personal statement for residency psychiatry

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Zen Psychiatry

By Elana Miller, MD

Sample Psychiatry Personal Statement

Here’s the personal statement I used for my psychiatry residency application. This post is a continuation from my blog, How to Apply to Residency in Psychiatry, that details how to schedule your 4th year rotations, requesting letters of recommendations, what to consider when choosing a residency program, how to prepare for your residency interviews, and of course, how to write your own psychiatry personal statement. If you’re in the process of applying to psychiatry residency, check out that post too!

My Psychiatry Personal Statement 

I came to the field of psychiatry circuitously. For almost as long as I wanted to pursue medicine, I thought my future would be in surgery. At an early age, I remember visiting my mother’s laboratory, where she worked as a neuropathologist, and helping her dissect neurological tissue under the microscope. I would sit with her, mesmerized, gently teasing tissue off a monkey spinal cord with the delicate instruments, and imagining a future using similar tools to manipulate tissues and heal illnesses of the body. But while I believed that my future path was in surgery, I naturally gravitated toward the study of the human mind and behavior.

My father is a psychiatrist, and between him and my mother, the dynamic between the mind and brain were always topics of conversation at the dinner table. Partially because of their influence, and largely because of my own inclination and interest, I have always been driven to understand not only the “how” of thought processes and interpersonal interaction, but the “why”. Why do some minds create happiness, and others suffering, in the face of the same external circumstances? How do our internal states transform our external experiences? To what extent are these habits and predispositions fixed, and to what degree can they be reconstructed to improve our relationship with the external world and with ourselves?

When I entered college, instead of focusing on a basic science such as biology or chemistry like many of my pre-med colleagues, I was drawn to the study of psychology. It was here that I first began to investigate the more mysterious aspects of the human mind, and learned the ways the mind and brain can act unpredictably and destructively. I was fascinated by the complex psychopathologies of mental illness and motivated to understand the anatomical and biological basis of psychiatric disorders. I was struck by the realization that often our own mental processes, in trying to alleviate suffering, would instead create it.

When I graduated, I decided to further investigate these ideas in a research context. I joined the Department of Psychiatry at Stanford University and delved into the study of the relationship between stress, cortisol levels, APOE genotype and cognitive decline in older adults. I found the subject matter challenging and stimulating, and loved the excitement of discovering something new and contributing to the fund of knowledge available to all clinicians and practitioners. But when I entered medical school, I was drawn back toward the surgical specialties. I appreciated the technical aspects of surgery, the almost artistic nature of the field, and the dedicated, conscientious and disciplined nature of the surgeons. I focused on urology as a subspecialty, and directed the same interest that led me to pursue research at Stanford to a project at the USC/Norris Cancer Center investigating comparative pathological findings in men who underwent prostate biopsy and subsequent radical prostatectomy.

I began my third year surgery rotation excited to finally put into practice what I had studied from a theoretical perspective for so long. But instead of dreaming of spending time in the OR, I would look forward to clinic days, where I could sit across from patients about to have surgery, or recovering from a recent operation, and listen attentively as they told stories of fear, sadness and apprehension. I learned how underlying anxiety or distress could manifest as subtle physical complaints, such as pain or insomnia. I began to appreciate how mental states could influence a patient’s interpretation of his or her illness, and either aggravate or mitigate the suffering the patient felt in the face of the same degree of pain. I learned that by simply being attentive and mindful, I could demonstrate my empathy and concern, and show these patients they were not alone in the process.

Physicians in both surgery and psychiatry share a profoundly intimate role in the patient’s life. As a surgeon plunges into the body to heal with a scalpel, a psychiatrist plunges into the mind to heal with a few well-chosen words, an empathetic nod, or medications that modulate the neurochemistry of the brain. My subsequent third and fourth year psychiatry rotations have confirmed that my passion lies in alleviating suffering through reconstructing the mind, rather than in fixing the mechanics of the body. I look forward to developing the skills to transform both the mind and brain to serve my patients in a meaningful way, and am enthusiastic to combine my interest in clinical practice with my passion for academic research to create a fulfilling career in psychiatry.

Residency & What Happened Next

I ended up doing my residency in psychiatry at UCLA from 2010-2013. In late 2013, I found a passion for exploring and studying integrative medicine, and decided to start a private practice after graduation.

However, on December 17, 2013, I went to the ER for what I thought were minor symptoms — but it turned out to be Stage IV Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma. I was diagnosed 6 months before completely my residency program.

You can read what happened next here (don’t worry, it has a good ending).

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• Residency Application

Residency Personal Statement Examples from Matched Residents

Use these residency personal statement examples as a reference as you are working on  preparing you residency applications . The following are printed with permission from our own past successful students who worked with us as part of our  application review  programs. If you are having trouble getting started, you are not alone. Many students find that the personal statement can be one of the most challenging components of the  ERAS  or  CaRMS  residency applications. However, your personal statement can make or break your application. Get started on the right track by following the guidelines outlined for you below reviewing the emergency medicine residency personal statement example , pediatrics personal statement example , cardiology personal statement example, and more..  

This blog will outline what types of things to include in your residency personal statement. It will also give you 10 examples of personal statements from 10 different specialties written by actual students who matched into those fields. Reviewing personal statement examples is also good essay writing practice if you decide to write a residency letter of intent . Many of the same principles you apply to the personal statement can be applied to other application materials as well, so consider this review comprehensive. Believe it or not, personal statements also entail a great deal of self-reflection, which means they also function as a great review for residency interview questions , like the “tell me about yourself” residency interview question .

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

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Article Contents 39 min read

Residency personal statement example #1: family medicine.

During the pre-clerkship years of study in medical school, I enjoyed learning about the many specialties within medicine and actively considered pursuing several of them. I was drawn to the complex pharmacology of the drugs used by anesthesiologists, the acuity of care faced by emergency medicine physicians and the complicated medical issues of patients cared for by internal medicine specialists. I also found myself interested in psychiatrists’ thorough history-taking and the technical skills in performing procedures exhibited by surgeons. It started becoming clear to me that I was interested in many different areas of medicine. I began realizing that I wanted a career that combined the many things I enjoyed in different specialties. A family physician has the flexibility to practice all of these facets of medicine. As clerkship drew nearer, I knew I wanted to gain more clinical experience in family medicine to see if it would be a good fit for me.

My clinical experiences in family medicine were fantastic. I worked with family physicians and family medicine residents not only during my core family medicine rotation and family medicine electives, but also during my psychiatry, surgery, anesthesiology, and pediatrics rotations. These clinical experiences confirmed my belief that family medicine is a diverse and exciting specialty; family physicians, while maintaining a broad base of medical knowledge, can tailor their practices to the needs of their communities and to their own interests and areas of expertise. During my family medicine rotation and electives, I also found myself greatly enjoying my encounters with patients. I enjoy hearing patients’ stories and sorting through their many medical and psychosocial issues. I am also naturally a fastidious person. Being a thorough history-taker and a meticulous recorder of details helps me in formulating a complete story about a patient. My joy in interacting with patients and my attention to detail allow me to appreciate patients as people, not just as disorders or diseases. I am both interested in learning about and have a certain affinity for, family medicine clinical experiences; pursuing a career in this specialty is an obvious choice for me.

The versatility and diversity of family practice initially drew my interest but the wonderful encounters I had with family physicians solidified my desire to pursue a career in this specialty. These family physicians have not only been skilled and knowledgeable clinicians but also, variously, dedicated teachers, researchers, and administrators. They were committed to improving their clinical skills by attending continuing education lectures and courses. They practiced patient-centered care and were knowledgeable about community resources that may help their patients. They worked cooperatively with other health-care professionals to improve patient care. Importantly, these physicians have also been friendly and approachable towards both learners and patients. The family physicians I have worked with also strive toward a healthy work-life balance; all of them seemed to have many interests and hobbies outside of their professions. These clinicians demonstrated to me what being a family physician involves: practicing both the science and art of medicine, advocating for patients, guiding patients through the health-care system, being committed to improving clinical knowledge and, importantly, maintaining one’s own health and happiness.

Being sure of the specialty I want to pursue is the first step in my career. There are many learning opportunities ahead. [Name of the program]’s family medicine residency program is attractive in so many ways: the protected academic days, the opportunity to participate in research and, most importantly, the clinical curriculum, all appeal to me. I believe the solid foundation of family medicine experience, as well as the exposure to other specialties, alongside the opportunities to build the skills necessary for life-long learning through the academic experiences and research, make this an ideal program for me. On a personal note, I grew up in [hometown] and did my undergraduate studies at [name of university]; I would be thrilled to return to my hometown and a university already familiar to me. My career goals after finishing my residency include having a community-based, urban family practice and being actively involved in teaching residents and medical students. I am also open to being involved in research and administration. Career goals, however, may change as I progress through my training. I am excited to begin the next stage of medical training and begin my residency in family medicine!

1. Emphasis on why the applicant wants to enter that specific specialty

This family medicine personal statement example does a great job of explaining why the applicant wants to enter that specific specialty. Their interest is clearly stated and the decision to enter the field is well explained. The author does an excellent job of talking up the specialty and stating what they like about the field based on their clinical experience. For your residency personal statement, you want to highlight any influential moment you had during these experiences. If you had a certain “aha” moment, you might mention this. If demonstrating this commitment is difficult for you, you can always find a reputable ERAS application review service .

2. Intentions are clear

Clearly stating your intentions and using the program's name makes your statement personal and stand out. It shows that you pay attention to details and that your goals and passion align with what the program offers. Use strong, precise language when you are writing. You only have about 800 words, so state your intentions and keep your story clear.

3. Personal connection is established

This particular applicant has a personal connection to the city in which the residency would take place. This won’t be true for every applicant, but if it is, be sure to make room to mention it as long as it fits with your personal narrative. In this example, the applicant also ties this in with one of their goals: having a community-based, urban family practice. In your personal statement, you should merge these elements together for a more cohesive essay.

What to Include in Your Personal Statement

Most residency programs, whether through  ERAS  (US-based) or  CaRMS  (Canada-based) require applicants to submit a personal statement or letter. Some programs will include specific instructions for what they wish you to talk about, while others will not give you a topic. When you’re doing your research for residency programs you want to apply for, you should also take a look at the selection criteria. Each school will have its own rubric that they use to evaluate candidates, so it’s a good idea to review these before you start working on your personal statement. Here is an example of some information stated by McMaster University regarding their residency selection criteria:

“Programs may consider a range of criteria in making their selection decisions for interviews including but not limited to: Medical School Performance Report (MSPR), scores on standardized tests, interest in and aptitude for the discipline, reference letter, experience in research or other scholarly activities, extracurricular activities, and personal qualities.”

ERAS, as well as most CaRMS programs, ask that your statement be within a one-page limit, about 750-850 words. Please check the specific program requirements through the ERAS or CaRMS websites.

The experiences in your  residency CV  can be used to help you indicate why you are applying to a particular program and how you came to that decision.

1. Introduction

Typically, your residency personal statement will have three to five paragraphs, which you will use to divide the introduction, body, and conclusion. The personal statement is a formal essay, so you must adhere to the proper structure. The introduction is for you to capture the attention of the reader; for this, you will need a strong hook or opening statement. Feel free to get creative with this. The remainder of your introduction should focus on what drew you to the specialty and how your background experiences informed your decision to apply to the school and program. Your introduction should also contain a thesis statement that allows you to connect your personal background with your suitability for the program, school, and a career in medicine (in this exact specialty).

2. Body (or middle)

The body of the essay is for you to expand on a few critical experiences that made you the excellent, qualified candidate you are today. A good strategy for the body paragraph(s) is to talk about relevant clinical rotation experiences; so for example, if you’re applying to a psychiatry residency, you can talk about a specific patient experience that solidified your decision to pursue this specialty, or an experience that sticks out in your memory. This will be similar to your answer to the interesting case residency interview question . Your goal should be to use these experiences to address your specific interests, goals, and what makes you a good fit for the program. Do some research into the program format, the patient population you will be working with, and the clinical environment. This will help you connect your experiences with what the school/program offers.

3. Conclusion

You might be thinking that once you’ve written a strong introduction and body, the conclusion will be simple. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. You need to use the space in your conclusion to tie everything together and show enthusiasm for the program and for your future career. You can revisit a few key points here to highlight them once again and to relate them to what you’re hoping to gain from the forthcoming training experience. Show passion, determination, and consistency throughout your letter and tie up any loose ends in the conclusion. Some applicants will use this part of the letter to mention a specific goal they want to achieve in residency, such as working with specific faculty members or research plans. You may also mention aspirations to complete a fellowship or what you want your future practice to look like.

Here's why "show, don't tell" is the most important tip for any personal statement:

Questions to Ask Yourself to Help You Brainstorm Ideas

• What makes you right for this specialty?
• What experiences drew you to this specialty?
• What appeals to you about this specific program?
• Do you have any experiences working in the city of the program you’re applying to?
• How will your residency training help you achieve your goals?
• What are some of your personal strengths that will allow you to contribute to the program?
• What evidence do you have that you possess those strengths?
• Do you have any research/publications that align with the research the school is doing?
• Do you have any gaps in your medical education or evaluations that you would like to address?
• What’s something you think the program director should know that isn’t obvious from your application materials?

  Growing up the first-born daughter of a hard-working Saskatchewan cattle farmer and hairdresser, medicine was never a consideration. In a small town, I could easily see how too much free time got many of my peers in trouble. From grade 8-12 I devoted myself to sports, playing high school, club and provincial beach volleyball, weeknights and weekends year round. Despite my small stature and lack of innate abilities, with determination and persistence, I overcame these obstacles. At the end of my grade 11 year, I received an athletic scholarship and chose to pursue business administration and athletics.

After the first six months, it became apparent that I was not going to attain my full potential in education at [university name}. Despite my parent’s reservations, I left and enrolled at a [university name] for the next semester. This university was much more challenging as I was now balancing my educational and financial responsibilities by working evenings and weekends managing a number of part-time jobs. With little direction as to what degree I wanted to pursue, I happened to enroll in anatomy and physiology. This was the first time I became really excited about my future prospects and began actively considering a career in medicine.

The first time I applied to medicine, I was rejected. Despite my initial devastation, in hindsight, it was a great opportunity for myself to reflect on my own motivations for medicine and work as a laboratory technician at a potash mine in my hometown. I gained additional life experience, spent time with my family and was able to help financially support my husband’s pursuit of education after he had so selflessly supported me for many years.

My first exposure to anesthesia was in my first year of medical school with [Dr. name here] as my mentor in clinical reasoning. I was again, intrigued by the anatomy and physiology with the interlacing of pharmacology. I remained open to all specialties, however, after summer early exposures, research, and clerkship it became clear to me that anesthesia is where I felt the most fulfilled and motivated.

In a way, anesthesia was reminiscent of the competitive volleyball I had played years prior. I was again a part of a team in the operating room with a common goal. Similarly, our countless years of education and practice had brought us together to achieve it. In volleyball, my role was the setter, which to many is considered a lackluster position as we rarely attack the ball and score points with power. However, as a setter, my role is to set the pace, strategize and dictate the game from my team’s perspective. There is a long sequence of crucial events before a “kill” in volleyball and I strategized my teammate's individual strengths in both offense and defense to win. Anesthesia gives me the same opportunities to strategize anesthetics, balance individual patient’s comorbidities and anatomy all while maintaining a calm demeanor and level head through unexpected circumstances. In volleyball, I never shied away from tense games or difficult situations, instead I trusted in my own abilities and training despite uncharted territory. Lastly, I didn't need to actually score the point in order to understand my role and contributions to my team.

As an athlete, I understand the importance of practice and repetition which allow us to fail, but most importantly, to learn. I believe that the curriculum at this program will provide me with a well-respected education, which strongly reflects my learning style. I also admire the mandatory communication block in the curriculum because I believe an emphasis on clear and concise communication, is essential as an anesthetist.

Throughout the course of the next 5-10 years, I anticipate that both my husband and I will complete the next chapter in our educational pursuits. We both agree that [program name here] has the potential to nurture the next chapter in both our private and professional lives if given the opportunity.

What Makes This Sample Effective?

1. the theme is personal and consistent.

In this anesthesiology residency personal statement example , the author of this passage carries the theme of athletics throughout the statement. Having a theme can unify your personal statement and give it direction. This is a good example of a way to use a theme to tie together different ideas. Having a good theme is also something you should keep in mind when you’re answering anesthesiology residency interview questions , as program directors want to see that this particular specialty choice wasn’t simply drawn out of a hat; rather, your emphasis on a theme can demonstrate that your choice was intentional and the right fit.

2. The tone is positive throughout

Also, take note of how the author explained the transition to different schools without speaking negatively of the institutions. In your own personal statement, feel free to use the names of the universities you attended. They have been redacted here for anonymity. This statement has parts where you could customize it. Use the name of the program when possible or the name of the town. Taking time to add this into your statement shows the program that you pay attention to detail while personalizing it to each program.

3. Lessons learned apply to medicine

The writer of this personal statement relies on analogy to connect their experience to their interest in anesthesiology: “I understand the importance of practice and repetition which allow us to fail, but most importantly, to learn.” This analogy works so well because it shows why the applicant is suited to the program and specialty, it reveals an important aspect of their personality with evidence, and it sets expectations for how they want to contribute to the field. In your essay, you can use a similar strategy by tying together a major life theme or event with what you learned and how that applies to your medical training.

I was six years old when my father read to me the first chapter of “How Things Work.” The first chapter covered doors and specifically, the mechanics in a doorknob. What lay hidden and confined in the door panel was this complex system that produced a simple action. I credit this experience as the onset of my scientific curiosity and eventually my passion for complex systems found in medicine. Intensivists vigilantly maintain homeostasis within the human body, a complex system in and of itself, a concept I recognize as personally fascinating and enticing. I find myself especially drawn to the field of critical care and intensive care medicine. My dreams to become an intensivist would be highly complimented by a residency in surgery.

In critical care, each patient in the ICU is usually in a general state of shock. From the initial state of shock, the patient can be further complicated with comorbidities and chronic diseases that may require further intensive medical intervention so that they may recover from a recent surgery or traumatic event. This dynamic nature of the ICU is not available in every unit of the hospital and the high level of acuity does not suit everyone. I, however, enjoy the high energy of the enthralling, engaging and exciting environment offered by the ICU. I am personally energized and awakened by managing patients with surgically-altered physiology coupled with comorbidities. There is an overwhelming satisfaction when a patient following a bilateral lung transplant gets up from his bed and walks through the unit after days of being bedridden, or the moment we can discontinue the lines we had the patient on and finally talk to them after two weeks of intubation and sedation. Being in the ICU also encompasses the emotional seesaw of going from a successful patient case to a room in which a family has just decided that comfort care is the best way to proceed, which gives me chills just to type and verbalize.

The work of an intensivist is not only limited to the patient, but also the emotional well-being of the patient’s family as well. My involvement in the ICU has taught me that sometimes it is necessary to talk to a patient’s family, to explain to them simply that the postoperative expectations that they had had, may not be met. Communication is key in this field, both with the patients and the physicians of the OR. Communication prevents perioperative complications, establishes a willingness to follow directions and relays professionalism. It is important for an intensivist to have an excellent understanding of surgical procedures, so that they may explain to the patient what to expect as well as ease the nerves of the patient preoperatively. A surgical residency would facilitate this understanding and undoubtedly prove to be useful in my future training.

Studying medicine in Europe has taught me volumes about myself, how driven, motivated and open-minded I can be. To move so far away from home and yet be so familiar with the language, I feel blessed to be able to say that I’ve had a high level of exposure to diversity in my life. The mentality in [insert country name here] is if you don’t see the doctor, you are not sick. This common thought has to lead to an outstanding environment to study medicine and to see end-stage, textbook presentations of various pathologies and their management. Studying medicine in two languages has in itself taught me that medicine is a language and that the way a patient presents, conveys themselves, and the findings of the physical examination, all represent the syntax of the diagnosis. This awareness has reminded me that patient care, relief of patient suffering and illness, transcends the grammatical rules of the patient’s native tongue. My clinical experience in [insert country here] will aid me in providing thoughtful care to my future patients.

All things considered, I am ready to leave my home of the last four years and come back to the United States, to enter the next stage of my life and career. I am ready to work harder than ever, to prove myself to my future residency program and most importantly, learn so that I may be a suitable candidate for a future fellowship program in critical care. My experiences abroad have constantly pushed me to new horizons and encouraged responsibilities that I don’t believe I would otherwise have. I’ve developed a new level of human connection through my work in the ICU, the OR and my travels throughout Europe. These experiences will aid me in working with a diverse patient population and a diverse team of physicians. I hope [the program name here] can give me the variety and the background in surgery that I will need to succeed.

1. Atypical experiences are justified

This surgery personal statement example has to do double duty for the admissions committee. It has to explain why surgery, what this student can offer, and why this student is passionate about the field while simultaneously explaining why the applicant chose medical school abroad. If you are applying to a country where you did not attend medical school there, you have to explain why you studied abroad. This often poses a challenge for students. Be honest and positive about your experience. This student did an excellent job of explaining why it was such a good fit for their personality while highlighting the advantages of this experience.

Focus on the characteristics you gained from your experience abroad. Explain how your experience will translate into success in your residency. There are many things to be gained from having spent time outside of your home country. Talk about the skills you developed from living abroad. Unique details like those will set you apart when you are writing your statement.

2. Makes unique experiences an advantage

This applicant studied abroad in Europe. The way they talk about it is key: they explain how the experience was a challenge that they learned from. Most programs and schools are looking for medical school graduates who can contribute to their vision of diversity. If you have experience travelling abroad, this is a good chance for you to explain how this enriched your perspective and professional capabilities. Some of the skills that this applicant discusses are assets for a career in medicine: speaking two languages, exposure to diverse people and methods, and the ability to work with a large patient and physician population from different backgrounds. If you endeavor to explain some of your diverse experiences, be sure to make it clear what you gained and how you can apply it to your residency training.

3. The writer’s voice and style are unique

To get matched to the program and school of your choice, you will need to stand out from the crowd. To do this effectively in your personal statement, give your writing a unique style and allow your personality to shine through. In this example, the writer achieves this in the first paragraph in the “hook” in which they describe when their father used to read “How Things Work”; this life event left a lasting impression, and the writer links this to why a residency in surgery would benefit their goal of becoming an intensivist. With a first draft, it’s okay to experiment with word choice and content. Make sure you include all the necessary elements and formatting requirements, but try your best to put the “personal” in personal statement. Note that this is a general surgery example; if you were applying for plastic surgery or neurosurgery, you should read plastic surgery residency personal statement examples or neurosurgery personal statement examples for a slightly varied essay strategy.

Writing a residency personal statement? Here are the top books for residency applicants:

Residency Personal Statement Examples #4: Emergency Medicine

One of the most surprising things that I learned through my emergency medicine (EM) electives is that working in an emergency department is like leading a horse. I grew up on a farm in the [name of city], and working with animals was very much a part of my childhood. When walking a horse, one must be prepared for anything should the animal become spooked. It can startle at any moment and one must react quickly and calmly to redirect the thousand-pound creature. Similarly, in EM, one never knows when the department is going to become “spooked” by what comes through the door. EM is exciting, with a variety of patient presentations and medical procedures done on a daily basis. I enjoy dealing with the unexpected challenges that arise in caring for patients with backgrounds vastly different from my own. It would be a privilege to gain the skills as an emergency physician to provide acute life-saving care, to connect patients with resources and other healthcare professionals, and to provide comfort to patients and families in the settings of acute loss or difficult diagnoses. I feel that the [name of program] is the ideal path to reach that goal.

First, the [name of program] offers additional support and training to continue to perform research and other scholarly activities. Through my experience in quality improvement, I have learned of the value of research and how it can be applied to practical problems. For instance, while volunteering in a pool rehabilitation program for individuals with neurological disabilities, a patient who I had worked with for a year tragically suffered a fall and broke his hip leaving him significantly disabled. This led me to research inpatient falls during medical school and I initiated a quality improvement project and presented at several conferences, quality improvement rounds, and meetings with hospital stakeholders. After several years of work, I am very proud that this led to the implementation of a province-wide quality improvement initiative funded by [name of organization]. This initiative is physician-led and is aimed at reducing inpatient falls across [name of city]. This project demonstrated how rewarding research is when it can be translated into tangible initiatives and is why I am particularly interested in quality improvement research. I look forward to more dedicated time in the [name of program] to develop my research skills and to apply quality improvement to EM.

In addition to increased training in research, the [name of program] offers the opportunity to subspecialize within EM. While in medical school, I helped my single mother raise my much younger siblings and this has inspired my interest in pediatric EM. I maximized my studying through the effective use of weekly group study sessions and podcasts to allow for free weekends to return home to spend with my brother and sister. Through my experiences teaching and playing with my siblings, I have learned to deal with children in a calm and friendly manner. I used these skills to maintain positive therapeutic relationships with children during my pediatric EM rotation at [name of hospital]. For instance, I was able to cast the forearm of a frightened child by first demonstrating the procedure on her toy rabbit, and then calmly fitting a cast on her arm. I enjoy the emphasis on patient and family education as well as the focus on making the patient feel safe and cared for. I would love to explore this field further as my niche within the [name of program] in emergency medicine.

Alongside research and pediatric EM, I am also interested in teaching. Some of my fondest memories involve the evening teaching sessions during primary and secondary school spent with my grandpa, a retired teacher. My grandpa modeled effective teaching techniques, first assessing my knowledge and then expanding on it by asking questions and providing guidance when needed. Similarly, some of my best memories in medical school include the five-minute bedside teaching sessions after interesting cases that were taught in that way. Inspired by many residents and staff I have worked with, I look forward to expanding my teaching role in residency. Like my grandpa and my clinical mentors, I hope to help future students maximize their learning potential through the delivery of lectures and bedside teaching. Training within the [name of program] would allow additional time to develop the skills necessary for this, through increased exposure to mentorship, teaching role models, and opportunities to be involved in curricular development.

I would feel privileged to join the resident team in the [name of program]. I was fortunate that most of my core clerkship training including EM, as well as my fourth year EM elective, was at the [name of hospital]. What stands out the most to me most about working in the [name of hospital] is the tight-knit community feel in the setting of a high volume, high acuity ED. I value that the small program leads to a cohesive resident group and staff who are invested in their learners. Furthermore, from my rotations there, I know the ample procedural and hands-on exposure residents get from the beginning of their training. With my interest in pediatric EM, I value the longitudinal exposure to pediatrics at [name of program], with opportunities to do dedicated pediatric rotations both at [name of hospital], as well as [name of hospital]l. Finally, the [name of city] is my home; my family and friends are here, and I love the hiking, fishing, kayaking, and snowboarding that are all less than an hour away. I would be incredibly honored to have the privilege of pursuing EM in the [name of program], and look forward to serving my community.

Read some more Emergency Medicine Personal Statement Examples !

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The thought of caring for severely ill children seemed disheartening and overwhelming when I first began shadowing [name of doctor] at [name of hospital] five years ago. I was very nervous. While some of the cases were indeed difficult, my experience was starkly different. In one of our first cases, I quickly jumped in to comfort a scared child suffering from kidney disease. The mother of our patient confided in me about her son's struggles with bullying due to the disfiguring edema. I felt how much she appreciated being able to share her son’s challenges with me. Throughout my clinical experiences, I saw that caring for a pediatric patient often involves delicately navigating complex social situations and family dynamics. From that point on, I knew I had both the passion and compassion to succeed as a future pediatrician.

I am particularly keen to complete my residency at the [name of school], because I had such an immersive learning experience completing 5 years of research with [name of doctor] at [name of hospital] and at [name of hospital], not to mention [name of school]'s stellar international reputation. The incredibly high standard of excellence at [name of school], as well as [name of city] being my hometown, make the [name of school] my top choice to complete my residency. To further demonstrate the excellent education, I remember a time while shadowing at [name of hospital] in the genetics clinics where we discussed the pathophysiology of Bartter’s syndrome. The residents were having a hard time understanding this disease, but [name of doctor] explained the exact pathophysiology and downstream effects of it. The incredible intellect, mentorship and leadership [name of doctor] demonstrated has inspired me to pursue a nephrology fellowship upon completion of my residency.

During my elective rotations in [name of cities], I saw indigenous pediatric patients with a variety of ailments from hypoglycemia to cystic fibrosis. I spoke with them about the struggles of travelling long distances to obtain care. As an Inuit member of the [name of group], I have spent time reflecting on the medical needs of this much-overlooked population and hope to explore ways of reaching out to underserved populations in my future career.

I am prepared to be a leader and engaged learner in my residency program because of my participation in impactful leadership roles. I am currently the president of the [name of society], where one of my main duties is coordinating the [name of initiative], an initiative that teaches children about hospitals and healthy living. I was able to spend one-on-one time with disabled children teaching them about the heart through dance and instruments and activities to decrease fears associated with hospitals. This demonstrated the importance of promoting health care initiatives for kids and educate families and their children on how to be advocates of their own health.

As a competitive Irish dancer for sixteen years, I developed perseverance, determination, and time management that have been critical throughout my medical school training. Competing in front of judges and thousands of spectators all over the world, performing to my best ability under intense pressure was a necessity. I persevered with the challenge of competing at an international level and still maintained a very high level of academic performance while achieving my career high of second at the World Championships.

As an IMG applicant born and raised in [name of city] and educated in [name of country], I believe that my international education provides many advantages. I was exposed to diverse cultures and innovative ways of thinking from teachers from all over the globe at the [name of college] that I hope to bring back to Canada with me. Through the last 6 years, I have also had many research experiences and clinical electives in Canada that have given me insights into the intricacies of the Canadian Health Care system.

I am confident that pediatrics is the field I wish to pursue and I cannot wait to begin my residency so that I can start becoming an excellent clinician who advocates for children, as well as a scholar involved in research projects that will help advance the field. After successfully completing my pediatric residency program, I plan to pursue a pediatric fellowship. I am excited at the prospect of working and learning at the [name of school] while being an active and professional member of your residency program. I am also looking forward to developing my teaching skills and contributing to the community while also enjoying bike rides down the paths in the [name of path] and to be reunited with my [name of city] based family.

Want to see more Pediatrics Personal Statement Examples ?

“Code blue, electrophysiology laboratory” a voice announces overhead during my cardiology rotation. As the code team, we rush to the patient, an elderly man in shock. Seamlessly, we each assume our preassigned roles. I quickly review his chart and note to the team-leader that this patient had a previous EF of 10 percent and just got cardioverted. Vasopressors administered, intubation, central line secured, and the patient is stabilized and sent to our floor. During my rotations in internal medicine, I was constantly elated by my team’s ability to come together at such key moments. This gave me a sense of joy I did not find in other rotations. Moreover, I had inspiring attending physicians and residents who served as my mentors. They taught me that an internist is a medical expert committed to evidence-based medicine and perpetual learning, a compassionate physician, and an engaged community member. These lessons and the satisfaction of managing highly complex cases with a dedicated team consolidated my interest in internal medicine.

Compassion and a holistic approach to medicine remain quintessential for patient care. During my rotations, I took advantage of opportunities to learn from my patients both at the bedside and through independent reading. As a senior student, I prepared learning capsules that I presented to my team. This taught me to synthesize and communicate information efficiently. Beyond that, I took courses outside of the formal curriculum such as a point-of-care ultrasound course to improve my ultrasound procedural skills. When we no longer had any curative interventions to offer patients, I learned that acknowledging the patients’ suffering and being present for them in their most vulnerable time can ease their pain. As a resident at [name of school], I will continue my dedication to academic excellence and compassionate, patient-centered care in my efforts to care for my patients.

I have built strong ties to my community serving as president of the [name of school] Biology Student Union. Together, we enacted a complex study space and locker initiative through my role as a mentor at [name of organization]. These experiences instilled in me the values of proactivity and advocacy which I aim to bring with me to [name of school]. There, I hope to continue my community engagement as a mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of [name of city]. Moreover, as I learn more about [name of town]'s healthcare system, I hope to combine that knowledge with my medical education to add my perspective to health policy decision-making in the province.

In addition to its excellent academic reputation, [name of school]’s commitment to academic excellence and continuing education, as exemplified by the abundant academic teaching, drew me to the program. Moreover, given my belief that we develop to be an amalgam of characteristics and values our mentors espouse, I was delighted to learn about the mentorship opportunities available. This was a unique characteristic that motivated me to apply to [name of school]. Finally, having lived in [name of city] for the last ten years, I am looking forward to spending the next chapter of my life in a smaller, more tightly knit community of [name of city].

As I learned and modeled the different roles of an internist, I also learned a lot about myself. I learned of my thirst for knowledge, of my desire to treat as well as to heal the patient, and of my urge to be a leader in my community. These characteristics will play a defining role in my residency. I also learned of my passion for acute medicine. After my residency, I hope to further subspecialize in cardiology. As a future cardiologist, I aim to provide patient-centered care, conduct research, continue my community engagement, and act as a role model to future generation.

Get inspired with these Cardiology Personal Statement Examples !

Watch this to learn what red flags to avoid in your residency personal statement!

Residency Personal Statement Examples #7: Psychiatry

I grew up in a tight knit military family in a community struck with the stigma of mental illness. Throughout my childhood we lost friends to the complications of untreated mental illness including overdose and suicide. I knew at that point that I wanted to pursue mental illness and completed a psychology degree and then a nursing degree. In University, I volunteered in a distress service for 6 years, providing individual sessions to students on issues including suicidality, interpersonal violence and addiction. As a registered nurse, I honed my skills in mental status examinations and cared for their comorbid psychiatric illness with medical disease utilizing communication and building rapport. I saw the impact of life altering conditions and procedures on their mental health. As a medical student, I continued to explore psychiatry through City X summer studentship and appreciated the breadth of psychiatric practice. As a clerk, I completed a range of psychiatric electives, caring for patients in multiple care settings and across various socioeconomic and age ranges. I enrolled in the integrated community clerkship, in X town, a community 900 km North of X city. The socioeconomic disparities and lack of access to mental health services had a negative impact on community, with suicidality and addictions. I followed my patients across practice domains assessing their functioning, medication regimen and continued to build a collaborative relationship. This proved crucial to uncover their health status across domains and helped me identify areas to support their challenges. 

I value the ability to understand my patients from a biopsychosocial framework and addressing negative thought processes in support of their wellness. I view our duty in psychiatry is to support their strengths on a trajectory to wellness and provide guidance and resources utilizing pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies. Psychiatry is a newer field of medicine, allowing for ongoing innovations in treatment and practice. This is exciting to explore novel approaches to treatments as we continue to uncover the physiological, neurological and pharmacological dimensions of mental health. It is also important to recognize the challenges of psychiatry. The history of mental illness creates access to care barriers from both a structural viewpoint with longer wait times and on a personal level due to their concern about the social and occupational implications of stigma. As our population ages, this threatens to overwhelm the current psychiatric infrastructure and will require more complex approaches due to medical comorbidities and medication contraindications. We will require ongoing research focused on medical comorbidities of neuropsychiatric illness and treatment modalities to improve quality of care. 

I am drawn to the University of X psychiatry program due to its resident focused approach. I appreciate the ongoing mentorship and supervision and the preparatory endeavors including the mock examinations. From a clinical perspective, the program has a strong psychotherapy curriculum and offers unique elective opportunities including electroconvulsive therapy. The ability to continue serving rural communities solidifies my interests in this well-known program. 

Check out these Psychiatry Personal Statement Examples !

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Residency Personal Statement Examples #8: Internal Medicine

“People are drawn to medicine in one of two ways: the humanity or the science.” My mentor, [name of doctor], staff medical oncologist at the [name of hospital], once told me this. As a volunteer during my premedical studies, I assisted him with his impromptu lunchtime clinics while others were on break and was able to catch a glimpse of his patients’ unshakable trust in him. Those moments sparked my interest in Internal Medicine. Internists are entrusted with the most complex patients in any hospital. Therefore, Internists take on the responsibility of a patient’s trust in their lowest, most disoriented moments. Accordingly, when I finally started clinical rotations, I saw it as my responsibility to fully understand each patient’s motivations and fears to advocate for their goals. One patient I had gotten to know still stands out in my mind. She was 95, witty, and self-assured but was found to have bone metastasis causing excruciating pain during her hospital stay. She knew she did not want aggressive life-prolonging treatment and declined further workup, but how could we help her? I suggested palliative radiotherapy to my team because I remember her telling me “I had a good life. I am not scared of death, but if I have to be around for a while, can’t I be more comfortable?” Therefore, my team entrusted me to talk to her and her family about a referral to Radiation Oncology. She responded to me with “I don’t think there’s anyone who knows what I’d want better than you. You’ve listened to me so much. I trust you.” I spent the next half hour explaining the rationale behind the referral to both her and her family. She received urgent Radiotherapy two weeks later. Her narcotic requirement decreased by more than half. After that moment, I envisioned that one day, I could also look into the eyes of someone at their most vulnerable moment and give them confidence to trust me and my team with their care.

Although my interest in Internal Medicine is rooted in the human connection, my attention to detail, work ethic, and natural curiosity, also makes me especially well-suited for the challenges of Internal Medicine. Indeed, beyond the human connection, Internal Medicine’s challenges of complex problem solving, and large ever-growing breadth of knowledge is also what makes each day so satisfying. When I was on the Nephrology Consult service, I was following a patient with a kidney transplant who was admitted for Line Sepsis. I noticed a mild Non-Anion Gap Metabolic Acidosis and a persistent mild Hyperkalemia. I presented my findings to my staff as a possible Type 4 RTA. He complimented me on my attention to detail and warned that a Type 4 RTA in a kidney transplant patient could be a sign of rejection. We restarted his anti-rejection medication that had been held due to his infection, his electrolyte abnormalities corrected in less than two days. My attention to detail is a particular asset for Internal Medicine because more than any other specialty, the tiniest details like a mildly abnormal lab work, when pieced together in the correct way, could solve the most difficult clinical problem. That is also what makes problem-solving in Internal Medicine so satisfying. My mentors have always complimented me on my work ethic. However, I enjoy staying late for admissions and additional learning or reading hours around my patients at home because learning Internal Medicine is so interesting.

On the other hand, Internists are also tasked with the very large, working with multiple professionals and navigate system issues to keep patients healthy and out of hospital such as when [name of doctor] entrusted me with planning the discharge of a homeless patient during my Medicine CTU elective at [name of hospital]. The patient had Schizophrenia and Grave’s Disease and had been admitted to hospital multiple times that year with thyrotoxicosis due to medication non-adherence. During his admission, I had elicited the help of two homeless outreach coordinators to ensure proper follow-up. Therefore, by the time of discharge, he had a new family doctor, timely appointments with the family doctor and endocrinologist, maps with directions to each appointment, his prescription medications ready to go, as well as a new apartment application.

Ultimately, I am fortunate to be drawn to Internal Medicine for both its humanity and science. I believe that I have the qualities that will help me excel in its smallest details and its largest responsibilities. In residency, I aim to explore and learn as much Internal Medicine as possible before becoming an expert in one area so I can make an informed choice and be a well-rounded physician. Therefore, the fact that [name of city] has so many leading experts especially suits my learning goals. Indeed, during my electives in [name of city], I’ve already learned knowledge that I’ve not encountered elsewhere like the Bernese method of Buprenorphine induction. The availability of resources such as the DKA management simulation and the use of presentations of cutting-edge knowledge as part of evaluation also suits my self-directed learning style. Furthermore, my research has focused on the PMCC Gastro-Esophageal Cancer Database where we were able to discover various new details in the clinical behavior of Gastro-Esophageal cancer due to the large volume of patients are PMCC and its world-class expertise. This line of research would not work as well anywhere else in [name of country]. Indeed, our database is currently the second-largest in the world. Therefore, the second reason [name of city] is my ideal place for training is for its unique research opportunities, so I can continue to contribute to further medical knowledge. Lastly, [name of city] is the most diverse city in [name of country]. Growing up as an immigrant, I had experienced how cultural backgrounds can become a barrier to receiving good medical care. Therefore, the diverse patient population and strong allied health support in [name of city] could also allow me to hone the skills required to assist me in providing good quality care to all patients, regardless of background.

Here are more Internal Medicine Personal Statement Examples !

My first exposure to Family Medicine occurred during my time as a Medical Officer working in a small clinic in Nigeria in fulfilment of the [name of service]. There, I recognized that a career in this specialty would offer me the opportunity to not only experience the aspects I cherished most about other specialties, but fulfill my personal interests in advancing community health.

My many encounters with patients during my days in the clinic reaffirmed my view of Primary care physicians as being on the frontline of diagnosis and preventive medicine. There was the middle-aged diabetic patient who had first presented to the emergency with diabetic ketoacidosis, the hypertensive man whose initial complaint of a persistent headache prompted the discovery of his soaring blood pressure, and the adolescent with a family history of allergies who was diagnosed with asthma. These encounters highlighted that as the first point of contact, the general practitioner is not only responsible for diagnosis, but often in ensuring patients are set on the path of healthy habits to prevent disease complications. This unique opportunity to significantly advance the well-being of a patient, and by extension, the community renewed my interest in the field.

An especially appealing feature of Family Medicine is that it provides an opportunity for patient care without limitations of age, sex, disease or organ system. From treating colds and routine checkups to referral for a suspected malignancy, I enjoyed that every day in the clinic was a learning experience and no day was routine. In addition, having a diverse population of patients and cases requires an abundance of clinical knowledge and I cherish the chance to learn and expand my skills every day.

I also value that an essential part of Primary care is in the enduring relationships the practitioners develop with patients. I recall several moments during my clinical experiences when I recognized that some of the bonds formed during ongoing patient interactions had evolved into lasting friendships. Being a practice of continual care, I appreciate that this specialty provides many opportunities to follow patients through different stages of their lives ensuring a deepening of relationship and compliance with care. I was inspired during my clinical rotation here in the United States when I saw how my preceptorís long-term relationships with patients enabled their compliance and often extended to different generations within one family.

Ultimately, I am confident that my experiences have prepared me for a career in this specialty. An agreeable, attentive and compassionate nature has aided me in gaining trust as well as building meaningful interpersonal relationships which are crucial components of this field. Furthermore, my interaction with an extensive array of patients during my clinical and volunteer experiences has equipped me with the ability to communicate and relate to patients across different age groups and backgrounds. In addition, I enjoy working to coordinate patient care with colleagues and other specialties and value that the wellness of the patient is a result of hard work, dedication, and teamwork.

Thus, I hope to find a residency program dedicated to providing in-depth clinical training with a diverse patient population and an emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention through patient education and community service. Moreover, I look forward to being part of a program that will encourage my pursuit of intellectual development and advancement to enable my transition into a well-rounded, competent and skilled physician committed to serving people with needs in all areas of medicine. With a career in this specialty, I know that every day will bring a new opportunity to influence health behaviors, and while there will be challenges, fulfilling them will always be satisfying.

Here I am, yet again. Last year, I also applied for a position as a dermatology resident. Though I was not selected, I return with the same diligence and perseverance, as well as additional skills and knowledge. My continued dedication to pursue a career in dermatology reminds me that no good thing comes easily and pushes me to stay motivated and work hard toward my goals. 

I am drawn to dermatology for a host of reasons, one of which is the opportunity to work with my hands. In my current residency program, I have had the opportunity to assist in various surgical procedures. I recall the subdued exhilaration I felt when removing my first lipoma and the satisfaction of observing the surgeon completed the procedure with precision and care. My excitement for surgery continued to be reinforced in the many subsequent procedures I assisted with and I look forward to honing my surgical skills further as I complete my training in dermatology. 

However, to me, “hands-on” is defined as more than just its literal meaning. The opportunity to build relationships with patients steers me more towards a career in outpatient medicine. During my dermatology outpatient rotation, I was involved in the care of a patient who presented initially complaining of a heliotrope rash and gottron’s papules. When she expressed a deep sense of shame about this rash, I became acutely aware of how patient’s external disease can influence their internal emotions. I thus responded empathetically, simultaneously validating her concerns and providing her with much-needed assurance. When she was later diagnosed with dermatomyositis secondary to underlying breast cancer, this patient requested to speak to me specifically, recalling the positive interaction we had shared before. Again, I was able to explain the diagnosis and treatment plan with patience and regard for her every concern. Developing a trusted physician-patient relationship is crucial in the field of dermatology because most patients exhibit strong internal emotions from their visually external disease. Also important is the ability to deliver difficult news and be considerate of patients’ feelings in these delicate moments. I plan to continue to use these skills during my career as a dermatologist.  

To me, dermatology is also a field that is thought-provoking and stimulating due to its constant evolution and advancements. Thus, during my internship, I committed to educating myself in the field of dermatology through multiple research projects. My research thus far has been focused on whether UV light lamps used in gel manicures increases the risk of skin cancers as well as the outcomes of using intralesional 5-fluorouracil for squamous cell carcinoma and keratoacanthomas. While my research was focused in the field of dermatology, I did not hesitate to take on additional projects, pursuing assignments in both breast cancer and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. I strongly believe the best doctors have a thorough understanding of the practice of medicine in totality as our ability to incorporate this knowledge in our diagnosis and treatment of our patients directly impacts their wellbeing. For these reasons, I strive to continually educate myself in not only dermatology, but other fields that might have implications on my practice. 

My ideal dermatology program would allow me to manage a variety of complex medical dermatological conditions and engage in research, both of which will continue to challenge me intellectually and push me to exercise creativity to develop innovative solutions to dermatological treatments. As someone who enjoys working with my hands and the instant gratification of the surgical approach as a treatment option, I would also value the opportunity to perform surgeries and improve my surgical skills. Furthermore, I have found that beyond medicine, the people in each program make or break an experience. Positive attitudes, expressed dedication, and mentorship are vital characteristics in any program of my interest.

I am confident my aspirations will be fulfilled in the field of dermatology, but more importantly, I know I will be a good contribution to this field and your program – my work ethic, motivation, and commitment unwavering. I am determined, impassioned, and excited to embark on this next phase of my journey. 

Check out even more Dermatology Personal Statement Examples !

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How To Address Areas of Concern

There are some things that are out of our control. Sometimes we have to take time off to deal with personal issues, or sometimes we have to retake tests. If you have something you feel like you need to explain in your application, the personal statement is the area to address it. If you had a leave of absence or failed an exam, you should offer a clear, unemotional explanation of the situation. Use positive language. Whatever the area of concern, try and phrase it in the most favorable light. Take accountable for what has happened, but do not place blame or make an excuse. Here are some phrases you can try and use in your personal statement.

Sometimes we have to interact with people who we don't see eye to eye with. When I worked with (you can choose to say the person's name or just use their title) I learned how to (insert a lesson here). Even though it was a challenge, I have gained skills that will better my future practice. ","label":"Unfavorable Evaluation by an Attending","title":"Unfavorable Evaluation by an Attending"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

Keep in mind that these are suggestions. If you are concerned about an area of your application that might be a red flag, it may be in your best interest to address it head-on. The choice to write about them is your own individual opinion. Your personal statement should highlight the best side of you. If you think that an area of weakness might hurt your chances, it may be beneficial to take ownership of the problem and write it in a way that will show what you learned and how it made you better.

For the most part, your residency personal statement should be within a one-page limit or approximately 750-850 words. Be sure to check your specific program requirements to verify before you begin writing.

It's entirely up to you if you want to address unfavorable grades or gaps in your studies. However, if you feel something in your application will be seen as a red flag, it's best to address issues head-on instead of having admissions committees dwell on possible areas of concern.

If you're going to address a gap, just ensure that you have a clear narrative for why you took these breaks, what you did on break and what this break means for your ability to function at a very high academic level for many years to come.

If you're addressing a poor evaluation, ensure that you take responsibility for your grade, discuss what you learned and how your performance will be improved in the future - then move on. It's important that you don't play the victim and you must always reflect on what lessons you've learned moving forward.

Absolutely. While it's not necessary to discuss your personal connection to a program location, showing program directors that you have ties to their program's location can give you a competitive edge over other applicants. The reason being is that it's a way to show program directors that you are invested in practicing medicine locally.

That's not to say that you have to apply to programs that are within your home state or province, but if one of the reasons you love a particular program is because of its location in your hometown, don't be afraid to mention this. Whether you enjoy the outdoor activities in the program's location, have family and friends in the area, or even grew up in the area at some point, these can all be great aspects to mention.

Firstly, it's important to check the program's specific requirements for your statement because some programs have a specific prompt or multiple prompts that you'll need to address. If you are not given a prompt, in general, your statement needs to answer “why this specialty?” and “why this program?”. Your responses must be supported with your personal experiences and your statement should incorporate your future career goals.

No, instead you'll be preparing one personal statement for each specialty. For example, if you're applying to emergency medicine and family medicine, you'll need to prepare one statement for emergency medicine and one statement for family medicine.

As long as it's during the application season, you can edit and review your personal statement. However, keep in mind that if you edit your personal statement, there is no guarantee that programs will review the most up to date version. For this reason, it's best to only assign your personal statement to programs once you've 100% happy with the final version.

No, there is no limit on how many personal statements you can create. 

Your personal statement should have three major structural elements: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. Your thesis statement will appear in your introduction in the first paragraph. The body is for you to discuss major experiences relevant to your chosen specialty, and the conclusion is generally the place to summarize and highlight some of the item you mentioned in the body or introduction.

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• Apply for Psychiatric Residency

Guide to Applying for Psychiatric Residency

Updated July 2023

Congratulations on choosing one of the most exciting fields in medicine. Not only are psychiatrists uniquely trained to consider the patient from a "whole person" perspective, but the field also includes a wide range of practice settings and diverse opportunities for subspecialization.

Download Now (.pdf)

In the Roadmap to Psychiatric Residency (.pdf) , you will find:

What Should I Do During Medical School to Prepare For a Career in Psychiatry?

Psychiatry programs are generally holistic in their review of applicants. As such, participation in the following are highly valued - longitudinal and meaningful service, leadership, and scholarly experiences that may demonstrate unique individual attributes and a strong commitment to psychiatry.

Planning for 4th Year

Every school will have specific requirements for 4th year. A good place to start is to understand what these requirements are, how many required/elective courses you need to graduate, and generally when these courses are offered.

How to Choose The Right Program

The preferences of each residency applicant will be different, and everyone will prioritize different aspects of a program when making their rank list. The question of which programs might be right for you is a very individual question, and one that is based on your ultimate career goals and what you are looking for in a program.

How Many Programs to Apply To?

Deciding on the number of applications to submit is a difficult decision with a number of factors involved including geographic location. The number of students applying to psychiatry overall and the applications per student have dramatically increased over the last five years. This has made the application process more complicated both for students and residency training directors.

Letters of Recommendation

Letters of recommendation (LOR) are an important opportunity to communicate your personal attributes, strengths, and abilities to programs. LOR usually include the extent to which the writer knows the applicant, specialty to which you are applying, and particular clinical strengths of the applicant. LOR also frequently highlight personal attributes such as humor or empathy and give an overall level of endorsement. Most Psychiatry programs will require three or four LOR.

Personal Statements

The least structured component of the ERAS application is the personal statement. This is an opportunity for you to inject your personal experiences and thoughts into what is otherwise a very structured application. Most students choose to focus on an experience or series or experiences that ignited or solidified their interest in psychiatry. While there may be many reasons why you are passionate about psychiatry, statements usually are more cohesive and read better if you pick one theme or experience and focus on developing it, rather than jump from one topic to another.

Nuts and Bolts of The Interview Day

In this section, you will be guided through scheduling, travel tips, and interview preparation. This includes suggested areas to discuss with your interviewer, as well as sample questions for residents.

Post-Interview Communication

Consider writing thank you notes to any program which you plan to rank. You may consider sending thank you notes to the individual people you interviewed with, the Program Director and the program coordinators and assistants who helped to schedule your interview. However, make sure to know the guidelines for interview and post-interview communication prior to reaching out.

What Happens If You Do Not Match?

On the third Monday of March, you will learn whether you matched. Students who do not match have the opportunity to participate in the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP) to apply to any unfilled programs.

Special Topics

Within this section, find highlights on faculty advisors, advice for at-risk students, considerations for Osteopathic medical students, and International Medical Graduates (IMGs).

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Effective Guide: Psychiatry Personal Statement Examples

Table of Contents

Achieving acceptance into a prestigious psychiatry residency program is no small feat. And a personal statement can make or break your chances of success. Gaining insight into the personal statement writing process for psychiatry can be a daunting challenge.

However, by gaining inspiration from psychiatry personal statement examples , applicants can craft a compelling narrative that reflects their individual experience and expertise. This guide provides valuable tips for writing your psychiatry personal statement and examples for inspiration.

What Is a Psychiatry Personal Statement?

A psychiatry personal statement is a vital component of an individual’s application for residency training in psychiatry. It serves as an introduction to the applicant’s academic and professional achievements , qualifications, experience, and goals.

The purpose of this document is to demonstrate that the individual has the right skills and qualities necessary to become a successful psychiatrist. It must be written with precision and clarity, using factual examples and colloquial language to effectively convey the message.

Tips for Writing a Psychiatry Personal Statement

We have compiled some essential tips to help you write an effective personal statement for psychiatry. Keep the following tips in mind when crafting your own:

Start With a Story

Begin with an anecdote that reflects the writer’s journey to becoming a psychiatrist. This is an excellent way to engage readers and set the stage for the rest of your statement.

Detail Your Experiences

Use detailed descriptions and imagery when discussing experiences related to psychiatry. Don’t just list them off, but add how they made you feel or what lesson you learned from them.

Focus on Areas of Interest Within Psychiatry

Identify topics you find interesting and want to learn more about, then expand upon these in your personal statement

Mention Relevant Research Work or Projects

Discuss any research projects or activities related to psychiatry that you have participated in. Highlight their purpose and outcomes while discussing the skills you acquired through them.

Highlight Your Qualities

Highlight both tangible and intangible qualities that make you suited for a career as a psychiatrist. Include qualities such as empathy, compassion, resilience, objectivity, etc.

Provide Relevant Examples

Incorporate examples throughout your writing that illustrate your expertise. Bring up specific cases where you succeeded in diagnosing or treating patients or any awards/recognition from organizations related to psychiatry.

Reiterate Your Interest in Psychiatry

End with a powerful conclusion summarizing why you are interested in psychiatry and why you would be an ideal candidate. Use clear language that paints a vivid picture of who you are as a person and what makes you different from other applicants.

Psychiatry Personal Statement Examples

Below are two psychiatry personal statement examples for inspiration:

I have long been fascinated with the complexities of the human psyche, and my commitment to exploring this domain has deepened over the years. My interest in psychiatry began when I was a child, as I noticed how diverse mental states could affect people’s lives profoundly. To further deepen my understanding of this field, I obtained my undergraduate degree in psychology. And I followed it up with a Master’s in Counseling Psychology.

As part of my postgraduate program, I gained hands-on experience working with patients suffering from various psychiatric illnesses and conditions. This gave me invaluable insight into the challenges faced by psychiatrists every day. My work also revealed the healing power that compassionate care and counseling could have on individuals struggling with mental health. In these moments, I knew that I wanted to be involved in providing comfort and support to those who need it most.

My internship at a community clinic solidified my decision to pursue a career in psychiatry. Here I had the chance to engage closely with clients from different backgrounds and learn about their unique coping strategies. I developed greater empathy for others with each case and gained more expertise in clinical diagnosis and treatment planning. Furthermore, I collaborated closely with other professionals and managed complex administrative tasks efficiently.

I am confident that studying Psychiatry at [INSERT UNIVERSITY] will enable me to hone my knowledge and sharpen my skills. This is why I am eager to join your prestigious program. Upon completing my studies, I aspire to become an esteemed psychiatrist capable of providing excellent care. I also wish to advocate for better policies that promote mental well-being.

I have had an abiding interest in psychiatry, driven by a natural curiosity and aptitude for understanding human behavior. I have also been keenly aware of the complexities involved in studying such a multifaceted subject and its therapeutic potential. Having studied psychology at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, my appreciation for the intricacies of mental health has only grown.

I believe my educational background has positioned me to become an effective psychiatrist. Learning about clinical practice combined with laboratory research has helped hone my skills and develop a more holistic view of the discipline. My experience working with mental health professionals has further inspired me to pursue this specialty. This is why I am eager to join the prestigious program offered by [University]. It will allow me to deepen my knowledge of psychological theory and practice while expanding my clinical abilities.

Upon completing the program, I hope to work in private practice providing comprehensive therapy services. With empathy and evidence-based approaches, I want to help individuals suffering from various disorders find their way back to meaningful lives. Eventually, I plan to contribute to advancing psychiatric research and continue to improve public access to quality mental healthcare.

In conclusion, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when writing a psychiatry personal statement . You must understand the unique nuances of each program and demonstrate your qualifications through a combination of storytelling and concrete examples. Use the tips and examples in this post to write a personal statement that will stand out from the rest.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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January 20th, 2023

Psychiatry Residency Personal Statement – An In-depth Guide 2023

Are you exhausted after drafting multiple copies for your Psychiatry Personal Statement and still not satisfied?

Confused about the structure and information to be included?

Writing a good Personal Statement for Psychiatry requires a lot of patience and passion.

If you are still not ready with a good personal statement , then you are at the right page. 

Here you will get answers to all your daunting questions.

In this article, we will discuss

What is Psychiatry?

Psychiatry is a branch of medicine which is devoted to the diagnosis, treatment,

and prevention of mental, behavioral and emotional disorders. These include

various dysfunction related to behavior, mood, perception, and cognition.

What is a Psychiatry Personal Statement? Why is it Important?

A psychiatry Personal Statement is a document that specifies your interest and

qualifications to be considered for the Psychiatry Medicine Residency Program.

 It is of one page length, preferably between 500 to 800 words and 4000 characters.

It will help the candidate:

• Create  an impression to the panel
• Secure admission at the chosen residency
• Exhibit your communication skill
• Express your passion for Psychiatry
• Convey how you are a perfect candidate to the program

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

Length of Your Psychiatry Personal Statement

Word count –, character limit –, no. of pages –, margin –, font size –, font style –, criteria for evaluation of your personal statement by admission officials.

You must be well aware of the guidelines prescribed by your chosen University while writing a Psychiatry Personal Statement.

Refer to their website and make a note of everything regarding the Psychiatry Personal Statement.

Your Psychiatry Personal Statement must include :

• Your deep passion for the chosen stream
• Your academic capabilities connecting you to the stream of Psychiatry
• Your contribution to the residency and the community
• Your short and long-term goals
• Reason for the choice of this particular residency

Read more here

Guidelines to Follow Before Starting to Write

Writing a good Psychiatry Personal Statement is always important to secure your admission at the university .

Follow the below tips to write your outstanding Psychiatry Personal Statement.

• Be honest and genuine in your writing
• Plan a structure for your document
• Use storytelling, anecdote or quotes
• It must be plagiarism free
• Do not exceed the word limit

Steps to be followed to Write Your Outstanding Psychiatry Personal Statement

There are some steps that have to be followed in the order to maximize the success of your Psychiatry Personal Statement.

It is always better to start early to avoid last minute rush.

This can provide you with the time to rectify mistakes.

Brainstorm all your points and contemplate on what to include and avoid.

Always plan a structure and stick to it.

Since your Personal Statement is for Psychiatry medicine, highlight your interest in the same in the form of any experience or story.

Highlight your medical experience and showcase your strong areas during your medical studies . Include any details regarding your proficiency in medicine.

Your document must be well organized with an introductory, body and concluding paragraphs.

Seek feedback from experts .

Proofread for any spelling or grammatical mistakes.

Check for plagiarism.

Have a final check on the document. Look for word count, font size and style.

Submit in the requested format.

Example 1 – Psychiatry Personal Statement

Psychiatry Medicine Personal Statement

During my high school days, I developed a special interest in learning about the mental disorder named Bipolar Syndrome, because one of my friends was suffering with this disorder. At first I was alarmed to know about the disease. She was very cute, but had this disease since her childhood. She often had suicidal thoughts and had several failed attempts before. My curiosity in her disease motivated me to know more about Bipolar Syndrome and other similar mental illnesses. Diving deep into the arena of psychiatry and psychology, enhanced my curiosity and inspired me to learn more about mental disorders like Schizophrenia, Hallucination, Depression etc.

My interest in medicine motivated me to join for medical studies. Here I got to know more about my past interest in psychiatry. On learning about different levels of our mind, my interest deepened. I was even fascinated with the studies of Sigmund Freud, Jacques Lacan, etc. My medical interactions during my ward visits at the psychiatric ward helped me to know more about this field. One day I met a lady who was in her middle 30s and unmarried and was taken to hospital by her parents as she expressed some behavioral changes. She had a past history of love failure and break up as her boyfriend left her due to pressure from his family. Though she tried to win him back, he left her and this left her traumatized. She lost interest in everything and had even suicidal attempts. I was left amazed how our Senior Doctors consulted her and treated her. This got added to my motivation to take up Psychiatric Medicine for my masters. As medical studies as a branch deals with the physical heal of the human being, I am happy that the Psychiatry is the only branch which deals with human mind exclusively.

To equip myself with the sophisticated knowledge on psychiatric medicine, I even did an internship at the famous mental health care centre in our town named xyz. Here I met several mentally distressed people, who were suffering from a number of mental disorders like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, Eating Disorders like Anorexia and Bulimia, suicidal thoughts, etc. I was shocked to know that our mind is a difficult thing to handle and once lost control; it is difficult to gain back the control. My internship work experience got me acquainted with several therapeutic measures and consulting methods to treat and heal the mental stress and disorders of the people. Connecting with the family background of the patients helped me to discharge my duties well and prescribe effective medications.

My interest in Psychiatric Medicine is due to my urge to provide support and help to those affected by mental disorders. I wish to work with likeminded persons who are providing help to patients to battle with their mental illness. I hope my curiosity, professionalism and deep interest in the field will help me mould myself into a good psychiatrist. I am sure that the Psychiatric medical training from your residency will help me to get trained by some of the best psychiatrists in the county. With the practical exposure gained from your famous hospital during medical rounce, I can better equip myself with the real world training sufficient to strive in my professional career. I believe that my curiosity and deep interest in the field would allow me to help my patients to overcome their mental and psychological difficulties. I am very curious and compassionate to initiate my studies in Psychiatry and become a Psychiatrist to whom patient can rely upon and share their sorrows. I believe that there are many mental illnesses that can be treated if we give them an outlet to express their grief. I am sure with my compassionate behavior and empathetic attitude; I can well treat my patients and become a sort of relieving hands to them.

Read more here on personal statements:

Example 2 – Psychiatry Personal Statement

I plan to choose Psychiatry Medicine due to the healing I got from the same. I can well understand the importance of a Psychiatrist in our life when one loses control of their mind and life. As a teenager I was deeply attached to my mother. As the youngest child of my parents, I was well loved and cared for by my parents, especially by my mother. I have been emotionally attached to her since my childhood. But I lost her as a teenager due to a car accident which shooked my entire life. It left me traumatized as my mind was not ready to accept her loss. I deeply missed her presence and love. I longed for her care. Though my father and elder brother tried to console me, I was greatly affected by her sudden loss. I became depressed and lost interest in everything. I even lost interest in studies and failed in my exams. I used to have panic attacks and sleep disorders. My teachers tried to spoke to me and finally contacted my father. This is the point where my father recommended consulting a Psychiatrist. At first I was not impressed with the medications. But later my Psychiatrist became my best friend on whom I could rely on and share all my sorrows. After a few months under her care, I came back to my normal life. Through her I got a mentor to whom I could open up, share my sorrows and seek advice. I was greatly moved by her work and professional tactics. Later when I thought upon my future career plans, I got reminded of her. Thus I decided to be a Psychiatrist like her who can console disturbed minds and provide relief.

After my studies, when I took medicine as my majors, I was sure about my decision to take Psychiatry as a specialization for masters. Even during my medical studies, I enjoyed my lessons on Psychiatry. I was greatly interested to know about different level of our mind and how mind controls the life and is the core of our being. On learning in detail about Bipolar Syndrome, Capgras Syndrome, Schizophrenia, Depression, Post – Traumatic Stress Disorder etc, I became adamant in my decision to join Psychiatry Medicine for my masters. I enjoyed my medical rounds at the Psychiatric ward, where I got exposure by meeting many patients and treating them with the help of my seniors. Once I met a small child, who is undergoing through same phase of life through which I went, when I lost my mother. She was just 8 when she lost her mother due to suicide. Her parents had some family problems and were at the verge of divorce. She was totally mentally disturbed and had lost interest in all things. She was diagnosed with Anhedonia and was having medications. However as a person with same past, I interacted with her and made her to share her sorrows. She was deeply affected with the loss of her mother at very low age. Also she had some fury and anger against her father, as she considers him as the reason for her mother’s death. With daily counseling and medications, I tried to lessen her sorrow. Within few weeks of therapy, she came back to normal life and exhibited the naughtiness and cheers of her age. I was relieved and extremely happy as I was able to heal her mind and made her to come out of depression. This incident is very much treasured by me as this incident gave me the confidence and boosted up my decision to become a successful Psychiatrist in the future.

Seeking advice from my seniors and fellow mates, I applied to your residency. I am sure my masters in Psychiatry Medicine from your residency will help me to gain both theoretical and practical insights. With my curiosity and great interest in the subject, I believe I can become a passionate Psychiatrist who treats and cares the patients during their distressed time. I am sure my past experience in depression would help me to treat my patients better and provide them with effective medication. I know my journey is unconventional, but I believe I possess the right talents to nurture myself as a Psychiatrist. With the help of your training, I can better mould myself as a Psychiatrist who helps the people to cop up with their stress. I am very much enthusiastic to dive deeply to the field of Psychiatry and become a great Psychiatrist in the future.

Tips From Industry Experts to Draft an Error-free Psychiatry Personal Statement

Here are some of the tips recommended by experts in the Psychiatry Personal Statement writing industry.

Have a look at it and draft an extraordinary copy for yourself.

Tip 1: Don’t rehash your CV and extracurriculars

Tip 2: don’t use clichés, try something innovative, tip 3: be genuine in your content, tip 4: be formal in your writing, tip 5: don’t make excuses for low grades or scores in mcat, best psychiatry programs.

• Harvard University
• King’s College London
• Stanford University
• Columbia University
• Yale University
• University of Oxford
• University College London
• University of Toronto
• University of Amsterdam
• University of California–Los Angeles

Documents Required for our Psychiatry Personal Statement

You have to submit a number of documents before the panel for the evaluation of your application.

Here are the documents to be submitted.

Documents must be authentic and original.

• Application Form
• Personal Statement
• Curriculum Vitae
• Clear copy of your Passport
• Copy of Medical License or Ph.D. in Public Health/ Psychology and internship
• Letter of Reference
• Medical or Graduate School Transcript

Concluding Remarks

We hope you found the blog useful to write a compelling Psychiatry Personal Statement.

Always be careful to draft an error-free Psychiatry Personal Statement.

Keep it short and concise and up to the point.

Feel free to contact us if you have any queries.

You can mention your queries and comments in the comment section given 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.

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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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Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry

New module posted: Psychiatry Residency Personal Statement

Many thanks to our ADMSEP authors* for a new e-resources module: Psychiatry Residency Personal Statement

*Authors: Tianqi Luo, DO, Farah Kudrath, MD, MPH, Ellen Gluzman, MD, Dana Raml, MD, and Michael Miller, MD

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Navigating Residency Applications: Tips for Success with Dr. Moss Life as a Patient-Doctor

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Join Dr. Stephanie Moss, MD, incoming Psychiatry Resident as she shares invaluable advice on medical residency applications and the 2024 ERAS system. Dr. Moss discusses the importance of crafting a compelling personal statement, the significance of storytelling, and incorporating strengths and values. She dives into topics like dual applying for specialties, the significance of networking at conferences, and how correspond with programs. Don’t miss out on this comprehensive guide to creating a strong medical school and residency application. Video based on Residency Workbook: https://medpsycmoss.com/store/p_3291868/residency-application-workbook Guide on Dual Applying: https://medpsycmoss.com/blog/dual-applying-into-residency-a-strategic-guide-for-medical-students Let’s Connect: @medpsycmoss Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medpsycmoss/ Twitter/X: ⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/medpsymoss⁠⁠⁠  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@medpsycmoss?_t=8kS9kVfKjUc&_r=1 Visit website at https://medpsycmoss.com transcripts, blog posts, and resources  Listen to Podcast “Life as a Patient-Doctor: Youtube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUfheMZYKjA8xJN3_tzjvvCWGn8HKh_Rt&si=erIIirgQyAsEkBR4  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/685WDhQHXulbCmh2siIOp3 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/life-as-a-patient-doctor/id1719637283 Email: [email protected] ***This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All opinions voiced are the opinions of the speakers and not reflective of any institution. Please follow up with your health provider and therapist for any additional questions or support.***  Chapters: 00:00 Personal Statement Sneak Peak 00:59 Introduction 02:13 Purpose of the Video 03:22 Overview of the Application Process 06:07 Preparing Your CV and Publications 08:44 Networking and Conferences 11:32 Letters of Recommendation 16:34 Drafting Your Application 19:31 ERAS Timeline and Submission Tips 22:02 Letters of Interest 23:22 Networking and Securing Interviews 24:25 Interview Strategies and Timeline 25:06 Post-Interview Etiquette 26:09 Ranking Programs and Letters of Intent 27:04 Match Day and Alternative Paths 28:03 Pre-Interview Preparation 29:04 Interview Emails 31:03 Before Rank Lists are Due 32:26 Choosing Activities & Experiences 36:44 Most Meaningful Activities 39:16 Personal Statement Tips 40:21 Questions to Ask Yourself 41:39 Highlighting Strengths and Values 45:06 Meaningful Patient Encounters 48:48 Personal Statement Outline 52:39 Selecting a Specialty or Specialties 53:35 Final Notes --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/patient-doctor/message

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Best Psychiatry Residency Personal Statement Sample

The Psychiatry Example Preventative Medicine Personal Statement Library is now open!

These sample Psychiatry and Psych residency personal statement examples are here for your viewing pleasure (fully anonymous). We’re hoping to add more in the future, including Pre-Med personal statements. If you’ve got one to add to the free library, don’t forget to  contribute yours .

PSYCHIATRY PERSONAL STATEMENT   I have chosen to pursue Psychiatry for both humanitarian and scientific reasons. After my residency, my goal is to become a competent psychiatrist familiar with both Western and Eastern culture who will be able to better care for my patients, especially those from other cultures. I also want to be a physician-scientist to develop imaging technology for early diagnosis of mental disorders.

After graduation from medical school, I was trained in radiation medicine, where I learned to treat patients with problems caused by radiation exposure. I worked as an internist for eight years. During my practice, I treated many patients with mental illness who refused to see psychiatrists due to their cultural beliefs. To treat them, I expanded my psychiatric knowledge, and used it to gain firsthand experience in managing patients. Since then, I have developed an interest in Psychiatry while my clinical practice has solidified what I learned in medical school and helped me gain a deeper understanding about being a physician. I now understand very much that we need to be concerned about patients’ mental as well as physical health.  

I moved to the United States to learn more about advanced medical technology and took a position as a nuclear medicine technologist and prepared for my residency training. From this position I learned many valuable lessons. First, patient care is always important. When very sick patients have a difficult time in finishing a scan, I try my best to comfort them and give them the best opportunity for a successful study. I’ve become well liked by my colleagues for my ability to help patients as well as be a part of a team,. Given the time and ability, I am always willing to do things beyond my job description. On one occasion I finished a computer project for our PET and CT scanner on my own time in order to solve a problem which no one had assigned to me. This is only one example of things I did for my team that brought me personal satisfaction. Also, I learned to think fast while working with critically ill trauma patients, anticipating what physicians needed in advance to facilitate prompt patient care. 

In addition to my technologist experiences, I worked at an internist office as a volunteer medical assistant as well as an observer in the Anesthesia Department of General Hospital. General medicine deals with common diseases and requires routine patient care, but I prefer a field with more challenges and less routine. Psychiatry falls into this category.  Each psychiatric illness presents so differently, with the symptoms being dramatic, vivid and colorful. The causes of these illnesses are largely unknown with many mysteries yet unsolved. These complexities triggered my urge to solve these problems. While working with patients face-to-face, I have a strong passion to get them back to functioning in our world. It is a difficult but artful work that requires talented physicians trained to deal with brain dysfunction. 

After more than 10 years of hard work, I have reached a level of excellence as a nuclear medicine technologist. Although I still like nuclear medicine, my job is becoming repetitive. I crave the diagnostic puzzles and clinical problems which physicians face each day.  That is the main reason why I am seeking a new career in psychiatry.  In addition, I believe the Asian community needs more psychiatrists. Because of their culture, many immigrants must struggle to adapt to this country. As an immigrant myself, I know they often are pushed to the very edge by their stressful lives. I believe I can bring a special understanding to the important role culture plays in the disease process.

For example, a colleague of mine sought medical help for insomnia, but could not describe his symptoms accurately because of the language barrier. The doctor he saw suspected he was mentally ill and referred him to a psychiatrist. For a Chinese man, a psychiatric referral is culturally insulting, so it made him very angry. Eventually he did see a psychiatrist, but because of his hostility, he was mistakenly diagnosed as schizophrenic. However, after a Chinese psychiatrist became involved in the case, language and cultural barriers were overcome and he was treated for depression with dramatic improvement.  Along the same lines, I also recognize the importance of psychiatrists educating the public on the nature of mental diseases. Culturally, the Chinese consider mental illness a shameful problem for patients and families. In China, mental illness is not treated early, but rather kept in secret. As a psychiatrist working in my community, I hope to combat such perceptions. 

In addition to clinical psychiatry, I would like to make a significant contribution to the research field. I have considerable training and experience in the field of radiation medicine which will allow me to bridge psychiatry with emergent molecular imaging technology. Currently the rapidly evolving technologies of radiological science offer promising opportunities to explore the nature of brain-behavior relationships. I believe my unique background and dedication to the field will allow me to become a successful and effective psychiatrist.

Although I have not been working as a physician for some time, I am a hard worker and team player. Even though I am not a new graduate, I have never left the medical field. I have had significant US hospital work experience and gained valuable knowledge about the US healthcare system by working with patients and physicians on a daily basis. I also have the ability to communicate with patients and physicians from different ethnic backgrounds and age groups. Finally, I am mature and reliable. I believe that my previous clinical training in radiation medicine and my cultural background will make me an asset to my psychiatry residency program.

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Psychiatry Residency Personal Statement Writing Service

Looking to write an impressive personal statement for residency in psychiatry? Have no idea how to write a personal statement for a psychiatry residency program? Want a sample personal statement for residency in psychiatry to go further? Are you concerned that the quality of the statement will affect your admission?

Well, these are the challenges and concerns that most students have when they sit to write a personal statement for residency in psychiatry or any other subject. Hence, let us offer our help to you. With a decade’s experience in our bag, we can help you.

For almost a decade, we have helped our students secure admission for residency programs from universities around the world. We know how to write and format a statement so that it helps the student in his/her quest to get admission for the program. Our commitment to quality and help our students make us the best choice you have.

Psychiatry Personal Statement Example

our brain and the mind that fuels interesting conversations. Well, I never thought of pursuing psychiatry as my area of specialization until my late teens, when eventually I myself had to visit a psychiatrist. Besides, my orientation in a family of doctors further shaped my professional interests. My mother is a psychologist and my father serves as a neuropathologist at one of the most esteemed healthcare organizations, the Institute of Neurosciences in Kolkata. Growing up in this progressive learning environment, I became resolute to become an accomplished psychiatrist.

My professional goals largely motivated me to be choosy with my academics. I was a premedical student, but decided to specialize in psychology during my graduation. Rather than going for a natural science subject, I decided to go for psychology. I also spend my leisure hours reading international publications that help me understand different states of mind, the reasons leading to the same, and viable treatment and counselling processes that can bail the victims out of these agonies. 

I was constantly bombarded with questions related to human behaviour and the impact of mind on the same. Besides, I was keen to understand why similar conditions elicited different reactions from two brains. This brought the vast subject of behavioural science before me. I was curious to understand why our outer experiences are transformed by our internal states.

I graduated from the University of Calcutta, pursuing my degree in psychology. This course helped me get a better grasp of the complexity of our minds. For me, it was a gratifying experience to master relevant skills while working with eminent psychiatrists and industry experts. Each week, I delved into detailed discussions on different types of mental ailments. Besides, I was curious to explore the biological and anatomical roots of psychiatric disorders. My academic endeavours, backed by my out-of-the-classroom lectures, helped me gain detailed insights on the area of my interest. Besides, I learnt significant from my father in his lab, and I recall spending long hours with him discussing my academic exploits. Often, I have ventured into his lab just to observe him carrying out medical processes. Particularly, I remember him once dissecting a neurological tissue. As he finished this delicate task, he told me that little did we know about how much the mind and brain interact, and the corresponding outcomes. He also told me that in India, resources and research were limited that would pave the way to breakthrough treatment processes to address these issues.

Well, it was at a time when I was about to complete my graduation in psychology. I was already a part of a research facility, working on a clinical trial to find a medication for a new type of anxiety. I was fascinated by the potential that awaits me in this field, and that’s the reason I would share my experience on one of the patients of the trial. We had a young lady in our trial. She never realized that she had been experiencing chronic anxiety. What she complained of were stomach pain, headache, and insomnia. Moreover, she remained stressed all the time. This made me realize that people often experience mental agonies unknowingly, and the pain integrates itself in the stratum of their lives.

After completing my graduation, I braced up to complete my medical school program and establish myself as a psychiatrist. All these years, I had longed to embrace a career that appealed to my intellect. Besides, I worked with patients who were enduring their mental agonies in silence. The gratification I used to find while interacting with them and helping them with viable remedies kept me going. I look visualize myself walking in the shoes of one of the most revered psychiatrists in India. This will empower me to make a difference in the lives of people who need advanced treatment processes and therapies.

At the medical school, I was on my internal medicine rotation. It was during this time that I came across a patient experiencing vomiting and intractable nausea. She was young, just 17 years of age, and had a quite normal medical history. She was admitted to Fortis Hospital, where I was working, for observation. Well, we didn’t find quite a striking cause of her ailment, but she had thrown up thrice in three hours at the hospital. I decided to interact with her closely, and realized that she won’t talk since she was timid. I held my patience, and my efforts paid off. I felt gratified when she finally opened up to me. It was quite a challenge to elicit information from her. However, once I did, I was able to evaluate things from her perspective. From my experience, I knew that she was undergoing an emotional turmoil. Therefore, her ailment was mental, rather than physical. I took the matter to my mentor. Well, it was a few days later that I visited her on the psychiatric floor. Our efforts had paid off, for she hadn’t shown signs of any physical discomfort that she manifested the previous day.

 Looking forward, I would like to complete my residency program in psychiatry so that I can continue with my mission to learn more about our brain and the mind. This way, I wish to research and find effective ways to mitigate others’ mental agonies and sufferings. My empathetic nature and interpersonal skills make me suitable for this work profile. Channelling my passion and blending myself into the professional sphere in India, I look forward to evolving as an accomplished psychiatrist. Therefore, I wish to pursue my training, and mould myself into the professional I have always dreamt of becoming.

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How to Write a Personal Statement for Psychiatry Residency?

When it comes to writing a personal statement for residency in psychiatry , one has to understand that this is never an easy task. One must work hard to bring in the right insights and relevant ideas to make the statement impressive. As there will be numerous statements from various parts of the world, yours needs to be perfectly aligned to impress the university and win admission. However, this is not impossible either. With the right homework and efforts, any student can create a compelling personal statement writing service for residency in psychiatry . However, if you wish to do so, follow these tips that we use:

The tips will help you in your writing process:

• Start with an idea about what type of a statement you want
• Create a strategy for writing the statement from the beginning
• Carry out adequate research to find details and make notes
• Use a formal yet a friendly voice all through the statement
• Talk about your career aspirations in psychiatry
• Explain how the residency will help you in your career goals

Although these tips are not written in stone, they can help you plenty if you want to write wining a psychiatry personal statement for residency . It will also help you save your time from searching for sample personal statements in psychiatry residency.

Why Us for Personal Statement in Psychiatry Residency?

One of the major reasons that make us a preferred name in the field to write a psychiatry residency personal statement is our experience. It has made us one of the very few in the field with such a long tenure in the industry. The insights that come with such exposure are extremely value-adding for our students.

In addition, we work extremely close with the students to understand them and their aspirations. Once we get adequate details about the students, we creatively weave them into the statement to make the student even more suitable for the program.

In our efforts to do so, we have been immensely helped by a plethora of service traits that have been picked up by us over the long course of 10 years.

A Team of Trained Professionals

We are very adamant about the services that we offer to our clients and we want the clients to get the best help. In order to do that, we have developed a team of skilled professionals who know what they are doing. They are also constantly trained to ensure that they stay updated to meet all challenges for our clients.

Top-Notch Quality Systems

The quality of the statements that we write for residency in psychiatry is also important for us. Most of the statements compete with similar ones from students around the world. Hence, to ensure the quality of the personal statements we write for psychiatry residency, we have a plethora of top quality systems in place.

Tailor-Made Offerings for All

Every student comes up to us with a different expectation and goal. As we want to serve them as they need us to, we offer them the service that they want. That is one of the major reasons we have such a long line of satisfied and delighted students who always recommend our services to everyone.

Diverse Formats and Samples

During the last decade, we have written hundreds of personal statements for residency in psychiatry and other subjects. Hence, we have a collection of genuine and original personal statements with us. Our students can request for these personal statements in PDF and Doc formats for residency to evaluate our service.

Economic Statement Services

Another area where we have made a name for ourselves in the field is the service charge for personal statements for residency in psychiatry. In order to ensure the best value for our students, we have a customized approach for each student and it has been working well for a long time now.

Timely Customer Care

As a comprehensive service provider, we want to not just offer the best personal statement for residency in psychiatry, but also best overall service for our students. Hence, we have a strong customer care team that can be contacted any time by our clients to get all the help they need in relation to the project.

When we undertake a project to write a personal statement for psychiatry residency, each of these elements work supporting each other. That’s the reason we have been able to create excellent statements for everyone.

Hire Our Personal Statement Writing Help Psychiatry Residency

Psychiatry is an important field of medical science and the relevance of the same has been on the rise in today’s fast world. Hence, the number of people looking to build a career in the same has also been on the rise. As such, if you are such a person, we can help you in every way possible to write a suitable personal statement . 

Regardless of your academic background and where you want to study, our writers will be able to deliver top personal statements for psychiatry residency for you.

You can get exceptional personal statements with us that are:

• Thought and conceived from the scratch
• Developed according to the clients’ inputs
• Written as per the university statement needs
• Creative and comprehensive for the admission
• Evaluated by premium quality assurance systems

Hence, with our team to help you, you will surely be able to submit a superior p ersonal statement for psychiatry residency along with your admission. Being a client-centric service provider, we will work with you to create the most unique personal statement for you to bolster your chances of admission for residency.  

In order to get more details about the services that we offer, you can contact us any time and we would love to provide all the help you need.

Talk to SOPConsultants right away and contact us here!

Vasuki Ram, senior writer and the founder of SOP Consultants is a B-tech Graduate who used to work in an MNC. Starting from 2013, she along with her team has assisted more than 10,000 students. Shift in her career was drastic. Read full story here.

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Exam Bulletin - Senior Psychiatrist (Specialist), CRS (Safety)

Multiple Testing Departments. Please see list of Departments.

Exam Code: EX-2337

Examination Plans Included:

• SENIOR PSYCHIATRIST (SPECIALIST), CORRECTIONAL AND REHAB SERVICES (SAFETY) - Open

Final Filing Date: Applications are accepted on a continuous basis.

Classification Details

View the SENIOR PSYCHIATRIST (SPECIALIST), CORRECTIONAL AND REHAB SERVICES (SAFETY) classification specification.

Application Instructions

Upcoming Filing Cutoff Dates:

Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) must be received or postmarked by the filing date indicated above. Applications postmarked, personally delivered or received via interoffice mail after the filing date will be processed in the next group.

Who Should Apply:

The information below will help you determine which classification(s) is(are) appropriate for you. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications as stated on this bulletin to compete in this examination.

Open and Open, Non-Promotional Examination(s):

For all Classifications, once you have participated in any of the following examinations, you may not recompete for 6 months :

Exam Code(s):

How To Apply:

Submit an Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) to apply for this examination.

Electronic applications can be submitted through your account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov.

You may apply by mail to:

• California Correctional Health Care Services Examination Services Section PO Box 588500, Personnel D-1 Elk Grove, CA 95758

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678).

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

• California Correctional Health Care Services Examination Services Section 8280 Longleaf Drive Building D - Lobby Drop Box Elk Grove, CA 95758 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Indicate the Examination Code and Classification(s) on your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678). All applicants must provide proof of identification. Accepted forms of identification are: 1) a photo identification card or 2) two forms of signed identification.

Applications MUST include “to” and “from” dates (month/day/year), time base, civil service class title(s), and range (if applicable) for all work experience. College course information MUST include title, number of semester or quarter units, name of institution, completion dates, and degree (if applicable). Applications received without this information may have delays in processing and/or may be rejected.   Applicants are also required to submit the  Psychiatry Residency-Clinical Training Document  in addition to their Examination Application (STD 678).

The following items must be submitted with your Examination/Employment Application form. Failure to submit these items may result in rejection of your application.

• Other - Psychiatry Residency-Clinical Training Document

Special Testing Arrangements:

If you require assistance or alternative testing arrangements due to a disability, indicate on your application that you need reasonable accommodation. You will be contacted by a representative of the testing department to make the necessary arrangements. If you have not been contacted by the time you receive notification of testing, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

If you are unable to submit your application or complete the test due to a disability, please contact the testing department listed in the Contact section of this bulletin.

Minimum Qualifications

All applicants must meet the education and/or experience requirements as stated on this exam bulletin to be accepted to the examination.

Unless otherwise stated in the Minimum Qualifications, qualifying experience may be combined on a proportionate basis if the requirements stated below include more than one pattern and are distinguished as "Either" 1, "or" 2, "or" 3, etc. For example, applicants possessing qualifying experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 1 and additional experience amounting to 50% of the required time of Pattern 2 may be accepted to an examination as meeting 100% of the overall experience requirement.

Possession of the legal requirements for the practice of medicine in California as determined by the Medical Board of California or the California Board of Osteopathic Examiners.  (Applicants who are in the process of securing approval of their qualifications by the Medical Board of California or the Board of Osteopathic Examiners will be admitted to the examination, but the Board to which application is made must determine that all legal requirements have been met before candidates will be eligible for appointment.)  And

Possession of a valid certificate in psychiatry issued by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry.  And

Two years of post-residency experience as a psychiatrist in a correctional facility or in a psychiatric inpatient or outpatient setting.

Satisfactorily completed specialized training requirements in psychiatry in programs that are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), or Bureau of Osteopathic Education of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), or certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.

Two patterns of training are acceptable:

Completion of a four-year residency training program in psychiatry accredited by the ACGME or Bureau of Osteopathic Education of the AOA.  (Exception: Any applicant who completed a residency program in psychiatry that was accredited by the ACGME, or Bureau of Osteopathic Education of the AOA, or certified by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada at the time the applicant completed the residency will qualify under this pattern of training upon Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation verification that all residency requirements were successfully completed, and if all other requirements are met.)  And

Completion of a broad-based clinical year of ACGME or Bureau of Osteopathic Education of the AOA-accredited training program in internal medicine, family medicine, or pediatrics; or an ACGME or Bureau of Osteopathic Education of the AOA-accredited transitional year program that included a minimum of four months of primary care; or an ACGME or Bureau of Osteopathic Education of the AOA-accredited residency in a clinical specialty requiring comprehensive and continuous patient care.  And

Three years of postgraduate, specialized residency training in an ACGME or Bureau of Osteopathic Education of the AOA-accredited psychiatry program.  And

(Candidates who are within six months of meeting these requirements may take the examinations, but they cannot be appointed until these requirements are met.)

Special Physical Characteristics:  Persons appointed to these classifications must be reasonably expected to have and maintain sufficient strength, agility, and endurance to perform during stressful (physical, mental, and emotional) situations encountered on the job without compromising their health and well-being of that of their fellow employees or that of incarcerated patients.

Assignments may include sole responsibility for the supervision of incarcerated patients and/or the protection of personal and real property.

State Civil Service Out of Class Experience:   A completion of an “out-of-class (OOC) assignment memorandum”, dated within one year of assignment completion, is required to use OOC experience to meet the minimum qualifications for examination purposes.  Employees may obtain this documentation from their Classification and Pay Analyst or institutional Personnel Liaison.  OOC experience without the required documentation cannot be considered for examination purposes.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion:  The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS) are committed to building an inclusive and culturally diverse workplace. We are determined to attract and hire more candidates from diverse communities and empower all employees from a variety of cultural backgrounds, perspectives, and personal experiences. We are proud to foster inclusion and drive collaborative efforts to increase representation at all levels of the Department. 

Position Description

00109759 - SENIOR PSYCHIATRIST (SPECIALIST), CORRECTIONAL AND REHAB SERVICES (SAFETY)

A Senior Psychiatrist (Specialist), Correctional and Rehabilitative Services (Safety), under general direction, in a State correctional facility or outpatient clinic in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), provides diagnostic and treatment services; provides advanced journey level psychiatric services to mentally ill patients; maintains order and supervises the conduct of incarcerated patients; protects and maintains the safety of persons and property; and does other related work.

Employees in this class may work in any of the State correctional facilities or outpatient clinics in either an institution or a parole setting. Employees may also be used in headquarters or field offices in a review and/or consultative capacity. This class is distinguished from classes at the higher levels by the responsibility for personally performing psychiatric evaluation and/or treatment as a regular assignment. The specialized training and teaching functions distinguish it from the lower-level class of Staff Psychiatrist.  

Positions exist statewide.

Examination Information

This examination consists of the following component(s):

A final score of 70% must be attained to be placed on the eligible list.

In addition to evaluating the applicant's relative knowledge, skill and ability as demonstrated by quality and breadth of education/experience, emphasis in each test component will be on measuring competitively, relative to job demands, each applicant's:

Knowledge of:

1.  Principles and methods of psychiatry;

2.  Current developments in the field of psychiatry, including developmental  disabilities;

3.  Principles of neurology;

4.  Principles and applications of psychiatric social work, clinical psychology, physical therapy, the various rehabilitative therapies, and other health care services;

5.  Psychiatric research methods and techniques;

6.  Principles, methods, and objectives of training treatment personnel.

Ability to:

• Coordinate and participate in psychiatric research;
• Analyze situations accurately and take effective action;
• Maintain effective working relationships with health care professionals and others;
• Communicate effectively.

Eligible List Information

A Departmental Open eligible list for the SENIOR PSYCHIATRIST (SPECIALIST), CORRECTIONAL AND REHAB SERVICES (SAFETY) Classification will be established for:

• California Correctional Health Care Services

The names of successful competitors will be merged onto the eligible list(s) in order of final score regardless of test date. Eligibility expires 12 months after it is established. Applicants must then retake the examination to reestablish eligibility.

Resulting Eligibility List(s) will be used to fill vacancies throughout the State of California.

Veterans' Preference will be granted for this examination. Veterans' Preference is an assistance program for veterans, veteran widows and widowers, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans who seek employment with the state. Veterans' Preference is also extended to currently serving military members nearing their retirement or separation date.

You are not eligible for Veteran's Preference if you are:

• A veteran who has been dishonorably discharged or released.
• A veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100 percent disabled veteran who currently has permanent civil service status. (Permanent civil service status is the status of an employee who is lawfully retained in his/her position after completion of the applicable probationary period. This does not include limited term).

Veterans' Preference is codified in Government Code Sections 18973 – 18979.

Veteran status is verified by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). Directions to apply for Veterans' Preference are on the Veterans' Preference Application (Std. Form 1093), which is available at www.CalCareers.ca.gov , and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Career Credits are not granted for examination(s) administered on an Open basis or a Promotional basis.

Testing Departments

• Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation

Contact Information

Questions regarding this examination should be directed to:

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice). TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Drug free statement, general information.

Examination and/or Employment Application (STD 678) forms are available at the California Department of Human Resources, local offices of the Employment Development Department, and through your CalCareer Account (www.CalCareers.ca.gov).

If you meet the requirements stated on this examination bulletin, you may take this examination, which is competitive. Possession of the entrance requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination described in this bulletin will be rated against a predetermined job-related rating, and all applicants who pass will be ranked according to their scores.

California Correctional Health Care Services reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service laws and rules and all applicants will be notified.

General Qualifications: Applicants must possess essential personal qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, the ability to work cooperatively with others, and a state of health consistent with the ability to perform the assigned duties of the class. A medical examination may be required. In open examinations, investigation may be made of employment records and personal history and fingerprinting may be required.

Eligible Lists: Eligible lists established by competitive examination, regardless of date, must be used in the following order: 1) sub-divisional promotional, 2) departmental promotional, 3) multi-departmental promotional, 4) service-wide promotional, 5) departmental open, 6) open. When there are two lists of the same kind, the older must be used first. Eligible lists will expire in one to four years unless otherwise stated on the bulletin.

High School Equivalence: Equivalence to completion of the 12th grade may be demonstrated in any one of the following ways: 1) passing the General Education Development (GED) Test; 2) completion of 12 semester units of college-level work; 3) certification from the State Department of Education, a local school board, or high school authorities that the competitor is considered to have education equivalent to graduation from high school; or 4) for clerical and accounting classes, substitution of business college work in place of high school on a year-for-year basis.

Accepted applicants must provide proof of identification at each in-person test session. Acceptable identification consists of a photo identification card or two forms of signed identification.

Alternate Application Process

While we recommend that you utilize your CalCareer Account to take advantage of all the tools available, you may choose to apply for this examination without using your account. In this case, print and complete the Exam Application Package Checklist and include it if you submit a hard copy application.

Exam Application Package Checklist

Blank Application Form (STD678)

Accommodation Request (STD679)

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I asked Chat GPT to "Write a psychiatry residency personal statement in the style of Holden Caulfield"

Dear admissions committee,

I'm not very good at this whole personal statement thing, so bear with me. I guess what I want to say is that I've always been interested in people and their minds. But it's not like I want to be some kind of big-shot doctor or anything. I just want to understand why people do the things they do.

I've spent a lot of time over the years trying to figure out my own mind, and it's been a pretty rough road. But I've learned a lot about myself in the process, and I think that makes me better equipped to understand other people too.

See, I'm not really interested in the textbooks and the academic side of psychiatry. I mean, sure, I'll do the reading and learn what I need to learn. But what really matters to me is connecting with the people I'm trying to help.

I've spent a lot of time in therapy myself, and I know how hard it can be to open up and trust someone with your thoughts and feelings. But I also know how much it can help when you find someone who really gets it.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't want to be some kind of distant, clinical psychiatrist. I want to be the kind of doctor who really listens and cares about their patients. The kind of doctor who can sit down with someone and really understand what they're going through, even if it's messy and complicated and doesn't fit neatly into a textbook.

I know I have a lot to learn, and I'm not always the easiest person to work with. But I'm passionate about this field, and I'm willing to put in the work to become the best psychiatrist I can be.

So if you're looking for someone who's going to be a cookie-cutter resident, I'm probably not your guy. But if you want someone who's going to put their heart and soul into this work, who's going to really try to make a difference in people's lives, then I hope you'll consider me.