applicant guide free for all - applicantguide

[ArchivalUser]

Due to the large number of emails I am receiving I will start this thread here again with some more clarifications and I will paste the previous data here as will. I matched radiology this year and will start PGY1 (prelim) in 2 weeks. My scores are 92 step 1, 95 step 2, passed CS first attempt and no step 3 yet. Please nobody paste in this post any thing, leave this post only for the data i will provide you, if you have any questions or requests just send me an email. I promised that if I matched then I will help every body in this forum. So now I am back here I will start pasting all the copies of personal statements and letters of recommendations day by day enough to keep this thread on the top for the benifit of all of who need to match this year. Later i will paste here the interview tips as will. I have the programs which imgs should apply to in 6 specialities but i will not paste them here. I will give each applicant only 1 or 2 list of programs and only through email. I have the matching list of IM, FM, IM-PED, PEDIA, PATHO and RADIOLOGY (2 lists one of them is mine already pasted it before in another thread).
so from now on every day just check this thread for new PS, LORs and other things that benifit you. If any body want 1 or max 2 matching list please email me at

applicantguide

thanks for every body in this forum that made my life easier and Goodluck for the match applicants.

[ArchivalUser]

POST NUMBER 01
LOR FOR FAMILY MEDICINE


I am writing to recommend Dr. xxxxxxxxxxxx for acceptance to your residency program. Dr. xxxxxxxxxxxxx has been doing observership in our clinic since March of 2006 until the present time. In those six months, I have been extremely impressed by her determination, concentration, and willingness to work hard. He possesses excellent learning abilities, professional work ethic, a good team attitude, and a great passion for the Family Practice field. Always enthusiastic and confident, he readily offers help to his peers.

In our clinic, Dr. xxxxxxxxxx has been exposed to a diverse array of patients of different ages, medical conditions, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. His ability to build a comfortable and trusting environment for each and every one of these patients is remarkable. He is very skilled at history taking, performing physical exams, and writing patient notes. Constantly working on obtaining new knowledge and skills, he reads a variety of medical books and discuses medical cases with doctors.

I strongly believe he will be an excellent addition to your residency program. His assertive nature, his personal and professional tact, and his emotional sensitivity to the patients will help his to become a competent, effective, and respectful physician. I believe that his patient™s needs, comfort, and benefit will drive every decision he will make and each action he will take.

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to call me at xxxxxxxxxxx.

Sincerely,

[ArchivalUser]

POST NUMBER 02

PERSONAL STATEMENT FOR FAMILY and INTERNAL MEDICINE

Personal statement

I have never had any doubts about my choice of profession. Medicine for me is a path that started with my childhood dream and led through the long and hard way of studying, bringing me to my first steps of professional experience. I am very happy about choosing this path.

I attended xxxxxxxxxxxx Medical University, where I found myself drawn to virtually every clinical subject. I was most fascinated with family medicine. After completing my residency training and successfully passing the certification exam, I became a physician in the xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Hospital. I worked there for two years with superb specialists as a member of a team whose performance depended on each person's individual contribution. I learned how to take responsibility and to make quick decisions in urgent situations. I know on a practical level what it means to be responsible for the life of another human being.

When I relocated to the United States, I learned the language and passed the USMLE steps. To be closer to patient care, I became an observer in a family practice clinic. I like that a family medicine physician treats a wide variety of patient population and illnesses. This is an opportunity to serve all age groups, from infants to the elderly. I have discovered that often people come to a doctor as they would to a trusted friend. They need not only medical advice, but emotional support. This kind of personal influence is possible only
because of long term interaction with families and intimate knowledge of patient background.

I see that family medicine plays a huge role in preventive care. Good counseling helps not only individual patients but whole families, since future generations will learn from parents' lifestyles and attitudes towards health. I like that family medicine doctors have to ensure complete care, from initial patient screening to treatment and follow up service. As I became more familiar with the family practice field I reached a new level of professional consciousness. Every day I see many difficult patients, such as noncompliant patients, patients with depression, and old people with multiple complaints and illnesses. I have great compassion for all these people and I want to give them my professional and personal support.

I see myself as a doctor who always has time to speak with patients and listen to them, and whose soul is filled with empathy and concern. I want to know my patients by their names and remember that they are people first and patients second. What is going on in a patient's life is just as important as what is happening physically.
I am ready to work hard in order to provide high quality health care to present and future generations. I would like to build on all I have learned and seen to contribute new energies and insights to an important field of Family Practice. I am eager for the opportunity to bring health, hope and joy to families, and to become an active and responsible contributor to the medical community and beyond.

[ArchivalUser]

POST NUMBER 03

Anaesthesiology Personal Statement

As I approach the end of my medical school education, I find that my thoughts often shift away from the formal material that has been my life for over three years. I have spent countless hours learning anatomy, conceptualizing physiology, practicing physical exam skills, and developing differential diagnoses to build a solid foundation upon which to establish my professional career. Supplementing my concrete knowledge and skill base are informal insights learned through clinical experiences. One such insight which I believe is critically important is to maintain a respect for the unknown.


I realize that this concept is vague and open to individual interpretation. Having a respect for the unknown means several things to me. It means that one should always be aware that there may not be a single, straightforward answer which explains all the patient's problems and that there is no such thing as a truly "stable" patient. It means that a provider should never become stagnant with a knowledge and practical skill base that does not evolve with current standards of care. It also means that one must be attentive to detail and watch vigilantly for changes when patients are under their care. While these principles apply to all fields of medicine, I feel they are particularly applicable in my chosen field of anesthesiology because the stress of surgery on the body can seriously alter pre-existing disease states, the physician's decision-making time is often very short, and the consequences of incorrect patient management are potentially grave.


My decision to pursue a career in anesthesiology was not made upon admittance to medical school. In fact, it was made somewhat late in my third year. I entered my rotation schedule with an open mind, gave each specialty a fair chance, and then reviewed how I felt about each as a career. Although I had enjoyable and educational experiences in each field, anesthesiology has been the most stimulating and rewarding. I am drawn to the dynamics of short-term relationships, the trust which must be earned with limited contact, the intensity of patient management in a critical care setting, and the practical application of pharmacology to modulate ever-changing physiologic states. I do not believe the anesthesiologist merely plays a support-role in the operating room. The anesthesiologist is an equal member of the surgery team - an intensivist whose expertise in pain-control and short-term management of the total patient is required for the other team-members to fix a focal problem. I see the anesthesiologist as a patient advocate who realizes that a patient's experience is dependent on factors other than the efficacy of the surgery and who has the capacity to control variables to ensure patient comfort, safety, and peace of mind. When I was part of an anesthesiology team that was attentive, concerned, and prepared, the surgical experience was generally better for everyone involved. This consistently gave me a personal satisfaction which I did not feel in other fields. I am confident that this satisfaction will not diminish over time.


As far as my future goals in anesthesia, I anticipate living in the place I feel is best for my family and working in a private hospital setting. I plan to serve patients in my local community and those in need in other areas through charitable organizations. The volunteer work I have done with Operation Smile has helped me see the opportunities that anesthesiologists have to assist others around the world while gaining invaluable life experiences.


What does it mean for anesthesiologists to have respect for the unknown? It means they are prepared with an established knowledge base which enables them to understand the functions and interactions of the human body with medications and diseases. It means they are prepared with newly discovered knowledge and practices which enable them to provide the most current and effective care possible. It also means they are prepared to recognize changes in the patient's condition which enables them to respond in the most appropriate fashion. And finally, it means they are prepared to earn the patient's trust and to bear primary responsibility for the patient's well-being.

The unknown is something I respect but do not fear because my medical preparation has been solid both academically and clinically. I look forward to continuing to gain the knowledge, experience, skills, and confidence required to ensure patient safety and comfort during stressful times. The unknown is something I respect but do not fear because my medical preparation has been solid both academically and clinically. I look forward to continuing to gain the knowledge, experience, skills, and confidence required to ensure patient safety and comfort during stressful times.

[ArchivalUser]

POST NUMBER 04
anaesth 2nd personal statement


Jamaica conjures up images of a far-away exotic locale, where the people are warm and friendly and make visitors feel at home. It is also the place where I was born, and where my love for working with people developed. Since most of the employemnt there is related to tourism, like many of my freinds I worked in the airline industry after gruaduating from high school. This satisfied my curiosity about what was beyond my country's boundaries, but as exciting as travelling and experiencing other cultures were, returning home carried the predictable need for something more. So, full of ambition and with the encouragement of family and friends, I decided that going to college was the route to take, but in America.

The two years when I studed chemistry at St. Thomas of Vollanova University in Miami, Florida, where challenging, dufficult and rewarding. Because there were many other students from foreign countries at St. Thomas, the transition to the American educational system and culture was smooth and enjoyable. Participating in the International Students' Organization and in student government were my special extracurricular projects. Though little time was left for much else, there were moments when I longed to be back home I especially missed playing darts which my family did as a team, setting new records by claiming champi9onship trophies for three straight seasons. As a sophomore I decided that I wanted to attend a more prestigious and affordable institution. UCLA seemed the most attractive, so I transferred to begin my junior year in the Fall of 1985.

At UCLA I reconsidered my narrow focus on chemistry and decided to switch majors to psychobiolog, which introduced me to the fascinating interplay between physiology and pharmacology. As I progressed through the major I was constantly aware of the link between emotional well-being and positive outcomes.

My motivation to study medicine came from my extracurricular activities. My first practical experience volunteering at the Venice Family Clinic with children from refugee families provided excellent opportunities for patient contact. The clinic's meager resources called for an approach which stressed counselling, and I witnessed the good results which came from gaining patiets' trust and treating them with respect and genuine concern. At the Reed Neurological Reseach Center's outpatient clinic, whre I worked part-time, I had the opportunity to work with physicians invovled with patient car.e It was clear that compassion was an important element in physician's success with their patients. Another special project during this time invovled Big Brother of Los Angeles. This organization matches boys from fatherless homes with selected volunteers. Over the years it has been a joy to recall the times whne my Little Brother was shy and withdrawn with little self-esteem and seem him today as a well-adjusted and optimistic adolescent.

Medical School has been a learning experience like no other. Without a doubt I feel that I have gained the most and have been most comfortable, in the clinical setting. It was during my research experiences in the Department sof Neurology and anesthesiology that I was influenced by my mentors, Dr. Ernestina Saxton and Dr. Corrie anderson, towards a career in academic Medicine. Not only did I learn much from their strong commitment ot both patients and students, I also became intrigued with the relationship between research and clinical medicine.

As the end of third year rolled around, if you had asked me what I wanted to do after Medical School, the list of possibilities would have been impossible. I would have told you that I loved working with my hands, thrived on personal contact with patients and was sure that somewhere down the line I would be invovled in teaching. Of course just about any field in Medicine would seem to be perfect, but after completing an Anesthesia elective, I kew that this was the specialty for me.

From pre-operative rounds, to the scurry of activity at induction ending in a smooth recovery, I have felt only fascination for the meld of cognitive abilities and technical skill that adminstering anesthesia demands. In many ways the process generated a similar excitement and anticipation that some of my hobbies like mountain biking or downhill skiing did. Moreover, the reward at the end was a gratifying sense of completion, a feeling that is rare in many other specialties. I have come to realize that the more I participate in the process, the more satisfaction I derive, and this influences my choice of residency programs. I will be happiest in a program which promotes developemnt of skill in every area of Anesthesia, and also balances the practical experience with a strong didactic program in a close-knit and friendly environment.

[ArchivalUser]

POST NUMBER 05

Anaesthesia 3rd Personal Statement
My interest in anesthesia developed serendipitously. Throughout pre-clerkship we were presented with the opportunity to shadow physicians in order to learn about their various specialities. By the middle of second year medicine, and despite the fact that I had shadowed several physicians, I still had not discovered a field that fully complemented my needs and abilities. Because University of *** does not have a mandatory clinical rotation in anesthesia, I decided to work with a pediatric anesthesiologist. I was immediately intrigued by this extremely diversified and technical profession and was eager to gain more exposure to this field of medicine.
Although my desire to become an anesthesiologist occurred by chance, my elective experiences have strongly reinforced this decision. Currently, I have completed two anesthesia electives, one in pediatric anesthesia and the other in adult anesthesia. As a result of these practical experiences I have gained valuable skills in this field. I have also arranged a two-week elective in adult anesthesia in University of *** and a two-week elective in intensive care in University of *** to further diversify my practical experiences.
One of the appeals of anesthesia for me is the satisfaction I gain in participating in the correction of medical problems and instantly seeing the outcome. For example, we can alleviate a patient�s pain through regional anesthesia, intubate patients in life-threatening situations and establish vascular lines in often very challenging situations. I also appreciate the multitude of career options that exist within the field of anesthesia. This specialty offers the opportunity to learn many aspects of medicine and surgery and to manage a wide array of medical conditions from obstetrics to intensive care to the operating room.
I believe that my personal traits also make me extremely well suited to a career in anesthesia. I have an outgoing personality and respond with a level-headed approach to demanding situations. I am able to effectively communicate my ideas to co-workers as exemplified by my involvement in the Undergraduate Medical Education Committee throughout medical school. These personal qualities help me to relieve some of the pre-operative tension that my patients experience.
I also have a strong interest in scientific research. I conducted several studies on gene expression associated with hepatocellular carcinoma for my honours project and during medical school. Further, I have conducted clinical research related to thromboembolic disease in cancer patients. These experiences helped me develop my ability to multitask and appreciate the necessity for attention to detail. Several of the results of my research have been successfully submitted for publication in the areas of hepatology, hematology and oncology. I have also participated in poster presentations for the American Society of Hematology (Florida) and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (Boston) and I have attended the National Conference on Viral Hepatitis (Toronto) hosted by the Canadian Liver Foundation.
Despite my extensive time commitment to research, I also recognize the importance of participating in extracurricular activities to maintain a balanced outlook on life. Living on the island of Java has given me respect and curiosity about the vastness of the ocean and its underwater life. As a result, I became certified as an advanced SCUBA diver in September 2002. During my certification, the various gas laws and changes in physiology associated with SCUBA diving further increased my interest in the basic principles of anesthesia.
In closing I would like to reiterate my desire for a career in anesthesia, which would start with a successful match in the program at your institution. I appreciate the time and effort involved in your consideration.

[ArchivalUser]

Hi Applicantguide,
Thankyou so much for taking ur time out to help those who r in need and desperation.Hearty congratulations for getting into nothing less than a radiology residency.Can you email me the IMG friendly programs lists for FM and IM.My email is
preciouslife9. Also, is that a myth that being an FMG you cant get into tougher specialities like dermatology radiology?How you got into? you have a GC or you are a citizen or you worked in radiolgoy here? Thanks again.God bless you.

[ArchivalUser]

POST NUMBER 06

Community Medicine Personal Statement


My clinical rotations have served to demonstrate how the absence of social capital and the absence of a strong public health framework can have dire consequences. A lack of primary preventative measures has contributed to gross inflation of the incidence of chronic disease and clinicians are too often left with pharmacotherapy as their primary tool; the societal driving forces of disease are seen as outside their domain. As a physician, I want my proverbial �toolbox� to contain broad and innovative skills that enable me to understand the underlying causes of disease and bring about real change at a population level. I want to develop skills that not only equip me to manage the effects of disease, but also to understand and promote the determinants of health.
My interest in a career in Community Medicine began early in medical school and I have explored the field through electives in Canada and abroad. I chose to complete an additional four-week elective in Ghana where I accompanied local medical students on a community needs assessment in a rural town. There I saw a real appreciation for the power of public health measures. This experience also taught me the importance of knowing cultural customs and norms, as well as having the ability to communicate effectively. I have also undertaken community medicine rotations in rural _______, ______ and ______. In each of these locations I participated in similar public health programs and it was fascinating to see how each program was shaped by the specific needs of the local population. I reinforced my community health experience with a clinical rotation in the Community Health Clinic in ______. This setting proved to be a compelling demonstration of the link between housing, poverty, addiction and clinical medicine. Not one of these issues can be successfully addressed in isolation. Improvement in health for this population requires change in subsidized housing, addiction programs, policing, and education: in other words, it requires a community health perspective.
Treating a population as opposed to individuals requires unique qualities. I possess a multitude of these qualities and my background has provided me with a solid foundation upon which to build these qualities into career skills. As a high school student my desire for a broad international perspective led me to apply and successfully secure a full scholarship to -------------------- College. There, living and learning with students from over 70 countries, I gained invaluable insight into international affairs, cultural sensitivity and conflict resolution. Additionally, I have always enjoyed public speaking and have won numerous awards through high school and university. These oral communication skills were recently put to the test when I co-produced and acted in ______�s premiere performance of the Vagina Monologues. This �crash course� in media relations taught me the importance of social marketing and how to harness the power of the media to distribute a crafted message. Through the sell-out premiere and the greater �V-day� campaign, we raised over $12,000 for charity and heightened awareness about violence against women. On a personal level, it provided a powerful demonstration that I have the ability to recognize a need in the community and provide a new and viable means of change.
Leadership and political insight are also qualities I believe are necessary in a Community Medicine specialist. I have demonstrated leadership ability through roles such as representing students on the _____ Medical Association Board of Directors. My involvement in the later has led to lobbying government to protect the accessibility of medical education and an independent research project to assess the effects of medical student debt on career choice.
After completing my residency training in Community Medicine, I intend to pursue opportunities in national and international health with specific interests in health promotion, health policy, communicable disease control and medical education. I am looking for a residency program with a strong international focus and the flexibility to include CCFP requirements as well as international electives. _______ is an ideal training location offering a cosmopolitan city, an excellent provincial public health system and, of course, the opportunity to work in a French-speaking environment.
In summary, I am a person who needs to understand the bigger picture, I crave creativity and I want to make a difference. During the process of deciding on a specialty career path, I found a description of Community Medicine that captured my imagination. A doctor described the essence of the discipline as �the ability to dream things that have not been�. I can�t think of a better way to challenge myself and contribute to the health of our population.

[ArchivalUser]

Dear applicantguide ,
I don't know who u are in person but i really admire u and ur help for other people . U will definitely become a real medical doctor . I met a lot of people who are selfish and mean , only want for them from others . I wish our medical field will be filled with people who are like u .
Impress ur work for others !!!

[ArchivalUser]

You are an angel and you are indeed very very helpful.Thanks a lot doctor..