is it possible?

[DrKolo]

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Hello,
I'm a third year college student (Pre-Med), recently switched from a major in Finance. I've always been intrigued w/ Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. However, my college grades so far haven't been that impressive, but I'm sure if I work harder throughout the next two years I could get accepted into a Caribbean Medical School. I've been reading the forums for several months now, and have realized that the chances of getting a PRS residency are slim to none for FMG's, however I was wondering if any current residents/attendings think that it will be possible for me to attain it. I've read about the general surgery to plastics fellowship route, but then have read other threads on how PRS is all going to become combined programs in the future, thus weeding out my chances of ever getting a PRS slot. Also, I've heard that there has been talk of seperating the field into aesthetic and reconstructive, making them seperate entities?? Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'm just trying to gather as much info as I can, and try to stick on the right track for the rest of my education.

Thanks to any and all replies.

 

[Meatwad]

Caribbean --> Integrated/Combined Plastics? Sorry, no way dude. I've never heard of anyone doing it. Like you said, the fellowship option seems to be going the way of the dinosaur. Your best bet is to just stay for a couple of extra years in undergrad, and get into a US MD school. If not, a DO school gives you a better shot at plastics, because I don't believe their plastics fellowships are going to be done away with. PCOM, for example, has a Plastics fellowship. It will only be an option for DO's, though, since they don't accept MD's.

Summary:

US MD
If you don't get in, reapply to US MD

If that fails, go DO

If that fails, go to the Caribbean, but be honest with yourself and realize plastics ain't going to happen.

 

[DrKolo]

Thanks, I appreciate the honest advice - I could delay my graduation an extra year at best. Perhaps I could always do a Masters Program to increase chances for US Med...

Once again,
Thanks

 

[Meatwad]

Thanks, I appreciate the honest advice - I could delay my graduation an extra year at best. Perhaps I could always do a Masters Program to increase chances for US Med...

Once again,
Thanks

Bingo. Whatever it takes. There's a good chance you won't even want plastics after all those years in medical school, but if you do, at least going to a US school will mean there are no doors closed to you from the get-go. At that point, your hard work and a bit of luck will hopefully get you where you want to be.

 

[berkeleyboy]

Caribbean --> Integrated/Combined Plastics? Sorry, no way dude. I've never heard of anyone doing it.

I know a guy who did it (actually I know 2 people)...but both transferred from a caribbean school to a US school and matched Integrated/Combined Plastics.

It can be done although extremely unlikely.

 

[Meatwad]

I know a guy who did it (actually I know 2 people)...but both transferred from a caribbean school to a US school and matched Integrated/Combined Plastics.

It can be done although extremely unlikely.

Well, yeah, transferring is an option. However, you are not really a Caribbean graduate, since your degree is granted from the US school at that point; so it's not really applicable here.

Just curious, did your friend transfer to Drexel, Tulane, or an Ohio/NY state school? I think they take a decent amount of transfers.

 

[berkeleyboy]

Well, yeah, transferring is an option. However, you are not really a Caribbean graduate, since your degree is granted from the US school at that point; so it's not really applicable here.

Just curious, did your friend transfer to Drexel, Tulane, or an Ohio/NY state school? I think they take a decent amount of transfers.

Oh I know...but I was talking about this statement:

If that fails, go to the Caribbean, but be honest with yourself and realize plastics ain't going to happen.

I was just saying it can happen if you start out from the caribbean, although not likely as you were saying.

One went to Drexel and the other went to Ohio.

 

[knife to me plz]

Even transferring is really hard. You have to be like at the top of your class. A friend of mine did it and he got very lucky to get a spot.

 

[beastmaster]

Like you said, the fellowship option seems to be going the way of the dinosaur.

Is there any concrete evidence to this? Can anyone name any programs that have closed or are planning to close their fellowships in the near future?

 

[abcxyz0123]

Is there any concrete evidence to this? Can anyone name any programs that have closed or are planning to close their fellowships in the near future?

i am curious about this as well

 

[plastikosmd]

there was more discussion here
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=429613

i dont know much more than what was said in that thread