lovemedicinesomuch Posted January 28, 2021 Report Share Posted January 28, 2021 I was talking to a resident in a competitive speciality and I was told that PS are just for red flags, and that the LoR is what makes you or break you. Is that true? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnGrisham Posted January 28, 2021 Report Share Posted January 28, 2021 4 minutes ago, lovemedicinesomuch said: I was talking to a resident in a competitive speciality and I was told that PS are just for red flags, and that the LoR is what makes you or break you. Is that true? No one can answer this. Many programs value PS quite highly actually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaRMS2021 Posted January 28, 2021 Report Share Posted January 28, 2021 6 minutes ago, lovemedicinesomuch said: I was talking to a resident in a competitive speciality and I was told that PS are just for red flags, and that the LoR is what makes you or break you. Is that true? Traditionally in the specialty that I know most about which I would say is competitive - yes because the PS has little value to them as they know anyone can fluff up even minimal experiences. The real interaction is from electives which are basically a 2-week long audition interview. Although in a year with no interactions from electives (8 week cap + COVID), these specialties would read your PS with more care than they usually do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemedicinesomuch Posted January 28, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2021 1 hour ago, JohnGrisham said: No one can answer this. Many programs value PS quite highly actually. I think it may be valued more for FM/IM but from my understanding not as much for competitive specialties. In these specialities, your performance is valued much more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemedicinesomuch Posted January 28, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2021 1 minute ago, CaRMS2021 said: Traditionally in the specialty that I know most about which I would say is competitive - yes because the PS has little value to them as they know anyone can fluff up even minimal experiences. The real interaction is from electives which are basically a 2-week long audition interview. Although in a year with no interactions from electives (8 week cap + COVID), these specialties would read your PS with more care than they usually do That's what I thought as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gangliocytoma Posted January 28, 2021 Report Share Posted January 28, 2021 I've been told that a bad personal statement can sink your application but a good one won't necessarily get you in. My resident contacts have told me to aim for something that is honest and demonstrates your personality Bambi 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bread Posted January 28, 2021 Report Share Posted January 28, 2021 What makes a “bad” personal statement? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gangliocytoma Posted January 28, 2021 Report Share Posted January 28, 2021 1 hour ago, bread said: What makes a “bad” personal statement? Idk, I'm just going through the process myself. I'm guessing if it looks like you didn't try (lots of spelling/syntax errors), didn't answer the questions, etc. bread 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butterfly_ Posted January 28, 2021 Report Share Posted January 28, 2021 5 hours ago, bread said: What makes a “bad” personal statement? I heard from my career counsellor that there are students who write statements like "I have superior medical knowledge compared to my classmates". LOL. Letters that sound boastful or arrogant are probably not well-received. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemedicinesomuch Posted January 29, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2021 17 minutes ago, Butterfly_ said: I heard from my career counsellor that there are students who write statements like "I have superior medical knowledge compared to my classmates". LOL. Letters that sound boastful or arrogant are probably not well-received. Lolll... I read few so far, and i have not seen that one yet!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovemedicinesomuch Posted January 29, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2021 5 hours ago, bread said: What makes a “bad” personal statement? Bad PS = list your CV, does not answer question, lack insight into speciality you are applying to, grammar errors, arrogance, difficult to read.... I can keep going lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bread Posted January 29, 2021 Report Share Posted January 29, 2021 5 hours ago, gangliocytoma said: Idk, I'm just going through the process myself. I'm guessing if it looks like you didn't try (lots of spelling/syntax errors), didn't answer the questions, etc. 41 minutes ago, Butterfly_ said: I heard from my career counsellor that there are students who write statements like "I have superior medical knowledge compared to my classmates". LOL. Letters that sound boastful or arrogant are probably not well-received. 22 minutes ago, lovemedicinesomuch said: Bad PS = list your CV, does not answer question, lack insight into speciality you are applying to, grammar errors, arrogance, difficult to read.... I can keep going lol Thanks all!!! After writing so many, I’ve started feeling like they all sound generic (especially some programs that don’t provide much info on their website and that I don’t have any connection to), so I was worried. But what you all said makes sense! As a side note (hopefully not too off-topic) - anyone finding the word limits on some very difficult? I’ve been struggling with ones that want you to answer 5-6 questions in just 500 words, for example. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellejolie Posted January 29, 2021 Report Share Posted January 29, 2021 16 hours ago, bread said: Thanks all!!! After writing so many, I’ve started feeling like they all sound generic (especially some programs that don’t provide much info on their website and that I don’t have any connection to), so I was worried. But what you all said makes sense! As a side note (hopefully not too off-topic) - anyone finding the word limits on some very difficult? I’ve been struggling with ones that want you to answer 5-6 questions in just 500 words, for example. omg the 500 words is SO annoying - some schools are nice and say approximately, or around so you can go up a bit but others are strict and are like "we look at how students follow instructions" like serious f offfff you want me to explain everything ive done, why the specialty, the location, etc all in 500 words. like give me 550 please. bread 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookie_m Posted February 9, 2021 Report Share Posted February 9, 2021 The best is when they ask you a million questions that they want answered in your personal statement and give you that word limit. Just typing in their school is 3 words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bread Posted February 10, 2021 Report Share Posted February 10, 2021 4 hours ago, cookie_m said: The best is when they ask you a million questions that they want answered in your personal statement and give you that word limit. Just typing in their school is 3 words. Ahaha yes! I really struggled with those ones while writing mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArchEnemy Posted February 10, 2021 Report Share Posted February 10, 2021 For the ultra-competitive specialties, I am sure that everything matters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bambi Posted February 10, 2021 Report Share Posted February 10, 2021 On 1/28/2021 at 1:55 PM, gangliocytoma said: I've been told that a bad personal statement can sink your application but a good one won't necessarily get you in. My resident contacts have told me to aim for something that is honest and demonstrates your personality ^In my opinion, absolutely true! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.