Prelim Surgery - Is it easy to get into?

[jeeb75]

The reason I ask this question is I have been reading through many threads where some have suggested that if all else fails they will get scramble into a prelim surgery spot. Afterwards they will try to get into a pgy2 categorical surgery position or re-enter the match and go for pgy1 categorical surgery or a family med residency if all else fails. From my understanding, getting a prelim or transitional IM spot is difficult.

1) So are prelim surgery spots easier to get into than categorical IM or FM spots?
2) Are these prelim surgery spots still available after the scramble?
3) Are there situations where many prelim surgery spots go unfilled for the year?

The reason I am interested is because I am a IMG and my USMLE scores are low. I always wanted to do a general surgery residency but got no interviews for it. I was thinking if I do not match into family med this year, I should maybe try to scramble into prelim surgery. The reason I feel this would be good for me is in two ways - 1) Get my foot in the door for surgery in the future, and 2) if surgery does not work out at least get that US Clinical experience that is lacking in my CV for family med in next years match.

I have been lurking around doing a lot of reading here. As I have mentioned before I have seen many threads of should I or shouldn't I do prelim surgery, but those situations are by people with high scores. I do not have high scores or US clinical experience so I could be wrong in thinking that getting a prelim surgery spot is possible.

Anyways, thanks in advance for any input.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Winged Scapula]

1) So are prelim surgery spots easier to get into than categorical IM or FM spots?

Depends on the program. Some categorical IM or FP programs are highly competitive and others are not. However, conventional wisdom has it that Prelim Surgery positions are fairly easy to get - there tend to be hundreds more available than applicants, although as the competition for Categorical General Surgery positions becomes more competitive, the Prelim spots may as well, as others take them as a "back-up".

But for those envisioning a career in Surgery, it doesn't make much sense to do take a Categorical position in IM or FP, because the rotations won't be transferable to a Surgery residency down the line, should one match into a program, and it doesn't allow you to work closely with surgeons who can assist you in later matches.

2) Are these prelim surgery spots still available after the scramble?

Yes, usually hundreds are available in the Scramble, with a smaller number open after the Scramble. These would be non-designated Prelim positions which are generally designed for those who need a Prelim year before going onto further training (ie, Anesthesia). Since most have the option of choosing Medicine or Surgery, the former is the favorite choice by far, leaving lots of open positions. However, as I noted above, as the categorical match for gen surg becomes more competitive, there may be fewer Prelim positions available in the Scramble and post-scramble.

3) Are there situations where many prelim surgery spots go unfilled for the year?

Sure. As noted above, many get confused when they see how many positions are open for general surgery after the match and assume these are categorical positions. There have historically been hundreds (upwards of 300) positions in Prelim Surgery open in the match and many still available when the intern year starts (there is no central database for the latter information).

In your situation, its difficult to tell you whether or not you would be competitive for a Prelim position, but you should try since its what you want to do rather tha FP.

 

[jeeb75]

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions, I really appreciate it.