Tips on Preparing a Personal Statement (PS)
Personal statements are required for a variety of applications. See tips below on each of the following types of personal statements:

• residency application
• awards, scholarships, or membership in honor societies (AOA, Gold Humanism Honor Society)
  

Guidelines for Personal Statements for Residency Application
Most important, put YOUR NAME is on the top of your personal statment. Do not write "Personal Statement" at the top. The goal of your single page statement is to present yourself as a unique candidate and summarize your reasons for selecting a particular specialty. It should reveal your motivation and describe the strengths and accomplishments that predict your future success. A well written personal statement illustrates an ability to reason and to communicate effectively.

Your PS, printed on quality paper is a vital "personal marketing tool" for your residency interview process; typically you will bring copies of both your Personal Statement and your CV to present as needed at interviews. In some cases you will be interviewed "blindly" by persons who have not reviewed your ERAS application. In other cases, the individual interviewing you may not recall the details of your ERAS application. You will need to make "on the spot" judgements about how/when/if to distribute your CV and PS, but be sure to bring multiple (5-7) copies of each to each interview day at each program.

The following advice is based upon feedback from UIC program directors. There are many points of view on this subject, but all agree that you will need to address the following questions in your personal statement:

1. What makes you unique? What strengths, skills, and experience will you bring to this specialty? (the most important question)

• What motivates you?
• What makes you a good fit for the specialty?
• What makes you stand out among applicants?

2. Why did you choose this specialty? (a brief explanation of your decision process)

• What appeals to you about the specialty?
• How did you make your choice?

3. What are your career goals at this time? (the least important of the 3 questions)

• Keep it general, don't narrow your goals prematurely.
• Signal openness to opportunities.

Writing tips for your personal statement:

HIGHLIGHT OR SUMMARIZE

• Don't rehash your curriculum vita. The content of your personal statement should be germane to your personal/professional growth or emphasized for the sake of the interview. Highlight or summarize only those accomplishments or experiences that are relevant. Don't waste space on CV details (who, when, where) but focus on the WHY.
  
  
• Make your statement a brief but powerful introduction of yourself. Tell the reader what is unique about you. Describe how you arrived at your choice of the specialty. Explain why you think this choice is right for you. Try to make connections between your unique interests or skills and the specialty of choice.
  
  
• Don't waste too much space on "Why I wanted to become a doctor." A bit of history is OK, but focus on your interest in your specialty. Motivate the reader to want you on their team.
  
  
• Don't rely on quotes. Use your own words; they are much more powerful. Develop a theme that carries you through the document, but don't try to hang everything on some favorite quote unless you can make it work for you. Get feedback. Use direct and unambiguous language. Avoid trying to be funny, as humor is easily misunderstood.
  
  
• Present yourself as a mature professional. Don't try to stand out by being "clever" or "original" as it may well be interpreted as "goofy." Your goal is to inspire confidence in your maturity and your capability to use good judgement. You need not include information on your martial status, age, race, or religion; this information may not be used as a basis for employment. Do not use textured papers, cursive fonts, graphics/clip art. Think of your CV and PS as you would your interview suit; be professional, and when in doubt, err on the side of the conservative.
  
  
• Address only negatives that can be positively explained, such as delays during medical school due to health or family circumstances. Be sure to get advice from a dean on use of this strategy.

MAKE IT EASY TO READ

• Think about the program director. Consider the hundreds of files each program director reviews. Making your statement easy to read is both a courtesy and an illustration of your ability to communicate effectively.
  
  
• Be sure it grammatically correct and flawlessly printed. Get feedback on your statement from several trusted advisors.
  
  
• Limit to one page. Font size should be no smaller than 11 point. Use margins of at least 1" on each side and 1.5" top and bottom. Insert space between paragraphs to make it easier to read. Personal Statements that exceed one page signal your inability to write effectively and to use good judgement.

BUILD IN ADEQUATE PREPARATION TIME

• Don't wait until the last minute to get started. Unless you are an experienced writer, crafting your personal statement will take time and reflection. Plan to revisit your statement several times over several weeks.
  
  
• Sample of three levels of revision of a Personal Statement
  • First Draft captures intent but relies on quotes and generalizations
  • Revised Version is more personal and text is less dense (extra verbage has been removed)
  • Final Version- note the greatly improved "readability" of the text: less dense due to spacing between paragraphs and font size; content is more personal and direct
    
    
• If you have difficulty getting started, try tape recording your verbal responses to the questions above. Transcribe the text and then begin to organize your thoughts into a first draft. Get feedback from trusted advisors on your draft, revise and edit, set aside for a few days, and then edit again.

Samples of Residency Application Personal Statements:
The goal does not vary by specialty. Each of the samples below is ONE version of a response to the basic three questions listed above: What makes me unique; Why this specialty;What are my career goals at this time.
Sample 1
Sample 2
Sample 3
Sample 4
Sample 5
Sample 6
Sample 7
Sample 8

Guidelines for Personal Statements for Awards, Scholarships, or Membership in Honor Societies
The purpose of these personal statements is to describe your motivation and and involvement, focusing on those qualities which address the criteria or requirements of the organization. Provide an overview of your activities and details of the community service, leadership, research, or whatever is pertinent. These personal statements are often two pages in length, but a well written single page is appropriate, as well. Do not include extensive details about areas beyond those under consideration for the award or membership as this may have the unintended consequence of signaling a lack of focus (or effort) to the reader.

Answer any questions specified in the application. Typically, you will address the following questions:

1. What makes you unique?

• Who are you as an person, what makes you stand out as an individual?
• What motivates you?
• What experiences have inspired you to action?

2. What contributions have you made?

• Describe your accomplishments and their impact in your community.
• Be specific about your role in the activity or research (as appropriate to the organization or membership).
• What makes you stand out among applicants?

3. What are your career goals at this time?

• Describe connections between your goals and the requirements of the award, etc.
• State how the award or membership may impact your future.

Also, see writing tips for Residency Application above