Mentioning subspeciality of choice in residency personal statement

[D elegans]

Sorry if this has been asked before/is a basic question; a Google search did not yield in a clear answer.

When applying to IM programs, is it ok to discuss your preference for a particular subspecialty? Clearly you'd want to convey your interest in general IM, but I'm pretty certain of my eventual career path. Would it be better to spend a paragraph discussing this or focus on general IM? Thanks much.

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[IM2GI]

General IM.

The core of every great specialist is a strong internist. The goal of internal medicine residency is to train well-rounded internists.

 

[D elegans]

General IM.

The core of every great specialist is a strong internist. The goal of internal medicine residency is to train well-rounded internists.

Thank you. I figured.

 

[bobow98]

Thank you. I figured.

Is it really not kosher to mention it? My dean of students didn't think it was an issue.

 

[rokshana]

Is it really not kosher to mention it? My dean of students didn't think it was an issue.

why do you feel the need to mention it? are all the programs that you are applying to strong in that subspecialty and take from within?

you're applying to IM…talk about your interest in IM…no one wants to hear that they are just a stepping stone in your ultimate plan of going into *insert subspecialty here*.

 

[gutonc]

It's fine to mention it. Just don't make it the focus of your PS unless you're applying to a Research Pathway program.

 

[IM2GI]

It's fine to mention it. Just don't make it the focus of your PS unless you're applying to a Research Pathway program.

He wants to spend a paragraph on it. The paragraph should be "why internal medicine", not "why cardiology". You can have a sentence or two I guess, but keep the focus on general IM.

Save the specialty talk for your fellowship application

 

[nlax30]

I agree, make the focus on how it would make you a great internist and leave the subspecialty stuff for fellowship apps. Chances are they have an idea already from the interview and if not they will once you start.

I sat in on quite a few interviews last year and their interest in a specific specialty would come up in interview but I don't remember any that specifically talked about it in their PS. At most they may have mentioned a quick something about access to certain fellowships that drew them to this program but that was all.

 

[Lazarius]

The question is: why do you want to mention it? you're not going to impress any IM PD or APD by saying you're very interested in X or Y subspeciality. They don't care. It's either gonna hurt you or it won't matter. I don't see a situation where it will help you (unless in a PSTP as mentioned above).
I knew exactly what subspeciality I was going for when I was applying for IM, but I didn't mention it in my PS and didn't bring it up in my interviews. I felt that all the IM people cared about was how well I would fit in their program and if I would be a competent IM resident.

 

[D elegans]

Thanks for the advice guys, I appreciate it

 

[Gastrapathy]

IM PDs are sometimes resentful of the folks who view their specialty as a stepping stone. They are more likely to have a negative reaction if you tell them you want GI or Cards. Focus your app on general medicine unless it is very clear from other parts that you are lying (ie lots of GI research, letters from a GI and then you claim you only ever liked primary care).

 

[ChessMaster3000]

IM PDs are sometimes resentful of the folks who view their specialty as a stepping stone. They are more likely to have a negative reaction if you tell them you want GI or Cards. Focus your app on general medicine unless it is very clear from other parts that you are lying (ie lots of GI research, letters from a GI and then you claim you only ever liked primary care).

there's a difference between not focusing on your interest in a specialty and lying by saying you want to do primary care. Even if you could get away with it given little to no research in a field, that is not a reason to pretend you want to stick with general IM. You can love IM as a field and still want to do a specialty, and IM directors know that

 

[Gastrapathy]

Depends on the field. More likely to have a negative reaction if it's one of the lucrative subs (regardless of whether it is a factor for you).

 

[rokshana]

there's a difference between not focusing on your interest in a specialty and lying by saying you want to do primary care. Even if you could get away with it given little to no research in a field, that is not a reason to pretend you want to stick with general IM. You can love IM as a field and still want to do a specialty, and IM directors know that

its one thing to say you are interested in pursuing fellowship training after IM and another speak only about the subspecialty…you don't have to LIE, but you can talk about the thing you find interesting in IM or how you would benefit from IM training…