4th year - Possible to apply for prelim spot, then Ophtho match next year?

[VinnyGT19]

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I'm posting this here, using SDN as my sounding board for what is probably a stupid question:

I'm a 4th year, declared general surgery and have been intent on pursuing it, but recent experiences and conversations with residents have given me cold feet about submitting my ERAS (been done for 1+ weeks, just couldn't bring myself to submit just yet...)

I originally got turned on to medicine as a whole through a local Ophtho who was kind enough to allow me to come to his office for a few weeks in undergrad, and to the OR to observe. I entered med school with the intent of doing ophtho, did optho research, then got lured away 3rd year by Gen surg and IM -- I guess by the allure of broader, systemic stuff that I'd spent the first 2 years of school preparing for.

Obviously it's too late to apply for Ophtho now...and yet I feel rushed in making a decision that will last the rest of my life. Has anyone here done a prelim year, and matched to ophtho as a PGY-2?

Any other alternatives in delaying the decision? Has anyone done research after graduation, then matched the year later? It seems that taking a year off between 3rd and 4th year to do research is commonplace to improve your application, yet I've never heard of anyone doing so after 4th year, and entering the match later.

Any guidance offered would be very appreciated. I've been generally freaking out about residency in general lately to the point where I can't sleep.

 

[speyeder]

My honest opinion is, if you really love ophtho and are 100% sure that's what you want to go into, then I would suggest you take a year off to do research and set up some ophtho rotations during your 4th year to get letters. This will help improve your chances of matching much more than doing a prelim year and then applying. In fact, there are no advantages to doing a prelim year. It doesn't improve your application at all, whereas a year of research in the field will be looked upon much more highly. Of course this means deferring residency for a year. So if your question is, has anyone heard of someone matching after taking a year off to do research after med school, the answer is yes.

 

[rubensan]

i think one of the hardest aspects of medical training is what you just alluded to: the fact that we are expected to make decisions about the rest of our careers in a relatively short amount of time. in your case, a year of ophtho research (with the right people) sounds like a good plan. one, it will help you decide if ophtho is right for you. two, a PRODUCTIVE of year of ophtho research can only help your application to ophthalmology residency. but, don't just take my word. keep talking to lots of people!

good luck!

I'm posting this here, using SDN as my sounding board for what is probably a stupid question:

I'm a 4th year, declared general surgery and have been intent on pursuing it, but recent experiences and conversations with residents have given me cold feet about submitting my ERAS (been done for 1+ weeks, just couldn't bring myself to submit just yet...)

I originally got turned on to medicine as a whole through a local Ophtho who was kind enough to allow me to come to his office for a few weeks in undergrad, and to the OR to observe. I entered med school with the intent of doing ophtho, did optho research, then got lured away 3rd year by Gen surg and IM -- I guess by the allure of broader, systemic stuff that I'd spent the first 2 years of school preparing for.

Obviously it's too late to apply for Ophtho now...and yet I feel rushed in making a decision that will last the rest of my life. Has anyone here done a prelim year, and matched to ophtho as a PGY-2?

Any other alternatives in delaying the decision? Has anyone done research after graduation, then matched the year later? It seems that taking a year off between 3rd and 4th year to do research is commonplace to improve your application, yet I've never heard of anyone doing so after 4th year, and entering the match later.

Any guidance offered would be very appreciated. I've been generally freaking out about residency in general lately to the point where I can't sleep.

 

[Arrowstar]

Possibilities
1. Go through with general surgery. Pick a program where there is more surgery even if there is less academics. Some of the academic programs have low numbers. Pick a program where PGY-1 do a lot of surgery. Even appendectomies will help you with basics such as picking suture, picking a needle, why do you pick a certain needle, how you angle the needle into the tissue, etc.

2. Do ophthalmology research. If you don't do ophthalmology in the end, this would be a potential waste and look not so good on your c.v.

3. Transitional year. Not so good especially if you don't have a permanent residency spot lined up. It makes you look like a loser with no spot that had to do something.

4. Change your plans and apply to plastic surgery. Then do ophthalmology afterwards, then oculoplastics. You will have qualifications that can't be matched by anyone in the nation. This option requires a lot of dedication. Don't be lazy. It can be done, though. Think of it....Dr. Joe Smith, Board Certified in Plastic Surgery and Ophthalmology.

A 6 year plastic surgery program is easier to apply with your preparation and mindset in to general surgery. You can do a month of plastics now and either submit letters later or just tell the programs of your rotation.

 

[babyblue_39]

A friend once observed that choosing a specialty is like being forced to decide to marry someone after only dating them for 4-8 weeks. Its a tough choice, but it is for life so choose carefully. There is no magic answer for what will win you that spot - but it probably is better to get Ophtho related stuff in (pre-fellowship, research) and then just apply for everything (prelim + Ophtho) next year. Unless a spot opens up during the right acadmic year, you'll have to wait a year anyway. Good luck.