I'm hoping some of you in this forum can give me some advice. I'm currently in the MD app cycle, and applying to an accelerated program. For this program, I would interview for my choice of residency at that school (peds) after being accepted for regular admissions but before matriculation. If you get accepted, you complete your MD in three years, essentially dropping the fourth year where you'd be doing residency interviews and you get an automatic match to the residency program at that school.
Here's my thing: I 100% know I want to do Peds. I'm a non-trad, and I've worked in 5-6 different hospitals at this point in different specialties. I love kids, can't really imagine working with adults, and loved the few months I got to spend at a children's hospital. I'm open to sub-specialty (or lack there of) within Peds, but my interests right now are in NICU and Cards. I love fetal medicine, but don't know if I'd prefer an intensive care setting or to specialize on a particular system, as I've enjoyed my experiences in both settings. I'm at the end of a PhD program, and both fields would allow me to incorporate my research interests in my career.
If you were interviewing someone that went through the above program for a fellowship spot, would the accelerated program be a detriment? Here are the factors I'm considering, maybe you can shine some light on things I may be missing from the picture:
Pros:
- Early mentorship comes with the accelerated program. You start in your department a few months earlier than the other med students on the traditional track, and have additional opportunities to form relationships with faculty and explore potential research projects. More time to learn the ropes, more opportunity to excel and get great letters/honors.
- Saving a year of med school tuition and living expenses and gaining an additional year of income. I'm not super concerned about having a crazy large salary, but considering my interest in Peds this could be helpful in avoiding debt.
- This particular school is opening a new pediatric hospital this year (I'm assuming this is a pro, since most of the great residency programs are at dedicated children's hospitals, but maybe that's a bad assumption).
- I get a guarantee for 6 years of living in the city where my future spouse already has established his career.
- I've talked to a student in this program in Peds, and he expressed that not only is he really enjoying his experience, but it seems that the faculty in the department really enjoy their jobs and teaching students.
Cons:
- Although it's a great school, there are other peds programs in the same city that are more competitive than this one, and I'm not sure how this would influence my potential for fellowship apps.
- Negative of having one less year of med school compared to other applicants (again, not sure if this actually a con or not).
Thoughts?
ETA - I already interviewed at this school and it is easily one of my top choices. I got a great impression on interview day and have a close friend that goes there and raves about his experience thus far. If accepted, there is a good chance I will attend regardless of the accelerated program, but I just want to see if it's worth applying for in the first place.