Broad Medicine Focus or Specialty Specific?

[Mpsll]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello,

As I write my secondaries, I'm wondering what makes a stronger application?

Is it showing an interest in a specific specialty if you have the clinical volunteering/employment/etc. experience?
Or should you instead focus more broadly in medicine and be open-minded?

For example, a secondary prompt like this: How do you hope to impact medicine and improve patient care in the future and why do you need a medical degree to fulfill these goals?

Thank you!

 

[CBass2288]

the easiest way to do this is to write honestly. you're not gonna be punished for writing about either. write about what's true with your application and will produce a cohesive story. the only thing to consider is the school's mission if it is hardcore in some aspect. otherwise, it doesn't matter.

 

[Mpsll]

Bumping to get more opinions

 

[annatar]

I think there's nothing wrong with expressing interest in specific specialties, especially if you have experience in those fields. Of course, if someone has a really compelling story (like a personal chronic condition or something like that), it would be a lot easier to write about that specific field as one of interest.

Where some applicants may go wrong is in saying, "oh, I'm only interested in ortho/derm/neurosurgery." Having your heart set on one specialty causes concern as to one's motives: are they actually interested in medicine, or just being the world's first pediatric cardiothoracic neurosurgeon? I think it's harder to "convince" an adcom that you have genuine interest in medicine and service if you're going into med school closed-minded. If I remember the stat right, around 40% of medical students change their chosen specialty during med school.

That being said, definitely don't lie about an interest in rural medicine or primary care if it's not there: lying is objectively wrong, and they'll catch you in the act. If you end up interviewing there and they ask you about your passions in medicine and your eyes don't light up to support the claims in your secondary essays, you'll get thrown in the reject pile pretty quickly.

To answer that specific prompt, it would really depend on your experiences and interests. They probably just want to hear about your current interests in medicine, how you've explored them, and how you could see yourself continuing that interest in your career.

The stronger application is the one that properly communicates your interests and answers the prompt's question.

 

[eigen]

They advice I give students is similar to @annatar.

Talking about an interest in specialty is useful and fine, but you want to be clear that you want to be a doctor first, and a specialist second. Consider, for example: would you not want to be be a doctor if you don't match into the right residency?

I also use this as a gut-check for undergrads who talk about wanting to be a neurosurgeon or dermatologist, rather than being a physician who is also potentially interested in a specific specialty.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

The prompt doesn't restrict you to discuss your specialty preferences, but how does your answer align with the types of medical students the school wants to train? Otherwise, why not be a podiatrist? 🙂