Is This Enough?

[Harrison486]

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I am trying to figure out how many prelim programs to apply to and honestly I'm just confused by this whole process and how to handle it

I am going to be applying for residency in Anesthesiology and a lot of programs offer categorical spots in addition to advanced positions. I am hoping to end up at a 4-year program but will be applying to TYs/prelims just in-case I end up in a 3-year advanced position.

I just can't figure out how many TYs/prelims to apply to. I have decided that I am only going to apply to TYs/prelims (and thus advanced spots) in NYC, Philly, and Boston and that everywhere else I am applying, I will only apply to the 4-year programs.

Even with that decided, I can't seem to figure out how many TYs/prelims I can get by applying to. I am currently thinking about 4-5 per each of those 3 cities listed above. I just don't know if that is going to be enough if I end up at a 3-year program, but I don't know of any other desirable programs in those areas and don't really want to end up applying to tons of prelim programs for no reason... (thus I guess I'm asking if my 12-15 programs is enough even though its only 4-5 per city)

Here are my stats if it matters:
Med School: Mid-range East Coast state school
Class Rank: I think anywhere from top 10% to top 25% (don't really know) - Not AOA
Clinical Grades: Honored medicine and surgery; High Passed everything else
Step 1: 250+
Research: Involved in 2 non-anesthesia projects, but no publications

Here is my current list of prelims:

Boston:
Brockton Hospital/Tufts-New England Medical Center (TY)
Caritas Carney Hospital (TY)
Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center (Prelim IM)
Tufts University at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital (TY)

NYC:
Flushing Hospital Medical Center (TY)
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (TY)
New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens (TY)
New York Medical College (Sound Shore) (TY)

Philly:
Albert Einstein Medical Center (TY)
Crozer-Chester Medical Center (TY)
Lehigh Valley Hospital (TY)
Reading Hospital and Medical Center (TY)

Is that enough prelim programs to apply to even if I only plan on ranking NYC prelims for NYC programs, Philly prelims for Philly programs, etc.?

Any suggestions of other good/nice/cush prelims in these areas that I should add if I need more?

THANKS

 

[mlw03]

Yes

 

[gutonc]

Probably. The only caveat I would add is that it's probably worth linking all your prelim programs to the advanced programs you really want to go to, regardless of city. Moving twice would suck but it's not like you're talking about moving across country or anything. And moving twice would suck much less than not matching a prelim spot (you don't want to wind up doing a surg prelim instead).