Need help--very late interest in rads

[badnfluence]

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I have always had interest in imaging/radiology, but only within the past couple weeks have I started considering it for residency (VERY late considering I'm in my 4th year). I was all about orthopedics until I started an externship Sub-I in ortho and realized how miserable residency could truly be. After re-evaluating my priorities in life, I am realizing that I would likely be a happier person in a field with more schedule stability and far fewer 36-hour binges of work with no sleep. I also think I could be a great radiologist, because I have an eye for images, a good knowledge of pathology, and am computer-savvy.

I wouldn't be writing this if I didn't have a few problems. I have not done a radiology rotation yet, and my LOR are all aimed toward orthopedics (i.e. I think the wording in them probably says stuff like "he will make a great orthopedic surgeon", etc. etc). I think my scores/grades are very strong, but I have zero research experiences since you generally don't need any for ortho. I am scheduled for another ortho Sub-I next month, so I would have to find a way to switch this to an elective radiology rotation with very short notice. Furthermore, it would be pretty hard to ask the orthopod who I'm working with this month to write me a "specialty-neutral" LOR (he doesn't know that I've been changing my mind from ortho). I don't know if he'd even write a non-ortho LOR.

So, I'm asking for any general advice for my situation. Am I too late in the game to consider switching (with apps being submitted in just a few weeks)? Also, should I ask the people who have written my two LOR already to change the wording? This is a pain in the ass and I wish I had given more consideration to radiology earlier. However, this is the rest of my career that I'm talking about, so I feel a lot of pressure to get this right.

Stats:
252 Step 1
Step 2 score pending
Straight honors in clinical clerkships at mid-tier midwestern school
Junior AOA
Zero research

Thanks for the help!

 

[colbgw02]

A radiology LOR is overrated, or so said the program director at my medical school. Knowing the pace at which letter writers work, it's probably unrealistic to get new ones or have the old ones reworded. Consider just submitting them as is and use your personal statement to explain the situation.

Does your school have an academic advisor specifically for radiology? If so, go see him or her as soon as possible. Among other things, he or she will help to develop a list of schools to which you'll apply.

You have good stats. As long as you're not a blatant sociopath, you will undoubtedly match somewhere. The late switch and the lack of research may scare off a few programs, but most programs shouldn't care too much - assuming your interest in radiology is sincere. Be prepared to answer a few questions about the switch and you'll be fine. Good luck.

 

[salamander8]

A few thoughts:

1. While posting on studentdoctor.net is a start, you should consider posting on auntminnie.com as well. That website has a high volume of applicants, and you may get some useful information there. Take some of what is said on that site with a grain of salt but, that said, there is useful information there to be found.

2. Send revised letters of recommendation to radiology programs. Ask the recommenders to take out references to being a great orthopedics candidate. It slightly weakens your application to have letters recommending you to a different specialty; you should make the strongest application possible for this competitive field.

3. Rotate through radiology, now. You want to be sure that you really are interested in radiology. Also it gives you a way to get at least one radiology recommendation, which may be good enough. Maybe you can ask to rotate on MSK imaging where you may have some knowledge.

4. Your scores and stats are good enough. You should get into a radiology program. Of course having good research may make it easier to get into a top program and would be of benefit, but it won't be the difference between matching and not matching, but rather possibly deciding whether you get certain scattered interview offers and how high you are ranked on the match list. In your case an externship could be helpful, but that's a controversial proposition and I'm not knowledgeable enough to know if it would be helpful.

Good luck.

 

[Taurus]

Be glad you saw the light now.

I met 3 former ortho residents or attendings plus a smattering of others from IM, gen surg, ophtho during my interviews.

 

[radsgoal]

i am in a similar situation to the OP; however due to my late game change I could not schedule a rad elective before rank. I was able to shadow a radiologist at a local hospital for a little over 3 weeks and get a letter from him. Other than that I have very solid stats (stellar step 1 and 2, 2 poster pubs, honors in almost all cores but one) but do u think the lack of a formal elective is an application killer? Or should I go ahead with my plans full speed ahead? Please input is appreciated as the deadline is in like 2 weeks and change

 

[Taurus]

Most programs don't require a letter from a rads person. You don't even need to do a rads elective because most PD's know it's a waste of time for a medical student (I did 3 of them during 4th year and it was wonderful 😀). Your board scores and 3rd year grades are the most important things.

 

[gluon999]

Most programs don't require a letter from a rads person. You don't even need to do a rads elective because most PD's know it's a waste of time for a medical student

Granted students don't do much during a rads elective, but if they never do a single rads elective, how can a program take them seriously? There is a big difference between seeing something from the radiologist's perspective and not seeing it at all (i.e. not doing the elective at all).

 

[UCLAstudent]

Granted students don't do much during a rads elective, but if they never do a single rads elective, how can a program take them seriously? There is a big difference between seeing something from the radiologist's perspective and not seeing it at all (i.e. not doing the elective at all).

Yes, there should be SOMETHING (either a rads elective or research) that shows that the applicant has had exposure to radiology outside of the lecture setting. I was asked in several interviews if I'd ever worked with a radiologist in the reading room. I did a general radiology elective and a nuclear medicine elective, so I was able to mention those during my interviews.

I agree with Taurus that a radiology letter is not necessary.

 

[darkmansaad]

...

 

[radsgoal]

so does shadowing count as SOMETHING? i did the same thing most med students do which is read films, get pimped, get taught stuff and saw a few procedures like VCUG, etc........

 

[gluon999]

so does shadowing count as SOMETHING? i did the same thing most med students do which is read films, get pimped, get taught stuff and saw a few procedures like VCUG, etc........

I would think so...but then again, I am just a med stud. Shadowing is definitely better than nothing. If you get a letter out of it, bonus points!