Boost your residency application with these 5 writing tips

Summarizing years of training, your passion for medicine or why you’re choosing a particular specialty in one eloquent personal statement can feel daunting. That’s why professors designed a special workshop to teach medical students how to beat “writer’s block” and craft effective essays for their residency applications. Follow these steps to begin writing your personal statement.  Professors at the Medical College of Wisconsin offered 109 fourth-year students a two-hour writing workshop and found that certain tools—such as writing prompts and peer critiques—helped students overcome anxiety about reflective writing, generate original essay topics and begin writing effective first drafts, according to a recent study in Academic Medicine.  In fact, 94 percent of students who completed a post-workshop questionnaire reported that “the workshop had been effective in getting their essay launched” and that “the writing generated at the workshop was included in their final essay,” study authors wrote.  Whether you have access to a formal workshop setting, you’re pulling together several of your peers to discuss ideas or you’re writing alone, try these recommendations to put your personal statement on the path to success: 1. Start with writing prompts. A quick question or statement can serve as a catalyst for brainstorming effective essay topics. These writing prompts can stimulate creativity and break down “writer’s block” so you can fre...
Source: AMA Wire - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Source Type: news