how did you decide what you wanted to do?

[nightowl]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm a M2 married to a M3, and I've noticed that most of the M3's don't know what they want to do, even though they've been through most of their rotations. Many said they expected to have a huge AH-HA moment, but that it never really happened. I'm just curious of other peoples' experiences. And if you don't mind answering this, are you happy with the decision you made, or do you second guess yourself?

 

[lord_jeebus]

Go to a medical library and force yourself to read the core journals from various specialties. Which do you find the least sedating?

 

[fuzzyerin]

I think the hardest thing to do as a MS3 is to separate the "I had fun on this rotation because I worked with cool people" from the "I didn't like the people I worked with, but I did really like the material and I could potentially like this as a specialty." People often forget that it's really the material you have to like, the patient population, and what your personality best fits. Most people will figure it out, but there's definitely some cognitive dissonance once you pick your specialty.

 

[lowbudget]

It's easy to get caught in the academic pissing contest. I did a few rotations/clerkships out in the community and met private practicing attendings. I checked out their practice, their lifestyle, their job satisfaction, etc. I figured what I saw would be closer to the real world than assessing the lives of residents and academic attendings doing their teaching obligations.

 

[Mad Dog]

All of the above posts are great posts. I second those thoughts exactly and can add a few more.

I had a blast in med school on one particular rotation. It took me a while however to realize I just wasn’t interested in the “material.” The actual knowledge base and disease profile just didn’t interest me. In having to read about it, I realized I couldn’t care less! This is highly unusual for me because I tend to be very interested in things and am not otherwise lazy in this manner. As said above, reading a few journals on a few specialties is an excellent suggestion. It will let you see exactly the type of mental debates and considerations that occupy these physicians. Does it seem interesting?

Another thing is not to let your romanticization of a specialty let you get carried away. Brain surgery for instance has that type of allure. Actually seeing the life of a neurosurgeon, and how most brain surgery “ain’t brain surgery,” is a sober wake up. You have to be able to accept the reality, which is very different from the romantic perception.

Its very difficult though discovering “what its like to do X, Y, or Z.” Unless you are actually doing it, you will never know what its like except as a short-term visitor. Inhabiting that world for longer though definitely helps, particularly the more active you are able to be. Like said above, seek out these opportunities. Try and determine what things that specialty will allow you to do, and how many of those things seem interesting to you. All specialties are limiting in one sense or another, so you have to see a “day-to-day” component of it that you will be happy doing for many years.

 

[GoodMonkey]

i was lucky. i had an ah-ha moment in a specialty about which i always thought "no way in he!l" i guess those thoughts were before i actually got my feet wet.

 

[Ypo.]

I think the hardest thing to do as a MS3 is to separate the "I had fun on this rotation because I worked with cool people" from the "I didn't like the people I worked with, but I did really like the material and I could potentially like this as a specialty." People often forget that it's really the material you have to like, the patient population, and what your personality best fits. Most people will figure it out, but there's definitely some cognitive dissonance once you pick your specialty.

True. Sometimes it is the way a rotation is designed as well. For example, if you are in too many different places during a rotation and work with a different doctor every day or so, it limits developing relationships with patients and what you will be able to do since most attendings/residents need to get to know you for a little bit before they trust you with any patient responsibility.

 

[DrDawg]

I rotated through most of my core rotations before I picked surgery, and I am definately happy with my choice. Its much easier to rule specialties out, than rule them in. As many have pointed out your exposure is more to residency, and its not your goal to be a resident forever. Thus your view of a field is narrow. Also many medical schools don't have 3rd year rotations in EM, Anesthesia, Neurology, and most surgical subspecialties. This makes up a up significant # of specialties you have no idea about until M4 year.

Eventually most people determine what they want to do, and a few switch in residency. I found the Iserson's "Getting into a Residency" helpful. Likely a little dated now. Your friends, family, and significant other maybe able to help as well. They may key in on things you overlook. My wife has pointed out that I seem to happiest while on my Peds surgery rotation. Something that I never noticed.

 

[kidhaole]

Check out the "ultimate guide to choosing a medical specialty" by Brian Freeman.

I found it very helpful, moreso than Iserson's in terms of facilitating the specialty selection process.

There are chapters/profiles written on almost all specialties/residencies, and each was composed by a resident in that field. I found it very insightful and informative when I was struggling with this decision.