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deleted849476
So as a first year DO student interested in a competitive surgical specialty, Ive been gearing up to prepare for my first choice specialty over the course of med school with all the regular good grades, boards, etc., as well as specialty-specific research and networking... But, it makes me wonder what people do to play it safe when also applying to their backup specialties, especially if their first and 2nd choices are very different. For example I’d say my “backup“ at the moment is IM and for my application strategy I imagine I would go all out applying into my first choice and then just soaping IM if I don’t get it (or soaping after a second failed app, etc.). But what would those non surgical programs think looking at my app with leadership in surgery clubs, surgery research, etc, even assuming I at least have LoRs for IM? Wouldn’t my app be dead on arrival? I’d like to say gen surgery is my “backup” and I see myself ranking some more attainable GS programs but even that is a challenge to match and obviously at some point I’d just rather match medicine and go to work than apply endlessly and do multiple research and prelim years.
