Wednesday, June 24, 2020
Residency Personal Statements 5 Tips for Success
You want to write a residency personal statement that will get you noticed ââ¬â and matched! ââ¬â at your top choice residency program. Not sure how to turn your boring draft into an application bestseller? Follow these 5 tips: Focus on what attracts you to this particular specialty This isnââ¬â¢t the place to tell your full life story or to rehash the tale of why you decided to become a doctor (those are topics for your medical school application, which for you is a thing of the past). Instead, explain how you became interested in your specialty, and show that you have the skills and personal qualities to succeed in the residency youââ¬â¢re seeking.. Be specific Draw on concrete examples from your experiences to illustrate your points. Was there a particular experience during a rotation that made you realize this specialty was for you? Did you have an especially memorable interaction with a patient or a mentor? What skills have you developed that will help you succeed?. Donââ¬â¢t just rewrite your CV into prose Your residency personal statement is not the place to simply list accomplishments from your CV. Let your CV do that job! This is your opportunity to tell a coherent story about your experience and goals ââ¬â a story that provides context for the rest of your application.. Watch your tone You donââ¬â¢t want to sound arrogant (after all, your readers are considering you as a potential colleague). Describe your skills confidently, but be aware of the line between confidence and arrogance. For example, it can be very off-putting to a reader if you talk about how work was too easy for you (in a way that makes it sound like you think youââ¬â¢re more accomplished than everyone you worked with!). Likewise, be careful of presenting your chosen specialty as the BEST one, or the only one a really smart or accomplished person would pursue ââ¬â itââ¬â¢s the best choice for you! Itââ¬â¢s a good idea to ask someone else to read your essay ââ¬â ask them if you sound enthusiastic and confident, or if youââ¬â¢ve crossed the line into arrogance.. Proofread! Make sure you avoid careless mistakes. One way to catch errors: take a step back and then return to your essay after a short break. Youââ¬â¢ll be more likely to see things that you might miss when youââ¬â¢re tired. Another tip: read your essay aloud. This forces you to slow down, and youââ¬â¢re more likely to catch awkward phrases, typos, etc. Your ear will pick up what your eye previously missed on the screen. There you have it ââ¬â your 5 ingredient recipe for residency application success! Looking for one-on-one guidance on cooking up the perfect personal statement? Check out our Residency/Fellowship Admissions Services and work with an expert consultant who will help you match at your top choice program. By Dr. Rebecca Blustein, former Accepted admissions consultant. Dr. Blustein has a BA and PhD from UCLA in English and Comparative Literature. She formerly worked as a Student Affairs Officer at UCLAââ¬â¢s Scholarship Resource Center where she gained experience guiding applicants in areas of admissions and funding. Dr. Blusteinââ¬â¢s clients have been accepted to top Masterââ¬â¢s and PhD programs in dozens of fields across all disciplines.à Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch! Related Resources: â⬠¢Ã Keeping Up with Dr. Andrea Tooley ââ¬â Ophthalmology Resident and Soon-To-Be-Fellow, a podcast episode â⬠¢ How Keeping a Journal as an M3 Can Save Your Residency Applications â⬠¢ All You Need to Know About Residency Applications and Matching Residency Personal Statements 5 Tips for Success You want to write a residency personal statement that will get you noticed ââ¬â and matched! ââ¬â at your top choice residency program. Not sure how to turn your boring draft into an application bestseller? Follow these 5 tips: Focus on what attracts you to this particular specialty This isnââ¬â¢t the place to tell your full life story or to rehash the tale of why you decided to become a doctor (those are topics for your medical school application, which for you is a thing of the past). Instead, explain how you became interested in your specialty, and show that you have the skills and personal qualities to succeed in the residency youââ¬â¢re seeking.. Be specific Draw on concrete examples from your experiences to illustrate your points. Was there a particular experience during a rotation that made you realize this specialty was for you? Did you have an especially memorable interaction with a patient or a mentor? What skills have you developed that will help you succeed?. Donââ¬â¢t just rewrite your CV into prose Your residency personal statement is not the place to simply list accomplishments from your CV. Let your CV do that job! This is your opportunity to tell a coherent story about your experience and goals ââ¬â a story that provides context for the rest of your application.. Watch your tone You donââ¬â¢t want to sound arrogant (after all, your readers are considering you as a potential colleague). Describe your skills confidently, but be aware of the line between confidence and arrogance. For example, it can be very off-putting to a reader if you talk about how work was too easy for you (in a way that makes it sound like you think youââ¬â¢re more accomplished than everyone you worked with!). Likewise, be careful of presenting your chosen specialty as the BEST one, or the only one a really smart or accomplished person would pursue ââ¬â itââ¬â¢s the best choice for you! Itââ¬â¢s a good idea to ask someone else to read your essay ââ¬â ask them if you sound enthusiastic and confident, or if youââ¬â¢ve crossed the line into arrogance.. Proofread! Make sure you avoid careless mistakes. One way to catch errors: take a step back and then return to your essay after a short break. Youââ¬â¢ll be more likely to see things that you might miss when youââ¬â¢re tired. Another tip: read your essay aloud. This forces you to slow down, and youââ¬â¢re more likely to catch awkward phrases, typos, etc. Your ear will pick up what your eye previously missed on the screen. There you have it ââ¬â your 5 ingredient recipe for residency application success! Looking for one-on-one guidance on cooking up the perfect personal statement? Check out our Residency/Fellowship Admissions Services and work with an expert consultant who will help you match at your top choice program. By Dr. Rebecca Blustein, former Accepted admissions consultant. Dr. Blustein has a BA and PhD from UCLA in English and Comparative Literature. She formerly worked as a Student Affairs Officer at UCLAââ¬â¢s Scholarship Resource Center where she gained experience guiding applicants in areas of admissions and funding. Dr. Blusteinââ¬â¢s clients have been accepted to top Masterââ¬â¢s and PhD programs in dozens of fields across all disciplines.à Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch! Related Resources: â⬠¢Ã Keeping Up with Dr. Andrea Tooley ââ¬â Ophthalmology Resident and Soon-To-Be-Fellow, a podcast episode â⬠¢ How Keeping a Journal as an M3 Can Save Your Residency Applications â⬠¢ All You Need to Know About Residency Applications and Matching
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