I am a PGY-1 who wants to change programs in internal medicine - could anyone who has done this or knows more about this know how to switch programs? where do I even find a vacancy for PCY-2 spots? do i have to go through the match again? thanks!!
transferring IM programs - help
- Thread starter icyhot
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The short answer: There is no central list of spots, and mainly it comes down to hard work, but many PGY-2 spots open up.
The long answer:
Searching for an open PGY-2 spot is a great way to learn how helpful the match really is. There is no match for PGY-2 spots, no central list of open positions, no timeline for filling them, and no one process for application. Although many people complain about the match, it really simplifies the whole application process.
There are a few reasons why people change programs, which can have an impact on how to best do so:
1. Prelim medicine intern, needs PGY-2 categorical spot.
2. Categorical PGY-1 intern, unhappy in current program (i.e. "Bad Fit") but doing well academically.
3. Categorical PGY-1 intern who wants a fellowship, in a program with a less-than-stellar fellowship placement rate.
4. Categorical PGY-1 intern, happy in current program and doing well, but change in social situation requires a change of programs (i.e. spouse matched somewhere else / forced to move / sick family member / etc)
5. Categorical PGY-1 intern having academic difficulty in current program.
I am assuming for this discussion that you are enquiring about transferring from one medicine program to another. If you are in a different specialty, then it really depends upon your training, but usually you can only get 3 months of credit towards internship, and hence you usually have to match into a new PGY-1 spot (but there are exceptions to this)
There are several ways to go about this:
1. Apply through the match for a PGY-1 spot -- obviously this would be a painful way of changing programs, but it does give you some flexibility about where you go. If you MUST be at a certain location, this can be the best option. Also, if you had academic difficulty in a program, this could also be a good way to go (volunteering to re-do your PGY1 year). On the other hand, some programs will not want to take someone who already completed a PGY-1 year again as a PGY-1 -- it seems repetitious, and creates funding problems later in your training.
2. Look online for open spots. The only site that I am aware of that lists open spots is the AAIM Jobbank -- http://jobbank.im.org/ This is by no means a complete listing of PGY-2/3 slots open, but is free and easy to use. You can also post a CV there, I have no idea how useful that is.
3. Ask your Prog Director for help -- if you are on good terms with your PD, this can be a very effective tool. I personally take calls from another PD much more seriously than calls from applicants. Needless to say, this means that you need to tell your PD that you are thinking of transferring which can be uncomfortable -- still, they will find out at some point and I think it is better to let them know up front (although I might be a bit biased about that, given that I'm a PD 😳 ) This is the best option for anyone with reason #4 above, and maybe reason #2 also.
4. "Cold call" program directors -- all Prog Director phone numbers and email addresses are listed in FREIDA. You can contact each program, explain your situation, and see what happens. I suggest that you be short and to the point, but put something in about why you want to switch. I tend to ignore emails that simply say "do you have any open PGY-2 spots?". You might want to include a CV with these requests, but I would not recommend attaching a bunch of letters, USMLE score documents, etc.
From a timing perspective, it's unclear when you should start. Programs with open PGY-2 spots for July now have them because 1) an intern was terminated or left the program, or 2) they didn't fill in the match. Most programs have residents sign contracts for next year after the xmas holidays, so many PD's will have a better sense of what their PGY-2 slots will look like near the end of January, but some do not offer contracts until March. Hence, you should probably start hunting now, but remember that spots may open up as time goes on.
This can be a frustrating process. Spots can appear at different times, and can be filled at any time. If you find a spot that's acceptable, you probably can't wait for an "ideal" slot to open without risking losing the acceptable one. Reneging on an accepted contract for a "better" one can come back to haunt you, especially if you are planning on applying for a fellowship. As with the match, there are many variables: being an AMG helps (I realize that this is not fair, but it's honest), good USMLE's help, and a letter of support from your current PD helps lots.
Good luck. Feel free to PM me if you need more help.
The long answer:
Searching for an open PGY-2 spot is a great way to learn how helpful the match really is. There is no match for PGY-2 spots, no central list of open positions, no timeline for filling them, and no one process for application. Although many people complain about the match, it really simplifies the whole application process.
There are a few reasons why people change programs, which can have an impact on how to best do so:
1. Prelim medicine intern, needs PGY-2 categorical spot.
2. Categorical PGY-1 intern, unhappy in current program (i.e. "Bad Fit") but doing well academically.
3. Categorical PGY-1 intern who wants a fellowship, in a program with a less-than-stellar fellowship placement rate.
4. Categorical PGY-1 intern, happy in current program and doing well, but change in social situation requires a change of programs (i.e. spouse matched somewhere else / forced to move / sick family member / etc)
5. Categorical PGY-1 intern having academic difficulty in current program.
I am assuming for this discussion that you are enquiring about transferring from one medicine program to another. If you are in a different specialty, then it really depends upon your training, but usually you can only get 3 months of credit towards internship, and hence you usually have to match into a new PGY-1 spot (but there are exceptions to this)
There are several ways to go about this:
1. Apply through the match for a PGY-1 spot -- obviously this would be a painful way of changing programs, but it does give you some flexibility about where you go. If you MUST be at a certain location, this can be the best option. Also, if you had academic difficulty in a program, this could also be a good way to go (volunteering to re-do your PGY1 year). On the other hand, some programs will not want to take someone who already completed a PGY-1 year again as a PGY-1 -- it seems repetitious, and creates funding problems later in your training.
2. Look online for open spots. The only site that I am aware of that lists open spots is the AAIM Jobbank -- http://jobbank.im.org/ This is by no means a complete listing of PGY-2/3 slots open, but is free and easy to use. You can also post a CV there, I have no idea how useful that is.
3. Ask your Prog Director for help -- if you are on good terms with your PD, this can be a very effective tool. I personally take calls from another PD much more seriously than calls from applicants. Needless to say, this means that you need to tell your PD that you are thinking of transferring which can be uncomfortable -- still, they will find out at some point and I think it is better to let them know up front (although I might be a bit biased about that, given that I'm a PD 😳 ) This is the best option for anyone with reason #4 above, and maybe reason #2 also.
4. "Cold call" program directors -- all Prog Director phone numbers and email addresses are listed in FREIDA. You can contact each program, explain your situation, and see what happens. I suggest that you be short and to the point, but put something in about why you want to switch. I tend to ignore emails that simply say "do you have any open PGY-2 spots?". You might want to include a CV with these requests, but I would not recommend attaching a bunch of letters, USMLE score documents, etc.
From a timing perspective, it's unclear when you should start. Programs with open PGY-2 spots for July now have them because 1) an intern was terminated or left the program, or 2) they didn't fill in the match. Most programs have residents sign contracts for next year after the xmas holidays, so many PD's will have a better sense of what their PGY-2 slots will look like near the end of January, but some do not offer contracts until March. Hence, you should probably start hunting now, but remember that spots may open up as time goes on.
This can be a frustrating process. Spots can appear at different times, and can be filled at any time. If you find a spot that's acceptable, you probably can't wait for an "ideal" slot to open without risking losing the acceptable one. Reneging on an accepted contract for a "better" one can come back to haunt you, especially if you are planning on applying for a fellowship. As with the match, there are many variables: being an AMG helps (I realize that this is not fair, but it's honest), good USMLE's help, and a letter of support from your current PD helps lots.
Good luck. Feel free to PM me if you need more help.
