transitional IM year first?

[suckerfree]

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I am still not 100% convinced on whether I want to do pathology or IM, so if I decide to do a transitional year in IM first, and then I decide that I do want to do pathology and not IM, how would that factor in when I'm applying for residency positions? Would it necessarily mean that I am any more or less competitive when applying for a path residency?

Thanks!

 

[DarksideAllstar]

I doubt having done a prelim medicine year makes you any more competitive for pathology; I also don't really see it as a detriment either. It may be difficult to take time off for path interviews during your prelim year, so keep that in mind. Have you done any surg path rotations?

 

[suckerfree]

what does one do then if they don't get into pathology on the first application? What can be done to make the application better if not doing well in a transitional IM year? Would it be better to take a year off to do pathology related research?

 

[mlw03]

what does one do then if they don't get into pathology on the first application? What can be done to make the application better if not doing well in a transitional IM year? Would it be better to take a year off to do pathology related research?

i would presume the answer to your question depends on why the applicant failed to match into path on the first try (and presumably also failed to scramble in somewhere). if it's because of low scores (USMLE, grades) you'd want to find a pathologist to write a letter of recommendation attesting that you could handle the rigors of path residency. if it's because you don't interview well, that's another issue. my guess is that there won't be a ton of advice to give you on this question because AMGs rarely fail to secure a position somwhere, and FMGs sometimes secure spots outside the match.

 

[suckerfree]

I'm a little worried because I got 214 on my Step I, but I failed my psych shelf on the first try (I know, its the easiest one but I really didn't study for it...very bad, at least I honored the personal evaluation)...so anyways, I have a few issues and I don't really know what to make of them.

Thanks!

 

[yaah]

I think you need to make a decision. Doing a transitional year will definitely not help you get a pathology residency. I doubt it would hurt, but you would basically be switching fields and people would ask why. If you can answer that question, fine, but if you want to do pathology just do pathology.

To make yourself more competitive you have to improve the areas where your application is weak. Generally this means more exposure to pathology (whether through research or whatever) and getting good references letters, etc. They aren't going to take you just because you did a transitional year - there really aren't a lot of translatable skills there that are important.