Rocky Vista University Personal Statements For Residency (Page 2 of 3) in pdf

Body: The body of the essay might cover a number of different topics—topics are largely

dictated by the field you are in and the prompt you are given. For instance, if you are in a

research-oriented field, you will want to spend time discussing your past, current and future

research. In contrast, professional fields may ask for a teaching philosophy, professional

development or specific character traits/personality traits related to success in that field.

Common Paragraph Topics (note: this does not mean you should have 6 body paragraphs;

rather, these are examples of ideas you may want to discuss in your personal statement):

1. The Inception of Your Interest: indicate where your interest in the field began, whether it

was as a child or in grad school. Discuss the point in time when you realized a particular

interest or research focus as your impetus to pursue a specific focus or specialty.

2. Particular Abilities/Experiences that Demonstrate Success: focus on demonstrating your

proven ability to succeed. Specifically, you want to illustrate your potential to excel in

your field and your ability to complete valuable research or other appropriate activities.

Do not simply state that you will be successful; think about which of your skills helps you

to stand out as a candidate. Select specific examples that illustrate your skills and

qualifications for the program. Instead, demonstrate your ability through previous

experience using CSARR:

C.S.A.R.R. – Claim, Situation, Action, Result 1, Result 2

In order to truly demonstrate your ability to succeed, make a Claim about a

specific quality you have, provide examples of past success by describing a

Situation you were in, the Action(s) you took, and the favorable, local Result 1.

Ideally, your Result 1 will be quantifiable or measurable. Finally, connect your

experience to the program or your future goals with a more global Result 2.

3. Program Focus: mention your future research interests or a particular area of focus that

aligns with the program. Residencies are often selective and competitive; if possible,

tailor your statement to the program; doing so will demonstrate that you’re familiar

with their goals and values and what they have to offer. Identify how your research

interests fit into a specific department or, if relevant, mention any scholars or doctors

you want to work with.

4. Personal Qualities: elaborate on specific qualities you possess that will help to advance

your success. Avoid making unsubstantiated claims; instead, use CSARR to show specific

qualities in action that resulted in success.

Rocky Vista University Personal Statements For Residency Page 2