ROL problems

[I Need Advice]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hello,

I am trying to finalize my ROL but have a dilema. I applied to both radiology and medicine thinking I wasn't much of a candidate for rads but managed to get some interviews. But I ended up interviewing at just 1 prelim med and 1 ty year positions along with a bunch of categorical medicine spots.

I would like to rank rads first but am afraid if I do by some luck get a rads spot, that I wouldn't get a PGY-1 spot, after which I'm assuming I would have to give up my rads spot and a potential categorical med spot as well. I am assuming that if the aformentioned senerio were to occur, I would just match a PGY-2 rads spot and not even have a chance at the categorical med spots.

The big problem with my credentials is that I have a few red flags in my third year and have some serious doubts about my luck in the scramble. My stats are a little below average for rads probably as well, which can't help.

The question is, should I rank the few rads spots first and risk going unmatched for the PG1 year, thinking I could get one during the scramble? Or just play it safe and rank the medicine spots first. I am not adverse to doing surgery as long is it is not totally malignant and am geographically flexible.

Thanks

 

[Medical123]

Talk with your advisor or dean. I am sure that they have had a lot of experience with this. However, (I am just guessing) I would think that if you didn't match radiology, you would at least have a good shot of matching at some of your categorical IM programs. As for the PGY-1 spot, have you applied to places that reserve a few PGY-1 spots for the people who are going into radiology at that particular facility? How about your home program? Maybe that will help. Good luck!

 

[I Need Advice]

😕 Unfortunately, I did not apply to neither my home program nor the programs that I applied to rads for.

 

[LanceArmstrong]

sometimes residencies that begin pgy2 have been know to take ppl who didnt match for an internship at their institutions for either a ty/im-p/ped-p/surg-p year even if they didnt apply there you would have to talk to the pd once you matched at the rad place. regarding matching in im, unless its one of the top 20-30 programs then matching should be a cinch. go for your rad dream.

 

[angel80]

I've known of a few people who have matched into PGY-2 spots, but not PGY-1 spots. They were all able to scramble into PGY-1 prelim medicine spots. As long as you are not picky about where in the country you go, you should be able to get a prelim medicine spot. Many of them go unfilled in the match every year.

 

[I Need Advice]

I'm glad to here of people having had success matching a prelim year in the scramble. Thanks for sharing this info and the helpful advice.🙂