The Fool is in the thick of residency personal statement season! The personal statement can be one of the most stressful parts of the application, especially for those of us who are procrastinators, or who don’t speak English as a primary language. (Remember to have a friend read and re-read your essay!)
Just remember a few simple rules (also on other places on the site):
Keep it Short! – No more than a page or page and a quarter max please! People will read your essay in under 60 seconds. Keep them interested.
No Quotes – We don’t care what Thomas Jefferson, Nelson Mandela, or Dr So and So said. This essay is about YOU, not some famous dead guy.
Don’t tell us about your Daddy being a doctor – No one wants to hear how you followed daddy to clinic and later assisted in an appendectomy at age 6. Daddy is not applying to residency. You are.
Don’t list your resume in essay form. – Program directors will read your CV from ERAS. Save your space and don’t bore people with every detail of your CV written out.
DO sell yourself! Remember this residency personal statement is trying to convince people to interview you! So talk about your best areas!
Be sure to check out our Personal Statement Tips and our IMG Personal Statement Page
Also you may always Ask the Fool. Good luck! -Fool