Ranking categorical and prelim, how does it work?

[mpd210]

If I apply to a surgery programs categorical and preliminary spots, do I get to rank them separately or do I have to rank them as one program? If the latter is the case, then I wouldn't know how to rank it because I don't know if they'll be taking me for their cat or prelim spot?

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[NotAProgDirector]

You can rank you categorical and prelim programs in any order you wish. Most people will rank all of their cat programs first, and then all the prelims -- but you can do anything. Rank them in the order you want them -- ignore what you think programs want.

Programs will rank you, and the match will find the best fit FOR YOU.

Example: Let's say I have a categorical and surgery program, each with 2 spots. Kinda small, I know, but let's go with the flow.

I rank you #20 on my categorical list. A long shot, to say the least.
I rank you #1 on my prelim list. Wahoo! A sure thing.

If you rank:
#1 Categorical
#2 Prelim

The match will first try to give you a categorical spot. If I go down to #20, you get it. If not, the match will try to give you a Prelim spot. Since you are ranked #1 there, you get it.

Key here is that you cannot hurt yourself by ranking programs that you think you have no chance of getting into. You cannot lose a spot by ranking it low on your list (unless you match into something higher on your list, which is a good thing!)

You can hurt yourself by ranking programs you don't want to go to, and then matching there.

 

[mpd210]

So what you're saying is that if I interview at a program in which I applied to both their categorical and preliminary spots, then I can rank that program twice (once for categorical and once for preliminary)?

For example: I apply to Harvard (just an example 😀), I can place a rank order something like this
Harvard categorical #1
Communitry hospital categorical #5
Harvard preliminary #10

Am I understanding you?
Because if this is the case, I might as well apply to both categorical and preliminary spots for every program I'm interested in.

Thanks for your help, btw.

 

[Winged Scapula]

So what you're saying is that if I interview at a program in which I applied to both their categorical and preliminary spots, then I can rank that program twice (once for categorical and once for preliminary)?

Yes you can.

But you must make sure the programs know you are applying for and will accept either position (although would prefer a Categorical one). If you don't apply for the Prelim, and don't tell the programs that you would accept it, they won't know to rank you for both categorical and/or prelim.

 

[mpd210]

Thanks.
When its time to come up with a rank list, how does it work. The programs rank the applicants. then the applicants sign online and see which programs they are allowed to rank? Does it say categorical or preliminary next to the programs name so you can rank them?
🙂

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Thanks.
When its time to come up with a rank list, how does it work. The programs rank the applicants. then the applicants sign online and see which programs they are allowed to rank? Does it say categorical or preliminary next to the programs name so you can rank them?
🙂

We each rank blinded to each other. If you rank a program and they don't rank you, or vice versa, you just don't match there.

Basically, you should simply just build a list of all the programs you would be willing to match into, with your top choice #1 and go from there. Shoot for the moon, as ranking programs that don't rank you can't hurt you at all.

When you choose ranks, there are different code numbers / selections for each track, so yes you will choose the Cat and prelim pathways separately.

 

[GABA FAN]

Dear a ProgDirector:

Have a question about the rank of categorical (4 yrs) and advance (3 yrs) neuo program.

Is it true to rank categorical neuro programs first then the advance neuro programs later in order to make sure that you will match sucessfully instead of partial match?

Say you have a categorical program (A) who will rank you high and an advance program (B) who will rank you high as well, however you do not have a prelim program who ranks you. So if you put advance program (B) before the categorical program (A), you will end up partially match at B program. You will have to go through scramble to find a prelim program. Is that right? So if you rank A program higher than B program, you will definately match at A. Is the logic right?

Thanks.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

You are correct, and many applicants prefer integrated/categorical programs for this reason.

Of course, if one of your advanced programs is of much higher quality / better fit / better location than your categorical programs, you'll need to decide whether to rank the advanced program higher and hope for a prelim match / good scramble, or settle for the categorical program.

 

[GABA FAN]

Thank you very much, AProgDirector!