So Now You Want To Do A Fellowship

General Guide

• Gather a list of programs where you will apply. Go through program websites and speak to faculty and resident mentors about where to apply and their experiences with the process.

• Get your application ready. Most programs require the same stuff

  • Personal statement (i.e. Letter of intent)

  • CV

  • 3 Letters of recommendation, one of which is from your PD

  • Occasionally a program specific application form

• Give your letter writers 4-6 weeks to write your letter after providing the following:

  • Your updated CV, a draft of your personal statement or “letter of intent”

  • A list of the programs to which the letter should be directed, incl the names of the fellowship directors, and the person to whom it should be sent if it’s not the director themselves (ie, the coordinator)

  • Addressed, stamped envelopes for each program (unless submitting electronically)

  • Deadlines or target dates to get the letters sent out, starting with the earliest deadline!

• If applying to non-match specialties, aim to submit applications by November or earlier.

Personal Statement

Some thoughts on writing a personal statement/letter of intent: (Alcauskas/Krieger, 2010)

Purpose (overt): to highlight your interest in the field, describe your background in the field until now, including any special accomplishments/awards/experiences/research, and then to tell your reader what you're looking for in a program and what your future career goals are.

Purpose (covert): to show that you express yourself well and to show that you’re savvy enough to avoid red flags.

It is difficult to write a personal statement that will get you an interview, but it is very easy to write one that will lose you an interview. Many applicants seem similar so readers look for red flags in the personal statements and, based on even one, will discard a perfectly acceptable applicant. So, while following a template may lead you to feel more generic than you would like, depart only if you are 1- a very good writer, 2- confident in what you‘re doing and 3- willing to take a risk.

• Paragraph 1: What is it that first attracted you to X (EMG, MS, etc)? Did you have a childhood friend with MS and you've always had an interest? Was there a particularly intriguing, personally-meaningful patient while a resident who had whatever illness? Can you identify a moment or person who inspired you?

• Paragraph 2: What has your exposure to X been up until now? Rotations, electives, clinics, etc, how has this exposure expanded your initial interest from the time of the anecdote above? What has it taught you about the field? (This should probably be the shortest paragraph)

• Paragraph 3: Describe any research/honors/professional accomplishments that set you apart. These should mostly be related to your fellowship field or be general. If you were voted Resident of the Year, you can certainly mention this. Research in anything is acceptable to put here, but if it isn’t in your field, you should spin in it in a way that makes it seem related. What have you done or achieved that would make you a better fellow then the other applicants? These should not be personal, non-medicine-related accomplishments.

• Paragraph 4: What are you looking for in a fellowship? Keep it general for the most part as if you describe how you want a stroke program with an NSICU and the program you are applying to doesn't have one, they might think you won't be interested in them. For non-match, if you are particularly interested in a program, you should write this paragraph specifically for them, mentioning them by name (obviously write a general paragraph for the others you apply for). This kind of research shows that you are detail-oriented, that you do your homework and that you're particularly enthusiastic about their program. It can make a huge difference.

• Paragraph 5: What are your career goals and how does this fellowship fit into them? Be as genuine as you can but don't say you're going to go off and do private practice unless you are very certain about the program you are applying to, as many programs are only interested in training academic neurologists. Also, at the fellowship level, you have to be specific. If you say you want to do research, what specific disease/modality do you want to do it in? Write about that and how this fellowship program will help you achieve your goals.

• Don’t go over one page unless there is a very, very good reason for it. It’s harder to write one good page than three lousy pages.

Red flags

Be cautious when discussing your personal life- eg. you want to do a fellowship in CA and your in-laws are there, mention that as a New Yorker applying on the west coast (and vice versa) frequently raises suspicions.

You should try to avoid the following:

• Religious themes or quotes

• Political themes or quotes

• Accomplishments from before medical school (really, should stick with residency) unless they are extremely relevant

• Too much originality in your writing (eg 3rd person POV, poetry)

• Too informal of a style

• Spelling or grammatical errors- makes your reader think you’re careless