Neuro-heavy ERAS application for DR

[isaacyo94]

So I wanted to do neurology until I made the decision to do radiology. That means I have a pretty neuro heavy application. Multiple publications, presentations, abstracts in neuroscience. I'm sending potential letter writers a personal statement draft that details all my prior research experience in neurology while not explicitly claiming I'm interested in neuroradiology. I'm even planning on getting an LOR from a neurologist. I'm thinking of spinning this interest into claiming that I'm interested in subspecializing in neuroradiology. Again, I've started to write my personal statement around this concept (i.e. diving into detail about prior research experiences in neuroscience and how that ultimately served as a nidus for my interest in neuroRADIOLOGY).

In my mind this can turn out 1 of 2 ways:
1. A PD might look at this approach favorably and see me as someone with a unique interest in subspecializing, setting me apart from other applicants
2. A PD might look at this approach unfavorably and see me as someone with no experience in neuroradiology, 6 years out from fellowship, and having to get through 5 years of residency that isn't at all focused on neuro cases. Some might ask "how will you sit through 5 years of radiology residency if you're so interested in neurology?" Some might ask "How will you handle doing 3 months of mammography every year?" Some might ask "why not neurology?"

Has anyone done something similar or heard of someone doing something similar? Anyone want to weigh in on whether option 1 or 2 is more likely the response from PD's? Should I not make my personal statement so neuro heavy at the risk of detracting from my genuine interest in radiology?

PLEASE ADVISE

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[halpmepls]

Many people go to medical school with their heart set on a particular specialty, and don't change their mind until they are exposed to a different specialty after 3rd year that they had no meaningful exposure to during preclinical years/clerkships (I think med school is extremely biased towards FM/IM/Peds/Neuro/Psych in this way, which is unfortunate, but I digress). This is extremely common in radiology, from what I gathered during my application process, especially since a lot of people don't know anything about radiology until they take it as an elective. I switched from IM to rads in March of my 4th year, so when interviews came around, I focused on explaining why I made that decision in my personal statement and interviews. I think interviewers are less interested in the radiology specific elements of your application and are more interested in how you can weave the elements of your application into a cohesive narrative that describes you as a person as well as your goals personally and professionally.

You don't have to hide or justify your neurology related research - if nothing else, it shows you were self-disciplined and diligent enough to "check" the research box on your applications. I didn't have any radiology specific research to show for myself and I still matched at my #1 program, if that's any consolation.

There are plenty of similarities between neurology and radiology that you can draw upon when explaining yourself during an interview - i.e., I like integrating anatomy, physiology, and clinical context into a diagnosis... I like consulting with other physicians to solve a clinical problem... the list goes on. You just need go be genuine and find a way to convey your story to your interviewers.

 

[Ask Jeeves MD]

You will be in good shape. Feel like rads people are laid back and don’t require applicants to be 1000% focused on the specialty before they took the SAT like some others do. That said they are very different fields. You can include the interest in neurology but will need to explain what you want to be a radiologist more. It shows character and introspection to understand what you like then change direction.

 

[TXRads]

Gonna DM you. I was in a very similar situation

 

[Cognovi]

Some might ask "How will you handle doing 3 months of mammography every year?"

Avoid the program that has you doing 3 months of mammography every year.

 

[Clean7795]

So I wanted to do neurology until I made the decision to do radiology. That means I have a pretty neuro heavy application. Multiple publications, presentations, abstracts in neuroscience. I'm sending potential letter writers a personal statement draft that details all my prior research experience in neurology while not explicitly claiming I'm interested in neuroradiology. I'm even planning on getting an LOR from a neurologist. I'm thinking of spinning this interest into claiming that I'm interested in subspecializing in neuroradiology. Again, I've started to write my personal statement around this concept (i.e. diving into detail about prior research experiences in neuroscience and how that ultimately served as a nidus for my interest in neuroRADIOLOGY).

In my mind this can turn out 1 of 2 ways:
1. A PD might look at this approach favorably and see me as someone with a unique interest in subspecializing, setting me apart from other applicants
2. A PD might look at this approach unfavorably and see me as someone with no experience in neuroradiology, 6 years out from fellowship, and having to get through 5 years of residency that isn't at all focused on neuro cases. Some might ask "how will you sit through 5 years of radiology residency if you're so interested in neurology?" Some might ask "How will you handle doing 3 months of mammography every year?" Some might ask "why not neurology?"

Has anyone done something similar or heard of someone doing something similar? Anyone want to weigh in on whether option 1 or 2 is more likely the response from PD's? Should I not make my personal statement so neuro heavy at the risk of detracting from my genuine interest in radiology?

PLEASE ADVISE

Everyone in radiology does a fellowship (basically mandatory unless you have nepotistic connections and even then... you still probably need a fellowship). There is no advantage to trying to sell yourself as someone particularly interested in subspecializing, because everyone does. The majority of your rotations will not be neuroradiology related—in all of residency you could probably push for 6 months of dedicated neuroradiology at most (though on call you will have plenty of exposure to neuro-emergencies over and over again until you're tired of them).

Most PDs would be ambivalent or slightly positive. If they get the sense that you don't like the main specialty you're applying for itself they will feel reaction #2. This applies across every specialty. ER residencies are looking for ER residents, not pain specialists. GSx residencies are looking for GSx residents, not a resident who falls asleep on every rotation aside from cardiothoracics. Etc.

You do not need to hide your interests. I would avoid making it clear you're uninterested in the rest of radiology.

 

[Cognovi]

So I wanted to do neurology until I made the decision to do radiology. That means I have a pretty neuro heavy application. Multiple publications, presentations, abstracts in neuroscience. I'm sending potential letter writers a personal statement draft that details all my prior research experience in neurology while not explicitly claiming I'm interested in neuroradiology. I'm even planning on getting an LOR from a neurologist. I'm thinking of spinning this interest into claiming that I'm interested in subspecializing in neuroradiology. Again, I've started to write my personal statement around this concept (i.e. diving into detail about prior research experiences in neuroscience and how that ultimately served as a nidus for my interest in neuroRADIOLOGY).

In my mind this can turn out 1 of 2 ways:
1. A PD might look at this approach favorably and see me as someone with a unique interest in subspecializing, setting me apart from other applicants
2. A PD might look at this approach unfavorably and see me as someone with no experience in neuroradiology, 6 years out from fellowship, and having to get through 5 years of residency that isn't at all focused on neuro cases. Some might ask "how will you sit through 5 years of radiology residency if you're so interested in neurology?" Some might ask "How will you handle doing 3 months of mammography every year?" Some might ask "why not neurology?"

Has anyone done something similar or heard of someone doing something similar? Anyone want to weigh in on whether option 1 or 2 is more likely the response from PD's? Should I not make my personal statement so neuro heavy at the risk of detracting from my genuine interest in radiology?

PLEASE ADVISE

It is common to change interests during medical school. Many of the applications I reviewed this year were clear that they were initially headed for another specialty. These specialties are often the more competitive ones where it is common to gun hard early. That's the prudent thing to do when you have varied interests early in medical school: put in the work for the most competitive one first, take the option to change to a less competitive one later. I recall applications that were heavy on neurosurgery, dermatology, otolaryngology, etc. In comparison, radiology is less competitive but covers a broad swath of medical knowledge and is thus a common exit ramp for students who change their minds. Programs get that.

It is fine to focus on neuroradiology. Anecdotally, I have found those radiology residents who go into neuroradiology often had that inkling early in residency, earlier than the other subspecialties. Some of these people are influenced by prior experience in neuroscience.

It is good to obtain a LOR from a neurologist. You should not have all your letters come from radiologists. I had a letter from a neurologist for my radiology application (and I am doing neuroradiology).

Programs want to know that you can do a good job across fields and are broadly curious about medicine. This would sufficiently be shown by excellent clinical clerkship grades and high boards scores. If you have that, I would not worry about coming across as too focused on neuro.

"Why not neurology" is a legitimate question for which you should have an answer, as much so as "why radiology." A program doesn't want to worry that you will drop out because you miss talking to patients about their headache and swinging your reflex hammer.