Pre-Residency Fellow Vs. Pre-Lim Questions

[Alekaptonuria]

So obviously, I didn't match and am pretty shaken up. Had some questions about what to do now. I've read most of the threads on the research fellowships, and will likely be applying to them. However in case I don't get into one of these, I had a few questions about continuing with doing a prelim year and trying to re-apply.

First off, I'm a DO at a school that has very few resources. My board scores were in the 240 range, and my COMLEX I and II were both 600-650. I've heard that the big con is not being able to realistically improve my application before the next round begins. If I were able to get on a case series or two before end of June, would that be enough to make this worthwhile?

Second question is about funding. If I go into a medicine pre-lim, I will be limited to 3 years of full funding, and I'm afraid this will discourage programs from ranking me next year. A surgical prelim, although less desired, would give me a max of 5 years of full funding. Would this be an advantage when applying again? For obvious reasons I think I'd rather do a medicine prelim year, but if it gives me a better shot at matching next year I'd be willing to do surgery.


Thanks!

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[linevasel]

Reasonable question, but thats not how it works. If you are going to do a pre - lim/surg year. Choose the program that gives you the most flexibility for elevtives/rotations/ interviewig / additional letters etc. At my home program, no extra consideration is give to someone based o their PGY1 year. However as an aside I would ask, have you considered the DO programs. I understand a few of them have obtained pre-certification and are expected to survive the merger. Would you not consider DO ophtho programs?

 

[Alekaptonuria]

Thanks for responding! I would definitely consider DO programs, but as of now only 5 have received pre-accreditation and there are usually 45ish applicants every year. I thought that fighting for these 7-8 spots out of the almost 50 applicants was worse odds than going for MD spots. I obviously guessed wrong.

 

[EyeDR_oo]

To my knowledge surgery and medicine prelims do not count against your government funding for post graduate training (i.e. you could have 20 prelim years, and still complete any categorical residencies). However if you enter a categorical residency, then yes this applies and you are on the clock. For example, I entered ophtho via a non-traditional route. As a categorical general surgery resident, I had 5 years of funding pre-approved, and had to leave residency before my 3rd year in order to switch to ophthalmology. If I had left after my third year, then government funding would only apply to 2 ophtho years, and the hospital would be responsible for picking up the tab on my third year. Highly unlikely that any hospital would front the cost of that third year (although I have heard stories of it being done).

Also you should absolutely apply to DO spots regardless. Ophtho is ophtho is ophtho and a program wont make or break your future, only you can do that. When I was looking to switch I contacted EVERYONE -- good luck!