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I know these threads are a dime-a-dozen, but I wanted to if anyone had any additional insight. I've looked over some past threads and they've been quite helpful.
I don't want to list too many details of my current situation so that I can remain anonymous (hence the username--and FYI my name isn't George...).
What I can say is I'm a PGY-3 in a field slightly more competitive than psych (ie., non-surgical, not derm).
I was set on psych for almost all of medical school but changed my mind to my current field at the start of 4th year. I was more-or-less equally interested in both fields, and I settled on my current field because I felt I needed to just make a choice and I felt liked I was a little happier on the rotations than my psych rotation. In hindsight, I think a big reason was I was upset by the lower degree of respect many psychiatrists get from the general public and other physicians, and as someone who wants to be liked by everyone I work with (just my personality--I know I shouldn't seek others' approval, but it's just who I am), I think this influenced me more than I was consciously aware of. I was also quite accepted by the residents/attendings in my specialty of choice at my medical school, and I think that had some influence as well. I got along pretty well with the psych residents and attendings as well, but I seemed to fit in better with my current specialty. We all like to belong somewhere right?
In my internship I had a small nagging feeling I made the wrong choice, which was a little bigger last year (my first year of my advanced program). I pushed the feeling to the side, thinking if I liked both specialties more or less the same that it made no difference and I might as well continue on rather than start over.
I've genuinely enjoyed working with my patients, and I love my co-residents, attendings, and nurses/staff. So I've been quite happy and not had much reason to really ask myself if I should switch specialties. The problem is I'm now starting to think I don't actually like my field--just the people in it. I know that probably sounds stupid I'm just realizing it now, but I think I've just been in denial. I think I would honestly make the most of any field, but I believe I would enjoy psych much more than my current field.
I'm not quite ready to talk to my PD about this. I've only just started really seriously thinking about switching, so I want to give it a little more time before I talk to him/her. I am trying to get advice from some trusted mentors from medical school.
Do any of you have any additional advice? I see that the APA has a website that lists open PGY-2 positions, but currently there's nothing for the coming year. I know at least one program that specifically interviews and accepts residents into a PGY-2 position if they did a pre-lim year (I did). Are any of you aware of any other psych programs that have dedicated open PGY-2 positions? I plan to ask the psych program at my institution if they have any open positions as well.
It's been a while since I applied for residency. Can anyone help me with exactly what info I need to get together for ERAS? I assume 3 LORs, including from my current PD? Medical school transcript, USMLE scores, etc. Do any of you remember the deadlines for any of these things? I only remember interviews were roughly Nov-January.
I don't want to list too many details of my current situation so that I can remain anonymous (hence the username--and FYI my name isn't George...).
What I can say is I'm a PGY-3 in a field slightly more competitive than psych (ie., non-surgical, not derm).
I was set on psych for almost all of medical school but changed my mind to my current field at the start of 4th year. I was more-or-less equally interested in both fields, and I settled on my current field because I felt I needed to just make a choice and I felt liked I was a little happier on the rotations than my psych rotation. In hindsight, I think a big reason was I was upset by the lower degree of respect many psychiatrists get from the general public and other physicians, and as someone who wants to be liked by everyone I work with (just my personality--I know I shouldn't seek others' approval, but it's just who I am), I think this influenced me more than I was consciously aware of. I was also quite accepted by the residents/attendings in my specialty of choice at my medical school, and I think that had some influence as well. I got along pretty well with the psych residents and attendings as well, but I seemed to fit in better with my current specialty. We all like to belong somewhere right?
In my internship I had a small nagging feeling I made the wrong choice, which was a little bigger last year (my first year of my advanced program). I pushed the feeling to the side, thinking if I liked both specialties more or less the same that it made no difference and I might as well continue on rather than start over.
I've genuinely enjoyed working with my patients, and I love my co-residents, attendings, and nurses/staff. So I've been quite happy and not had much reason to really ask myself if I should switch specialties. The problem is I'm now starting to think I don't actually like my field--just the people in it. I know that probably sounds stupid I'm just realizing it now, but I think I've just been in denial. I think I would honestly make the most of any field, but I believe I would enjoy psych much more than my current field.
I'm not quite ready to talk to my PD about this. I've only just started really seriously thinking about switching, so I want to give it a little more time before I talk to him/her. I am trying to get advice from some trusted mentors from medical school.
Do any of you have any additional advice? I see that the APA has a website that lists open PGY-2 positions, but currently there's nothing for the coming year. I know at least one program that specifically interviews and accepts residents into a PGY-2 position if they did a pre-lim year (I did). Are any of you aware of any other psych programs that have dedicated open PGY-2 positions? I plan to ask the psych program at my institution if they have any open positions as well.
It's been a while since I applied for residency. Can anyone help me with exactly what info I need to get together for ERAS? I assume 3 LORs, including from my current PD? Medical school transcript, USMLE scores, etc. Do any of you remember the deadlines for any of these things? I only remember interviews were roughly Nov-January.