Analyzing the Orthopaedic Surgery Personal Statement: Do Residency Applicants See Value in Its Use?

Orthopaedic surgery is one of the most competitive specialties in the residency match. The personal statement (PS) is one component of the application. The significance of the PS to orthopaedic surgery residency applicants is unknown. This study evaluates applicant perceptions of the PS. Applicants to two separate United States orthopaedic residency programs for the 2019– 2020 cycle were invited to participate. Survey was distributed via email. Twenty-one percent (204/978) of applicants completed the survey. Most were men (157/204, 77%), and most (125/204, 61%) spent up to 15 hours writing their PS. Many [79.4% (162/204)] believed the PS should continue to be included in the application. Women always edited their PS, while 7.0% (11/ 157) of men did not use any editors. Applicants believe the PS is valuable. The PS is time consuming but allows applicants to communicate details that otherwise may not be included in their application. (Journal of Surgical Orthopaedic Advances 31(1):034–041, 2022)

Key words: orthopaedic education, orthopaedic residency, residency match