PERSONAL STATEMENT TIPS

Often times the personal statement for residency is overshadawed by the USMLE score. However once you get your interview invite,
you can talk much about your score. The personal statment is often read just before or during your inteview and can serve as a template for the interview. It can leave a lasting impression. Here is some advice about the personal statmenet.

1) Start Early

Let it simmer for months. Reread it many times. The hard part is cutting it down if it is too long. Expect to spend atleast a month or two.

2) Don't Make it too long

This is important. Perhaps in psychiatry you may be able to make it a bit longer. I doubt surgeons would have patience for long personal statements.

3) Contents

-Why and how do you want to do a certain speciality?
-Why are you suited for this field? How?
-How is the field suited for you?
-DO NOT elaborate on why you want to be a doctor. You are one or will be one shortly. You are not applying for med school.
-What are your goals? What type of program are you looking for?
-Maybe use quoates
-Share your personal strengths and your interests

4) Do NOT be boring

-I have read other people's personal statements and they put me too sleep. Be original but don't be cute or controversial.

5) Get it edited

-Have it read over and over by others.
-Consider professional editing. I have gotten mine profesionally edited for free by Kaplan. Not sure if it is worth all the money but I did get some good advice I probably would not have gotten from my friends. However the editor can not write the personal statement for you. However he or she can point out some glaring errors.

6) Other tips

-correct grammar and spelling should be used
-use correct form with topic sentences, transistions, intro paragraphs and conclusions
-be specific for the speciality (write one for each one you apply to); some even say make it program specific (I did not do this since I applied to over a 100 programs!)
-illustrate with examples; perhaps talk about a patient
-do not use the word "I" too much

also take a look at this video:

YouTube - Part 1 : The Personal Statement by PhoenixMD of theusmlezone.com

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can you please tell us how to apply for step 1.

@sundus
you posted that in the wrong category.. please post your thread in step 1 forum

oops.. okay

Thanks for sharing.
Keep sharing more and more interesting post.