Prelim vs Transitional

[Nicholaus]

Can you do a prelim year instead of transitional year for PM&R? Or do PM&R programs specifically require a transitional year? Just a little confused.

Thanks in advance 🙂

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[PMR 4 MSK]

Can you do a prelim year instead of transitional year for PM&R? Or do PM&R programs specifically require a transitional year? Just a little confused.

Thanks in advance 🙂

Can do either. Any advanced (non-categorical) program should allow any 1st year, IM or transitional. Some residents have done others like surgery or FP.

 

[keepsmiling10]

Can anyone list any pros vs. cons for doing Prelim vs. Transitional? What if I think it's extremely important to have a solid understanding of medicine, but still want a good variety? Also, do any programs have categorical years so that it's a full 4 year program instead of intern + 3 yr?
Lastly, do you know if we need to have a whole separate packet for P/T year including LOR's & PS that is geared towards that year? Thanks!

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

Can anyone list any pros vs. cons for doing Prelim vs. Transitional? What if I think it's extremely important to have a solid understanding of medicine, but still want a good variety? Also, do any programs have categorical years so that it's a full 4 year program instead of intern + 3 yr?
Lastly, do you know if we need to have a whole separate packet for P/T year including LOR's & PS that is geared towards that year? Thanks!

my thoughts -
Transitional - pros - variety, broad-based, more electives (usually), better prep for inpt surgical issues. Cons - not as much time on each rotation, not as much medicine.
Prelim - cons - q4 call x 12 months, little variety, fewer electives. Pros - better prep for inpt rehab medical issues, often attached to PM&R program at same hospital.

I believe one of the Louisiana programs is now combining all 4 years, might be more.

You do not need seperate LOR's for 1st year - they know you are there only because you have to be somewhere, and they know your real plans are for PM&R. A PS specific to why you want to go to their program might not hurt if you have seperate applications.

 

[cbest]

Forgive me if this sounds ridiculous, but would there be any benefit in completing a preliminary surgery year prior to starting a PM&R residency? Thanks!

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

Forgive me if this sounds ridiculous, but would there be any benefit in completing a preliminary surgery year prior to starting a PM&R residency? Thanks!

If pain was your ultimate goal via fellowship, it would be beneficial. Otherwise, it would be much more scutwork than experience.

 

[axm397]

most surgical interns don't do much surgery though - the more senior residents get to scrub in while the interns are managing the floor patients and doing the ER consults

 

[Ludicolo]

Can anyone list any pros vs. cons for doing Prelim vs. Transitional? What if I think it's extremely important to have a solid understanding of medicine, but still want a good variety? Also, do any programs have categorical years so that it's a full 4 year program instead of intern + 3 yr?
Lastly, do you know if we need to have a whole separate packet for P/T year including LOR's & PS that is geared towards that year? Thanks!

TYs tend to offer more variety (read: peds, EM, surgical rotations) and flexibility w/ more elective time. More electives = outpatient rotations = less call. Hence they are also perceived to be cushier than prelim years. As a result, they are a lot more competitive. You will be competing for TY spots against prospective derm, radiology, rad onc candidates who more than likely have better stats than you. That said, there are some cush prelim med programs and some intense TY programs. Shop carefully.

There are many 4-year PM&R categorical programs. Some programs offer both 3-year advanced and 4-year categorical options, and you can rank both. Some categorical programs will actually expose you to rehab rotations in the first year. Others basically have prelim med spots reserved for PM&R at their respective institution, and you don’t do any rehab until the PGY-2 year.

Generally, you can use the same PS and LORs for prelims as you would for PM&R programs. Check w/ each individual program though, some prelim med programs may want an IM letter specifically (likewise a surgery letter for prelim surg programs), some may even require an IM Chair letter. Some applicants will alter their PS slightly for the prelim/TY programs, adding a sentence or two that states that a strong IM base, or a well-rounded clinical foundation provided by a TY program, will best prepare the applicant for a successful residency and career in PM&R. Or something to that effect.

 

[cbest]

Would completing a preliminary surgical year put one at a significant disadvantage in terms of a lack of medicine knowledge needed to be a good PM&R resident?

 

[Llenroc]

Not necessarily, but you probably will feel less confident about medical issues and end up calling the IM, Endocrinology, etc. consultants more.

 

[Taus]

Would completing a preliminary surgical year put one at a significant disadvantage in terms of a lack of medicine knowledge needed to be a good PM&R resident?

Why do you want to do a prelim surgery year?

 

[cbest]

Hey Taus,

It's definitely not that I want to do a prelim surg year... I'm more concerned that it might be my only option, as my significant other is somewhat restricted to NorCal, Seattle, and Chicago for work (3 of the more desirable and, from what I understand, competitive locations in the country). As a DO student, normally I'd be looking into an AOA traditional internship before my PM&R residency; however, as a Canadian down on a student visa and wanting to practice back home as some point later on in my career, AOA post-graduate programs aren't an option for me... kind of a unique situation, I know... haha!

My USMLE score beat the mean by a few points this year and I put up a 600+ COMLEX score, but I'm just not sure if I'll be much competition compared to the anesthesiology, radiology, dermatology, etc. applicants vying for the prelim medicine and transitional year spots.

 

[Taus]

Hey Taus,

It's definitely not that I want to do a prelim surg year... I'm more concerned that it might be my only option, as my significant other is somewhat restricted to NorCal, Seattle, and Chicago for work (3 of the more desirable and, from what I understand, competitive locations in the country). As a DO student, normally I'd be looking into an AOA traditional internship before my PM&R residency; however, as a Canadian down on a student visa and wanting to practice back home as some point later on in my career, AOA post-graduate programs aren't an option for me... kind of a unique situation, I know... haha!

My USMLE score beat the mean by a few points this year and I put up a 600+ COMLEX score, but I'm just not sure if I'll be much competition compared to the anesthesiology, radiology, dermatology, etc. applicants vying for the prelim medicine and transitional year spots.

Got it, though I think you should be fairly confident about landing a prelim med year if you apply to enough in those areas. Glad to hear that you're not simply a masochist.

 

[cbest]

Haha, thanks for the confidence boost, Taus! Hope internship is going well!

 

[MSKalltheway]

Got it, though I think you should be fairly confident about landing a prelim med year if you apply to enough in those areas.

This is pretty golden as far as I've been told. The competition will be steep if youre only seeking Transitional Year spots because they are perceived to be more "cush". TYs is when you have to really compete with the ROAD. Prelim medicine is a bit different because although you still have those specialties applying, more medicine floor months in prelims = more work = more hours = less desirable, and we all know that defeats the purpose of the ROAD

This is just a sweeping generalization though, I have heard a few PM&R applicants say that prelims were more competitive matches for them depending on what they were looking for. Good luck!

 

[Llenroc]

I did a TY year, and the competetiveness of the program went down markedly in the subsequent admissions cycle. That's because more and more anesthesiology programs are integrating the internship, because they have so many PITA requirements. Radiology is also integrating intern years, because they have a critical care requirement now. So TY's are getting less cush around America, perhaps the only type of program now becoming "less competitive".