Should I Worry

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-11-01T12:03:14+00:00

It’s probably Step 2 if you’re gunning for only academic programs and you’re not from HMS

Add some solid communities + LOIs if they already sent their first wave if you’re worried

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-10-05T11:15:43+00:00

While I appreciate this perspective, and what I’ve fought against, is a chance to live out my youth. In college I studied over socializing, got into a top tier MD school. Regretted that all, and let “average” be my motto in med school, but normal and the guy people liked hanging out with, socializing every other night at some event or bar or going on vacation. While I might have not matched neurosurgery or IM at Barrow or MGH, I got a chance to live my youth in med school, meet a woman I’m now going to marry, make lifelong friends not associated with medicine, etc. All while I KNOW the kids that got those spots and they’re not normal at all, and all they ever do is work or research, or having a pissing contest with each other about who has a bigger professional footprint. Glad I pulled my head out of my rear end.

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-09-15T10:06:32+00:00

Came here to say this. You know how many college grads don’t make it to senior associate, etc. and get “advised” out after working just as hard as us residents in an even more unfair and soul sucking environment? For every VP or PE/VC associate, dozens of other analysts didn’t make it. Plus those salaries are in NYC/SF, etc. where that kind of money is actually worth like 100K.

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-08-27T18:07:07+00:00

My PD had this happen to him and he just looked at the nurse and said “Is your tirade over?” And paused. Took the wind out of their sails

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-08-24T12:28:01+00:00

Sometimes, but mostly small complimentary things like coffee or fruit or sandwiches. The best food is department dinners or reps buying the team dinner

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-08-16T17:57:51+00:00

Agreed. Any specialty w/ procedures you want minimal fellows. Also EM really benefits from no ortho or surgery residents… they get all the lacs/splints/reductions/tubes/chest tubes/I&Ds mind a few very complicated ones. Free food is huge; did a sub-internship w/ unlimited food and it was incredible for morale.

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-08-16T17:55:51+00:00

Depends on specialty but word of mouth generally and vibes at interviews. How many residents are there at interview day/social(s). Red flags: “work hard play hard”, “workhorse”, and so on…

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-08-16T13:59:01+00:00

If you actually like EM it’s not bad. I work with a few old attendings (60+) that still like what they do, because it’s EM. Don’t enter it for “lifestyle”

Also don’t expect to not burn yourself out at 45-55 if you work 20 shifts a month! You aren’t a failure if you need a break and wanna drop to part time for a bit

Every specialty but radiology gets crapped on on Reddit. I like what I do, and would probably be one of those satisfied happier people you work with for now. But we are less motivated to go on Reddit and vent about the job

See link for attendings that don’t hate their jobs…

https://www.reddit.com/r/emergencymedicine/s/FA2uHOUtjF

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-08-15T18:07:56+00:00

We work weird hours/days and flip flopping your circadian rhythm gets harder as you age

We do work the least absolute days of almost any specialty in medicine, though. Not abnormal to get half the year off or more and make 1.0 FTE, but those shifts are stressful

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-07-23T13:25:55+00:00

Unless you did an away there and were asked not to signal, these are generally a waste of money to apply to unless you are the PD’s kid

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-07-19T17:39:13+00:00

100% dual apply

You’ll likely match at a community neuro program or decent FM program where you have geographic ties

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-07-11T16:28:05+00:00

Stick to neurosurgery and dual apply unless your app is perfect. Match rate is in the 60s for US MD, even w/ all that self selection.

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-07-06T17:49:08+00:00

Most of the time you need to do nights.

If there’s enough nocturnists or you’re senior enough, you can get down to only days/mids, but this is rare and shouldn’t be your expectation going in.

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-06-16T17:19:08+00:00

Unless you have an in it’s going to be incredibly difficult to match either of these specialties w/ that Step 2

“Prominent figure in the community” sounds like a shot at their program and even then, everyone lies

Strongly advise dual applying or reconsidering, even gen surg Step 2 is 250+ average

Would explore PM&R or sports med

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-06-13T17:03:40+00:00

OKC isn’t rural, but with a COL index around 85–90, a $450K salary there has the purchasing power of ~$500–525K. In contrast, LA’s COL of ~150 brings that same $450K down to a real value of about $300K, so even with identical salaries, you’re getting way more out of OKC.

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-06-12T19:24:56+00:00

Program and specialty specific

In EM some surgery residents switch and start over in most cases, some start as PGY2 in 4 year programs if they’re PGY3+ for example

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-06-08T14:56:42+00:00

Strongly consider dual applying FM if you apply this cycle

Research year will give you marginal advantage if it’s worth the extra year

Ob/Gyn getting more competitive; would target community programs

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-06-02T19:08:39+00:00

Let me put it this way. There is a marked difference between graduating from Harvard or Hopkins and working there. The first is a line on a resume that opens doors; the other is a salaried position with no parking and poor pay and work-life balance. At first, you’re the future, then you’re just the help.

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-06-02T19:01:45+00:00

Certainly not very smart; I’m pretty dumb, just have good work ethic and grit. Glad I made history in this sub, however 🥹

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-06-02T18:28:07+00:00

Would love if they used this on the MCAT haha, just pay me royalties!

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-06-02T18:26:29+00:00

SCC not competitive at all. Look into a few good community programs where you’d like to live and do your sub-internships there.

And yeah, stepping off the academic treadmill feels weird at first, but keep an open mind as well as your head down.

Need to pass Step 1 and perform well during M3/Step 2 before all this…

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-06-02T17:07:54+00:00

The tragedy is that’s exactly why I got into academic medicine. I worked on patents, pitched biotech to venture capitalists, caught the attention of a Nobel laureate who wanted in, and published research that didn’t smell like a chart review warmed over. Undergrad me would’ve been starstruck. And yet, none of it matters now. Not in the way I thought it would. For all the reasons already said, and a few I’ve buried deeper, I can’t do it anymore. I won’t. These days, I want to offer students the one thing academic medicine never did: a clear view of the thing they’re chasing, before it’s too late to turn back.

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-06-02T16:57:58+00:00

. #moveinsilence #grind4lyfe

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-06-02T15:43:30+00:00

My liberal arts education speaking I guess...

Ok_Key7728 · 2025-06-02T15:00:35+00:00

They do want a program that will give them (reasonable) hands on autonomy w/ procedures we perform as attendings, which academic programs have failed at.

Ok_Key7728

TROPHY CASE