psych program with interviews in January?

[2016psych]

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Hi Everyone!

I developed a really late interest in psychiatry (basically 1-2 weeks ago......I know...) and decided to apply to psychiatry last minute. My home program (a top 20 program) was kind enough to give me an interview in January. I know this basically way too late in the season, but I was thinking about applying to 10 other programs and reach out to them soon (end of this week, when I finish my personal statement?). Worst case scenario it won't hurt, I guess.

I am just wondering whether you guys know any programs still interview in January, so I have some fighting chance getting interviews there. I am pretty sure my own program would take me so I think I am only going to look at top 20 programs for now (there are probably 30 of them depending on different opinions......). I am a pretty competitive applicant (250+ step 1 and 2, MD/PhD, GHHS, etc) and interested in research, if that helps.

Thank you guys very much!

 

[Merovinge]

Hi Everyone!

I developed a really late interest in psychiatry (basically 1-2 weeks ago......I know...) and decided to apply to psychiatry last minute. My home program (a top 20 program) was kind enough to give me an interview in January. I know this basically way too late in the season, but I was thinking about applying to 10 other programs and reach out to them soon (end of this week, when I finish my personal statement?). Worst case scenario it won't hurt, I guess.

I am just wondering whether you guys know any programs still interview in January, so I have some fighting chance getting interviews there. I am pretty sure my own program would take me so I think I am only going to look at top 20 programs for now (there are probably 30 of them depending on different opinions......). I am a pretty competitive applicant (250+ step 1 and 2, MD/PhD, GHHS, etc) and interested in research, if that helps.

Thank you guys very much!

You need to make a good sale over why you had such a late switch, since I imagine you will be lacking in psychiatry Sub-I's and/or any other demonstrated interest in the field. I bet a lot of places don't care if you got a 280 on step 1 if you have never shown a drop of interest in the field. I had a friend in medical school very similar stats to you who went last second into optho (obviously much more competitive than psych but still) and despite lots of interviews ended up SOAPing into IM (admittedly at Hopkins, he was a super cool dude).

That said, we need smart researchers like crazy and I am glad to hear you want to spend your time in mental health. Sell it good!

 

[Amygdarya]

The issue is not which programs interview in a January (most if not all of them, as far as I understand) but whether the deadlines for application submission to programs have passed. Most programs have deadlines in October-November, some in December. Feel free to check websites of the programs you're interested in. It may well be that your home program is the only one that will interview you this cycle.
Alternatively, since you're such an outstanding candidate, if there are people in your home psychiatry department who are willing to make calls for you, now is the time.

I can't help saying that your post kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. What exactly does developing an interest in psychiatry 1-2 weeks ago mean? Have you been getting disillusioned in dermatology or whatever other supercompetitive specialty you originally applied to as you go through your interviews?

 

[2016psych]

The issue is not which programs interview in a January (most if not all of them, as far as I understand) but whether the deadlines for application submission to programs have passed. Most programs have deadlines in October-November, some in December. Feel free to check websites of the programs you're interested in. It may well be that your home program is the only one that will interview you this cycle.
Alternatively, since you're such an outstanding candidate, if there are people in your home psychiatry department who are willing to make calls for you, now is the time.

I can't help saying that your post kind of left a bad taste in my mouth. What exactly does developing an interest in psychiatry 1-2 weeks ago mean? Have you been getting disillusioned in dermatology or whatever other supercompetitive specialty you originally applied to as you go through your interviews?

To re-phrase it, I didn't develop an interest in the last 1-2 weeks. I just finally decided to go ahead and apply in the last week or so. I have a lot of trouble envisioning myself to be a psychiatrist during my entire 3rd year, even though I liked my psychiatry rotation a lot (but I liked every rotation during my 3rd year pretty much). So I went with the "more conventional" specialty, at least in my mind. But recently I felt like I am still mostly interested in brain/psych/neuro research and I thought that's where the most exciting field in the next 50 years. Obviously there are a whole of more reasons than this, but that is the gist of it..

 

[2016psych]

You need to make a good sale over why you had such a late switch, since I imagine you will be lacking in psychiatry Sub-I's and/or any other demonstrated interest in the field. I bet a lot of places don't care if you got a 280 on step 1 if you have never shown a drop of interest in the field. I had a friend in medical school very similar stats to you who went last second into optho (obviously much more competitive than psych but still) and despite lots of interviews ended up SOAPing into IM (admittedly at Hopkins, he was a super cool dude).

That said, we need smart researchers like crazy and I am glad to hear you want to spend your time in mental health. Sell it good!

Yeah I am definitely prepared to make a good argument. I mean I was going to just take a year to do research and re-apply next year anyways. But then my home program gave me an interview, which is why I felt I might as well just apply to a couple other programs. One of my psych residents encouraged me to do it actually. And wow that Hopkins soaping story sounds nerve racking!

 

[2016psych]

okay looks like most programs interview till January. thank you guys. i guess someone can close/delete the post now......

 

[Amygdarya]

okay looks like most programs interview till January. thank you guys. i guess someone can close/delete the post now......

Interview yes, but when do they have application submission deadlines? (Phone calls from your department should help though regardless.)

 

[2016psych]

Interview yes, but when do they have application submission deadlines? (Phone calls from your department should help though regardless.)

Oh I definitely passed all the submission deadlines lol. So yeah, I tink it would mostly be phone call from my program to see if they can stick me in somewhere. But I would be VERY happy at my home program so very grateful about that.

 

[psychout222]

Ever thought about doing a year of psych research (since you're an MD/phd) so you'll have a demonstrated interest in psych and will not be limited based on the cycle?

 

[2016psych]

Ever thought about doing a year of psych research (since you're an MD/phd) so you'll have a demonstrated interest in psych and will not be limited based on the cycle?

Yes, and that's the plan! ^_^ But I decided to give this cycle a try I guess and if it doesn't work, will follow through will plan B.

 

[HarryMTieboutMD]

Ever thought about doing a year of psych research (since you're an MD/phd) so you'll have a demonstrated interest in psych and will not be limited based on the cycle?

Yes, and that's the plan! ^_^ But I decided to give this cycle a try I guess and if it doesn't work, will follow through will plan B.

This is terrible advice and further reason why one should disregard everything medical students say... about anything. You already have a PhD; what are you going to gain from one year of research? It's not going to make you more competitive (which you already will be regardless), and it will be a year of lost income, etc. I agree that your best chance of matching is probably at your home program since they know you and you are in the top .001% of applicants. I'd be very surprised if you didn't get last minute interviews from people canceling (you might need to be proactive and call programs). You are correct in that you should only be aiming for premier places assuming you want to stay in academia.

Your backup plan should be an isolated intern year, preferably internal medicine (transition years are jokes) so you learn real doctor skills. If you apply again next year, some programs will allow you to start as a PGY2 (not very many), but either way if you have to redo intern year (there is some GME issue with this though) the 6 months of medicine will be a breeze.