2007 match

[wasatch]

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Has anyone heard if all the anesthesiology programs are now going to be 4 years?

I thought I heard that all the programs were trying to do this for the 2007 match.

I am trying to match for 2007 and don't really want to apply to separate TY or prelim year programs.

 

[cloud9]

Has anyone heard if all the anesthesiology programs are now going to be 4 years?

I thought I heard that all the programs were trying to do this for the 2007 match.

I am trying to match for 2007 and don't really want to apply to separate TY or prelim year programs.

Many are categorical AND advanced, some categorical only. Interview and just rank the categorical. Or interview for a transitional/prelim at your home institution. In truth you can scramble into a prelim spot if you don't mind gambling (getting stuck with something near unbearable) as many don't fill.

 

[adleyinga]

Has anyone heard if all the anesthesiology programs are now going to be 4 years?

I thought I heard that all the programs were trying to do this for the 2007 match.

I am trying to match for 2007 and don't really want to apply to separate TY or prelim year programs.

That recommendation was voted down by SAC/AAPD So there are still 3 and 4 year programs

 

[Heeed!]

That recommendation was voted down by SAC/AAPD So there are still 3 and 4 year programs

Why?

Everything is about money, so I'm guessing that's the answer.

 

[burntcrispy]

I'm not sure if this is correct but I've heard that if a program is 4 years the intern's salary is paid by the anesthesia department. Therefore 3 year programs don't have much incentive to switch to a 4 year program if they are going to have to pay for an intern that they will not be getting any work out of.

When I was applying last year it seemed that alot of my classmates didn't apply to 3 year programs because of the extra work of trying to find a prelim/ty year. If you really like a program I would go visit it regardless. Prelims are easy to come by and many people end up just doing one at their home program and moving out for anes the next year.

 

[VentdependenT]

Check ERAS for available advanced and categorical positions. I do not believe that the push for all categorical positions is even close to being accomplished.

 

[FlacoFlo]

From what I heard and saw on the interview trail and 4th yr visiting rotations many programs want to transition to the 4yr at least for the match. But at the same time, many PDs also state that 2 reasons prevent this from reaching 100% cooperation. (1) While many of the residency progs spoken of on this forum are bigger and at more reputable institutions keep in mind that there are a large number of smaller residency programs that just dont have the financial means to pay for the a full 4 years vs. 3yrs. and are barely staying afloat right now (2) Many programs including the big names are keeping at least a few 3 year spots for the well-qualified resident who completes a year of medicine or surgery or whatever and "sees the light" or maybe it should be "smells the gas!!". Nevertheless, I was at Penn and met a number of very qualified residents who began in something other than Anes. and saw what a great field it was and switched over.

So while it is going more toward 4 year (Michigan is ALL 4 year now and sent an email during interview season that stated if you wanted a 3 year prog. go look somewhere else) but many programs will keep AT LEAST a few 3 year spots available. I personally, think that the 4 year prog. is the candidates overwhelming favorite due to the fact that you dont have to move around esp if you have a significant other and/or family.

 

[jennyboo]

I am trying to match for 2007 and don't really want to apply to separate TY or prelim year programs.

Based on my experience in the 2006 match (applying to coast programs only, primarily east but some west), I'm not sure that not doing any prelim/TY applications is a good idea. There are simply not enough categorical spots to give you a good range of residencies to apply to. Categorical spots are the minority in anesthesia, and programs with these spots are also very much in the minority. If you eliminate all but categorical programs, you may end up severely limiting your range of residencies.

A better compromise might be to interview at maybe 4-5 internships in one geographic area, then interview at residencies all over. It's tough to do the extra interviews, but having them all in one area will keep the interview season relatively simple for you and still give you the option of getting an advanced spot at an otherwise great program.

 

[cloud9]

Based on my experience in the 2006 match (applying to coast programs only, primarily east but some west), I'm not sure that not doing any prelim/TY applications is a good idea. There are simply not enough categorical spots to give you a good range of residencies to apply to. Categorical spots are the minority in anesthesia, and programs with these spots are also very much in the minority. If you eliminate all but categorical programs, you may end up severely limiting your range of residencies.

A better compromise might be to interview at maybe 4-5 internships in one geographic area, then interview at residencies all over. It's tough to do the extra interviews, but having them all in one area will keep the interview season relatively simple for you and still give you the option of getting an advanced spot at an otherwise great program.

I think that is due to the regions you were looking in (east coast and west coast) so "minority" may be the most accurate description. Somewhere in NMRP or ERAS there was a map that described the unfilled programs (for scramble) that listed the unfilled spots by region (can't find a link now). Those regions had fewer Anes PGY-1 spots than the South and Midwest. So East/West coast the categorical may be in a minority, but I don't think it's the case nationwide.

I only interviewed at programs that had Categorical (as well as advanced spots) and had plenty of interviews. I just did two prelim interviews locally to cover myself.

 

[chicamedica]

I actually regret doing the 8 prelim interviews that i did. The prelim program i ended up preferring was my home program, and it never fills anyway. But hindsight is always 20/20 i suppose. Meaning that i prob wouldn't have realized that was where i preferred had i not interviewed at the other places. However there were at least 3 prelim programs i shouldn't have even wasted time with from the outset.

to the OP, if you dont really care what prelim you do, you can just interview at 4- AND 3-year anesthesiology programs and scramble for a prelim if you end up getting an advanced spot. There are lots of prelims that dont fill, especially surgical ones. I've heard of applicants proceeding this way last year. Also if you only want to apply to 4-year programs, that's not unheard of either. I ran into a few people on interviews who were doing just that. Dont know their outcomes though. There are actually some programs who are almost entirely categorical (iirc UTSW?) or like 50% cat/50% adv. on the other hand, some programs, like Brigham & Womens and Columbia ONLY offer advanced spots.