Is it bad form to apply for 2+ different residency programs?

[coralfangs]

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Is it? They are related of course and to me, I can see myself doing anyone of the 3 for 30 years.

Is it bad form though?

 

[gravitywave]

it is recommended if one is applying for something competitive, to hedge against the possibility of not matching. you might for example rank 12 NS programs and then rank 8 neurology programs too.

if you're doing what i think you're doing, i believe it may increase your odds of not matching anywhere if you shoot all over and can't concentrate your efforts.

 

[WellWornLad]

Is leaving your future to chance to avoid making a careful (albeit difficult) decision "bad form?"

Yes, yes it is.

 

[JonathanMD]

Though, I suppose you wouldn't want to apply to different programs in the same hospital...?

🙁

 

[siliso]

I am curious about this too, especially when it has to do with location constraints. Like if I can't do X in my area, then I want to do Y in my area, not X in some other place. It's gonna have to be that way for me, so I hope it's not too awful.

 

[Disinence2]

Its more complicated but people do this all the time.

It depends on what specialties your applying too. Medicine Plus Med/Peds... No big deal.

neurosx + gen surg, probably a bad idea from what i have heard.


Its not "Poor Form" if it works for you.

 

[Ischiowhat]

 

[DeadCactus]

It's like applying to dental and medical school at the same time...

 

[Antibodies]

I am curious about this too, especially when it has to do with location constraints. Like if I can't do X in my area, then I want to do Y in my area, not X in some other place. It's gonna have to be that way for me, so I hope it's not too awful.

This is what I want to do too. So what is one suppose to do if it is bad form to apply to different specialties? How will they know?

 

[da8s0859q]

Is it? They are related of course and to me, I can see myself doing anyone of the 3 for 30 years.

Is it bad form though?

Other than having always been told to not do that, I don't know. There are a few residents/attendings who interview for their residency programs here; hopefully they'll swing by and comment.

 

[smq123]

Is it? They are related of course and to me, I can see myself doing anyone of the 3 for 30 years.

Is it bad form though?

Well, it isn't a GREAT idea....

The problem is that if any of the program directors find out what you're do, it makes you look like a flake and a bad gamble. If they take you into their program, are you going to switch into another specialty after intern year? That causes major problems if you do.

Many people apply to multiple specialties...and some get caught. They might have applied to two specialties at the same hospital and been spotted interviewing for both. And program directors definitely talk to each other!

Part of the response you could get depends on why you are doing this. If you're applying to dermatology, then it is advisable to have a backup. If you are applying to peds, surgery, and radiology because you can't make up your mind, then that is a problem.

 

[ar2388]

What if you are applying to say radiology/transitional year programs and internal medicine program at the same 10 places due to location constraints?

 

[coralfangs]

Well, it isn't a GREAT idea....

The problem is that if any of the program directors find out what you're do, it makes you look like a flake and a bad gamble. If they take you into their program, are you going to switch into another specialty after intern year? That causes major problems if you do.

Many people apply to multiple specialties...and some get caught. They might have applied to two specialties at the same hospital and been spotted interviewing for both. And program directors definitely talk to each other!

Part of the response you could get depends on why you are doing this. If you're applying to dermatology, then it is advisable to have a backup. If you are applying to peds, surgery, and radiology because you can't make up your mind, then that is a problem.

for instance, let's say you want to do either peds or ob (there are some who have a hard time deciding) and you apply to Hospital A in City 1 for Peds and Hospital B in City 2 for Ob (both are really good programs in the fields)
Would that be a problem? Because I know I will be happy if I match into either one. You know what I'm saying? How would the PDs find out?

 

[Hurricane95]

I was recently considering doing this with medicine and anesthesia. I like both, although the split is not even, sort of 60%/40% in favor of anesthesia. I eventually decided to apply only to that one because I realized that this was going to be an enormous headache. It didn't take me long to see this as soon as I realized I needed 2 personal statements, 2 sets of rec letters, double the money, 2x the trips/flights and interviews, and began to look at lists of programs to apply to - anesthesia categorical, anesthesia advanced, surgical prelims, medicine prelims, internal medicine catergoricals...not only that, but there was major overlap. Applying to both a medicine prelim and FULL medicine at same place? um, bad idea.

um...yeah. Plus, eventually I was going to have to decide between, if at least when rank list time came. I felt majorly relieved to narrow it down now.

You should try your best to do the same methinks to avoid the trouble. Especially if you really are thinking peds and ob/gyn. Both are REALLY different actually: different patient populations, one involves surgery the other doesn't, etc. You get me.

It's just easier if you make up your mind now...if not, then best of luck to you! 👍

 

[BrianUM]

I was recently considering doing this with medicine and anesthesia. I like both, although the split is not even, sort of 60%/40% in favor of anesthesia. I eventually decided to apply only to that one because I realized that this was going to be an enormous headache. It didn't take me long to see this as soon as I realized I needed 2 personal statements, 2 sets of rec letters, double the money, 2x the trips/flights and interviews, and began to look at lists of programs to apply to - anesthesia categorical, anesthesia advanced, surgical prelims, medicine prelims, internal medicine catergoricals...not only that, but there was major overlap. Applying to both a medicine prelim and FULL medicine at same place? um, bad idea.

um...yeah. Plus, eventually I was going to have to decide between, if at least when rank list time came. I felt majorly relieved to narrow it down now.

You should try your best to do the same methinks to avoid the trouble. Especially if you really are thinking peds and ob/gyn. Both are REALLY different actually: different patient populations, one involves surgery the other doesn't, etc. You get me.

It's just easier if you make up your mind now...if not, then best of luck to you! 👍

whats up dude lol