Question about residencies.

[Verum]

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I know it's a little too early to be asking these questions but it would help me clear my mind.

1. Does the rotation you do in 4th year determine what specialty you want to match into?
2. Do you apply to a bunch of specialties with different acceptance rates to ensure you match into one even though you might not want to go there *(like applying broadly to med school)
3. Is getting a MD/PHD better for matching into surgical residencies than MD?
4. Does the research you do in undergrad contribute anything directly to the residency you match into or should the research be recent?

Thank you for answering these questions and i hope i don't come off as a troll. The answers to these questions will help me guide what i do and how i budget my time especially the last one.

 

[qwerty2012]

I talked to and lived with med students who were completing their last sem.
And from talking with them it seemed that:
1. 3 + 4 years grades and letters/evaluations are the most important. 4th year is vital since you have the ability to select electives and a perfect chance to rotate at spots where you want your residency to be.
2. Having any kind of research background including getting Phd degree will give you advantage when applying.

 

[Starlightembers]

I know it's a little too early to be asking these questions but it would help me clear my mind.

1. Does the rotation you do in 4th year determine what specialty you want to match into?

To begin with, you do multiple rotations in your fourth year, most of which are elective and many, if not most, of them not in the specialty you will eventually match into. They do not determine what specialty you will match into, as most medical students report knowing by the end of third year and, besides, fourth year is when you go on interviews for residency, so you have submitted your residency application before you complete most of these rotations. The one exception to this is "away" or "audition" rotations, where you rotate as a visiting student through the medical school/hospital in the specialty you want to match in, with the hope being that you impress the people there and improve your chances at matching at that program.

2. Do you apply to a bunch of specialties with different acceptance rates to ensure you match into one even though you might not want to go there *(like applying broadly to med school)

In most specialties, no. You apply to the specialty you want to match into, to a broad range of programs.

The one exception to this is with super competitive specialties, such as integrated plastic surgery residencies or dermatology, where many applicants apply to the competitive specialty and a back up specialty to ensure they match.

3. Is getting a MD/PHD better for matching into surgical residencies than MD?

This has actually been debated a bit on the MD/PhD forums; however, no matter what the answer, if you do not want to be a physician-scientist, do not get an MD/PhD and, as seeing most surgical specialties are not compatible with a research career, if you want surgery, you likely do not.

4. Does the research you do in undergrad contribute anything directly to the residency you match into or should the research be recent?

It's weighted as less than research during medical school; but it is still listed on the application to residency programs.

Thank you for answering these questions and i hope i don't come off as a troll. The answers to these questions will help me guide what i do and how i budget my time especially the last one.

Good luck.

 

[Juxxtaposition]

This has actually been debated a bit on the MD/PhD forums; however, no matter what the answer, if you do not want to be a physician-scientist, do not get an MD/PhD and, as seeing most surgical specialties are not compatible with a research career, if you want surgery, you likely do not.


Good luck.

But Dr. Yang from Grey's Anatomy has a PhD, and she is a surgeon!!!!11111!!!!!ONE ONE!!

 

[Ironmandoc]

Dude, it is way too early to ask these questions, especially since they have all been answered and covered on here before. Use the search function...and focus on starting undergrad since you just finished high school.

You are the penultimate gunner.


FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine '16
Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app

 

[WellWornLad]

I know it's a little too early to be asking these questions but it would help me clear my mind.

1. Does the rotation you do in 4th year determine what specialty you want to match into?

You largely choose your own 4th year electives, with some broad restrictions (most 4th years have to do at least 2 subinternship rotations in surgery and/or medicine).

You choose the specialty you want to match into. If it is a "core" specialty (general surgery, internal medicine, family medicine, ob/gyn, psychiatry, neurology, pediatrics) you'll see it in 3rd year and maybe decide then. Other specialties you'll try out in 4th year, and if you like it and do well you'll perhaps apply in that specialty.

Some specialties you have to decide on very early, likely before 4th year starts (urology, ophthalmology) because they have a different application process that begins very early in 4th year. Some specialties expect you to take the same rotation 2-3 times in schools other than your own (neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery), otherwise known as "away rotations." Sometimes you'll do an away rotation in your specialty of interest just to get to know a particular program better and get your foot in the door.

It's all rather complicated, but your medical school will walk you through it.

2. Do you apply to a bunch of specialties with different acceptance rates to ensure you match into one even though you might not want to go there *(like applying broadly to med school)

Only for very competitive specialties with low match rates, like dermatology or plastic surgery, or if you're not a particularly attractive applicant for some reason. In the latter case, applicants will sometimes add a preliminary year (1 year of medicine or surgery) to the end of their match list so they have something to do next year if they don't match and have to apply again.

Some people truly can't decide between specialties and apply to two or more. I would not recommend this option as this effectively multiplies the (already considerable) effort of applying for residency.

3. Is getting a MD/PHD better for matching into surgical residencies than MD?

Getting an MD/PhD is always better for matching, no matter what you want to go into. Surgery programs across the country are adding 1-2 research years to their 5 year programs now, so don't believe that surgeons aren't interested in research. Granted, some specialties will put more weight on the PhD (e.g., radiation oncology), but it will always be seen as a plus. However, it is 3-5 years of your life and it is not necessary to have a PhD to match in any specialty, so this would be a poor reason to pursue a PhD.

4. Does the research you do in undergrad contribute anything directly to the residency you match into or should the research be recent?

If by "contribute anything directly to" you mean help you get in, then yes. Again, significant (i.e., published) research will always be a plus on your application. If it is directly applicable to the specialty you choose, then of course it will be more germane to your application and to your future career.

 

[yoyoyoyoyo]

You are the penultimate gunner.

You might want to check the definition of penultimate

 

[mvenus929]

1. Does the rotation you do in 4th year determine what specialty you want to match into?

Not sure why you're worried about this one now, but... sort of. You need to get letters of recommendation for the field you plan on going into, so you may need to do some rotations during fourth year prior to applying in the field of your choice. Also, as mentioned above, if you're planning on one of the core specialties, you will likely do a sub-internship (AI, ACE, sub-I) in that specialty to get those letters.

2. Do you apply to a bunch of specialties with different acceptance rates to ensure you match into one even though you might not want to go there *(like applying broadly to med school)

No, in general you apply to one specialty broadly. Some specialties you have to apply for a prelim year as well as the specialty of your choice (ophtho, ENT, anesthesia, etc), so you may be applying to two 'specialties', but one is only a year long.

If you want to go into something like Peds, Internal, Family, OB, EM, General Surgery, etc, you're only going to apply to those programs, but apply broadly enough for your CV that you'll likely match somewhere. You'll get an adviser late in your third year or early in your fourth year who is familiar with the residency application process to help you with it.

4. Does the research you do in undergrad contribute anything directly to the residency you match into or should the research be recent?

That's going to depend on the program, the specialty, and the research. Some don't care about research, others do. If you did a great ophthalmology project as an undergrad, and got papers out of it, it will add to your application. If you're doing a community FM residency and did undergrad research in cell biology for which you did a poster presentation, it may not make a ton of difference, though it may be a talking point.

 

[Velour Fog]

You might want to check the definition of penultimate

You bastard! Way to create an account just to say what I wanted to say 😡

 

[DavetheMD]

You might want to check the definition of penultimate

Your username could have been: Yolo

*so close*

 

[Ironmandoc]

Didn't notice that. Meant ultimate...I guess iPhone sitting in traffic can do that lol


FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine '16
Sent from my iPhone using SDN Mobile app