Switching to anesthesia late

[jacksparrowMD]

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Is it possible for an M4 with no anesthesia LoRs but a high step score to jump ship to anesthesia from a competitive specialty at this point?

 

[coffeebythelake]

Is it possible for an M4 with no anesthesia LoRs but a high step score to jump ship to anesthesia from a competitive specialty at this point?

What made u decide to change. Did u do an anesthesiology rotation?

 

[IMGASMD]

It’s always possible as an American grad. Just depends on how picky you are. Academic power house, mid tier, community work horse program?
As above also asked, if you have a good story, you can still possibly get to an “excellent” program with a 250+ (?)

 

[dchz]

The question isn't whether or not you can switch, with high enough score or low enough standards on your part, you can always switch.

The question is will you be happy?

that's what @eikenhein is trying to get at.

 

[woopedazz]

Do US doctors really need to commit to specialities very early on or forever miss out? In Australia I didn't decide I wanted to do Anaesthesia until part way through our compulsory "general" internship year where you have to do 1 surgical, 1 medical, 1 emergency, and one nights/relieving rotation.

 

[pocafx]

generally yes. unless you go back and start again or do the rare switch

 

[Neurodelic]

From what woopedazz said, it sounds like, in Australia, internship is primarily separate from the rest residency and applying for a main residency during intern year doesn't put you at any disadvantage. On the other hand, in the US, internship is often times bundled with the rest of residency. So if you try to apply to residency during intern year, most spot have already been filled categorically and there are few advanced spots available. Therefore, oftentimes people need to repeat intern year if trying to switch specialties.

 

[deleted912547]

Any tips for a student switching to anesthesia hoping for a mid-tier university / community program?

I was originally applying for IM, however I am currently on an anesthesia rotation and believe this is a much better fit for me. I have three IM letters.

My plan is to submit so my application goes in on Sept 15th with my IM letters and then add an anesthesia letter in early October. Is this a better idea than waiting until I receive an anesthesia letter and adding the programs then? Is this something I should mention in my personal statement?

Thanks

 

[thetoddJR]

A friend of mine switched after 2 away rotations in a surgical subspecialty. He did no anesthesia rotations and had no letters. Matched at a very good program. sub 230 step 1

 

[dchz]

Any tips for a student switching to anesthesia hoping for a mid-tier university / community program?

I was originally applying for IM, however I am currently on an anesthesia rotation and believe this is a much better fit for me. I have three IM letters.

My plan is to submit so my application goes in on Sept 15th with my IM letters and then add an anesthesia letter in early October. Is this a better idea than waiting until I receive an anesthesia letter and adding the programs then? Is this something I should mention in my personal statement?

Thanks

I would apply early with IM letters and add them later to the programs that you applied to.

 

[anbuitachi]

100%. a lot of people SOAP into anesthesia. especially people who didn't match into competitive fields like ent/ortho.