How do I tell my PD I want to reapply for the match?

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Babyreindeer

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My 45 days is up and I'm certain that this isnt the speciality or even the program for me. I want to reapply for the match but 1) I dont want my PD to tank my chances at leaving 2) I dont want to completely destroy my chances of staying in the program in case I dont match.

I get it all depends on your PD, but the honest truth is that I have heard through the rumor mill that mine just isnt to be trusted. How should I navigate this?
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Babyreindeer said:
My 45 days is up and I'm certain that this isnt the speciality or even the program for me. I want to reapply for the match but 1) I dont want my PD to tank my chances at leaving 2) I dont want to completely destroy my chances of staying in the program in case I dont match.

I get it all depends on your PD, but the honest truth is that I have heard through the rumor mill that mine just isnt to be trusted. How should I navigate this?
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What field are you in and what field are you interested in doing? Did you apply for that field during the last match? Are you a US grad or foreign? Visa status?

Regardless of what you chose to do, quitting during the middle of the year is not a good option. You should expect to finish this year at a minimum. You can certainly apply to start next year, but there is no guarantee. You risk not completing a program and having the chance to be board certified.
 
Family med to psych. Applied last year but my application materials were very late due to a death in my family.

As far as quitting, I had absolutely no intentions of leaving before the year was over. I mean I definitely dont want to do this anymore, but I really genuinely like my co-residents and seniors and I dont want to leave them in a bad situation by quitting.
 
You're gunna have to bite the bullet and have this discussion with your PD. Some PDs are super supportive and want only the best for their residents even if that means letting them leave, others are toxic. There's no way to tell how your specific PD will respond. Also, it's good manners to let them know that you're not happy and have formally decided to leave at the end of the year so they can start the recruitment process for a replacement. Depending on how the Match goes for you in the spring, you might not have a Psych spot next academic year; being cordial with your PD will also hopefully keep the door open for you to sign a contract for PGY2 year so you still 1) have a job and 2) don't have gaps in your post-graduate training. Again, depends on your specific PD.

How are you going to have your LORs in place before this cycle? Isn't the deadline coming up?
 
You definitely want to finish your PGY-1. Many psych programs will be willing to take you as a PGY-2 if there's an opening with an FM PGY-1, so you'll have more opportunities (and might save a year).

I agree there's no way around talking to your PD about it. The last thing you want is them hearing it from someone else.

The problem you may run into is trying to keep your PGY-2 FM spot open until the match happens. If the PD finds a new PGY-2 who is willing to commit for July 2025, they may want to sign them long before mid March. So you should assume it will be impossible to both stay in the match for a new spot and keep your FM PGY-2 position. It certainly is possible your PD may do this for you, but I would plan otherwise. Hopefully, by the time your PD finds a replacement you'll at least have some sense of how many interviews you have, which will give you some sense of the future.
 
Lost in Translation said:
You're gunna have to bite the bullet and have this discussion with your PD. Some PDs are super supportive and want only the best for their residents even if that means letting them leave, others are toxic. There's no way to tell how your specific PD will respond. Also, it's good manners to let them know that you're not happy and have formally decided to leave at the end of the year so they can start the recruitment process for a replacement. Depending on how the Match goes for you in the spring, you might not have a Psych spot next academic year; being cordial with your PD will also hopefully keep the door open for you to sign a contract for PGY2 year so you still 1) have a job and 2) don't have gaps in your post-graduate training. Again, depends on your specific PD.

How are you going to have your LORs in place before this cycle? Isn't the deadline coming up?
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My plan was to ask my previous letter writers to re-up my letters (if I can do that?) and I will get the letter from my PD. Ugh.
 
Babyreindeer said:
My plan was to ask my previous letter writers to re-up my letters (if I can do that?) and I will get the letter from my PD. Ugh.
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That would be the best way to do it. Have you been in touch with your letter writers at all in the past year/do they know about your situation besides the past month and a half?
 
Babyreindeer said:
My 45 days is up and I'm certain that this isnt the speciality or even the program for me. I want to reapply for the match but 1) I dont want my PD to tank my chances at leaving 2) I dont want to completely destroy my chances of staying in the program in case I dont match.

I get it all depends on your PD, but the honest truth is that I have heard through the rumor mill that mine just isnt to be trusted. How should I navigate this?
Click to expand...
Most program directors aren't in the business of keeping people who are unhappy in their program and are generally supportive of people finding their own path in life. You need to explain to the PD your reasons to have applied to FM as well such as mentioning that you thought you could do a psych or addiction fellowship, but then also explain why now that you've tried it you still want to do psych (eg, miss the more acute cases or higher level care). Losing your PGY-2 spot is entirely possible, and you cannot negotiate to have the program wait in case you match. The PD will decide based on how much they like you if they want to keep the spot open until then or sign up someone new. It's a risk you need to take if doing psych is really your passion
 
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