Categorical vs Advanced Strategy

[STsleeper]

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Ideally, I'd like to secure a categorical program wherever I go. Would it be to my advantage to specify only categorical spots in ERAS (even though many programs have check boxes for both adv and categ)? I wonder how my chances of getting into any program whatsoever will be decreased by not opting to check both adv and categ. Anyone in the know as to what programs use to decide on whether to grant an advanced vs categ spot to an applicant? I don't want to hinder my chances of getting a categ spot just because I'm willing (although reluctant) to accept an advanced position. I just hate having to worry about acquiring a prelim spot as much as getting into anesthesiology in general.

 

[MTGas2B]

Ideally, I'd like to secure a categorical program wherever I go. Would it be to my advantage to specify only categorical spots in ERAS (even though many programs have check boxes for both adv and categ)? I wonder how my chances of getting into any program whatsoever will be decreased by not opting to check both adv and categ. Anyone in the know as to what programs use to decide on whether to grant an advanced vs categ spot to an applicant? I don't want to hinder my chances of getting a categ spot just because I'm willing (although reluctant) to accept an advanced position. I just hate having to worry about acquiring a prelim spot as much as getting into anesthesiology in general.

As far as ERAS, apply to both advanced and categorical. If you get an interview, it will be for both. I wouldn't fret prelim spots too much. I knew people who matched in specialties that required a prelim year, and they didn't even bother applying to prelim spots, they just counted on scrambling their prelim year if they matched. Your own medical school would probably have a prelim medicine spot, worst cass.

When it comes to the NRMP (aka The Match), then you can decide what programs you're actually willing to go to. If you're still set on categorical, just rank the categorical programs at the top of your list, then rank advanced spots below. As far as the match goes, they are separate programs, you could list 10 categorical spots first, then a few back-up advanced spots at the bottom. My guess is that if you pick a good group of programs, with your list as I described, you would match categorical.

 

[scottishlass]

What is Virginia Mason like? I will graduate from U of W in June next year and plan to apply to Virginia Mason transitional program if I cannot organize something up here in Anchorage. If you have any tips to share, I would certainly appreciate the help. Right now I feel pretty overwhelmed by the whole process but I decided on anesthesiology pretty late in the game and have not even done a clerkship yet. I got interested during my surgery rotation and spent a bit of time "behind the drapes" with the anesthesiologists. Hopefully I will be going to Mayo in Scottsdale in a few weeks to do a clerkship - hope there is time to get letters of recommendation from a couple of anesthesiologists there! Heck, I hope they want to give me letters!!

 

[Pooh & Annie]

MTGas2B,
I'd like to know more about VM too. I'm doing an away their next month (when I'll obviously learn a lot more about it), and it'll probably be at the top of my match list. I really dig the regional stuff. But do they get lots of exposure to tough heart and transplant cases? And how competetive is the program? Could you also give me some info about that last question with regards to UW?
Thanks for whatever info you've got!

 

[supahfresh]

Virginia Mason is the bomb. I begged them to interview me, but alas they said no. Ask Vent, he visited there. They do tons of regional and are a happy little program. Also, i heard good things about their prelim years.

I was dead set on doing surgery for my first year so i ranked only advanced spots and i think it hurt me because there were only 3 advanced spots at my number one but 12 or so categorical.

if you rank both, i believe you increase your chances.
oh and the surgery prelim year i did was at St. joes in denver and was far better than the medicine prelim year in terms of weekends and vacations and especially getting us out early post call. like 8:30 am usually. just a nice little secret i thought id share.

 

[VentdependenT]

Virginia Mason is the bomb. I begged them to interview me, but alas they said no. Ask Vent, he visited there. They do tons of regional and are a happy little program. Also, i heard good things about their prelim years.

I was dead set on doing surgery for my first year so i ranked only advanced spots and i think it hurt me because there were only 3 advanced spots at my number one but 12 or so categorical.

if you rank both, i believe you increase your chances.
oh and the surgery prelim year i did was at St. joes in denver and was far better than the medicine prelim year in terms of weekends and vacations and especially getting us out early post call. like 8:30 am usually. just a nice little secret i thought id share.

VM is great. I highly recommend checking it out. You'll flip cases like a champ, crank out big cases (CABG, whipple, etc..) in 1/3rd the time of a university program, be a regional master, be taught by highly trained attendings, live in kick a$$ city, have more free time than your pummeled buddies at the Dub (which is a fine program as well), get your sloppy trauma in a harborview along with gritty sicu, be surrounded by amicable residents who are bright....uhh anything else. Umm, food sucks, 60 and over population, since turnover is high you'll be busy when there.


The northwest may be my home in the future.

 

[Pooh & Annie]

Sweet! Thanks for the input, vent... I was worried about the scope of exposure to big cases, but it sounds pretty good. I'll know for myself prety soon...
Thanks again

 

[shoneek]

Ideally, I'd like to secure a categorical program wherever I go. Would it be to my advantage to specify only categorical spots in ERAS (even though many programs have check boxes for both adv and categ)? I wonder how my chances of getting into any program whatsoever will be decreased by not opting to check both adv and categ. Anyone in the know as to what programs use to decide on whether to grant an advanced vs categ spot to an applicant? I don't want to hinder my chances of getting a categ spot just because I'm willing (although reluctant) to accept an advanced position. I just hate having to worry about acquiring a prelim spot as much as getting into anesthesiology in general.

I'm an MSIII, newly interested in anesthesia... What exactly is "Advanced" and what is "Categorical" and how do people conventionally apply to anesthesia? 😳

 

[UTSouthwestern]

I'm an MSIII, newly interested in anesthesia... What exactly is "Advanced" and what is "Categorical" and how do people conventionally apply to anesthesia? 😳

Categorical simply means that the internship year of your four years of training is included with that program's residency track.

Applying for an advanced position means that you are applying for the PGY-2 through 4 years only at that program and thus you must apply separately for an internship year, usually at another program.