program directors: applying to 2 residencies at same hospital

[FLpk1girl86]

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Hello,

I am interested in two residency specialties and although i tried to avoid this, ended up applying at both at a few hospitals because I really like the hospital/city. Any suggestions about whether this might pose a problem?

thanks!

 

[Smurfette]

Honestly, it can hurt you a lot if they find out. If the PDs talk to each other about candidates, or see you at an interview for another program at the same hospital, they are likely to doubt your interest in their own program or specialty and not rank you as highly (or at all). They also could be worried about whether you would stick to your specialty/program or jump ship if a spot in the other specialty opened up (especially if the other specialty is a more competitive one).

This is often an issue in surgical subspecialties (i.e. plastics applicants who also apply to gen surg programs).

 

[FLpk1girl86]

Honestly, it can hurt you a lot if they find out. If the PDs talk to each other about candidates, or see you at an interview for another program at the same hospital, they are likely to doubt your interest in their own program or specialty and not rank you as highly (or at all). They also could be worried about whether you would stick to your specialty/program or jump ship if a spot in the other specialty opened up (especially if the other specialty is a more competitive one).

This is often an issue in surgical subspecialties (i.e. plastics applicants who also apply to gen surg programs).

Thanks, the two specialities i applied to are equally competitive and both primary care, but is there any way to explain this during interviews if asked about it?

 

[FutureInternist]

Thanks, the two specialities i applied to are equally competitive and both primary care, but is there any way to explain this during interviews if asked about it?

NOT a program director 🙂, but DON'T DO IT
Both programs will question your loyalty (and quite rightly) & you will likely end up on the bottom of their lists
Best is to pick geographic locations & pick one specialty in one area & another in another.
Less chance of PDs talking to each other that way
Also, make sure that your LoRs get properly assigned to the different specialties

 

[ArcGurren]

Hello,

I am interested in two residency specialties and although i tried to avoid this, ended up applying at both at a few hospitals because I really like the hospital/city. Any suggestions about whether this might pose a problem?

thanks!

This is a terrible idea and easy way to shoot yourself in the foot. I know that this is done pretty commonly in certain specialties but people take HUGE precautions (like Plastics/GS simultaneous apps) to make sure they are not interviewing at the same institutions for those specialties. It sucks, but that's how it is.