predicament

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eyeball01 said:
I am a M4, and I thought I wanted to do opthalmology. I am in my first real ophthalmology elective (I did a few 2 week rotations here and there during third year). However, I am finding that I don't enjoy it as much as I thought. I have always like pathology as a student but never did any rotations. Is it too late to do a 4th year elective in pathology in September, try and get a letter from there and then apply for pathology this year?

My stats:
USMLE Step 1 : 259/99
M3 rotation grades. All honors except a Pass in Family Medicine
Research: 1 primary authorship publication, basic sciencs (done in undergrad)
Click to expand...

It's worth trying it out and it is not too late. Day-to-day pathology is very different from MSII lectures so definitely do an elective and see how you like it. Good luck.
 
If you can get that accomplished and still get in applications in time, sure. On paper you'd probably get consideration. The most important thing, however, is getting exposure and experience in real day-to-day pathology. This has come up several times recently. I believe you'll find come interview time that people will really harp on why you're interested in pathology, and whether you really know what you're getting yourself into. MANY people like the concept, but not many appreciate the day-to-day reality. It's a unique specialty.
 
Yeah, you'd never match in pathology with those stats. 🙄
 
If you can interview at all, you would get into many programs with those numbers alone. Do one rotation and you will match wherever you want.
 
Yea, I was told you need some sort of exposure to Path ... even two weeks of shadowing. If you can fit in a rotation though, that is probably best.
 
You might be able to get away with an application this year with a rotation in September... honestly, you can get away with asking for a letter after a week or two with an attending if you work closely with them every day. Depending on what you're doing now and how much time you have, if you're really considering this, you should also contact your path department and express interest *now*. Maybe get to know some of the residents and get some grossing/autopsy/signout experience.

Path residency (and practice) is way different than med school path/histology courses...personally, I think it's way more awesome, but then again, I went into path. Definitely get some exposure...I love path, but I get the feeling that if it's not your thing, you might regret the day you applied.
 
Not too late for path, but if you take too long it might get too late for ophtho, right? Don't they have an early match?
 
It is not too late but as said above, you have to be cautious that you are not thinking pathology is something you want before you really know what it is all about. You don't want to get stuck in a career you hate - if you are sure you don't want to do ophtho then by all means start looking around. But if you aren't sure about ophtho than you probably need to figure that out first.
 
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