I recently spoke to my advisor, and he insisted that I apply to non-urology residencies just in case I'm not competitive enough to match into urology. My Step 1 score is a 234, and my grades are pretty good (top 25%). From a statistical standpoint, I don't know if it's better to apply to as many urology residencies as I can, or should I split it up between half urology and half internal-medicine residencies. Any advice would be much appreciated.Thanks
I was in your exact shoes last year concerning scores and class placement. I only applied to urology spots and recieved plenty of interviews and felt very solid about things before match. Number 1 if you don't want to do IM you should not apply to it. Number 2 I don't know how many interviews you've been on, but if it's ten or more, odds are overwhelmingly on your side that you'll match. Number 3 even if you don't match a pre-lim spot of year of research can get you there. I would focus all energies on Urology if that's what you want most, it sounds to me like you will match and unless your advisor is Pat Walsh I would take what he says with a grain of salt. Afterall his job is evaluated on the basis of eveyone in your class matching in something, not where they want to be per say, bottom line he is covering his ass. Good luck, relax and have a merry christmas your good news will come soon.
go all urology unless you come from a really crappy med school. anyone who tells you otherwise is big-timing. 234 is solid.
Hey bro I don't really know what to tell you. This is a tough call to make
Agree with above. You are a solid candidate with the above scores and standings.However, I think it is reasonable to have a back up plan. However, that should never be something completely different from what you are trying to get into. Your default should be General Surgery and General Surgery only. If you really want to do a back up, apply for prelim General Surgery as a prior poster said. That is your best back up plan to re apply for Urology next year if you don't make it in this year. However, just know that it is going to be harder to get interviews the 2nd time, but it is not impossible. There are plenty of people out there that did not match first, did their time in the trenches, and then got into Urology later (1-2 years later). There are open spots that don't fill during the match, people quit after they realize that Urology is not as easy as they thought, or new spots open outside of the match.Just out of curiosity, is your advisor a Urologist? Or is he/she the general med school advisor? I remember my general med school advisor told me the same thing. She was a pediatrician and wanted me to diversify. I told her that she should not give this kind of advice to someone applying to a surgical specialty.
Also agree with above.The only thing I would also add is to do yourself a favor and don't apply to OB/Gyn and enter Urology through UroGyn. You will probably regret this the rest of your life as you depend on the Urologist to bail you out of BS when you transect the ureter trying to dissect out the uterine vessels, or get in the bladder while doing pelvic surgery. Help the problem. Don't add to it.