What specialty are you most leaning towards?

[xmsr3]

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I had the same poll in the pre-med forums and thought it would be interesting to see how the results would compare when med students were asked, who had a better idea of what each specialty is really like.

 

[amidoinitrite]

Surprised to see not many people have picked Anesthesiology. That'll change in 4th year 😀

 

[justdoit31]

there aren't any subspecialties in Peds on the poll... that will skew your data- I selected Peds but I don't want to be a general pediatrician.

 

[xmsr3]

Sorry I got the list from some website that list med specialties. They only had peds so there it is.

As for the results after 44 votes, I am shocked, absolutely shocked by the results. I know EM is popular but I never imagined it was that popular!

And what's the deal with Otolaryngology being tied for second? Is there something fascinating about nose and throats that only med students know about? Or is there some perk to this profession that is unknown to all but the same?

And what about the R.O.A.D to happiness? Only 15.7% so far have chosen Radiology, Opthamology, Anesthesiology, or Dermatology?

This poll is calling into question every thing I thought I knew about medical specialties! My mind is totally blown!😀

 

[J ROD]

And what about the R.O.A.D to happiness? Only 15.7% so far have chosen Radiology, Opthamology, Anesthesiology, or Dermatology?

I prefer ROADE....with Emergency Med.

It is a lifestyle specialty if you like that lifestyle....🙂

And, I want EM too!!

 

[sunset823]

critical care...95% sure about that...not sure which of the five potential paths I would go on yet though to get there (anesthesiology, EM, IM, neurology, or surgery all have critical care options). Leaning either anesthesia or IM, depending on how my scores/grades pan out, but I'm still an M1.

 

[oldbearprofessor]

there aren't any subspecialties in Peds on the poll... that will skew your data- I selected Peds but I don't want to be a general pediatrician.

I'm pretty sure neonatology is a subspecialty of pediatrics.😉

 

[Random Anesthesiologist]

I picked my favorite based on exposure to date, but I realize this very well may change with board scores/rotations.

 

[J ROD]

critical care...95% sure about that...not sure which of the five potential paths I would go on yet though to get there (anesthesiology, EM, IM, neurology, or surgery all have critical care options). Leaning either anesthesia or IM, depending on how my scores/grades pan out, but I'm still an M1.

I thought about that too!! 😀

 

[sunset823]

I thought about that too!! 😀

I'm shadowing an ICU doc this year and I absolutely love it - it fits extremely well with my, um, unique personality and academic interests.

 

[AnnaBananax]

And what's the deal with Otolaryngology being tied for second? Is there something fascinating about nose and throats that only med students know about? Or is there some perk to this profession that is unknown to all but the same?

ENT is considered (depending on who you talk to) to be a life style specialty and it also has a good bit of surgical procedures involved...so for people who want to go into a surgical specialty but are turned off by the lifestyle, this presents a good alternative.

 

[J ROD]

I'm shadowing an ICU doc this year and I absolutely love it - it fits extremely well with my, um, unique personality and academic interests.

I did a rotation in the ICU while in pharmacy..and liked it.

I thought about maybe doing a fellowship after I had been an EM doc for some time...

 

[Dral]

While I'm not certain, I hear a lot about how EM docs burn out after 5 or 10 years. That doesn't seem like the ROAD to happiness to me.

Although if someone wants to switch to a different thing later, I guess it is pretty good.

As far as ENT, many people are interested in the anatomy of the region. I took a rotation because I was considering it. While I still find the field pretty cool, the 12 hour neck surgeries just don't appeal to me.

While one can talk about the lifestyle of ENT, it's still a surgery subspecialty. So it's relative...especially during training. But then again, any physician can tailor their lifestyle to their liking if they are willing to take cuts in other areas.

 

[xanthomondo]

Shoulda made the poll public.

 

[J ROD]

While I'm not certain, I hear a lot about how EM docs burn out after 5 or 10 years. That doesn't seem like the ROAD to happiness to me.

It might be somewhat true....I think it is more a notion in the past.

I know several that have been 15+yrs and still like it. You just better like the hussle and craziness.
😀

Also, there is urgent care if you wanna calm things down!! And now, a CC fellowship!! 🙂

 

[RegularNihilist]

Family Practice - although I hate families and hate the patients entering practices. I'll do it part-time, get some dough, and work on a new education as a computer-something while at it. If I can survive the PGY-1 necessary to get my license where I'm at.

 

[bleeker10]

Ortho or ENT/Facial Plastics. I was set on Ortho before med school started but after doing head/neck in anatomy I developed an interest in ENT.

 

[scudrunner]

Family Practice - although I hate families and hate the patients entering practices. I'll do it part-time, get some dough, and work on a new education as a computer-something while at it. If I can survive the PGY-1 necessary to get my license where I'm at.

WTF? This is ridiculous.

 

[Upgrayedd]

WTF? This is ridiculous.

Sarcasm detected.

 

[J ROD]

Family Practice - although I hate families and hate the patients entering practices. I'll do it part-time, get some dough, and work on a new education as a computer-something while at it. If I can survive the PGY-1 necessary to get my license where I'm at.

Sounds like you love it!!

 

[J ROD]

WTF? This is ridiculous.

Could be?

 

[J ROD]

Sarcasm detected.

Possible?

 

[xmsr3]

Neonatal Cardiothoracic surgery for me, even though I abhor babies, detest the heart and thorax, and loath surgery, I love the cool way it rolls off the tongue and figure its the best way to pick up chicks!😀

And yes, I am joking.

Diagnostic radiology for me, nothing cooler than the toys we get to play with everyday especially the PET scanner😀

Do you know what PET stands for? Positron Emission Tomography

Know what a positron is? Its the anti matter version of an electron

Know what anti matter is? According to Michio Kaku, author of "Physics of the Impossible" its regular matter traveling backwards through time.

Ergo, Radiologists get to help diagnose people and save lives using FREAKING TIME TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY!

It don't get no more Star Trekky than that baby!😀

And no, I am not joking about that😀 I never joke about Star Trek😀

 

[shreypete]

How come many students don't opt for neurosurgery? Is it coz of the long, grueling hours? lack of any social life? and How competitive is it (especially for international students) when compared to, say Orthopedic Surgery or General Surgery?

 

[docONcall]

How come many students don't opt for neurosurgery? Is it coz of the long, grueling hours? lack of any social life? and How competitive is it (especially for international students) when compared to, say Orthopedic Surgery or General Surgery?

I am leaning toward neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery - I'm not sure which one yet. It'll probably hit me next year, my last year of med school. Honey, believe it or not, any kind of practice is just tiring, stressful, and has awful hours. Those are the things you'd get used to once you decided to enter med school.

How competitive? I'd say pretty competitive but you don't need to be on the top of your class to be a orthopedic surgeon a neurosurgeon. That crap is a myth - every time people ask me what I chose, I would say neurosurgery or ortho, and they would assume I was top of my class; I would have to embarrassingly explain to them that I am just an average med student. My aunt was never on the top of her class but she's one great neurosurgeon that I look up to.

 

[docONcall]

How come many students don't opt for neurosurgery? Is it coz of the long, grueling hours? lack of any social life? and How competitive is it (especially for international students) when compared to, say Orthopedic Surgery or General Surgery?

I am leaning toward neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery - I'm not sure which one yet. It'll probably hit me next year, my last year of med school. Honey, believe it or not, any kind of practice is just tiring, stressful, and has awful hours. Those are the things you'd get used to once you decided to enter med school.

How competitive? I'd say pretty competitive but you don't need to be on the top of your class to be a orthopedic surgeon a neurosurgeon. That crap is a myth - every time people ask me what I chose, I would say neurosurgery or ortho, and they would assume I was top of my class; I would have to embarrassingly explain to them that I am just an average med student. My aunt was never on the top of her class but she's one great neurosurgeon that I look up to.

 

[shreypete]

I am leaning toward neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery - I'm not sure which one yet. It'll probably hit me next year, my last year of med school. Honey, believe it or not, any kind of practice is just tiring, stressful, and has awful hours. Those are the things you'd get used to once you decided to enter med school.

How competitive? I'd say pretty competitive but you don't need to be on the top of your class to be a orthopedic surgeon a neurosurgeon. That crap is a myth - every time people ask me what I chose, I would say neurosurgery or ortho, and they would assume I was top of my class; I would have to embarrassingly explain to them that I am just an average med student. My aunt was never on the top of her class but she's one great neurosurgeon that I look up to.

Coincidentally, my uncle is a neurosurgeon (in NYC) and he actually failed didn't do great in med school. But of course, he did a lot of research and also got a lot of international exposure (in Europe and Africa). But he still did tell me that it was quite competitive and that they do emphasize a lot on research. It's worse for me coz I'm an international student 🙁

 

[J ROD]

Neonatal Cardiothoracic surgery for me, even though I abhor babies, detest the heart and thorax, and loath surgery, I love the cool way it rolls off the tongue and figure its the best way to pick up chicks!😀

And yes, I am joking.

Diagnostic radiology for me, nothing cooler than the toys we get to play with everyday especially the PET scanner😀

Do you know what PET stands for? Positron Emission Tomography

Know what a positron is? Its the anti matter version of an electron

Know what anti matter is? According to Michio Kaku, author of "Physics of the Impossible" its regular matter traveling backwards through time.

Ergo, Radiologists get to help diagnose people and save lives using FREAKING TIME TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY!

It don't get no more Star Trekky than that baby!😀

And no, I am not joking about that😀 I never joke about Star Trek😀

I learned something....👍

 

[umean2tellme]

Gen Surg for now. I wanna be able to do a little bit of everything.

 

[randombetch]

I prefer ROADE....with Emergency Med.

It is a lifestyle specialty if you like that lifestyle....🙂

And, I want EM too!!

ROADE sounds kind of lame... What about "EAR-DO"?

 

[Random Anesthesiologist]

How come many students don't opt for neurosurgery? Is it coz of the long, grueling hours? lack of any social life? and How competitive is it (especially for international students) when compared to, say Orthopedic Surgery or General Surgery?

I'm a 33 yo MS1. I want to own a practice before I'm dead.

 

[J ROD]

ROADE sounds kind of lame... What about "EAR-DO"?

That sounds much better.....🙄

 

[J ROD]

I'm a 33 yo MS1. I want to own a practice before I'm dead.

qft!!

 

[randombetch]

...

 

[xmsr3]

Less than 5% want to go into Family Practice or Internal Medicine.

But we all know that >30% will end up as one of these.

What do you mean by that? That people change their minds or that they fail to match into anything except an FP or IM residency program or some other reason?

 

[umean2tellme]

Less than 5% want to go into Family Practice or Internal Medicine.

But we all know that >30% will end up as one of these.

Well, many people do IM residency, just a lot subspecialize and go on to a fellowship

 

[randombetch]

What do you mean by that? That people change their minds or that they fail to match into anything except an FP or IM residency program or some other reason?

Well, many people do IM residency, just a lot subspecialize and go on to a fellowship

To xmsr - yeah I meant that they'd fail to match, BUT I completely forgot about umean2tellme's point that many of the 30-40% of med students who go into internal medicine residencies end up subspecializing.

 

[gman33]

Don't answer this poll until you have your step 1 score back.

 

[RisingSun]

Don't answer this poll until you have your step 1 score back.

Sad but true.

 

[Contrarian]

Surprised at the lack of interest in neurology. I'm not a med student yet, but can someone with more experience explain why it isn't a particularly attractive specialty?

 

[tideleonheart]

Surprised at the lack of interest in neurology. I'm not a med student yet, but can someone with more experience explain why it isn't a particularly attractive specialty?

No one can say for sure and this is far from a scientific poll, but my best guess is a few things:

The topic: most people in my class HATED neuro and never wanted to see it again. Since this is simply a "leaning toward" poll, I think most people would rather not get into a specialty with a topic they didn't like. (on a side note, I LOVED neuro!)

The patient population: Sure, there are some really cool cases and such, but the bread and butter is Alzheimers, Parkinsons, etc. To a lot of people, that isn't appealing (but then again, what IS an appealing bread and butter for any specialty?)

The demand: you obviously don't need as many neurologists as you do general surgeons or FP doctors, so the proportion of demand from medical students to the supply required by our health care system is actually pretty good.

 

[coldweatherblue]

I still give people the old "I'm gonna wait until after 3rd year rotations to be better informed before I decide on a specialty.." spiel when asked, but deep down I'm crazy about EM. 😍

 

[J ROD]

Less than 5% want to go into Family Practice or Internal Medicine.

But we all know that >30% will end up as one of these.

at least, we can dream!! 😀

 

[J ROD]

Surprised at the lack of interest in neurology. I'm not a med student yet, but can someone with more experience explain why it isn't a particularly attractive specialty?

I hear you cant really get outcomes of your work due to the nature of the work. It is more thinking about why something is wrong and how to fix than actually being able to make a "real" difference and help patients.

It is slow moving too!

 

[riceman04]

I had the same poll in the pre-med forums and thought it would be interesting to see how the results would compare when med students were asked, who had a better idea of what each specialty is really like.

it would be interesting to see what year respondents are in their studies. I say that b/c it is highly probable no significant experience forcing someone to reconsider their top choice occurs btwn sophomore/junior year and second year of med school

 

[Dral]

I started school wanting to do Neuro. After the third year rotation, I realized it just wasn't for me. I like the idea of Neuro. The brain and nervous system are fascinating. However, the day to day just didn't do it for me.

I must say, I'm envious of them getting to carry around their cool bags o' tools everywhere they go.

I'm surprised at the number of people who are interested in Rads and how many are into EM. No love for Allergy and Immunology. I don't plan on going into that, but it was such a cool rotation...focused and scientific process based. It's what I had hoped all of IM would have been.

 

[WashMe]

Less than 5% want to go into Family Practice or Internal Medicine.

But we all know that >30% will end up as one of these.

rationale FAIL

For all you know, we'll all get our top choice. SDN is self-selecting for tight-a**es, so we just might get want we want.

 

[randombetch]

rationale FAIL

For all you know, we'll all get our top choice. SDN is self-selecting for tight-a**es, so we just might get want we want.

To xmsr - yeah I meant that they'd fail to match, BUT I completely forgot about umean2tellme's point that many of the 30-40% of med students who go into internal medicine residencies end up subspecializing.

I addressed this already.

 

[Climberak]

This is interesting: <20% of the respondents are aiming for a primary care specialty.

 

[BrianUM]

Neuro +/- Stroke and Interventional Neurology