2021medresident
New Member
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2021
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Howdy everyone,
I'm a categorical PGY-1 in a fairly well ranked IM program. I'll spare the details but after a lot of reflection and careful consideration of the field, I decided that I strongly want to switch into diagnostic radiology. I graduated from a lower-tier state MD school. My Step 1 and Step 2 are 238 and 242 respectively. Most of my extracurriculars and research are related to IM and I have 1 publication from undergrad and 2 case reports published in an IM sub-specialty. My program leadership has offered their support and even offered to keep my seat should I chose to do my PGY-2 year and apply then. They've also agreed to provide LORs. Most of my questions are related to making myself as competitive as possible for the upcoming match.
1. I know this is probably a bad reason, but I'm quite burned out after this year and for the sake of my mental health, I'm leaning towards leaving my program rather than continue as a PGY-2 just for the sake of having a job while reapplying. Would it be worth while to take a research year in order to beef up my application before applying this upcoming September? What would be the best approach- should I cold contact radiologists engaging in research? Are paid research positions very common and should I be aiming for such a position? I'm not to familiar about radiology research and what types of projects I should be looking for to be the most productive. Unfortunately when I reached out to the people I know in the rads department at my institution, they didn't provide much help.
2. Will I be looked at significantly less favorably as US MD senior despite successfully completing my intern year? My PD said that my particular reason for switching is very valid and should I have been switching into the program I'm currently in, I would not be viewed as having any red flags. That being said, I'd like to know how much of a disadvantage I'll be in and what my expectations should be entering the match as a re-applicant.
3. Geography has been pretty important to me and played a big factor in my match list last year. If applying, will I essentially need to throw that requirement out the window and expect to match across the country (if I even do match?)
I'm a categorical PGY-1 in a fairly well ranked IM program. I'll spare the details but after a lot of reflection and careful consideration of the field, I decided that I strongly want to switch into diagnostic radiology. I graduated from a lower-tier state MD school. My Step 1 and Step 2 are 238 and 242 respectively. Most of my extracurriculars and research are related to IM and I have 1 publication from undergrad and 2 case reports published in an IM sub-specialty. My program leadership has offered their support and even offered to keep my seat should I chose to do my PGY-2 year and apply then. They've also agreed to provide LORs. Most of my questions are related to making myself as competitive as possible for the upcoming match.
1. I know this is probably a bad reason, but I'm quite burned out after this year and for the sake of my mental health, I'm leaning towards leaving my program rather than continue as a PGY-2 just for the sake of having a job while reapplying. Would it be worth while to take a research year in order to beef up my application before applying this upcoming September? What would be the best approach- should I cold contact radiologists engaging in research? Are paid research positions very common and should I be aiming for such a position? I'm not to familiar about radiology research and what types of projects I should be looking for to be the most productive. Unfortunately when I reached out to the people I know in the rads department at my institution, they didn't provide much help.
2. Will I be looked at significantly less favorably as US MD senior despite successfully completing my intern year? My PD said that my particular reason for switching is very valid and should I have been switching into the program I'm currently in, I would not be viewed as having any red flags. That being said, I'd like to know how much of a disadvantage I'll be in and what my expectations should be entering the match as a re-applicant.
3. Geography has been pretty important to me and played a big factor in my match list last year. If applying, will I essentially need to throw that requirement out the window and expect to match across the country (if I even do match?)