If you don't have any strong specialty preferences yet:
- Read about the process of researching and evaluating specialties for an organized (and less overwhelming!) approach for exploring the more than 160 official specialties and subspecialties plus all the unofficial ones.
- Take the MSPI self-assessment for specialty suggestions based on your interests in medicine.
- Read about the specialties recommended to you in your MSPI results.
If you're leaning toward a few different specialties:
- Read about the process of researching and evaluating specialties so you're not left completely starting over if your initial specialty preferences don't work out.
- Read as much as possible about each of the specialties that you're interested in.
- Learn how to use your clinical rotations and other hands-on experiences to assess a specialty. (In a pandemic setting, join webinars hosted by specialties and watch YouTube videos about what it's like to work in different specialties.)
- Learn what other factors (e.g., competitiveness, financial, the process for switching specialties) you should consider in your specialty decision.
If you're pretty confident about your specialty:
- Confirm your specialty choice by taking the MSPI self-assessment.
- But also read our information about medical specialties, as there are more than 160 official specialties and subspecialties plus some unofficial ones, and medical school exposes you to only a small subset of available specialty options.
- Once you've narrowed your preferences to your top one or few specialties, learn how to gain the skills and experiences during medical school that help you become the best physician you can be and, ultimately, best position you to match in your desired specialty.
- You can also learn approaches for making a confident final decision and creating a smart application strategy.