Does a 'personalized' personal statement help?

[superdevil]

silly question: i know ERAS will let you send a different personal statement to each program you apply to, but my question is, does it really help? what i mean is, if you end each version of your PS such that you've mentioned why you're specifically applying to their program (assuming there is a REAL reason and not just "My Step 1 is 203 and I'm applying to every plastics program in the US"), does anybody care? for instance, if you're applying to a place where you grew up or your/your spouse's family lives and you mention your family ties to the area, is that important at all, or not worth the time? how about if the program has a particular strength in which you're interested?

it feels like a huge waste of time, but if it could possibly amount to something (i.e. and interview), i'm game.

thanks

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[dragonfly99]

You know, a few years ago I would have said it doesn't matter much. However, I did do this (personalize some of the personal statements) while applying to cards fellowships this year, and it seems to have worked. I'd say if you are within the range of applicants they accept, then it might help you. However, if they are "screening out" people by AOA status, board scores, etc. and you don't make it, they might not get to reading your personal statement anyway. I would say don't spend countless hours rewriting 30 personal statements if you are applying to highly competitive specialty, but definitely if you or your spouse is from a certain area, or you have a specific interest in specific program(s) for particular reasons, then I think it is worthwhile to retool your personal statement (as you said, the last paragraph or so). I do feel that it can make a difference. I do think these subjective, personal things make more of a difference than I used to realize. Like it or not, people make lots of subjective decisions in choosing a med student, intern, resident, fellow, or even a job applicant. It may be "not fair" but I think it is true. Just my 2 cents after surviving medicine residency. I also think people get graded and evaluated on subjective things a lot more than attendings would admit, as well. It's just kind of the way the world works.

 

[superdevil]

You know, a few years ago I would have said it doesn't matter much. However, I did do this (personalize some of the personal statements) while applying to cards fellowships this year, and it seems to have worked. I'd say if you are within the range of applicants they accept, then it might help you. However, if they are "screening out" people by AOA status, board scores, etc. and you don't make it, they might not get to reading your personal statement anyway. I would say don't spend countless hours rewriting 30 personal statements if you are applying to highly competitive specialty, but definitely if you or your spouse is from a certain area, or you have a specific interest in specific program(s) for particular reasons, then I think it is worthwhile to retool your personal statement (as you said, the last paragraph or so). I do feel that it can make a difference. I do think these subjective, personal things make more of a difference than I used to realize. Like it or not, people make lots of subjective decisions in choosing a med student, intern, resident, fellow, or even a job applicant. It may be "not fair" but I think it is true. Just my 2 cents after surviving medicine residency. I also think people get graded and evaluated on subjective things a lot more than attendings would admit, as well. It's just kind of the way the world works.

glad to hear it worked out. looks like i'll be trying my hand at it, too. after all, i'll only be playing the "family/location" card at like, 7 or 8 places, so it shouldn't be that much of a burden. thanks for the feedback.

 

[Hard24Get]

It took me all of 5 mins to do this for a handful of places. The PD at one of them complimented me on the great idea and said it really helped my application stand out (I drew a comparison between something i knew the program offered and something I wanted, though, not just family stuff).