How do you start writing your personal statement for a medical residency or medical fellowship? 

Good morning applicants! 

Starting your personal statement is probably the hardest part for most of you.  It sets the tone for the whole essay and needs to grab the program director's attention.  Sometimes there's a quote you would like as a heading.  After we read and edit your original essay, we sometimes find a quote that fits the rest of your statement and then keep on that theme throughout.  We often urge you to start chronologically with a little about your background and the values instilled in you by your family or an influential teacher.  We have seen and edited many a strong essay that begins with a vivid academic experience.

We of course can help you with your beginning too, that's our job. Many of our clients are international medical graduates, so the construction of your statement can be especially challenging.  You've come a long way, academically and probably culturally too, which makes for a fascinating and unique personal statement for your medical residency or fellowship application personal statement!  Let us help you make the best of your history, what makes you, YOU. 

If you're totally stuck, we offer a detailed QUESTIONNAIRE that can help you soul-search.  We study your questionnaire and CV, then construct your statement of purpose using the information you provide.  But I have found that many of our international medical graduates have a great ability to put together a fairly good essay, which they send to us, and we then then we edit.  You have come this far in the English language too, with all of your medical studies, USMLE preparation and strong desire to complete your medical residency program here in the United States, so it's not like English is a foreign language anymore.  Though if you feel mentally blocked on expressing yourself in your statement of purpose, please do opt for our questionnaire-based essay. 

We hope to hear from you soon: cvpersonalstatement@gmail.com  (618)-207-3277.

Elizabeth 

Happy April 2014!

To the 2014 applicants...(in the slim chance you have the time to read this blog!):

I hope that you have landed the medical residency program of your dreams, one that allows for maximum learning and sharing in a friendly environment.  May God always guide you and bring you satisfaction and happiness, as well as for your future patients. 

     

For the 2015 applicants:

Now that we are well in to April, it's time to start thinking about applying for the Residency Match 2015. Time flies, so it's a good idea start preparing your personal statement now.  

Draft an outline of where you've been, where you want to go and your best qualities.  If you are not sure which specialty you want, narrow it down to three.  Our editors would be pleased to help you refine your statements.  We also provide a "from scratch" service which requires the doctor fill out a detailed questionnaire, from which we build the personal statement.  However I must say the the best results have usually been when the doctor writes the personal statement, submits it to us, we dive in and make corrections, he/she reviews and makes changes, and last, we incorporate the doctor's changes into the final draft.  

As usual, expect the competition to be tough, so your essay should be outstanding.  Our goal is for you to obtain the medical residency or fellowship position you want.

By the way, I'm very pleased to announce that our main MD consultant has recently been promoted to the position of PROGRAM DIRECTOR. 

Helpful Links

Hello again Applicants!
Here are some "mandatory" links for your reference.  I'm sure you have used these already though.

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama

https://www.aamc.org/students/medstudents/eras/

My dear medical residency applicants,

Greetings from southern Illinois!

If you have not yet received an interview in your target field, maybe you should consider applying for another specialty.  Preliminary year programs might also be a great option for you.

Another possibility would involve making calls to smaller hospitals (both urban and rural) where they may hire outside the Match, in order to find out if they hire a resident or two in your desired specialty.  Make sure the program would be accredited though, and that you know what you are getting in to before you sign anything.

We would be more than happy to help you with your CV, personal statement or letters.

Thanks!

Elizabeth

Hello Medical Residency Applicants for 2014!

I am very pleased that many of you have already contacted us about helping you with your personal statements, and we have edited quite a few since the beginning of 2013.  Most of the doctors decide to submit their first drafts to us in August and September.   While we love the excitement of deadlines and work well under pressure, I also appreciate those of you who are "early birds."

We now offer a "From Scratch" service.  The doctor completes a questionnaire and we construct your essay based on your answers.  Then the doctor makes his/her changes to that draft, returns the statement, and we incorporate the changes into the second draft.  The results have been outstanding with your input on that second draft.

I hope you have done well on your exams, but if your scores are marginal (as many are), it's all the more reason to present an outstanding statement of purpose.  We welcome you.  Your story is unique and interesting.  Let us help you tell it.

Contact us today: cvpersonalstatement@gmail.com

Thanks!
Elizabeth

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Happy 2013!

Greetings to all the past and present medical residency and medical fellowship applicants!  Last year was a very busy one for us.  It seems the word is getting out there that we offer a specialized service to you, just like you offer specialized care to your patients.

Since CVPersonalstatement is getting older, we are starting to receive some very positive feedback from many of the past applicants.  It is a great day when we hear you have landed a position, and I'm so happy when we have a valued client return to us for editing a medical fellowship personal statement after he or she has completed the residency!  That may be selfish, but it serves as a motivator to keep this service going.  Our service remains "boutique" and focused only on you, the doctors and the future medical residents/sub-specialists.

Best wishes always,
Elizabeth

Important Date Changes!

Hello again,
The Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine (AAIM) and the fellowships participating in the Medical Specialties Matching Program (MSMP) have voted to move the MSMP schedule of dates beginning with the 2012 Match for the 2013 appointment year.

These dates and deadline changes are very important.  As an applicant, your responsibility is to be aware of these changes so you can get your applications in on time. For our team at CVPersonalstatement.com, it means the busy season is going to take place earlier than in previous years.

Please contact the NRMP with any questions at nrmp@aamc.org or 1866-617-5834.