dual applying and away rotations

[subrato]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm applying to 2 different specialties and am worried about the best way to do it. I'm applying to dermatology and a different specialty whose average Step 1 score is about 230. I'm a shoo in for Specialty #2, but Derm, which is my #1 choice, is not a guarantee at all. My Step 1 score is between 245-250, and Charting Outcomes 2016 gives me about a 70%+ chance based only on my Step score. I reallllllly want Derm, but it is absolutely not an option for me to match into a prelim year only with no guarantees for what is to come the next 3 years; I have to match into either Derm or Specialty #2. I'm not going to do a prelim year while re-applying for derm.

So essentially, I have a good chance of getting Derm, but also a good chance of not matching into Derm. I know away rotations are extremely helpful in Derm, but I am worried about this affecting my chances for Specialty #2. If Specialty #2 sees I have just 1 sub-I in that specialty, but I have a home derm sub-I and 1-2 away rotations in Derm, is that going to hurt me much? I assume it would, so I guess the real question is, do they even notice that kind of stuff? I know program directors worry about people switching specialties if they get a hint that that person isn't 100% dedicated to that specialty, which really frustrates me because I would absolutely stick with whatever I match into; I just want to give Derm a shot, and if I don't get then I would happily do Specialty #2.

Basically, Derm is the top of the mountain, and I'm safely camped just below the summit with Specialty #2. I'm worried that if I go for the top instead of just staying safe, I could fall off the mountain entirely. Is this a realistic fear? Are people in Specialty #2 going to see multiple Derm rotations, and, if so, are they going to hold that against me? The politics of match are so stupid.

 

[OnePunchBiopsy]

Would help if we knew what Specialty #2 is.

 

[sloop]

Agreed, would help a lot if we knew what the second specialty is.

My understanding was that you basically need to do aways if you want Derm, so if you wanted to do Derm, you should go for it.

I do think that some places in some specialties like to see commitment to the field, which is harder to do with a ton of Derm aways on your transcript. That said a lot of Derm applicants are very qualified applicants so this may not matter as much (a lot of PDs would be glad to have a really qualified person regardless of whether the specialty is their second choice).

 

[subrato]

Would help if we knew what Specialty #2 is.

Agreed, would help a lot if we knew what the second specialty is.

My understanding was that you basically need to do aways if you want Derm, so if you wanted to do Derm, you should go for it.

I do think that some places in some specialties like to see commitment to the field, which is harder to do with a ton of Derm aways on your transcript. That said a lot of Derm applicants are very qualified applicants so this may not matter as much (a lot of PDs would be glad to have a really qualified person regardless of whether the specialty is their second choice).

Anesthesia

 

[ortnakas]

Why is it absolutely not an option to do a TRI/TY/prelim year and reapply to derm and/or anesthesia if it comes to that?

 

[Moose A Moose]

Derm is gonna trash you when they find you're dual-applying/double dipping. Promise.

 

[subrato]

Why is it absolutely not an option to do a TRI/TY/prelim year and reapply to derm and/or anesthesia if it comes to that?

Because the anesthesia programs I would want to go to are all 4 year categorical programs. If I took a transitional or prelim year then reapplied to derm and 3 year advanced anesthesia programs the next year, all the anesthesia programs would be ones that I would really prefer not to end up at. If I can't get derm this year, then I would much rather just take a 4 year anesthesia position at a place I would actually love to be at (just not as much as I would love to get derm at the same place).

 

[OnePunchBiopsy]

Why not apply derm/prelim and if you don't match to a derm program, apply for anesthesia PGY-2?

 

[OnePunchBiopsy]

Because the anesthesia programs I would want to go to are all 4 year categorical programs. If I took a transitional or prelim year then reapplied to derm and 3 year advanced anesthesia programs the next year, all the anesthesia programs would be ones that I would really prefer not to end up at. If I can't get derm this year, then I would much rather just take a 4 year anesthesia position at a place I would actually love to be at (just not as much as I would love to get derm at the same place).

I say go big or go home; apply derm if it is REALLY what you want to do.

Assuming you didn't match derm, Anesthesia seems like it wouldn't be hard to match after a prelim year. If you are deadset on the 4 year categorical programs then why couldn't you apply to them even if you already did a prelim year?