Is it possible to not match into any surgical residency?

[2NeRLyFsTyLE]

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Will I be able to match into any surgical residency, more specifically neurosurgery, with average or even slightly below average grades in med school? I have a crazy passion for neurosugery, and I don't see myself doing anything else outside neurosurgery. Maybe another surgical specialty would work, but I only see myself doing surgery.

And suppose I barely get through med school, getting the lowest grades possible to still attain an MD upon graduation. Is it possible that I will not get accepted into any surgical residency? If yes, then what will I have to do if I only want to do surgery and nothing else? Would my career as a surgeon be impossible to reach at that point, or is there something I would be able to do?

 

[boston]

Will I be able to match into any surgical residency, more specifically neurosurgery, with average or even slightly below average grades in med school? I have a crazy passion for neurosugery, and I don't see myself doing anything else outside neurosurgery. Maybe another surgical specialty would work, but I only see myself doing surgery.

And suppose I barely get through med school, getting the lowest grades possible to still attain an MD upon graduation. Is it possible that I will not get accepted into any surgical residency? If yes, then what will I have to do if I only want to do surgery and nothing else? Would my career as a surgeon be impossible to reach at that point, or is there something I would be able to do?

Not sure what the point of your question is. why are you aiming for even lower than mediocrity. Do you expect to just get by with lowest grades possible? Yes, it is possible to not match at all. Nothing is guaranteed. Neurosurgery is more competitive than general surgery. If you get the lowest grades possible to get an MD, you could not match into general surgery either. More importantly, I am not sure I want someone who does not take pride in their work to be operating on me.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Just look at the match statistics for this year.

There are plenty of people who do not match, including US grads with good grades and test scores. Of course, its possible not to match into any surgery residency, especially one as competitive as Nsgy.

What else can you do? There are other less competitive residencies or you can keep reapplying to surgical residencies for a few years until you either get something or realize you won't. At that point, I don't know what you can do except accept that you won't be a surgeon.

 

[Pollicis]

I think I saw another message stating you were pre-med. How about worrying about getting into med school first?

 

[Spartyon]

Surgery is an "elitist" field as it is very competitive to begin with. I know of some friends in medical school (I just graduated at Michigan State University) and they have told me that you need top board scores and grades to be considered. If you are trying to eek by medical school then it will most likely not happen. Even if you do awesome in school chances are slim for surgery let alone neurosurgery. Try to focus on getting into medical school and kicking but and doors will open for you if you go either DO or MD route. Good luck and keep your chin up.

 

[Blade28]

I think I saw another message stating you were pre-med. How about worrying about getting into med school first?

Looks like the OP is going to be a PA first, before med school? 😕

I'm currently in undergrad and I plan to apply for PA school to get an MS in PA studies after I graduate.
...
Also, is it possible to complete premed and "pre-PA" reqs at the same time? My plan is to go for a PA just in case things don't work out with med school.

 

[DrDre311]

It's possible not to match in any specialty at all, surgical or otherwise. Just getting into med school doesn't mean you get to chill out and skate into whatever you want to do. Doing well in med school is difficult. Getting a desirable residency is equally difficult. Aiming low is not a strategy I would advise for someone with a crazy passion for anything--not FP and not NSG.

 

[2NeRLyFsTyLE]

What's up with all these sh*tty responses? I don't know much about med school and/or residency yet, I expect you guys to help instead of just being sarcastic. Well thanks a lot, especially to Tired and Blade...great responses!

 

[SLUser11]

What's up with all these sh*tty responses? I don't know much about med school and/or residency yet, I expect you guys to help instead of just being sarcastic. Well thanks a lot, especially to Tired and Blade...great responses!

Blade's response was not sarcastic but pretty straightforward. Tired's response sucked, but that's all he's capable of.

Sorry for the less than optimal responses, but to us your questions seem ridiculous, and we see alot of "WAMC" threads........

Like WS said, look at the NRMP website's "Match outcomes" if you want a serious response.

 

[smq123]

What's up with all these sh*tty responses? I don't know much about med school and/or residency yet, I expect you guys to help instead of just being sarcastic. Well thanks a lot, especially to Tired and Blade...great responses!

Blade was just asking a question - which, in light of your previous posts (ALL of which deal with becoming a PA, not a doctor), was a pretty reasonable question.

Geez, settle down.

 

[core0]

Blade was just asking a question - which, in light of your previous posts (ALL of which deal with becoming a PA, not a doctor), was a pretty reasonable question.

Geez, settle down.

Of course telling the PA Adcom that you are applying for PA school as medical school backup will guarantee you a slot.

David Carpenter, PA-C

 

[DrDre311]

What's up with all these sh*tty responses? I don't know much about med school and/or residency yet, I expect you guys to help instead of just being sarcastic. Well thanks a lot, especially to Tired and Blade...great responses!

If you're going to post a WAMC thread without doing your homework then you're going to get toasted. Some of us have sharper senses of humor than others.

 

[DrDre311]

Blade's response was not sarcastic but pretty straightforward. Tired's response sucked, but that's all he's capable of.

Sorry for the less than optimal responses, but to us your questions seem ridiculous, and we see alot of "WAMC" threads........

Like WS said, look at the NRMP website's "Match outcomes" if you want a serious response.

I thought it was funny.

 

[scala]

Come on guys! I think what 2 NER is getting at is something that a lot of people express disbelief towards.

Yes it is possible to work hard, get into medical school and then not be able to get a spot for any residency. This would limit you enormously as you will have to reinvent yourself later in life and not be able to acquire a medical license.

It is a pretty incredible thing and when I was going through the stress of applying to residency my friends outside of medicine were shocked that after all this work and all this time nothing was guaranteed.

This is something that everyone applying in medicine should know. I am not shocked by the question. The majority of people outside of medicine have no idea how uncertain this path can be for some people.

Work hard. Play hard. You can make it work!

 

[2NeRLyFsTyLE]

Of course telling the PA Adcom that you are applying for PA school as medical school backup will guarantee you a slot.

David Carpenter, PA-C

Lol I would never do that.

 

[2NeRLyFsTyLE]

If you're going to post a WAMC thread without doing your homework then you're going to get toasted. Some of us have sharper senses of humor than others.

True. Same thing with all forums. This one is actually tamer than most out there.

 

[2NeRLyFsTyLE]

Blade's response was not sarcastic but pretty straightforward. Tired's response sucked, but that's all he's capable of.

Sorry for the less than optimal responses, but to us your questions seem ridiculous, and we see alot of "WAMC" threads........

Like WS said, look at the NRMP website's "Match outcomes" if you want a serious response.

Oh alright, thanks bro

 

[2NeRLyFsTyLE]

Come on guys! I think what 2 NER is getting at is something that a lot of people express disbelief towards.

Yes it is possible to work hard, get into medical school and then not be able to get a spot for any residency. This would limit you enormously as you will have to reinvent yourself later in life and not be able to acquire a medical license.

It is a pretty incredible thing and when I was going through the stress of applying to residency my friends outside of medicine were shocked that after all this work and all this time nothing was guaranteed.

This is something that everyone applying in medicine should know. I am not shocked by the question. The majority of people outside of medicine have no idea how uncertain this path can be for some people.

Work hard. Play hard. You can make it work!

Thank you so much. This is the response I was looking for. 👍