Now applying to neuro...change to path?

[chagall]

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I have been procrastinating way too much on my ERAS application for this year's neuro (with prelim) program. I'm on a crazy sub-I now in neuro and realizing that it may just be too much for me...the overnight calls combined with my health problems is dragging me down to the point that I wonder if it's even safe for me to go in in the morning with my head in such a fog. I read orders over 2 and 3 times, and someone has to sign them for me anyway...but still...

I decided on neuro because I loved it during my 3rd year rotation. Now I'm not quite as sure...but I think that is clouded by the sleepiness. I also remember liking path a lot when I did my 3rd year elective in it, and I got a good evaluation from it....but it wasn't as exciting to me, and I didn't feel that interested in the research I had heard about in the field.

So I don't know what to do...I know some path programs can be difficult too in terms of hours...but at least no overnight call in the hospital, right? I would feel bad making a decision based on these factors, but I'm not sure where to go from here...or if it's already too late anyway with the ERAS deadline Nov. 1st. Any thoughts?

 

[mlw03]

my initial reaction is that to make such a major career decision without major thought is a mistake. you owe it to yourself to take the time to determine if pathology is the right career track for you. talk to pathologists at your home program, shadow them a bit, and if you can somehow figure that out in the next week, no, you're probably not too late for this year based on date alone. but really, don't rush into such a major decision.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

I decided on neuro because I loved it during my 3rd year rotation. Now I'm not quite as sure...but I think that is clouded by the sleepiness. I also remember liking path a lot when I did my 3rd year elective in it, and I got a good evaluation from it....but it wasn't as exciting to me, and I didn't feel that interested in the research I had heard about in the field.

Are you serious? That's what we need of in path- more people who don't really give a **** about doing it well. No wonder there's a stigma attached to our specialty.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

Are you serious? That's what we need of in path- more people who don't really give a **** about doing it well. No wonder there's a stigma attached to our specialty.

This raises a red flag for me too...is this person going to drop out of path when things get too difficult?

 

[chagall]

This raises a red flag for me too...is this person going to drop out of path when things get too difficult?

As I said, though, I liked path a lot...I just wasn't as interested in the research opportunities I heard about (though admittedly I don't know about the whole spectrum). I considered path for quite a while and only recently decided on neuro.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

As I said, though, I liked path a lot...I just wasn't as interested in the research opportunities I heard about (though admittedly I don't know about the whole spectrum). I considered path for quite a while and only recently decided on neuro.

The implication in your post that I quoted is that you didn't really find it [pathology] as exciting, which makes me think that you still probably won't. I'm not trying to be an ass, but it makes it difficult to work in any field when the people that surround you don't really care about what they are doing, which luckily hasn't been the case at my program. Not to mention the people that go into path knowing they don't really like it, and then bail midway through the year, causing other residents to pick up the slack. It was evident to me at a certain place I rotated that some of the residents thought that they would be done with their work at 3-4pm everyday and when this wasn't the case, they complained about the field, program, etc incessantly. Path, at programs that actually care whether you learn it, is not a cake walk like everyone makes it out to be (yeah, I admit that there isn't in house overnight call, but being woken up from home 4-5 times per night for CP call and then working the next day isn't fun, either).

 

[b&ierstiefel]

The implication in your post that I quoted is that you didn't really find it [pathology] as exciting, which makes me think that you still probably won't. I'm not trying to be an ass, but it makes it difficult to work in any field when the people that surround you don't really care about what they are doing, which luckily hasn't been the case at my program. Not to mention the people that go into path knowing they don't really like it, and then bail midway through the year, causing other residents to pick up the slack. It was evident to me at a certain place I rotated that some of the residents though that they would be done with their work at 3-4pm everyday and when this wasn't the case, they complained about the field, program, etc incessantly. Path, at programs that actually care whether you learn it, is not a cake walk like everyone makes it out to be (yeah, I admit that there isn't in house overnight call, but being woken up from home 4-5 times per night and then working the next day isn't fun, either).

I think you hit the nail on the head here. Too many people go into pathology expecting to coast through a residency program. Then when they break 60 hours a week, they go "OMG WTF!" That being said, I work harder here than I expected to for the field...but I have worked hard in the past (i.e., grad school where I was pulling 80-100 hours per week) so I was able to adapt. People who have never worked hard before are more likely to bail when times get tough.

 

[chagall]

I think you hit the nail on the head here. Too many people go into pathology expecting to coast through a residency program. Then when they break 60 hours a week, they go "OMG WTF!" That being said, I work harder here than I expected to for the field...but I have worked hard in the past (i.e., grad school where I was pulling 80-100 hours per week) so I was able to adapt. People who have never worked hard before are more likely to bail when times get tough.

Yes, I can definitely see your point. My pathology rotation was not the easiest, though...often it was 7 AM til 7 PM or later. I really just get worn out by the overnight work and, as I've realized lately, the stress of an inpatient floor and being pulled in so many directions by so many people at once.

But although I do like pathology, I think neurology is my "true love," so I will plan on sticking with it...stress-induced heart palpitations and exhaustion be damned! 😛

 

[yaah]

I would feel bad making a decision based on these factors, but I'm not sure where to go from here...or if it's already too late anyway with the ERAS deadline Nov. 1st. Any thoughts?

You would feel bad. And you would feel even worse after a year of residency in path and it isn't doing it for you then either and you realize you wasted at least a year of your life.

Your situation sucks but to be honest, it is somewhat self created. You need to pick a field and stick with it. Making rash last minute decisions is something that can only lead to regret and kicking yourself. A lot of people have last second pangs of "did I make the right decision" etc, but this is natural. It happened to me after I submitted my rank list for the last time. But you got to where you are now (applying to neurology) for a reason, so don't discount that.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

Yes, I can definitely see your point. My pathology rotation was not the easiest, though...often it was 7 AM til 7 PM or later. I really just get worn out by the overnight work and, as I've realized lately, the stress of an inpatient floor and being pulled in so many directions by so many people at once.

But although I do like pathology, I think neurology is my "true love," so I will plan on sticking with it...stress-induced heart palpitations and exhaustion be damned! 😛

This is every field of medicine.