categorical programs

[kralwok]

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argh! so i have started to go through programs and am noticing several categorical programs. i have already completed a prelim medicine internship and am not particularly interested in repeating the year. i guess this means these programs are off my list?? anyone else encountering this? it is very discouraging. on the one hand it helps narrow down my list, but on the other hand it cuts out programs that are in my geographical area. 😱

 

[dermhopefully]

Refresh my mind for those of us not going through the match, categorical means you must have your intern year at the program right?

 

[asmallchild]

That's correct

Advanced means you begin as a pgy2
Categorical means you begin as a pgy1

 

[opencomedo]

K,
I know you dont want to repeat your derm year but you have to ask yourself if you would rather not match than match and have to repeat your intern year..... in the end, matching a categorical year is still better than doing a research year (or 2) with no guarantee of getting a derm spot anywhere right? Im not saying you would rank the cat years high on your rank list but at least it would be another number to help your chances....

 

[oracle07]

I've heard these programs often have funding restrictions, so if you've already completed your internship, I don't really think it's an option to repeat it. I could be wrong though.

The government only pays for X number of years of your residency, and X depends on the initial residency you match in. After that, the program has to REALLY want you to eat the cost of training you.

If you only did an intern year, be sure to look into if you can get 4 years of funding for a categorical program....

 

[kralwok]

i agree that it would be better to suck it up and repeat intern year if that's what it took. unfortunately i can't move until 2011 so that is not really an option...
i also wonder about the funding restrictions since many programs have them. will probably just apply to the programs, and if i happen to get interviews see if there is some way not to do internship there.