Apply to Advanced or Categorical positions?

[Leukocyte]

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Hello,

I am a FM doc who is applying to Anesthesiology residencies through ERAS this year. For each program we apply to in ERAS, we are asked how we want to apply to that program....as "Advanced" or as "Categorical"?

I want to start my CA-1 year in July 2014 (since I have already completed a FM residency...and a Preventive Medicine fellowship)....should I apply as "Advanced" or "Categorical"?


I am afraid that if I apply as "Advanced", I will have to wait until July 2015 to start my CA-1 year! I am very confused. Any advice?

 

[Dwindlin]

Hello,

I am a FM doc who is applying to Anesthesiology residencies through ERAS this year. For each program we apply to in ERAS, we are asked how we want to apply to that program....as "Advanced" or as "Categorical"?

I want to start my CA-1 year in July 2014 (since I have already completed a FM residency...and a Preventive Medicine fellowship)....should I apply as "Advanced" or "Categorical"?


I am afraid that if I apply as "Advanced", I will have to wait until July 2015 to start my CA-1 year! I am very confused. Any advice?

If going through the match you have to apply to the programs designated "R0" (there aren't many) or find an open position to grab.

Advanced and Categorical positions for the 2013 Match will be 2015 CA1 positions, the only difference is the inclusion of an internship.

 

[deleted9493]

A categorical match will include an intern year. If you match into an advanced spot, however, it will not.

 

[Grey Wind]

are categorical spots more competitive vs advanced spots?

 

[Dwindlin]

are categorical spots more competitive vs advanced spots?

Depends on where you are applying and the ratio of Categorical-to-Advanced spots they have. My program, as an example, has 26 total spots per class. Of those, only 4 are categorical. So they are extremely competitive. Some programs are half/half, and every other ratio in between.

 

[Mr Medschool Money]

I want to apply to school A that has both Categorical and Advanced positions, when I apply this fall in ERAS, do I apply to both in ERAS or will the school ask me which program I am applying for?

Second Q: When it comes time to rank programs, is there a separate rank list for prelim programs so you'd make 2 different rank lists- 1 for residencies (categorical or advanced) and 1 for prelims (in the event you matched to an advanced)???

Thanks in advance!

 

[chopes31]

For each anesthesiology program, you apply to categorical and advanced separately, though the fee is only charged once regardless.

For each advanced program you rank, you can make a unique prelim list.


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[AdmiralChz]

If it makes a difference for you, the competition is MUCH more intense for categorical vs advanced spots. Just look at the open spots every year after main match - maybe a few categorical vs many advanced. My shop (and several nearby) are in the process of converting most of our spots into categorical.

 

[NEU305]

If it makes a difference for you, the competition is MUCH more intense for categorical vs advanced spots. Just look at the open spots every year after main match - maybe a few categorical vs many advanced. My shop (and several nearby) are in the process of converting most of our spots into categorical.

Due to the trend of programs switching to categorical, it looks like we're starting to see more opportunity for those spots and less opportunity for advanced ones in the SOAP. For example in 2016, there were 55 unfilled categorical spots in 23 programs (compared to 28 spots in 11 in programs in 2015) and 40 unfilled advanced spots in 16 programs (compared to 37 spots in 14 programs in 2015). It may be true that advanced spots fill with candidates further down the programs' ROLs which would suggest they're less competitive, but the numbers have definitely changed in the past few years.

 

[AdmiralChz]

Due to the trend of programs switching to categorical, it looks like we're starting to see more opportunity for those spots and less opportunity for advanced ones in the SOAP. For example in 2016, there were 55 unfilled categorical spots in 23 programs (compared to 28 spots in 11 in programs in 2015) and 40 unfilled advanced spots in 16 programs (compared to 37 spots in 14 programs in 2015). It may be true that advanced spots fill with candidates further down the programs' ROLs which would suggest they're less competitive, but the numbers have definitely changed in the past few years.

I was not aware of these numbers, thanks for sharing!

We do combined interviews for all spots regardless of categorical/advanced... over the past 4 years I can count on two hands the number of people who admitted to me straight up that they were more interested in an advanced spot (we also have 1 or 2 R spots for folks switching residencies, military, etc...). Simply anecdotal experience, but it's why we are changing over to categorical.

 

[NEU305]

... over the past 4 years I can count on two hands the number of people who admitted to me straight up that they were more interested in an advanced spot (we also have 1 or 2 R spots for folks switching residencies, military, etc...). Simply anecdotal experience, but it's why we are changing over to categorical.

Absolutely agree. The entire concept of advanced programs seems outdated. There aren't that many folks out there who want the extra interview expense and worry about matching twice. I can't remember meeting a single applicant during my travels who preferred advanced. Hopefully, programs continue to make the switch.

 

[Katheudontas parateroumen]

Definitely still a need for advanced positions, just maybe not as many. I for one have a SO in another state that is a couple years behind in med school. So I'm one of the few that put mostly advanced positions near the top of my list. Glad they don't seem as competitive!

 

[Psai]

Absolutely agree. The entire concept of advanced programs seems outdated. There aren't that many folks out there who want the extra interview expense and worry about matching twice. I can't remember meeting a single applicant during my travels who preferred advanced. Hopefully, programs continue to make the switch.

Some people want to spend an extra year in the city they're in or try a new city for a year. Some people want to go to a high powered program but not deal with the intense medicine intern year. Different strokes. I like having a choice.