transition year?

Started by malpighi
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malpighi

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I was wondering what the general opinion is on doing 5 years of pathology residency vs. transitional year and 4 years. Does it make any difference as far as getting into a pathology residency? Does it make a difference as far as taking the Step 3 USMLE?

Thanks!
 
I think you may be working on old information there, mal.

Pathology residency used to be 5 years (for AP/CP). The 5 year requirement could be met in two ways:
1) Do a prelim year/transitional year, then 4 years of AP/CP.
2) Go right into AP/CP, then do a credentialing year which was a fellowship (often surg path or cyto).

A couple of years ago the requirement for 5 years was dropped, and made into 4 years. At the same time, the transitional year/prelim year option was also dropped. Thus, you can do a prelim year, but you are not shortening your residency. People still do fellowships, but you can do the 4 year residency and get a job without doing any extra time, depending on what kind of job you want. You don't have to do a fellowship.

The rotations and goals of residency haven't really changed. There has always been a requirement for 18 months of AP, 18 months of CP, plus 12 months elective. Not much of the requirements were ever done during the 5th year anyway.

For people who did Post-soph fellowships, this also used to count for that extra, 5th year. But with the change to 4 years only, it no longer counts, so those of us who did a PSF are SOL, although that wasn't really a big attraction for me anyway.

Thus, if you really want to do a transitional year and take step III then, go ahead, but it's a waste of time unless you really like that sort of stuff. As far as I know you can take Step III anytime during residency.
 
There are some programs, according to FRIEDA, that still require a transitional year. (I believe that UT San Antonio is one of them.) The vast majority of programs are 4 years long. But, double check with the programs to make sure if they require a transitional year or not.


With regards to Step III. Take it as soon as you can. The test is not a pathology exam and a pathology residency will do you very little in preparing you for the exam. The best time to take it is closest to graduation from medical school. Second, some states do not allow licensing until a person finishes their first year of residency. (Texas). According to the residence at my school, they could not take step III until there PGYII year. I would double check this information though.
 
You don't need a transition year to pass or do well on Step 3. Nearly all path residents pass.
 
Whether transition/intern year would significantly help for step 3 or not, I still wouldn't do one. I'd just take my chances...I mean we just have to pass it right?
 
HotSteamingTurd said:
Whether transition/intern year would significantly help for step 3 or not, I still wouldn't do one. I'd just take my chances...I mean we just have to pass it right?
Click to expand...

Yeah, no kidding. Tough choice there. Spend a year as the lowest form of hospital life, covered in human waste half the year, get very little sleep, have to do unit time, pager never stops going off, etc. Or, you could buy a couple of review books and study. Hmmmmmmm...
 
As I go through life as a Sub-I (and it really doesn't compare to being an intern...big surprise), I am totally devoted and dedicated to NOT doing an internship year 😀
 
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