Adrift after MS I

[Sid Viscous]

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After finishing my first year of med school and finally getting a chance to think, I'm trying to figure out what need to do to keep residency doors open. I have no idea what specialty I want to pursue, but several competitive areas like derm/surgery/radiology do strike my interest.

I did very well academically, honoring 7 and high passing 1 out of 9 academic classes (had 2 exemptions). Unfortunately, that came at the expense of extracurriculars and outside interests. I played intramural sports, and thats about it.

This summer I signed up for a community health program (working at a senior center & designing a public health project) because I wanted to have something to say to residencies about my life outside the library, but frankly the job sucks. I'm wishing I could gracefully bow out and head to the beach and/or go on a camping tour of national parks while I still have a piece of my last summer left.

Cliffnotes version of my question: Can I get away with doing nothing the summer after MS I, how bad will it hurt me that I wasn't more involved during the academic year, and how do people find time to partcipate in all of these groups with such a massive workload?

 

[Blade28]

If you're interested, are there any potential research projects you could participate in? This is especially helpful for supercompetitive fields like Derm.

Honoring your basic science classes is nice but unfortunately counts for very little come residency application time. Extra-curriculars also don't play much of a role (they're "nice to have"). Of more value are your Step 1 score, MS-III grades, AOA, research, and letters of recommendation.

 

[njbmd]

After finishing my first year of med school and finally getting a chance to think, I'm trying to figure out what need to do to keep residency doors open. I have no idea what specialty I want to pursue, but several competitive areas like derm/surgery/radiology do strike my interest.

I did very well academically, honoring 7 and high passing 1 out of 9 academic classes (had 2 exemptions). Unfortunately, that came at the expense of extracurriculars and outside interests. I played intramural sports, and thats about it.

This summer I signed up for a community health program (working at a senior center & designing a public health project) because I wanted to have something to say to residencies about my life outside the library, but frankly the job sucks. I'm wishing I could gracefully bow out and head to the beach and/or go on a camping tour of national parks while I still have a piece of my last summer left.

Cliffnotes version of my question: Can I get away with doing nothing the summer after MS I, how bad will it hurt me that I wasn't more involved during the academic year, and how do people find time to partcipate in all of these groups with such a massive workload?

OK, you did well over your MS-1 year and that deserves a "congratulations". Why not just spend the summer relaxing and doing some of those fun things that you didn't have time for.

I strongly suggest that you shadow a dermatologist for a couple of days this summer. You may find that derm, while hyped as the most wonderful specialty, might not be for you. It really isn't that appealing for most people other than the folks who have no shot at getting into a derm residency.

Doing the project is nice but if your heart isn't in it, and you didn't make any firm promises to colleagues, then bow out and relax. As others have said, extracurriculars will not carry you into a competitive residency if you don't have the grades/board scores/LORs. You have great grades and this is the last summer that you really can totally relax.

One thing that you might work on is getting yourself into a good fitness program that you can maintain over the regular term. This should be something that gets your heart rate up for about 30 minutes three times a week. Good for stress relief and keeping you sane.

 

[Sid Viscous]

It seems that most people doing research this summer arranged it well ahead of time, but that might work. Any idea where to start looking?

 

[bcat85]

It seems that most people doing research this summer arranged it well ahead of time, but that might work. Any idea where to start looking?

I would definitely check with your student affairs or curricular affairs office. A lot of schools have summer research internships.

 

[vtucci]

If you are sure that you want to go into a field like derm, than research in that field is advisable. Contact the derm department and see if you can get in on a case report or lit review. These are very doable in a summer.

If you just want to keep the doors open, research in any field is helpful but you still need research in the more competitive fields or something directly related.

I am involved in infectious disease research as ID spans every field including my future on (EM).

 

[Sid Viscous]

I am involved in infectious disease research as ID spans every field including my future on (EM).

Great tip. Thanks!