advice needed

[optiplex]

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I have a dilemma. I am in my 4th year medical school currently. I should be applying to residency. However, I have only recently came to the conclusion that Ophthalmology is what I want to do. I am faced with the choice of whether to apply to a prelim year then apply to ophthalmology or if I should do a year of research then apply next year to prelim and ophthal residency? Please help.

 

[MAYOphtho]

my personal opinion would be to do the year of research...that gives you a double benefit: (1) your application is enhanced by the research and (2) you'd have to take a year off after your prelim year if you did that first...unless you landed one of the 1-2 open PGY2 spots that cycle...

again, just my opinion...but hopefully it helps a little

 

[minterr]

if you do it now you can get the benefits of doing it as a student, rather than a graduate (if you hold off on some of your 4th year rotations). your student loans will be deferred; funding is easier to find; you'll keep your schools healthcare.

 

[Corn Dog]

I agree with the posts above (although as far as I know, students loans can still be deferred as a resident). I don't think it's a difficult question at all. I mean, what benefits do you think you'll get from doing a year of prelim first?

 

[minterr]

some student loans are interest free until you graduate, then they start accumulating interest even if you can defer payments. also, I don't know if you can defer while doing research, though you can during residency.

 

[bulldoc]

you may want to talk to your dean to see if you can extend your 4th year into 2 years. i know that is an option for some medical schools. that way you can have elective months to do research, you'll still be in school so you don't have to defer loans as a resident, and you'll have time to rotate in ophthalmology departments for electives.

 

[DOapplicant]

Many programs are only beginning to review applications now. If your numbers are good, already have an ophtho letter, and can send out your application now, you may be able to match this year. Of course, you should have a contingency plan. Good luck.

 

[eyestar]

Many programs are only beginning to review applications now. If your numbers are good, already have an ophtho letter, and can send out your application now, you may be able to match this year. Of course, you should have a contingency plan. Good luck.

I disagree. It is too late to apply for this year's match but you can apply for next year. I was in a similar situation years ago- I did transitional year then matched and had a year off before starting ophtho residency. Thinking back, I made the right decision because internship right after medical school is easier and you can take step3 and get it over with and enjoy your year off before starting ophtho.
If your application is weak, then you need to do research or ophtho elective to strengthen your application which you can do next year. The difficulty is in getting a prelim/transitional that gives you elective months in the beginning of your internship and lets you do ophtho. If you cannot find an internship with elective months and flexible schedule, then it might be easier to do research. hope it helps

 

[Krony]

If it were me my preference would be to get the intern year out of the way. Another advantage is that you can get your license and do some moonlighting during your year off for better $ than you could make doing research. However, if you feel you need the research for your application, this could be a benefit of doing the research first, as you likely won't have time to significantly augment your application during your intern year.