Reflect on your interests - The decision is yours, but it is not one to be taken lightly. Invest time and effort into your reflection so that you can make the wisest decision possible.
Procrastination is not your friend - If you want to equip yourself with the knowledge and exposure necessary to select the right specialty for you, starting to explore your options early is key.
Keep an open mind - Whether you enter medical school with a particular specialty in mind or not, chances are you will change your mind at some point.
Forget about prestige - While prestige can be tempting in that it offers a certain level of recognition for one’s efforts and abilities, it is neither the key to success nor insurance for professional satisfaction and fulfillment.
Think about the day-to-day - As you survey the specialties available to you after graduating medical school, don’t be led astray by particularly fascinating, but rare cases you’ve encountered in textbooks or clinical rotations.
Determine how involved you want to be with your patients - Although patient-centered care is the norm in most healthcare systems in the Global North, there are still variations in the degree of patient interaction among medical specialties.
Work Environment - Define where you want to practice. Take some time to reflect on which work environment would work best for you.
Get significant clinical experience in specialties you’re considering - Even if you have exposure to the specialties in which you’re interested through clinical rotations during medical school, seek additional clinical experiences.
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