putting in rads and path apps

[btlwhulka]

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Does anyone have any experience or know of anyone who has applied to both path and rads? How much is it frowned upon to be aplpying to these two seperate specialties despite their being similar?

I've heard both good and bad but would like to see what everyone here has to say.

 

[mlw03]

i don't know of anyone who's done this, but here's my opinion. path and rad are more similar than path and anything else in that they're both highly diagnostic specialties, so you can make that argument. however the practice is quite different day to day. where are you in your training? if you're an MS4, you probably should decide one way or the other pretty soon. if you're an underclassmen, try to expose yourself to both fields a bit and see which you enjoy better.

 

[yenchen]

The below mentioned statements cannot be generalised and exceptions are obviously always there so please dont start bullying me if you dont agree, Its just an opinion......
both the fields are similar in a way that
1. they involve diagnostics, clinicians are highly dependent on the judgement of pathologists as well as Radiologists.
2. Lifestyle! THough cannot be generalised, as a radiologist can be very busy in a private practice job and vice versa, but both have similar lifestyle.
3.$$$$$$$$, rads earn more but again both are diagnostic professions with better lifestyle and less running around as compared to clinical fields.
4. Use of technology, Technology plays important role in rads and path tooo, with new staining techniques, molecular pathology etc etc... technology is always a part of growth of both the fields.
They differ cos
Pathology deals with specimens and dead patients too(which sum ppl dont like) Rads is in a way better that way, 😉(no offense to anybody)

I can completely understand that one can be interested in both the fields as to me they seem similar, but yet to some they are widely apart.
Why dont you apply in both, there is no one who can stop you.

 

[yaah]

Most people will tell you you need to make a decision. Programs don't like being considered as backup choices, particularly when they aren't even in the same specialty as whatever they are backing up. But if your application is not competitive for radiology, then it is wise to consider other options earlier instead of waiting for the scramble. People do this all the time. And there are some whose primary goal is to get a spot at a particular institution, so they apply to multiple specialties within that institution. Probably not common, but it happens.

In terms of your application, programs probably won't find out you are applying to both unless you are unlucky or you spill the beans yourself. If you apply to two specialties at one institution you increase the likelihood of being found out, of course.

Please let's not turn this thread into a "radiology vs pathology" thread which has happened before (look in the search if you want that silly argument). Such threads are silly and consist of back-and-forth posts of sheer obviousness punctuated by inserted biased opinions treated as facts. They are different fields with different rewarding and challenging aspects which may be ideal or not for any individual applicant. Take me, for example, I would rather do IM then radiology.

 

[docbiohazard]

In terms of your application, programs probably won't find out you are applying to both unless you are unlucky or you spill the beans yourself. If you apply to two specialties at one institution you increase the likelihood of being found out, of course.

Also, don't send a thank you note to a Radiology program director telling them how much you enjoyed interviewing at their Pathology program, or vice versa.

I attended a PD panel where several directors had that experience... 🙂

BH

 

[LADoc00]

very bad idea IMO. Someone will find out and you will get black balled in both. I have seen this personally happen to a friend of mine years ago.

 

[yaah]

very bad idea IMO. Someone will find out and you will get black balled in both. I have seen this personally happen to a friend of mine years ago.

Well, since radiology is a competitive field, I think people would be reasonably understanding in most cases. That is, of course, if you are honest about it and don't sneak around. I know people who did this. Of course, a lot of programs aren't going to respect it.

Lots of problems stem from trying to sneak around and get away with things, especially in medicine as a profession.