ERAS Advanced/Categorical issue

[OmarLittle]

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When applying to some programs, you have to check a box for whether you are applying to advanced or categorical or you can check both. I have been checking both because obviously I would take either slot at the places who offer one categorical and one advanced position. Is that what you are suppose to do or are you really suppose to give a preference?

Thanks.

 

[Cancerdancer]

From what I have heard you should mark down both, and then you will be able to rank them separately. For example, UWisc has both a categorical and an advanced spot. If you interviewed there, you would then rank the advanced spot + desired prelims/tys separately from the categorical spot, either above or below.

 

[Cancerdancer]

I also think it probably doesn't matter what you mark on ERAS. I imagine everyone who interviews at UWisc can rank both the categorical and/or advanced spot. I'm pretty sure they don't interview separate pools for the different intern year preference.

 

[OmarLittle]

Thanks for the help.
I thought that was the situation.

 

[JimmyD]

What exactly is the difference between advanced and categorical?

 

[Gfunk6]

Categorical = PGY-1 year (intern year) included
Advanced = RadOnc only (PGY-2 to PGY-5); must apply for intern year separately

 

[IRISH22]

so do i need to go back and click both boxes, or do you think its OK if I just clicked off one? ie. will I still be considered for categorical if i only clicked advanced?

 

[G'ville Nole]

If you want to be considered for both spots, you have to click both boxes. One box= applying for one of two (in our case) spots.

The thing we tell applicants is to rank both spots strictly in order of desirability. If you'd rather go unmatched than do the categorical year, you can omit the categorical position from your rank list. You do so with the understanding that you've halved your chances of matching (the programs categorical and advanced rank lists are identical). Short of omitting the categorical completely, you can de-prioritize it accordingly by moving further down your rank list than the advanced spot; or vice versa.

Hope this helps

 

[KERMA]

I am really confused with your answer.Can you explain ?

 

[G'ville Nole]

I am really confused with your answer.Can you explain ?

Let me preface my clarification by saying that, at least during the time I went through, there was nothing special you had to do during the application process, so that may be where some of the confusion lies. Unless things have changed, you assign your app to be sent to the ERAS schools without discrimination between a categorical vs. advanced spot at that program. If this is now somehow different, then I can claim no special insight into the process.

During the MATCH process, however, some programs have both advanced AND categorical positions. At UWisc, we have one of each, so for purposes of clarity I'll use that model. It may be helpful to think of these spots as two separate programs, each offering one spot. One has an integrated intern year, one leaves the intern year up to you. Once you enter the dedicated radiation oncology portion of your training (PGY-2), these programs are indistinguishable from one another. During the match, UWisc will have two entries for you to rank. As with ANY OTHER situation, it is in your interest to rank them according to your preference. If you see no appreciable difference between the two, you'll likely rank them next to one another; if either the advanced or categorical position holds greater appeal for you, you'll modify the rank list accordingly (in other words, the spots can be split on your final rank list).

With each and every program you rank, you will also assign a rank list of the prelim/TY years at which you interviewed. Obviously, with the integrated intern year of the categorical positions, this option will not be available.

Again, my apologies if this doesn't apply to the current question. Hope things are clearer for you.

 

[Cancerdancer]

Let me preface my clarification by saying that, at least during the time I went through, there was nothing special you had to do during the application process, so that may be where some of the confusion lies. Unless things have changed, you assign your app to be sent to the ERAS schools without discrimination between a categorical vs. advanced spot at that program.

This is what I too was trying to say. It appears us applicants need not worry about marking categorical vs. advanced or both, for now. As long as the program gets our application one way or another they will decide who to interview, and then only after interviewing does this distinction make a difference, i.e. on the match list. So no need to worry about it now.