The Ins and Outs of Choosing a Specialty: The Generalist vs. The Early Committer

I find it frustrating that we tell students to approach medical school with an open mind but then reward those who demonstrate commitment to a field early. 

If you’re a pre-med or a medical student in your first or second year, check out this piece I wrote with my colleague David Presser MD MPH called “Choosing a Specialty: The Generalist vs. The Early Committer.” 

The case for deciding early is evidence-based, especially for highly competitive fields, but early commitment has real risks too. In the article, read practical advice for effectively approaching a decision about your field.


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About Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Michelle Finkel

Dr. Finkel is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School. On completing her residency at Harvard, she was asked to stay on as faculty at Harvard Medical School and spent five years teaching at the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital. She was appointed to the Assistant Residency Director position for the Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency where she reviewed countless applications, personal statements and resumes. Read more

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Listen to Dr. Finkel’s interview on The Visible Voices podcast: 

 

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