Should I apply to preliminary med or Transitional year as backup, if i want to ultimately go into EM alone.

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Non-US IMG here.

Should I apply to Prelim med or Transitional year, if I hope to match into an EM program in the same hospital next year (if this year doesn't work out)?

 

[Tenk]

Whichever has an associated ED program that takes IMG.

 

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Thanks for the reply,

Forgive my ignorance, but wouldn't there be instances where both prelim medicine and TY programs exist in the same hospital?

 

[TheOther]

Unsure of prelim vs TY, but I don't think it matters as long as it's surgical. At least anecdotally, friends who have done surgical prelims have successfully matched into EM.

 

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Thanks, Is there any rule of which among these has more months in EM than the other? TY/Prelim med/ Prelim surg

 

[Lexdiamondz]

Unsure of prelim vs TY, but I don't think it matters as long as it's surgical. At least anecdotally, friends who have done surgical prelims have successfully matched into EM.

The problem with that is that surgical prelims are usually quasi-slavery. You won't have time to interview if you're working >90 hrs a week unless you're fortunate enough to have scheduled your vacation around interview time.

 

[TheOther]

The problem with that is that surgical prelims are usually quasi-slavery. You won't have time to interview if you're working >90 hrs a week unless you're fortunate enough to have scheduled your vacation around interview time.

Good points. I guess to clarify, those friends matched at the programs they interned at. So, a bit less cumbersome to schedule a day off to interview.

Thanks, Is there any rule of which among these has more months in EM than the other? TY/Prelim med/ Prelim surg

I think this is program-dependent. Look on their websites for the schedule or email them.

 

[deleted436726]

Generally TYs offer the most flexibility in terms of both time off for interviewing and scheduling electives like additional EM months, however, they're also more competitive than prelim medicine programs.

 

[Lexdiamondz]

Generally TYs offer the most flexibility in terms of both time off for interviewing and scheduling electives like additional EM months, however, they're also more competitive than prelim medicine programs.

This.

Transitional years are generally dominated by very competitive applicants who are headed for Derm, Optho, etc generally because they are seen as less labour-intensive than IM or surgery prelims. As an IMG you're gonna have an uphill battle matching a TY.