Applying for >1 residency at same institution

[ktsue]

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What is the real consequence of applying for more than one residency program at a single institution? I really enjoy EM but also like IM critical care. I also want to stay in a certain city to be with my significant other who has major commitments of his own within this city. My relationship I’m certain will last beyond whatever career I have. I just want to know what I have to look forward to in applying for EM and IM within the same institution.

 

[BKN]

I just want to know what I have to look forward to in applying for EM and IM within the same institution.

IM.

Seriously, I wouldn't care, but there might be other PDs who would.

 

[iatrosB]

The biggest thing to worry about is if they find out (in my opinion). I think it would bother most PDs, but they might not even know.

 

[Sweet Tea]

I applied to some prelim IM spots where I was also applying for EM. I did this because I applied to some PGY 2-4 EM programs and wanted to do my prelim year near my fiance. It's a bit of a different situation than what you're talking about but I didn't hear any bad comments about it. Then again, I scrambled, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

 

[jazz27]

I applied to some prelim IM spots where I was also applying for EM. I did this because I applied to some PGY 2-4 EM programs and wanted to do my prelim year near my fiance. It's a bit of a different situation than what you're talking about but I didn't hear any bad comments about it. Then again, I scrambled, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

To this post, you're right- your situation is different than the one the OP refers to. I really don't think a PD in EM would mind if an applicant applies to a prelim- they know it's a backup for not matching and it's required for the 2,3,4 programs that they may be applying to.

To the OP, if a PD finds out that you applied to a second training program like IM, you may lose a few points on Commitment to EM. But this is one part of the application. If you're otherwise a solid applicant with good scores and good grades, I'm sure it won't hurt you as much. So in the end, it's a judgement call- you have to weigh how good of an applicant you are against taking this risk. Sorry, it's hard to give this question a clear answer.

 

[FoughtFyr]

To the OP, if a PD finds out that you applied to a second training program like IM, you may lose a few points on Commitment to EM. But this is one part of the application. If you're otherwise a solid applicant with good scores and good grades, I'm sure it won't hurt you as much. So in the end, it's a judgement call- you have to weigh how good of an applicant you are against taking this risk. Sorry, it's hard to give this question a clear answer.

I was one of three residents involved in our recruiting efforts this year. All of us would argue against anyone who we thought was "settling" in other ways not fully dedicated to EM. It really ended up "hurting" several applicants who had clearly counted on other specialties prior to entering the match for EM.

- H

 

[Tired Pigeon]

I was one of three residents involved in our recruiting efforts this year. All of us would argue against anyone who we thought was "settling" in other ways not fully dedicated to EM. It really ended up "hurting" several applicants who had clearly counted on other specialties prior to entering the match for EM.

- H

Just curious - what if the other programs applied to were the backup in case the applicant couldn't match in EM (1st choice). Would that still be viewed as a negative?

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

Just curious - what if the other programs applied to were the backup in case the applicant couldn't match in EM (1st choice). Would that still be viewed as a negative?

I think the argument with that is that if you *really* want to do EM, you should at the very least, give a prelim year and a second go around in the match a chance before picking another field..


I am young still in this (just finished MSIV) but if I had interviewed two candidates to be in my program, both with similar stats... and one tells me his plan, if he does not match to EM, is to do a prelim year, gain knowledge, maturity, and polish his application.... well that would mean more to me than the guy that says, well I am also applying to FP and IM, that way I can get in somewhere (oh, and if they throw in... that way I can work in an ER anyways... yikes, just dont say that...) and its more important that I be near my mom/wife/gf/whatever..... I argee family is important, but also I think at this stage in our life, it is important for our family to be behind us and to follow us around as we as applicants often have little choice in the end.

Good luck...keep it on the low down, and at least apply to one prelim so you can, without telling a fib, say you applied to such and such prelim as a backup and you are looking at a few IM programs that are close to home...

 

[jazz27]

This is a question along the same lines as the original one- I also tried searching for it but didn't come up with anything. What about applying to both EM and EM/IM or EM/FM combined programs at the same institution? The PD would definitely find out about that- does that look bad?

 

[-Goose-]

I was one of three residents involved in our recruiting efforts this year. All of us would argue against anyone who we thought was "settling" in other ways not fully dedicated to EM. It really ended up "hurting" several applicants who had clearly counted on other specialties prior to entering the match for EM.

- H

Are you saying that if an applicant considered another field, such as ortho trauma, and did research in that field, then decided to apply for EM, their previous interest in trauma would hurt them?

 

[FoughtFyr]

Are you saying that if an applicant considered another field, such as ortho trauma, and did research in that field, then decided to apply for EM, their previous interest in trauma would hurt them?

No. I'm saying that if the applicant didn't just consider another field but instead applied to both ortho AND EM programs we would actively campaign against their admission. No one likes to be the "back-up" plan and EM is competitive enough that we don't have to be. Research is good, in any field. One of my close friends was a MD/Ph.D. in immunology who ended up in EM. BUT, she only applied to EM programs and "sold" herself during interview season as having a significant interest in anaphylaxis. You could certainly craft a great application with ortho trauma research...

- H

 

[-Goose-]

No. I'm saying that if the applicant didn't just consider another field but instead applied to both ortho AND EM programs we would actively campaign against their admission. No one likes to be the "back-up" plan and EM is competitive enough that we don't have to be. Research is good, in any field. One of my close friends was a MD/Ph.D. in immunology who ended up in EM. BUT, she only applied to EM programs and "sold" herself during interview season as having a significant interest in anaphylaxis. You could certainly craft a great application with ortho trauma research...

- H

ahh.. thanks. thats what i was thinking from the beginning.