Personal statement, blarg

[Slide]

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I'm writing up my personal statement and I'm finding it hard to write a good one without falling into the cliches and experiences I'm sure RDs have seen over and over again. Do RDs really even look over this seriously? I mean, yes, I should try to show things my application wouldn't otherwise show, but it's hard for a 5200 character essay to do justice. Any general advice about how to tackle this?

 

[Visionary]

I'm writing up my personal statement and I'm finding it hard to write a good one without falling into the cliches and experiences I'm sure RDs have seen over and over again. Do RDs really even look over this seriously? I mean, yes, I should try to show things my application wouldn't otherwise show, but it's hard for a 5200 character essay to do justice. Any general advice about how to tackle this?

I've always felt uneasy writing about myself for these personal statements (grad school, med school, residency, fellowship), but it's necessary. For residency, I just tried to tell a story about how I became interested in ophthalmology. Along the way, I highlighted what I thought would be strengths. It helps to have an interesting story, but don't make stuff up. You're just asking to get caught. That sort of thing spreads and can ruin your chances of matching anywhere.

Having been involved in the selection process, I'll tell you that they ARE read...to a point. The way it usually works is the faculty are split into 2 groups: screeners and interviewers. The screeners go through piles of applications and prune them down to identify candidates worthy of interviewing. A lot of it's numbers, but the rec letters and personal statement can make the difference between getting an offer and not, when the numbers are equal. Try and be succinct. If they have to take several breaks while trudging through your dense tome of a statement, your app will go in the too bad, so sad pile. The goal is to make it to the interview. At that point, the playing field is pretty level. Rock the interview, and you will likely be ranked highly.

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

I'm writing up my personal statement and I'm finding it hard to write a good one without falling into the cliches and experiences I'm sure RDs have seen over and over again. Do RDs really even look over this seriously? I mean, yes, I should try to show things my application wouldn't otherwise show, but it's hard for a 5200 character essay to do justice. Any general advice about how to tackle this?

Off topic here but when you say "RD" in the ophtho forum it has a whole different meaning than "residency director," which is what I'm assuming you're saying.

As far as your PS, if you have anything interesting about you, write about it. An interesting hobby, a life changing experience, something that makes you "you." Honestly, it doesn't even have to be about ophthalmology. There is nothing more boring than reading the top 5 reasons why ophtho is awesome (I think PD's know that by now) or yet another patient encounter that drew you to this field (trust me, theyve read it all).

Having said that, if you don't have anything interesting about you, then play it safe and write:

a) I love ophtho b/c blah blah blah.

or

b) My grandmother had advanced AMD and I witnessed just how much she was affected by this...

You get the point. G'luck!

 

[Slide]

Thanks for the responses. I indeed do have a typical sappy "this is why I like ophthalmology" (I'm always careful to make sure I spell it right!), but I don't like it because it's so plain. I do have some interesting hobbies that I'm sure most med students don't have but I'm not sure if I want to integrate it into something about ophthalmology, other than that if someone gets shot in the eye with a paintball I might be able to help.

 

[200UL]

The personal statement is super important in my opinion. Whether you play it safe or get creative, it must be well written. If you have interesting hobbies / stories/ experiences that make you unique - include them if possible. Include stories that show your passion, your ability to over-come difficulties.... Your goal is to construct a personal statement where the reader says, "I want to interview this person!"

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

The personal statement is super important in my opinion. Whether you play it safe or get creative, it must be well written. If you have interesting hobbies / stories/ experiences that make you unique - include them if possible. Include stories that show your passion, your ability to over-come difficulties.... Your goal is to construct a personal statement where the reader says, "I want to interview this person!"

Excellent advice.

I made it a point to read every single PS before calling the applicant in the room for the interview. Most PS fell into the boring category, and that's okay b/c to be honest, most med students are not that interesting. haha. Many don't have any life experience or unusual talents -- that's why we're doctors!

But one of the best PS I read started off describing an applicant's experience with his first BBQ. How he burnt his first burger and how afterwards he spent hours researching what it takes to make the perfect burger. He tied this innate curiosity in figuring out the "how/why" in things into his interest in ophthalmology. Very very well written essay.