I applied to a PSF and was accepted. Before I applied I thought it would be a good idea because Im really really interested in Forensic path (Id say Im about 65% sure I want to do it) but haven't seen other sides of path. I have assisted in a bunch of autopsy cases during medical school (and ive loved everything about crime since I can remember). But on the other hand I think I could be interested in Peds since I love kids or maybe something else...Not really sure since all Ive seen is book work aside from the autopsies.
But now that I have been accepted Im not sure if i should do it or not. There are many sides to this
Pros:
-one year to figure out if I like path or not and want to do it as a potential career
-Good LORs from program director that could set me apart from other residency applicants (Im an average med student)
- one year off to take a break
- Significant other could match in top ortho program without having to couples match (he's an MD student, Im a DO student)
- paid stipend and loans are deferred
- could get into a "better" path residency...although apparently its not that competitive
Cons:
- would be a year behind all my friends & an added year to medical school which is long enough
- could be back home for rotations vs. stuck somewhere I dont know
- havent been on any sort of clinical rotations (Im an MSII right now on my way to MSIII)
- unsure if I like working with patients or not and wont really figure that out until rotations
- one year behind significant other...and could potentially not match where he is.
- have no real support system there... I dont know anyone.
- may not set me apart from other applicants as much as I think, and could possibly figure out if I like path in a couple months on electives.
A few doctors and 4th year students told me that it could be a good opportunity IF I went into path but if I decided to switch into something else halfway through then it might be a wasted year and that I could have saved and used to figure out what I wanted to do faster.
I guess im just wondering are there any PSFs/ residents out there who loved it? What were the reasons why you did and would you do it again? Were there any of you who got accepted but decided not to do it and why?
ps. be nice to me 🙂 im new here.
But now that I have been accepted Im not sure if i should do it or not. There are many sides to this
Pros:
-one year to figure out if I like path or not and want to do it as a potential career
-Good LORs from program director that could set me apart from other residency applicants (Im an average med student)
- one year off to take a break
- Significant other could match in top ortho program without having to couples match (he's an MD student, Im a DO student)
- paid stipend and loans are deferred
- could get into a "better" path residency...although apparently its not that competitive
Cons:
- would be a year behind all my friends & an added year to medical school which is long enough
- could be back home for rotations vs. stuck somewhere I dont know
- havent been on any sort of clinical rotations (Im an MSII right now on my way to MSIII)
- unsure if I like working with patients or not and wont really figure that out until rotations
- one year behind significant other...and could potentially not match where he is.
- have no real support system there... I dont know anyone.
- may not set me apart from other applicants as much as I think, and could possibly figure out if I like path in a couple months on electives.
A few doctors and 4th year students told me that it could be a good opportunity IF I went into path but if I decided to switch into something else halfway through then it might be a wasted year and that I could have saved and used to figure out what I wanted to do faster.
I guess im just wondering are there any PSFs/ residents out there who loved it? What were the reasons why you did and would you do it again? Were there any of you who got accepted but decided not to do it and why?
ps. be nice to me 🙂 im new here.