Advice staying within preliminary program?

[LP1549]

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Hi. I was wondering if anyone can give me any advice?

I am a fourth year medical student about to find out where I match in less than 2 weeks. However, after doing research and numerous physicians trying to deter me from anesthesia, I am having doubts about my choice. I enjoy the specialty and loved my anesthesiology rotation but I just don't know if I made the right decision. I am hoping that I will not match this year but in the event of me matching (which is high) I was thinking of calling the PD and breaking my contract. I think I rather not match and take a year off so I can reevaluate what I want to do. I have also ranked advanced positions and might consider staying within my preliminary program for IM. I was just wondering if anyone have done this and any advice on what I should do at this point? Thank you and I wish everyone the best of luck this match cycle.

 

[Nivens]

Sorry you're going through this. My gut reaction would be to match, start residency and work very hard to build a good reputation, and then try and move laterally to another specialty if you still feel that's the best path for you. Intern year is a pretty transformative experience, and it's impossible to predict as an MS4 what your feelings will be like when it's over. I myself was on the fence about surgery late in my fourth year and am so relieved I didn't go that route. However, if I changed my mind I don't think I would have had a problem changing departments. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush. A broken contract is something you will have to explain forever- I don't recommend stacking the deck against yourself.

 

[nimbus]

It's your life and you're not a slave. You are young and have a right to change your mind and any reasonable program will be supportive. We had 3people switch specialties during my residency to psych, urology, and medicine. Two in my class, one in a class 2 years junior. All on good terms.

As Nivens says, just do a good job where you are so you will have your options open.

 

[KashN]

If you you decide that you really want to do something other than anesthesia, then your best hope would be not to match as you said and scramble into the specialty you would prefer.
However if you do match into a categorical program, I believe you would need to work at least the first 90 days and then you can quit/switch without causing a match violation. This way you would be allowed to participate in the match again next year.
If you match into an advanced spot, again you would need to complete 90 days of your prelim year or the whole thing if your new preferred specialty will count it. But you can then request a waiver to be released from your advanced position starting the next year. I believe this is almost always granted if submitted before Jan 15th of your prelim year or something like that. Then you are free to find any PGY 2 position available, either outside of the match or by applying again next fall.
As said above make sure you work hard in those 90 days and be upfront with your program PD so that you leave on good terms, you will likely need some form of letter from you previous PD when switching specialties no matter which route you go.

But I hope if you go this route you really are wanting to do something else and not just letting 5 unhappy attendings on SDN dissuade you from a specialty you would thoroughly enjoy.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile app

 

[Ronin786]

You can always change your mind halfway through intern year and apply for next year's match with a year of internship and the ability to get a permanent license. What you can't always do is match into residency after breaking your commitment once already and sitting around for a year.

 

[deleted171991]

Hi. I was wondering if anyone can give me any advice?

I am a fourth year medical student about to find out where I match in less than 2 weeks. However, after doing research and numerous physicians trying to deter me from anesthesia, I am having doubts about my choice. I enjoy the specialty and loved my anesthesiology rotation but I just don't know if I made the right decision. I am hoping that I will not match this year but in the event of me matching (which is high) I was thinking of calling the PD and breaking my contract. I think I rather not match and take a year off so I can reevaluate what I want to do. I have also ranked advanced positions and might consider staying within my preliminary program for IM. I was just wondering if anyone have done this and any advice on what I should do at this point? Thank you and I wish everyone the best of luck this match cycle.

Did anybody try to deter you from anesthesia in real life? Don't do anything rash.

 

[Chloroform4Life]

Hi. I was wondering if anyone can give me any advice?

I am a fourth year medical student about to find out where I match in less than 2 weeks. However, after doing research and numerous physicians trying to deter me from anesthesia, I am having doubts about my choice. I enjoy the specialty and loved my anesthesiology rotation but I just don't know if I made the right decision. I am hoping that I will not match this year but in the event of me matching (which is high) I was thinking of calling the PD and breaking my contract. I think I rather not match and take a year off so I can reevaluate what I want to do. I have also ranked advanced positions and might consider staying within my preliminary program for IM. I was just wondering if anyone have done this and any advice on what I should do at this point? Thank you and I wish everyone the best of luck this match cycle.

What exactly did these physicians who tried to deter you say for you to want to make such a drastic decision?

 

[LP1549]

Did anybody try to deter you from anesthesia in real life? Don't do anything rash.

Yes these were actual physicians/residents on my current and last rotations. Not just in anesthesiology. And reading this forum is not helping either. I should be happy about the match but instead falling into depression over my decision. I can't even focus on rotations or sleep because of this. I guess I have to wait until match day and see what I can do.

 

[LP1549]

What exactly did these physicians who tried to deter you say for you to want to make such a drastic decision?

Pretty much exactly what has been said on this forum. That I have made a huge mistake and should change immediately. I don't think anyone had anything positive to say.

 

[pgg]

Don't break the match contract. Don't make any abrupt decisions.

Show up and be an intern. Be a good one. You can leave as a PGY2 for another specialty.

What do you think programs in a different specialty will think of you next year, if you break this year's contract and spend a year doing nothing useful?

 

[Consigliere]

What exactly did these physicians who tried to deter you say for you to want to make such a drastic decision?

The truth.