How to decide which school is good for X?

[panbimbo]

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I know, I know, worry about getting into medical school first before thinking about specialty. But I doubt there is a single premed out there who has no clue or inkling as to which specialties or branches of medicine they are leaning towards.

As for me, I am leaning towards surgical and image-based specialties that are research heavy, especially interested in cancer. While I would be happy in an IM based or even family medicine role, those are my interests. I'm especially intrigued by neurosurgery, otolaryngology and general surgery.

Anyways, when constructing a list or deciding which schools to apply to, is there a way to say "this school is not really ideal" or "this school will help me get the specialty I want, et cetera"?

 

[leonardoson]

I would wait till clinical rotations till you make hard and fast decisions tied to specialties

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

Any school.


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[panbimbo]

I would wait till clinical rotations till you make hard and fast decisions tied to specialties

I literally said: "I am leaning towards..."

Did NOT say: "I definitely want to do ..."

 

[Goro]

I literally said: "I am leaning towards..."

Did NOT say: "I definitely want to do ..."

The advice you got so far is still 100% valid. Any school, from JAB to Harvard, from U WA to U Miami, from Albany to Yale, will get you where you want to go. But the actual arriving is 100% on you.

 

[leonardoson]

I literally said: "I am leaning towards..."

Did NOT say: "I definitely want to do ..."

I would wait till clinical rotations till you make hard and fast decisions tied to specialties

I would argue that choosing which medical school you apply/go to based on a specialty is a "hard and fast" decision

 

[LizzyM]

Frankly, look at where residents at any hospital did their med school training.
Here's one example

https://www.nyp.org/pdf/ent_residents_roster.pdf
Here's another that requires a bit more work as you have to click on each name to see the pedigree.

Residents and Fellows I Ohio State Department of Radiology

 

[altblue]

I would wait till clinical rotations till you make hard and fast decisions tied to specialties

I would argue that choosing which medical school you apply/go to based on a specialty is a "hard and fast" decision

Agree, but I think it'd be fair to say "I'm interesting in competitive specialty X" and consider whether it's represented in numerous match lists

 

[getdown]

You're working under the assumption that those schools are just waiting to accept you with open arms.

You: Hi school X, I want to come here because of Z specialty.
School X: we have many qualified applicants but only a few spots to offer. Unfortunately, we cannot offer you a spot.

What are you going to do? Not go to medical school because you can't go to a particular school? Look at Gonnif's post. Most people are rejected from medical school and only a few get multiple offers. Unless you're in that group of rockstars it'd be stupid for you not to apply broadly and attend any school that is willing to accept you.

Question: Which school best prepares you for a particular specialty?
Answer: Any that accept you because you don't get trained in a specialty until YOU'RE IN THE GODDAMN RESIDENCY.

 

[854555]

Frankly, look at where residents at any hospital did their med school training.
Here's one example

https://www.nyp.org/pdf/ent_residents_roster.pdf

Why does it say both Cornell and Columbia on top? 😕

 

[longhaul3]

Why does it say both Cornell and Columbia on top? 😕

It's a joint program.

OP, neurosurgery and ENT are two of the more competitive specialties. Going to a top school will help you get into these fields, both by offering plentiful research opportunities and by connecting you with well connected faculty (not to mention reputation of the school itself). In any case, though, you can get into any of these fields from any MD school.

There is no real school that is good for X vs. Y where X and Y are specific specialties. The better the school, the better your chances are in every specialty.

 

[LizzyM]

OP, neurosurgery and ENT are two of the more competitive specialties. Going to a top school will help you get into these fields, both by offering plentiful research opportunities and by connecting you with well connected faculty (not to mention reputation of the school itself). In any case, though, you can get into any of these fields from any MD school.

That was my point exactly. You can see residents from any med school in any specialty.

 

[Med Ed]

OP, neurosurgery and ENT are two of the more competitive specialties. Going to a top school will help you get into these fields, both by offering plentiful research opportunities and by connecting you with well connected faculty (not to mention reputation of the school itself). In any case, though, you can get into any of these fields from any MD school.

Random state school: University of Nebraska
Match year: 2018
n = 121
Neurosurgery matches: 2
ENT matches: 3

Top 20 school: Pitt
Match year: 2018
n =140
Neurosurgery matches: 3
ENT matches: 1

 

[Med Ed]

Anyways, when constructing a list or deciding which schools to apply to, is there a way to say "this school is not really ideal" or "this school will help me get the specialty I want, et cetera"?

This should not impact your school list, which should be assembled using other criteria. Typically you apply to all your state schools, the private schools where you are competitive based on your stats, and the handful of public schools that take large numbers of OOS applicants. Let them sell you on their wonderful clinical training opportunities during the interviews.

It is tempting to look at match lists, but they are loaded with confounders. In my view the only factor which may tip the balance is if a given school has attached residency programs in your field(s) of interest. It is generally easier to land clerkships and network with a program/PD in-house.

 

[panbimbo]

This should not impact your school list, which should be assembled using other criteria. Typically you apply to all your state schools, the private schools where you are competitive based on your stats, and the handful of public schools that take large numbers of OOS applicants. Let them sell you on their wonderful clinical training opportunities during the interviews.

It is tempting to look at match lists, but they are loaded with confounders. In my view the only factor which may tip the balance is if a given school has attached residency programs in your field(s) of interest. It is generally easier to land clerkships and network with a program/PD in-house.

Thanks, duly noted.

It's just interesting that whether you enjoy cold weather or hot weather should factor in your decision to apply to place but not something like this. For example, though U Miami is a good school for me, I just can't see myself living there.

 

[Med Ed]

It's just interesting that whether you enjoy cold weather or hot weather should factor in your decision to apply to place but not something like this. For example, though U Miami is a good school for me, I just can't see myself living there.

This makes no sense.

 

[panbimbo]

This makes no sense.

What doesn't make sense? People say look at places youd like to live as a way to construct school list but looking at what specialty opportunities there maybe shouldn't factor... That's what I didnt really get, but now I do.

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[Goro]

This makes no sense.

Some people don't like living in a sauna.

On the other hand, in Rochester MN, winter makes a very serious attempt to kill you from January to March

 

[DokterMom]

If you think you might be interested in some competitive specialties, then there are a few schools that would be less desirable for you, for example, most DO schools. And conversely, some schools will help you get there more easily, such as top-ranked research-heavy schools. So if your qualifications are strong enough to land you a spot in a top school, it might make sense for you to grab it.

Otherwise, apply as you normally would to a wide range of schools that are appropriate for an applicant of your caliber. (See the Wedgedawg rating scale if you're unsure of where you rank in the applicant hierarchy.)

Once you have multiple offers to choose from, then it will make sense to see which schools have home programs for ENT and neurosurgery. Until then, any US medical school will be your best choice.

 

[Med Ed]

What doesn't make sense?

Never mind. I was associating your use of "this" with the wrong subject.