not applying for a 2-4 program's prelim OK?

[nocallaochicas]

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anyone know if it matters if you apply to a 2-4 program's prelim? would PD's care? would they wonder if you really want to be at that institution?

example: if applying to - let's say - BU/Boston Med Center EM for the PGY2-4, does it matter if you apply to the prelim program there or not?

ncc

 

[Apollyon]

Doesn't matter at all. Considering you can use a prelim IM or surgery year, or a transitional year, to satisfy requirements, it's a wide open world. Consider that a PD might even tell you that their IM program isn't that strong, and direct you elsewhere. Just finish it! (When I was prelim IM, one of my co-interns got thisclose to being fired for multiple offenses, and he was prelim for ophtho!)

 

[FoughtFyr]

Doesn't matter at all. Considering you can use a prelim IM or surgery year, or a transitional year, to satisfy requirements, it's a wide open world. Consider that a PD might even tell you that their IM program isn't that strong, and direct you elsewhere. Just finish it! (When I was prelim IM, one of my co-interns got thisclose to being fired for multiple offenses, and he was prelim for ophtho!)

You weren't in the Chicago Suburbs for your prelim were you Apollyon?

- H

 

[Apollyon]

You weren't in the Chicago Suburbs for your prelim were you Apollyon?

- H

No, Queens NY. I wonder if it's idiosyncratic to that specialty?

 

[WakeMedHeel]

example: if applying to - let's say - BU/Boston Med Center EM for the PGY2-4, does it matter if you apply to the prelim program there or not?

Nobody cares...especially at BMC. Although, I would ask why wouldn't you want to do your prelim year at BMC? It's cake.

 

[nocallaochicas]

Nobody cares...especially at BMC. Although, I would ask why wouldn't you want to do your prelim year at BMC? It's cake.

No reason. I was just using that as an example.
Your description is the first I have heard about the prelim there. I don't know anything about prelims really. How do you know it is cake? Is there some place I can get such info? or is it just word on the street or personal experience?
I basically was just going to pick a few on location and began to worry if I should at least be applying to the programs at my 2-4 app sites. I don't really want to be applying to a bunch of prelim/transitionals. Maybe I will apply to BMC prelim tomorrow. Yeah, I'll do it.
ncc

 

[DocChez]

Yeah, I'm with you nocallaochicas, I really didn't want to deal with applying to a bunch of prelim years on top of the load of apps that I have in for EM/IM and EM. But now that I'm starting to get interview offers from a few 2-4s (BMC, CCBH) that I'm interested in, I guess it's something I have to deal with.

Does anyone have any advice on particular programs (I really don't know if I have a preference between transitional years vs. Prelim IM vs. Prelim Surg, but I think I might lean towards Prelim IM) for in the Boston, Chicago, and LA areas? I'm gonna guess I need to get the apps out soon (like today or tomorrow).

 

[Hercules]

Lean towards transitionals. They tend to be the easiest and have the most flexibility and least amount of floor medicine. Finely honing your ability to round on floor patients and do social work will not be of much use to you in your future career. I had several rotations in my transitional last year that have already proved useful (Anesthesia, Ophthalmology, Radiology, etc.).

 

[WakeMedHeel]

Really I was kidding. I did my prelim year there...before going into the EM program. It was a tough, but I found it very rewarding for a few reasons. First, I got to know the hospital. Second I got to know a lot of the IM folks including, fellows and residents that I talk to on a daily basis. Third, I didn't have to apply to a ton of prelims...only the programs where the 2-4 EM program was.

I know nothing about transitional years and I don't think I would've gotten much out of such a year, but obviously it's different for everyone.

 

[deleted52758]

a couple of suggestions....

transitional years are everything awesome and right about medicine. it's cake and it's flexible. i'd only take a prelim interview at a 2-4 program if you didnt have to travel again, i.e., they offer to interview you while you're there on your EM interview or the next day.

i also only interviewed for prelim/ty's spots in the city i was graduating from. this way it minimized how many TY programs i interviewed with, and minimized wasting my efforts interviewing on intern spots. but then again, i was in chicago, which is an awesome city, so i had nothing to lose.