ty year question

[mission2008]

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i am an international medical grad. i have 3 transitional interviews and 10 categorical im interviews. i apparently lack us clinical experience, so unable to get iv calls from big univ. i want to take a chance and rank trans prog ahead of categorical prog, so that i can have a better shot for next year.

do anyone think i am making a good move even if it is some what risky? does doing ty significant inc my chances (i have scores above 95 in both steps )

 

[gutonc]

i am an international medical grad. i have 3 transitional interviews and 10 categorical im interviews. i apparently lack us clinical experience, so unable to get iv calls from big univ. i want to take a chance and rank trans prog ahead of categorical prog, so that i can have a better shot for next year.

do anyone think i am making a good move even if it is some what risky? does doing ty significant inc my chances (i have scores above 95 in both steps )

No...this is not a wise move. You are unlikely to increase your chances at a Univ program after a TY year. In fact, re-applicants tend to get worse interview offers the 2nd time around. I don't think your year of experience will make up for that.

 

[clayito]

No...this is not a wise move. You are unlikely to increase your chances at a Univ program after a TY year. In fact, re-applicants tend to get worse interview offers the 2nd time around. I don't think your year of experience will make up for that.

I agree, this does not sound like a wise move. I think you would be very unlikely to get better interview offers the 2nd time around and would have burned all your bridges with the categorical programs that interviewed you this year. Thus, as said above, you would likely do WORSE the 2nd time around, not better.

 

[mission2008]

I am not sure whether a reapplication will decrease my chances. I am actually a reapplicant for this year(2009-2010). Last year (2008-2009) I did apply, but did not get any interview calls because I could not complete my step 2 ck and get certified by Rank order time - so was automatically withdrawn form the match. This year after reapplying i got 10 calls (4 from decent univ).

I would kindly request you to suggest me with some good info. I actually was misled during my medical school regarding clerkship's and missed that opportunity to have some US Clinical experience. I dont want to loose this opportunity now (if it is really a worth).

To my knowledge transitional year is completely different from a IM preliminary year. Since it is fully funded and also doesn't decrease your chances of funding for a categorical residency later. Since all of our salaries are paid by medicaid, they want our (residents) education be progressive. that is the reason why if i do an Prelim IM i wont be eligible for categorical IM -PGY 1 position, i need to look for pgy 2 im or advanced programs like neuro, anesthesia etc. there is no such problems with transitional year , i can apply to all the categorical residencies with out this funding problem.

see here for transitional year advantages http://www.residency.dom.pitt.edu/Shadyside/transitional.html

many programs that i talked to like Mayo, Massachusetts General are asking for a year of clinical experience here in usa for international graduates.
http://www.massgeneral.org/medicine/education/residency/img.aspx

I sincerely don't know whom to talk to, because i am an international grad and don't have any contacts with PDs here in USA as most USA applicants do. I sincerely appreciate any additional info.

 

[Ludicolo]

To my knowledge transitional year is completely different from a IM preliminary year. Since it is fully funded and also doesn't decrease your chances of funding for a categorical residency later. Since all of our salaries are paid by medicaid, they want our (residents) education be progressive. that is the reason why if i do an Prelim IM i wont be eligible for categorical IM -PGY 1 position, i need to look for pgy 2 im or advanced programs like neuro, anesthesia etc. there is no such problems with transitional year , i can apply to all the categorical residencies with out this funding problem.

see here for transitional year advantages http://www.residency.dom.pitt.edu/Shadyside/transitional.html

http://www.aamc.org/advocacy/library/gme/dgmebroc.pdf

This is incorrect. See #8 in the document above. The prelim year or TY will not affect your future funding if you go on to train in an advanced program, starting at the PGY-2 year. If after a TY you decide to go on to a categorical program (starting at the PGY-1 year), your final year of residency will be affected, and you will receive only 0.5 FTE = 50% of DME funding.

If however you switch from a TY to a categorical program PGY-2 year, you will have no funding issues.

 

[mission2008]

http://www.aamc.org/advocacy/library/gme/dgmebroc.pdf

This is incorrect. See #8 in the document above. The prelim year or TY will not affect your future funding if you go on to train in an advanced program, starting at the PGY-2 year. If after a TY you decide to go on to a categorical program (starting at the PGY-1 year), your final year of residency will be affected, and you will receive only 0.5 FTE = 50% of DME funding.

If however you switch from a TY to a categorical program PGY-2 year, you will have no funding issues.

Thank you very much Ludicolo for your patient response. You saved a potential disaster for me. I appreciate all of you for reading my posts and giving you valuable suggestions.

 

[N-Surge]

The fact that you had to re-apply makes me wonder how great your chances will be on a third time around.

By taking a categorical spot you will have positioned yourself for the possibility of a future fellowship. By going the TY route you will still be behind the eight ball, i.e. one step back from where you'd be after completing the TY.

Just my two cents.

Also, I have heard noise on the boards of programs not looking as highly on TY as compared to Prelim year (essentially the same as a PGY1 categorical beating of a year). Could be wrong. But, so I've heard. If true, you may have made things worse for yourself. But I'd definitely verify this and if any attending could chime in on this it might be of help to the OP and others.

 

[gutonc]

I am not sure whether a reapplication will decrease my chances. I am actually a reapplicant for this year(2009-2010). Last year (2008-2009) I did apply, but did not get any interview calls because I could not complete my step 2 ck and get certified by Rank order time - so was automatically withdrawn form the match. This year after reapplying i got 10 calls (4 from decent univ).

I sincerely don't know whom to talk to, because i am an international grad and don't have any contacts with PDs here in USA as most USA applicants do. I sincerely appreciate any additional info.

A re-application (3rd time in 3 years) will not just hurt your chances next year, it will likely destroy them. Few, if any programs that interviewed you this time around (or last year) will offer you interviews next year. And the "better" programs you think you might be a candidate for with some USCE, will have enough good, fresh candidates that they won't even bother with you.

A bird in the hand is worth two (or in your case, ten) in the bush.

 

[mission2008]

A re-application (3rd time in 3 years) will not just hurt your chances next year, it will likely destroy them. Few, if any programs that interviewed you this time around (or last year) will offer you interviews next year. And the "better" programs you think you might be a candidate for with some USCE, will have enough good, fresh candidates that they won't even bother with you.

A bird in the hand is worth two (or in your case, ten) in the bush.

Thanks for your replys, i researched them and finalized that i would be better off matching in a categorical position this year. My programs are decent and i feel my chances are good for categorical. the information provided above has been very useful. there is also a pubmed indexed article on this issue cautioning international medical graduates about this issue. I feel very luck to have your insights otherwise i would have made a big mistake. I think i will get matched in a decent program and work my way up for fellowships and for my professional future. thanks all