Applying to rads after not matching to a diff. specialty

[chngsr]

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Hi Everyone-
If one does not match in a different specialty like plastics or derm, and then applies for rads the next year, does that put someone at a small or large disadvantage for matching into rads? How do programs even find out if you have applied to a different specialty before, if at all?

I am not planning to do this, I was just curious if anyone knew how applicants who have already applied to a different specialty the previous year will do compared to myself.

Thank you

 

[dgruntledmizzou]

Hi Everyone-
If one does not match in a different specialty like plastics or derm, and then applies for rads the next year, does that put someone at a small or large disadvantage for matching into rads? How do programs even find out if you have applied to a different specialty before, if at all?

I am not planning to do this, I was just curious if anyone knew how applicants who have already applied to a different specialty the previous year will do compared to myself.

Thank you

Maybe not even a disadvantage. Plenty of highly qualified applicants who whiff on derm/plastics/insert-competitive-field-of-choice every year. If they re-set their sights and are looking at a "lower powered" radiology residency, I'm not so sure they would be the ones at a disadvantage if they're qualified, personable, and can explain why the change of heart from Field A to Field B.

 

[salamander8]

It will probably hurt you a little, though mostly at programs where you would be borderline. It would probably make little difference for programs where your numbers would already either be considered definitely desirable or definitely undesirable. Residencies want to feel that you really want to be in the specialty, so you'd need to convince them of that.

I would disagree with chngsr's implication that their is a full tier diference in competitiveness between radiology and derm or plastics and that somehow radiology residencies wouldn't mind at all if someone didn't get into those residencies. While it's true that, at least back when I applied (about 5 years ago) derm was likely the most competitive specialty, there was lots of overlap in the applicant pool's stats. Many top radiology programs and rads residencies in desirable locations use 240 as a minimum screening cutoff for step 1 scores, so the residents are pretty competitive. As one example, in the year above me someone applied to both rads and ortho, got better interviews in ortho than rads (interviewed at mgh for ortho, but not in any top 5 places for radiology--very smart guy, btw) and ultimately came to rads, because of lifestyle issues.

To summarize, I'd say you can definitely re-apply and get into rads, but you'll have some explaining to do. Also, I wouldn't look at rads as a "fall back" plan, because it's too competitive, especially at top programs, to do that. Consider that currently rads is currently in the top 5 specialites for reimbursement (though that may change soon), and due to technology improvements relating to efficiency radiologists spend less time distracted by busy work than most other specialties, and you'll understand why.

 

[OptimallyPrime]

It will probably hurt you a little, though mostly at programs where you would be borderline. It would probably make little difference for programs where your numbers would already either be considered definitely desirable or definitely undesirable. Residencies want to feel that you really want to be in the specialty, so you'd need to convince them of that.

I would disagree with chngsr's implication that their is a full tier diference in competitiveness between radiology and derm or plastics and that somehow radiology residencies wouldn't mind at all if someone didn't get into those residencies. While it's true that, at least back when I applied (about 5 years ago) derm was likely the most competitive specialty, there was lots of overlap in the applicant pool's stats. Many top radiology programs and rads residencies in desirable locations use 240 as a minimum screening cutoff for step 1 scores, so the residents are pretty competitive. As one example, in the year above me someone applied to both rads and ortho, got better interviews in ortho than rads (interviewed at mgh for ortho, but not in any top 5 places for radiology--very smart guy, btw) and ultimately came to rads, because of lifestyle issues.

To summarize, I'd say you can definitely re-apply and get into rads, but you'll have some explaining to do. Also, I wouldn't look at rads as a "fall back" plan, because it's too competitive, especially at top programs, to do that. Consider that currently rads is currently in the top 5 specialites for reimbursement (though that may change soon), and due to technology improvements relating to efficiency radiologists spend less time distracted by busy work than most other specialties, and you'll understand why.

Curious. You mentioned the top 5 places for radiology. Is this the loosely defined top 5 from auntminnie (MGH, PENN, UCSF, MIR, Hopkins) or a personal top 5?

 

[salamander8]

Yes, loosely I was referring to those top programs, though by no means is there 100% concensus on the top 5. The point in my story was that this colleague got virtually all his desired ortho interviews but didn't do quite as well in radiology, though he certainly did do solidly but not outstandingly in radiology. In his case I think he had a better story for ortho and his personality traits were more typical ortho, which may have contributed.

 

[Taurus]

Try not letting the rad programs know that you failed to match into derm/plastics/etc and you're using rads as a backup. That looks bad because they want people who are dedicated to the field. During my interviews, I heard of one girl who applied to both derm and rads simultaneously but her letters got mixed up and the programs found out. She failed to match into either field.

 

[nockamura]

Try not letting the rad programs know that you failed to match into derm/plastics/etc and you're using rads as a backup. That looks bad because they want people who are dedicated to the field. During my interviews, I heard of one girl who applied to both derm and rads simultaneously but her letters got mixed up and the programs found out. She failed to match into either field.

Oh man, that's bad. If you do apply to >1 residency, DO NOT mix up your letters/PS' and don't bring it up in an interview. No one asks if you applied to more than one residency.