Dual Applying IM and Plastic Surgery

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javksmith93

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Hello everyone I'm interested in both IM (GI) and plastic Surgery. Due to the competitiveness of Plastics and my interest in GI im considering dual applying. I am a competitive applicant step 1 258 will hopefully have around 10 to 11 pubs/abstracts/presentations however im concerned that with all of my research items being in plastics that IM programs will think that im applying to them only as a back up and not consider me at all. I do actually have a genuine interest in GI and am basically 50-50 trying to chose. I would like to go to a top IM program so that I have a chance at GI but is that realistic or will most of them think I am using them as a back up and not even consider me?

I come from a low tier USMD (USnews rank 70-80) do I have a chance at a place like UCSF, Stanford, UCLA?
 
Just trying to understand your motivation for two different fields. I think if I have these questions, when you apply, programs may too. So if you can’t do plastic, you’d rather not be surgeon at all. If you do IM, you only want to do GI, so you need a high ranking program to take you?

The easiest plan, at least in my mind, do some research in GI, so you don’t have to get into that conversation. Otherwise, I think it’ll be a very difficult conversation to navigate during your interviews. Unless others who have similar experiences can comment.
 
Just trying to understand your motivation for two different fields. I think if I have these questions, when you apply, programs may too. So if you can’t do plastic, you’d rather not be surgeon at all. If you do IM, you only want to do GI, so you need a high ranking program to take you?

The easiest plan, at least in my mind, do some research in GI, so you don’t have to get into that conversation. Otherwise, I think it’ll be a very difficult conversation to navigate during your interviews. Unless others who have similar experiences can comment.

I dont think I was planning on telling them I wanted to do GI necessarily just that I found a passion for medicine?
 
You definitely... It's always good to have a plan B in this process when one is applying to a competitive specialty...
 
just do the usual: "I was originally planning on plastics but developed a recent interest in IM (don't say GI!). I now know this is the field for me"
 
you will be fine. For plastics interview, dont tell them anything about the IM back up plan.
For IM interview, you can tell them, you are interested in both plastics and GI and interviewing. You will make a decision based on what fits you.
Truth is you are a strong candidate so you have the leverage here.
 
If you’re competitive for plastics you’ll get into a good IM program. Make sure you have IM letters and good personal statement.

It’s a little odd to have such a differing interest (one is a purely surgical specialty, the other is a medical specialty that deals with immensely sick patients with ESLD and does mostly endoscopic procedures)... the only overlap I can see is that they both make a boatload of money
 
just do the usual: "I was originally planning on plastics but developed a recent interest in IM (don't say GI!). I now know this is the field for me"

I agree with this. Do not be that specific about your subspecialty interest. I would keep it a little vague if possible
 
If you’re competitive for plastics you’ll get into a good IM program. Make sure you have IM letters and good personal statement.

It’s a little odd to have such a differing interest (one is a purely surgical specialty, the other is a medical specialty that deals with immensely sick patients with ESLD and does mostly endoscopic procedures)... the only overlap I can see is that they both make a boatload of money
Well there you go
 
This doesn’t make sense. If you want plastics then apply to plastics and gen surgery as backup with plans for plastics after. If you want GI then apply to medicine and do GI.
 
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