advanced vs. categorical question

[njslex16]

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I will be applying for anesthesiology in the 2014 match and had a question about categorical vs advanced programs. The university I am really hoping to match into has 4 spots in the categorical (4 yrs) program and 11 spots in the advanced (3 yrs)program. Is it possible for me to apply to both of these programs in addition to applying for a medicine prelim year spot at this same university? Also is it possible to match into the pre-lim medicine spot here but not the advanced program? if it is, what would I have to do if this did happen to me? I will be applying mostly to categorical programs in Anesthesia so I can spend all four years of residency at the same hospital. If anyone can shed some light on this subject, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[Mr Avante]

I will be applying for anesthesiology in the 2014 match and had a question about categorical vs advanced programs. The university I am really hoping to match into has 4 spots in the categorical (4 yrs) program and 11 spots in the advanced (3 yrs)program. Is it possible for me to apply to both of these programs in addition to applying for a medicine prelim year spot at this same university? Also is it possible to match into the pre-lim medicine spot here but not the advanced program? if it is, what would I have to do if this did happen to me? I will be applying mostly to categorical programs in Anesthesia so I can spend all four years of residency at the same hospital. If anyone can shed some light on this subject, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

I believe you need preliminary first and then move onto advanced, whereas, categorical is the full ride. But, I have never understood the match so don't trust me on this one.

 

[username456789]

I will be applying for anesthesiology in the 2014 match and had a question about categorical vs advanced programs. The university I am really hoping to match into has 4 spots in the categorical (4 yrs) program and 11 spots in the advanced (3 yrs)program. Is it possible for me to apply to both of these programs in addition to applying for a medicine prelim year spot at this same university? Also is it possible to match into the pre-lim medicine spot here but not the advanced program? if it is, what would I have to do if this did happen to me? I will be applying mostly to categorical programs in Anesthesia so I can spend all four years of residency at the same hospital. If anyone can shed some light on this subject, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

Yes you can apply to all three things.

When you make your rank list, your "primary" rank list will consist of programs in your chosen specialty, Anesthesiology. Regardless of whether they are categorical or advanced, you will simply rank them in order of your preference.

You will also be applying for prelim medicine/transitional year programs so that, should you match into an advanced Anesthesiology spot (rather than categorical), the match algorithm can then place you into a first year position. It does this by utilizing a "secondary" rank list of your prelim/TY programs that are contingent on your Anesthesiology choices.

For each advanced Anesthesiology program on your match list, it will require you to attach a secondary list for your prelim spots. For example, your number 1 program may be advanced; you would attach a specific prelim rank list to that one program such that, should you match at your number 1 Anesthesiology program, the match then uses that supplemental/secondary list to find you your prelim spot. You may use the same secondary list for every single advanced program, or you can tailor them to your own needs. For instance (and I have no idea which programs are advanced/categorical, I'm just making something up) if you ranked Mass General advanced #1, your secondary list may consist mostly of Boston area prelim programs. If UCLA advanced is your #2, your secondary list for UCLA may then include a bunch of California prelim programs. It's totally up to you. If Mayo Clinic categorical is your #3, you will not have an option to attach a secondary list since it is categorical and does not require one.

The only way you can match into your home program's Prelim medicine program without matching into the advanced Anesthesiology program (or any other advanced Anesthesiology program) is if you include the Prelim medicine program on your primary rank list. People generally only do that if they are worried about matching at all, usually in a competitive specialty, and would rather match SOMETHING (even a 1 year program) than not match at all.

Does this at least make some sense the way I'm explaining it?

 

[Stellar Clouds]

Yes you can apply to all three things.

When you make your rank list, your "primary" rank list will consist of programs in your chosen specialty, Anesthesiology. Regardless of whether they are categorical or advanced, you will simply rank them in order of your preference.

You will also be applying for prelim medicine/transitional year programs so that, should you match into an advanced Anesthesiology spot (rather than categorical), the match algorithm can then place you into a first year position. It does this by utilizing a "secondary" rank list of your prelim/TY programs that are contingent on your Anesthesiology choices.

For each advanced Anesthesiology program on your match list, it will require you to attach a secondary list for your prelim spots. For example, your number 1 program may be advanced; you would attach a specific prelim rank list to that one program such that, should you match at your number 1 Anesthesiology program, the match then uses that supplemental/secondary list to find you your prelim spot. You may use the same secondary list for every single advanced program, or you can tailor them to your own needs. For instance (and I have no idea which programs are advanced/categorical, I'm just making something up) if you ranked Mass General advanced #1, your secondary list may consist mostly of Boston area prelim programs. If UCLA advanced is your #2, your secondary list for UCLA may then include a bunch of California prelim programs. It's totally up to you. If Mayo Clinic categorical is your #3, you will not have an option to attach a secondary list since it is categorical and does not require one.

The only way you can match into your home program's Prelim medicine program without matching into the advanced Anesthesiology program (or any other advanced Anesthesiology program) is if you include the Prelim medicine program on your primary rank list. People generally only do that if they are worried about matching at all, usually in a competitive specialty, and would rather match SOMETHING (even a 1 year program) than not match at all.

Does this at least make some sense the way I'm explaining it?

+1

The only clarification you might need to know is that applying to programs with both categorical and advanced spots requires 2 spots on your primary rank list; 1 for the advanced position and the other for the categorical. These spots do not need to be adjacent. For instance if your primary goal is to match a categorical program, you can rank the categorical spots for programs A-D in spots 1-4, and then if you choose to rank advanced programs for the same programs you could do them in spots 5-8.

 

[Sephiroth]

a bit of a follow-up, if we apply to advanced residencies, is there a way to basically have the prelim/ty list based on where you get matched for the advanced? Otherwise, it seems easy to end up getting into the same city as your first choice advanced for prelim year, but be in a totally different city than you will be the following year because you matched your 2nd or 3rd choice for the specialty.

 

[Stellar Clouds]

a bit of a follow-up, if we apply to advanced residencies, is there a way to basically have the prelim/ty list based on where you get matched for the advanced? Otherwise, it seems easy to end up getting into the same city as your first choice advanced for prelim year, but be in a totally different city than you will be the following year because you matched your 2nd or 3rd choice for the specialty.

You have to make prelim/ty rank list for each advanced program you rank; therefore, you can try to rank prelims in the same city higher for each advanced program.