GOALS

1. GOALS Describe the important elements of a personal statement Review common errors (do’s and don’ts) Present examples of good and bad personal statements

2. Factors that impact whether or how high a residency program ranks you grades board scores interviews letters of recommendation dean’s letter personal statement service research/scholarship extra-curriculars

3. Personal Statements: Do they matter? Personal statements are one of the top 10 variables in determining whether or how high a program ranks you. It is a mistake to assume they aren’t read or just skimmed In a highly competitive match, everything matters! Strive for excellence. consider what you want to say carefully no grammatical errors; no typos! put time and energy into the process

4. What are residency programs looking for? This will vary by program. May be used to assess: intelligence personality character aspirations professionalism

5. Three components that must be in every personal statement What are you choosing and why? What makes you a good fit for this specialty? What do you hope to achieve with your training? (long term goals)

6. Why is this important? A personal statement serves to complement and supplement your CV. Describe your qualifications and strengths in narrative form. Your goal: to eloquently convey how and why you are qualified for the position to which you are applying. Make clear the basis of your interest in that specialty and, if possible, that particular program.

7. Be sure to do the following: Be sure to have someone read it Highlight areas from your CV Ask college mentors or others to read it and comment Start early so you have time to rewrite your statement multiple times Write a focused essay covering the basics, 4-5 paragraphs and < one page long Write in full sentences and use correct grammar and spelling – always run a spell-check Spell out abbreviations and acronyms Do not use jargon!  Express yourself in a concise, less pretentious style Write with a fresh presentation in order to spark some interest for the reader Do not include a laundry list of excuses explaining your negative records or traits Be honest and consistent with the rest of your application

8. Common errors Avoid too many “I” statements Don’t be repetitive Sell yourself without bragging or arrogance Minimize use of exaggerated terms such as amazing, fascinating, thrilling Flowery language makes you look flaky, not deep Don’t be too cute ( a little humor OK but be careful!) Don’t take risks; most physicians are conservative in their personal style Watch out for clichés Don’t just repeat what’s in the application Do not include a laundry list of excuses explaining your negative records or traits Don’t make it too long

9. What about red flags?

10. What if you are applying to more than 1 specialty?

11. What about illnesses or other reasons for leave of absence Use your discretion. Certain illnesses can be stigmatizing even though they shouldn’t be If in doubt, leave it out.

12. Please allow me to explain why I believe so passionately that pathology is the most perfect field for me. I am a very curious individual and I simply adore learning – the more the better. Bring it on, I say! Pathology, with its amazingly large amount of material, certainly offers that! Additionally I am absolutely fasinated by the contributions pathology makes to the practice of clinical medicine. I find this aspect of the specialty nothing less than thrilling. For these reasons, I believe pathology is the most perfect field for me. Problems? Language is sophomoric Too many exclamation points Misspelled word (fascinated) Exaggerated Repetitiveness Cute

13. Like most medical students, I discovered pathology during second year of medical school. Despite the overwhelming amount of information, learning pathology felt more like one of my hobbies because it involved a comparative, hierarchical and investigative approach to human disease. Moreover, third year provided valuable clinical experience, but I always wanted to plunge deeper into the diagnostics and pathophysiologyof clinical medicine. With this in mind, I decided to take pathology courses in the beginning of my fourth year. In surgical pathology, I worked with Dr. Melinda Sanders on breast service and embarked on a research project studying pediatric breast lesions. For my clinical pathology rotation, I joined Dr. Michael Laposata and his diagnostic management team for coagulation disorders and helped draft interpretative consultation that was personalized to each patient’s unique medical issues. After the first week, I felt the “click” that everyone kept telling me about. As I started helping out the interns, I learned how to acquire new sets of knowledge and skills while making important contributions to patient care.

14. I believe that I have all the necessary qualities to become an excellent orthopedic surgeon. First, I really and truly care about people. Second, I enjoy working in teams and orthopedic surgeons work in teams. Third, I am very good with my hands and I believe I could be an excellent technical surgeon. Finally, I am a hard worker and I am looking forward to throwing myself wholeheartedly into my work. Problems: Too many “I” statements. A bit braggy Awkward sentence structure.

15. (first 2 paragraphs described engineering project in college, experiences with uncle and grandfather who were orthopedic surgeons in a small community, experiences on pedsortho rotation) In the midst of these confirming experiences, I have also come to realize that the privilege of participating in patient care at this level demands determined focus and purposeful work ethic within a cohesive team setting. These values are reflected in my record and daily life, from football team captain, to engineering team member, to medical school honor council member. My determination to become a skilled Orthopedic surgeon is equally mirrored in my resolve to continue to be a responsible team player who can be counted upon to act with integrity and character regardless of the situation.

16. In conclusion, the horrible experience of being raped by my step-father while I was just a high school student, has made me more determined than ever to give back to the medical community that saved me. From the kind and caring emergency room physicians and nurses, to the planned parenthood clinic that performed the abortion from the ensuing pregnancy, to the psychiatrists who treated me for the depression and PTSD that I battled with and continue to battle with, I can state with confidence that I owe a great debt to the health care system. I am confident that I can best contribute this great system by becoming an Obstetrician/gynecologist. Problems: Run-on sentence Too much information Personality-disorder?

18. Closing paragraph of a personal statement Communication is the single most important factor in establishing excellent doctor-patient relations and is also the key to excellent quality medical care. In addition to communicating with patients who come into the hospital, I have also sought to open communication lines and offer care to people who have a hard time getting in the door. This is because I so strongly believe in the importance of communication. In addition to communication, I believe it is vitally important for all physicians to give back to their communities by participating in volunteer work. Only then can a physician truly know he or she has fulflled their duty to society by caring for the underserved even without financial compensation. As a volunteer in underserved communities, I have seen firsthand the desperation of families with sick children and little access to healthcare. I have also seen how relieved those families are when they receive both care and answers. There have been other opportunities that I have had the privilege of taking advantage of to do volunteer work. While performing a routine sports physical at Vanderbilt Medical School's free-clinic, we found an inguinal hernia in a twelve-year old boy who had not seen a doctor in years. With my help and of course, Vanderbilt's help, we were able to send him to a pediatric surgeon and get the defect repaired before irreparable damage was done. Children are our future and it is to the health of that future that I commit myself here and now. Opportunities like this are why I chose to be a doctor and more specifically a pediatrician.

19. Problems? Grandiose Preachy Too long Boring Difficult to read Is less more?

20. Don’t add a word but delete the statements in red Communication is the single most important factor in establishing excellent doctor-patient relations and is also the key to excellent quality medical care. In addition to communicating with patients who come into the hospital, I have also sought to open communication lines and offer care to people who have a hard time getting in the door. This is because I so strongly believe in the importance of communication. In addition to communication, I believe it is vitally important for all physicians to give back to their communities by participating in volunteer work. Only then can a physician truly know he or she has fulflled their duty to society by caring for the underserved even without financial compensation.As a volunteer in underserved communities, I have seen firsthand the desperation of families with sick children and little access to healthcare. I have also seen how relieved those families are when they receive both care and answers. There have been other opportunities that I have had the privilege of taking advantage of to do volunteer work. While performing a routine sports physical at Vanderbilt Medical School's free-clinic, we found an inguinal hernia in a twelve-year old boy who had not seen a doctor in years. With my help and of course, Vanderbilt's help, we were able to send him to a pediatric surgeon and get the defect repaired before irreparable damage was done. Children are our future and it is to the health of that future that I commit myself here and now. Opportunities like this are why I chose to be a doctor and more specifically a pediatrician.

21. In addition to communicating with patients who come into the hospital, I have also sought to open communication lines and offer care to people who have a hard time getting in the door. As a volunteer in underserved communities, I have seen firsthand the desperation of families with sick children and little access to healthcare. I have also seen how relieved those families are when they receive both care and answers. While performing a routine sports physical at Vanderbilt Medical School's free-clinic, we found an inguinal hernia in a twelve-year old boy who had not seen a doctor in years. With Vanderbilt's help, we were able to send him to a pediatric surgeon and get the defect repaired before irreparable damage was done. Opportunities like this are why I chose to be a doctor and more specifically a pediatrician.