this field
The Future
• What are you looking for in an ideal residency program?
– Be specific – Don’t be too specific
• What is your vision for your career once your training is complete? In other words, dream your 10-year dream
General Tips for Writing
• Show yourself as competent but not cocky or arrogant • Show yourself as compassionate but not crippled by emotion • OK to illustrate personal and professional growth as a result of hardships • But leave out “true confessions”
What to Leave Out
• • • • • • • • • • Flaky or “cute” vignettes Excessive use of the word “I” Clichés and tired phrases Flip, unprofessional language Vernacular, improper grammar Spelling mistakes Who/that, which/that confusion Information that is better said in your CV Word repetition Terms like “extremely” or other overly persuasive words
What to Leave Out
• Negative statements about other fields • Statements that can be harmful or embarrassing to family or colleagues • Political and religious opinions • Anything about which you don’t want to be questioned • General statements about the field (yawn) • Cheesy generalizations – “medicine is an art as well as a science” • When in doubt, cut it out!
Some Additional Tips
• Expect to go through several iterations before you feel you are done • Spell check and read your PS over and over again • Read it pretending you know nothing about yourself • Have a trusted other person read and critique your personal statement
Even More Advice!
• It is much easier to refine and complete a template than to stare at a blank screen for hours. Therefore, • Create a document now on your computer called “Personal Statement” • Put in three words as three separate paragraphs
– Past – Present – Future
• Jot down thoughts as they come up • The rest is just editing and is much easier!
Logistical Details (?)
• 1-page maximum length • Put your name and the words “Personal Statement” at the top
Resources
• Books
– Getting Into a Residency: A Guide for Medical Students, 4th ed. Iserson KV, Tucson AZ, Galen Press, 1996 – First Aid for the Match: Insider Advice from Students and Residency Directors. Le T, Bhushan V, Amine C. Stamford CT, Appleton & Lange, 1997
Resources, cont.
• Your friendly Deans and OSA advisors:
– Drs. Carr, Alpert, Sarfaty, O’Bryan, Edelin, Gottlieb
• Field-specific advisors • A friend with a critical editorial eye • Recent grads
Examples