- Joined
- May 20, 2006
- Messages
- 14
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Medical Student
Seperate Personal Statements?
- Thread starter jhIII
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2003
- Messages
- 4,007
- Reaction score
- 27
- Points
- 4,646
- Age
- 50
- Location
- Louisville
- Website
- www.somethingawful.com
- Fellow [Any Field]
My addlepated brain may recall writing the same exact damn thing for the transition year. I may have added in a sentence or two at the end about why a transition year would benefit me the most towards my ultimate goals.
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2004
- Messages
- 170
- Reaction score
- 9
- Points
- 4,551
- Attending Physician
Not only did I write a different personal statement for my preliminary programs, but I wrote a different personal statement for every anesthesia program. The basic format was the same, I just changed up a few things (e.g. "I have family in this city/state", "I have a strong desire to move to X because of Y", "I like this about your program") to personalize it. Programs liked it.
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2006
- Messages
- 3,014
- Reaction score
- 2,569
- Points
- 5,041
- Location
- between scylla and charybdis
- Attending Physician
how's that work? I thought we had to submit that stuff to ERAS? can they be trusted to get the right statement to the right program.
also...can we change the personal statement later and send it to programs -- like after we do a rotation there?
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2004
- Messages
- 170
- Reaction score
- 9
- Points
- 4,551
- Attending Physician
It's been a while (2004 match) since I've used ERAS, but from what I remember I was able to assign each program a personal statement. You can create all the personal statements you want and assign each program their own "personalized" one. However, beware of sending the wrong statement to the wrong program. I don't think the University of Chicago would be interested in hearing about how much you want to go to Northwestern.
As far as revising personal statements already sent, I think you are out of luck. So when you send all this stuff in September, make sure its good.
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2006
- Messages
- 763
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Age
- 40
- Location
- The 'kane
- Medical Student
i am not trying to hijack this thread, but i have a couple of questions that haven't been answered elsewhere (plus i hate making new threads). i am about to start med school in august and am interested in anesthesiology. first, my question totally unrelated to this thread: since i haven't had real exposure (other than being a patient) to this field, would any of you advise shadowing an anesthesiologist at my school so i can see if i actually like it? now a more related question: if you apply to a residency program that has both a 4 year and an advanced program, do you have to apply to each seperately or do they consider you for both of them when you apply?
again, sorry about the attempted hijack.
again, sorry about the attempted hijack.
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2007
- Messages
- 429
- Reaction score
- 10
- Points
- 4,571
- Resident [Any Field]
sure you can shadow an anesthesiologist but the truth is, that will never give you a real sense of what it's like. first off, everything they are doing will seem like greek to you. you won't appreciate it. secondly, it's really boring to watch other people work. i think it would give you a bad taste of what it really is.
I would recommend just getting good grades in med school. Stay active in extra-curricular activities, and stay happy. When the time comes, you'll have plenty of opportunity to see what anesthesiology is all about.
For your next question, when you apply to programs that have both advanced and categorical tracks, you only need apply once. You can check the box on the application that you are applying to both tracks. Most programs will consider you for both tracks if you tell them that's what you want.
As for personal statements, I wrote different personal statements for most my programs. I feel like it really helped set me apart. Keep it short and poignant, nobody wants to read a book.
I would recommend just getting good grades in med school. Stay active in extra-curricular activities, and stay happy. When the time comes, you'll have plenty of opportunity to see what anesthesiology is all about.
For your next question, when you apply to programs that have both advanced and categorical tracks, you only need apply once. You can check the box on the application that you are applying to both tracks. Most programs will consider you for both tracks if you tell them that's what you want.
As for personal statements, I wrote different personal statements for most my programs. I feel like it really helped set me apart. Keep it short and poignant, nobody wants to read a book.
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2006
- Messages
- 3,014
- Reaction score
- 2,569
- Points
- 5,041
- Location
- between scylla and charybdis
- Attending Physician
what is short and poignant?
we are supposed to write why we want to be an anesthesiologist right?
and then personalize it for each program (like their CC fellowship or wanting to be near family, etc.)
is that the basics?
we are supposed to write why we want to be an anesthesiologist right?
and then personalize it for each program (like their CC fellowship or wanting to be near family, etc.)
is that the basics?
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2003
- Messages
- 2,204
- Reaction score
- 1,253
- Points
- 5,226
- Attending Physician
FWIW, I did not write an extra PS for prelims and transitionals, and I think it ended up hurting me. I got way less prelim interviews than I thought I'd get, and not changing my PS may have been why. People had told me it really didn't matter to write a whole new statement, but I think those people had applied to less competitive prelims, and I was aiming at Cali.
So yeah, write a new PS. It sucks, but you should do it.
So yeah, write a new PS. It sucks, but you should do it.
- Joined
- Feb 13, 2004
- Messages
- 170
- Reaction score
- 9
- Points
- 4,551
- Attending Physician
Paragraph 1: Make the reader interested in you
- tell a funny/serious/emotional, but interesting story about yourself and medicine (I was in the ER when.... I was about to be put to sleep myself for surgery when...)
Paragraph 2: Let them know why you decided anesthesia
- I like the physio, pharm, procedures, etc
- I had an experience with so and so
Paragraph 3: Let them know why you would be good at anesthesia
- I am self motivated to learn...
- I pick up procedures well...
Paragraph 4: Tell them what you are looking for in a program - this is the paragraph that should vary from program to program
- I have family in this city/state
- You have many fellowships I would be interested
- I like the fact that you have (fill in blank) cases
This should create a concise, organized, effective personal statement
- tell a funny/serious/emotional, but interesting story about yourself and medicine (I was in the ER when.... I was about to be put to sleep myself for surgery when...)
Paragraph 2: Let them know why you decided anesthesia
- I like the physio, pharm, procedures, etc
- I had an experience with so and so
Paragraph 3: Let them know why you would be good at anesthesia
- I am self motivated to learn...
- I pick up procedures well...
Paragraph 4: Tell them what you are looking for in a program - this is the paragraph that should vary from program to program
- I have family in this city/state
- You have many fellowships I would be interested
- I like the fact that you have (fill in blank) cases
This should create a concise, organized, effective personal statement
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2005
- Messages
- 2,538
- Reaction score
- 8
- Points
- 4,531
- Resident [Any Field]
I used the same PS for prelim and advanced. Worked out well.
Make it interesting to read and use good English/grammer.
Make it interesting to read and use good English/grammer.
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2007
- Messages
- 429
- Reaction score
- 10
- Points
- 4,571
- Resident [Any Field]
I applied to the University of Hawaii Transitional program. They sent me an email asking me to ammend my personal statement specifically addressing why I want to go to Hawaii.
After much thought, I wrote the following:
"I would love to come do my internship at Hawaii because I love to Surf. I also love to scuba dive and occasionally I even fish. Plus, who doesn't love the warm sun and white sand?"
Needless to say, I was rejected about 2 hours later. Damn, Hawaii would have been sweet.
What's my point? I don't have a relevant point... just sitting here wishing was in Hawaii!
After much thought, I wrote the following:
"I would love to come do my internship at Hawaii because I love to Surf. I also love to scuba dive and occasionally I even fish. Plus, who doesn't love the warm sun and white sand?"
Needless to say, I was rejected about 2 hours later. Damn, Hawaii would have been sweet.
What's my point? I don't have a relevant point... just sitting here wishing was in Hawaii!
Boy, i certainly hope the mis-spellings in your sentence were simply from haste in writing it. I'm assuming you know that "personel" and "seperate" are spelled wrong; if not, PLEASE make sure to use a spell checker if spelling is not one of your strong points, because those kinds of simple mistakes on a personal statement can definitely weed you out. PS Just trying to help; don't take my criticism the wrong way.
