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how did you guys approach this for eras?? I really have had trouble getting rolling. I have lots to say, just dont know how to get started.
personal statement
- Thread starter Bandit
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I know what you mean-i get writer's block too. Fortunately, I was forced to write mine a couple of weeks ago because one of my attendings wanted to read it before he wrote me a letter of recommendation.
First know that all PS must address 4 or 5 key issues; why/how you chose the specialty, why you would be a valuable asset to the profession, what type of residency program you are interested in, what type of practice you see yourself doing in the future (there might be one or two more...but basically they include stuff like the above).
Then decide what style you want to use; chronological, narrative, etc...
Then just brainstorm a bunch of crap for each topic within the PS. I just wrote a bunch of stuff down. Then weed out the stuff that doesn't seem as good, keep the best, and write your first draft.
I ended up going with the story style; started with a catchy paragraph about an experience I had which led me to choose my specialty and then added the rest in.
Look at examples of the different styles of PS, and don't forget to have at least three separate people read it before you submit.
good luck
First know that all PS must address 4 or 5 key issues; why/how you chose the specialty, why you would be a valuable asset to the profession, what type of residency program you are interested in, what type of practice you see yourself doing in the future (there might be one or two more...but basically they include stuff like the above).
Then decide what style you want to use; chronological, narrative, etc...
Then just brainstorm a bunch of crap for each topic within the PS. I just wrote a bunch of stuff down. Then weed out the stuff that doesn't seem as good, keep the best, and write your first draft.
I ended up going with the story style; started with a catchy paragraph about an experience I had which led me to choose my specialty and then added the rest in.
Look at examples of the different styles of PS, and don't forget to have at least three separate people read it before you submit.
good luck
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Yea, I'm in the same boat. But I thought this would be like college/med school and that we would be given topics to cover in the personal statement. Is this not true for ERAS?
Thx!
Thx!
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Moving to ERAS forum...
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Ex-gf who is an english teacher and two doctors who are familiar with the whole residency selection process....hoping to get it done by end of August.
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Best advice-just start typing (or writing) who cares if it's grammatically correct, just start writing anything that comes to mind. Polish it later.
As far as proofreading...our dean requires seeing at least a rough draft. I have my mother-in-law and mom looking at it since they both do editing for a living.
As far as proofreading...our dean requires seeing at least a rough draft. I have my mother-in-law and mom looking at it since they both do editing for a living.
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no one.
last time my high school eng teacher tried to correct my college essay, she made it bland as hell.
this is my essay. this is me. I don't want anyone to water it down.
my only rule for myself:
keep it simple. no compound complex complicated sentences. This is not english lit.
last time my high school eng teacher tried to correct my college essay, she made it bland as hell.
this is my essay. this is me. I don't want anyone to water it down.
my only rule for myself:
keep it simple. no compound complex complicated sentences. This is not english lit.
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