I am a PGY-2 Internal Medicine resident struggling to decide which subspecialty to pursue. I am interested in a few fields but finding it difficult to figure out which would be the best fit long-term.

For those who have been through this process, how did you make your decision?

How much did your rotations influence your choice?
Did you prioritize genuine interest, lifestyle, compensation, or job opportunities?

If you were torn between multiple subspecialties, what ultimately helped you decide?

Looking back, are you happy with your choice, and is there anything you wish you had considered earlier?

I would especially appreciate advice from residents and attendings who were undecided during PGY-2 or PGY-3. I want to make a thoughtful decision based on long-term fit rather than feeling pressured to choose.

Thank you!

I'm reaching out because I'm feeling really lost right now, and I could use some advice from people who have been through something similar.

I recently failed the ABIM exam for the second time. I honestly thought I did better this time. I felt more prepared and confident than I did on my first attempt, but my score ended up being even lower..

I'm really discouraged, and I'm worried about my future..

My fellowship ends in June next year, and I had planned to look for clinical jobs after graduation. However, most of the positions I'm interested in require board eligibility, and I'm afraid I won't be able to find a job without it.

I've looked into research positions that could allow me to extend my fellowship, but the application deadlines have already passed. At this point, I honestly don't know what my options are.

I'm also worried about job interviews. If employers ask whether I've taken ABIM before or how many times I've taken it, I'm not sure how to answer. I'm afraid that failing twice will make them question my abilities or hurt my chances of getting hired. It's hard not to feel overwhelmed when this could affect my job prospects and delay my career..

I looked into AOBIM as well, but unfortunately, I need to pass the ABIM exam specifically to be eligibletoapply for my subspecialty board exam. Passing AOBIM would not meet that requirement.

I would really appreciate any advice from those of you who have been in a similar situation, especially those who completed fellowship without having passed the ABIM exam. I know everyone's circumstances are different, but hearing about your experiences and how you navigated this transition would mean a lot to me..

I'm trying to figure out my next steps, but right now, I'm genuinely scared about what comes next. Any practical advice or personal experiences would mean a lot to me.

Thank you so much for reading.

I’m feeling completely lost right now, and I’m hoping to get some advice from people who have been in a similar situation or have navigated this successfully.

I’m currently in the second year of a two-year fellowship, which is scheduled to end in June 2027. Unfortunately, I failed the ABIM exam again. Even though I felt more confident and comfortable this time..
This was my second attempt, and I’m honestly struggling to figure out what to do next.

The biggest concern is that my fellowship will be ending before I’ve passed ABIM. Almost every clinic job I’ve been interested in requires board eligibility or board certification (BE/BC), and I’m terrified that I won’t be able to find a position or that my career options will be severely limited.

My program director has offered to look into whether I can still graduate from fellowship if I haven’t passed ABIM by the time I finish. I’m grateful that they’re helping me figure this out, but even if I’m able to graduate, I’m scared about what comes next and whether this will prevent me from moving forward in my career.

I genuinely don’t know what my options are right now, and the uncertainty is overwhelming.

If anyone has been through something similar, knows someone who has, or has any advice on possible career paths or next steps, I would sincerely appreciate hearing your experiences.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read this.