interviews and what you want in the future

[nonbilious]

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So as interview season approaches a few people now have told me that when I go on interviews people will want to hear that I have subspecialty interest and if I want to do research that I should have a focus.

is this just to make conversation in the interview or what? I am literally all over the map in terms of a subspecialty.... peds to cardio to onc to transplant. and my research interests are just as disparate.

All that I do know is, I want research, I want to stay academic and I want to be an excellent general surgeon before I subspecialize.... is that not enough?

 

[SocialistMD]

All that I do know is, I want research, I want to stay academic and I want to be an excellent general surgeon before I subspecialize.... is that not enough?

I think this is fine. I'm not sure who is telling you that you need to have a subspecialty focus, but I think as long as you are honest about what you want and where you stand, you'll be golden.

 

[JackADeli]

...is this just to make conversation in the interview or what? ...

All that I do know is, I want research, I want to stay academic and I want to be an excellent general surgeon before I subspecialize.... is that not enough?

I think this is fine. ...as long as you are honest about what you want and where you stand, you'll be golden.

Absolutely agree. Do not go into any interview with the idea to declare an interest or career plan based on what you think they want to hear. Be honest. It's a mistake to declare you want to do interest if you don't. It is also a mistake to declare no interest in research or academia if you really have strong interest in that area. I think your answer is appropriate at you level/position, "All that I do know is, I want research, I want to stay academic and I want to be an excellent general surgeon before I subspecialize...". You may consider the point of... "before I decide if I will or will not subspecialize". But, keep it honest. Do not make your next step on the road to a career to be one of dishonesty to get what you want.

JAD

 

[surg]

To the OP. No, that's enough. I ask the question to see if there is anything in particular you are looking for, and if our program's strengths match your interests, then I'll want to highlight that. Conversely, if we are terrible at your avowed "I must do this subspecialty or else" I'm going to factor that into my perception of how happy you might be if you end up at our program.

Best advice to all applicants. Tell the truth. Remember, that you don't need every program to want you, you only need to find one program that wants you bad enough to put you high enough on the list to match. Since you are stuck with that program after match, it behooves you to try to give th information that is important to you so that programs that you really fit with will put you high, and programs that you don't belong at will do you a favor and not rank you to match. Trying to guess what I want to hear will lead you to lie to yourself and place you at a program that you don't want to be at, if I don't catch it, and if I do catch it, will make me doubt your sincerity. Not to mention, you don't know me so how do you know what I want to hear?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Agree with the others: I'm not sure any medical student is in a position to clearly articulate a subspecialty interest with any sort of certainty that would convince me.

It is appropriate to say that you are interested in an academic career, research and have some exposure to subspecialty X (which you enjoyed) but that you want more exposure before deciding. I think declaring a subspecialty interest and a plan to focus your research in that area now is a tad premature.

Be honest; its almost always the best policy.