When you were applying to medical school, the questions you needed answered were somewhat simple. Choosing a medical specialty is a bit more complicated.
In addition to being four years older at the start of residency with new personal considerations, you must decide not only how and where to spend the next three to seven years, but also the lifestyle you’ll enjoy throughout your career.
Although the best medical specialties differ from person to person, I’ll offer five factors to consider when selecting what field to go into, in no particular order.
Earning a higher salary may reduce the number of years required to achieve financial independence, allow you to pay back student loans faster, and spend more on the things you value.
According to the 2018 Medscape Young Physician Compensation Report, the top 5 highest paid medical specialties among doctors under 40 are as follows:1. Plastic surgery: $519,0002. Orthopedics: $424,0003. Gastroenterology: $354,00
Of course, residencies vary widely regarding years spent pursuing them. For instance, whereas an emergency medicine (EM) residency can last only three years, a plastic surgery residency lasts six years.
AAMC provides a useful Clinical Rotation Evaluation questionnaire that can help you reflect on what you liked and disliked about your various M3 and M4 rotations.