The choice of specialty defines the career of a doctor. Studies to analyze the factors that contribute to the student's decision are important to reveal the students' expectations and to plan strategies relevant to the needs of the Brazilian health system. The present study analyzed the factors that influence the choice of specialty correlating them to the academic year and socioeconomic aspects of medical students of the Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo (FCMSCSP) . This is a cross-sectional study with 456 first to sixth year students at FCMSCSP who answered a questionnaire and were divided into 3 groups: First cycle (first and second years) , second cycle (third and fourth years) and third (fifth and sixth years) . Statistically significant factors in comparisons between the cycles were: hours of work, quality of life, free time for leisure activities, early enrichment, financial reward, doctor-patient relationship, the cognitive content of the specialty, advice from friends and relatives. Quality of life, financial return and third-party influences were shown to be the most important factors in the choice of specialties.
Medicine; Career Choice; Medical Education; Students
