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Advice on Personal Statement for Residency

I'm thinking of starting with my PS. Any tips on what to write, what to avoid.

I am an average writer. Was pretty average during medical school too. Not many achievements. What do I write about? If anyone could share their PS, that would be great. Applying to IM.

The Residency Personal Statement (2024/2025): The Insider’s Guide (with Examples)

A physician and  former residency program director  explains how to write your residency personal statement to match in to your top-choice residency program in 2025.

Read example residency personal statements and suggested outlines., introduction.

We have been working with residency applicants who successfully match into the programs and specialities of choice for more than 15 years and a key part of that success, is writing a compelling residency personal statement.

Having worked with so many applicants, we know you will get differing advice depending on who you ask. The key to our applicants’ success is that we understand how to write a residency personal statement that has broad appeal and will impress all types of readers.

The residency personal statement allows residency program directors and associate directors the chance to get a sense of who you are and your commitment to your chosen specialty. 

As a former program director who understands how residency personal statements are reviewed, what “stands out,” and, most importantly, what will earn you interview invitations, the information below will help you write a residency personal statement to match!

It is imperative to make sure you get the most accurate guidance possible with regards to your residency personal statement content and optimal residency personal statement length (up to one page).

Want more personalized suggestions?  Sign up for a FREE residency personal statement consultation .

Table of Contents

Goals for Writing Your 2025 Residency Personal Statement

Above all else, your residency personal statement offers the opportunity to show your interest in your  chosen specialty  when applying to  residency  to illustrate you are a good fit.

The more details you offer about why you are interested in the specialty and how your med school rotations,  accomplishments  and experiences have reinforced this interest, the stronger your personal statement will be, the more it will appeal to selection committees and the better you will do in the match process.

I encourage applicants to offer as much “evidence” as possible to “show” rather than “tell” what  qualities, characteristics and interests  they have. “Telling” a reader, for example, that you are compassionate and hard working means nothing. Instead, you must “show” that you embody these qualities based on your experiences in health care and the patients for whom you have cared.

The residency personal statement also offers the opportunity to write about who you are as a person to convey some details about your background, influences, and interests outside of your given specialty.

The Importance of a Balanced Residency Personal Statement

The key when writing your residency personal statement is to ensure that it is well-balanced so it appeals to a large group of people who might read your ERAS residency application.

However, it is important to understand that every program director and  faculty member  has his or her own idea of what he would like to read in a personal statement. As an applicant, you must go into this process understanding that you cannot please everyone, or a specific program, and your personal statement should therefore have the broadest appeal possible.

For example, some  program directors  would rather hear about your personal interests and curiosities and get to know who you are rather than have you focus on the specialty in which you are interested.

At MedEdits, we suggest taking a “middle of the road” approach; include some details about who you are but also focus on the specialty itself. In this way, you will make more traditional reviewers who want to hear about your interest in the specialty happy while also satisfying those who would rather learn about you as a person.

Above all, be authentic and true to yourself when writing your statement. This always leads to the best results! Read on to learn more about how to write a winning personal statement.

About MedEdits

Getting into a residency has never been more competitive. Founded by a former associate program director, the experts at MedEdits will make your residency personal statement shine. We’ve worked with more than 5,000 students and 94% have been matched to one of their top-choice programs.

Need Help With Your Residency Personal Statement?

Schedule a Free 15 Minute Consultation with a MedEdits expert.

Residency Personal Statement Outline & Structure

Residency applicants often do well when given outlines or templates to follow, so, we will offer that, but, it is important to realize that many applicants deviate from these rigid rules. One very typical outline that serves applicants quite well in the  residency admissions process  is:

• Compose a catchy introduction. Your intro can be related to your  interest in the specialty  to which you are applying, about a hobby or personal experience, or about your background. Regardless of the topic you choose, you want to tell a story and start with something that will interest your reader and engage him.
• The next two to four paragraphs comprise the body of your personal statement. We encourage applicants to write about any significant experiences they have had related to their desired specialty and/or future goals. This would include information about rotations, electives, and sub internships related to the specialty, volunteer and research experiences and even significant outside interests.
• Finally, you want to conclude your essay. In your conclusion, write about what you seek in a residency program, what you will bring to a residency program, and, if you have any idea of your future career goals, write about those as well. Your conclusion is also where you can tailor a personal statement to a specific geographic area of interest or type of program (rural, urban, community).

Residency Personal Statement Length & Residency Personal Statement Word Limit

The allowed ERAS residency personal statement length is 28,000 characters which equates to about five pages!

We have been hearing from more and more applicants that the personal statement should not exceed  one page  when typed in to the  ERAS application . Because of this overwhelming trend, we are supporting this guidance unless you have  extenuating circumstances  that require your personal statement be longer.

Our recommendation is that your residency  personal statement be a maximum of 5300 characters with spaces.

ERAS Residency Personal Statement Checklist

• Ensure your personal statement flows well

The best personal statements are easy to read, don’t make the reader think too much, and make your path and interests seem logical. Rarely does a personal statement have a theme. Also try to have each paragraph transition to the next seamlessly.

2. Your personal statement should be about you!

Your personal statement should be about you and no one else. Focus on your interests, your accomplishments and your path. This is your opportunity to be forthcoming about your  achievements  – by writing in detail about what you have done.

3. Be sure your personal statement clearly outlines your interest in the specialty.

Since the reader wants to be convinced of your understanding of, experience in, and curiosity about the specialty to which you are applying, be sure you highlight what you have done to explore your interest as well as your insights and observations about the specialty to show your understanding of it.

4. Make it human.

Again, your personal statement should be about you! The reader wants to know who you are, where you are from, what your interests are and who you are outside of medicine. Therefore, try to include those details about your background that are intriguing or important to you.

5. Express your interest in the specialty.

The reader fundamentally wants to know why you are pursuing the specialty. The more details you offer the more convincing you are about your commitment and your understanding of the specialty. Be sure to include details that might seem obvious. For example, in  emergency medicine  you must like acute care, but try to include more nuanced details about your interest, too. What aspects of the diagnoses and pathologies involved do you enjoy? What do you value about the actual work you will do? How do you feel about the patients for whom you will care?

6. The start and evolution of your interest.

Readers want to know how and when you became interested in your specialty. Was this before medical school? During medical school? What have you done to pursue and nurture your interest in the specialty?

7. What you have done to learn more about the specialty.

You should explain what you have done to pursue your interest. What rotations have you done or have planned? What research, scholarly work or community service activities have you pursued to further your interest?

8. Where you see yourself in the future – if you know!

Without going into too much detail, write about the type of setting in which you see yourself in the future. Do you hope to also participate in research, teaching, public health work or community outreach as a part of your career? What are your future goals? Since many programs typically train a certain type of physician, it is important that your goals are aligned with the programs to which you are applying.

9. What do you bring to the specialty?

You should try to identify what you can bring to the program and the specialty to which you are applying as a whole. For example, are you applying to family medicine and have a distinct interest in public health? Are you applying for  internal medicine  and do you have demonstrated expertise in information technology and hope to improve electronic medical records? Do you have extensive research or teaching experience, and do you hope to continue to pursue these interests in the future? Have you developed a commitment to global health, and do you hope to continue making contributions abroad? Programs have a societal obligation to select residents who will make valuable contributions in the future, so the more ambitions you have the more desirable a candidate you will be.

10. What type of program you hope to join?

Do you hope to be part of a community or university-based program? What are you seeking in a residency program? Programs are looking for residents who will be the right “fit” so offering an idea of what you are seeking in a program will help them determine if your values and goals mesh with those of the program.

11. Who you are outside of the hospital?

Try to bring in some personal elements about who you are. You can do this in a few ways. If you have any outside interests or accomplishments that complement your interest in your specialty, such as extracurricular work, global work, teaching or volunteer efforts, write about them in detail, and, in doing so, show the reader a different dimension of your personality. Or, consider opening your statement by writing about an experience related to your hobbies or outside interests. Write about this in the form of an introductory vignette. I suggest taking this nontraditional approach only if you are a talented writer and can somehow relate your outside interest to the specialty you are pursuing, however. An interest in the arts can lend itself to dermatology, plastic surgery or ophthalmology, for example. Or, an interest in technology could relate to  radiology .

12. Any personal challenges?

Also explain any obstacles you have overcome: Were you the first in your family to graduate from college? Were you an immigrant? Did you have limited financial resources and work through college? Many applicants tend to shy away from the very things that make them impressive because they are afraid of appearing to be looking for sympathy. As long as you explain how you have overcome adversity in a positive or creative way, your experience will be viewed as the tremendous accomplishment that it is. The personal statement should explain any unusual or distinctive aspects of your background.

Common ERAS Residency Personal Statement Mistakes

Do not tell your entire life story or write a statement focused on your childhood or undergraduate career. 

Do not write about why you wanted to be a doctor. This is old news. From the reviewers perspective, you already are a doctor!

Do not write a personal statement focused on one hobby or begin with your birth. Some background information might be useful if it offers context to your choices and path, but your residency personal statement should be focused on the present and what you have done to pursue your interest in the specialty to which you are applying.

Do not preach. The reader understands what it means to practice his specialty and does not need you to tell him. Don’t write, for example: Internal medicine requires that a physician be knowledgeable, kind and compassionate. The reader wants to know about you!

Do not put down other specialties. You don’t need to convince anyone of your interest by writing something negative about other specialties. Doing so just makes you look bad. If you switched residencies or interests, you can explain what else you were seeking and what you found in the specialty of your choice that interests you.

Do not embellish. Program directors are pretty good at sniffing out inconsistencies and dishonesty. Always tell the truth and be honest and authentic. 

Do not plagiarize. While this seems obvious to most people, every year people copy personal statements they find online or hire companies that use stock phrases and statement to compose statements for applicants. Don’t do it!

Do not write about sensitive topics. Even if you were in a relationship that ended and resulted in a  poor USMLE score , this is not a topic for a personal statement. In general, it is best to avoid discussing relationships, politics, ethical issues and religion.

Do not boast. Any hint of arrogance or self-righteousness may result in getting rejected. There is a fine line between confidence and self promotion. Some people make the mistake of over-selling themselves or writing about all of their fantastic qualities and characteristics. Rarely do readers view such personal statements favorably.

Do not write an overly creative piece. A residency personal statement should be professional. This work is equivalent to a job application. Don’t get too creative; stay focused.

Writing ERAS Residency Personal Statements For Multiple Specialties

An increasing number of applicants are applying to more than one specialty in medicine especially if the first choice specialty is very competitive. If you are applying to more than one specialty, even if there is disciplinary overlap between the two (for example family medicine and pediatrics), we advise you write a distinct specialty for each. Remember that a physician who practices the specialty you hope to join will most likely be reviewing your statement. He or she will definitely be able to determine if the personal statement illustrates a true understanding of the specialty. If you try to recycle an entire personal statement or parts of a personal statement for two specialties, there is a high likelihood the personal statement will communicate that you aren’t sincerely interested in that specialty or that you don’t really understand what the specialty is about.

Writing About Red Flags in your ERAS Personal Statement

The personal statement is also the place to explain any red flags in your application, such as gaps in time or a leave of absence. When addressing any red flags, explain what happened succinctly. Be honest, don’t make excuses, and don’t dwell on the topic. Whenever possible, write about how you have matured or grown from the adversity or what you may have learned and how this benefits you.

If you have left a program or had a break in your medical education, you will also have the chance to explain this in your  ERAS application . You should also write about this topic in your personal statement only if you have more to explain, however. 

If you have failed a Step exam or one course in medical school, this likely isn’t something to address in the personal statement. However, you should be prepared to discuss any failure during an interview. By the same token, it is best not to address one low grade or poor attending evaluation in your statement. 

Have you taken a circuitous path to medicine? If so you might address why you made these choices and what you found so interesting about medicine that was lacking in your former career.

Residency Personal Statement Example

Below are two great examples of residency personal statements that earned the applicants who wrote them numerous interviews and first choice matches. As you will see, these two applicants took very different approaches when writing the personal statement yet wrote equally persuasive and “successful” personal statements.

Residency Personal Statement Example, Analysis, and Outline: The Traditional Approach

Suggested outline:.

• Introduction: Catchy Story
• Paragraph 2: Background Information and how Interest Started
• Paragraph 3: Write about what you did to explore your interest
• Paragraph 4: Second paragraph about your experiences related to your specialty
• Conclusion: Wrap it up. Write something about your future goals.

Below is an example of the traditional approach:

Why It’s Great

This is a great personal statement because it clearly conveys the applicant’s interest in, and understanding of, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) and what the applicant has done to pursue that interest. Not only does this applicant have a long-standing interest in OB/GYN, but, she conveys that she has experienced the specialty in different settings and understands the diverse nature of the specialty. She also includes information about her hobbies and interests and writes about her exploration of OB/GYN outside of the clinical arena. An added bonus is that the applicant writes well and uses descriptive language making her statement interesting and fun to read.

Residency Personal Statement Example, Analysis, and Outline: The Outside Interests Approach

Many mentors advise applicants to tell the reader something about them that is unrelated to medicine or the specialty they are pursuing. This is a fine idea, but be sure your personal statement also includes some details about your interest in your specialty if you decide to move in this direction.

Suggested Outline:

• Introduction: Write a Catchy Introduction. Be creative! Think outside the box.
• Paragraph 2:Elaborate on your introduction offering more details
• Paragraph 3: Write about your specialty choice and what appeals to you.
• Paragraph 4: Write more about your explorations in medical school.
• Concluding paragraph(s): Write about your future goals, the type of program you hope to join and consider looping back to your introduction.

The landscape before me was lush and magical. We had been hiking for hours and had found a great spot to set up camp. As I was unloading my backpack and helping to pitch the tent, I saw a scene I knew I had to capture. I quickly grabbed my carefully packed Leica before the magnificent sunset disappeared. Trying to get the perfect exposure, I somehow managed to capture this image so accurately that it reflected the beauty of what was before us high in the mountains of Utah, so far away from the hustle and bustle of New York City where we attended medical school.

This is a really intriguing personal statement because the author writes about his outside interests in a compelling way that makes him instinctively likable. He then goes on to explain what he enjoys about surgery and what he has done to pursue that interest. As you can see, this applicant writes less about his specialty (surgery) than the applicant in statement #1 did, but, he still convinces the reader of his understanding of, and commitment to, surgery. In this statement, the reader gains a much broader understanding of who the applicant is as a person and what he likes to do in his free time.

Final Thoughts

Writing your residency personal statement should be about telling your story in your own voice and style. You want to highlight your interest in the specialty for which you are applying while also conveying some ideas about who you are as a person to keep your reader engaged in learning about you as a person.

Residency Personal Statement Consulting Services

MedEdits Medical Admissions offers comprehensive guidance and document review services for residency applicants to every specialty in medicine. With more than twenty years of experience in residency admissions and founded by a former residency admissions officer and physician, MedEdits understands what program directors want to read and can help you decide what aspects of your background to focus on in your residency personal statement to earn the most interviews possible.

Residency Related Articles and Guidance

• Residency Match Statistics
• Residency Personal Statement
• Residency Match: How It Works & How To Get Matched
• How to write a residency interview thank you letter.
• What Outfit To Wear To Your Residency Interview
• Medical Residency Timeline & Length
• Medical Residency Salary By Specialty
• How To Master MyERAS, The Medical Residency Interview, and Common Residency Interview Questions
• Master the ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) & ERAS Timeline
• Residency Letters Of Recommendation (with ERAS Samples)
• Residency Letter of Intent
• How to Write a Residency Letter of Intent
• Residency Love Letters
• Residency Match Success: Lessons Learned

Residency Specialty Articles

• Family Medicine Residency Match: Beat more than 4400 Applications
• Pediatrics Residency Match: Beat more than 3000 Applicaitons
• Internal Medicine Residency Match: Beat more than 10,000 Applications
• General Surgery Residency Match: BEAT more than 1900 Applications
• Emergency Medicine Residency Match: BEAT more than 2600 Applications
• Anesthesiology Residency Match: BEAT more than 2,000 Applicants

JESSICA FREEDMAN, M.D. , a former medical school and residency admissions officer at the  Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , is the founder and chair of MedEdits Medical Admissions and author of three top-selling books about the medical admissions process that you can find on  Amazon .

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How to Apply for Residency

Medical students.

Applying for a residency is less complicated when you use the Academy's tools and resources.

Residency Application Cycle Resources

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, institutions adjusted how they process the application cycle. The AAN created resources to assist you with these changes:

• AAN Neurology Residency Program Director and Clerkship Director Consensus Statement on 2023-2024 Application Cycle
• Virtual Interview Tips from Program Directors
• SIGN Neurology Education in Focus: Residency Application & Interviews Webinar

What happens after your residency application is submitted?

A guide to applying for residency .

Applying for a residency can seem like a complicated process. Learn more about the steps of applying for residency below.

Finding an ACGME-Accredited Neurology Residency Program

The following is a list of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Residency Programs/Directors:

• The American Medical Association Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database Access System (AMA-FREIDA). For more information, visit the AMA-FREIDA website .
• The annual AMA Directory of Graduate Medical Education Programs (the “Green Book”) is available at the student affairs office of each medical school. This publication provides additional information, including requirements for accreditation of residency programs and certification requirements for various specialties. It may also be ordered from the AMA at (800) 621-8335. 

Selecting a Program for Application

Seek counseling about programs from a wide variety of sources including:

• The neurology department chair
• Other neurology faculty
• Neurology residents
• Recent graduates who are currently in programs elsewhere

Consider the following factors when selecting programs:

• Academic environment: Education curriculum, conference schedule, research activity, facilities, faculty-to-resident ratios, and availability of neurology subspecialty expertise
• Academic career: Look at university-based programs with a well-balanced faculty involved in full-time teaching and research commitments.
• Subspecialty interest: Seek out programs with a well-developed division in a specific area, in order to facilitate an introduction to research and more specialized practice (e.g., movement disorders, cerebrovascular disease) and to determine which programs might offer a fellowship in that area after completion of residency.
• General clinical neurology: Investigate the degree to which each program will allow you graded autonomy in managing patients in a resident’s clinic and in evaluating newly presenting undiagnosed patients (e.g., is there a busy emergency department with many patients presenting with a wide spectrum of neurologic disease?).
• Information: Request information about conference schedules and curriculum or ask about this during interviewing to ensure there is a well-designed program of didactic education.
• Size of program
• Patient-to-resident ratio: Ask about patient-to-resident ratio on the inpatient service, numbers of consults seen per month for the inpatient consult service and numbers of patients seen on an outpatient basis to make sure that adequate exposure to a wide variety of patients is provided
• Location: If you want to go into clinical practice, remember that many residents go into practice where they trained. During the training process, you usually become familiar with employment opportunities and practicing neurologists and groups in the area
• Selectivity/competitiveness of the program: Ask your medical school neurology department chair and another neurology faculty for assistance in estimating both the selectivity of training programs and applicant competitiveness 

PGY-1 Training

You should apply to first post-graduate year (PGY-1) programs at the same time as the Neurology program. Some neurology programs include a PGY-1 year within their program (integrated programs). The applicant who matches at a neurology program that guarantees an integrated internship should still submit a rank list to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) listing the PGY-1 position as a top choice. Other Neurology programs require that the applicant find a PGY-1 position independently through the NRMP Match.

Combination Programs

A limited number of combination programs are available in the following areas:

• Internal Medicine/Neurology (five-year program)
• Neurology/Diagnostic Radiology/Neuroradiology (seven-year program)
• Psychiatry/Neurology (five-year program)

These programs are listed on FREIDA. They do not participate in the National Examination for Medical Practitioners (NEMP) but rather in the NRMP .

Interviewing

Talk with each program to get an idea of scheduling. Most neurology programs interview in November and December. Some start the interview season earlier. Many programs also extend the interview season into the first half of January.

You’ll be invited for interviews based on your submitted credentials, personal statement, and letters of reference. The interview and visit to each program is the best opportunity to gather more information. Prepare for interviews by reading about the programs and have a list of questions ready. Meeting with the house staff to get their candid impressions of the program is an important part of the interview process.

After interviews are complete, you must prepare and submit a ranking list of programs to the Neurology Matching Program. This is typically submitted in early January for the Match, which occurs in late January.

Other Residency Resources

• Residency Application Process Tips
• Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
• National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)−"The Match"
• The Electronic Residency Application Service
• FREIDA Online

Personal Statement

Personal statements may be used to customize the application to a specific program or to different specialties. 

In This Section:

Creating the personal statement, formatting the personal statement, previewing the personal statement, reviewing/editing the personal statement, assigning the personal statement.

You create your own personal statements in the MyERAS portal from the Personal Statements section listed under Documents. 

• Each personal statement must contain a Personal Statement Title and the Personal Statement Content. The title will be visible only to you to help you correctly assign it to programs, and the content will be visible to both you and the programs it is assigned to. 
• The personal statement is limited to 28,000 characters, which include letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation marks. 
• There is not a limit to how many personal statements applicants can create. 
• Personal statements created outside the MyERAS application should be done in a plain text word processing application such as Notepad (for Windows users) or SimpleText (for Mac users). The statement should reflect your personal perspective and experiences accurately and must be your own work and not the work of another author. 
• The use of AI tools is acceptable for brainstorming, proofreading, or editing the personal statement, but the final submission should represent your own work. 
• Personal statements created in word processing applications not using plain text may contain hidden and invalid formatting. 

Note: A number of websites provide examples of personal statements. Do not copy any information from these sites and use it in your personal statements without giving credit to the author. This is considered plagiarism. 

• The ERAS program will investigate any suspected acts of plagiarism. 
• Any substantiated findings of plagiarism may result in the reporting of such findings to the programs to which you apply now and in subsequent ERAS seasons. 

Return to Top ↑

When creating a personal statement in the MyERAS application, the following formatting options will be available: 

• Bold. 
• Italic. 
• Underline. 
• Strikethrough. 
• Bullets. 
• Numbering. 
• Align left. 
• Center. 
• Align right. 
• Increase indent. 
• Decrease indent. 
• Insert hyperlink. 

Note: Personal statements created outside of the MyERAS system should be done in a plain text word processing application such as Notepad (for Windows users) or SimpleText (for Mac Users). Personal statements created in word processing applications not using plain text may contain hidden and potentially invalid formatting. 

After entering the personal statement title and content, you will have the opportunity to preview your personal statement before saving it. This preview allows you to view your personal statement just as the programs will view it, including the number of pages.  

You are responsible for reviewing your personal statements before assigning them to programs. 

The Preview/Print option under the Actions column will allow you to view and/or print your personal statement. 

Personal statements can be edited at any point during the application season — even when assigned to programs that have been applied to. 

Personal statements that have been edited will be reflected on the programs’ side by an updated status containing the date of the updated version, but programs are not guaranteed to view or review updated versions of personal statements. 

You may designate the assignment of one personal statement for each program. 

• Personal statements can be assigned to any saved or applied to programs from the Personal Statements page by selecting “Assign” under the Actions column of the intended personal statement. 
• When assigning by personal statement, programs listed with a disabled checkbox already have the selected personal statement currently assigned. 
• When assigning by personal statement, you should review any personal statements that are listed under the Assigned Personal Statement column before making selections or changes. 
• Personal statements can be assigned by program using the Assign option under the Actions column on both the Saved Programs and Programs Applied To pages. 
• Changes to personal statement assignments can be made throughout the application season, but programs are not guaranteed to view or review newly assigned personal statements. 
• A personal statement cannot be assigned to programs that are closed. 
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January 19th, 2023

Neurology Residency Personal Statement Example – A Complete Guide 2023

Interested in learning how to write a personal statement for a residency in neurology?

If you’re looking for a neurology program, you should not only be prepared for interviews, but also focus on writing a compelling personal statement that will persuade the admissions committee.

In this article we will identify:

• Format and structure
• Things to include
• How to mention your lower grades in it
• Tips & Mistakes

What is Neurology? What Qualities Should a Neurologist Have?

Neurology is a branch of medicine that deals with the nervous system’s structure, functions, and diseases.

Qualities :

• Dedicated attitude
• Observation skills
• Calm and passionate nature

What is Neurology Residency Personal Statement? How Will it Help You?

Neurology residency personal statement explains your interests, professional background, aspirations, and qualifications.

It provides the admissions panel a clear picture of your personality.

If you’re an international or US medical graduate, the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) is an online application platform for residencies in the US.

The application for a residency program in Canada is performed through the online CaRMS portal.

Importance of a personal statement:

• To create an impression
• To know you more personally
• To increase your chances of admission
• To understand why you’re suitable for the program
• To know your professional goals

GET YOUR NEUROLOGY RESIDENCY PERSONAL STATEMENT CRAFTED BY EXPERTS NOW

When Should Start to Write

• Keep a keen eye out for application invitations from your preferred universities.
• Check the deadlines.
• Identify the kinds of documents that are required.
• Verify your eligibility.
• Requirements for personal statement writing (if any).
• Start writing 2 or 3 months before the deadline.

What to Include

Writing a personal statement for a neurology residency requires careful planning and knowledge of what to include.

Now let us find what to include and what not to.

Should Include

You should include the following details in your personal statement for neurology residency:

• Explanation of why you’re a suitable candidate for the programme
• Describe your relationship to the field of neurology from a personal perspective
• Your aspirations and values for your career as a neurologist
• Any accomplishments in this subject, whether academic or professional
• An explanation of the lower grades in short (it is optional)

Shouldn’t Include

Let’s now examine what it shouldn’t include:

• Any unnecessary personal information
• Achievements that are already listed in your CV.
• False information regarding your experiences.

How Long Should a Neurology Personal Statement Be?

Depending on your university, the length of your personal statement for a neurology residency may vary.

However, the normal is one-page length.

No of pages:

Word count:, no. of characters:, best fonts:.

Sample 1 – Neurology Residency Personal Statement

When I was younger, I wasn’t sure of what kind of person I wanted to be. Even when my 10th-grade class teacher asked about it, I was clueless. However, my fascination with biology led me to choose science as my major in higher secondary. I had an unexpected thought about my hazy future days as I was writing this, determined to become a neurologist. Every industrial and educational experience I have had has helped me to understand the importance of healing and helping others. Helping those who were suffering and providing them with comfort was something I really enjoyed doing. I was unsure about what specialty to choose when I first entered medicine. A brain tumour was discovered in my aunty, one of my close relatives, while I was in college. At the age of 45, it came on her without warning. She is more like a friend to me than a relative, next to my family. Without the excellent neurological experts at XYZ Hospital, she would not even be living and thriving now. For the previous three years, she had received great care, love, and encouragement from her neurologist. He treats every one of his patients in this way. And during the past three years, I have had the opportunity to attend a few of her sessions whenever I had the time. My interest in neurology had merely sparked, and it was encouraged to grow into a desire to understand more about it and hopefully become a specialist who can really help people like my aunt.

My understanding of how beautiful and incredible the human body is was influenced by the classes I attended in high school and college. While the human body is magnificent, I have also discovered about the possible pitfalls it could encounter and the ways in which these neurologists can help. Since my aunt’s brain tumour was discovered, I have dedicated my time to learning more about it. I realized that the human brain is an entire world. It contains its own power and mechanisms. I eventually became familiar with a number of neurological conditions and illnesses. With time, my interest in neurology grew more stronger. I then pursued neurosurgery and neurology-related courses in college as my interest in the field deepened. It once more piqued my interest and confirmed that I made the right decision.

My research on the effects of medications on the brain during my studies led me to the realization that a thorough grasp of this relationship can really aid in the development of effective treatment plans. Before suggesting any medicine, it is essential to get a clear idea over how our brains behave. In light of this, I became aware of how distinctive and fragile the brain is, while being a strong organ. Each patient’s brain reacts differently to drugs. In reality, some drugs wouldn’t work in one patient but succeed in the other. I realized that this was a crucial point to keep in mind and should be followed throughout my remaining medical school years. I was aware that only then would I be able to speak to each patient appropriately and avoid ever being accused of misinterpreting their adverse effects or symptoms and examine every alternative and potential risk before recommending a medication.

I have worked as a volunteer at a community hospital that offers free healthcare to everybody in our area while I have been in medical school. I gained a better understanding about the characteristics a physician has to have when working in these scenarios. I learned from my hospital mentors how important empathy and compassion are to our line of work. Additionally, it increased my focus on these traits as I became more aware of their significance in the care of patients with serious medical disorders. I have also been fortunate to have a number of opportunities throughout medical college to accomplish clerkship and optional components of my curriculum as well as clinical rotations in government health settings, work with quite lovely patients and families, and take an active role in fields such as cardiology, neurology, and dermatology.

No matter the patient’s age, I realised how crucial neurology is, as is a careful exploration of any innate or recently identified neurological diseases. I also noticed that even the relatively similar illness can appear completely differently in patients. Certain ailments are exceptionally difficult and confusing. My understanding of the intricacy of neurology and my enthusiasm for the field were considerably boosted by gaining knowledge about these diseases personally.

My goal in applying to your university’s neurology residency programme is to discover the experiences and opportunities necessary to further my knowledge of the specialty. After I graduate from this programme, I hope to become a kind and compassionate neurologist. I want to develop professionally and personally, with a strong desire to be of service to others.

Sample 2 – Neurology Residency Personal Statement

Although she was unaware of it, my grandmother was the inspiration for my decision to pursue a career in neurology when she passed away while I was 17 years old. When I think of her, several images come to me. My grandma, who constantly makes people happy with her delicacies, is depicted in one image as having a strong and lovely face. Another one is a woman who is constantly lying in bed and has fragile, weak hands. She could never walk normally, and her hand would tremble constantly. She wasn’t the cheerful and lively person I recalled and admired as a child. She had Parkinson’s disease in an advanced stage. However, I was curious to learn more so I could support her. Prior to enrolling in medical school, I was unable to comprehend the definitions of medical jargon. My professor discussed a variety of ailments that might influence the neurological system as well as their symptoms during one of neuro elective classes. I made a connection between that and my grandmother’s illness and how she presented her symptoms at that point. I became curious about it and wanted to learn more.

During my studies, I became even more fascinated by the brain’s capacity to regulate every element of the human body. I discovered the ideal possibility for myself as I desired to explore. I was hired as a teaching assistant for one of the professors who ran elective courses on neurology. This drove me to learn about the structure of the central nervous system and how it affects movement coordination, among other things. My grandmother kept coming to mind as I learned more about neurology.

I was rewarded for my dedication to the field when I received the single A in my class for the elective in neurology. My decision to pursue neurology for my clinical rotations was driven by my curiosity and desire. Every single day of the rotations was enlightening for me. Before, I had only been exposed to and understood the conditions through books. I was overjoyed and absolutely cherished the experience. My rotational mentors were great teachers for me. Both having a loving heart and possessing intellectual and medical understanding are essential. To help patients return to normal life, neurologists must show them compassion, courage, and care. Neurologists may have a significant impact on how patients cope with their disease. In order to get better results, I therefore plan to improve on the doctor-patient relationship.

A neurology residency programme that can present me with academic and professional challenges is something I’m genuinely looking forward to. I picture myself studying at an institution having skilled professionals and lots of possibilities to get exposure to a variety of neurological diseases and engage with different groups of people. No other field has pushed me to improve as much as neurology has in terms of my diagnostic skills, interactions with patients, or medical knowledge. I will be able to develop my abilities on a personal and professional level due to your university’s resources and excellent faculty. In gratitude, I would like to work in my native country so that I can raise public awareness and offer everyone access to relatively affordable treatments.

NEED EXPERTS HELP FOR WRITING YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT? CLICK HERE NOW!

How to Write an Excellent Neurology Residency Personal Statement in Six Easy Steps?

You must first and foremost comprehend the required answer(s) and word limit of your statement.

When you’re certain of it, it’s time to get started.

The six-step process of writing is what we suggest for you.

Considering ideas

When you brainstorm, you discover a range of ideas to include in your statement.

Once you note down your required points, you can proceed to the next step.

Preparation

You organize all of your brainstorming ideas during this step, and put them together to form a basic structure for your first draft.

 A rough draft is a way to get your ideas on paper.

Don’t bother about modifying it,  write what comes to your mind.

It is way easier to rearrange the structure if you have a draft.

Now that you have it, read it and make any necessary edits to your personal statement.

Proofreading

Here, you can fix all the technical issues with your personal statement, like grammar and spelling problems, and other common problems like format.

You can submit the personal statement in the final phase.

Make sure it’s in the proper format and that you have met all the conditions, including the word limit.

How Can I Explain Low Marks Or Other Adverse Facts In The Personal Statement?

In the personal statement, it is not necessary to justify your lower grades or other unfavorable details.

You can avoid it if you don’t want to!

But if you choose to write it, ensure you write in a straightforward, concise way that presents a positive perspective upon the negative situation.

How Should It Be Structured?

Introduction.

Your entire personal statement, especially the start, should be compelling. It’s a positive sign if you can keep the readers’ interest.

Describe your own experiences and personal stories related to the field in the introduction.

What inspired you to study neurology?

Explain in a narrative and intimate method.

Who or what is motivating you?

Simply describe it and take the opportunity to connect it to real life.

An example,

“When I was completing the rotation in urology, dentistry, and other specialties, I always thoroughly enjoyed it. However,  the rotation in neurology made me certain that it was the right field for me. Given that neurology is a profession with so broad applications, I found it quite intriguing. I find it particularly fascinating that neurology demands such an accurate connection of findings with regards to the patient’s condition, physical assessment, etc…”

Several paragraphs can be used for the main body.

They should explain to the reader how you came to your choice of specialty.

What should I include?

 A variety of subjects, including experiences with activities, volunteer work, and rotations.

Why should they select you?

Describe your abilities and qualifications, as well as what makes you unique.

In the conclusion part, you should emphasize yourself once more.

Your tone should convey your tenacity and enthusiasm for the subject.

You ought to mention:

• Career goals (long & short term)
• How can you contribute to society

Barriers to Overcome While Writing

• Your language and vocabulary barriers
• After some time of writing, inability to focus
• Lack of confidence in expressing yourself
• To complete work before the deadlines
• The physical and mental strain of worrying about how well the writing is getting through.

What Format Should Your Personal Statement Use?

You can submit a statement in

12-pt Times New Roman font

Double-space, 1-inch margin, 1 and 2 pages long.

Although there aren’t any fixed guidelines regarding length or format since it varies on the university you choose.

How to Avoid Mistakes?

Your neurology residency personal statement can contain mistakes as you are not a professional.

Here are some suggestions to help you write your personal statement without making mistakes.

Should have clarity

When drafting your personal statement, clarity is essential.

Don’t confuse people with so much information.

Check for grammatical and spelling errors

You must write a document that is brief & clear.

If your writing is filled with grammar and spelling mistakes, you cannot achieve it.

Make sure to share your personal experience.

Don’t mix content from other personal statements.

Avoid plagiarism by being original.

Do not exaggerate

Exaggeration should be avoided in writing.

You shouldn’t include slang words or unnecessary explanations.

Ask suggestions

Ask your friends, family, or colleagues to read your writing once you’ve finished the first copy and share their feedback.

Where Can I Study Neurology?

• University of Pennsylvania
• John Hopkins University
• Harvard University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Columbia University
• Vanderbilt University
• Yale University

Take the time you need to write your own personal statement for a residency in neurology.

As you begin to compose your personal statement, make sure to include all the information that will help it become powerful.

Has our blog been helpful to you?

So why wait much longer?

Start writing!

Mrs Jizah M

Mrs Jizah M has always enjoyed writing down her thoughts since school days. What just started as a hobby slowly transformed into a passion. Her writing skills were first acknowledged by few of her professors when she wrote content for the college website; this was a turing. Slowly she started getting freelance works and later on, a series of events led her to specialize in academic and higher education related documentations. In additional to personal statements, she along with her team writes LORs, SOPs, college application essays, admission essays and all similar types of documents.

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Neuroscience Personal Statement Examples

• Residency Application

Neurosurgery Personal Statement Examples

It is sometimes helpful to contemplate the work of others when attempting to produce your own finely tuned work, and to that end, we have provided you with these neurosurgery residency personal statement examples. Tips and advice can assist in your writing, but some people find examples more useful.

Residency personal statement examples will show you how experts write their own statements. Personal statements are an essential aspect of applying to a residency, as any residency prep course will tell you. You can use a personal statement to introduce yourself, show why you are the perfect candidate, and connect you to the discipline and program that you are applying to. Seeing example essays will also let you avoid red flags in residency personal statements .

Read on for two samples specific to applying to a neurosurgery residency.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free initial consultation here <<

Article Contents 8 min read

Neurosurgery residency personal statement examples, neurosurgery residency personal statement example #1.

In my high school days, I was involved with the theater program, and as everybody else talked about butterflies in their stomachs, I just felt a paradoxical relaxation and excitement. In university, I was a regular contributor to the school’s newspaper, but no matter the deadline, I never worried. Even at medical school, I always found myself stepping forward to volunteer to go first. Nerves are not a problem for me. They never have been, and as a result, I feel almost at home in the high pressure of chaos. When thinking about my residency, I naturally gravitated toward emergency medicine and surgery.

Wondering how to write a residency personal statement? Watch this video:

This dilemma – which residency to apply to – was solved for me while I was working as an assistant during medical school with Dr. Michaelson in his research into Alzheimer’s disease. This task quickly became my favorite aspect of my education. I enjoyed wrestling with complex problems, looking for solutions, and being given the freedom to explore exciting advancements in medicine using specialized equipment. The most exciting part of this research, however, was our work on the human brain. This organ that produces thoughts, mind, and consciousness itself via chemical and electric reactions is awe-inspiring and studying how our minds work fascinates and excites me. With a predilection for exploring the mind on top of my knack for handling pressure, surgery became my fits-like-a-glove choice.

My buddy Rod thought he wanted to become a surgeon, but one observation in the operating room change his mind and he abandoned the idea. My observations of surgeries while shadowing doctors have only made me more certain that this is my calling. The most memorable surgery I observed was to repair an aneurysm. The procedure was intense, taking hours, and required precision and focus for the entire time. Despite the harrowing circumstances, the surgeon and her team spoke with one another in an easy, friendly manner. I was impressed both by the work being done and the team-building respect and kindness shown in the OR. There is no space in an operating room for egos. The whole time, I wished I had the knowledge and training to help them – to join in at this crucial point in the patient’s struggle. 

My introduction to clinical rotations was at a family medicine clinic, which my supervising physician described as being on the quiet side. It was supposed to be a nice, smooth transfer to clinical work, but as I soon learned, there is really no such thing in medicine. By the end of a long, hard, first day, I was exhausted and shaken and wondering whether I should hang up my stethoscope for good.

On that first rotation, I had a family bring in their young daughter, who had very mild symptoms at first, but who rapidly progressed to what my supervising physician discovered to be a pediatric stroke. She had to be rushed to a hospital with more adequate facilities, but in the meantime, it was our job to do anything we could to stabilize the girl before the helicopter arrived. One shift in, and I was already up to my eyeballs in emergency trauma and helicopters.

But, of course, the rest of the clinic didn’t shut down, and other appointments had to be kept. It was all I could do to focus on my work while knowing that the family could do nothing but think of their little girl. I thought of them even after they were gone, and I didn’t fully relax until close to the end of my first day when my supervising physician told me, and the rest of our team, that she had received word that the girl had been treated successfully and the prognosis was very good.

She took me aside later and asked how I felt. “I don’t know if I can do this,” I told her, and she was surprised. She said she had rarely seen a person perform so well under stress. I had remained outwardly calm and professional while managing the rest of my tasks for the day. This was the first time I ever thought of myself as being calm under stress, but apparently, I am.

For more advice on writing residency personal statements, check this infographic:

In my surgery clinic, I began to appreciate what my previous supervising physician had said to me more. I noticed that no matter the pressure, my hands didn’t shake. I could always process instructions and carry out tasks. I never vomited after anything particularly intense, although I observed some very different reactions in a few of my peers. To be clear, I respect and admire my colleagues, and I would not excel at everything they are good at, either, but I discovered that I had a distinct knack for stress control. Moreover, I had success in the limited number of surgical procedures I was allowed to perform or assist with as a medical student.

At first, the brain was not my main interest. Had I simply been someone who handled stress well and enjoyed the surgery clinic, I might have picked any area of surgery – cardiac, for instance. But the nature of that little girl’s trauma – her brain needing help – made me think about the importance of the human mind. To save a mind is to save a person. We can survive anything else, can’t we? But not the loss of our minds. Perhaps it is my joint MD-PhD program that makes me philosophical about this, but there is so much to consciousness that we don’t understand – I am so intrigued by this area of medicine.

My MD-PhD research has been couched in personality discourse. Before I began my surgical rotations, I was contemplating psychology as a specialty. In my studies of personality, I was trying to learn more about how physical health affects mental health. I was involved with a sleep study, looking at how to optimize sleep habits for different demographics. We were exploring whether population subsets have different sleep requirements. I am currently involved in another study about how exercise affects mental health and personality. This connection between personality and the nervous system is what had the greatest impact on me while I considered different surgical disciplines. I recognized that I had a strong interest in how our bodies process information through the central processor of the nervous system. The related background reading and coursework in neurology, along with labs and the abovementioned research, all support my natural progression into neurosurgery. I believe that your program, with its state-of-the-art facilities and emphasis on research and development, will be ideal for making my dream a reality.

Any personal statement must have a connection to the residency you are applying to, and all personal statements will introduce you and your history as a medical student. Essentially, you are always aiming to show who you are and why you are perfect for the residency. But what should you focus on with a neurosurgery personal statement in particular?

Well, to start off with, you will want to keep in mind a list of traits that are specifically desirable for neurosurgeons.

This includes subjects such as neurology, basic neurosciences, neuroimaging, neuropsychology, and neuropathology. "}]" code="timeline1">

Ask yourself what experiences or proof you have of those traits, and whether you have knowledge of those subjects. Demonstrate that – show, don’t tell – within your application.

Additionally, neurosurgeons will need good communication skills and excellent doctor–patient relatability to deliver high levels of information about treatments and recovery to patients and their families. They also need to be able to speak to patients and their families about very difficult subjects and be able to deliver bad news in a caring but straightforward manner.

Highlight any direct or indirect experiences you have with surgery of any sort, in addition to neurosurgery.

Finally, try to give a sense of your optimal career path. This doesn’t have to be too specific but try to relate this to your residency of choice. If the hospital you are going to is known for its teamwork and you plan on working in teams, for example, this will help match you up with your ideal residency.

You can see how expertly crafted residency personal statements read now, and with these sterling examples, you should be able to craft your own statement. Remember to focus on your own journey and the fact that the primary goal of the residency personal statement is to show your unique attributes that connect you to the specific program and residency you are applying to. You are showing why you are a perfect match. Take that knowledge, focus on your goal, and take the time to write your own future.

While the statement length might vary from program to program – and you should always check for any requirements – typically a residency personal statement will be between 750 and 900 words, based on the space provided in the ERAS application.

It could take from two to six weeks, with some time each day set aside to work on your statement. Take your time writing the statement because you want to make sure you have it perfect, and you need time to re-write, edit, get feedback, and proofread your spelling and grammar. You may also wish to consider whether you need a residency application consultant to help you edit your personal statement.

Neurosurgery requires precision, manual dexterity, calm under pressure, stress management, knowledge of the brain and nervous system – including neuroscience, neurology, and other disciplines – and stamina. Surgeons also need good communication skills to speak with their patients and patients’ families – including the ability to speak clearly but compassionately about extremely difficult subjects. Experiences should highlight any or all of these qualities.

Extremely careful, as any reader will assume you have put the maximum effort into your residency application, given its importance for your future and career. If your maximum effort doesn’t include a thorough spellcheck, that will reflect poorly on said reader’s opinion of you.

Generalization, repetition, arrogance, and a failure to explain gaps in your residency CV , low test scores, or a lack of certain experiences. Most “red flags” can be avoided or handled by curating the information you include, ensuring an appropriate tone, and giving a good explanation for any problems, including what you learned and why they will never happen again.

The best information includes specifics about why you are right for the program you are applying for, why you are perfect for the specialty you are applying to, and relevant experiences that you have for your specialization.

The best criteria to use for the residency you want is deciding what you are passionate about and where you will thrive. Don’t worry about ratings – like if the place you are applying to is the “best” according to some list – worry more about whether you will fit in perfectly according to your goals and temperament.

It’s rare to find no match at all – 5%, based on NRMP data – but it does happen. If that occurs, you will want to find out how to improve residency application after going unmatched . In a nutshell, you’re going to rebuild your application and try again. Don’t give up but get working harder than ever.

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