Prelim or Transitional??

[napoleondynamite]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I will be applying for the 2007 match and would really appreciate anyone's input regarding what to do with my intern year:

1) What's best, prelim or transitional year? Do programs even care?
2) How do you go about selecting a good program? What are the main things I should look for in a program?
3) Does anyone know if you can do your intern year abroad? Is that frowned upon?
4) If I don't match in RadOnc but DO match into a prelim/transitional year, then what? Am I obligated to take the intern year, or could I back out and do a year of research if I wanted to instead? Would that hurt my chances the following year of matching?
5) I would really like to do my intern year wherever I do my residency, how plausible is that? Would I have a better shot at with either transitional or prelim?

I would appreciate your advice! Especially those of you who just went through all of this..thanks. 🙂

 

[Gfunk6]

1) What's best, prelim or transitional year? Do programs even care?

Some programs have an integrated prelim/transitional year, most don't. For the ones that do not, they generally don't care what you do. However, if an interviewer asks you, the correct answer is, "I plan on doing a preliminary medicine year at an academic medical center."

2) How do you go about selecting a good program? What are the main things I should look for in a program?

It depends what you want out of your PGY-1. Some people want it to be in nice, easy cush year whereas others are looking for a challenging year where they can learn a lot of medicine. Some people are predominantly interested in geography (e.g. close to where they match for RadOnc). Most hospitals are dying for PGY-1 prelim slots so there should be no shortage of positions.

3) Does anyone know if you can do your intern year abroad? Is that frowned upon?

I doubt it, but why would you even want to? You could possibly schedule a one month elective abroad during your PGY-1 year.

4) If I don't match in RadOnc but DO match into a prelim/transitional year, then what? Am I obligated to take the intern year, or could I back out and do a year of research if I wanted to instead? Would that hurt my chances the following year of matching?

You can decide during your final rank list if you want to take a PGY-1 spot by itself if you don't match into RadOnc. If you then match to a PGY-1 spot, then you are obligated to take it. If your PD is nice, you could possibly opt out of it by communicating this information to NRMP, but why bother? You should decide beforehand which is best for you and do it.

Doing a prelim year should not hurt your chances of matching the following year and could make them stronger. If you are able to publish something before the next ERAS cycle and get get LORs from your attendings, it will help.

5) I would really like to do my intern year wherever I do my residency, how plausible is that? Would I have a better shot at with either transitional or prelim?

It depends where you are doing your residency. If it is in a major metropolitan area, then it may be difficult. Transitional years are generally more competitive than prelim years.

 

[plentystupid]

I really liked the MSKCC Transitoinal year. I thought it would give me the best foundation possible for a career in Rad Onc.
this is why I think it is the best of what's around
- You will see all of the medical, ED, surgical, and critical care issues of onc patients.
- MSK reputation
- the training
- the education
- connections
- Not nearly as crazy as a medical prelim year
- the housing
- the location
- even the salary is great


The drawbacks:
- it is getting very, very competitive
- medical residents come from all over (mixed bag, you never know who you are going to get)

I defer to Gfunk6 for the rest of the answers, as I completely agree.