Wanted: Help with choosing the right specialty!

[mangos3]

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To give some background, I'm a third year med student at a US school (not any of the big names). My school starts rather late in the year compared to most schools, so I do not finish 3rd year until mid-late July. I'm still not completely decided on a specialty, but my main considerations right now are ophthalmology and internal medicine-->subspecialty, although this still fluctuates somewhat day to day. My stats are 224 on Step 1, Honors and High Pass in M1 and M2 (except for 2 Pass grades in Neuro both years), High Passes for M3 clerkships (except for one Pass in Neuro).

Basically, I would like some advice and input on choosing the right specialty. I feel like I don't have much time to decide given that my school ends so late in the year and we have no elective time this year. So I’m feeling a lot of pressure about making a decision on a specialty, especially with putting together an elective schedule for M4 year and possibly needing to schedule away rotations. Here are some of the factors that are important to me:

- reasonable lifestyle- more so TIME than money. I don't care that much about making a ton of money, but having outside time to travel and pursue other interests is a pretty important factor to me.
- patient interaction, I enjoy seeing a range of different patients
- ability to "fix" a problem and see results
- hands-on procedures or surgeries- I enjoy working with my hands and have been told by surgery and ob/gyn attendings that I have very good manual dexterity
- room for creativity and problem-solving, nothing TOO routine or I’ll get bored
- like the challenge of thinking and diagnosing a problem
- don't like being rushed and having to make quick, on-the-spot decisions; I like to be thorough and detailed
- possibly interested in academics; I enjoy teaching
- opportunity to work with underserved populations in the US and/or abroad

What I DON'T like:
- dealing with only or mainly chronic illnesses, stuff I can’t fix
- peds - I don’t feel that have the high, upbeat energy level necessary to work well with kids and I don’t like dealing with parents
- neurology, even though I find broad aspects of the diseases interesting, I don’t like the minutiae of memorizing synapses and pathways, and the subject just doesn’t seem to come naturally to me (given that those were my only Pass grades throughout med school)
- while I’m naturally very introspective, I need to have an outward focus to maintain balance; psych came very naturally to me, but I felt like my mental health suffered from the rotation because I had a tendency to internalize too much of my patients’ problems

As far as my rotations for this year...

I enjoyed my surgery rotation because of the ability to "fix" a problem and the hands-on approach, but I felt it was somewhat lacking in the diagnostic and patient interaction aspect. I didn't like the "jack of all trades, master of none" feel of FM. I'd like to be really GOOD at something, but still be able to apply much of the general fund of knowledge I've acquired in medical school (thus, specialized, but not super subspecialized?). While I actually enjoyed psychiatry and found it to be pretty fascinating, it was too mentally and emotionally draining for me. Ob/Gyn was too much estrogen and didn’t feel like a good personality fit.

I recently took a Myers-Briggs test online and came out as INFJ, if that helps at all. I would say the description of an INFJ is pretty accurate to me.

Given all of the above (sorry, I know that was a lot...), what specialty/specialties might be a good fit for me? I’m open to suggestions and am even willing to reconsider some of the specialties I've "eliminated" if it seems like they would fit well with the factors I mentioned.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance for your input!

 

[asprin81]

To give some background, I'm a third year med student at a US school (not any of the big names). My school starts rather late in the year compared to most schools, so I do not finish 3rd year until mid-late July. I'm still not completely decided on a specialty, but my main considerations right now are ophthalmology and internal medicine-->subspecialty, although this still fluctuates somewhat day to day. My stats are 224 on Step 1, Honors and High Pass in M1 and M2 (except for 2 Pass grades in Neuro both years), High Passes for M3 clerkships (except for one Pass in Neuro).

Basically, I would like some advice and input on choosing the right specialty. I feel like I don't have much time to decide given that my school ends so late in the year and we have no elective time this year. So I’m feeling a lot of pressure about making a decision on a specialty, especially with putting together an elective schedule for M4 year and possibly needing to schedule away rotations. Here are some of the factors that are important to me:

- reasonable lifestyle- more so TIME than money. I don't care that much about making a ton of money, but having outside time to travel and pursue other interests is a pretty important factor to me.
- patient interaction, I enjoy seeing a range of different patients
- ability to "fix" a problem and see results
- hands-on procedures or surgeries- I enjoy working with my hands and have been told by surgery and ob/gyn attendings that I have very good manual dexterity
- room for creativity and problem-solving, nothing TOO routine or I’ll get bored
- like the challenge of thinking and diagnosing a problem
- don't like being rushed and having to make quick, on-the-spot decisions; I like to be thorough and detailed
- possibly interested in academics; I enjoy teaching
- opportunity to work with underserved populations in the US and/or abroad

What I DON'T like:
- dealing with only or mainly chronic illnesses, stuff I can’t fix
- peds - I don’t feel that have the high, upbeat energy level necessary to work well with kids and I don’t like dealing with parents
- neurology, even though I find broad aspects of the diseases interesting, I don’t like the minutiae of memorizing synapses and pathways, and the subject just doesn’t seem to come naturally to me (given that those were my only Pass grades throughout med school)
- while I’m naturally very introspective, I need to have an outward focus to maintain balance; psych came very naturally to me, but I felt like my mental health suffered from the rotation because I had a tendency to internalize too much of my patients’ problems

As far as my rotations for this year...

I enjoyed my surgery rotation because of the ability to "fix" a problem and the hands-on approach, but I felt it was somewhat lacking in the diagnostic and patient interaction aspect. I didn't like the "jack of all trades, master of none" feel of FM. I'd like to be really GOOD at something, but still be able to apply much of the general fund of knowledge I've acquired in medical school (thus, specialized, but not super subspecialized?). While I actually enjoyed psychiatry and found it to be pretty fascinating, it was too mentally and emotionally draining for me. Ob/Gyn was too much estrogen and didn’t feel like a good personality fit.

I recently took a Myers-Briggs test online and came out as INFJ, if that helps at all. I would say the description of an INFJ is pretty accurate to me.

Given all of the above (sorry, I know that was a lot...), what specialty/specialties might be a good fit for me? I’m open to suggestions and am even willing to reconsider some of the specialties I've "eliminated" if it seems like they would fit well with the factors I mentioned.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance for your input!

GI, or Cardiology after IM

 

[smq123]

Moving to allopathic.

 

[Underxman]

Dentistry.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

To give some background, I'm a third year med student at a US school (not any of the big names). My school starts rather late in the year compared to most schools, so I do not finish 3rd year until mid-late July. I'm still not completely decided on a specialty, but my main considerations right now are ophthalmology and internal medicine-->subspecialty, although this still fluctuates somewhat day to day. My stats are 224 on Step 1, Honors and High Pass in M1 and M2 (except for 2 Pass grades in Neuro both years), High Passes for M3 clerkships (except for one Pass in Neuro).

You won't make Optho. optho is one of those 240+ Step scores, all honors everything. Radiology, Ortho, Optho, Uro, Derm. They are all in the same "high competition" specialties. Your portfolio is nice, but not competitive.

Basically, I would like some advice and input on choosing the right specialty. I feel like I don't have much time to decide given that my school ends so late in the year and we have no elective time this year. So I’m feeling a lot of pressure about making a decision on a specialty, especially with putting together an elective schedule for M4 year and possibly needing to schedule away rotations. Here are some of the factors that are important to me:

- reasonable lifestyle- more so TIME than money. I don't care that much about making a ton of money, but having outside time to travel and pursue other interests is a pretty important factor to me.
- patient interaction, I enjoy seeing a range of different patients
- ability to "fix" a problem and see results
- hands-on procedures or surgeries- I enjoy working with my hands and have been told by surgery and ob/gyn attendings that I have very good manual dexterity
- room for creativity and problem-solving, nothing TOO routine or I’ll get bored
- like the challenge of thinking and diagnosing a problem
- don't like being rushed and having to make quick, on-the-spot decisions; I like to be thorough and detailed
- possibly interested in academics; I enjoy teaching
- opportunity to work with underserved populations in the US and/or abroad

Duh. Medicine. Probably academics to fit your first criteria. To "use your hands" thats Cards or GI.

What I DON'T like:
- dealing with only or mainly chronic illnesses, stuff I can’t fix

Why'd you go to medical school? And, you write too much to be a surgeon. Get used to chronic disease.

- peds - I don’t feel that have the high, upbeat energy level necessary to work well with kids and I don’t like dealing with parents
- neurology, even though I find broad aspects of the diseases interesting, I don’t like the minutiae of memorizing synapses and pathways, and the subject just doesn’t seem to come naturally to me (given that those were my only Pass grades throughout med school)
- while I’m naturally very introspective, I need to have an outward focus to maintain balance; psych came very naturally to me, but I felt like my mental health suffered from the rotation because I had a tendency to internalize too much of my patients’ problems

You scream medicine.

As far as my rotations for this year...

I enjoyed my surgery rotation because of the ability to "fix" a problem and the hands-on approach, but I felt it was somewhat lacking in the diagnostic and patient interaction aspect. I didn't like the "jack of all trades, master of none" feel of FM. I'd like to be really GOOD at something, but still be able to apply much of the general fund of knowledge I've acquired in medical school (thus, specialized, but not super subspecialized?). While I actually enjoyed psychiatry and found it to be pretty fascinating, it was too mentally and emotionally draining for me. Ob/Gyn was too much estrogen and didn’t feel like a good personality fit.

Surprise! Academic hospitalist will satisfy many of your needs, except hands on. If you're going to do anything, anywhere (that is a place people want to be) you're going to have to find your niche. That means usually specialize. The tendency is to specialize MORE, not less.

Again, Academic Internal Medicine for certain. whether you stay as a general internal medicine educator or you specialize in cards or GI, definitely consider academic hospitalist.

I recently took a Myers-Briggs test online and came out as INFJ, if that helps at all. I would say the description of an INFJ is pretty accurate to me.

Please don't make me look up things in order to help you. That's just irritating.

Given all of the above (sorry, I know that was a lot...), what specialty/specialties might be a good fit for me? I’m open to suggestions and am even willing to reconsider some of the specialties I've "eliminated" if it seems like they would fit well with the factors I mentioned.
Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance for your input!

Doy. Academic Hospitalist. Either General IM, Cards, or GI

 

[cpants]

Optho would be a long shot giving your lack of stellar grades and board scores and no research experience in optho. You should be very competitive for a good IM program from which you can specialize. Maybe think about anesthesia or EM if you are more worried about the lifestyle. Both are very procedural, and while both are competitive, they aren't nearly as bad as optho.

 

[geogil]

Please, don't consider anesthesia. We don't need any more people in this specialty who are not willing to work hard. A private practice group in my hometown averages 55-60 hours a week, which I don't think jibes well with your French work ethic. ** Here's a little secret: we all have hobbies and like to spend time doing things other than working.

If you only want to work a few hours a week, EM might be better able to accomodate, although I imagine most groups want you to work more than a few shifts a month. The price you're going to pay for the privilege (?) of not working a lot is that you're going to get the crap shifts that nobody else wants. I wager you wind up working a lot more nights, weekends, and holidays than you bargained for.


Before you consider lifestyle, you should give thought to what you did enjoy. You listed a bunch of the negatives about each specialty, but not many positives. What do you enjoy reading about? You're going to be studying that for a long time, so think hard about what you enjoy reading.

 

[Siverhideo1985]

How about Pulm/Critical Care after IM?

 

[Isoprop]

One of the complaints I hear from EM residents is that they feel like they're good at a little bit of everything but not an expert on anything. Doesn't jive well with what OP is looking for IMO.

I think OP is looking for a procedural subspecialty like GI, cards, or pulm/CC.

 

[Rendar5]

lol, definitely not EM if you don't like having to make on the spot decisions. I have to agree with whoever said GI, Cards, Pulmonary, or Critical Care.

However, it doens't matter what field you go into, you will deal with chronic patients and you will have plenty of medical problems that you can't fix

 

[cpants]

I still say anesthesia. Sure, you won't be off half the month like ER, but your day starts at 7 with no rounds and I don't see too many anesthesiologists hanging around after 3:30 or 4 despite what georgil says. Not too much night or weekend stuff. Sure you'll have a call, but that's true for almost any specialty. No chronic disease management except as it pertains to surviving the surgery.

 

[Lokhtar]

What about PM&R?

 

[21CentSouldier]

Infectious Diseases