confusedfuturedoc!
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- Jan 28, 2024
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Hi! Current MS1 thinking ahead and wanting some advice. I am trying to set up a competitive application although I am unsure of what specialty to gear it towards. At the beginning of the year, I was interested in plastic surgery, although as I have gotten involved with research projects, shadowed, and talked to different surgeons, I am unsure if I am cut out for surgery.
Why I am interested in plastic surgery:
Why I don’t think I’m cut out for it:
Other specialties I am considering include ENT (some overlap with plastics, some opportunity for recon., can cater practice to more clinic side when older. Although Not sure if I like endoscopic procedures). I was an ENT scribe for a few years and didn’t like the day-to-day pathologies (allergies, sinusitis, LPR, vertigo) that much, also a lot of children and I’m not too keen on the pediatric population.
Also interested in dermatology (I am a visual person and like the idea of seeing what I am dealing with), although maybe too clinic-based (?). Have yet to shadow.
It’s also important to note that I do not have home residency programs in any of these, although I do have faculty for ENT and derm that I can reach out to.
I’m definitely keeping an open mind to other specialties, but with step 1 going p/f and coming from a low-tier MD school, not preparing to potentially choose something competitive makes me nervous. Grades have been fairly good, although I’m not a genius. Currently involved in some plastics research. I’d like help picking a specialty to focus on so I can start making connections and gearing research towards it.
TLDR; Current MS1 at low-tier MD school without home programs for plastics, ENT, and derm. Thought I wanted to do plastics, although getting deeper involvement has shown me maybe I’m not decisive enough to be a plastic surgeon. Maybe considering derm or ENT. No home programs, so extra motivated to prepare, but for what is the question. What to focus on? How bad is indecisiveness as a quality for someone interested in surgery?
Why I am interested in plastic surgery:
- I am creative and have an artistic eye (fairly decent painter for many years)
- Operate from head to toe and so many options for subspecialization
- Could work with a largely female patient population if I eventually focused on oncologic breast reconstruction
- Enjoyed the OR environment when I shadowed, time flew by
Why I don’t think I’m cut out for it:
- A bit TOO innovative, too many approaches to certain problems and I fear I’m not decisive enough to make a decision quickly enough. Prefer more algorithmic problems
- Unsure if it is sustainable physically in the long run. I’m not a frail victorian child but I’m unsure if performing long cases will be feasible when I’m 50 y.o. My knees and back are already cracking and aching. Left hand shakes a little
- Not currently interested in having children, but if that changes a long surgical residency may not be conducive
Other specialties I am considering include ENT (some overlap with plastics, some opportunity for recon., can cater practice to more clinic side when older. Although Not sure if I like endoscopic procedures). I was an ENT scribe for a few years and didn’t like the day-to-day pathologies (allergies, sinusitis, LPR, vertigo) that much, also a lot of children and I’m not too keen on the pediatric population.
Also interested in dermatology (I am a visual person and like the idea of seeing what I am dealing with), although maybe too clinic-based (?). Have yet to shadow.
It’s also important to note that I do not have home residency programs in any of these, although I do have faculty for ENT and derm that I can reach out to.
I’m definitely keeping an open mind to other specialties, but with step 1 going p/f and coming from a low-tier MD school, not preparing to potentially choose something competitive makes me nervous. Grades have been fairly good, although I’m not a genius. Currently involved in some plastics research. I’d like help picking a specialty to focus on so I can start making connections and gearing research towards it.
TLDR; Current MS1 at low-tier MD school without home programs for plastics, ENT, and derm. Thought I wanted to do plastics, although getting deeper involvement has shown me maybe I’m not decisive enough to be a plastic surgeon. Maybe considering derm or ENT. No home programs, so extra motivated to prepare, but for what is the question. What to focus on? How bad is indecisiveness as a quality for someone interested in surgery?