Looking Good on Paper: How to Write Support Letters and Personal Statements-Looking Good on Paper: How to Write Support Letters and Personal Statements

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Summary of Video Content:<br /><br />The video features three faculty members discussing the creation of effective personal statements, letters of recommendation, and cover letters. Dr. Andrew Savoy emphasizes the importance of tailored personal statements for residency applications, fellowships, and academic promotions. Writing tips include avoiding jargon, using your own voice, and avoiding common mistakes.<br /><br />Dr. Jessica Cavanaugh discusses requesting and writing letters of recommendation, emphasizing the need for meaningful connections and specific evidence. Tips for letter writers include conciseness, avoiding cliches, and proofreading. Positive language and official letterhead are highlighted.<br /><br />Dr. Jamie Key covers cover letters, emphasizing their ability to add personality and direct attention to specific aspects. Tips include specificity in addressing, upbeat and positive writing, and a strong closing. Begging or sounding desperate is discouraged.<br /><br />In the second video, the speaker focuses on letters of support for academic medicine, stressing the need for attention to detail and adherence to instructions. They address the issue of gender bias, providing examples of language to avoid and recommending the use of tools to analyze verbiage. Templates for research proposal and promotion/tenure letters are given.<br /><br />The speaker also discusses the process of reviewing letters of recommendation and personal statements, suggesting starting with the personal statement and then evaluating the consistency of language and the reputation of the letter writer.<br /><br />Overall, both videos offer valuable insights and practical tips for writing effective personal statements, letters of recommendation, and cover letters, as well as addressing gender bias and the evaluation process of these documents.

Keywords

personal statements

letters of recommendation

cover letters

residency applications

writing tips

specific evidence

conciseness

positive language

gender bias

templates

evaluation process