Helpful Link From the American Medical Association about writing your personal statement

Good morning medical residency applicants!
I just came across this useful link on the American Medical Association website:
http://www.ama-assn.org//ama/pub/about-ama/our-people/member-groups-sections/minority-affairs-section/transitioning-residency/writing-your-personal-statement.page
Elizabeth

Soul searching - Deciding which medical specialty to pursue

You've finished your internship and the time has come to choose a specialty.  There is a test on the Student Doctor Network -  http://schools.studentdoctor.net/selector which might help you make this assessment.  There are also books, one of them is How to Choose a Medical Specialty, by Anita Taylor, available on Amazon (isn't everything)....but you probably have an idea already.  Taylor's book provides some practical information about the specialties...lifestyles, current and future supply and demand of the different specialties, salaries, etc.  A piece of valuable advice Taylor offers is that you should not feel railroaded into choosing a specialty...there are other things you can do for a year while you decide, such as research, observations and working somewhere as a general doctor.   

Obviously your future specialty choice is not written in stone.  There may have been two or three rotations you loved during your internship year.  I can safely advise you not to limit yourself to one specialty for your applications, if this is the case.  Then, when you obtain interviews, you could gain a clearer picture on where you'd fit in the best.  

I could go over some of the characteristics which are desirable to have for the doctors in each specialty, but I would be preaching to the choir, as the saying goes.  Listen to your heart and try to see yourself in that field.  Visualize yourself practicing daily in a specialty, then consider another few, until you discover the one which seems the most fitting with your character and abilities. 

We hope to hear from you soon if you need help constructing your personal statement and/or CV. 

Elizabeth 

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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