My situation is pretty complicated. I had posted a couple months ago about this but now that I have investigated my possibilities here are the logistics. I am an AMG MD graduated 2014 with decent states: step 1 226, step 2 244, passed step 3. Was in a categorical surgery position but resigned due to having some difficulties, plus the PD said I probably would not have a contract renewal due to some of these issues. I had deficiencies during my pgy 1 year and received credit for 9 out of the 12 months in total. I have 2 good surgery attending letters from that residency and an IM letter from med school, and am now in the process of getting my anesthesia research approved at a good institution. Will be doing anesthesia research for the year. Problem is at this point my research is still in the process of getting approved and I don't know if I'll be able to get the anesthesia research LOR in time before Sept 15. I know this is a difficult situation and I posted earlier about fighting for PGY 1 credit. However, I decided it was not worth it. My PD told me he would write a decent LOR highlighting my strengths and the fact that I may fit better in anesthesia than surgery on a personality standpoint. I am trying to match into a categorical anesthesia position so that I can just repeat the intern year without creating issues. How hard will this be? How many programs should I apply to? Should I apply to IM as a back up? I'm trying to stay in the Midwest but I know there are limited programs with just applying to one geographical region. I know you may have a lot of questions regarding the details of my deficiencies: most of it had to do with me being very young for the program and having communication issues that I am trying to work on. Plus my personality just was not a good fit. The PD felt I needed to be older and show more growth and maturity. What are my chance for the categorical programs through eras this year? When I posted previously, some people said I should get a lawyer, but I've decided to just bite the bullet and repeat intern year so I can have at least some support from my old PD, plus I'm fairly young so I don't think it affects me that much and it'll be easier the second time around.