Each year residency applicants ask me if they need to showcase their accomplishments in their residency personal statements if they’ve already drafted strong ERAS activities sections. The simple answer is yes.

First, remember that you don’t know at what part of your application the readers will be starting. If a residency director peruses your personal statement first and it’s thin and boring, you’ll have lost that reader from the beginning.

Also, note that the faculty members seeing your application are reading many more ERASes than just yours. If you only mention an important achievement once in your application, the program director might simply forget your accomplishment. After all, s/he is reading hundreds of similar applications. Your readers need to be reminded several times of your candidacy’s strengths. (You’ll mention those accomplishments again in your interviews.)

To a program director who hasn’t yet met you, you are what you’ve done. You need to use substantive examples of your achievements to demonstrate your worthiness for a potential residency position. Evidence is persuasive; use it!