Matched Prelim or Categorical?

[callahmr]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Tried to figure this out from some other threads, but still not sure. Can anyone help out with this, as I'm sure others are in the same boat.....?

I ranked some categorical surgery programs. I also ranked some prelim surgery just in case. This is all I ranked. NRMP message says "Congratulations! You have matched."

Does this mean that I have a categorical spot, or can it still be either categorical or prelim?

Thank you, and best wishes to anyone that still needs to figure things out.

 

[ACSurgeon]

Edit: Seems like Turundu has a more accurate answer than mine.

 

[callahmr]

Thank you for your input.

I'm assuming this is the case as well. Either way, just happy to have a job.

 

[jasb66]

I believe you have matched to a categorical position. I also applied and ranked both categoricals and prelims in surgery. Unfortunately, my message came as "Congratulations! You have matched to a one-year position"

This is really confusing since I didn't apply to advance positions at all, and the match announcements explain my notification as having matched in a prelim year but not in an advanced.

Regardless of this, since you got the cool message, I am now assured that I've matched to a prelim. Congrats to you.

 

[turundu]

I had the same question last week, e-mailed the NRMP and got the following response:

C - Categorical program = "Congratulations, you have matched!". (This
is a full program).

A -Advanced program PLUS the prelim from the supplemental list =
"Congratulations, you have matched!".

A- Advanced program ONLY = "Congratulations, you have matched to an advanced
position but not a first year position!"

P = Preliminary program from the Primary list= "Congratulations you
have matched to a one-year position!".

The algorithm is smart enough to recognize that a person who ranked any categorical along with the prelims must have wanted a categorical. Therefore he/she will be fully matched if getting into a categorical position.

 

[callahmr]

Thank you pmapunk and turundu for your information. Definitely helpful. I'll post the result from Thursday so people have some additional clarity in the future.

 

[Doctor4Life1769]

I had the same question last week, e-mailed the NRMP and got the following response:

C - Categorical program = "Congratulations, you have matched!". (This
is a full program).

A -Advanced program PLUS the prelim from the supplemental list =
"Congratulations, you have matched!".

A- Advanced program ONLY = "Congratulations, you have matched to an advanced
position but not a first year position!"

P = Preliminary program from the Primary list= "Congratulations you
have matched to a one-year position!".

The algorithm is smart enough to recognize that a person who ranked any categorical along with the prelims must have wanted a categorical. Therefore he/she will be fully matched if getting into a categorical position.

Not doing surg, but did apply to a prelim surg for some of my advanced year slots... so, I guess since the top 2 yields the same message, it's not a given that I matched categorical vs. prelim+advanced... wonderful 🙄

Thanks for the clarification!

 

[callahmr]

I'll post the result from Thursday so people have some additional clarity in the future.

Just to follow up... ranked categorical and prelims, for general surgery only. Matched categorical.