Applying to categorical vs advanced/R & signaling benefit?

[justanotherrandom]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I am applying this cycle and previously completed 2 years of a residency (3 years ago).

I plan to apply to categorical positions and doing an intern year again if I must.

1) Regarding R and Advanced positions: am I able to and should I apply to both R and advanced positions? Or am I only eligible for R positions but not advanced?

2) Also in terms of signaling strategy with this in mind, is there an advantage to signal programs that have categorical and R/A spots vs categorical only? Would this allow the program to choose which position they want me for and therefore increase my chances of obtaining more interviews?

Hypothetical example:

California has 20 programs. 10 have C/A/R positions and the other 10 are categorical only. Is there an advantage to signal the 10 with C/A/R positions vs the C only (all other things being equal, aka competitiveness etc.) in order to maximize interview yield?

 

[LucidSplash]

Some of this is predicated on your prior residency and what you are applying to now. Are you able to share what specialty you previously did the 2 years in and what specialty you’re applying to now?

 

[justanotherrandom]

I would prefer to keep that private (more details in another thread I posted several months ago; surgical subspecialty to anesthesia). But how would that change things?

My understanding is that if a program has categorical and R/A spots, they will usually interview me once (on a single day) and then either ask me which I am open to (I am open to both) and will rank me on both tracks. My assumption is this helps me match however programs that have R/A positions are already more inherently competitive.

Also, would an advanced position start in July 2027 vs C/R starting July 2026?

 

[LucidSplash]

I would prefer to keep that private (more details in another thread I posted several months ago; surgical subspecialty to anesthesia). But how would that change things?

My understanding is that if a program has categorical and R/A spots, they will usually interview me once (on a single day) and then either ask me which I am open to (I am open to both) and will rank me on both tracks. My assumption is this helps me match however programs that have R/A positions are already more inherently competitive.

Also, would an advanced position start in July 2027 vs C/R starting July 2026?

That transition should be fine for either advance or R or doing an intern year over. There are certain transitions where an intern year in one specialty may not count as an intern year in another (you can’t do an intern year in FM and move to a 2nd year surgical position for example). That was the only reason I asked.

You are correct, an advanced position is for the year after next. R is for the next year.

Will defer to others on the topic of signaling. You may have more success asking specific questions about anesthesia match in the anesthesia forum.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

But how would that change things?

It matters because if the field you're trying to switch into has intensive training in the PGY-1 (like IM), then you can't just start as a PGY-2. But if your field has a general PGY-1 without any specific training (like derm or radiology), then PGY-2's are essentially starting from nothing, so you could start as a PGY-2. Anesthesia is a somewhat middle ground. A few programs are "old school" and have a separate PGY-1 in IM or GS, and Anesthesia starts in the PGY-2. Most now have a CBY year and there's a mix of anesthesia plus general rotations.

My understanding is that if a program has categorical and R/A spots, they will usually interview me once (on a single day) and then either ask me which I am open to (I am open to both) and will rank me on both tracks. My assumption is this helps me match however programs that have R/A positions are already more inherently competitive.

When you apply to a program in ERAS, you can apply to as many tracks as you want for the same fee. So there's no harm to applying for C, R, and A positions all at the same site. Same with signals - the signal "counts" for all of them.

Of note, in addition to the C, R, and A positions, there is the possibility that some resident will be unable to start due to visa issues. Positions like this will not be in the match, and would start right now. The visa process does appear to have started up again, but anyone from the completely banned countries will be unable to get a new visa nor renew their current visa. Hence, there is always some chance a program has an opening now. These positions may not be advertised widely, and other than contacting programs directly or having a contact at an anesthesia program where programs might be advertising to other PD's I don't know how you would find them.