I have a couple rad onc interviews but nothing from the TY programs I applied to. I have heard that TY was quite a bit more competitive than Rad Onc, but I thought I would at least get one or two interviews. Anyone else in the same boat?
Doing well on Rad Onc interviews but no TY love.
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Not according to the charting outcomes of the match. Overall, they're less competitive, although certain ones (such as MSKCC, some in Cali, and a few of the tiny ones) are moreso.
I would recommend expanding your TY list and throwing in prelims as a backup. It could be that the TYs you're applying for will interview later in the season, but you don't want to wait until it's too late to put in for a backup. Good luck!
Transitional isn't in the 2011 charting the outcomes, but in 2009 it had a much higher percentage of unmatched US seniors (68/261) than rad onc (21/155). To apply for transitional year you are going up against the med school superstars who are going into derm etc.
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It is still very early and I wouldn't worry.
Worse case scenario (which is unlikely) ... you match into rad. onc (as you are getting interview offers with so few offers being sent thus far- I think this is a safe bet) and you scramble into one of innumerable unmatched PGY1 spots.
Worse case scenario (which is unlikely) ... you match into rad. onc (as you are getting interview offers with so few offers being sent thus far- I think this is a safe bet) and you scramble into one of innumerable unmatched PGY1 spots.
I'll trade you 2 TY+1 prelim interviews for 1 Rad Onc
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OP -
Competitiveness really depends on the exact TY. But yes, in general, they should be less competitive than rad onc.
I would do two things. First, I'd email a note of interest to any TYs that have not rejected you. Secondly, if it's not too late, I'd apply to some prelim med programs that you think you could stomach - perhaps those in your area, or those somehow affiliated with your school. I'd apply to 5-10. Once your app is in, I'd email those a note of interest as well - or at least to the few that you would prefer.
Why? Scrambling really, really sucks even for a prelim spot. Unless you're excited about a prelim surg position in the malignant academic hospital of your choice, or a prelim med as above or in an undesirable location, I'd try to avoid internship scramble as best I could.
Good luck!
Competitiveness really depends on the exact TY. But yes, in general, they should be less competitive than rad onc.
I would do two things. First, I'd email a note of interest to any TYs that have not rejected you. Secondly, if it's not too late, I'd apply to some prelim med programs that you think you could stomach - perhaps those in your area, or those somehow affiliated with your school. I'd apply to 5-10. Once your app is in, I'd email those a note of interest as well - or at least to the few that you would prefer.
Why? Scrambling really, really sucks even for a prelim spot. Unless you're excited about a prelim surg position in the malignant academic hospital of your choice, or a prelim med as above or in an undesirable location, I'd try to avoid internship scramble as best I could.
Good luck!
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I matched Rad Onc last cycle, but had to scramble for PGY-1. Not fun and it ruins your entire match week. Not to mention that it makes you look like a fool to your rad onc program director and chair.
My med school as well as numerous other people were telling me not to worry about the internship year, that i only needed to interview at 3-4 TY/prelim places, and worst possible scenario would be that i could scramble into a program in the same city i matched for rad onc. The last piece of advice was horrible. ERAS crashed multiple times during the scramble process for whatever reason and TY/prelim programs filled up incredibly fast. I went through 3 days of scrambling and nothing. I finally got lucky when one of my TY places that I interviewed at opened up an extra spot. I wouldn't even have known had I not called the program director and pleaded my case. At the end she was happy to have a matched rad onc person on board. Lesson is that you should not blow off the PGY-1 process like I did. You'll regret it.
Good luck to everyone this year!!
My med school as well as numerous other people were telling me not to worry about the internship year, that i only needed to interview at 3-4 TY/prelim places, and worst possible scenario would be that i could scramble into a program in the same city i matched for rad onc. The last piece of advice was horrible. ERAS crashed multiple times during the scramble process for whatever reason and TY/prelim programs filled up incredibly fast. I went through 3 days of scrambling and nothing. I finally got lucky when one of my TY places that I interviewed at opened up an extra spot. I wouldn't even have known had I not called the program director and pleaded my case. At the end she was happy to have a matched rad onc person on board. Lesson is that you should not blow off the PGY-1 process like I did. You'll regret it.
Good luck to everyone this year!!
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Thanks it's nice to have some insight on someone who recently went through the TY/Rad Onc process. So how many places do you recommend we interview at then?
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Just to keep things in perspective, remember, not matching into rad onc probably ruins your match week more
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We have the SOAP process this year. So it should be a little easier on folks this year.
How many prelim/TY interviews did you guys go on? I was thinking 5.
How many prelim/TY interviews did you guys go on? I was thinking 5.
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And by "etc," I presume you mean "radonc et al?"
I was referring to the step scores, which I remember were higher for radonc in the 2009 version. I don't feel that matching % tells the whole story in this case, as I'd wager that most applicants apply to both TY and prelim and they tend to stagger their list (TY then prelim then another TY) more than you would see for their specialty rank list. In this scenario, if you match to your #2 choice, you're "unmatched" for TY.
BTW, I had forgotten there was a 2011 version. Thanks.
Not saying this is the case for you but I would imagine that a certain subset of radonc cadidates (phd and/or lots of pubs but ok board scores) would not be considered strong ty candidates. I did a ty at a competitive california program and pd basically admitted that rank list was pretty much boards-based due to the large number of applications received each year.
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Definitely dont take the PGY1 year application cycle lightly. I didnt know if I wanted a TY or Prelim Medicine so I applied to both and went on a bunch of interviews. First, these interviews will happen fairly early (mine were mostly in November) and second, youll get a bit of interviewing practice under your belt. I ended up really liking TYs and matched in a really competitive TY (its been a really awesome year btw). It definitely doesnt hurt tossing in a few more prelim programs and interviewing for a couple more days. There is the new SOAP system, but it too will have kinks, as do all new things. Apply up front and give yourself the widest range of choices.
