Is 700 Words Too Long For Personal Statement Residency

7 Don'ts for Your Residency Personal Statements

The ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) opened back in June, and now it'southward already August, so it's fourth dimension to get cracking on those residency essays!

Why are your residency essays so important?

Your personal statement is a vital part of your residency application: it provides you with an opportunity to explain why you've called your target specialty and to bear witness the committee who you are and why you'd be the best candidate for the job. Unlike other pieces of your awarding (such equally letters of rec), your personal argument is something that you have consummate control over. Make the near of it!

What are some residency personal argument mistakes you should avoid at all costs?

Here are 7 things yous should Avert when preparing your residency personal statement:

DON'T explain why you went into medicine.
This isn't a med school application; y'all've already convinced your med school's adcom why you desire to exist a medico. Now that you are a md, that information is really beside the signal.

Instead, write about your next stage in this medical adventure: why you desire to be a specific blazon of doc.
DON'T offering a superficial or generic explanation for choosing your specialty.
Show that you are serious near your chosen field by giving a serious explanation. Maxim that you have wanted to become a surgeon ever since playing Operation as a kid doesn't really shed the right level of noesis or experience on your decision. Nearly likely, you've chosen your field based on something yous learned or an experience you had during med schoolhouse. Go with that instead.

For example, instead of saying that you similar the fast-paced energy of the emergency room, talk about a item experience you had while doing rounds in the ER – include details about the energy that yous felt, how your people skills and your ability to stay at-home under force per unit area came into play, and how you felt a sense of accomplishment in helping patients find immediate relief. Mention how you had a professor who had worked for 30 years in the ER and how yous had continued with this professor and her stories and teachings. The more than examples you can give about why this specialty is the specialty for you lot, the better.
DON'T send the aforementioned personal statement to each of the programs yous're applying to.
Information technology should go without saying that since your reasons for applying to each of your given programs are different, and so your essays should be different every bit well. After all, you're supposed to write almost why each programme appeals to you – they tin can't all have the same attraction.

Yes, you lot may be able to "recycle" certain parts of your essay, simply you should approach each ane as a completely new assignment. Using your "fresh" phonation volition keep your writing sounding authentic.
DON'T use all 28,000 characters for your personal argument.
The 28,000 character limit (approximately v pages) set by ERAS is the absolute maximum your essay is allowed to be. But that doesn't mean that information technology should be that long. In fact, no residency manager wants to read that much, or even close to that much.

Try and stick to a ane-folio essay that addresses all of your key points. Your essay will be more than effective if you're more to the point and curtailed. You lot can offering longer answers during your interview.
DON'T sound pompous or self-important.

You want to sound enthusiastic and confident, but never arrogant or exhibitionistic. Subsequently all, your readers are considering y'all as a potential colleague. When describing your skills, be mindful of the line between confidence and smugness. For example, it can be very off-putting to a reader if you talk about how work was too like shooting fish in a barrel for you and makes it audio like you lot think you're more achieved than everyone you lot worked with. Likewise, it's natural to audio enthusiastic about your chosen specialty, only avoid going over the top and making it audio similar information technology's the BEST ane, or the only i a really smart or accomplished person would pursue. Information technology's the best choice for you!

DON'T forget to proofread.

Proofreading will help you see things that you might miss when you lot're tired. Information technology'due south all-time to proofread later on you've taken a intermission from your terminal edit, at to the lowest degree for a few hours or improve yet, a day. Another tip: read your essay aloud. This forces yous to tedious downward and you'll be more probable to take hold of awkward phrases, repetitive sentences or ideas, or other glitches. Your ear will pick upwardly what your eye previously missed on the screen.
DON'T submit until someone else has also given your essay a read.

Even if yous have done your ain quality command, you've become so familiar with your writing that you could still miss a typo or other errors. Y'all too want to ensure that the entire essay reads well, hitting the high points that are most important, and striking the right tone. Getting the all-clear from another reader will give you confidence that you are gear up to submit!

You've worked so difficult to get to this point in your journey. Now that you lot're ready for your next accomplishment, make sure you know how to present yourself to maximum reward in your residency applications. In a hotly competitive season, you'll desire a fellow member of Team Accepted in your corner, guiding you with expertise tailored specifically for you. Check out our flexible consulting packages today!

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