Writing an amazing residency personal statement on your ResidencyCAS application is about telling your story in your own voice — something about you that can’t be gathered from other parts of the application.
The personal statement is a longer discussion of yourself, motivation, and experiences. The majority of residency programs consider personal statements an important factor when deciding who to interview. We’ve put together some tips below to help you in writing your personal statement for your residency application.
“Do’s” of writing personal statements:
🗸 DO tell a story about yourself or share a unique situation. You are showing the reader your narrative about why you are a great candidate for residency.
🗸 DO make it human. Approach the statement as an opportunity to process life experiences and articulate the arc of your journey.
🗸 DO be specific. Clearly outline your interest in the specialty, using concrete examples where able.
🗸 DO be candid and honest.
🗸 DO pay attention to grammar and writing style.
🗸 DO keep the statement to one page.
🗸 DO get an early start. We recommend beginning to write your personal statement during the summer between your third and fourth years of medical school to allow ample time for revisions and reviews. Be prepared to revise and edit frequently.
🗸 DO include personal challenges you have overcome so far in your medical education journey.
🗸 DO get feedback. Have multiple people read your statement, including faculty in your field.
What to avoid:
✖ DON’T tell the reader what an emergency physician does; he or she already knows this.
✖ DON’T belittle another person or specialty.
✖ DON’T overestimate your personal statement. The benefit gained from even an outstanding personal statement is still marginal compared with other aspects of your application which carry more weight.
✖ DON’T underestimate your personal statement. A poorly written or error-filled personal statement can drag down your candidacy.
✖ DON’T just focus on activities that the admissions committee can learn about from your application. Use this opportunity to give NEW information that is not available anywhere else.
Questions to Consider When Writing
A strong personal statement starts with reflection. Before you write, ask yourself:
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Why emergency medicine? What specifically draws you to the field and not another specialty or helping profession? What values or interests drive your choice?
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What experiences shaped you? Think about volunteer work, shadowing, global health, research, jobs, or classes. Which moments stand out? What did you learn about yourself, the profession, or how you’ve grown?
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What do you want programs to know? Consider how you want to present yourself — as a person, student, and future colleague. Why are you a good fit for emergency medicine, and why is emergency medicine a good fit for you?
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What sets you apart? What makes you unique compared to other applicants?
