mailee88 said:
Looking for some help on writing a personal statement. I'm having some writer's block and wanted to get an idea of what past candidates put into their PSs. Thanks for your help!
😕
First of all, I'm no program director -- just a graduating med student who matched in pediatrics, so take my opinion for what it's worth.
The standard PS may be constructed in a couple of different ways but basically at some point explains "Why I want to go into pediatrics" (or whichever specialty). Ideally, it should also briefly explain what your exposure has been to the field so that it's evident you have some idea of what you're getting into (if you didn't know what you were getting into, and ended up dropping out of your residency, that would be a total nightmare for the program to have to try to replace you). A good personal statement should get across a couple of points:
1) Why I want to be a pediatrician/ why I respect pediatrics/ how I grew to love pediatrics
2) What I've seen in pediatrics so far and why this created or reinforced my interest in the specialty/ the qualities of pediatricians which fit me well
3) I am a reasonably good writer/ My spelling and grammar are not atrocious/ I can explain myself without confusing everyone
You may also want to add a little anecdote about an experience in peds and why that encapulates what you love about the specialty, or about an experience that got you interested in peds. Often these are put at the beginning of the PS to "hook" the reader into it, and referred to later on in the PS to give the feeling that it all hangs together.
You can use your PS to toot your own horn to a degree. You can address: what your strengths are, research you've done, volunteering/underprivileged work, etc.
If you want you can address what you think you might be doing later on (are you gung ho primary care? love research?) but that is by no means necessary since many people don't know this when they start residency.
The two most important things about your PS is that it is logical and free from errors. Have others help you edit your PS. If you have access to someone at your institution who is on the residency selection committee, have them give you feedback. It can be very helpful.
Try to avoid: politics and religion (a PS is not the place to rant about the stem cell debate).
Some people are frustrated because they are unable to write the elusive "creative PS" -- the one written in a completely fresh style and which, after you've read it, makes you want to buy the rights to the writer's autobiography. These are few and far between and generally only work in ultra-special circumstances. It is a gamble to write one of these, so be careful. It takes a great degree of talent to pull off the PS which makes windsurfing allegorical to your interest in pediatrics.
A PS can be written following the formula above while still incorporating your personality and providing interesting information about you. Most people write their PS this way and it in no way hinders getting into a great residency. Good luck.
bpkurtz
