Shadowing in competitive specialties before med school

[Smelt]

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Before I get jumped, I understand that most students figure out their specialty in med school through rotations or in preclinicals and that this isn't essential. However, as someone who is applying this cycle, I have little exposure to competitive specialties (like opthamology, ortho, neurosurg). Knowing how competitive these fields are, I would hate to not have these options because I didn't know I had the slightest interest in these specialties until later in med school.

So, two questions

1. It can obviously be done, but how much of a disadvantage are you at if you're a 3rd year med student who decides to go for a competitive specialty? This is considering the research/extracurriculars that would be needed to demonstrate interest in that field. Sounds like this would take time to develop.

2. Is shadowing in a few of these specialties prior to med school a productive use of time? I'm in my gap year and I'm applying this cycle so I have free time now.

 

[BombsAway]

I recently had a physician encourage me to shadow anything I could get my hands on that wasn't a third year rotation, for all the reasons you mentioned.

 

[infectiousdisease101]

*Jumping OP in 3, 2, 1......*

Jokes aside, I think shadowing is just to see the general responsibilities all physicians share because it's not practical to shadow as many physicians as med students do in rotations since there's no guarantee you'll even get in. Spoken by someone who has shadowed 3 physicians in different departments, I can say they have a lot of in common responsibilities. If you like the general responsibilities, apply to medical school and figure it out there. Also, there's no guarantee you'll even get into your residency of interest. So you want to enjoy the generic responsibilities they have in common so you'll enjoy whatever field you match into.

Don't ask me what these general responsibilities are, you have to find the answer yourself. I can only give hints and winks and I'm about to go to sleep.

 

[Catalystik]

I have little exposure to competitive specialties (like opthamology, ortho, neurosurg). Knowing how competitive these fields are, I would hate to not have these options because I didn't know I had the slightest interest in these specialties until later in med school.

1. It can obviously be done, but how much of a disadvantage are you at if you're a 3rd year med student who decides to go for a competitive specialty? This is considering the research/extracurriculars that would be needed to demonstrate interest in that field. Sounds like this would take time to develop.

2. Is shadowing in a few of these specialties prior to med school a productive use of time? I'm in my gap year and I'm applying this cycle so I have free time now.

I can't say that I'd use the word "productive," but it won't hurt you, it could be be fun, and you have the time, so go for it.

If you develop an interest in a competitive specialty like those you've listed, you'd likely want to get involved in related research the summer after the MS-1 year. But take care not to make it too specific to one specialty, as you may not end up with the high board scores that you'd need to be competitive.

[Pro-tip: try not to get involved in a potential 15-hour surgery. Not fun, in my book.]

 

[Lannister]

You can still shadow in medical school. It's much easier to find shadowing opportunities once you're an M1.

And if you decide to do something like derm when you're an M3, you can always take a research year.

 

[DokterMom]

You can still shadow in medical school. It's much easier to find shadowing opportunities once you're an M1.

And if you decide to do something like derm when you're an M3, you can always take a research year.

You can also, quite reasonably, admit that your interest in the field is relatively recent. For some of the smaller specialties (Optho, Derm, Plastics, Vascular, ENT) this is not uncommon at all, and so long as your board scores are terrific, you have otherwise strong credentials, and you demonstrated clear interest beginning at the point you realized you wanted to be a 'tiny-specialty-ist' then your chances aren't too terribly diminished. Worst case, it'll cost you a research year -- but that's the case for many highly-competitive specialties anyway, so relatively speaking, you're not really losing much ground.

That said - shadow away.

 

[CyrilFiggis]

shadowing in UG ≠ shadowing in med school. The expectations and knowledge base are low and limited for an undergrad. Shadowing while a pre-med is there to give you perspective on the day-to-day of clinical medicine. There's nothing wrong with that and it may end up being a determinant for a specialty. Remember, even cool surgical specialties require clinic hours, post-op care, hours of charting, etc.

 

[Smelt]

Thanks for the replies ppl. It can't hurt if I've got free time, so I think I'll try to go for it 🙂

 

[Dox4lyfe]

I can't say that I'd use the word "productive," but it won't hurt you, it could be be fun, and you have the time, so go for it.

If you develop an interest in a competitive specialty like those you've listed, you'd likely want to get involved in related research the summer after the MS-1 year. But take care not to make it too specific to one specialty, as you may not end up with the high board scores that you'd need to be competitive.

[Pro-tip: try not to get involved in a potential 15-hour surgery. Not fun, in my book.]

What is an example of related research that isn't too specialty specific?

 

[WedgeDawg]

I can't say that I'd use the word "productive," but it won't hurt you, it could be be fun, and you have the time, so go for it.

If you develop an interest in a competitive specialty like those you've listed, you'd likely want to get involved in related research the summer after the MS-1 year. But take care not to make it too specific to one specialty, as you may not end up with the high board scores that you'd need to be competitive.

[Pro-tip: try not to get involved in a potential 15-hour surgery. Not fun, in my book.]

Just as an aside, a 12 hour surgery with no food water or bathroom breaks was the most fun I’ve had in a hospital so far so to each his or her own.

 

[raiderette]

If you don't have free time, you can always shadow in med school. I started shadowing as an MS1, and it has helped me focus my interests.

Sent from my XT1254 using SDN mobile

 

[Lannister]

What is an example of related research that isn't too specialty specific?

Cancer.

 

[Catalystik]

What is an example of related research that isn't too specialty specific?

infectious disease, immunology, regenerative medicine, toxicology, cancer immune therapy, pharmacology (anti-cancer, anti-rejection, anti-infective), etc . . . ., come to mind.

 

[Catalystik]

Just as an aside, a 12 hour surgery with no food water or bathroom breaks was the most fun I’ve had in a hospital so far so to each his or her own.

My nightmare come true.