Personal Statement Length?

[HumbleMD]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Greetings all,
I've been getting a lot of mixed signals regarding personal statement length for OB-GYN residency application. At ACOG, they gave us some examples that were 1 page double spaced. One was over and a resident noted it seemed "long." However, the example PSs for other specialties at my school seem to be 1 page single spaced. Finally, most of my OB-GYN advisors have said they don't remember, or that it doesn't remember much.

ACOG and APGO don't have any info.

I'm floating between 500-600 words (just over 1 page double spaced). Too long?

 

[Global Disrobal]

I'm accustomed to 1 page, single spaced, for both residency and fellowship. Definitely avoid two pages as it turns off the reader before they've laid eyes on your application.

Good luck!

 

[FutureDoc734]

I agree with Dr. Global Disrobal - at both my dean's meeting and chairman meeting, I was told that 1-page, single-spaced is best. Avoid going over that limit if at all possible.

Best of luck!

 

[HumbleMD]

Fantastic, thanks! My 560 words is well under 1 single-spaced page (1 double-spaced page seemed so short!)

 

[Diane L. Evans]

The best advice I can give you is to read Iserson getting into residency. He has a wealth of ideas in how to make your essay catch the readers eye.

By Kenneth V. Iserson - Galen Press (2006) - Paperback - 629 pages - ISBN 1883620090


http://www.google.com/products/cata...=X&ei=ampRTonpFIShtwf3ksC5Bw&ved=0CEwQ8wIwAA#