brainstorming for personal statements
If you are a CaRMS or ERAS applicant, the personal statement will be an important part of your application process. Not sure where to start ? Take an archaeological approach! The following sources are full of inspiration:
personal diaries and notebooks; reflective essays you completed during training
thank you cards, letters, or e-mails you may have kept
physical photo albums and yearbooks; the camera roll on your phone
digital or physical calendars or planners
old social media posts
previous versions of your resume
transcripts, letters of reference; awards and commendations; performance evaluations
Next, use the following list of prompts to help generate more ideas:
Motivation and Career Choice
I was drawn to medicine (or my specialty) because:
Experiences that confirmed my specialty choice include:
I knew I was on the right path when:
I envision my future career to include:
The aspect of medicine that energizes me most is:
The moment I realized why this specialty fits my values was:
My curiosity in this field began when:
I want to be known for:
A belief that has guided my decisions is:
Clinical Experiences and Growth
A patient encounter that deeply influenced me was:
The most meaningful feedback I’ve received in clinical training was:
A time when I learned the importance of empathy in patient care was:
I feel fulfilled when I am helping others by:
The moments in clinical work that bring me the most joy are:
A challenge in patient care that changed me for the better was:
A mentor once taught me that:
The most valuable lesson I’ve learned from patients is:
Challenges, Resilience, and Reflection
A challenge that changed me for the better was:
A setback that taught me resilience was:
A time when I questioned my abilities but grew from the experience was:
I am most grateful for:
A failure that shaped my values as a clinician was:
A moment when I faced uncertainty and learned to trust my judgment was:
I developed empathy and perspective through:
Teamwork, Leadership, and Collaboration
My colleagues describe me as:
My friends describe me as:
A lesson I learned from collaborating across disciplines is:
I discovered the importance of leadership in medicine when:
I am proud of how I supported my peers during:
Values, Advocacy, and Professional Identity
The kind of impact I hope to make is:
I hope my patients feel ___ after interacting with me.
I aspire to advocate for:
I have come to see professionalism as:
The moments that have brought me the most joy in my career are:
I understood the importance of equity or compassion in medicine when:
How I define success in my career is:
Personal Interests and Balance
Outside of work, I am / I enjoy:
What keeps me grounded outside medicine is:
My hobbies contribute to my professional growth by:
The qualities I bring from my personal life into medicine are:
Future Goals and Vision
I envision my future career to include:
The long-term contribution I hope to make to my specialty is:
I want to grow into a physician who:
