Personal statement question

[splash_runner]

This is my first post (I've been a lurker for some time now). I graduate PA school next year and starting to consider a residency. My question is - is it sufficient to talk about my interests and why I want to pursue a residency? Other than having a rotation in my residency of choice (cardiology) I can't really elaborate on any other qualifications that I have besides the fact I am a new grad.

 

 

[JohnnyM2]

Some residencies specify that prior experience is an asset and, logically, it would help, from a competitive point of view, if you had specific experience in the field.

 

Having said that, if cardiology is really the practice specially you want, you should be able to do some soul searching and find a way to articulate why this is what you want, i.e why you have a passion for cardiology, why you would be good at it, and how you would make a contribution. That makes your Personal Statement especially important since you won't have some clever anecdotes that have become so popular in PSs. (The good news is that most of those anecdotes are rather shallow and probably carry less weight than you might think.) Be sure to read up on your targeted residency programs. How they describe their program goals can provide excellent ideas and terminology for your PS.

Also, since your experience is limited, your performance in PA school and letters of recommendation might become more important. A letter of recommendation from your cardiology rotation is important. A letter from your program director is also a good idea and may even be one of the letters requested. Consider discussing your cardiology interests with your program director as a way of "testing" your PS thesis on why you are interested in cardiology, and so that he or she will know how to approach writing your letter. Remember, if you advance, you also advance the reputation of your school. Hopefully, you have a good relationship with your program director.

If you have, and can articulate, the right motivations, put together a really good PS, and get stellar letters of recommendation you should be able to get an interview.

 

 

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