Thread by @gbosslet

This weekend I posted a #thread about #PersonalStatements. It got a lot of attention- much of it good, some critical.

In the spirit of a #GrowthMindset I decided to lean in to the criticisms and try and improve it.

#Meded
#Medtwitter
#MedstudentTwitter

The content of the original #thread was true to my thoughts about the topic, but was written in a way that did not give proper context to the role of the PS in the process. It was also completely tone-deaf in that the voice I used was condescending and mean. And that is not me.

So I’m considering that thread what @ANNELAMOTT would call a #ShittyFirstDraft. The following draft incorporates feedback from the @Twitter #meded community into something I hope is a bit more useful (and a lot more friendly).

I’m a fellowship director who just finished reviewing over 400 applications.

The following is a #thread on writing a personal statement.
(Spoiler alert: I find most don’t add anything to the rest of the application when they could.)

#meded
#medtwitter
#medstudenttwitter
1/

The following are MY preferences and proclivities. Some will ring true, some may not. And Turi McNamee wrote very eloquently about this in @annalsIM in 2012 louisville.edu/medicine/depar…
2/

I am pulling back the curtain on my process of reviewing applications to show a look inside a reviewer’s head. It is only through reviewing a TON of these applications that these insights are gleaned, and my point here is to share with those who would most benefit.
3/

In holistic application review, an applicant is judged upon a myriad of factors- the PS is simply ONE FACTOR in this. And it is admittedly not a large one for most. So there is no need to super stress out about it.
4/

For PD’s, the ERAS application is one that is mostly gray- that is to say, there is little to set applicants apart from one another. Fellowship applicants are pretty much all amazingly accomplished- and this makes them hard to distinguish from one another.
5/

So for me, the PS is a place in which a bit of color can be seen- who is this person and how do they reflect upon how they have gotten to where they are? Is there anything that sets them apart humanistically from other candidates? Do they communicate well?
6/

I see there are 3 flavors of personal statements: those that hurt the applicant; those that are milquetoast and neither hurt nor help the application; and those that, on their own, tip an applicant to getting an interview. This pie graph shows the distribution.
7/

Your PS can hurt you. One that is poorly written, with misspellings and poor grammar and run-on sentences belies a lack of attention to detail that will raise eyebrows. One would be surprised how many commit these errors. So point 1: have it proofread by multiple people.
8/

The following are “yellow” recipes that PDs frequently see in PSs. I point them out because they are quite common and often add no color. (And unless someone tells applicants this, how else would they know?) Using one of these recipes will not help (but is unlikely to hurt).
9/

Recipe 1 bases the application on a quote (Osler, Hippocrates). This is fine, but know that MANY applicants do this, so it is not unique (which is OK if you are trying not to stand out, but usually unhelpful if you want to use the PS to provide color).
10/

Recipe 2 is a hero story. Very sick patient who somehow survives and returns to give a hug several days later on their way to the fair. This is a common tack, and it often does not convey much about you personally. (We ALL feel good about these patients!)
11/

Recipe 3 is the “why I like your specialty” PS. It’s what many are counseled to write, and the reasons are usually all the same and unrevealing. I don’t find this recipe helpful in communicating who you are as a person (usually).
12/

Recipe 4 is the “I want to do pulmonary medicine because I had childhood asthma” statement. This is getting closer to sharing new personal information, but is often somewhat superficial and impersonal. And it is common.
13/

Recipe 5 is a recitation of the CV without context or true personality. You SHOULD use the PS to highlight things you have done, but use the space to give it context (specify your role), lessons you learned, and/or future plans based upon it.
14/

The above recipes are safe, but will keep your application rather gray. So if you have accomplishments and a CV that stand out on their own, this is likely fine. But a more unique PS could also compel a PD (at some programs) to invite you to interview if it is done right.
15/

Here I'll describe features of a PS that would make me sit up and read with interest and bring a candidate to interview because I would like to meet them.

THESE ARE MY PREFERENCES- talk to your mentors about whether they are reasonable for you.
16/

Probably the most important tip I can give: Humans like narrative stories. A quality PS has a narrative quality with a beginning, middle, and end. There is conflict and resolution. It says something about you.
(pro tip: this is also true for powerpoint presentations!)
17/

Maybe it is a story that highlights your grit and resilience. Or your caring, empathic nature. Or your ability to take a tough problem and break it into its component parts. Or your work ethic. Narrative conveys this much more effectively.
18/

This thread from @gradydoctor is a great example. It has a beginning, middle, and end. I learned a ton about her as a teacher and as a person. It has engaging, granular dialogue. This is what I mean by a revealing narrative.

https://twitter.com/gradydoctor/status/1157489879317696513?s=20

19/

A well-written narrative is hard. Writing a colorful PS over a couple of hours is a fool’s errand. It just won’t happen. Want to write a good one? Start early and do it with others! Form a PS writing group. You’ll struggle together, but it will blossom!
20/

Good PSs can be built around a vulnerability. Fail a board exam? Lean in and describe your emotional response and what you did to improve. Write a well-intended twitter screed that alienated some and learn something about the importance of tone in the process? PS fodder.
21/

*Tip: I actually open the PS FIRST for candidates with obvious vulnerabilities. If it is not addressed in the PS, I consider it a lost opportunity.
22/

Many people are nervous about sharing a lot in PSs- and we all have a comfort level in what we are willing to share. There is no need to delve into your darkest secrets, and a reflection on who you are as a person need not draw blood. As @davidschulman said, “you do you”.
23/

I once read a PS about how a candidate built a lawn-mowing business as an early teenager and it just grabbed me. The entire essay was built on the lessons he learned and how it molded him and made him gritty. It was awesome.
24/

One candidate wrote about how learning to do research with mice helped overcome a fear of animals and in the process described her career goals.
25/

PSs that break the mold and don’t use a recipe may not be everyone’s cup of tea- some are concerned that they will turn off some PDs. This is possible, but doubtful; and if you are inclined to write one and it is not enjoyed, that very well may signal a poor fit anyhow.
26/

So-take home points:
1. Use one of the recipes if you want to write a safe PS. Just know many others will be doing the same.
2. Compelling PSs are generally narrative stories that provide insights to you as a person that are unavailable otherwise.

FIN