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Analyzing the Orthopaedic Surgery Personal Statement: Do Residency Applicants See Value in Its Use?
Caroline J Granger1, Lara L Cohen1, Allison L Boden1
1University of Miami Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, Miami Florida.
Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances
|April 4, 2022
Summary
Orthopaedic surgery applicants believe the personal statement (PS) is valuable for residency applications, despite the time commitment. Most applicants surveyed felt the PS should remain a required component for program admissions.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Specialties
- Residency Admissions
Background:
- Orthopaedic surgery is a highly competitive residency specialty.
- The role and significance of the personal statement (PS) in orthopaedic surgery residency applications are not well understood.
- Understanding applicant perceptions of the PS is crucial for refining the application process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate orthopaedic surgery residency applicants' perceptions of the personal statement (PS).
- To determine the perceived value and necessity of the PS in the residency application process.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to applicants of two United States orthopaedic residency programs during the 2019-2020 cycle.
- Data were collected from 204 applicants (21% response rate).
- Survey questions addressed time spent on the PS, perceived value, and editing practices.
Main Results:
- The majority of applicants (79.4%) believed the PS should continue to be part of the application.
- Most applicants spent up to 15 hours writing their PS.
- While most applicants utilized editors, a small percentage of men did not.
Conclusions:
- Orthopaedic surgery residency applicants perceive the personal statement (PS) as a valuable tool.
- The PS allows applicants to convey information not present in other application components.
- Despite being time-consuming, the PS is considered an important element of the application process.
