Neuro Scramble

[dinosaur]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi guys. I know you guys might kick my butt for asking this, but I got messed up and applied for INternal medicine (categorical). I did a few interviews and now I realize I want to go into neuro. So I was wondering, could I still send a CAS application and hope a decent neuro program that guarantees a prelim year comes up not fully matched? Should I even bother doing that?

Or should I just play my cards and maybe wiggle my way out of a categoprical program and go for open positions then?

Yeah, I know. I'm asking for it.

 

[kasimagore1]

you will have to finish your prelim year and applying for PGY2 year of neuro this fall.

 

[neuro kid]

I think you would be better off if you completed the first year in IM and then joined PGY2 in July 2006. I have 3 reasons for saying so:

1. This will gove you some time to prepare you CAS application well. Get your application done by july, and send it off for 2006 PGY2 spots.
2. A lot of prospective neurology residents drop out after their PGY1 and continue on in IM. Hence, I would suspect that you would find a lot of empty PGY2 spots in the May-July months.
3. Getting a PGY1 is pretty competitive. Dropping out of the NRMP match at this point would lose you that spot. If you decide to scramble for neuro, you might not be able to find a preceeeding PGY1 (coz you would have to scramble for the prelim also).

My advice to you is to keep things simple, i.e. join PGY1 and then drop in applications (mostly informally) for 2006 PGY2 neuro spots.

I am sorry, but i am in a hurry, so I might not hae explained myself too well.

 

[dinosaur]

hey thanks a lot for the replies guys (and/or girls)!

I was kinda thinking that'w probably what i would have to do -- do my first year as a categorical -- is it true that a lot of PGY1s decide not to continue into neuro? I kinda feel it would be weird asking the PD for a rec letter, makes me feel a bit guilty...