I've read the other threads about switching specialities. I am an IMG, US-Citizen, whatever, IMG either way, really wanted a more "competitive speciality" (not neurosurgery, ortho, derm, or anything crazy), got 1 interview in my the specialty I wanted (EM), 20 something odd interviews in my "backup", with decent scores, 240 step 1, 250 step 2, cs-passed.
The reason I probably didn't get into my speciality is the lack of SLORs (1, and not very outstanding). I did a total of 3 EM rotations as MS-4, was able only to obtain 1 SLOR as the rest of my EM rotations were later in the year and would have come late for interview season, although I was approached by attending willing to write me letters. It may have been other issues as well, but for the most part I H/HP all my cores and besides that one EM rotations all my other electives. No real "research", as at least for me I found it hard to find opportunities to do research.
So the thing is I got my categorical IM spot, #2 on my spot for IM programs (all my top 5 have EM/IM positions). I actually really wanted to do a combined speciality, EM/IM, but my prospect of that as an IMG was pretty much slim as I didn't get SUPER scores. However, if I had to choose between EM vs IM, I would rather be in the ED than on the floors/clinic/elsewhere. I know that I haven't really started yet, but I have the feeling that even if I started I wouldn't be as thrilled as I was in the ED as a med student (I really didn't like my med sub-i).
So I've kind of already laid out my intern year, since we are suppose to do an ED rotation, I had my ED rotation in August, my vacation in December and January, with the hope of reapplying for the match (don't know how successful I'll be, since I didn't get a single interview outside of the institution I rotated with, after the residents (seniors) told the PD that I would be a good candidate [this happened in front of my face]) .
Now the hard part, when I interviewed at this program the PD talked highly about another resident he had from the same school as I went to, and that he "expected" great things out of me, even on the letter of intent that I would be coming to this program he wrote "I knew you would come with us." I don't know how to tell him that I like both IM and EM, but if I had to be on the floors for more than a month at a time I would probably go crazy, and that I rather see "new" patients (I know frequent fliers, had a patient that came in everyday for a 3 month fever to the ED on me) at a higher turnover rate than the floors would allow me.
Also I know that there is a timing issue, I would need a PD letter if I want to try to go through the match again.
So, question is, EM/IM is a 5 year program (and your time would be split between the ED and floors), IM + EM is 6 years (if you do 3 + 3, that is if I can find a residency after IM). Should I just finish what I started and tough it and try not to be miserable for the next 3 years (okay not entire 3 years, I like CC too) or try to go for the EM programs.
The reason I probably didn't get into my speciality is the lack of SLORs (1, and not very outstanding). I did a total of 3 EM rotations as MS-4, was able only to obtain 1 SLOR as the rest of my EM rotations were later in the year and would have come late for interview season, although I was approached by attending willing to write me letters. It may have been other issues as well, but for the most part I H/HP all my cores and besides that one EM rotations all my other electives. No real "research", as at least for me I found it hard to find opportunities to do research.
So the thing is I got my categorical IM spot, #2 on my spot for IM programs (all my top 5 have EM/IM positions). I actually really wanted to do a combined speciality, EM/IM, but my prospect of that as an IMG was pretty much slim as I didn't get SUPER scores. However, if I had to choose between EM vs IM, I would rather be in the ED than on the floors/clinic/elsewhere. I know that I haven't really started yet, but I have the feeling that even if I started I wouldn't be as thrilled as I was in the ED as a med student (I really didn't like my med sub-i).
So I've kind of already laid out my intern year, since we are suppose to do an ED rotation, I had my ED rotation in August, my vacation in December and January, with the hope of reapplying for the match (don't know how successful I'll be, since I didn't get a single interview outside of the institution I rotated with, after the residents (seniors) told the PD that I would be a good candidate [this happened in front of my face]) .
Now the hard part, when I interviewed at this program the PD talked highly about another resident he had from the same school as I went to, and that he "expected" great things out of me, even on the letter of intent that I would be coming to this program he wrote "I knew you would come with us." I don't know how to tell him that I like both IM and EM, but if I had to be on the floors for more than a month at a time I would probably go crazy, and that I rather see "new" patients (I know frequent fliers, had a patient that came in everyday for a 3 month fever to the ED on me) at a higher turnover rate than the floors would allow me.
Also I know that there is a timing issue, I would need a PD letter if I want to try to go through the match again.
So, question is, EM/IM is a 5 year program (and your time would be split between the ED and floors), IM + EM is 6 years (if you do 3 + 3, that is if I can find a residency after IM). Should I just finish what I started and tough it and try not to be miserable for the next 3 years (okay not entire 3 years, I like CC too) or try to go for the EM programs.
