Okay, so I'm working on the CAS application and the field that just says "Career Objectives" has me stumped, mostly because I don't know what my long-term career goals are yet. Kinda thought residency would be the time to figure that out. The only thing I do know right now is that I'm not interested in academic medicine, and I know it would be a big mistake to admit that up front. What kind of stuff have you guys been writing in that box?

You should think beyond residency. Programs want to know the long-term goals of their incoming residents. Mine was academia and research in ophthalmology. It still is.

Your long-term goal may be to: pursue a fellowship, work in international medicine, work in private practice with your dad, be invloved with the AAO, support political efforts for ophthalmology, work as faculty, be an adjunct faculty while in private practice, etc...

It's a good time to sit down and determine what you want to achieve in the next 10 years and 20 years of your career. This can change, but you should set goals.

Good luck! ;)

As always, thanks Dr. Doan!