Match Question Regarding Algorithm

[RxBoy]

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Regarding algorithm for Advanced and Categorical

Hypothetically...
Lets say I rank

1) Advanced Program A + Supplemental List
2) Advanced Program B + Supplemental List
3) Categorical Program C

And the algorithm finds that I match in an Advanced Program A but no matches in Supplemental List. Will it either:

A) Match me in Advanced Program A and go unmatched for a Prelim

or

B) see Avanced Program A and Advanced Program B as unmatched (Because no match in supplemental) and create a Match in Categorical C?

PS= I know the colors make this post look like one of those goofy 90's HTML websites back in the day, but I figured it would help illustrate the point.

 

[Ludicolo]

Answer: A)

You will get the message: "Congratulations, you have matched to an advanced position but not a first year position!"

You will have to scramble for a prelim.

 

[danceforit]

and sorry if its been asked, couldn't find it clearly answered by other threads or the nrmp website, but what about the reverse? If i apply to one specialty with a prelim (ie derm) and another without (say medicine), and i match at a prelim but not at any advanced position, will it ignore all the prelim matches and just match me at a categorial spot?

I am confused because i remember seeing somewhere that you can get an email saying "congrats you matched at a prelim but not an advanced position".

thanks🙂

 

[Ludicolo]

and sorry if its been asked, couldn't find it clearly answered by other threads or the nrmp website, but what about the reverse? If i apply to one specialty with a prelim (ie derm) and another without (say medicine), and i match at a prelim but not at any advanced position, will it ignore all the prelim matches and just match me at a categorial spot?

I am confused because i remember seeing somewhere that you can get an email saying "congrats you matched at a prelim but not an advanced position".

thanks🙂

You get this email ("Congratulations, you have matched into a one year position!") if you match at a prelim spot off of your primary ROL.

Let’s say your ROL looks like this:
1 Advanced Derm program A + suppl (with prelim IM programs B, C, D)
2 Prelim IM program B
3 Categorical IM program E
4 Advanced Derm program F + suppl

If you match at Derm A, then your suppl ROL is triggered, and the algorithm tries to also match you at B, C, or D.

If you don’t match at A, your supplemental list does not come into play. Then the algorithm moves down and tries to match you at your #2 (prelim IM program B). If you match there, you’re done. You get the email above. The algorithm will not find an unmatched categorical or advanced program (programs E or F) lower on your list for you, because it assumes you would rather go to program B for one year over these other programs.

One more thing, if you ONLY rank prelim/transitional year programs on your primary ROL, and you match, your email message will simply say "Congratulations, you have matched!"

 

[doozenberg]

You get this email ("Congratulations, you have matched into a one year position!") if you match at a prelim spot off of your primary ROL.

Let’s say your ROL looks like this:
1 Advanced Derm program A + suppl (with prelim IM programs B, C, D)
2 Prelim IM program B
3 Categorical IM program E
4 Advanced Derm program F + suppl

If you match at Derm A, then your suppl ROL is triggered, and the algorithm tries to also match you at B, C, or D.

If you don’t match at A, your supplemental list does not come into play. Then the algorithm moves down and tries to match you at your #2 (prelim IM program B). If you match there, you’re done. You get the email above. The algorithm will not find an unmatched categorical or advanced program (programs E or F) lower on your list for you, because it assumes you would rather go to program B for one year over these other programs.

One more thing, if you ONLY rank prelim/transitional year programs on your primary ROL, and you match, your email message will simply say "Congratulations, you have matched!"

So let's say you match ONLY at a prelim program that was tacked onto the end of a primary list of advanced and categorical anesthesia programs.

Is the scramble for advanced programs in anesthesia still an option the same year? Or are you forced to take prelim position alone and reapply for anesthesia the following year?

 

[escape78]

So let's say you match ONLY at a prelim program that was tacked onto the end of a primary list of advanced and categorical anesthesia programs.

Is the scramble for advanced programs in anesthesia still an option the same year?

Yes, you can scramble for an Advanced Program in the same year.
I believe that if you match to a PRELIM program ranked at the bottom on your Primary ROL you will get the following message:

"Congrats you have matched to a one-year program"

AND

You will be able to scramble for an Advanced Program but NOT to a Categorical Program (as that would be a match violation as you have already matched into a PRELIM spot).

Or are you forced to take prelim position alone and reapply for anesthesia the following year?

You HAVE to take the PRELIM position that you have matched to.
If you don't it will be a match violation.

If you are unable to scramble into an Advanced Anesthesiology position then my guess is that you could apply as an independent candidate within the year in case CA1 vacancies open up(someone drops out/program has unfilled spots etc) or you can apply for the next years match.

 

[error404]

You will be able to scramble for an Advanced Program but NOT to a Categorical Program (as that would be a match violation as you have already matched into a PRELIM spot).

You HAVE to take the PRELIM position that you have matched to.

What are people's thoughts on this? I'm going back and forth on whether to list any prelims at the end of my primary ROL. Is it better to scramble for specialty training with the option of doing a categorical, but risk having to find a prelim if only advanced positions are available? Or is getting set up with a prelim and only having to worry about advanced positions thought to be easier, even if there might be fewer options?

Hopefully, its all a non-issue, but what do you guys think?

 

[doozenberg]

Thanks escape.

I, too, am wavering back and forth on whether or not to rank any prelims at the end of my primary list.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[RxBoy]

I decided not to rank Prelim's at the end. Scrambling into a prelim is billion times easier than scrambling into an anesthesia spot.

Half of Anesthesia programs are CA, why cut your limbs from under you? U of Michigan (pure CA program) had something like 7 unmatched last year. I would of shot myself if it was cause of that pesky prelim that I wasn't able to match there.

 

[Law2Doc]

I decided not to rank Prelim's at the end. Scrambling into a prelim is billion times easier than scrambling into an anesthesia spot.
...

IMHO this is a bit of a gamble, because if a good categorical gas spot doesn't fall to the scramble, or you don't nab it in the scramble, you might end up having to scramble into a prelim spot in an undesirable geographical region or a malignant program, whereas if you interviewed at prelim programs you didn't think were too bad, you might be able to at least lock yourself into a nice spot for one year before having to find an advanced program. The reason a lot of the prelim slots you are talking about are a "billion times easier" to scramble into is because a lot of them are highly undesirable. If you don't control your desiny in the match for the prelim, you get whatever nobody else wanted -- often for a reason. For most of the advanced programs I think it's generally deemed smarter to at least get the prelim year lined up if you don't get your advanced.

 

[rox]

IMHO this is a bit of a gamble, because if a good categorical gas spot doesn't fall to the scramble, or you don't nab it in the scramble, you might end up having to scramble into a prelim spot in an undesirable geographical region or a malignant program, whereas if you interviewed at prelim programs you didn't think were too bad, you might be able to at least lock yourself into a nice spot for one year before having to find an advanced program. The reason a lot of the prelim slots you are talking about are a "billion times easier" to scramble into is because a lot of them are highly undesirable. If you don't control your desiny in the match for the prelim, you get whatever nobody else wanted -- often for a reason. For most of the advanced programs I think it's generally deemed smarter to at least get the prelim year lined up if you don't get your advanced.

So if you like a Prelim spot at a certain program, would you rank it in the supplemental lists of the advanced positions and at the end as well?

 

[Law2Doc]

So if you like a Prelim spot at a certain program, would you rank it in the supplemental lists of the advanced positions and at the end as well?

Many people do.