Applying to rad-onc from radiology residency?

[FLpk1girl86]

---

Members do not see this ad.

r

 

[lazers]

I wouldn't match in radiology first as your radiology program has to release you which they may very well not do. You should apply to radonc directly. Also it's much harder to get in to an open spot after intern year than to match directly.
Also if you were thinking that matching into radiology first would give you an advantage in terms of matching into radonc I assure you that it does not give you any advantage in terms of getting in to radonc.

 

[Sheldor]

After Intern year?

Haven't matched in rads yet, but feeling rad-onc might be my true calling.

Thoughts?

To clarify, does this mean that you are applying right now as an M4? If this is the case, you are correct it is "too late" to apply to Rad Onc. If you are certain that you'd rather do Rad onc you have two options at this point:

1) Withdraw all your current ERAS applications, and arrange with your school to extend your med school by 1 year to perform research. If you started research now, you could have a good amount of rad onc specific research to show by next September when applications start.

2) Don't interview for Rad Onc, and rank only prelim medicine/TY years. You could then either apply for Rad Onc with a gap year, or be eligible to slide into any positions that open outside the match.

Of these two, it is far, far preferable to extend medical school. Let me assure you, that applying to Rad Onc is much more competitive than I thought, and you will need everything going for you.

 

[medgator]

I wouldn't match in radiology first as your radiology program has to release you which they may very well not do. You should apply to radonc directly. Also it's much harder to get in to an open spot after intern year than to match directly.

Actually, it's the opposite. Taking a spot outside the match after internship means you're competing against a much smaller pool of applicants as MS4s wouldn't be eligible for these spots.

Coming from a different specialty residency though could open a whole different can of worms

 

[lazers]

Actually, it's the opposite. Taking a spot outside the match after internship means you're competing against a much smaller pool of applicants as MS4s wouldn't be eligible for these spots.

Coming from a different specialty residency though could open a whole different can of worms

I'm taking into account the denominator which is the number of open spots outside of the match.

 

[Neuronix]

From your post history, you appear to be a DO student with a 219 step 1 score who had to repeat a year of medical school. I think your chances of matching rad onc without serious connections in the field are quite low.

 

[DrAwsome]

Actually, it's the opposite. Taking a spot outside the match after internship means you're competing against a much smaller pool of applicants as MS4s wouldn't be eligible for these spots.

Coming from a different specialty residency though could open a whole different can of worms

I completely agree with the whole thing about it being easier to get spots outside the match than within the match, however I think that applying from a different specialty is not a bad thing and can certainly be beneficial depending on what specialty you are coming from.

I applied from derm and not only did it make me stand out, but I tied my derm research very well with my app for rad onc even though I did not have much rad onc specific research.

So I don't think applying from rads is a bad thing, it can certainly make for a convincing app. But I agree with Neuronix that with a failed first year matching may be difficult, and also being a DO.

 

[medgator]

I'm taking into account the denominator which is the number of open spots outside of the match.

Then that's your opinion since those numbers really aren't available or published. There are numerous People on this board and elsewhere who didn't match but were then able to take newly created spots outside the match out take spots where people dropped out (and yes that does happen at times)

it's good advice to still do an internship even if you don't match because of that reason, assuming your record was otherwise strong

 

[lazers]

Then that's your opinion since those numbers really aren't available or published. There are numerous People on this board and elsewhere who didn't match but were then able to take newly created spots outside the match out take spots where people dropped out (and yes that does happen at times)

it's good advice to still do an internship even if you don't match because of that reason, assuming your record was otherwise strong

It's actually a fact and not an opinion that if the average candidate wanted to apply and get into radonc it's much more likely they'd get in through the match than outside of the match considering all other variables are the same.