The Smart Prelim Choice

[markhh10]

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Hey,

US IMG applying to General Surgery and as expected the best IVs I have gotten are for Prelim positions.

My question is which of the following programs is perceived to be more likely to take their own Prelims into Categorical positions the following years:

Mayo Clinic Rochester
U Conn
Uni of Maryland
Uni of Kentucky

I appreciate your informed answers which will hopefully help me with my prelim rank list.

Thanks!!!

 

[Gentle]

Hey,

US IMG applying to General Surgery and as expected the best IVs I have gotten are for Prelim positions.

My question is which of the following programs is perceived to be more likely to take their own Prelims into Categorical positions the following years:

Mayo Clinic Rochester
U Conn
Uni of Maryland
Uni of Kentucky

I appreciate your informed answers which will hopefully help me with my prelim rank list.

Thanks!!!

I think Mayo is really known for subsequently placing prelims into categorical spots be it at Mayo or somewhere else. You SHOULDN'T focus on the fact that they'll take u as a categorical IN MAYO but rather that you'll have a high chance of landing a categorical position SOMEWHERE, coming from the Mayo prelim program.

Best of luck.

-Gentle-

 

[ESU_MD]

I agree. I know of a few Mayo prelims who have made it into the system

 

[markhh10]

Hmmm... some people have told me that it might be better to play the numbers game... for example:

Mayo 18 Prelim / 11 Categoricals
U Conn 6 Prelim / 5 Categoricals
Maryland 6 Prelim / 5 Categoricals

Thus using this logic U Conn or Maryland would be a 1 in 6 chance as opposed to 1 in 18 at Mayo.

Any truth to this do you think!?

 

[Buzz Me]

Actually what's more important (IMHO), besides word-of-mouth, is if the program has a lot of "numbers" flexibility - e.g. the big academic programs with lots of residents in the lab have more options than those with residents who all finish in 5 years. Then you're just waiting for someone to quit.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Hmmm... some people have told me that it might be better to play the numbers game... for example:

Mayo 18 Prelim / 11 Categoricals
U Conn 6 Prelim / 5 Categoricals
Maryland 6 Prelim / 5 Categoricals

Thus using this logic U Conn or Maryland would be a 1 in 6 chance as opposed to 1 in 18 at Mayo.

Any truth to this do you think!?

I think that's irrelevant unless you are counting on staying at the program where you do your Prelim and the programs have a history of taking one (or more) prelims on as a categorical. If that were the case, then yes, it would make more sense (if each program took 1 person) to go to the program where you only have 6 "competitors" for that 1 spot rather than 18. How many of those Prelims are non-designated (those are the only competition for you)?

However, if there is no pattern of keeping prelims on as categoricals, IMHO, you would do better at a bigger name place which presumably has more connections. I have also heard Mayo has a good track record of placing their Prelims in categorical positions (albeit at non-Mayo programs). And as Buzz notes, larger programs often have more flexibility of moving residents around and fitting new ones in.

 

[markhh10]

Please help me rank the following:

Categoricals:

UTMB - Galveston
Uni of Creighton
East Carolina Uni
Easton Pennsylvania (Community)
Harlem
Bronx-Lebanon

Prelims:

Mayo Rochester
UConn
Uni of Maryland
Uni of Kentucky

This is my last request I promise!

 

[markhh10]

bump

 

[docmartin252]

Please help me rank the following:

Categoricals:

UTMB - Galveston
Uni of Creighton
East Carolina Uni
Easton Pennsylvania (Community)
Harlem
Bronx-Lebanon

Prelims:

Mayo Rochester
UConn
Uni of Maryland
Uni of Kentucky

This is my last request I promise!

I can tell you that East Carolina is a good program in a small community. They are a level one trauma, while receiving patients from a rather large radius. From what I have been told from people graduating from the program, they had a very positive experience and felt well prepared with the education they received. As for the community, it is smaller (approx 50,000 residents + college population) and pretty much centers around the college. And on those rare occasions that you have a day off and feel like traveling, the beach is about an 1 1/2 away and the mountains around a 4 hour drive. I don't have personal knowledge about the other categorical programs, but I would say if you can do categorical at East Carolina, then go for it. As for the prelims, obviously they are at schools with very good residency programs, but a lot plays into getting a cat. spot after doing prelim. and can be a riskier path to take. Either way, good luck with the match!

 

[markhh10]

Ive actually recently heard that UTMB is having trouble reaching their case quotas,
what do u think?