prelim-medicine vs. transitional

[Cuse09]

im sorry if someone already asked this question before, but i was wondering when people who previously interviewed and matched if certain programs had preferences whether applicants were doing a prelim year (med, surg) or transitional year. i heard mixed opinions that certain programs do prefer that you do a prelim in medicine but do they hold that against you if you decide to do a transitional year?

i feel that transitional year gives you a broad scope of medicine where as a prelim year might prepare you better for PGY-2. but then again you have months during transitional year where you do medicine and that might be enough.

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[OMMFellow06]

Do a transitional year. A prelim year of medicine would probably be overboard. As part of a relatively heavy inpatient residency, I don't feel that a prelim year in medicine is essential. I think that a transitional year would probably be just fine.

im sorry if someone already asked this question before, but i was wondering when people who previously interviewed and matched if certain programs had preferences whether applicants were doing a prelim year (med, surg) or transitional year. i heard mixed opinions that certain programs do prefer that you do a prelim in medicine but do they hold that against you if you decide to do a transitional year?

i feel that transitional year gives you a broad scope of medicine where as a prelim year might prepare you better for PGY-2. but then again you have months during transitional year where you do medicine and that might be enough.

 

[lord_jeebus]

You match in both simultaneously, so it would be impossible for them to judge.

Even if they asked what you're applying to, you could just say you applied to both prelim med and transitional programs - which is true for many applicants. I don't see why anyone would care.

 

[SSdoc33]

makes no difference. do the program you want

 

[Llenroc]

In general Transitional Years are easier than Prelim Medicine years, but that's because some of the former will let you have 5 months without call. Most, however, tend to have the typical 3-4 call free months with which is the same as Preliminary Medicine programs.

I interviewed at a number of places where the TY and PM programs both had the same number of months call free. In these cases, the PM years were actually easier because you didn't have to do Surgery.

 

[Ludicolo]

Doesn't matter.

I know that some PDs tell applicants that they would prefer if they did a prelim IM year vs. a TY. They seem to think that it would better prepare you for an inpatient heavy PGY-2 year. They want your adjustment period to be as smooth as possible. But I have seen many a fine resident come out of a TY, as well as a prelim IM year. In either case, no one is going to hold it against you.

Do whatever works best for you. Keep in mind that TYs tend to be much more competitive than prelim IM - because of the perceived cush factor.