Currently doing a prelim year

[rashi5a]

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So this is probably a basic question, but just wanted to confirm... I'm currently doing my prelim year in surgery. (I did not match last year and scrambled) I decided to apply to only advanced CA2 positions through the match.

Assuming that this means I'm applying for the 2011 start date, what do programs expect me to do during my year off? Do people in situations similar to mine take time off/travel/etc? Or is it almost expected to do research, moonlight, or something similar?

Thanks in advance..

 

[guitarguy09]

Would I take that route again? HELL NO. Moonlight, make some cash, and get laid often.

Haha... nice. This coming from the guy in "sin city"...

That being said... it seems pretty common that people do things to improve their application if they will be applying in their year off. I don't know how it would work though, because even if you did research you likely wouldn't have anything to show for it in time for interview season, so I'm curious as to how much it would matter. However, you say that you didn't match in the previous cycle, so perhaps doing something to improve your application would be wise. Regardless of what you chose I think DreamMachine is on to something... cash and babes that is...

 

[rashi5a]

Yea I mean CA1 position.. so if I match, I would be starting off in 2011. For those who have been in similar situations (switching from surg), did the PD/chair ask what you planned on doing during your off year? I would love to say make money and enjoy life but dont know how well that would go over 😀

 

[countingdays]

Yea I mean CA1 position.. so if I match, I would be starting off in 2011. For those who have been in similar situations (switching from surg), did the PD/chair ask what you planned on doing during your off year? I would love to say make money and enjoy life but dont know how well that would go over 😀

What do you plan to do? Some places want people in your situation to do their intern years again, but that is a terrible idea.

I'd think you really would want to do some locums/moonlighting work, read a lot, and take step 3 if you haven't already done so. You can make as much as a resident moonlighting 2 days a week. That'll leave you plenty of time to read and enjoy yourself too. You would probably learn a fair amount moonlighting in an ER or whatever without the misery of doing another intern year just to fill the time. There's no reason you can't put a positive spin on whatever you plan to do.

 

[rashi5a]

I'm thinking I would probably go with the above plan.. ie moonlight as much as I can without getting burned out, and otherwise just travel/enjoy my time off.

I'll be honest and admit that I'll most likely be an orhto reject which is why I'm considering anesthesia.. not meant as an insult to the field of course, theres a reason why I chose anesthesia as a backup and not gen surg or internal 😱

For those that have applied to another specialty and anesthesia as a back up.. where you asked about that other specialty? I'm worried about being ranked very low because its pretty obvious I have an ortho application..

And finally, I hate to ask this question.. but, is applying to 15 programs enough? 236/267, top quartile.. but obviously no anesthesia aways/rotations?

Thanks everyone for the great responses, it really helps cuz I dont know too much about the anesthesia application process 😳

 

[InductionAgent]

I'm thinking I would probably go with the above plan.. ie moonlight as much as I can without getting burned out, and otherwise just travel/enjoy my time off.

I'll be honest and admit that I'll most likely be an orhto reject which is why I'm considering anesthesia.. not meant as an insult to the field of course, theres a reason why I chose anesthesia as a backup and not gen surg or internal 😱

For those that have applied to another specialty and anesthesia as a back up.. where you asked about that other specialty? I'm worried about being ranked very low because its pretty obvious I have an ortho application..

And finally, I hate to ask this question.. but, is applying to 15 programs enough? 236/267, top quartile.. but obviously no anesthesia aways/rotations?

Thanks everyone for the great responses, it really helps cuz I dont know too much about the anesthesia application process 😳

Don't use anesthesiology as a backup. That's lame. But if you do, apply to more programs than 15. If I were a program director, I would not be especially interested in someone who is using anesthesiology as a backup AND who has never done an anesthesia rotation. That's two reasons you might hate it if you match.

 

[guitarguy09]

For those that have applied to another specialty and anesthesia as a back up.. where you asked about that other specialty? I'm worried about being ranked very low because its pretty obvious I have an ortho application..

And finally, I hate to ask this question.. but, is applying to 15 programs enough? 236/267, top quartile.. but obviously no anesthesia aways/rotations?

How do you even know if you like anesthesia without doing a rotation in it? I wouldn't just do a "back up" unless you really are interested in the field. I mean, you're going to do it for the rest of your life and you've worked for too hard at this point to not do what you want to do. I would say that if you don't match ortho and you really want to do ortho, then maybe you should reapply the next year. You could always rank a general surgery prelim as a "back up" then when you transfer into an ortho program you will have many of the early requirements done.

There is no sense in being miserable the rest of your life since you don't even know if you like anesthesia (especially if the bulk of the anesthesia you've seen are only ortho cases).

That being said, if you still apply to anesthesia and are fortunate enough to get interviews, you will FOR SURE be asked about your interests in ortho and they'll wonder why you're applying to anesthesia (without even so much as a rotation in it).

 

[countingdays]

I agree. If you want to do ortho for some reason then you should continue to pursue it as long as it's a serious possibility, ie no major application flaws. Continuing general surgery training should help you with a future switch to ortho. Training in anesthesia willl not.
If you can't ever get ortho, then you might as well go with your second choice. Lots of people end up liking specialties they didn't initially choose.

 

[rashi5a]

Anesthesia is the only thing appealing to me aside from ortho. Although I haven't done anesthesia rotations, I have spent enough time with the anesthesia guys (and spoken to senior attendings about the situation). In fact, 2 of my letters are from anesthesiologists originally intending on ortho but were never accepted.

As I was saying earlier, its a backup, but not meant disrespectfully. If I can't do ortho.. this is absolutely the only other thing I can spend my life doing. Due to financial/family reasons, I have to match this year, I can't afford another prelim year with another move/interview process.

As far as PD's questioning goes, I was under the impression that it is routine for surgical residents to switch to anesthesia (ie, they decide they dont like surgery anymore or they get burned out, etc). And I dont have to TELL them I'm applying to ortho concurrently right? 😉