Is it wise to declare your interested specialty at interviews?

[openstage]

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With many people attending and planning for II’s, I was curious about this topic. Here are my questions I’d like to ask Adcoms and people who have interviewed:

1. Do most schools ask what specific area you are most interested in?

2. Is it frowned upon if you’re undecided?

3. If the med school is not strong in that area you wish to practice in, could that be viewed as a “negative” factor towards your acceptance.

4. If the school has repeatedly stated that primary care is central to their mission, should that be a “must do” talking point, even if you’re undecided?

Thank you for honest info,

 

[deleted972488]

1. Do most schools ask what specific area you are most interested in?

Most don’t, but some do.

2. Is it frowned upon if you’re undecided?

No

3. If the med school is not strong in that area you wish to practice in, could that be viewed as a “negative” factor towards your acceptance.

Yes

4. If the school has repeatedly stated that primary care is central to their mission, should that be a “must do” talking point, even if you’re undecided?

Yes. If you’re applying to this school you should be able to demonstrate an interest primary care, even if you are not completely decided.

 

[openstage]

Nice direct response! Related to question # 3, how do you research before interviewing, what a school is strong or weak in? Where do you begin?

 

[deleted972488]

Nice direct response! Related to question # 3, how do you research before interviewing what schools are strong or weak in? Where do you begin?

Most schools likely have a decent residency program in whatever you’re interested in. But if your school is very primary care focused and you say you want to go into a niche academic subspecialty, that will hurt you.

 

[710118]

Honestly, I think saying you want a super competitive speciality like derm or ortho will hurt you unless you have strong experiences to back that up. I can assure you with 100 percent certainty, there is not even one cosmetic plastic surgeon in the United States who stated at their medical school interview that they wanted to go into cosmetic plastic surgery.

 

[malmed1025]

What about if you're very interested in primary care (for me pediatrics/family medicine) and you're applying to a research focused school. Will that seem like a negative since they have lots of basic science research and students who specialize?

 

[notretired]

I've been asked this at every interview and I think it is one of the easiest questions to lead into a rejection on the interviewers part; probably why it is asked. Anything along the lines of "Based on my experiences in ___ it is certainly an interest of mine, but medical school will undoubtably expose me to new fields that could very well shift my interests over time. This is something I am very excited about, and I could see myself being happy in any field that includes...(list qualities that drove you towards medicine)." I don't think it's an automatic no no to demonstrate interest in a competitive specialty, just know your interviewer is probably waiting to pounce on that to see how you handle stress.

 

[openstage]

I've been asked this at every interview and I think it is one of the easiest questions to lead into a rejection on the interviewers part; probably why it is asked. Anything along the lines of "Based on my experiences in ___ it is certainly an interest of mine, but medical school will undoubtably expose me to new fields that could very well shift my interests over time. This is something I am very excited about, and I could see myself being happy in any field that includes...(list qualities that drove you towards medicine)." I don't think it's an automatic no no to demonstrate interest in a competitive specialty, just know your interviewer is probably waiting to pounce on that to see how you handle stress.

I’m just trying to clarify your response. When you say “you’ve been asked this at every interview” specifically you meant....

And are you saying it’s best to stay generic in your response to avoid showing a lack of quality experiences?

Thanks for responding,

 

[imbesrs]

Just say fm/im hopefully everyone has pcp shadowing why even attempt to lower your chances lol.

Also one should never DECLARE a field unless interviewing at a 3yr guaranteed residency accelerated program

 

[notretired]

I’m just trying to clarify your response. When you say “you’ve been asked this at every interview” specifically you meant....

And are you saying it’s best to stay generic in your response to avoid showing a lack of quality experiences?

Thanks for responding,

I'm saying I've been asked what specialty I intend to pursue at all of my interviews thus far. I have a lot of work experience in a particular field, so typically I get "So do you plan on pursuing X?" If you have significant experience in a certain field, and it is at least part of why you decided to pursue medicine - no reason beating around the bush. Likewise, if you don't have experience in a field, and can't really tie it into wanting to go into med, probably best to remain more general. Only point I was trying to get across is that you can display interest in a competitive field if you have reasons; almost every class at every school has people who go FM and people who go ortho or derm or whatever, just make sure not to come across like "It's X specialty or bust."

 

[imbesrs]

I'm saying I've been asked what specialty I intend to pursue at all of my interviews thus far. I have a lot of work experience in a particular field, so typically I get "So do you plan on pursuing X?" If you have significant experience in a certain field, and it is at least part of why you decided to pursue medicine - no reason beating around the bush. Likewise, if you don't have experience in a field, and can't really tie it into wanting to go into med, probably best to remain more general. Only point I was trying to get across is that you can display interest in a competitive field if you have reasons; almost every class at every school has people who go FM and people who go ortho or derm or whatever, just make sure not to come across like "It's X specialty or bust."

Yes this for sure, was too lazy to type. If you have personal reasons or evidence of commitment to a field then its acceptable to say you like xyz field

 

[openstage]

Excellent. Thanks

 

[Engrailed]

Yes this for sure, was too lazy to type. If you have personal reasons or evidence of commitment to a field then its acceptable to say you like xyz field

I agree with bold 100%

 

[notretired]

I agree with bold 100%

Yeah the bold is really the key part. Also of note - I asked one of my interviewers how he chose his specialty (competitive surgical sub) and he said something to the effect of "I knew this was what I wanted to do before I started med school - I planned out the path to get there and followed through with it." Point being that it's not off the wall to go in with a specific plan to pursue a competitive specialty.

 

[Goro]

With many people attending and planning for II’s, I was curious about this topic. Here are my questions I’d like to ask Adcoms and people who have interviewed:

1. Do most schools ask what specific area you are most interested in?

2. Is it frowned upon if you’re undecided?

3. If the med school is not strong in that area you wish to practice in, could that be viewed as a “negative” factor towards your acceptance.

4. If the school has repeatedly stated that primary care is central to their mission, should that be a “must do” talking point, even if you’re undecided?

Thank you for honest info,

1) Not that I'm aware of
2) No
3) No
4) Just keep an open mind. Even the PC-centric DO schools send 30-50% of their grads into specialties.

We also know that most people change their minds about specialties along the way (or Boards will do it for them)

 

[moldydorito]

I’ve been asked at most of my schools. I just say that I am interested in something procedural like surgery or interventional radiology but that I’m keeping an open mind since it might change.

 

[pBar]

Every single interview I've attended I have been asked this, but that is also in part because my application has been extremely focused in on a single discipline. I have extensive research, clinical, and service experience in this one particular field, and make it very clear in my personal statement and my "Why MD/PhD" statement, that at this time, I am very inspired and passionate about this specific area. Mind you, my area of interest is pretty niche, not may applicants are interested in, and isn't considered a "super-competitive" field. However, it's provided a lot of talking points during interviews.

I would just suggest even if there is a field you are really interested, be able to accept that your ideas might (probably will) change as you're exposed further during your medical education.