Personal Statement: child with autism

[NotAProgDirector]

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Hello. I am applying to Pediatrics residency program. I have 2 small children, 1 w/ autism. I wrote about them in my personal statement about how they reinforced my decision to pursue pediatrics. I gave it to 2 pediatricians to read including a vice chairman and they said it was great. I gave it to a pediatric surgeon to read and he said I shouldn't mention them because its like I'm applying for a job for residency and programs don't want to question whether or not I will be available or committed. I have an excellent support system and never missed a day during clerkships. Now I'm wondering if I should mention them at all.

You've received excellent advice. If you're applying for a pediatics residency, you absolutely can use this topic in your PS. If you're applying for a pediatric surgery residency, you probably shouldn't. This assumes that you have a stable home support system / environment to support your children (which seems obvious from not missing a day from your clerkships)

 

[Apollyon]

Remember that pediatricians train as such, but a peds surgeon does a full general surgery residency (5-7 years), then one or two years of peds surgery. In other words, the peds surgeon is the majority not pediatric (and is quite, quite unlikely to be on any primary care peds residency committee).

 

[Doodledog]

For a pediatric residency, it is completely fine to include this type of information. Pediatric surgery is a 2 year fellowship that follows a 5 year residency (and usually 2 years of additional research). They have different ideas of sleep and life from most others..