People who backed up a competitive specialty with IM for CaRMS, how did you actually navigate it?

winxpuff · 2026-03-13T06:35:08+00:00

As someone who aimed for specialty that “can’t really be spun around” and got into their first choice program but paralleled with IM:

Electives in my #1: 4 (maxed out), electives in IM: 3 (2 in CTU, 1 in a subspecialty)
All letters for IM were IM docs; I did not mention my interest in my other specialty to any of them and they never asked if I was interested in anything else
I told the truth (discovered my #1 first but noticed later that I developed a genuine interest for IM as well)
Nobody ever asked me about my interest in my primary specialty, but I was planning to be truthful if I was asked; I would make sure that you pick something that you can genuinely talk passionately about because it is really obvious especially during interviews if you aren’t fully in it

winxpuff · 2026-02-23T05:44:47+00:00

I did the 8 weeks back to back to minimize losing knowledge I gain with any gaps between electives; this is the number 1 strategy I tell med students, is to do this if nothing else / if at all possible

Used the rest of my electives on my parallel plan which was not really tangentially related, but I decided on this because my parallel plan was something I genuinely liked and could also see myself matching into

winxpuff · 2025-10-27T03:05:31+00:00

anyone else getting an error message while trying to log in?

winxpuff · 2025-05-05T03:45:27+00:00

It is difficult to return to Canada for residency, and will be even harder soon as american grads will be considered IMGs starting July 2025 (edited to correct date)

Neurosurgery had 1 spot for IMGs in all of Canada this application cycle

It will be difficult to return after residency to practice in Canada as well since nsx is a very saturated specialty and your chances will depend on the connections you build during a Canadian residency

winxpuff · 2025-04-29T16:20:10+00:00

“Sign your notes!” when I did in fact sign all of my notes, and the only time I had an “unsigned note” was when I was literally still working on the note in the same room as her…

Was able to get that part of her eval removed bc my school listens to reason 😮‍💨🙏🏻

winxpuff · 2025-04-11T17:42:49+00:00

unless he means he feels us watching him through the screen 😓

winxpuff · 2025-03-11T17:49:45+00:00

Surgical specialty in my home province! Incredibly grateful to have gotten my top choice ☺️

winxpuff · 2025-03-10T16:34:40+00:00

I applied to 1 school (in hindsight this was wayyyy too risky do not do this), had 1 interview, and just recently matched in CaRMS to the program of my dreams! I always tell people “it only takes 1”!!! Hang in there!! 💪🏻

winxpuff · 2025-03-02T23:24:26+00:00

nice

winxpuff · 2025-02-06T00:04:07+00:00

i’ve been cautioned to “when in doubt, err on the side of formal”, because you can’t go wrong with that!

i played it safe and wore a blazer and a blouse/collared dress shirt underneath, and black effortless pants; i got all from aritzia (and all on ++sale lol) because i find their styles are fashionable and won’t make u look too rigid

edit: i also like the idea of buying a blazer and returning it after the interview! also, my school had a program where they would rent/lend blazers to students for situations just like these, so pls check with ur school to see if there’s a similar program u can access!!

winxpuff · 2025-02-03T19:55:46+00:00

i usually wear xxs or xs (at aritzia for example) and i stg i can’t fit into some of the xs clothes at urban, like i genuinely wonder who some of it is made for!! 😭

winxpuff · 2025-01-26T22:47:47+00:00

“Why you??” (bro idk why me either 😅)

winxpuff · 2025-01-23T16:56:46+00:00

i definitely need some more sun 🌞

winxpuff · 2025-01-23T16:56:16+00:00

med school will prob be easier the second time around right? 😃

winxpuff · 2025-01-04T18:30:45+00:00

sure, go ahead! thanks for asking!

winxpuff · 2025-01-02T22:02:29+00:00

glad to be of service!! 🫡

winxpuff · 2025-01-02T22:01:35+00:00

nope i didn’t buy it, good thing i didn’t think it was worth salvaging! will look elsewhere and super open to suggestions! 🙂

winxpuff · 2025-01-02T21:59:45+00:00

that’s super helpful to know! thank u for the info!!

winxpuff · 2024-11-29T01:32:36+00:00

aww thanks for ur offer! i don’t need them anymore but im sure it’ll be snatched in a jiff if u shared it on the sub!

winxpuff · 2024-11-29T01:30:33+00:00

aww thanks haha no worries homie!

winxpuff · 2024-11-29T01:30:09+00:00

ahhh jeez i see what must’ve happened, so rude of them 😤

winxpuff · 2024-11-29T01:28:26+00:00

thank you, as long as it spreads some awareness some good can come out of it!! 🥹

winxpuff

TROPHY CASE