The personal statement is a one-page essay outlining your motivations, interests and strengths as they pertain to being a successful resident. Use your personal statement as an opportunity to impress the selection committee by showcasing your strengths and those qualities that set you apart from other candidates.
A well written personal statement can strengthen your application and open opportunities for you. Some application reviewers only skim through the personal statement, while others read it carefully. Since you have no way of knowing how your personal statement will be read or the weight it carries at each program, it is in your best interest to develop a high quality personal statement.
Know your audience: you are writing for the residency program director, your interviewers and perhaps other members of the selection committee. The reviewers use the personal statement to learn more about you as an individual to help them determine if you have the qualities they are seeking in a future resident. Your personal statement will support your application if it conveys to your audience that you are a mature, thoughtful, enthusiastic, responsible, and stable individual. In addition to using your personal statement for your residency application, supply your personal statement along with your CV to those who are writing letters of recommendation for you.