Use of abbreviations in personal statement

[rxfudd]

---

Members don't see this ad.

So I'm starting my personal statement, and I'm finding that "emergency department" and "emergency medicine" are taking up a lot of space that could be put to much better use. Is it kosher to use the complete terms the first time and abbreviate to ED and EM thereafter?

 

[GeneralVeers]

So I'm starting my personal statement, and I'm finding that "emergency department" and "emergency medicine" are taking up a lot of space that could be put to much better use. Is it kosher to use the complete terms the first time and abbreviate to ED and EM thereafter?

Just don't use "Emergency Room" or "E.R". Those will automatically get you crossed off the list at most residencies.

 

[rxfudd]

Right, but ED and EM is ok (vs having to spell it all out)?

 

[Apollyon]

Spell out any abbreviation the first time you use it, then you can use the abbreviation. You don't have to put it in parentheses the first time - the reader knows this.

It's like this: "Emergency medicine was a 'brave new world' (thanks, Aldous Huxley) that I did not know anything of before I had the option of an EM selective rotation. I had not even watched "ER" on television, and, the first time I said "ER", one of the residents said that "it's a deparment - hasn't been a room for about 30 years", and, for some reason, that clicked a lever in my brain that the ED would be my next home, and I am now actively house-hunting - I just hope it's a buyer's market!"

It shows you know the lingo without being stodgy or jargonistic.

 

[Seaglass]

I disagree, using abbreviations is lazy. Although it is prevalent in the medical world it is poor penmanship. Spell it out.

 

[Dr.Evil1]

The term ER is so funny...people get so bent out of shape when you say ER as a student or lay person. Its funny though I was interviewing at one place and everyone was saying EC instead of ED. I finally asked what EC was and they said Emergency Center. Maybe that place didn't have departmental status at the hospital or maybe they felt that center was a better word for a physical location. Lingo can be different at each hospital you work at.

As far as the abreviations go I definetly used ED and EM in my personal statement last year. I ran into the same problem as you...my statement was over a page if I didn't abreviate. Think about it this way: is someone who applies to Ob/Gyn going to say obstetrics and gynecology every time they refer to their life long ambition to be completely miserable?? Use the abreviations but don't go over a page.

Great to see you aren't procrastinating and getting the statement done now. Once you knock step 2 out you will almost be graduated!! Have fun this year and hope to see you around interview time.

 

[The White Coat Investor]

Everyone who reads your personal statement knows what EM and ED stand for. Use the abbreviations at will. If they think you're lame for using those, you don't want to work with them anyway. Don't use ER. Bad karma.

 

[Hornet871]

Easy. Write "emergency medicine (EM)" the first time, then call it EM the rest of the way. Ditto for "emergency department (ED)".

As for ER, only the bungholes on this board get all bent out of shape about this term. At my northeastern program, and at southern programs where I have friends, and at my cousin's Cali residency, people routinely - and I mean ROUTINELY - refer to themselves as ER docs, and to the specialty itself as ER.

Yeah, you can argue that surgeons don't call themselves "OR docs" but nothing is consistent or logical in the English language, least of all recent medical parlance.

It's best on the app to guard yourself against fanatics by using the term EM, but realize that in the real world, many of us rational people call our specialty ER.

Opening salvo in the "Never call it ER" debate....

 

[WilcoWorld]

I disagree, using abbreviations is lazy. Although it is prevalent in the medical world it is poor penmanship. Spell it out.

Wake Forest Emergency Medicine PGY-2

Ummm, didn't you mean to type "Post Graduate Year Two"?

 

[FoughtFyr]

It's best on the app to guard yourself against fanatics by using the term EM, but realize that in the real world, many of us rational people call our specialty ER.

Opening salvo in the "Never call it ER" debate....

Without starting the debate, is it wise to guess if your personal statement will be read and judged by one of those "fanatics"?

- H

 

[12R34Y]

Fortunately, I've already taken step 2 and step 2 CS, but I think I have more anxiety over this freakin' personal statement business than any other thing.

for all of you current residents does anybody REALLY care if your personal statement rocks. I found a website that said programs directors spend an average of 2-3 minutes glancing at the personal statement. I don't think personal statement was mentioned in the "study" that was done on importance of application materials........the important things were EM grade, clinical grades. interview, rec letters etc.....

I have NO motivation for this at all.

later

 

[bartleby]

Since everybody uses abbeviations in instant messages and e-mails, now they think it's okay to use them absolutely everywhere. Not true... particularly in a formal document. The things that are bad about your personal statement will really stick out. Your goal should be to make it interesting, yet as inoffensive as possible. This includes use of proper English, formal style, and METICULOUS proofreading. How do you think typos and a perceived lack of refinement/effort reflect on your application?

So I'm starting my personal statement, and I'm finding that "emergency department" and "emergency medicine" are taking up a lot of space that could be put to much better use. Is it kosher to use the complete terms the first time and abbreviate to ED and EM thereafter?