The Grand Rapids OB/Gyn program at Metro hospital is a great program from what I hear. I am hoping for a Grand Rapids residency in a different program myself.

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but the answer is simple. - Dr.Seuss

why r u applying to different specialties? i really dont get it...this is a receipt for disater, IMO (i.e being miserable)

You have to have backups. Make sure theyre not at the same hospital however.

The state that follows the CA disapproval is New Mexico, so I advise every SMU student not to waste their money applying there.

Applying to only one residency is a recipe for disaster especially for one like EM. This is one of the biggest reasons why people end up having to go through the scramble.

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Juni

I completely disagree with you. Appling to more than ONE specialty shows that you (not you per say, but in general) are not committed to the specialty. Especially when you apply to EM and FM practice two specialties completely different. FM thrives on continuous care and patient interaction (long and lasting) while the EM operates on short procedures and often times, you wont even see a patient again. (this is in general, I can probably fine some similarities, especially does who want to take a back door to EM, but in general this holds true.

The majority of IMG, and im not saying this is your case, apply to more than one specialty because 1. they don’t have the score to apply directly to that specialty and want “backup” : or 2. they want to get lucky.

For me, it is my spatiality of choice or nothing. Be horrible to be trap to a 2nd choice specialty.

Again, I am not attacking anyone, this is just my perception. if people want EM 1. get the a good USMLE score, whch will increase your match score. and 2 perhaps, reseach

it's not that simple. it is a wise choice, a smart choice, to apply to a backup specialty, especially if your chosen field is competitive. EM is very competitive, so FM is a great alternative. rural FM has a lot of similarities to EM, as you are the only doc around for a lot of these people. it's a great backup.

I agree and according to the individuals on the first EM interview, being a IMG puts you at a disadvantage period, and having a backup plan will help. If you are set on one specialty, and apply broadly, and do not get matched, then you will go through the scramble. I have seen a few friends end up in a spot that they did not plan for or like. I have a friend who had decent board scores, and went in the scramble and missed that one also. He was very picky, and was willing to wait out an extra year. I'm not willing to wait out an extra year.

I have research experience, my board scores are decent, but I have to be realistic. More and more people are trying to get into EM. It's quite competitive. There are few EM that are IMG friendly, but there are some out there. I spoke to a few PD and some said they get 3000 applications. I am hoping to get into EM, but won't be upset if I don't get it. I'll be happy with FM, and that was my original plan when I started med school.

I know FM and EM may seem to be at different ends, but they are two specialties that cater to what I like. Though in EM you try to stabilize pts quickly and tend to not see them again. But in EM, you will see some of the same patients again and again (I have seen this pattern in the ER already), and though the way of providing care is different, there are similarities. EM is my first choice, but I would be happy with FM also. I already know a niche that I will try to cater to. That is what you need to do, find your niche. Either specialty will bring me to my goal. I have been asked this during my interview and so far the interviewer seemed to agree with my response.

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Juni

Good luck in the match. I in the other hand would rather not match and try again than to match in a specialty not of my licking. you often see people switching residency for this reason. if you have more than decent grades, usmle... (way above average) and apply broadly, you will match somewhere. I have been watching the EM match for the last couple of years and although competitive, again, with the proper grades and step 1 scores, it shouldn’t be a problem.

According to a top 10 school EM PD in the Midwest, applying to more than 1 residency makes you seem uncommitted…

Anyways, you must agree that telling current students to apply for more than residency is a bad advise (by the way, you are not telling anyone to do such thing, so please, don’t take it personally).

Since you are ok with being EM or FM, this is not such a bad thing….otherwise, I think it’s a bad move.

Once again, good luck and let the interviews rain on you.

Unless you are dumb enough to mix up your personal statements and LOR's, a program director doesn't not have access to information regarding what specialties you are applying to unless you mention it.

Also there is nothing wrong in having a backup. If I was applying to Radiology or Ophto or any other field I am unsure of my chances I would damn well make sure I had a backup. "Happiness" is relative, if you go unmatched.

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