Stop asking me what specialty I'm interested in.

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Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
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Wizard of Oz

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I've been in medical school for a month now, and it seems like everybody asks this question over and over again as if my answer gives me a sort of master status. Answer orthopod, and you are a gunner. Answer family medicine, and you are either a Patch Adams or you shoulda gone to a DO school (depending on the view of the questioner). Answer path, and you are just a freak (like why are you taking up a spot in my med school?) Answer rads, and you are just in this for the money. Please note that I don't actually share or endorse these views--I just sense it from others.

I have not taken a significant test yet. I have not been pimped by a surgeon while she operates an unconscious patient. I have not had to wake up before the sun rises to read charts before rounds. I know very little about lifestyle differences, insurance reimbursement, or differences in malpractice coverage. Yes you can read about this stuff on the Internet, but it is not the same. Please, let me worry today about the cardiac plexus and carbohydrate metabolism. Asking me what specialty I am interested in at this point is like asking a 14-year-old girl who she wants to marry.

Does anybody else agree with me about this? I can see why they may ask this during medical school interviews, but please, can we just eat what is on our plates first? Don't the majority of students change their minds in the long run?
 
Yes, most do change their minds. But, it's not a bad ice-breaker question. I'm socially inept to begin with, so that's the kind of question I'd ask someone just to get a conversation started (and to see if I have anything in common with them). If you aren't sure, that's a fine answer. Even if you elaborated on why you hate the question, it might result in an interesting chat.




So... um...

{awkward pause}


What was your major?
 
Wizard of Oz said:
I've been in medical school for a month now, and it seems like everybody asks this question over and over again as if my answer gives me a sort of master status. Answer orthopod, and you are a gunner. Answer family medicine, and you are either a Patch Adams or you shoulda gone to a DO school (depending on the view of the questioner). Answer path, and you are just a freak (like why are you taking up a spot in my med school?) Answer rads, and you are just in this for the money. Please note that I don't actually share or endorse these views--I just sense it from others.

I have not taken a significant test yet. I have not been pimped by a surgeon while she operates an unconscious patient. I have not had to wake up before the sun rises to read charts before rounds. I know very little about lifestyle differences, insurance reimbursement, or differences in malpractice coverage. Yes you can read about this stuff on the Internet, but it is not the same. Please, let me worry today about the cardiac plexus and carbohydrate metabolism. Asking me what specialty I am interested in at this point is like asking a 14-year-old girl who she wants to marry.

Does anybody else agree with me about this? I can see why they may ask this during medical school interviews, but please, can we just eat what is on our plates first? Don't the majority of students change their minds in the long run?
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Get used to this. You will be asked this at every family function for the next several years. Just pick something and let them think they have you pegged -- you can always change your mind later.
 
Whenever people ask me what kind of doctor I'm going to be, I tell them, "an old one." If they're still persistent, I tell them, "a poor one." Usually one or both of those answers changes the topic of conversation to what made me decide to go back to school in my thirties. And if they ask a THIRD time (which has happened), I tell them, "an anesthesiologist." Then I agree with them about how good the lifestyle of anesthesiologists is, even though if I even do become an anesthesiologist, I almost certainly won't be a practicing one. :laugh:
 
One doctor told me I should just answer, "A pretty good one." 🙂 But I like "a poor one" too, QofQuimica--maybe I'll alternate!
 
Wizard of Oz said:
I've been in medical school for a month now, and it seems like everybody asks this question over and over again as if my answer gives me a sort of master status. Answer orthopod, and you are a gunner. Answer family medicine, and you are either a Patch Adams or you shoulda gone to a DO school (depending on the view of the questioner). Answer path, and you are just a freak (like why are you taking up a spot in my med school?) Answer rads, and you are just in this for the money. Please note that I don't actually share or endorse these views--I just sense it from others.

I have not taken a significant test yet. I have not been pimped by a surgeon while she operates an unconscious patient. I have not had to wake up before the sun rises to read charts before rounds. I know very little about lifestyle differences, insurance reimbursement, or differences in malpractice coverage. Yes you can read about this stuff on the Internet, but it is not the same. Please, let me worry today about the cardiac plexus and carbohydrate metabolism. Asking me what specialty I am interested in at this point is like asking a 14-year-old girl who she wants to marry.

Does anybody else agree with me about this? I can see why they may ask this during medical school interviews, but please, can we just eat what is on our plates first? Don't the majority of students change their minds in the long run?
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As Ive said many times before. Even with the monster type exams a LARGE part maybe even 50% of this medical arena is communicating effectively, consistently and at the right time to people. Especially when you may not feel like it!! Get use to talking (guy or gal) say something, anything and you are expected to make sense. Thats one of the many differences between you and the guy selling tacos.
 
Law2Doc said:
Get used to this. You will be asked this at every family function for the next several years. Just pick something and let them think they have you pegged -- you can always change your mind later.
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Well not really--that's one reason why my family remains ignorant of my career choice.

BTW, QofQuimica, the only one that irks me more is "Why did you go back to school?" (I actually never left school, and I guess I look old.)

I'm not really sold on the "learning communication is necessary" slant in the case of disclosing personal information. I agree that it is a valuable skill which is very useful clinically, but I have never met a doctor who had time to discuss his personal ambitions with me in his clinic. In fact, I have found that residents tend to become very annoyed if you ask them something as simple as "How many years do you have left?" while they are checking my ears.

Well I guess we just eliminated primary care for me.
 
answer: "have you seen nip/tuck?"
 
Wizard of Oz said:
Well not really--that's one reason why my family remains ignorant of my career choice.

BTW, QofQuimica, the only one that irks me more is "Why did you go back to school?" (I actually never left school, and I guess I look old.)

I'm not really sold on the "learning communication is necessary" slant in the case of disclosing personal information. I agree that it is a valuable skill which is very useful clinically, but I have never met a doctor who had time to discuss his personal ambitions with me in his clinic. In fact, I have found that residents tend to become very annoyed if you ask them something as simple as "How many years do you have left?" while they are checking my ears.

Well I guess we just eliminated primary care for me.
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I've always found doctors to be pleasant when discussing my aspirations and their past. I don't remember the last time I was examined by a resident, though, and given how busy they are I can see how that might happen.

As far as looking old, be grateful. Whenever I'm talking to patients at the hospital I get, "Are you old enough to be a medical student?" I always respond with, "How old do I look?" Inevitably the answer is 19 or 20. I'm 25!!
 
Wizard of Oz said:
BTW, QofQuimica, the only one that irks me more is "Why did you go back to school?" (I actually never left school, and I guess I look old.)
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Heh, well, that doesn't irk me, because I really *am* old, and I can usually talk longer on this subject than they care to listen to me. 😛 I mean, all I have to do is offer to tell such people about my dissertation projects, and they suddenly get this panicky look in their eyes and abruptly start making excuses for why they really do have to leave, RIGHT NOW. :laugh:

In all seriousness, I think you should have more fun with people and their intrusive questions than you have been. Now that we're having this discussion and it's making me think more about this whole issue, I've decided that from now on I will tell people that I'm going to be a coroner. I bet that would stop most of these conversations COLD, even faster than talking about chemistry does. But if by some chance it doesn't, I can always tell them that I look forward to seeing them again as soon as I begin my career. :laugh:
 
Wizard of Oz said:
Well not really--that's one reason why my family remains ignorant of my career choice.

BTW, QofQuimica, the only one that irks me more is "Why did you go back to school?" (I actually never left school, and I guess I look old.)

I'm not really sold on the "learning communication is necessary" slant in the case of disclosing personal information. I agree that it is a valuable skill which is very useful clinically, but I have never met a doctor who had time to discuss his personal ambitions with me in his clinic. In fact, I have found that residents tend to become very annoyed if you ask them something as simple as "How many years do you have left?" while they are checking my ears.

Well I guess we just eliminated primary care for me.
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I can't impress this upon you enough. You see how powerful good communication is {not everyone can do it although they think they can}!! You were able to r/o primary care just by communicating your deeper thoughts to the forum.:laugh: 👍
 
Wizard of Oz said:
I've been in medical school for a month now, and it seems like everybody asks this question over and over again as if my answer gives me a sort of master status. Answer orthopod, and you are a gunner. Answer family medicine, and you are either a Patch Adams or you shoulda gone to a DO school (depending on the view of the questioner). Answer path, and you are just a freak (like why are you taking up a spot in my med school?) Answer rads, and you are just in this for the money. Please note that I don't actually share or endorse these views--I just sense it from others.

I have not taken a significant test yet. I have not been pimped by a surgeon while she operates an unconscious patient. I have not had to wake up before the sun rises to read charts before rounds. I know very little about lifestyle differences, insurance reimbursement, or differences in malpractice coverage. Yes you can read about this stuff on the Internet, but it is not the same. Please, let me worry today about the cardiac plexus and carbohydrate metabolism. Asking me what specialty I am interested in at this point is like asking a 14-year-old girl who she wants to marry.

Does anybody else agree with me about this? I can see why they may ask this during medical school interviews, but please, can we just eat what is on our plates first? Don't the majority of students change their minds in the long run?
Click to expand...

What specialities are you interested in anyway?
 
mjl1717 said:
I can't impress this upon you enough. You see how powerful good communication is {not everyone can do it although they think they can}!! You were able to r/o primary care just by communicating your deeper thoughts to the forum.:laugh: 👍
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But in all seriousness you dont go into the field to be mute.
But anaesthiology (I spelled that wrong), radiology and pathology may cater to this on some level.
Geez, if its that hard to articulate at least give them a reflexive, stiff, gadget type, response like -"A GOOD ONE" and dont say it too soft!!
 
if the conversation keeps coming up (which it will), try using a neutral specialty, such as Internal medicine with a fellowship of some sort. For example rheumatology, hematology, GI, endocrinology, even cardiology. Those are all pretty reasonable answers..

for me I could care less what label is placed on me so I just tell people what I am honestly interested in. You could try that too..
 
Or you could name a couple of wildly divergent ones--say, "path or peds" :laugh:

(seriously...if the person asking is just trying to open a door for conversation, naming a couple of possibilities just gives you more to talk about.)
 
BTW...OP, I find your open-mindedness and your desire to concentrate on the here-and-now very refreshing! 🙂
 
QofQuimica said:
Heh, well, that doesn't irk me, because I really *am* old, and I can usually talk longer on this subject than they care to listen to me. 😛 I mean, all I have to do is offer to tell such people about my dissertation projects, and they suddenly get this panicky look in their eyes and abruptly start making excuses for why they really do have to leave, RIGHT NOW. :laugh:

In all seriousness, I think you should have more fun with people and their intrusive questions than you have been. Now that we're having this discussion and it's making me think more about this whole issue, I've decided that from now on I will tell people that I'm going to be a coroner. I bet that would stop most of these conversations COLD, even faster than talking about chemistry does. But if by some chance it doesn't, I can always tell them that I look forward to seeing them again as soon as I begin my career. :laugh:
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Yeah I am actually relatively old too because (like you?--judging from your use of the word "dissertation"), I went to graduate school for a while and did some other hospital work before starting med school. Because I do not fit the typical demographics of my classmates, they do not approach me much since they believe I have nothing in common with them. Many are also intimidated by my previous education and experience.

Somebody asked this, so I'll answer. My training and experience are in clinical microbiology, so my desire in medicine has been mostly in the ID realm over the past few years. Since I am old and am already many tens of thousands in the red from past educational debt, I am beginning to question the value of such a specialty given current trends in our healthcare system. I think that we can all agree that we should try to do what we want, but there are a ton of reasons for choosing one specialty over another that have absolutely nothing to do with the actual nature of the medicine in itself.

The reason that I am irked, though, is that if I don't excel in my current classes and later in step 1, then I will have fewer options when I actually get to my clinical years. I am all about creating opportunities and then deciding whether I want to use them later on rather than leaving myself in a position where the opportunities simply don't exist.

All of the advice that I get from older students is to spend the first two years preparing for the step 1 and then worry about augmenting with research and selectives later on after we get the step 1 in our back pockets.

Yes, I agree that communication is necessary, but let's say that you want to be a dermatologist. This is a field in which solid communication with patients will be a part of one's daily routine. Here's my point--you can spend all of the time you want working on your communication skills in your first two years. If you are not good at memorizing renal tubule antagonists and deep arterial anastomoses, you don't get to be a dermatologist. So I say, yes, have goals, shoot for the stars, win one for the gipper, yada yada, but MS 1's are at the beginning of an arduous journey. Let's get that beachfront bombed before we send the infantry in.
 
If you really want to screw with them...say a really obscure specialty like aerospace medicine(which actually exists, although how you actually get to it, I have no idea)
 
Wizard of Oz said:
Yeah I am actually relatively old too because (like you?--judging from your use of the word "dissertation"), I went to graduate school for a while and did some other hospital work before starting med school. Because I do not fit the typical demographics of my classmates, they do not approach me much since they believe I have nothing in common with them. Many are also intimidated by my previous education and experience.

Somebody asked this, so I'll answer. My training and experience are in clinical microbiology, so my desire in medicine has been mostly in the ID realm over the past few years. Since I am old and am already many tens of thousands in the red from past educational debt, I am beginning to question the value of such a specialty given current trends in our healthcare system. I think that we can all agree that we should try to do what we want, but there are a ton of reasons for choosing one specialty over another that have absolutely nothing to do with the actual nature of the medicine in itself.

The reason that I am irked, though, is that if I don't excel in my current classes and later in step 1, then I will have fewer options when I actually get to my clinical years. I am all about creating opportunities and then deciding whether I want to use them later on rather than leaving myself in a position where the opportunities simply don't exist.

All of the advice that I get from older students is to spend the first two years preparing for the step 1 and then worry about augmenting with research and selectives later on after we get the step 1 in our back pockets.

Yes, I agree that communication is necessary, but let's say that you want to be a dermatologist. This is a field in which solid communication with patients will be a part of one's daily routine. Here's my point--you can spend all of the time you want working on your communication skills in your first two years. If you are not good at memorizing renal tubule antagonists and deep arterial anastomoses, you don't get to be a dermatologist. So I say, yes, have goals, shoot for the stars, win one for the gipper, yada yada, but MS 1's are at the beginning of an arduous journey. Let's get that beachfront bombed before we send the infantry in.
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Oz, I hear ya. To me it's a fight to every progression or step that you take..
 
Wizard of Oz said:
but please, can we just eat what is on our plates first?
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Funny, I was once dining with some donors to my undergrad alma mater, wealthy alumni who contribute big, mostly with engineering backgrounds who don't really have a strong sense for the medical field and the process of field selection.

It was a 10 person round table, the guy sitting across from me had his face fully stuffed with food, and while chewing managed to overwhelm the entire table's discussion to ask me what specialty I wanted, and what state I would practice in. I'm looking at my plate thinking sheesh, I haven't even started school, why are you hitting me with the heavy questions.

So, food in mouth, I managed to look over the guy and say "not sure but, lets go around the table, I'd like to hear some suggestions," glancing at the others, inviting them to participate. These cats wouldn't shut up for 20 minutes, and I finished my food in peace.
 
Wizard of Oz said:
Yeah I am actually relatively old too because (like you?--judging from your use of the word "dissertation"), I went to graduate school for a while and did some other hospital work before starting med school. Because I do not fit the typical demographics of my classmates, they do not approach me much since they believe I have nothing in common with them. Many are also intimidated by my previous education and experience.
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Ok, so this is going to be a more serious post than my last one. I don't fit the "typical demographics" of most of my classmates either, and yeah, there are plenty of young, silly ones. I came into med school already having my PhD. I'm 31, not 22, and a year ago I was TAing organic for kids who aren't much younger than some of these guys. But there ARE some people in my class with whom I have common interests (some fellow non-trads, but also some trads). I'll wager my life that there are some likeminded classmates at your school too, even if you're the only non-trad. This whole business of them not approaching you....well, why do you not approach them, then? Join a club, make an effort to get to know people who seem interesting. Go up to people after class if they ask about a topic that you're interested in too and talk to them about it. You don't have to pretend that you are 22 years old and play beer pong with your classmates on weekends, but you don't have to be aloof and unapproachable, either.

One other thought to ponder: if it is your classmates who are asking you about what you want to be when you grow up, then they ARE approaching you, and they ARE trying to get to know you. But if you brush them off, they'll eventually get the hint and stay away from you. Is that really what you want?
 
I think you should make up some bizarre-sounding specialty and tell people that's what you want to do....like be an cranioanalogist. And when they ask you what those kinds of docs do, tell them that you will help people get their heads out of their asses.

But, seriously, I hear ya on the old-looking thing. I am looked at in my class as some kind of mother-figure and people always ask me why I decided to go back to school and if it's easy having a family and being in medical school. I'm only 26. I guess they assume I went back because I look old and I guess they assume I have a family because I have big hips. Is that fair?

Anyway, I hear ya on the specialty thing too. I don't know. And I'm only a first year medical student - a 2 month medical student, at that. I cannot diagnose the bump on your ass and I don't know what kind of doc I want to be. Go to someone who has already graduated from med. school and maybe they can help you figure out if you have HPV. Man!!!

Hang in there!
 
I still fail to realize why people get all flustered over this question. I mean, it's like when you were growing up and people would ask "Well little Johnny or Susie, what do you want to be when you grow up?" In high school, people want to know what your college plans are. In college, people want to know what you're doing after graduation. In med school, well, you know the drill. If people would take a moment to step out of their "disgruntled med student" shoes, they would see that asking this question would be a natural convo starter for anyone who isn't going through this mess. I agree it gets annoying having to say the same d@mn thing (especially if you are not sure yet), repeatedly at social functions, but it could be worse. Just think when we have to explain the same procedure to patient after patient. Or when we have to repeatedly tell Mrs. Plump to keep her weight down or she'll be back in the ER with more heart complications.
 
Realize that most people who are not in medical school, are not doctors, and are not planning on being one, have no idea how the process of it works.

When people ask those questions, they are trying to be polite and show interest. It's a logical question, like the "what are you going to do after high school?" or "what are you majoring in?" questions you got when you were younger.

I don't see the point of getting all flustered, those people are just trying to be nice.

So be nice back. 😉
 
the closer I get to match day (which is still quite, quite far away :laugh: ), the more uncertain I am about what I want. While this doesn't concern me, because I think I'll go into my rotations with an open mind, it's making it harder to give an answer to people. Usually though, I tell them surgery or emergency medicine. They're just trying to be friendly.
 
Tell them Peds Gyn, watch them back away.
 
I think the OP was talking more about fellow classmates as opposed to people outside of med school (could be wrong, though)

For a while when people asked I would tell them I was going to be the personal physician to ____________ (insert random celebrity). That got old after awhile, so now if they ask what I'm going in to, I just say "debt."
 
I'm sure "wizard of oz" was just voicing frustrations - one good reason that this forum exists. I'm sure he, like most of us, is nice to the people who ask him that. It's just frustrating for people to ask you something that you are putting pressure on yourself to figure out as soon as possible.

I know that they don't realize that it maybe adds stress to an already stressful situation. They just don't know what else to say.
 
Yeah like other people have mentioned it's a pretty easy ice-breaker.

I think at every stage of our schooling there are these standard ice-breakers. Remember the first few weeks of college, when you'd meet someone new?

Q1: What's your name?
Q2: Where are you from?
Q3: What's your major?

Depending on how skilled you and/or the other person is at conversation, that could be the end of the conversation. Ah, but now we have two new weapons in our arsenal!

Q4: Where did you go for undergrad?
Q5: What specialty are you interested in?

It's not so bad when you think about it from the other way. If you take whoever-it-was's suggestion and answer something neutral or noncommittal ("I don't really know, Internal Medicine maybe but Emergency Medicine or Surgery seem kind of cool - how about you?," which doesn't really answer the question at all but gives the other person the chance to tell you all about how he/she has shadowed 6 orthopedic surgeons including the team orthopod for the New York Giants.

Finding out what specialties everyone is interested in is actually kind of interesting, you may notice a trend in your class.

When you start second year, you get a new icebreaker:

Q6: What did you do for the summer?
 
Well, I think the people who ask me these questions tend to be those not in the medical field, who do not understand that in med school, we don't select our specialities, that we match into it based on our grades, boards, recs etc.

I actually told a few people that I didn't know what speciality I was interested in and they were shocked since they figured med students 'declare' their speciality upon entering med school like college students upon starting college. 😀
 
Thanks Izzy.

I'm experiencing some uneasiness in general. At my school, for instance, half of the class came from one undergraduate institution; and it also seems like more than half stay for their residencies. There is only one allo med school in the state. I don't seem to love here as much as everybody else, but I somehow feel like wanting to leave makes me a traitor or that I shouldn't deserve resident tuition.

As far as specialty is concerned, even if I do really well, I will probably have to choose between staying where I am to do a competative residency or leaving to do a non-competative one. This is not really a concept that most of my classmates grasp yet, and I have found that if I explain my position, it reinforces the apprehensions that they have about me being old, over-educated, and experienced in health care before starting. My school advertises this high top-choice match rate, but looking at where the students actually match, it becomes obvious why the rate is so high.

Thanks to everyone for their input. Remember, if a patient (or fellow SDNer) comes to you with a complaint, be empathetic and use facillitative behaviors!
 
You're welcome Oz.

I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling frustrated and uneasy. It's interesting that this forum shows so many emotions and doubts in a group of people who are often thought of as "able to handle anything and everything without even blinking."

I'm glad that we have this forum to show our human sides and to voice concerns that we are having. I promise if one person is having it, hundreds or more are having the same thoughts.

And I'm sure you have your reason for wanting to leave the state you're in - and that's not a bad thing - you aren't a traitor. After all, you didn't commit to the state, you committed to helping people and "first, doing no harm," right? (I had to throw that in there - our big motto).

It also sounds like you are surrounded by a lot of lucky people who know what they want to do, where they want to do it, when and how. But think about it. They may have decided all of those things based on external influences - dad is an orthopedic surgeon, they shadowed an ENT doc., they like the state because they have a big family and want to be around nieces and nephews, etc.

Perhaps you are just more open-minded and want to keep your options open at this point. There's nothing wrong with that. Just like there's nothing wrong the people described above.

Good luck! I'm sure you will find your niche (I'm sure I will find mine too) - just have a good time looking for it. And I think you're in a great mind-set for it because you're open to it all, at this point. You're not letting anything decide for you.

Good Luck!

And we really do need to keep the love flowing here at SDN. We are all in the same boat (that seems to have a big hole in it) and need to help keep this damn thing afloat.

Peace!
 
NonTradMed said:
Well, I think the people who ask me these questions tend to be those not in the medical field, who do not understand that in med school, we don't select our specialities, that we match into it based on our grades, boards, recs etc.
😀
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I hope not. For most specialties you can pick what you want. It is only the location that you may be sent to for training based on your grades and boards that is variable.

Of course there are some exceptions like Derm and Neurosurg 🙂
 
Wait till 3rd year, every single resident and attending will ask you what you want to go into. And your response will be part of your evaluation for your 'attitude.' My current response is 'I don't know' and then I say that I'm ruling out some - and name some other specialties.

What I ruled out varies dependent on what kind of resident I'm talking to. For example, on OB I said that don't want to do derm. I didn't mention that I wasn't interested in surgery or OB because of their crazy hours. Never lie, but be selective about what you say.
 
NonTradMed said:
Well, I think the people who ask me these questions tend to be those not in the medical field, who do not understand that in med school, we don't select our specialities, that we match into it based on our grades, boards, recs etc.

I actually told a few people that I didn't know what speciality I was interested in and they were shocked since they figured med students 'declare' their speciality upon entering med school like college students upon starting college. 😀
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My extended family is particularly bad. I really have no idea what I want to specialize in. I've been able to rule out a few because of ridiculous hours or unhealthy competition (no Cardiothoracic Surgery or Derm over here) but other than that I'm pretty much open to everything. But every time I give an answer to the tune of "I don't know and I won't even start thinking about that until next year" I get blasted by cousins who apparently think that starting med school without a specific plan is like jumping off a cliff with no parachute... I can only imagine what they think now that I'm a med 2, still with no plan.
 
Wizard of Oz said:
I can see why they may ask this during medical school interviews
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I can't even see why they ask it there. I should just start saying "the one that has good money and lifestyle at the time I match". A bit of refreshing candor should quell them.

Actually I am particularly frustrated by laymen who ask me the question. I don't know what kind of answer they expect, but an answer of Radiology or Anesthesiology routinely draws blank stares. Some joker was fixing my car window the other day and asked, to which I replied "Pathology, do you know what that is". Then he gave me a smartass "uhh, no" as if I brought it up in the first place. God, I should have sectioned him on the spot. Sorry, a little venting there.

Heheh abortion doc and peds gyn, just saw those, nice
 
skypilot said:
I hope not. For most specialties you can pick what you want. It is only the location that you may be sent to for training based on your grades and boards that is variable.

Of course there are some exceptions like Derm and Neurosurg 🙂
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I'm not completely sure about that. I've heard that your boards and grades and recs from rotations do determine quite a few specialities, and some subspecialities (if the residency is short) so I'm not going to count on my natural charms to get me into residency. 😀 😉
 
skypilot said:
I hope not. For most specialties you can pick what you want. It is only the location that you may be sent to for training based on your grades and boards that is variable.

Of course there are some exceptions like Derm and Neurosurg 🙂
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Oh just saw this post. I too have heard this. If one can tolerate 4 yrs of hell in the ghetto...err, underserved area, a choice field shouldn't be terribly hard to pin down in places like that. And after that you get certified and you're set. Naivete disclaimer though.

On the other hand peds or obgyn in Beverly Hills might be a bit tricky. Anyway ppl more knowledgeable about this could clarify at length. I hear board scores, for one thing, are unofficially used as initial filters for candidates. Nothing new there though with regard to standardized tests.
 
it's called, "small talk." lots of people don't like it. but you better get used to it. it's part of life.
 
When people ask "what are you going into?" I usually just answer "your sister."




People no longer talk to me. 🙁
 
caffeinefree08 said:
Wait till 3rd year, every single resident and attending will ask you what you want to go into. And your response will be part of your evaluation for your 'attitude.' My current response is 'I don't know' and then I say that I'm ruling out some - and name some other specialties.

What I ruled out varies dependent on what kind of resident I'm talking to. For example, on OB I said that don't want to do derm. I didn't mention that I wasn't interested in surgery or OB because of their crazy hours. Never lie, but be selective about what you say.
Click to expand...

so true
 
you don't have to tell them what your interested in...just say you have not made up your mind yet
 
Last edited:
ForbiddenComma said:
When people ask "what are you going into?" I usually just answer "your sister."




People no longer talk to me. 🙁
Click to expand...

hahahahaha

Pull that stunt that the dermatologist did on Seinfeld:

Tell em you want to be a dermatologist. (Pimple Popper MD!)

Then ask them what they do

and spend the next 80 minutes being condescending and bragging about how you save lives every day you're in your office!
 
So what specialty are you guys going into?
 
chanx314 said:
If you really want to screw with them...say a really obscure specialty like aerospace medicine(which actually exists, although how you actually get to it, I have no idea)
Click to expand...

UTMB in Galveston has an aerospace rotation. Proximity to NASA has something to do with it.
 
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