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January 4th, 2023

Radiology Residency Personal Statement Example – With Writing Guide 2023

Are you planning to choose Radiology for your Residency admission?

Are you finding it difficult to draft your Personal Statement for Radiology?

Don’t worry.

You are at the right page.

In this blog you will find answers to all your daunting questions.

In this article, you will find

• What should be written in a personal statement
• Steps to write
• How to explain your low grades in academics
• Top tips from industry experts

What is Radiology? What Does Quality Need to Be a Radiologist?

Radiology is a branch of medicine which uses imaging techniques to diagnose and treat diseases.

A radiologist must possess the below-mentioned qualities to be successful in their field.

• Rapport with the technology.
• Have good communication skills
• Be physically fit
• Be empathetic

What is Radiology Personal Statement? How Will it Help You?

A radiology personal statement is an official document you submit to the chosen residency explaining your interest and motivation to join the residency in radiology. 

It should be around 600 to 800 words and is a great medium for the candidates to express themselves in front of the admission committee.

 It is important as it can help you :

• Secure admission at your chosen Residency
• Express your interest in Radiology
• Help you demonstrate your qualities to join Radiology Residency
• Express how you can be a good candidate for the chosen course
• Express your career goals after the course

GET YOUR RADIOLOGY RESIDENCY PERSONAL STATEMENT CRAFTED BY EXPERTS NOW

When Should Start to Write

Perfect time:, perfect length:, 5 questions you must address in your radiology personal statement.

While writing a personal statement for radiology, be careful to address the following question to have good content for your Personal Statement for Radiology.

Why do you choose a career in Radiology?

Here you can talk about your course motivation and what encouraged you to join this medical specialty.

How your professional background will help you in better performance in Radiology?

Here you talk about your professional background and any extra courses and certifications you have done in radiology to make you stand out.

What makes you an ideal candidate for the program?

Here you can talk about how qualified and capable you are to join a residency in radiology and how your previous professional background will help you in your residency.

What are your career plans?

Here you can mention your career plans, both short and long-term goals. You can elaborate here by writing how you wish to see yourself in the future.

Why did you choose this Residency for Radiology?

You can address this question by talking about what attracted you to this residency and how this Residency can help you achieve your career goals.

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

How Long is a Personal Statement for Radiology?

As a Personal Statement is an important element in your Residency admission for Radiology care must be taken to stick to the word limit and always use correct font size and style.

No of pages:

Word count:, no. of characters:, best fonts:, font style:, 6 steps to write your impressive radiology school personal statement.

Following the correct steps can help you draft a well-organized personal statement for radiology.

Below are a few pointers to help you draft an impressive Personal Statement for Radiology.

Step 1: Understand the Requirements

Visit the website of your chosen residency and understand what the admission committee demands from a personal statement.

Step 2: Start Early with your work

Don’t ever wait till the last minute to start writing your radiology personal statement. Always start early and give yourself enough time to review the same.

Step 3: Brainstorm the ideas

Brainstorm and make a plan on what you wish to include for your radiology personal statement. Add only relevant points and make a plan on how to structure the personal statement.

Step 4:Choose a Formal Format

Always use a professional font to create a good impression. Be formal in your writing. Be business-like in your approach.

Step 5: Write the first draft

Collect all the relevant points and write your first draft. Don’t try to be perfect in your first draft. Review and seek feedback and incorporate the changes and draft the final copy.

Step 6: Proofread and edit

Never forget to proofread your document and make necessary changes. Always look for grammar and spelling mistakes and make the final draft error-free.

How to Address Your Poor Grades or Unfavorable Details?

If you don’t wish to address your poor grades, it’s okay.

But if you wish to address the same, you can mention it in a positive manner by stressing your learning outputs and how it changed you.

Please be careful not to make any excuses for the low grades.

What is the Structure of the Personal Statement

Introduction.

Begin with an attractive introduction which can capture the reader’s attention.

You can start by introducing your thesis or any theme that you have planned for your radiology personal statement which can best explain your interest in Radiology.

You can answer the following questions in the introductory part of your personal statement:

• What interested me to choose radiology as my profession?
• What will make me an outstanding radiologist in the chosen residency?

In the main body of your radiology residency personal Statement, you can address and explain your problems and talk about your accomplishments.

Rather than explaining your merits, show your talents with powerful words and demonstrate it with the skills of your writing.

You can ask the following questions in this section:

• What are the accomplishments that would make me stand out?
• How qualified am I for the chosen course?

Here you can talk about your career plans and how the chosen Residency can help you achieve your goals.

You address the following points in the concluding paragraph:

• What are my career goals?
• How am I a right candidate for the chosen Residency?

Example 1 – Radiology Residency Personal Statement

I have a natural inclination towards medical field as both my parents were medical Doctors. I have grown up seeing their passion and professionalism for the medical field. As a child I had a bad stomach ache and I was taken to hospital. On examination by a Pediatrician, Doctor recommended a scanning of my stomach for which I was taken to a Radiologist. Till then I was unaware of such a medical field. On entering that scanning centre I was amazed to see huge machines and equipments which are used for scanning purposes. I got feared by seeing all theses machineries, though my parents tried to calm me, I was left nervous. But it was the soothing words that came from my Radiologist that made me relieved. That was an unforgettable experience in my life which made me think about the same even during my medical school tenure. On learning about Radiology, I was always reminded of my childhood incident and that drew me closer to this branch of medical science.

I always enjoyed the dichotomous nature of Radiology. Though it is very technical, I believe it is one of the most interesting fields in medical science. During my medical school, I always enjoyed the lessons in Radiology and how magnetic imaging could be used to evaluate soft tissues. I always loved the idea about studying internal organs and bones. And on learning about various medical conditions that require a screening I was left interested in the same. As a branch of medical science which is a right blend of medicine and technology, I am sure I will thoroughly enjoy this branch of medical science.

During my medical study, I thoroughly enjoyed the sessions in the Radiology department, where I have done the scanning of ladies who were pregnant. The pleasure to see a life before it come out and understanding its medical condition is a wonderful experience that will make any Radiologist happy. I have also assisted several Mammography, MRIs, CT scans where a Radiologist plays an important role in examining diseases and identifying the cause of their ailments. I have also interned under prominent Radiologist like XXX,XXY XXZ which has improved my theoretical and practical understanding.

I really look forward to be part of your Medical Residency where I will get a chance to hone my skills and abilities. With my inquisitive behavior, I am sure I can well diagnose several medical conditions. As Radiology is a highly specialized field, I am sure my diligence and desire to gain extreme knowledge will help me perform well with my duties. I am sure with my research experience I can better understand each medical conditions. Under your great faculties and state of the art facilities, I am sure I can better hone my skills and transform myself as a great Radiologist who can create good bond with people of any age. Through a career in Radiology, I desire to link my academic inquisitiveness with my passion to provide great medical services to the people who come to seek my services.

Example 2 – Personal Statement for Radiology

It was during my high school; I got a fracture in leg and was taken to hospital. When the Doctor prescribed me a scanning, I was taken to a Scanning centre where there is all modern scanning equipments in Radiology were used. At first I become little nervous seeing all the giant machines like MRI, but I was relieved it was not the one prescribed to me. So I was taken to where normal scanning machine was placed. There I got to interact with one of the Radiologist present there. It was the moment where I came to know there exist a medical specialty called Radiology in medical science. On knowing about the different imaging technology used to diagnose diseases, I got an interest in this branch of medicine. As Radiology use both technology and medical science, I got inspired to know more about Radiology.

I always loved studying Zoology. As my sister is a Radiologist, she from my teenage years has familiarized me with the different branches of Radiology. So even before me joining medical school, it was decided that I too will have a career in Radiology and will become a Radiologist like my sister. So during my medical study, I did all the possible to familiarize myself with the medical branch of Radiology. After my own research about the branch of Radiology and assisting the various Radiologists in my medical school, I came to a conclusion that radiology is the perfect choice for me. As an intellectually challenging medical field, I would love to be part of this medical branch where I can perform well with my diligence for the subject and passion for the career. As I believe that the world of medical imaging is getting evolved day by day, it is very much crucial and essential to familiarize oneself with the latest happenings in the branch of Radiology. So I took a two month duration course in Neuroimaging from the University of XYZ, to hone my skills and better equip myself for the upcoming Residency period. I also plan to do a course in Cardiac Imaging from the University of XXX, which I am sure will help me to correlate cardiac medical conditions with radiological findings.

I choose this medical Residency as I am excited to be part of the reputed program in Radiology offered here. As a medical branch which has an enormous scope in the future of medicine, I would like to be part of this branch of medical study. I believe that my passion for medicine and interest for the field of Radiology would make me a good Radiologist. I am sure my fascination with human anatomy will help me to better help my patients and understand their ailments.

I believe that I have enough skills and qualities to be an excellent Radiologist in the future. With my hard work and enthusiasm I hope I can well manage my professional responsibilities better and become a great Radiologist in the future.

How to Use These Samples?

The above samples can help you understand how to draft a personal statement for radiology.

These samples can help you analyze:

• How to structure a personal statement
• How to use the right grammar in a sentence
• How to divide each paragraph
• How to make your radiology personal Statement look more authentic and attractive 
• How to structure introduction, body and concluding paragraphs.

Challenges to Face While You Writing

• Lack of enough content
• Spelling and grammar mistakes
• Lack of English writing skills
• Unable to express yourself correctly
• Lack of creativity to make your write-up look attractive

GET YOUR RADIOLOGY RESIDENCY PERSONAL STATEMENT CRAFTED BY EXPERTS NOW!

How to Format Your Radiology Residency Personal Statement?

Write in short bullet points

• It should be double spaced
• Size of the margin must be one inch
• Use 12-point font size and font style can be Arial or Times New Roman

Tips Recommended By the Industry Experts

As an important element of your Residency application, you must be very careful to avoid mistakes.

Here are a few tips recommended by industry experts on how to craft a radiology personal statement

Never Plagiarize

Never ever try to copy anything from anywhere as if caught by plagiarism detection software, it can hamper the quality of your write-up.

Always Stick to the Word Limit

Never try to ignore the word limit and write endlessly in your Personal Statement. Always include only relevant details.

Where Should Study Radiology Residency

• Harvard University , Cambridge, Massachusetts.
• Stanford University , Stanford, California.
• King’s College London , London, United Kingdom.
• Radboud University Nijmegen , Nijmegen, Netherlands.
• University College London , London, United Kingdom.
• Johns Hopkins University , Baltimore, Maryland.
• Heidelberg University , Heidelberg, Germany.
• Imperial College London , London, United Kingdom.
• University of Toronto , Toronto, Canada.
• University of   California, San Francisco , San Francisco, California.
• Technical University of Munich , Munich, Germany.
• University of Oxford , Oxford, United Kingdom.

So we have reached the end of this blog.

Hope you find this blog useful.

We believe that we have cleared all your doubts.

If not, feel free to contact us.

You can write your feedback and suggestions in the comment section below.

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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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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