CA-1 after prelim year

[ArtemisEntreri]

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Hi everyone,

I'm currently an MS4 applying to a competitive surgical subspecialty and unfortunately it looks like there is a good chance I won't match because I didn't get a very high number of interviews. I am looking at all my options and my current backup is to do a surgical prelim year at my home institution (top 20 med school).

This spring I am going to be doing several electives in anesthesiology to see if the specialty would be a good alternate fit for me. However, I would like to look at how feasible such a switch would be as well. Assuming I match into my surgical prelim spot, my two options would be to scramble into an open CA-1 position or wait until my intern year to apply to CA-1 positions only open to interns.

My stats are competitive and I was told my application was impressive so I'm reluctant to scramble into a spot in a program that may not be as good as I could get into. I know my home program (which is categorical) reserves ~two CA-1 slots per year for interns to apply to (i.e. people switching from gen surg). Our residency director said he knew of other programs with such offerings but it doesn't look like these are heavily advertised and I'm having trouble finding a list of other programs that do this.

So, does anyone know which programs reserve spots for interns to match into for a CA-1 spot the next year (as opposed to applying to an advanced program during the prelim year but then losing a year)?

Thanks!

 

[foley12]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently an MS4 applying to a competitive surgical subspecialty and unfortunately it looks like there is a good chance I won't match because I didn't get a very high number of interviews. I am looking at all my options and my current backup is to do a surgical prelim year at my home institution (top 20 med school).

This spring I am going to be doing several electives in anesthesiology to see if the specialty would be a good alternate fit for me. However, I would like to look at how feasible such a switch would be as well. Assuming I match into my surgical prelim spot, my two options would be to scramble into an open CA-1 position or wait until my intern year to apply to CA-1 positions only open to interns.

My stats are competitive and I was told my application was impressive so I'm reluctant to scramble into a spot in a program that may not be as good as I could get into. I know my home program (which is categorical) reserves ~two CA-1 slots per year for interns to apply to (i.e. people switching from gen surg). Our residency director said he knew of other programs with such offerings but it doesn't look like these are heavily advertised and I'm having trouble finding a list of other programs that do this.

So, does anyone know which programs reserve spots for interns to match into for a CA-1 spot the next year (as opposed to applying to an advanced program during the prelim year but then losing a year)?

Thanks!

This year there is the "all in" rule, meaning that all spots have to be offered in the match. So I am not sure any program will be able to "reserve" spots anymore. Why not just apply and interview at your home program now and rank them after your preferred specialty.

 

[ArtemisEntreri]

My understanding is that they were not previously offered through the match but will be starting this year. Unfortunately they won't let me apply now because I haven't matched into a prelim spot yet (and also because all the deadlines and interviews have passed). Since they are CA-1 spots starting this summer, I wouldn't be able to apply as a current MS4. I just want to try to get a sense of how many programs do this and what some of those are for my planning.

 

[Stellar Clouds]

My understanding is that they were not previously offered through the match but will be starting this year. Unfortunately they won't let me apply now because I haven't matched into a prelim spot yet (and also because all the deadlines and interviews have passed). Since they are CA-1 spots starting this summer, I wouldn't be able to apply as a current MS4. I just want to try to get a sense of how many programs do this and what some of those are for my planning.

If you go to nrmp.org, search through the programs. The programs are listed with their code numbers followed by A0, C0, and R0. R0 are spots dedicated to people in your position. You can search for R0 spots by selecting "Physician Only" under program type.

My quick search shows 21 programs.

 

[I can has gas]

Wassup!!!! I heard "joo" had a nice holiday with the family. Good luck with the rest of interview season- there's still some hope for some late interview invites

 

[Orin]

Assuming I match into my surgical prelim spot, my two options would be to scramble into an open CA-1 position or wait until my intern year to apply to CA-1 positions only open to interns.

With the controlled scramble/SOAP, you'd be able to control where you end up to some extent and can opt to not match again if you so choose.

As for the open CA-1 positions, they are being offered through the regular match and are very competitive. Our program has interviewed multiple internal candidates from other specialties as well as folks who are boarded in medicine, peds, etc and decided they wanted to train in anesthesia.

You've left out the option of reapplying to straight anesthesia and repeating a PGY1 year, which may be easier, especially if you are selective about where you want to be.

 

[Noegrus]

When I interviewed at U Michigan there were some folks who were interviewing for July 1st start CA-1 spots. I didn't know they existed. I see that they have a name - R0. I felt that UM interviews a variety of folks for those spots. UM is a great program and I am sure there will be others that do the same. Though, for a competitive program, you'd need to prove to them that you have an actual interest in anesthesia. Also, my understanding is that most if not all of the top/elite programs fill their positions up in the match. I'd doubt that UCSF/WUSTL types would need to fill spots in the SOAP. Good luck.

 

[ArtemisEntreri]

Thanks for the info and advice!

 

[heronmd]

See the NRMP "all-in" policy and exceptions:

http://www.nrmp.org/allinpolicyexception.pdf

Under the FAQs:

I have a PGY-1 Internal Medicine (could be Surgery, Peds, etc.) resident who wants to transfer to my Anesthesiology program at the end of the academic year. Can I offer him a position outside The Match?

A resident can transfer to a position outside The Match if the position is one for which the NRMP does not offer Matching services. The applicant could transfer to a PGY-2 position in a categorical Anesthesiology program because the NRMP does not offer Matching services for the second-year of training in categorical programs; however, if the program is advanced and thus begins at the PGY-2 level, the applicant and the position must be in The Match because the NRMP provides Matching services for PGY-2 positions in advanced programs, regardless of whether training would begin in the year of The Match or the year after The Match.

 

[Stellar Clouds]

See the NRMP "all-in" policy and exceptions:

http://www.nrmp.org/allinpolicyexception.pdf

Under the FAQs:

I have a PGY-1 Internal Medicine (could be Surgery, Peds, etc.) resident who wants to transfer to my Anesthesiology program at the end of the academic year. Can I offer him a position outside The Match?

A resident can transfer to a position outside The Match if the position is one for which the NRMP does not offer Matching services. The applicant could transfer to a PGY-2 position in a categorical Anesthesiology program because the NRMP does not offer Matching services for the second-year of training in categorical programs; however, if the program is advanced and thus begins at the PGY-2 level, the applicant and the position must be in The Match because the NRMP provides Matching services for PGY-2 positions in advanced programs, regardless of whether training would begin in the year of The Match or the year after The Match.

That's also a minority of the programs. I think there's about 30 or so that don't have any advanced spots.