question regarding my app...double applied

[homespunsilk]

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I applied for radiology with only decent stats. My advisor suggested applying to categorical medicine programs as a backup because I expressed that I would be happy doing either one (but moreso radiology!!). I have double applied for categorical medicine and radiology at the same programs. If I got radiology, I would rather do a preliminary surgery year so I applied for that also...some at the same programs.

Should I have applied differently? Or maybe check the prelim medicine box instead also?...please advise. 😕

 

[NotAProgDirector]

There are multiple threads discussing this exact question, and there is no easy answer.

In general:

1. No one wants to be seen as a backup. I have certainly seen people who match to me as their backup, only to come to me 3 months later looking to apply in ERAS again for their "first choice" field. This is a huge pain for all involved -- the match happens in March, so I have to decide to hold a spot until then for the resident in case they don't match, scramble around to find someone to fill it if they do, or find someone else prior to march and put the resident in a tough spot -- give up their spot and hope for a match, or give up on the match. It's not fun for anyone.

Would you want to be asked to go to the prom as a backup?

2. Hence, if the IM programs know you are also applying to rads, they may simply decide not to interview you. Why waste an interview spot on someone who you know will have you way down on your rank list?

3. Rad programs MIGHT see applying to another field as "a sign of insecurity". Personally I think this is baloney, and in fact is a sign of intelligence and forethought. Still, some may say that you're not committed to the field if you're not "all in", and so it MIGHT hurt your rads applications.

4. Adding a prelim application to the mix will only confuse things further, and likely alert people to what you've done who might not have noticed.

5. If you would rather do a prelim surgery than prelim medicine year, I personally think you should see a psychiatrist. Prelim surgery is usually a world of hurt at most programs.

 

[homespunsilk]

thanks so much for the prompt response.

The thing is, I am an IMG and my stats are only decent (230s) so I am further crippled in my chances of matching for radiology. I applied for medicine as a backup. Honestly, I would be just as happy and dedicated in medicine as in radiology!

The surgery pd encouraged me to do prelim surg year because it will be a better training and learning experience and serve as an introduction to radiology and anatomy. I am interested in interventional radiology. At some point, you have to think about what is best for you in the long run, and that's what I had in mind when applying.

However, recently many people have told me to do the easiest possible prelim/ty year possible because it wont matter a bit when applying for fellowships or for fellowship training. So what do I do now? Check off the prelim medicine box along with the already submitted categorical medicine checkbox?...perhaps, but I've used medicine specific LORs, medicine specific PS highlighting my endeavors in medicine.

Please advise 😕

 

[NotAProgDirector]

The surgery pd encouraged me to do prelim surg year because it will be a better training and learning experience and serve as an introduction to radiology and anatomy.

I am amazed that this statement has gone uncontested on SDN for almost 24 hours. Obviously I am somewhat biased, but I think it's fair to say that A) the amount of time you will spend in the OR as a prelim at most programs is zero, hence I see no "increased anatomy" learning, and B) I have trouble with the "better training" also. I'll leave it to the SDN community to comment further.

In your case, I would have applied to one group of hospitals for radiology and prelim medicine, and to a completely seperate group for categorical medicine. This way, neither group would know about the other. There might be a small number of programs that you applied to both -- either because geographically they were ideal for you, or if you rotated at a specific hospital.

Regardless, that's not what you did. As I said before, applying for more and more tracks will only confuse the matter. You could certainly add prelim medicine -- Rad programs won't care if you apply to prelim IM or surgery, and it's totally reasonable to apply to both. But adding prelim medicine will likely further injure your chances of getting categorical medicine.

You'll need to decide whether you want to add some applications, to new programs (i.e. one's you have not already applied to), and apply to categorical medicine. This will only work if your letters are generic, or if you have specific IM letters. If you letters say "..would make a great radiologist" then it doesn't matter what you do, since it will be obvious to all what you are doing.

 

[2012mdc]

I am amazed that this statement has gone uncontested on SDN for almost 24 hours. Obviously I am somewhat biased, but I think it's fair to say that A) the amount of time you will spend in the OR as a prelim at most programs is zero, hence I see no "increased anatomy" learning, and B) I have trouble with the "better training" also. I'll leave it to the SDN community to comment further.

In your case, I would have applied to one group of hospitals for radiology and prelim medicine, and to a completely seperate group for categorical medicine. This way, neither group would know about the other. There might be a small number of programs that you applied to both -- either because geographically they were ideal for you, or if you rotated at a specific hospital.

Regardless, that's not what you did. As I said before, applying for more and more tracks will only confuse the matter. You could certainly add prelim medicine -- Rad programs won't care if you apply to prelim IM or surgery, and it's totally reasonable to apply to both. But adding prelim medicine will likely further injure your chances of getting categorical medicine.

You'll need to decide whether you want to add some applications, to new programs (i.e. one's you have not already applied to), and apply to categorical medicine. This will only work if your letters are generic, or if you have specific IM letters. If you letters say "..would make a great radiologist" then it doesn't matter what you do, since it will be obvious to all what you are doing.

I have heard people recommending prelim surg for rads folks who are sure about going into IR. Of course there are just as many, if not more, people who believe that prelim doesn't matter in the long run and recommend getting the easiest TY possible

 

[Brunette1981]

I have heard people recommending prelim surg for rads folks who are sure about going into IR. Of course there are just as many, if not more, people who believe that prelim doesn't matter in the long run and recommend getting the easiest TY possible

Of course you could make the valid argument that you have to get through 3 years of a rads program with good evals before you can get an IR spot (or at least 2 depending on when the application cycle is). Therefore, you will A) be far out from any procedural advantage a surgery prelim might give you since you haven't done any procedures in several years and B) would have a disadvantage in impressing your attendings with your reads in the meantime.

IM would likely teach you more about disease processes and differential diagnoses for radiology than surgery.

 

[MrBurns10]

The best prelim year for radiology is the easiest prelim year. 🙂

OP, I probably would not add prelim medicine programs at this point...I think it would only hurt you at the categorical IM programs to which you applied, and the risks outweigh the small potential benefit of a prelim medicine year. If you match to radiology, you can always easily match prelim surgery or scramble into a spot.

My biggest suggestion for you is to decide what you really want to do. I don't know the rest of your stats or where you applied, but matching in radiology may be an uphill battle (but of course not impossible). Figuring out 100% whether you want to stick with radiology and try again if this year doesn't work out or if you'll truly be happy with a lifelong career in internal medicine. Best of luck!