Open spot

[mmp2]

Hi everyone,

I am currently a preliminary PGY2 surgical resident. Unfortunately I have not been able to find a categorical spot yet!!! I regularly check the APDS website but I know many programs do not post their positions on the web. If you know any available spots in your program or know anything that can help, please let me know. You can PM me and I can give you further info about myself.

Thanks in advance!!!

 

[mmp2]

anybody... come on guys!!! Give me a hand here!!!

 

[Amy]

Sorry mmp, these spots are incredibly hard to come by. Your best resource is your PD... is he/she talking to programs for you? They are the ones in the "inner circle" that are most likely to know about open spots.

 

[NJA61479]

I just heard that a PGY-1 categorical is dropping at cottage in santa barbara, CA
they will have an open PGY-2 spot for next year.
hope this helps

 

[mmp2]

Hey Amy, thanks for your input.. just looking for extra help.

NJA61479 thanks for the info!!! I'll contact them asap..

 

[mmp2]

Anyone? any help out there?

 

[Nomack]

I am also a PGY2 prelim. Fortunately, I found a categorical spot this past week, interviewed, and got the position. I basically checked the APDS website daily to see if there were any new spots posted and sent the info they requested. It is just a painful waiting game, plain and simple. Last year when I was looking for 2-spots there seemed to be a ton of 3-spots open. This year it is the opposite. You could consider applying for the many 2nd year categorical spots being posted, or wait and see what becomes available for the 3rd year spots. I think many programs are still dealing with the whole intern match chaos and may not have had time yet to figure out their research situation, which is where most spots open up. So have faith and keep checking the APDS site. Seriously consider the 2nd year spots. You may lose a year, but once you are a categorical you should be locked in for the whole ride. Also, call up your buddies from med school who went into surgery, or really any other programs, and ask them to poke around and see if there are potential spots opening up that aren't being posted. Get the contact info and send out your CV with maybe a follow-up phone call. Get letters ready as well so you can move on anything that opens up. Programs want to plug the hole as quick as possible so they can start planning for next year and avoid taking time out of their schedules to do more interviews, etc. So ready with the standard list of documents that they ask for.

Let me know if you have questions and good luck!