IM PERSONAL STATEMENT ADVICE
The personal statement (PS) is your opportunity to communicate to residency programs information about you that
cannot be found elsewhere in your ERAS application. Programs want to know more about you! Our top advice is:
Tell your story Share what makes you tick, a unique background, experience, insight, failure, redemption, journey,
etc. A story that underscores your foundational grounding and illustrates who you are at your core.
Set the scene--broadly—Don’t go overboard setting the scene with minute details. In broad strokes set the scene,
adding in relevant who, what, when, where and why’s.
Transition to the future At some point toward the end of your story, in a few sentences (1-3) transition to the
future and how IM training is a part of that, tying in how the experience will contribute to your career in medicine.
For nontraditional backgrounds, relating the journey that pointed you to medicine nicely brings your PS to the present
application. Often this in itself is interesting….how did an actor end up in medicine? How did a college dropout become
a medical student? How did refugee end up in Spokane for clerkships? Your stories are behind these transitions and
how you got from A-to-B can speak volumes about you.
Patient stories Not needed, so don’t feel you have to add one. If it’s interesting and relates to your story or future
career goals, it is fine to share. But don’t feel you must include a patient story.
You don’t need to convince us you want to specialize in IM Keep that to a minimum, final paragraph is
fine.
Think scanner not reader Grab the readers attention first sentences of the first paragraph. This also applies to
the last paragraph and the first sentence of each paragraph in between.
Avoid conversations This can comes across as contrived and takes up precious space on your page.
Be prepared to discuss your PS in interviews Student are surprise how often their PS is discussed during
interviews. A word of caution: if you share something in your PS, e.g. a loved one passing away, assess how you will feel
when asked about this by a stranger (albeit likely a kind & compassionate one).
Keep to one page
Talk with us first is you plan to discuss academic/step/personal issues in your PS
Summary paragraph End your PS by including the following in the last paragraph:
• What you are looking for in residency.
• What you can contribute to a residency.
• Career goals if you are applying to a specific track – e.g. primary care.
• A preference statement can also be directed to a specific program and address things that are particularly
appealing about that program such as…
o Curricular elements, diversity/inclusion efforts, culture at the program, etc.
o Geographic preference. Some students have compelling reasons why they need to match in a specific
geographic area. Frequently it is accommodate their spouse/partners employment, or be close to family.
A sentence stating why you are applying to a geographic area lets the residency programs know you are
serious about your application to their program and why. This is especially helpful if the program does
not have a history of matching many UW students to their program.
