Experience applying to 2 specialties for residency?

[sunshine121]

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Considering applying for PMR and Radiology.
Any tips? How many interviews did you go on. I would also need to apply to categorical PGY-1 positions too.... YIKES!

 

[Bobcat18]

This seems like a lot- maybe even too much... I feel like you'll be selling yourself short with regards to the application process in both specialties if you choose to apply to both. What's the reasoning for applying both? You'd literally have to go on 25+ interviews to feel comfortable matching successfully (10+ rad, 5+ prelim, 10+ pmr). I've heard of people applying to IR and DR as a backup- but at least these two are related specialties. Rads and pmr are just completely different...

Considering applying for PMR and Radiology.
Any tips? How many interviews did you go on. I would also need to apply to categorical PGY-1 positions too.... YIKES!

 

[NickNaylor]

I guess my question would be: why are you applying to two fields? Are you genuinely interested in both or primarily interested in radiology and applying to PM&R as a backup? If the latter, I would recommend getting in touch with your home department ASAP and have someone go over your application with you and give you some realistic feedback on your chances of matching into a radiology program. If their feedback is generally positive, I would suggest simply applying broadly to radiology rather than applying to two completely separate specialties. If you're not sure about which field you want to go into, then I would really try and work that out as, as was said above, the two fields are pretty different.

Just seems like a lot of work and expense that you may not have to subject yourself to. Applying to one field was enough for me, couldn't imagine going through that whole ordeal twice at the same time.

 

[W19]

This seems like a lot- maybe even too much... I feel like you'll be selling yourself short with regards to the application process in both specialties if you choose to apply to both. What's the reasoning for applying both? You'd literally have to go on 25+ interviews to feel comfortable matching successfully (10+ rad, 5+ prelim, 10+ pmr). I've heard of people applying to IR and DR as a backup- but at least these two are related specialties. Rads and pmr are just completely different...

OP does not have to apply for a preliminary spot... He should only apply to advanced and scramble (or SOAP) into a preliminary surgery.

 

[Bobcat18]

Interesting- that I did not know. Prelim surgery spots are that easy to come by?

OP does not have to apply for a preliminary spot... He should only apply to categorical and scramble (or SOAP) into a preliminary surgery.

 

[W19]

Interesting- that I did not know. Prelim surgery spots are that easy to come by?

Yes if you have the stats to match into a advanced diagnostic rad or PM&R spot...

 

[sinombre]

Interesting- that I did not know. Prelim surgery spots are that easy to come by?

Yes, in general, prelim surgery spots are very easy to get (for US graduates), because they are dead-end positions and are basically free slave labor for programs.

OP does not have to apply for a preliminary spot... He should only apply to categorical and scramble (or SOAP) into a preliminary surgery.

Although it's true you can pretty easily SOAP into a prelim surgery spot, it would be foolish not to apply to prelim programs and rank them so that you actually have a say in where you end up (and also can avoid the SOAP process). It would be much more desirable to do a prelim year near where you do a radiology residency to avoid the hassle of moving.

Also it makes NO sense for the OP to apply to categorical general surgery positions as they aren't interested in general surgery. They would only be doing a surgical prelim year because of radiology.

This is exactly why med students who haven't gone through the process should be careful about giving advice (or not give any at all). Why you feel the need to chime in when you haven't gone through the process is beyond me.

 

[W19]

Although it's true you can pretty easily SOAP into a prelim surgery spot, it would be foolish not to apply to prelim programs and rank them so that you actually have a say in where you end up (and also can avoid the SOAP process). It would be much more desirable to do a prelim year near where you do a radiology residency to avoid the hassle of moving.

Also it makes NO sense for the OP to apply to categorical general surgery positions as they aren't interested in general surgery. They would only be doing a surgical prelim year because of radiology.

This is exactly why med students who haven't gone through the process should be careful about giving advice (or not give any at all). Why you feel the need to chime in when you haven't gone through the process is beyond me.

I guess you misunderstand my post. I was saying OP should apply to advanced radiology and PM&R only (not gen surgery) and scramble into a preliminary surgery. I know one wants to have a say where they end up in this process, but going into 5-6 preliminary interviews would be a waste of time and money if you are are apply to two other specialties that require a preliminary year. We are talking about 20+ interviews here... If it was only one specialty, that would make sense. People usually take their last 2 weeks of preliminary year as vacation so they can arrange moving and stuff if they have to move

 

[DrWhozits]

I guess you misunderstand my post. I was saying OP should apply to categorical radiology and PM&R only (not gen surgery) and scramble into a preliminary surgery. I know one wants to have a say where they end up in this process, but going into 5-6 preliminary interviews would be a waste of time and money if you are are apply to two other specialties that require a preliminary year. We are talking about 20+ interviews here... If it was only one specialty, that would make sense. People usually take their last 2 weeks of preliminary year as vacation so they can arrange moving and stuff if they have to move

I could be wrong...but this doesn't make sense. If OP applied only to categorical programs, there is no need for a prelim, unless they did not match at all.

 

[MSTP18]

As someone who was deciding between Path and IM (which to me is a pretty similar predicament to DR and PM&R) I was very strongly advised to decide prior to applications.

 

[W19]

I could be wrong...but this doesn't make sense. If OP applied only to categorical programs, there is no need for a prelim, unless they did not match at all.

Lol. I meant advanced...

 

[W19]

As someone who was deciding between Path and IM (which to me is a pretty similar predicament to DR and PM&R) I was very strongly advised to decide prior to applications.

If you gonna have LORs both, I don't see why not. You can apply to 5-10 path programs as a US student and still match. I was told one just needs a pulse as a US student to match path. For IM you can apply to 25 programs as a US student and still match providing that you have average stats (225 step 1/2) and no red flags in your application..

 

[sinombre]

I guess you misunderstand my post. I was saying OP should apply to advanced radiology and PM&R only (not gen surgery) and scramble into a preliminary surgery. I know one wants to have a say where they end up in this process, but going into 5-6 preliminary interviews would be a waste of time and money if you are are apply to two other specialties that require a preliminary year. We are talking about 20+ interviews here... If it was only one specialty, that would make sense. People usually take their last 2 weeks of preliminary year as vacation so they can arrange moving and stuff if they have to move

There are plenty of prelim positions you can skype interview for (so you don't have to waste money traveling). Again, stop giving advice before you actually go through the process. You're spreading misinformation.

 

[W19]

There are plenty of prelim positions you can skype interview for (so you don't have to waste money traveling). Again, stop giving advice before you actually go through the process. You're spreading misinformation.

You are probably right... I just know 3 people at my school and 1 at another school who did that...

 

[sinombre]

You are probably right... I just know 3 people at my school and 1 at another school who did that...

I know I'm right, because I've gone through the process. Which is why I'm giving advice and pointing out that you're spreading misinformation. So please stop, because whether or not you realize it, it is actually harmful.

 

[W19]

I know I'm right, because I've gone through the process. Which is why I'm giving advice and pointing out that you're spreading misinformation. So please stop, because whether or not you realize it, it is actually harmful.

Humble brag...

 

[sinombre]

Humble brag...

This has nothing to do with bragging. You will go through this process soon enough and will be in a position to give advice about it then. But giving advice prior to actually going through it yourself is potentially harmful. As is evident by what you've posted in this thread.

 

[W19]

This has nothing to do with bragging. You will go through this process soon enough and will be in a position to give advice about it then. But giving advice prior to actually going through it yourself is potentially harmful. As is evident by what you've posted in this thread.

Anyway, people have yet to know a person who matched into an advanced position and did not match into a preliminary spot. Again, you DON'T HAVE to go to the process to give advice about it. You just have to do your homework. Many premeds and med school advisors did not go thru the process and they are the ones advising us about med school and residencies... My friend who already went thru the process and was in the same situation with OP thinks differently.

It's like saying ONLY people who have been thru wars can give advice about wars... Seriously!

 

[sinombre]

Anyway, people have yet to know a person who matched into an advanced position and did not match into a preliminary spot. Again, you DON'T HAVE to go to the process to give advice about it. You just have to do your homework. Many premeds and med school advisors did not go thru the process and they are the ones advising us about med school and residencies... My friend who already went thru the process and was in the same situation with OP thinks differently.

It would be one thing if you were defending your position after giving good advice... but you're now defending yourself after spreading misinformation. Awesome.

I would argue that if you insist on speaking from a position of inexperience and ignorance, you at least have an obligation to disclaim that prior to posting.

 

[W19]

It would be one thing if you were defending your position after giving good advice... but you're now defending yourself after spreading misinformation. Awesome.

I would argue that if you insist on speaking from a position of inexperience and ignorance, you at least have an obligation to disclaim that prior to posting.

Would you be kind enough to point out the misinformation? I guess anyone who has a different OPINION than yours is spreading out misinformation... You said something idiotic about ONLY people who have been thru the process can give advice about it and I point out that was an idiotic statement, because it was...

 

[sunshine121]

i was thinking of applying to both... see what places actually want to interview me and go from there.. lets assume only i get 5 DR interviews, i will be grateful for having some PMR interviews to rank

 

[sinombre]

Would you be kind enough to point out the misinformation?

Sure. And before this devolves into an argument over definition, "misinformation" can mean "misleading information". So when you recommend the following, it is absolutely misleading (because it implies that you have to physically interview at prelim programs to match into them).

I know one wants to have a say where they end up in this process, but going into 5-6 preliminary interviews would be a waste of time and money if you are are apply to two other specialties that require a preliminary year.

 

[sinombre]

Anyway, I think I've made my point(s) clear. I'm not going to continue to respond unless I have something else to contribute. If I were the OP I would absolutely be wary of taking advice from anyone who hasn't actually gone through the process, or isn't in a position of authority on the subject.

 

[W19]

Anyway, I think I've made my point(s) clear. I'm not going to continue to respond unless I have something else to contribute. If I were the OP I would absolutely be wary of taking advice from anyone who hasn't actually gone through the process, or isn't in a position of authority on the subject.

I guess you are in a position of authority 🙄

 

[MSTP18]

If you gonna have LORs both, I don't see why not. You can apply to 5-10 path programs as a US student and still match. I was told one just needs a pulse as a US student to match path. For IM you can apply to 25 programs as a US student and still match providing that you have average stats (225 step 1/2) no red flags in your application..

This is exactly why one shouldn't apply to both. It's a waste of time and money when matching in either field is easy.

Also if spending several weeks actually doing each specialty isn't enough to decide - why would interview days make that much of a difference? I understand applying to two when one is a backup (e.g. plastics/gen surg or derm/medicine) but applying to two #1s is probably just forcing someone else to make the decision for you, or simply putting off the decision for a bit and still not feeling any better about it later on.

 

[MSTP18]

i was thinking of applying to both... see what places actually want to interview me and go from there.. lets assume only i get 5 DR interviews, i will be grateful for having some PMR interviews to rank

Sounds like you have your decision made up. Apply to DR. As someone suggested, get feedback on your chances from DR people at your school and if they think you need a backup plan, then do PM&R.