****changing From Ortho To Gas *****

[pej933]

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I was wondering if you can help me with my problem?

I am a fourth year med student. Until now, I was pursuing an orthopedic residency.

The problem is that I just found out I HATE surgery and rounding. I honestly can't stand it and I am miserable right now. I am rotating at a TOP allopathic program and not liking it.

I have being doing research in Ortho for about a year which led me to believe I would also like being an ortho doc. Not so.

Before starting my research I had planned into going to gas, but, the research got me interested and I kind of lied to myself that I would like to surgery.

So now, I want to know how I can transition to going for anesthesiology.
I still haven't turned in my ERAS for allopathic residencies. I just wrote a new personal statement saying essentially what I just said above, that I was wrong about thinking I would like ortho and so on and on.

I'm thinking of applying to a transitional year resid. and then reapplying to an advanced gas residency as a 2nd year.

Or should I also apply to anesthesiology residency and see who gives me an interview.

All of my letters essentially are for Ortho but can I use those for transitional or preliminary and/or anesthesiology. my thinking here is that I should just let them know I'm switching fields and would prefer to go gas.

I have strong letters, high GPA, research experience, publications, my USMLE board score is very mediocre.


Can anybody help me out here?
Thank you

regards
peter j

 

[UTSouthwestern]

Peter, I'd go ahead and apply for the prelim and transitional spots. You can use your letters for those positions.

As for the anesthesiology residencies, you could use those letters, but obviously it would be better if you could get some anesthesia specific LOR's. Your personal statement can help deflect the confusion the readers would have when they saw an ortho LOR. You could also approach your letter writers and ask them if they would be willing to rewrite the letters for anesthesiology. If they have any hesitation, I'd drop the subject and move on to someone else. Remember that the letter writer doesn't have to be an anesthesiologist. You just want to have the best letters you can get whether they come from an anesthesiologist, orthopod, internist, etc.

I wouldn't put yourself behind the 8 ball by not applying this year. Don't lose this chance to get started in your residency of choice. By the same token, don't rank Timbuktu unless you would really not mind going there. If you don't get interviews at the programs you want or don't match to a program you would feel comfortable going to, then consider reapplying next year.

Good luck.

 

[pej933]

Thanks. I think I can have one of the letter writers change the letter around a bit. But, for the other one, I would doubt it.

 

[pej933]

One more question:

If I apply to a preliminary or transitional year residency, do I apply for an advanced anesthesiology program at the same time or during the year I'm in the preliminary/transitional internship.

Thank you

 

[VentdependenT]

One more question:

If I apply to a preliminary or transitional year residency, do I apply for an advanced anesthesiology program at the same time or during the year I'm in the preliminary/transitional internship.

Thank you

Apply to TY/Prelim and Advanced at the same time (i.e. NOW).

Apply to categorical programs as well.

Ask your anesthesia PD to meet with you and explain your situation. Perhaps he could whip something up for you to throw in your ERAS file.

Follow UT's advice and apply this year. It'll save you from looking out of the match for a CA-1 spot or from having to take a year off by applying via ERAS for an advanced position.

 

[Etomidate]

This late in the game I would apply for TY and Prelim programs. Do some anesthesia electives later this year and get some letters. Then be ready to apply next year. It'll increase your chances of getting into a better program. Right now, there is so little time, I think you'd be shortchanging yourself by putting together a less than stellar application.

 

[VentdependenT]

This late in the game I would apply for TY and Prelim programs. Do some anesthesia electives later this year and get some letters. Then be ready to apply next year. It'll increase your chances of getting into a better program. Right now, there is so little time, I think you'd be shortchanging yourself by putting together a less than stellar application.

I think he's got plenty of time. Sept isn't even over yet. Bulk of interviews don't go flying out till the deans letter is submitted.

Git on it!

 

[pej933]

Thank you all for the replies.

I really don't want to take a year off and reapply. That is really not desirable for me. Is the field really that competitive now that someone like me would have difficulty getting interviews?

I will apply to categorial and advanced as you suggested and hope for the best. At least, I'll be doing what I enjoy with a BETTER lifestyle.

 

[Noyac]

I was in the same position. I was going into Emerg. Med. and changed my mind late in the game after doing an anesthsia rotation. I was too late to switch for the match but I had a transitional year guarantee so I tried the scramble with the idea that I would take the transitional year if I didn't find what I wanted. I found what I was looking for and its all history. But I was lucky also. Good Luck.

 

[pej933]

Thanks.

I'm obviously new to this so I'm learning as I go along today.

When I write my personal statement, should I have one specific for the categorial ones and a separate statement for the advanced + prelim.

or

can I just use one for both types (which also tells the prelim/transit. programs what my intent is)?

Thank you again.
peter

 

[UTSouthwestern]

You only need to write one letter for both the categorical and advanced programs. The transitional/prelim programs know you are not going to be a full timer there so you don't need to write a separate letter for them. Use the same one for all.

 

[pej933]

You only need to write one letter for both the categorical and advanced programs. The transitional/prelim programs know you are not going to be a full timer there so you don't need to write a separate letter for them. Use the same one for all.

thanks. I appreciatethe help from all!

 

[Zeffer]

I would try to hook up with your Anesthesia chair in the hope of obtaining a letter of rec. You should be prepared to discuss/present:
1) Personal Statement
2) Grades/comments from rotations
3) Step I scores
4) undergo a long interview

Hopefully your chair will become familiar with you, enough to feel comfortable writting a letter of recommendation for you. With this letter you should be in the game. If you are competetive enough to be considering ortho...then you should be good enough to match at a good anesthesia program. You should be able to do all of this in time to interview for categorical or advanced positions. However if you don't feel this is possible go for the cushy transitional year. You will have more time available for next years application season.

 

[2ndyear]

We had 5 people in my TY class in similar situations as you. They all decided last minute to switch fields. All were able to get enough time off to interview, but obviously not as much as a 4th year med student. One got anesthesia (CCF), 2 pathology, 2 EM. So it can be done for sure.

You're not all that late right now, interviews will continue to go out until November, but many are on a rolling basis. Your main problem will be not having any letters from anesthesia attendings right now, if you don't already. You should work on getting a letter right now. You can still apply via ERAS without letters of rec in, and dean letters don't come out until Nov. if I remember correctly.

I agree with what others have said already, if you've got the scores to match ortho, you have got what it takes to match at a GREAT anesthesia program. Don't settle for anything less, if that means applying during your TY year then do that, if you think you can put together a strong application for this year then by all means go for it.

 

[pej933]

I won't be able to get any anesthesia letters at this point. It's just not possible.

I'm starting to think that if things don't work out, I'll take a prelim/transitional year in my area and reapply next year. It still comes out to be 5 years total, similar to the ortho route I was going towards.

thanks

 

[Etomidate]

I think he's got plenty of time. Sept isn't even over yet. Bulk of interviews don't go flying out till the deans letter is submitted.

Git on it!

There is no right or wrong answer on how to deal with this situation. I'm just saying that if it were me, I'd want to do an anesthesia rotation and get some letters, fine tune my personal statement, and maybe do some research just to strengthen my application and maximize the best possible match outcome. By doing a TY/Prelim you are really not wasting any time, since every anesthesia resident has to do one anyway.

 

[supahfresh]

OK, for all you guys and girls out there that think it's too late, let me tell you from my crazy 4th year that it is never too late. I didn't even apply to gas programs until LATE october/early november and that was because I was gung-ho surgery and switched. I opened up ERAS one day, said F*** it, and just applied to some gas programs with NO ESSAY, nothing, and bam, I had a few interviews trickle in. Then I got motivated to write an essay and submitted that and a few more interviews came in. I got my letter a little late but it was from a good gas program and I think I did fairly well.

The one thing I would say to you now is to try and rotate in gas now and at least get one letter because if by some bad luck you dont match, then you will have a harder time getting letters as an intern. But for sure, you should submit your app to some programs NOW even if you have no essay or LOR's.

 

[pej933]

Thanks!

Sounds encouraging. Just turned in my ERAS today and applied to over 35 programs in gas just to be sure. It's alot, but, i'm not gonna limit myself right now. Actually, I wrote a whole new personal statement describing my situation and explaining my reasons for leaving ortho and going for gas. I think it's actually a really good letter. I doubt I can get an anesthesiolgy rotation now considering my rigid schedule.

 

[kidmd44]

Go ahead and take the plunge. Good luck!

 

[pej933]

What the F!$%k?

I sent off my ERAS application yesterday and got an interview offer from UCLA/Harbor today. The email looks generic though, it doesn't have my name on it. Do they interview anybody there who applys???

 

[kifaru]

What the F!$%k?

I sent off my ERAS application yesterday and got an interview offer from UCLA/Harbor today. The email looks generic though, it doesn't have my name on it. Do they interview anybody there who applys???

congrats. 👍 I don't think they interview anybody, you just happened to send in your application just when they were in the process of sending out invites ( check out the 'interviews' thread. Programs do send generic emails to people they are inviting for interviews.