giving up on categorical for hopkins prelim?

[223634]

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[SaintFrances]

Why do you have to "give up" on either one? Can't you rank both the prelim and categorical?

 

[Gimlet]

I don't think so, as I'm pretty sure categorial programs expect you to start on June 2009, not June 2010... They're not interviewing for 2010 yet. Also, that would add a whole year to residency and that's a big fat no for me considering I'm already planning on doing a fellowship.

I think SF was trying to say that you could still rank both advanced and categorical anesthesia programs, just in case you don't wind up getting the Hopkins prelim year. If you really wanted to do prelim at Hopkins, then you would rank all advanced programs first on your ROL with Hopkins being the #1 choice on each sub-list those ranks create. You don't have to give up on categorical programs completely just because you're hoping to match a prelim at Hopkins.

As far as opening doors, I'm totally talking out of my ass here, but my gut feeling is that your marketability for jobs in either PP or academic anesthesiology wouldn't be helped that much by doing your CBY at Hopkins. They are going to be more concerned with where you did your anesthesiology training. Now, if you wanted to do a fellowship or get an academic position at Hopkins, that's probably a different story. Like I said, though, this is all speculation from someone who has no basis with which to be speculating. 😉

 

[SaintFrances]

I don't think so, as I'm pretty sure categorial programs expect you to start on June 2009, not June 2010... They're not interviewing for 2010 yet. Also, that would add a whole year to residency and that's a big fat no for me considering I'm already planning on doing a fellowship.

I don't understand your point. Correct me if I am wrong, please. You can rank both, as both programs start in June 2009 (who is talking about 2010?). If you rank the categorical program higher and match into it first, it will remove you from the prelim position. However, if you rank and match into the prelim program higher it will remove you from the categorical program (and then you will also need to match advanced somewhere else). I am under the assmption that Hopkins has ONLY categorical Anes spots.

 

[Gimlet]

Oh, I didn't realize Hopkins anesthesiology was categorical only. Well, either way, SF's point still stands. So I'm thinking your rank list will look something like this if you really want to do PGY1 at Hopkins:

1) Hopkins Categorical
2) Program X Advanced

Sublist :
1)Hopkins prelim
2) other prelim/TYs...​

3...x) Other Advanced programs

Sublist :
1)Hopkins prelim
2) other prelim/TYs...​

x...xx) Other Categorical programs

 

[EternalMD]

Yeah Gimlet has it right. Though from my knowledge, you wouldn't be able to match into a categorical program if you ranked the preliminary program higher (which wouldn't make a lot of sense if you ask me because it would most probably lock you out of the categorical). I assume most people would rank their categorical spots higher than prelims and only pair the prelims with advanced spots

 

[loveumms]

Also remember that name isn't everything. Make sure you don't choose anything for name only. It might look good on a diploma but, that doesn't mean that you will be happy.

Maybe some of the PP guys can comment on this. From what I've been told personality, letters of recommendation and your work ethic are much more important when getting a job then the name of the program that you graduated from.

 

[lane]

so you were just offerend an interview, but haven't even seen the place yet?

this is a decision you should make in february after you've seen all the programs you'll rank. this is not something you should be considering before going on a single interview, especially when it's only for CBY.

 

[proman]

Just to clarify some things: We have both advanced and categorical positions in the match. The categorical positions include the CBY and start in 2009. The advanced positions do not start until 2010 because you'll have to have a separate internship from 2009-10. The categorical positions include internship during that time at either Mercy or Sinai, not at JHH. Think long and hard before doing prelim (medicine or surgery) at JHH. The location of your internship means very little compared to where you do your residency.

 

[Idiopathic]

i would not have considered this, regardless of program. i would have stayed at home for a prelim year if needed or matched categorical. just me, i think its hard enough to learn protocol/procedure at one new hospital, much less two. and how much are you really going to get out of being just another prelim at a big hospital?

 

[scotchnwater]

well, by "giving up" I didn't mean that I wouldn't be able to rank the categorical programs... I meant, is it worth it to conscientiously choose an advanced over categorical just to do a prelim at hopkins, even though I'd rather do categorical. Gimlet answered my question kinda sorta. 😉

but that is a good question... whether by ranking advanced first you're locking yourself out of categoricals. I would think the match system wouldn't be *that* poorly designed... But I was already amazed eras didn't have a "add this recommendation letter to all programs" button and made me click it on every one of them.. gimme the source code and I could design a better system...

There's actually a reason that you have to select which letters you send to certain programs.

Some applicants may have a letter that is specific to a certain program (if they personally know someone, did an away rotation, etc.) that they may not want to send out to every program they're applying to. I did this last year when I did an away-rotation: the letter I got there was helpful to my application at that program, but probably wouldn't have gone as far at a program on the other side of the country.

Also, some letter-writers will write two versions of the same letter. For example, the Chair of Medicine at my med school would write a letter, then make two versions: one for applying to a prelim/TY program, and the other for the Anesthesia program.

In the end, I had 6 letters in ERAS. By selecting which letters go where, ERAS makes sure you match the correct letter to the correct program.

Regarding your "dilemma", I would echo the advice that your intern year pretty much means nothing in the scheme of things. Nobody will care at ALL what you did in your intern year as long as you finish it and learn something along the way. Logistically, doing a Categorical program is usually a better choice for a myriad of reasons (this subject alone probably deserves its own thread...), but prelim/TY can sometimes be a good choice if there is a sig other involved, or if you're single and just REALLY want to live in a different city for one year.

If you have questions about how to set up your ranking list, you should talk to an advisor at your school - it can get complicated and it's important to make decisions based on good information (and not baseless assumptions).

 

[fakin' the funk]

but that is a good question... whether by ranking advanced first you're locking yourself out of categoricals.

Does anyone know what this means? What does "locking yourself out" mean?

Your ROL can have any number and order you want of advanced and categoricals. You can be considered for both advanced and categorical spots at a single program as long as you've applied for them in ERAS and put them on your ROL.