Surgery Questions

[surgeon_hopeful]

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I have some questions:

1. Is general surgery a super-competitive speciality or is it like internal medicine where most people are able to get it? My definition of competitive is if under 50% get it, its hard.

2. Is the surgery lifestyle really that bad? This is important because even though I love surgery, if I can't have a life outside of it, there's really not much point in doing it unless I want to turn my house into a 24/7 fulltime hospital.

3. Probably most importantly, is U of Miami or UF better for medical. This will affect my decision for Undergraduate college, because most of the reasoning for whether to apply to Umia or UF will be because of this. In case anyone cares, I do like dentistry as well and am I seriously considering it, but I know that true medicine would be my first love.

 

[TxMed]

I have some questions:

1. Is general surgery a super-competitive speciality or is it like internal medicine where most people are able to get it? My definition of competitive is if under 50% get it, its hard.

2. Is the surgery lifestyle really that bad? This is important because even though I love surgery, if I can't have a life outside of it, there's really not much point in doing it unless I want to turn my house into a 24/7 fulltime hospital.

3. Probably most importantly, is U of Miami or UF better for medical. This will affect my decision for Undergraduate college, because most of the reasoning for whether to apply to Umia or UF will be because of this. In case anyone cares, I do like dentistry as well and am I seriously considering it, but I know that true medicine would be my first love.

1. more competitive than im, less than derm
2.lifestyle is what you make of it in any specialty. the surgery residency has long been considered one of the most challenging, though.
3. it does not matter. all that matter is 3.8ish and smoking the mcat.
4. (even though you didn't ask) focus on you life as it is now. worry about highschool stuff. come back here in 6 years and i bet you will have very different opinions.

tm

 

[Winged Scapula]

Just to expand a little on the post above.

General surgery has become more competitive the last couple of years; most specialties "have their day" (with the exception of the perenial toughies like Ortho and Derm which never get uncompetitive), and its surgery's time again. Some think the increase is due to the 80 hrs, and others simply think that the wind has changed like it does every 5-7 years or so.

That said, there are some Internal Medicine programs which are terribly competitive and some general surgery ones which are less so. But as a field, Categorical General Surgery positions are hard to come by. One look at the postings on APDS (Assoc Program Directors in Surgery) and you know see US grads posting for positions there; it really used to be the realm of FMGs.

Where you go for undergraduate or medical school will not be a significant difference, especially between the two you have listed. The old saw, "go where you will get the best grades" still comes into play, although there is some room for school reputation, on the average, it really only matters if you are attending an Ivy League (which gets you a few extra stars on your application). Nationally, I am not aware of any great difference in medical schools in FL, but perhaps some of our Florida natives here could tell us whether there really is any difference between the two schools when it comes time for residency applications.

And finally...lifestyle in surgery. I'm sure you've read the dozens of threads on this topic here, but the bottom line is:

1) residency will be fairly miserable wherever you go; just accept it as a time limited adventure and you'll get through

2) you career as a surgeon is what you make it; choose a surgical subspecialty and you can work fewer hours with less in-house emergencies (ie, Breast, Endocrine, COlorectal, Surg Onc, Minimally Invasive, etc.). If you wish to do bread and butter general surgery, there are a ton of jobs out there, some with little to no trauma call. The average surgeon reports that he/she works between 60-80 hrs per week after residency; you can work more or less, depending on your desires, practice type and location. Do not rule out surgery just because you think you will never have time for your family - if you want a job where you are the "only game in town", you can have it, but its hard to have a family or social life as well. If you want one with liberal vacation policies, call, etc. those are out there too.

Believe me, the recruiters are having a hard time finding people who just want to do bread and butter surgery; the offers are getting ridiculous. Things may change when you are ready for the field, but most don't see it getting worse, but only better.

 

[Miami_med]

I have some questions:

1. Is general surgery a super-competitive speciality or is it like internal medicine where most people are able to get it? My definition of competitive is if under 50% get it, its hard.

2. Is the surgery lifestyle really that bad? This is important because even though I love surgery, if I can't have a life outside of it, there's really not much point in doing it unless I want to turn my house into a 24/7 fulltime hospital.

3. Probably most importantly, is U of Miami or UF better for medical. This will affect my decision for Undergraduate college, because most of the reasoning for whether to apply to Umia or UF will be because of this. In case anyone cares, I do like dentistry as well and am I seriously considering it, but I know that true medicine would be my first love.

#3 only: As a med student at Miami who did undergraduate at UF, both schools have advantages and disadvantages. At the undergraduate level, UF is probably the superior school (AND A LOT CHEAPER). However, doing undergrad at Miami is probably your best shot at Medical at Miami. UF probably has the more portable degree if you don't get in at your home institution. Miami undergrad sends most of its future med students to Miami. UF sends students to many different schools across the country.

When it comes to clinicals, you will not beat Miami, both the volume of patients and the breadth of pathology is really unmatched in most of the US. UF is a more academic institution, though Miami is making strides in this area. UF has a higher MCAT average. All of this being said, most people change their minds in college. Don't pick a school with the sole intent of trying to get into medical school. You should also go to a place with a major you like (Not all of us are science majors). If you like music or the fine arts, go to UM. If you like any of the liberal arts, UF is probably a better choice. UF is larger, with more choices, though any undergraduate work involving international anything will be better at Miami.

Hope it helps.