Hey all, wanted some advice on my situation. I submitted my ERAS app for IM, but have had this doubt ("what if?") at the back of my mind that I might better suited to surgery instead. Some practical questions: since I've already submitted, I am assuming this means that if I did end up deciding to do surgery, I would be delaying starting residency by a year since it is far too late to submit another ERAS for surgery at this point, especially considering that I have no LORs for surgery, and it would take a few months at the very least to get enough LORs to apply.
Some background on why I am doubting IM: I was interested in EM for a long time (premed scribe, EMT, loved my EM rotations in med school etc) but switched to IM for better flexibility through fellowships, more complex patients, continuity, and less social complaints (relatively speaking compared to EM that is). Started thinking about surgery after some reflection - I like working with my hands, I like being able to fix problems acutely (probably why I liked EM so much), and my personality might be a better fit for surgery. I will be honest and say that I did not enjoy my surgery rotations in terms of being in the OR, though I think my enjoyment was probably clouded by the surgery attendings I was assigned to. I am currently on a MICU rotation and while its not uninteresting, its not necessarily super enjoyable, though I concede that could just be academic medicine in general being dull.
If this all sounds like I am just experiencing the common doubts that come along with residency apps, or if this is something I should pursue more (attempting to shadow some surgeries, potentially doing a surgical rotation, etc.) would love some advice either way.
Some background on why I am doubting IM: I was interested in EM for a long time (premed scribe, EMT, loved my EM rotations in med school etc) but switched to IM for better flexibility through fellowships, more complex patients, continuity, and less social complaints (relatively speaking compared to EM that is). Started thinking about surgery after some reflection - I like working with my hands, I like being able to fix problems acutely (probably why I liked EM so much), and my personality might be a better fit for surgery. I will be honest and say that I did not enjoy my surgery rotations in terms of being in the OR, though I think my enjoyment was probably clouded by the surgery attendings I was assigned to. I am currently on a MICU rotation and while its not uninteresting, its not necessarily super enjoyable, though I concede that could just be academic medicine in general being dull.
If this all sounds like I am just experiencing the common doubts that come along with residency apps, or if this is something I should pursue more (attempting to shadow some surgeries, potentially doing a surgical rotation, etc.) would love some advice either way.