Nevermind

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thoracentesis said:
Hello all, current OMS4 here. Applied into EM and just in case, I would like to have a backup plan in case I don't match. I have always had an interest in anesthesiology, and in case I didn't match I wanted to know how realistic my plans for SOAPing into anesthesiology are.

1)SOAP into categorical anesthesiology position
2)SOAP into prelim year and advanced anesthesiology
3)SOAP into prelim year and apply to anesthesiology R position in PGY1 year
4)SOAP into prelim year and apply to categorical anesthesiology in PGY1 year (totaling 5 years, would not prefer this)

Are there any other options? Are plans 1-3 realistic?

Step1: High 230s
Step2: Low 240s

Thanks for reading
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MS4 here. I would say the chances of SOAPing in an anesthesia spot would be pretty slim for a couple reasons.

1. You will be competing against other students who applied into competitive surgical sub specialties who will also be trying to SOAP into anesthesia.

2. If an advanced anesthesia spot, and even a categorical spot, doesn’t fill, they don’t need to SOAP. They could just not fill that year and then that advanced spot into an R spot for the next match cycle.

#3 and #4 would be your most likely options.
 
I’m going to try and resist the urge to be a d***, because I understand how competitive surgical specialties can be for allopathic applicants and really anything can be for osteopaths...

...but I really hate that we seem to be a dumping ground for the sloppy seconds of a bunch of other “more desirable” specialties. It’s bad for the field on so many levels. I really don’t blame you for wondering/planning, but this really seems to me like something that should be quietly inquired about through other channels, rather than be entertained and encouraged in such a public manner.
 
Actually don’t blame you for posting this question. I blame the whole messed up match system. It doesn’t hurt to have a backup plan. I’ll tell you from personal experience 6-7 years ago though the SOAP process was miserable. Ya, anesthesiology wasn’t my first choice. I got lucky, SOAP’d anesthesia, worked hard in residency, and came to love the job. Still love the job. Pay is not too shabby either. Now I can’t imagine doing anything else. I don’t feel that SOAPing in makes me a lesser or weaker anesthesiologist. I guarantee you I care just as much as my partners do about the job and the future of our specialty. In your case I will say a little tact goes a long way especially when you are asking others for help. If there is anything I can help with please PM me.
 
Apologies everyone if I phrased things the wrong way. I have great respect for you all. I think that the competitiveness of anesthesiology shows it's still a highly desirable specialty, with many attributes that make it an interest for me. It's just a hard time for all of us applicants regardless of specialty.
 
Nivens said:
I’m going to try and resist the urge to be a d***, because I understand how competitive surgical specialties can be for allopathic applicants and really anything can be for osteopaths...

...but I really hate that we seem to be a dumping ground for the sloppy seconds of a bunch of other “more desirable” specialties. It’s bad for the field on so many levels. I really don’t blame you for wondering/planning, but this really seems to me like something that should be quietly inquired about through other channels, rather than be entertained and encouraged in such a public manner.
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As a family doctor, let me say that I just feel so bad for your specialty. I can't imagine how awful it must feel to be someone's back up.
 
nimbus said:
My old residency director used to say, “the department of anesthesia gets some of our best residents from the department of surgery”. No shame in that. A good resident is a good resident.
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More like the anesthesia department gets the smartest residents, i.e. the ones that see the light at the end of the tunnel and realize they’re on the wrong tracks.
 
dannyboy1 said:
Oh for gods sake. Anesthesia is not so competitive. EM is. Dude is looking to be employed and get his career started after 4 years in Med school and who knows how much debt. Nothing wrong with that...
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I do agree. I was more laughing on the inside when I wrote that but that obviously doesn't show on here.
 
dannyboy1 said:
Oh for gods sake. Anesthesia is not so competitive. EM is. Dude is looking to be employed and get his career started after 4 years in Med school and who knows how much debt. Nothing wrong with that...
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Is EM even more competitive anymore? It has really gone to crap the past couple of years and people are starting to be wary of it.
 
zero0 said:
Is EM even more competitive anymore? It has really gone to crap the past couple of years and people are starting to be wary of it.
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www.emra.org

EM Match 2020 By the Numbers

There has been a lot of chatter in recent years about emergency medicine (EM) becoming “more competitive.” But what do the numbers show? Although there are multiple ways to answer this question, one could argue that the best method is to compare the total number of applicants with the total...
www.emra.org

They’ve expanded quite a bit. Still harder than anesthesia though.
 

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There’s a long and established history of our specialty getting expatriates from others. It’s something like 10-20:1 transferring in versus out. This isn’t well captured in NRMP data as many vacancies are filled outside of the NRMP after the initial Match is done.

Most medical students have minimal to no exposure to our field prior to 4th year and even then it’s almost an afterthought. As folks get into surgery and surgical sub specialties and realize the lifestyle often totally sucks, is pretty misogynistic and toxic so they jump ship.

Many of the early thought leaders in this field were ex surgeons who decided to focus on anesthesiology when American healthcare exploded after WWII. I don’t view us being a dumping ground or a Plan B type of job. Things clearly aren’t that black and white people.

DocMcCoy said:
Actually don’t blame you for posting this question. I blame the whole messed up match system. It doesn’t hurt to have a backup plan. I’ll tell you from personal experience 6-7 years ago though the SOAP process was miserable. Ya, anesthesiology wasn’t my first choice. I got lucky, SOAP’d anesthesia, worked hard in residency, and came to love the job. Still love the job. Pay is not too shabby either. Now I can’t imagine doing anything else. I don’t feel that SOAPing in makes me a lesser or weaker anesthesiologist. I guarantee you I care just as much as my partners do about the job and the future of our specialty. In your case I will say a little tact goes a long way especially when you are asking others for help. If there is anything I can help with please PM me.
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This is precisely my story as well.
 
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