MD Tips for last minute specialty switch

[undecided3279]

4th year decided this week to do IM. My school's IM department had a lot of advising sessions but I missed them all because I was undecided. I'm feeling a little stressed because I'm on a different timeline compared to my other IM-bound peers, but I'm hopeful that it will work out.

I need to find an advisor, write my personal statement, figure out which programs to apply to.

Anyone with a similar experience? How did you navigate it?

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[mrbreakfast]

You'll be fine. It's late, but the main thing to do is to correct your M4 schedule to squeeze in sub-Is, letters, etc.

 

[JeremiahJohnson]

I was gungho anesthesiology, thought I wanted to do cardiac anesthesia, but then I did an EP rotation and decided to hate myself and pursue a 2x longer road lul.

The switch to IM was pretty easy. Just had to get a Sub-I scheduled to get an IM letter and I had my school explicitly mention in my deans letter that I was applying IM so programs wouldn't think I was dual applying

 

[GoSpursGo]

I feel compelled to mention for the future applicants that, if you're truly undecided heading into the send half of 3rd year, that you need to do your best to attend the advising sessions for both potential specialties of interest.

That said, there are people who are dead set on a particular path who change their mind in July of 4th year, and there isn't much you can do other than try to catch up. I would reach out to either the PD of your home program or whoever the leader of your med school SIG is. Try to meet with them if possible, but at least get them to give you advice via email.

You're going to be OK.