Back-up plan for surgical specialty

[cadingcading]

For those of you applying to surgical specialties and cannot see yourself doing anything else. What is your back-up plan? Do you apply for a TRI or prelim?

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[slowthai]

DR

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

I'll attempt to SOAP a prelim and reapply to the surgical field again and probably dual apply DR as well.

Disaster scenario after that is FM and then going to work in rural mountain town America and be a fishing/hunting hermit.

 

[You shall know the Truth]

I am using neurosurg as a back up in I don’t get Ig6 plastics

 

[cadingcading]

I'll attempt to SOAP a prelim and reapply to the surgical field again and probably dual apply DR as well.

Disaster scenario after that is FM and then going to work in rural mountain town America and be a fishing/hunting hermit.

Why not apply to a transitional year at the same time? I'm just thinking just in case ideas here.

 

[Neopolymath]

Why not apply to a transitional year at the same time? I'm just thinking just in case ideas here.

A transitional year doesn't help in his hypothetical situation at all.

 

[Scrubs101]

I'll attempt to SOAP a prelim and reapply to the surgical field again and probably dual apply DR as well.

Disaster scenario after that is FM and then going to work in rural mountain town America and be a fishing/hunting hermit.

I was considering going the dual apply route for a backup for a bit but have decided against it and will be doing pretty much the same thing as grey here^^^ except will be aiming for that ski bum lifestyle

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Why not apply to a transitional year at the same time? I'm just thinking just in case ideas here.

Like Neo said, a TRI doesn’t help me. A prelim would allow me to potentially find a pgy2 spot, would allow me to be on rotations with surgeons to get new letters, etc.

I was considering going the dual apply route for a backup for a bit but have decided against it and will be doing pretty much the same thing as grey here^^^ except will be aiming for that ski bum lifestyle

Same. I just decided I want surgery so bad it would be a disservice to me to not go all in this first round. Not when I’ve worked so hard to build an app geared to it.

 

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Disaster scenario after that is FM and then going to work in rural mountain town America and be a fishing/hunting hermit.

This is my first plan option haha mtn west states are callin my name

 

[Feelgood MD]

This is my first plan option haha mtn west states are callin my name

Dr. Buck sure makes it look appealing.......

 

[Calizboosted76]

Dr. Buck sure makes it look appealing.......

Dr. Buck does make that lifestyle look great. He is a great guy from what I can tell from the few chats we have had.

 

[TheRealCookieMonster]

Depends on the specialty I think. All the surgical specialties seem to have their own tolerance to different plan Bs.

DR is probably good, especially if you've lost the desire to be a doctor outside of that surgical specialty. Go hard or go DR.

 

[Billroth_III]

What makes DR so appealing as a surg back up? Serious question as I will clearly need a back up going for general surgery lol

 

[scoopdaboop]

What makes DR so appealing as a surg back up? Serious question as I will clearly need a back up going for general surgery lol

It's not competitive, lifestyle can be good, but work can be demanding. Salary is good. Can go interventional route as well.

 

[giguerex35]

What makes DR so appealing as a surg back up? Serious question as I will clearly need a back up going for general surgery lol

less patient interaction than regular docs

 

[slowthai]

If you love surgery, isn't gas a more fitting backup than DR?

Personally, I strongly dislike pharm and phys. I much prefer anatomy, pathology, and imaging. Plus being a diagnostician is pretty cool. You get to do fire and forget problem solving at a breakneck pace.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

If you love surgery, isn't gas a more fitting backup than DR?

For many people if you can’t be in the OR doing surgery there isn’t any point to being in the OR

 

[Billroth_III]

Is DR THAT much less competitive as of now?

 

[Neopolymath]

If you love surgery, isn't gas a more fitting backup than DR?

This is how we get unhappy people in anesthesia. It's related only in that both occupy the OR.

 

[Neopolymath]

Is DR THAT much less competitive as of now?

DR has a bimodal distribution of competitiveness and self selection. It's competitive at the top but there are lots of mediocre programs (plus strong undercover community ones) to match.

 

[Ho0v-man]

Is DR THAT much less competitive as of now?

There are some less competitive programs for sure. But it’s really just that a middle of the pack surgical applicant is pretty competitive for rads (and most anything else).

 

[slowthai]

Is DR THAT much less competitive as of now?

DR has a lot of programs, so there's room to slide in if you're so inclined.