Prelim / Transitional question

[LIDO]

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Hello,

Is it necessary to complete a Medicine Sub-I prior to applying for Prelim / Transitional year programs? I will most likely not have time to complete the Sub-I prior to application. Therefore, I will not have a "Medicine Department" letter, but will have numerous strong medicine letters from my third year clerkship (grade = honor).

Advice is appreciated. Thank you!

 

[asmallchild]

How is this derm related?

 

[LIDO]

Derm typically completes a prelim / transitional .... I am applying to derm .... curious if anybody has input.

 

[sore eye asses]

your multiple strong medicine letters are more than enough. I never did a sub-i and it hindered me not.

 

[Dral]

Not a problem. You should probably be able to get a letter from your school's medicine PD. My school's PD wrote a letter for all the people going for a prelim/TY. That one letter should be enough...the other two letters will be the ones you have for Derm.

Med prelim PDs know the score. They know you're not trying to go into IM.

I did a surg AI, used my IM PD's letter, a FM rotation letter, and a Derm letter...matched at my #1 prelim.

 

[LIDO]

Not a problem. You should probably be able to get a letter from your school's medicine PD. My school's PD wrote a letter for all the people going for a prelim/TY. That one letter should be enough...the other two letters will be the ones you have for Derm.

Med prelim PDs know the score. They know you're not trying to go into IM.

I did a surg AI, used my IM PD's letter, a FM rotation letter, and a Derm letter...matched at my #1 prelim.

That is the issue. My school won't let the PD write a letter without taking a Sub-I. The best I can do is get a couple of letters from my third year clerkship (strong) and the third year clerkship director is willing to write an "overview" of my performance (also strong). Will not having a PD letter make things difficult? Have other people done this?

 

[basal]

That is the issue. My school won't let the PD write a letter without taking a Sub-I. The best I can do is get a couple of letters from my third year clerkship (strong) and the third year clerkship director is willing to write an "overview" of my performance (also strong). Will not having a PD letter make things difficult? Have other people done this?

You don't have to worry about being competitive for prelim/ty programs if you are competitive for derm. I got one IM letter from a private practice guy I worked with in the community and it hasn't been an issue at all. Prelim interviews are seriously so much easier to come by then derm interviews. Just get a letter from any IM doc you worked with your third year and you'll be fine.

 

[doc MD]

You dont need any medicine letters to apply to a TY/Prelim yr. I just used my derm letters and did just fine. You will get plenty and will start canceling many of them. They don't care and know that you are just there for a year.

 

[LIDO]

Thank you for the information and insight. It's much appreciated 😉