2012-2013 Anesthesiology Applicants

Healthcare jobs with pay you can see.
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Dawkter

Dawkter

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2011
Messages
226
Reaction score
52
Members don't see this ad.
With ERAS 2012 opening in the next two weeks, thought I would start a thread to discuss where you plan on applying and to ask/answer any questions we may have through the process. Since many threads keep coming up, having it all in once place might help the clutter! Good luck everyone... looking forward to getting this cycle underway 🙂
 
I am essentially applying everywhere, but with an emphasis on the East Coast and even more so in the Northeast. I am sitting at around 40 Anesthesia programs and 24 Prelim Medicine/TY programs.
 
I'm applying to 37 programs and 7 TYs/prelim med. mainly west and east coast. Good luck all
 
Do you guys use the same PS for TY/prelim as your anesthesia one?

Prob going to apply to around 30 anesth programs and ~15 Ty/prelim
 
XRanger said:
Do you guys use the same PS for TY/prelim as your anesthesia one?

Prob going to apply to around 30 anesth programs and ~15 Ty/prelim
Click to expand...

When I applied I used essentially the same PS except replaced the last paragraph with another one directed towardss the TY.
 
Applying around the midwest primarily. 38 anesthesia programs on my list now but I might cut that down a few, 3 TY programs.
 
Mainly east coast with a few Midwest and west. Looking at strong, academic programs. 30 on my list now with 10 prelim med and 10 TY.
 
applying everywhere but hoping for the northwest. I'm up to 36 on my list no TY's as I'm only applying to categorical spots. cheers and good luck to everyone
 
MS3 here, just curious on how many have anesthesia research? I'm considering looking for some project to tag along as I'm considering anesthesia but not sure how much weight is placed if if anesthesia vs. IM vs. general clinical stuff.
 
I'm at ~45 programs and ~5-7 prelim programs, mainly on the two coasts, along with some in the south.
 
As someone who went through the process last year, I would advise you all to apply to at least 15-20 TY programs. They are tougher to land than I had thought at first.
 
Reciprocity79 said:
As someone who went through the process last year, I would advise you all to apply to at least 15-20 TY programs. They are tougher to land than I had thought at first.
Click to expand...

When you say TY, you're not referring to intern year in general, are you? I know TYs are more competitive, but Ive been wondering how hard it is to land prelim medicine spots (in general).

To OP: good call and thanks for starting this thread!
 
Reciprocity79 said:
As someone who went through the process last year, I would advise you all to apply to at least 15-20 TY programs. They are tougher to land than I had thought at first.
Click to expand...

I totally agree. At the end of things, I was more stressed about my TY match than I was my anesthesia match (I ranked advanced programs first). I would definitely apply to 15+ TY programs +/- several IM prelim programs.
 
medking said:
When you say TY, you're not referring to intern year in general, are you? I know TYs are more competitive, but Ive been wondering how hard it is to land prelim medicine spots (in general).

To OP: good call and thanks for starting this thread!
Click to expand...

Prelim medicine spots are much easier to land and more painful to complete (as I understand it from talking to my friends doing prelim medicine). If you decide to go the advanced route, its typically TY >> prelim medicine >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> prelim surgery. Good luck!
 
I'll be applying everywhere.

I appreciate the advice to apply to more TY programs...I, like everyone else it seems, am hoping for a categorical spot, but didn't know that the new TY # was 15.
 
I just treated my TY approach that same as I did my anesthesia. In general they are difficult to land, however there's also a spectrum of competitiveness. Obviously it matters on your stats, but if you're logical about it and aren't only applying to the most competitive programs I'd say 12-15 TYs and 4-6 Prelims would be good, shooting for at least 8+ TY interviews and 3+ prelim interviews. You're home prelim program is typically always available if you don't mind staying.

For us, it's a little different than other specialties because the number of categorical spots is higher and most people will rank based on the anesthesia program vs categorical/advanced.
 
gasblaster said:
I just treated my TY approach that same as I did my anesthesia. In general they are difficult to land, however there's also a spectrum of competitiveness. Obviously it matters on your stats, but if you're logical about it and aren't only applying to the most competitive programs I'd say 12-15 TYs and 4-6 Prelims would be good, shooting for at least 8+ TY interviews and 3+ prelim interviews. You're home prelim program is typically always available if you don't mind staying.

For us, it's a little different than other specialties because the number of categorical spots is higher and most people will rank based on the anesthesia program vs categorical/advanced.
Click to expand...

Follow up question then - do you think that applying for prelims at certain programs that I'm particularly interested in will affect how I'm percieved when I interview there?

I'm in Texas so we tend to deal with the stigma of leaving Texas and trying to match east or west coast - It would be nice to be able to tell interviewers/PDs that I had also applied for their prelim medicine years to demonstrate a legitimate interest in their program.

Seems inconsequential to me when selecting a candidate, but like I said, we have an uphill battle when trying to convince people we will actually leave Texas. In my case, it's further compounded by the fact that my home program is strong enough that I am applying to mostly top-tier programs...why would I leave if it's not an upgrade?

I very much appreciate your insight, thanks in advance for your time.
 
PonyUp said:
Follow up question then - do you think that applying for prelims at certain programs that I'm particularly interested in will affect how I'm percieved when I interview there?

I'm in Texas so we tend to deal with the stigma of leaving Texas and trying to match east or west coast - It would be nice to be able to tell interviewers/PDs that I had also applied for their prelim medicine years to demonstrate a legitimate interest in their program.

Seems inconsequential to me when selecting a candidate, but like I said, we have an uphill battle when trying to convince people we will actually leave Texas. In my case, it's further compounded by the fact that my home program is strong enough that I am applying to mostly top-tier programs...why would I leave if it's not an upgrade?

I very much appreciate your insight, thanks in advance for your time.
Click to expand...

Yeah great question. From my experience, one of the important questions/factors that comes up during interviews and ranking is the applicant's genuine interest in matching at the program. This seems to come into play for those that are stronger applicants who might have more options to choose from, those from areas and or schools that tend to move, etc and so showing that you are genuinely interested in moving and going there is important.

Anecdotally, I remember meeting a applicants from Indiana who told me that there school is notorious for having very few people match outside of their program and so, during interviews, will have to convince PDs that they are looking to leave. I think there is this generalization for a lot of the South, however probably not as extreme. It's not unheard of for kids to leave Texas.

As long as you show or express interest, especially in your PS and during interviews, and come off genuine about it, you should be fine. However, I wouldn't recommend applying to prelims just to show this if you aren't really looking to do your prelim there. If you want to stay in your area for intern year because have you family or other reasons/obligations, programs will definitely understand and don't hold it against you. If you are interested in their prelim or any TY programs in the area, then it definitely won't hurt to mention it during interviews. At most of the upper-tier programs, it won't be an issue or even come up.
 
gasblaster said:
Yeah great question. From my experience, one of the important questions/factors that comes up during interviews and ranking is the applicant's genuine interest in matching at the program. This seems to come into play for those that are stronger applicants who might have more options to choose from, those from areas and or schools that tend to move, etc and so showing that you are genuinely interested in moving and going there is important.
Click to expand...

Which is kind of ridiculous because that is the whole point of the match. if the applicant does not want to be there they will rank the program low.
 
dannyboy1 said:
Which is kind of ridiculous because that is the whole point of the match. if the applicant does not want to be there they will rank the program low.
Click to expand...

Haha yep. You'll soon realize how much of mind game this whole thing is made out to be.
 
You guys are making me super nervous...

I'm only looking at categorical spots, and I'm applying to about 30 programs. I'd say ~10 of them are very competitive, ~15 are intermediate, and ~5 are less competitive.

I know I'm limiting myself by not considering advanced positions that are also offered at those programs, but it is very important to me to spend intern year getting to know the hospital and the surgical interns where I'll be for CA1-3.

I hope I'm OK! Good luck to all 🙂
 
WashMe said:
You guys are making me super nervous...

I'm only looking at categorical spots, and I'm applying to about 30 programs. I'd say ~10 of them are very competitive, ~15 are intermediate, and ~5 are less competitive.

I know I'm limiting myself by not considering advanced positions that are also offered at those programs, but it is very important to me to spend intern year getting to know the hospital and the surgical interns where I'll be for CA1-3.

I hope I'm OK! Good luck to all 🙂
Click to expand...

You'll be fine. Everyone has different preferences so it balances out in the end. I definitely knew people that did the same as you and applied only to categorical spots for the same reasons and it worked out perfectly fine for them.
 
Hey, guys.

I'm applying to about 70 programs - casting a wide net. I may even add more before all is said and done. My Step 1 score is a bit lower than I want, hence the wide net. Great LORs and clinical grades and extracurriculars and all that, but yeah, Step 1.

I'm hoping to match in the Midwest.

A quick question - for the TY programs - did you do a separate personal statement?
 
I used essentially the same PS, except replaced the last paragraph and tailored it to the TY. It isn't necessary, but I figured it wouldn't take more than a half hour so why not.

Also, just in case you aren't already, I'd advise you to apply to prelims too if your step 1 isn't where you want it to be.
 
Hey Random MS,

I pretty much used the same personal statement... all I did was change the last paragraph to suit the prelims I was applying to (surg, med).

I think you'd be fine either way, but my theory was that adding how medicine or surgery would help me become a better anesthesiologist wouldn't hurt me.

Can't believe ERAS is upon us.
 
smk9 said:
Hey Random MS,

I pretty much used the same personal statement... all I did was change the last paragraph to suit the prelims I was applying to (surg, med).

I think you'd be fine either way, but my theory was that adding how medicine or surgery would help me become a better anesthesiologist wouldn't hurt me.

Can't believe ERAS is upon us.
Click to expand...

Hey! Thanks! That's exactly what I did with my PS now.

ERAS - holy cow. Friday evening is going to be nuts!
 
I am a lower tier applicant so I am applying to roughly 57 Anesthesia programs (advanced and categorical), 20 prelim years, and 8 transitional years...


To make things even more difficult... I might even couples match... it all comes down to how many interviews we get within the same geographic regions.

*Sigh*
 
redrumi said:
Looking for some LOR advice. Currently on an audition rotation and I've yet to secure a LOR from an anesthesiologist period. The way this rotation is setup we are working with different attendings almost everyday. Have a couple more weeks left. Do I need to start asking everyone I work with until I get one? This whole process is so stressful!
Click to expand...

I would talk to the coordinator or whoever makes the schedule to see if there was a way to schedule you with the same attendings more frequently. Or if it's already set and you are on a rotation with other med students and they are having the same problems, pick attendings who each of you think you would like to get letters from and trade around. I did the latter with the med students I was rotating with.
 
redrumi said:
Looking for some LOR advice. Currently on an audition rotation and I've yet to secure a LOR from an anesthesiologist period. The way this rotation is setup we are working with different attendings almost everyday. Have a couple more weeks left. Do I need to start asking everyone I work with until I get one? This whole process is so stressful!
Click to expand...
im in the same boat, kinda freaking out. :scared: i only have a week left there. what i started doing is getting evaluation forms filled out by the people i have been working with (CRNAs, various attendings) and then i hope to hand those over to an attending with some clout and asking him to compile a letter on my behalf.
 
gasblaster said:
I would talk to the coordinator or whoever makes the schedule to see if there was a way to schedule you with the same attendings more frequently.
Click to expand...

Yeah I second that advice, that's what I tried to do on electives with variable degrees of success. You could also ask if you could tag along on a call shift with someone you've worked with.
 
QUESTION: If a program only asks for 2LORs, should I only send 2? Would it look bad on my part if I send 3 (can't follow instructions...)?
 
medstudent87 said:
QUESTION: If a program only asks for 2LORs, should I only send 2? Would it look bad on my part if I send 3 (can't follow instructions...)?
Click to expand...

I'm sending 4 everywhere (well, 3 good LOR's, a chair letter, and the dean's letter which I don't count)
 
Yeah, I'm sending 4 everywhere as well.

I think I'm gonna end up applying to 10 TYs and 15 IM prelim program along with 30 anesth programs...man I'm gonna be so broke
 
I'm ready to deploy my application...final counts are 39 Anesthesiology, 8 TY, 10 Medicine Prelim, and 3 Surgery Prelim. Can't wait to hit submit.
 
I feel like I'm being too ballsy here, but I'm ready to submit my application this morning to 30 programs, only shooting for categorical spots... :xf:
 
WashMe said:
I feel like I'm being too ballsy here, but I'm ready to submit my application this morning to 30 programs, only shooting for categorical spots... :xf:
Click to expand...

I hope you started at 0800 on the dot...because soon after I submitted ERAS crashed and now I'm getting texts repeatedly about how my peers can't submit.
 
PonyUp said:
I hope you started at 0800 on the dot...because soon after I submitted ERAS crashed and now I'm getting texts repeatedly about how my peers can't submit.
Click to expand...

yeah I had my app submitted, including programs, at 8:01am central time. Good luck man!
 
WashMe said:
yeah I had my app submitted, including programs, at 8:01am central time. Good luck man!
Click to expand...

Me too. Wanted to be in that first batch that gets downloaded monday.

If you have friends that are frustrated and can't submit, tell them to hit refresh until it works. Seriously...that was the solution for a lot of people having problems.
 
So I've applied to 28 anesthesia programs (17 competitive, 6 mid-range, 5 non-competitive) and 3 Med-Prelims/5 TY's.

Step1: 238, Step 2 pending
3rd Year: 1H, 5HP
Good amount of research, decent but no big whig LORs.

Should I be applying to more less-competitive programs and/or more Prelims/TY's? I am applying all over the country.

Thanks, good luck to everyone submitting today!
 
noise115 said:
So I've applied to 28 anesthesia programs (17 competitive, 6 mid-range, 5 non-competitive) and 3 Med-Prelims/5 TY's.

Step1: 238, Step 2 pending
3rd Year: 1H, 5HP
Good amount of research, decent but no big whig LORs.

Should I be applying to more less-competitive programs and/or more Prelims/TY's? I am applying all over the country.

Thanks, good luck to everyone submitting today!
Click to expand...

Depends on what you are considering less competitive programs. But if it they truly are less competitive program then I'd say 5 should be enough, especially if you already have those 6 mid-range programs.

If the the 3 Prelim ones are either your home institution or academic hospital in the area of your med school, that will prob be enough although I personally would add a couple more. Your home hospital will usually be a safety unless a lot of your med students want to stay. 5 TYs is on the risky side, especially if they are competitve (well more competitive than they already are) ones. If you're looking to do a nice TY year, then I would recommend applying to more.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

P
Anesthesiology residency 2025-2026 application cycle advice
Replies
36
Views
8K
scrubsandgas123
scrubsandgas123
T
Physician-Scientist Pay in Anesthesiology
Replies
6
Views
977
NICMAN
NICMAN
P
Anesthesiology Residency Advice 2025-2026
Replies
13
Views
1K
NicholasPavona
N
djsbaseball2014
Pediatrics to Anesthesiology?!
Replies
12
Views
2K
nimbus
nimbus
A
Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship App 2026
Replies
39
Views
7K
kidthor
kidthor
Top