Categorical - no advanced spot question

[LIDO]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello,

I have a question regarding applying to categorical / advanced anesthesiology positions.

Most likely, I will NOT be able to complete a medicine sub-i (or critical care sub-i) prior to applying for residency. I will only be able to complete an anesthesiology rotation.

The Medicine Department at my school will not write a letter for transitional / prelim programs without completing a sub-i. The earliest I would complete the sub-i is December/January.....

At this point, would you suggest to only apply for categorical programs? I will have multiple good anesthesiology letters and a strong letter from a medicine doc that I worked with during my original medicine clerkship.

Also.....top fiveish med school, straight honors, mid-240 step, unrelated research.

Is it risky / possible to apply straight categorical? Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[XRanger]

why do you need medicine department letter to apply to prelim/TY?

 

[afteranesthesia]

I used the exact same letters for my prelim/TYs as I did my Anesthesia apps. I didn't even change my personal statement.

 

[Stellar Clouds]

I used the exact same letters for my prelim/TYs as I did my Anesthesia apps. I didn't even change my personal statement.

Same here. You'll be fine applying to prelims.

 

[bocciball]

I used the exact same letters for my prelim/TYs as I did my Anesthesia apps. I didn't even change my personal statement.

Same here.

 

[Random Anesthesiologist]

I used the exact same letters for my prelim/TYs as I did my Anesthesia apps. I didn't even change my personal statement.

Ditto.

 

[Noegrus]

Question from IM prelim interviewer: So, you did this [insert grandiose project name here] with the chair, didn't he write you a letter.
Me: Of course he did.
Interviewer (looking through the LoRs): I don't see it.
Me (suddenly remembering): Oh yeah, I replaced it with an IM letter for prelim apps.
Interviewer: Why?
Me: Because.....ummm..I was applying to an IM program for internship and thought you guys might want to know if I am any good at medicine?
Interviewer: 😕

 

[Midwest088]

I wouldn't worry about applying to prelim spots unless there is an advanced-only program you are dying to go to (eq. NYU). I only applied to categorical positions and was told by my home dept and mentor that that was fine and I'm an average applicant.

 

[LIDO]

Thank you for the response. My dilemma is that the Departement of Medicine at my school will not write a prelim / transitional year LOR without completing a Sub-I. Could I apply to prelim / transitional year with a regular letter from a medicine attending from my third year clerkship??

 

[afteranesthesia]

Reread our responses.

 

[Stellar Clouds]

Thank you for the response. My dilemma is that the Departement of Medicine at my school will not write a prelim / transitional year LOR without completing a Sub-I. Could I apply to prelim / transitional year with a regular letter from a medicine attending from my third year clerkship??

You definitely do NOT need a letter from the department. A letter from an attending from 3rd year will be more than enough. Hell I even sent a LOR from a surgeon to my medicine prelims.

 

[LIDO]

Did most of you complete a medicine sub-I prior to applying? The only sub-I that I will have completed is ob/gyn (honor).

 

[XRanger]

Did most of you complete a medicine sub-I prior to applying? The only sub-I that I will have completed is ob/gyn (honor).

I didn't even do medicine sub-i. I did my sub-i in ED and I don't even have medicine letter. Most of my friends never done medicine sub-i either

 

[afteranesthesia]

Didn't do a med sub-I

 

[Philosiraptor]

Thank you for the response. My dilemma is that the Departement of Medicine at my school will not write a prelim / transitional year LOR without completing a Sub-I. Could I apply to prelim / transitional year with a regular letter from a medicine attending from my third year clerkship??

Yes. Yes, yes yes. I've never heard of a distinct letter for prelim/TY's...think about it, what's the letter going to say? Will it extol your virtues as THE perfect candidate for a 1-year position??

Just send the letters you have, I'm sure your 3rd year medicine core clerkship will suffice as a source for letters. Heck you could probably get away with getting an attending you worked closely with and have good rapport with to write you one! You do NOT need a chair or department of medicine letter for prelim & TY programs.

They probably don't care more than to glance over the letters anyways. That's the impression I got at least. Think about how many people are applying for those temporary, 1 year spots. You're cheap labor, and hopefully you'll learn something along the way before you enter the wonderful world of anesthesiology.

 

[Stellar Clouds]

Did most of you complete a medicine sub-I prior to applying? The only sub-I that I will have completed is ob/gyn (honor).

No medicine sub-I for me either

 

[Per4mer8]

Did most of you complete a medicine sub-I prior to applying? The only sub-I that I will have completed is ob/gyn (honor).

You typically only do a sub-I in the field you're applying into. You aren't applying to be a career prelim/TYer are you? Trust me, the prelim/TY programs know you don't give two ****s about medicine. They also don't care. Send your best letters and apply as if all you care about is Anesthesia, cuz they know the truth anyways.

 

[ReactiveAirway]

Did most of you complete a medicine sub-I prior to applying? The only sub-I that I will have completed is ob/gyn (honor).

I never did a medicine sub-I, just got a medicine LOR from my 3rd year attending. Most of my IM prelim interviewers wanted to talk about anesthesiology rather than IM anyways, and no one ever asked about me not doing an sub-I.