WHEN did you choose your specialty?

[IlianaSedai]

Considering that many of the specialties (derm, rads, EM, ortho, neurosurg, gas, etc) are non-core elective rotations and some are only available in MS-4, I'm wondering for those who have chosen one of them, WHEN did you finally decide?

Did you decide before you experienced the rotation or after?

How late did you decide?

And how much experience did you have in the field if you had your eye on it before you actually rotated?

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[doc05]

each of these specialties is very different and you will have a general idea of what you like and don't like after your cores (actually, medicine+surgery is enough for most). After that it's a matter of taking your 4th year electives early on, maybe even during 3rd year if your school allows that.

 

[Gauss]

had neurosurg, anesthes, and EM during 3rd year
as for derm, well saw some during Family
some know before 3rd year, some discover during 3rd year, some figure it out 4th year.
you need to address basic questions before deciding a specialty: do you like kids or adults, surgery or not, clinics or inpatient, acute or chronic, very ill/terminal or otherwise healthy, etc.
Then find what area of medicine tickles you intellectually and how your personality fits in.
I would suggest you get hold of Iserson about now

 

[saucysocks]

what's Iserson?

 

[LovelyRita]

Book titled "Med Student's Guide to Getting a Residency" by Iserson.