Autobiographical Sketch versus Career Objectives ?

[linevasel]

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Figured I'd take a chance and reach out to SDN community.
Quick Questions about Overlapping Sections of CAS
1) Are we supposed to talk about our career goals (what we INTEND to do) in our Personal Statement and/or the Career Objectives section. The Autobiographical Sketch & Career Objectives sections seem to overlap.

2) Does anyone actually read career objectives ???

I’d like to use the autobiographical sketch to discuss my admiration of surgery and clinical ophthalmology, and explain the historical/cultural reasons why these attributes resonate with my personality and interests, etc
But, I spent a significant chunk of time in research though (1+years etc), and I’m worried no one will read career objectives, and the fact that I don’t address my research interests, motivations, and goals in the PS (I address then in the Career Objectives section) will be seen as weird.

Can anyone offer any clarity on the point of these two sections (seem a bit redundant) ? and the likelihood that reviewers will see/read both.

 

[doctortom]

From my experience, all my interviewers had a copy of my application handy while I was interviewed. My PD said he frequently read the personal statement right before the interview. The career goals section is obviously very clear in what it is asking you but limited in space. In my application I made it short and sweet in the career goals section and recapitulated the same in more detail in my personal statement. Regardless, your interviewers will have plenty of opportunities to look at your involvement in research from other sections of your application. Additionally, you will be asked at most interviews "where you see yourself in 10 years"... Plenty of opportunities to talk about your career goals for anyone who didn't read your application closely! Good luck!

 

[linevasel]

DrTom,

Thanks for your informative reply.

Consider this thread CLOSED