How important is your PS when applying?

[iliacus]

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Some of you out there in SDN land are involved in reading personal statements and deciding who get's an interview. Does the PS really mean a whole lot when evaluating applications?

 

[chumbojumbo]

well im not invloved in reviewing apps, but I will share my experience as an EM applicant last year...Most of my interviewers never mentioned anything about my PS, excep for one interviewer who used my personal interests to address their concerns of my responsibility to residency...not sure why, but they felt that becuase I liked (insert whatever hobby you prefer here) snowboarding, I might not be a "responsible" physician...thankfull that was only one interviewer. No one else even mentioned it. Hopefully some PDs can share their opinions.

CJ

 

[Apollyon]

After 400 or 500 or 1000 apps, a reviewer's eyes want to bleed. The PS either differentiates you in some way, or the bigger reason is if you've screwed up in some way - the PS is your place to "plead your case" or try to explain the hole, whatever it is.

 

[iliacus]

400-500 personal statements 😱 I'll keep it short and sweet. I don't have anything I need to explain away...No I suddenly became ill and failed a class or anything like that. One page short and sweet should do it...

 

[AmoryBlaine]

well im not invloved in reviewing apps, but I will share my experience as an EM applicant last year...Most of my interviewers never mentioned anything about my PS, excep for one interviewer who used my personal interests to address their concerns of my responsibility to residency...not sure why, but they felt that becuase I liked (insert whatever hobby you prefer here) snowboarding, I might not be a "responsible" physician...thankfull that was only one interviewer. No one else even mentioned it. Hopefully some PDs can share their opinions.

CJ

Presumably skiing wouldn't have aroused such a concern?

Seriously, how wierd.

 

[sese]

as a new intern:

one program director started out the interview stating (in a derogatory tone) that all ps followed one of a few predictable formats. i don't know if he was doing this to psych me out.

so i doubt programs get much info from the ps besides the fact that you can write in english.

 

[hflessa]

I would recommend taking the time and effort to write a well written statement. It can help to set you apart. Several interviewers at multiple interview sites made reference to mine and even had underlined key phrases that resonated with them. A well written PS can definitely help you!

 

[SolidGold]

I would recommend taking the time and effort to write a well written statement. It can help to set you apart. Several interviewers at multiple interview sites made reference to mine and even had underlined key phrases that resonated with them. A well written PS can definitely help you!

This is what I'd recommend. Sure, some PD's don't care, but some do including some of the better recognized programs I visited. So I'd spend a couple of extra hours (since that's all that it takes) to make it good. Get an adviser to read it too.

 

[BKN]

well im not invloved in reviewing apps, but I will share my experience as an EM applicant last year...Most of my interviewers never mentioned anything about my PS, excep for one interviewer who used my personal interests to address their concerns of my responsibility to residency...not sure why, but they felt that becuase I liked (insert whatever hobby you prefer here) snowboarding, I might not be a "responsible" physician...thankfull that was only one interviewer. No one else even mentioned it. Hopefully some PDs can share their opinions.

CJ

It's a rite of passage. Don't sweat blood over it.

It does tell us if you can write an intelligible paragraph and know how to use a spell checker and a grammar checker. But for me, you're playing defense. Americans say "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." Japanese say "The upstanding nail gets hammered down." I think your p.s. should be written well, earnest but not "unusual". You may catrch our eyes with the latter, but unless very well done, it may do so in a negative way.

 

[DrQuinn]

Agree with BKN.

Just don't write anything too weird, and DO NOT, under ANY circumstances, say at the bottom:

"I do feel a place for me in the field of anesthesia is what I was destined to reach."

Or anything along those lines.

Duh.

It happens.

Q

 

[Painter1]

from the interviews i attended, my impression was that personal statements are completely ignored (e.g. not read at all) or at most skimmed through right before the interview. i think it can only hurt you; however, you would have to write some weird **** like you hate certain groups of people or you worship the devil on tuesdays.

 

[DeLaughterDO]

from the interviews i attended, my impression was that personal statements are completely ignored (e.g. not read at all) or at most skimmed through right before the interview. i think it can only hurt you; however, you would have to write some weird **** like you hate certain groups of people or you worship the devil on tuesdays.

Oh, can this practice not coincide with the practice of Emergency medicine?

and in my experience, most devil worshippers practice on saturdays. More time for the animal and human sacrifices if you don't have to get up early for work the next day.

jd