Matched last on my rank list into advanced position. Want to change specialties. Options?

[ErbB1]

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[yeet]

I'm sorry to hear this!

Any thoughts on how you dropped so low with good scores / coming from a good school?

 

[IMGASMD]

Maybe your lack of enthusiasm showed during your interview.

Yes you can switch. Plenty people have done so. Your most important task right now is actually to figure out what you want to do for life.....

Or take sometime during your transition year and see what you’re actually passionate about?

Good luck.

 

[radsisrad]

I matched onto the last spot (20th) on my rank list into an advanced specialty (radiology). I was very close to not even ranking this program, but did last minute thinking it was highly unlikely I would fall that low (I am from top tier med school w/ 250s Step1/2, lots of research, and no red flags). Feeling like this whole result was a fluke. I am not even excited or committed to radiology, and now wish I hadn't even matched so I could reapply to a different specialty (surgery, EM, or gas).
I also matched into a transitional year, which I have to complete to avoid a match violation.

So, my question is: What would be the best way of switching out of radiology? Should I just reapply this coming summer/fall through ERAS into another specialty? Would that be doable as a PGY-1? Can I get a PGY-2 spot outside of the match? How would I get letters if I reapply? Suggestions?

If you'd be happy with anesthesiology, there are TONS of PGY-2 spots every year. Most likely that your radiology program will be understanding if you tell them that you don't have a passion for rads and would like to be relieved of your match obligation.

 

[aSagacious]

When can/should I inform my rads program? Can I look for another spot first, or reapply to other specialties via eras before? Or do I need to be relieved of my obligation beforehand?

You should ask the radiology PD before shopping around. Your prospective new PD will almost certainly call the radiology PD for their blessing before poaching a resident. Anecdotally, I know a PD who really went to bat for a resident switching specialties, even though it obviously didn't benefit him/her.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

This is easy, but you need to do it the right way. First, you'll tell your Rads PD that you've changed your mind and are no longer interested in radiology. Then, you'll apply to the NRMP for a change of specialties waiver of the match. As long as you apply before December, the approval is automatic. You'll be freed from your radiology match, and they will be free to put the spot in the match as an R position for next year. The only "cost" to you is that you will no longer be able to apply for radiology positions in the match -- so you need to be certain that you have no interest in Rads.

Then, you'll need time from your TY to interview for new programs next year. Your TY may, or may not, be flexible about this. It's a job, you can't just take time off like you did from school.

 

[cgk]

can you do the same thing if you matched into a categorical IM program and want to try to get an advance spot in Anesthesia for example?

 

[JustAnotherNonTrad]

I matched onto the last spot (20th) on my rank list into an advanced specialty (radiology). I was very close to not even ranking this program, but did last minute thinking it was highly unlikely I would fall that low (I am from top tier med school w/ 250s Step1/2, lots of research, and no red flags). Feeling like this whole result was a fluke. I am not even excited or committed to radiology, and now wish I hadn't even matched so I could reapply to a different specialty (surgery, EM, or gas).
I also matched into a transitional year, which I have to complete to avoid a match violation.

So, my question is: What would be the best way of switching out of radiology? Should I just reapply this coming summer/fall through ERAS into another specialty? Would that be doable as a PGY-1? Can I get a PGY-2 spot outside of the match? How would I get letters if I reapply? Suggestions?

Would you feel different about radiology if you had matched in your top 3 programs? It's difficult to tell if you are boohooing because you didn't get one of your top ranks or if you were never committed to radiology to begin with. If you are genuinely more interested in another specialty, how will your feelings for that change if you don't like the program you match at when/if that time comes? You rank programs so you get the opportunity to train and become a doctor. If you have no interest in a program, don't rank it. However, you should ALWAYS be prepared to attend any program that you rank. That said, you're not married to rads and you can absolutely change. Since you have TY, you can likely tell your rads PD you don't want the spot and spend the next year actually investigating the specialty you want. A friend of mine did that exact thing. Matched rads, decided he didn't want to do rads, did his TY then matched Urology. He's happy. You'll be happy. But you need to find what you want to do.

 

[Sleepingdoc]

You still matched... there are plenty of people who dont match, even with high scores.. you must not be good at interviews.. or something did not click.

 

[Splenda88]

There must be something that attracted to diagnostic rad; you should think hard before going to EM/Anes etc... There is no prefect specialty in medicine except for derm or psych.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

can you do the same thing if you matched into a categorical IM program and want to try to get an advance spot in Anesthesia for example?

Theoretically. But you'll run into similar problems.

Getting enough time off to interview for anesthesia
The IM program may require you to sign your PGY-2 contract before match results are available. Although you might think you could just "resign", this would be a match violation -- you could lose both spots.
Funding issues since anesthesia training is at least 4 years.

But it's been done.