Advice on getting the most out of my sit down with a general surgeon

[DenTony11235]

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Currently an M1 and meeting with a general surgeon to get a better feel for the field and how to potentially make for a strong general surgery applicant. It's definitely one of the fields I'm strongly considering at this point. I'm sure many if not most of you out there have done these kind of sit-downs with physician professors at your school since they seem to be very open with medical students and we have lots of questions.

Any advice on how to approach the talk? I want to make the most out of it and maybe have him as a contact for some time to come.

Besides the general questions, any specific questions you guys would recommend I ask that might get interesting replies?

I'd be really fortunate if I could get some mentoring out of this. I've never had an academic mentor before and I think now is a really good time to start. Therefore, any advice on how to approach the sit-down for that purpose would also be greatly appreciated.

 

[seminoma]

Gen surg isn't a super competitive field. Get a 240, work on some research, have decent clerkship grades, work hard, don't be unprofessional, and you'll be golden.

Ask questions about their career, what they love about their job, what they look for in a colleague/future colleague, how their field has changed since they finished residency, etc.

Don't ask questions about step 1 scores or how to be competitive for residency or how much money they make.

 

[joker2400]

Ask about research opportunities in the department. Build some solid relationships early

 

[Psai]

Gen surg isn't a super competitive field. Get a 240, work on some research, have decent clerkship grades, work hard, don't be unprofessional, and you'll be golden.

Ask questions about their career, what they love about their job, what they look for in a colleague/future colleague, how their field has changed since they finished residency, etc.

Don't ask questions about step 1 scores or how to be competitive for residency or how much money they make.

Getting a 240 is hard. Getting good clinical grades is hard.

 

[sloop]

Getting a 240 is hard. Getting good clinical grades is hard.

It's also unnecessary for general surgery. The mean step 1 of matched applicants is like 232.

 

[DenTony11235]

Slightly off topic but is research mandatory? I'm not at a research-oriented school. I get notifications about summer research programs at other schools, but I'd really like to go to Spain this upcoming summer to improve my Spanish and tutor English to kids (I'm a non-native Spanish speaker and I'm in my schools medical Spanish program).

Would you guys think that that program is a good substitute for summer research?

I suppose I can look for non-summer research opportunities

 

[seminoma]

Getting a 240 is hard. Getting good clinical grades is hard.

Being golden is hard too.

 

[Microshaft]

you know what else was hard last night?





















my exam

 

[Anicetus]

Slightly off topic but is research mandatory? I'm not at a research-oriented school. I get notifications about summer research programs at other schools, but I'd really like to go to Spain this upcoming summer to improve my Spanish and tutor English to kids (I'm a non-native Spanish speaker and I'm in my schools medical Spanish program).

Would you guys think that that program is a good substitute for summer research?

I suppose I can look for non-summer research opportunities

No. Do research and really try to get published that summer. Everyone shooting for something surgical be it a specialty or general surgery is doing research for publications. That is unless you believe you can handle it during the academic year this year or next year when you're shooting for that 230-240 on your boards.

 

[seminoma]

Slightly off topic but is research mandatory? I'm not at a research-oriented school. I get notifications about summer research programs at other schools, but I'd really like to go to Spain this upcoming summer to improve my Spanish and tutor English to kids (I'm a non-native Spanish speaker and I'm in my schools medical Spanish program).

Would you guys think that that program is a good substitute for summer research?

I suppose I can look for non-summer research opportunities

It's not a substitute for research, but you should do it if it's something you're passionate about. You will have time to do a quick case report or finish writing a manuscript during MS3. Plus research isn't even necessary for most gen surg.

 

[Merely]

Being golden is hard too.

Touche

 

[TwinsFan]

It also depends on the type of program they are trying to match, surgical sub specialties and big well known academic gen surg programs will all want and nearly require research. Community oriented and less know academic gen surg programs probably not so much.