I think we can all agree that writing about ourselves is one of our least favorite things to do, all while trying to be genuine, authentic, and impressive. Unfortunately, love it or hate it, the personal statement is a part of the ResidencyCAS application to match into residency. In this episode, Kaitlin and Molly are joined by two of the hosts of EM Over Easy, Andy and John, to discuss the dos and don’ts of writing your personal statement.
Why is the personal statement important?
- It’s the one place in the application where the reviewer gets to learn about you as a person.
- It’s the “comment box” of your application. A place where you can explain parts of your application that you may want to say more about, but there is no good place to put them.
- For a lot of reviewers, it is the most important part of your application because it is where they get to learn about you.
What makes a good personal statement?
- Tell a story about you and just about you!
- Consider your audience. Don’t use your personal statement to tell the reviewer about EM. They know all about EM. Tell them about yourself and why you want to pursue EM.
- Catch people’s attention, but try to avoid being off-putting.
- Don’t add things to your personal statement that you wouldn’t want to talk about in your interview.
- Mention red flags at the end if you have them, but make sure you tie them in well. Don’t just drop them at the end without explaining a little bit about how you have grown from the experience.
- Be honest and genuine.
- Don’t use it as a creative writing experiment.
- Ask many people to read and re-read it.
- Don’t submit it in all caps.
Take-Home Points:
- The personal statement is where you get to be you! Keep it about you!
- The first 1-2 sentences should be something intriguing, thought-provoking, real, and something that is going to grab attention.
- Own your story and be passionate about it.
- Be sure to answer: Why do you want to do this job, and why do you think you’ll be good at it?
Post by Patricia Capone, DO PGY4
Looking For More?
More from Andy, John, Tanner, and Drew: Be sure to subscribe to our newsletter for more information about what the team is reading, listening to and so much more!
More of your favorite EM Over Easy content: As always, you can find more of your favorite EM Over Easy content by following us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram! Also, please rate us on your favorite podcasting app or by visiting MedForums.
As the OFFICIAL podcast of the ACOEP, check out the ACOEP by visiting acoep.org to learn more and sign up for one of their many CME offerings.