Match in a Prelim or wait for scramble?? a common question

[Maxico]

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Hi I have a question in my mind that I haven't been able to solve.

I have a pretty good chance to match in 2 good prelim programs, but my chances in anesthesia are not the same. I was wandering if I should rank the prelim programs and go for the scramble (looking for an advance position in aneshesia) or wait and scramble for a categorical one.

I count all the spots available this year, it seems to me that the categorial spots went up and the advance went down.

Can I apply for either an advance or a categorial position while doing my prelim year??

Thanks!!!!

 

[freshity]

why don't you rank all the anesthesia stuff first and then round out your rank list with the prelims alone? then, if you don't match into a categorical or advanced, and you do match into one of those prelims, you can scramble for an advanced? i assume you aren't opposed to advanced programs since you applied and interviewed at prelims too. also, if you weren't able to scramble for some reason, you'd still be able to move forward this year and take another stab at it next year. it might not be the ideal, but it would seem to give you more options than waiting to scramble only into categorical. maybe you're a gambler. matching into a prelim only removes the option of a categorical scramble....how tied to the idea of categorical are you? is it enough that you would be willing to sit out a year (worst case)?

not sure why you would apply for categorical spots while doing your prelim year. whether it's in a categorical or a separate prelim spot, an intern year is an intern year is an intern year. why do it twice? suerte!

 

[fukuisan]

Unless the prelims are to die for, I would not rank the 2 prelim programs. That way, you can scramble into either a categorical program (of which there are now more) OR an advanced program and a prelim. Maximizes your options for anesthesia.

As for applying for an advanced position as an intern, I'm not sure, but I think it's possible; you just have to be very lucky, have excellent connections, or wait an extra year before starting your anesthesia residency.