Background <p>The choice of medical specialty does not arise solely from a sense of calling, but is a complex psychological and social process. The goal of the study was to examine whether selected psychological characteristics: emotional intelligence (EI; overall score and the dimensions of recognizing and using emotions) and sense of coherence (SOC; overall score and the dimensions of comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness), together with indicators of student functioning (study-related satisfaction, study-related stress, peer relationships, financial status), are associated with medical students’ declared specialty choice (procedural vs. non-procedural) as well as with their preferences for commonly chosen specialties.</p> Methods <p>A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 300&#xa0;s-year medical students at Medical University in Gdańsk, Poland. Standardized tools were used to measure EI (Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire - INTE - Polish version of Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test), SOC (Sense of Coherence Scale - SOC-29) and self-developed survey to assess academic experiences (study-related satisfaction and stress, peer relationships, financial status). Data were analysed using multinomial logistic regression.</p> Results <p>Higher overall EI was associated with a preference for non-procedural specialties. The ability to recognize emotions was negatively associated with choosing paediatrics and non-procedural specialties. Higher study satisfaction favoured a preference for paediatrics and non-procedural specialties. A preference for plastic surgery was associated with higher overall EI and lower overall SOC, whereas a preference for endocrinology was associated with better self-reported peer relationships.</p> Conclusions <p>Medical students’ specialty preferences are associated with psychological factors and academic experiences. The results may support career counselling and mentoring programs, helping students make more informed career decisions.</p>