- Joined
- Jul 24, 2016
- Messages
- 9
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- 3
Quick version: 244 step 1 259 step 2. One plastics publication. Need advice on applying gen surg categorical and anesthesia. Does my PS need to include stuff in my prelim year or can I rewrite it now while I have free time? And if I am also doing anesthesia, how hard do I need to sell the "i love anesthesia" view and what letters can I use for that?
Long version: I was originally interested in plastic surgery, did my rotation in July, and realized the day to day/real world wasn't for me, so I switched to gen surg. I got 5 interview invites, went to all 5, and ended up going to my home program for a prelim year in gen surg. The invites I got were from great schools (3 in the doximity top 20) but I wasn't competitive enough I suppose. All the schools also asked me if I was doing plastics as a backup as well on my interviews. I was told one of my letter writers was ambiguous in whether I was interested in general vs plastic surgery, and I also submitted a plastics abstract in the fall of 2016, which may have come off as odd when looking at my app for gen surg positions. I spoke with my APD briefly and he said that there was a question of whether or not I was truly committed to gen surg based on how my application looked and if a spot opens up in my own institution, assuming I do well, I have a good shot at it.
I like gen surg, and I am fine with staying with my home institution, but I can't bank on that. I want to apply broadly and make sure I get a chance to see other institutions too because I need to match this time. I also want to apply to anesthesia because I do not want to deal with the application process a third time. I know i can be happy doing either so I'm fine with doing anesthesia if surgery doesn't work out.
I know I need new letters and a new PS. How do I format the new PS? Do I acknowledge that I'm a prelim reapplying? I have a good idea of how I wanna write it but I'm wondering if it is weird to acknowledge that I'm a prelim. And is it important to include experience from rotations that I will be on? Or can I go ahead and get it hashed out now while I have time?
Long version: I was originally interested in plastic surgery, did my rotation in July, and realized the day to day/real world wasn't for me, so I switched to gen surg. I got 5 interview invites, went to all 5, and ended up going to my home program for a prelim year in gen surg. The invites I got were from great schools (3 in the doximity top 20) but I wasn't competitive enough I suppose. All the schools also asked me if I was doing plastics as a backup as well on my interviews. I was told one of my letter writers was ambiguous in whether I was interested in general vs plastic surgery, and I also submitted a plastics abstract in the fall of 2016, which may have come off as odd when looking at my app for gen surg positions. I spoke with my APD briefly and he said that there was a question of whether or not I was truly committed to gen surg based on how my application looked and if a spot opens up in my own institution, assuming I do well, I have a good shot at it.
I like gen surg, and I am fine with staying with my home institution, but I can't bank on that. I want to apply broadly and make sure I get a chance to see other institutions too because I need to match this time. I also want to apply to anesthesia because I do not want to deal with the application process a third time. I know i can be happy doing either so I'm fine with doing anesthesia if surgery doesn't work out.
I know I need new letters and a new PS. How do I format the new PS? Do I acknowledge that I'm a prelim reapplying? I have a good idea of how I wanna write it but I'm wondering if it is weird to acknowledge that I'm a prelim. And is it important to include experience from rotations that I will be on? Or can I go ahead and get it hashed out now while I have time?