how many transitionals?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

realruby2000

Senior Member
7+ Year Member
15+ Year Member
20+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
hey all,

I will be applying to just one pgy 2-4 program in EM this coming cycle which (at this point) I'm ranking to be #6. How man transitional years should I apply to in addition to EM programs if this is the only 2-4 program I'm gonna apply to and probably rank #6?

thank you! 😉
 
realruby2000 said:
hey all,

I will be applying to just one pgy 2-4 program in EM this coming cycle which (at this point) I'm ranking to be #6. How man transitional years should I apply to in addition to EM programs if this is the only 2-4 program I'm gonna apply to and probably rank #6?

thank you! 😉

I wouldn't apply to any. If it's only your #6 preference, and you don't even know where you're gonna be getting interviews yet, I'd wait. If you get an interview there and really love it, you can scramble into one of the many open transitional year spots. Hell, the 2,3,4 place might even have an "arrangement" where they can get you a spot at the same program.

Or, you could consider applying to transitional years at the places that you are already targeting for EM, the idea being you could interview for both in the same trip.

But seriously, you could save yourself a lot of headaches if you just dropped the application to the 2,3,4 all together if there's only 1 that interests you. That's no slight against Denver, etc., just economic reality.
 
bulgethetwine said:
I wouldn't apply to any. If it's only your #6 preference, and you don't even know where you're gonna be getting interviews yet, I'd wait. If you get an interview there and really love it, you can scramble into one of the many open transitional year spots. Hell, the 2,3,4 place might even have an "arrangement" where they can get you a spot at the same program.

Or, you could consider applying to transitional years at the places that you are already targeting for EM, the idea being you could interview for both in the same trip.

But seriously, you could save yourself a lot of headaches if you just dropped the application to the 2,3,4 all together if there's only 1 that interests you. That's no slight against Denver, etc., just economic reality.

i disagree with the above post. im currently a TY in a major city, and securing a TY spot is just as difficult as securing a competitve categorical EM spot, if not more competitive. you have to remember that you are applying with derm, rads, and opthos.

i applied to 8 ty's in the city i graduated in, and interviewed at 2, i matched at my #2. i also interviewed at 2 prelim spots, which i ranked 3 and 4 to guarantee that i wouldnt have to scramble.

i only applied to TY/prelim programs in the same city as my medical school to save on travel/interview expenses.
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
willlynilly said:
i disagree with the above post. im currently a TY in a major city, and securing a TY spot is just as difficult as securing a competitve categorical EM spot, if not more competitive. you have to remember that you are applying with derm, rads, and opthos.

i applied to 8 ty's in the city i graduated in, and interviewed at 2, i matched at my #2. i also interviewed at 2 prelim spots, which i ranked 3 and 4 to guarantee that i wouldnt have to scramble.

i only applied to TY/prelim programs in the same city as my medical school to save on travel/interview expenses.


ok so does your ps for emergency medicine go to the transitional programs?

also, there is a transitional program at a hospital at resurrection that I heard is pretty cush. I think the folks who run it also might be involved in the EM residency. What would be the impact of applying to res em and res transitional year assuming they find out that I'm applying to both?
 
realruby2000 said:
ok so does your ps for emergency medicine go to the transitional programs?

also, there is a transitional program at a hospital at resurrection that I heard is pretty cush. I think the folks who run it also might be involved in the EM residency. What would be the impact of applying to res em and res transitional year assuming they find out that I'm applying to both?

I understand why WillyN disagreed with me. That's why it always helps to get more than one opinion 🙂

I could have done a better job distinguishing between 'transitional' and 'preliminary'. WillNil was right to correct me that transitional programs can be competitive -- for that matter, so can certain prelim spots -- but I think I should have qualified my comments with the caveat that since there are, from year to year, an oversupply of preliminary spots in both surgery and medicine, it would be easy for you to scramble into one ASSUMING YOU DIDN'T HAVE YOUR HEART SET ON ANY PARTICULAR PROGRAM. Obviously, if you are gunning for one particular spot, then yes, you need to apply with the intent of impressing them at the interview stage as per normal. If you have your heart set on one particular spot, chances are other people do, too.

But since you profess to only be interested in one PGY 2-4 program, you will have to decide how much time you want to put into seeking out a spot.

You can send different PS to prelim programs than EM. For that matter, you can send a different PS to each program you apply to, even if these are in one specialty.

Hope this helps. I should also disclose that I am in a PGY 1,2,3 so it is likely that others (perhaps WilNil?) are better positioned to offer you good advice if they, perhaps, went that route.

Good luck.
 
realruby2000 said:
ok so does your ps for emergency medicine go to the transitional programs?

also, there is a transitional program at a hospital at resurrection that I heard is pretty cush. I think the folks who run it also might be involved in the EM residency. What would be the impact of applying to res em and res transitional year assuming they find out that I'm applying to both?

i didnt hear from resurrection. those jerks!