Choosing a Specialty

The keys to using your Clerkship experiences to help you choose a specialty are keeping an open mind and staying observant. Approach each rotation as though it is the specialty you are going to pursue; work hard and show your enthusiasm. Also, keep an eye out for opportunities to observe other specialties while you are on your rotations.

Take note of which rotations make you eager to come to work and which ones leave you feeling drained or frustrated. Observe the people around you, and try to imagine yourself working with people like them for the rest of your career. Try imagining yourself in their positions and living their lifestyles, taking care to observe attendings, and not just residents, as residency will only be a brief period in your long medical career.

If you would like more information about certain specialties, including the nature of the work, personal characteristics of its practitioners, residency requirements, match data, workforce statistics, and compensation, the AAMC’s Careers in Medicine website is an excellent resource. Other excellent resources for learning about specialties you are interested in exploring further are Post-Clerkship students currently going through the application process, current residents, faculty advisors designated for each specialty (seek guidance early!), and career advising staff.

Keep in mind that you do not have to choose a specialty during your Clerkship year. You will have the opportunity to complete several rotations between the completion of your required clerkships and the submission deadline for your residency application.

Familiarize yourself with the typical applicant profiles for the specialties you are considering pursuing, and get a sense of how you might compare with those typical applicants. An excellent source of applicant information for various specialties is Charting Outcomes in the Match, which is prepared biannually by the AAMC and the NRMP.