applying to 2 fields suggested?

[goldenboy]

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hi! i am an IMG. somebody told me that i should apply to int medicine and another subject like surgery, paeds or psychiatry to maximize my chances of getting a residency. my question is: is it safe to apply to both the subjects in the same hospital? according to some people, if the program directors come to know that u have applied to more than one subject, then it seriously jeopardizes your interview. how true is that?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Originally posted by goldenboy
hi! i am an IMG. somebody told me that i should apply to int medicine and another subject like surgery, paeds or psychiatry to maximize my chances of getting a residency. my question is: is it safe to apply to both the subjects in the same hospital? according to some people, if the program directors come to know that u have applied to more than one subject, then it seriously jeopardizes your interview. how true is that?

It depends on how disparate the fields are. If you apply for something like IM AND Surgery it appears that you are not serious about either because the fields and their training are so different. A PD would be right to look askance at such an application (were he/she to find out) and question why should they interview someone who doesn't seem to care what he does his residency in?


If you are applying to IM and want a "back-up" I suggest applying for a Prelim IM position or an FP position. The examples you've given (Surgery, Peds and Psychiatry) are just too removed from IM.

 

[Apollyon]

I think that Peds and IM both go together; you can say, "I enjoy primary care - adults and children have different perspectives, each of which is enthralling" - but, as you say, psych and surgery are just too 'out there'.

 

[pitman]

Couldn't FP and psych go together, since the former incorporates some of the latter? Anywho, I really don't ever disagree with Kimberli, and she's gone through the process while I have not, but if you see and are truly interested in some perceived overlap between two fields, you have a better chance of convincing others of your genuineness and commitment. Of course this presumes your app isn't trashed for the apparent disparity before the actual interview, so my reasoning seems relevant only if your cover letter gives the explanation.

So alas, I still don't disagree with K. 😛

-pitman

 

[Winged Scapula]

Originally posted by pitman
Couldn't FP and psych go together, since the former incorporates some of the latter? Anywho, I really don't ever disagree with Kimberli, and she's gone through the process while I have not, but if you see and are truly interested in some perceived overlap between two fields, you have a better chance of convincing others of your genuineness and commitment. Of course this presumes your app isn't trashed for the apparent disparity before the actual interview, so my reasoning seems relevant only if your cover letter gives the explanation.

So alas, I still don't disagree with K. 😛

-pitman

Glad to see you've come around to my way of thinking, pitman! 😉

While I agree that FP contains some element of Psych and that IM and Peds aren't THAT different (after all, children are just little adults, right?! 😉 ) - I believe the writer doesn't have these connections in mind but is rather simply looking for a residency, ANY residency.

 

[goldenboy]

hi! thanks for the replies....however i would like to know that if i apply to both surgery and internal medicine....how will the residency directors come to know that i have applied to these altogether different specialities? aernt these departments supposed to have no interaction as far as residency applications are considered? kindly clarify this point, as i am primarily interested in int. medicine and would consider doing surgery only if i dont get a residency in int. medicine. it is not that i am not sure of my future goals and want "any residency"....it is just that i am an IMG without any visa. and i want to be safe, thats all.....
kindly enlighten me with your opinions. thanks!!

 

[Winged Scapula]

Originally posted by goldenboy
how will the residency directors come to know that i have applied to these altogether different specialities? aernt these departments supposed to have no interaction as far as residency applications are considered?

Says who? All applications may go through a central Graduate Medical Education office before being filtered to the specific programs or faculty in the different departments may "talk". I agree that the odds of you being found out are not great, but it seems to me that taking a surgical position only if you didn't get an IM one (not likely that you would get a Categorical Surg if you can't get a Categorical IM) would leave you a pretty unhappy person. Better to at least apply to other programs.

 

[Skip Intro]

Originally posted by pitman
Couldn't FP and psych go together, since the former incorporates some of the latter?

There are training programs that combine both Psych/FP and Internal Medicine/Psych. Both are five years in length and allow graduates the opportunities to double board. These programs tend to be fairly IMG friendly as well.

Check out FREIDA for more info.

http://www.ama-assn.org/vapp/freida/spcstsc/0,2654,720,00.html

http://www.ama-assn.org/vapp/freida/spcstsc/0,2654,715,00.html

-Skip

 

[pitman]

Thanks, Skip Intro...I may even do this myself, if I don't feel too old when I get done with school.

Do you know where to find a list of where those programs are?

-pitman

 

[Skip Intro]

Originally posted by pitman
Thanks, Skip Intro...I may even do this myself, if I don't feel too old when I get done with school.

Do you know where to find a list of where those programs are?

-pitman

Just check on the FREIDA website. Play around with it yourself for a while. It's a good place to learn about what programs are out there. If you get stuck, re-reply and I'll try to point you in the right direction (i.e., this is a "learn by doing" exercise 😉 ).

http://www.ama-assn.org/vapp/freida/srch/1,2667,Y,00.html

-Skip