dual applying, how to not get caught

[JoseyCali123]

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i am planning to dual apply to psych and pediatrics. i have equal activities in both areas and i plan to do a sub-i in both pediatrics and psychiatry. will this looks bad, as what if pediatrics thinks im dual applying to psych and what if psych thinks im dual applying to pediatrics? how do people effectively dual apply without getting caught...

 

[deleted480308]

Keep proper track of your letters and personal statements, don’t dual apply to the same program.

Talk about an interest in child psych otherwise

 

[GoSpursGo]

Are you aware that there are combined Peds-Psych residency programs? 4 (maybe 5? can't recall) years, wind up triple boarded in peds, psych, and child/adolescent psych. Easiest, most straightforward path to that outcome.

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

Don’t apply to both programs in the same hospital.


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[JoseyCali123]

on my application, i have a lot of activities for both pediatrics and both psychiatry... I'm a bit worried that they might think I'm dual applying haha because what if the pediatrics person says "well i saw you did mental health work for the homeless..." or the psychiatrist might say "hmm, so you did pediatrics research, why not psych?" How could I overcome this question? Also, are we allowed to apply with two different ERAS apps so we can customize the activities?

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

Say that you were initially interested in both but have now chosen X. That’s what I did for gensurg and ortho.


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[GoSpursGo]

on my application, i have a lot of activities for both pediatrics and both psychiatry... I'm a bit worried that they might think I'm dual applying haha because what if the pediatrics person says "well i saw you did mental health work for the homeless..." or the psychiatrist might say "hmm, so you did pediatrics research, why not psych?" How could I overcome this question? Also, are we allowed to apply with two different ERAS apps so we can customize the activities?

You're worrying about nothing. It is well recognized that med students can seriously consider multiple specialties before finally deciding.

For the record, if you don't go the combined child psych residency route I mentioned above, I would strongly encourage you to TRY and decide between peds and psych before you submit your ERAS. You're only halfway through 3rd year, you still have plenty of time as of now to make your decision, so you should by no means have already resigned yourself to applying to both specialties. You're going to have to make a decision eventually when you make your rank list, so you may as well do it before you waste a ton of time and money on applying to a specialty that you ultimately don't even rank.

There are of course people every year who apply to multiple specialties who think they have a good reason for doing so, but I believe pretty strongly that it is always a bad idea if it can be avoided.

 

[DokterMom]

Do you know what your truth is? Are you trying to decide between psych and peds or are you wanting to combine them? Or do you even really know?

 

[doc05]

These are very different fields that offer very different career paths. You owe it to yourself to make an informed decision. Applying to both will not do you any favors. The decision should be YOURS, not the match algorithm.

 

[ezhik]

I dual-applied to OB and FM. Had separate letters and separate personal statements. The app is the same. Didn’t interview at the same hospital for both specialties (but did apply to some hospitals for both). Only got ever asked point blank on two occasions about dual applying and it was by a resident and the spouse of a resident at a dinner. I found that interviewers seemed to respond well to discussion of interest in the specialty as well as the other field and how it was relevant/broadened horizons/etc. Even though it was a lot of extra work to dual-apply and interview for both, I found it helpful to my decision making to have been at multiple programs — gave me extra time, info, and allowed me to solidify the decision.

 

[mcat_taker]

You're worrying about nothing. It is well recognized that med students can seriously consider multiple specialties before finally deciding.

For the record, if you don't go the combined child psych residency route I mentioned above, I would strongly encourage you to TRY and decide between peds and psych before you submit your ERAS. You're only halfway through 3rd year, you still have plenty of time as of now to make your decision, so you should by no means have already resigned yourself to applying to both specialties. You're going to have to make a decision eventually when you make your rank list, so you may as well do it before you waste a ton of time and money on applying to a specialty that you ultimately don't even rank.

There are of course people every year who apply to multiple specialties who think they have a good reason for doing so, but I believe pretty strongly that it is always a bad idea if it can be avoided.

As a medical student, I was told that dual pathway is to be avoided unless you are applying to a field you might not be competitive for.

 

[mcat_taker]

I dual-applied to OB and FM. Had separate letters and separate personal statements. The app is the same. Didn’t interview at the same hospital for both specialties (but did apply to some hospitals for both). Only got ever asked point blank on two occasions about dual applying and it was by a resident and the spouse of a resident at a dinner. I found that interviewers seemed to respond well to discussion of interest in the specialty as well as the other field and how it was relevant/broadened horizons/etc. Even though it was a lot of extra work to dual-apply and interview for both, I found it helpful to my decision making to have been at multiple programs — gave me extra time, info, and allowed me to solidify the decision.

Considering this route or OB / peds because of how competitive OB has been getting

 

[GoSpursGo]

As a medical student, I was told that dual pathway is to be avoided unless you are applying to a field you might not be competitive for.

Agree, but I didn't think psych was especially competitive, and I KNOW that peds isn't. But correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[theriverman]

Psych is more competitive than it was

 

[hallowmann]

on my application, i have a lot of activities for both pediatrics and both psychiatry... I'm a bit worried that they might think I'm dual applying haha because what if the pediatrics person says "well i saw you did mental health work for the homeless..." or the psychiatrist might say "hmm, so you did pediatrics research, why not psych?" How could I overcome this question? Also, are we allowed to apply with two different ERAS apps so we can customize the activities?

It's fine because people often are deciding between multiple specialties in med school. On peds you can just say you have an interest in pediatric behavioral health if you are truly pressed and on psych you can say child psych. Don't worry too much about it. I would only dual-apply to programs in the same institution sparingly if at all.

Regarding ERAS, there is only one app, but you can upload a bunch of letters and write multiple personal statements to designate to each program.

Applying to multiple specialties is a bit more expensive (both in ERAS and the NRMP) and you usually have to go on more interviews, so it's in your best interest to narrow down, but you don't necessarily have to. If you have an interest in child/adolescent psych, you can consider triple boarding, but truly ask yourself whether you'll use the peds medical training if you go that route.

Regarding triple boarding (Peds-Psych-Child psych), there are I believe 9 programs, and more info is listed here.