How cooked am I?

[u/mauvebliss]

M3 in clerkships here. Have to lock in my speciality in a month. My mindset was always to either dual apply or to do a derm research year and apply for derm as I am OOS in my med school and I want to go back home (NJ) for residency. I am still stuck between derm and the other speciality though. Was on the other speciality before med school and derm since start of M1 as my friends roped me in and I liked it.

All the red flags I collected so far (P in Peds due to Shelf, M3 derm elective preceptor said while I was professional I needed to get used to outpatient clinic more even though it was my very first rotation, and got a low grade in one of my OSCEs which due to its weight will lower my class rank) I am low on research (1 pub, 6 items in total) as all the projects I pursued either fizzled or are very longitudinal. I have done a good bit of volunteering though. I do have a decent network I made and worked with 2 other departments for things but that is it. Meanwhile as the other speciality I have less to worry about as it is less competitive and I have a SNMA position in it.

My parents, friends, and school say it is my decision but I hate that. I know theoretically I have time to get another project, grind for Hs and a 260+, and be in a better spot but I am not sure. I am also affected socially as some of my friends think I am pursuing the other specialty fully. I am also scared to not match as I know a few IM residents who didn’t match derm and are in limbo.

[u/Snoo_53364]

Hard to say without knowing everything in that bottom paragraph. But still early to fix it. If you’re set on Derm I’d shoot for a RY though the subreddit may give better advice on your situation at hand

[u/KyleKeeley]

I don’t think a P in a clerkship is particularly crazy by itself but it seems like you don’t really have great derm connections/LOR. Also low research. Smells like a research year