when a program offers both categorical and advanced positions...

[stochastic]

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I am an MS3, and I will be applying to neurology this year.

I have noticed that a few programs have some positions that are categorical and some that are advanced. UCSF is an example of this type of program. On their website they say they have 6 categorical and 2 advanced spots.
http://ucsfneuroresidency.com/public_html/Applicant/Applicant_Adult.html

In 2009, they matched 6 categorical and 3 advanced spots.
http://www.nrmp.org/data/resultsanddata2009.pdf

Can an applicant rank the UCSF categorical spot as #1 and the UCSF advanced spot as #2 on his/her rank list?

Would UCSF rank certain applicants for categorical spots and others for advanced spots? Or if they really want an applicant, can they rank him/her for both types of spots?

 

[vijoy]

I am an MS3, and I will be applying to neurology this year.

I have noticed that a few programs have some positions that are categorical and some that are advanced. UCSF is an example of this type of program. On their website they say they have 6 categorical and 2 advanced spots.
http://ucsfneuroresidency.com/public_html/Applicant/Applicant_Adult.html

In 2009, they matched 6 categorical and 3 advanced spots.
http://www.nrmp.org/data/resultsanddata2009.pdf

Can an applicant rank the UCSF categorical spot as #1 and the UCSF advanced spot as #2 on his/her rank list?

Would UCSF rank certain applicants for categorical spots and others for advanced spots? Or if they really want an applicant, can they rank him/her for both types of spots?

At one of the program PD told that they rank certain candidates for Categorical depending on the approval by IM dept for prelim year. If IM dept consider your application thn they will rank u for CAT otherwise they rank you for advanced.

 

[Rogue Synapse]

The answer to your first question is yes. The categorical program and the advanced program have slightly different program codes for entry into your rank order list, so you can rank e.g.

1. UCSF Neurology (Categorical)
2. UCSF Neurology (Advanced)
3. Pittsburgh
4. Yale (Advanced)
5. etc...

I don't know how the programs rank applicants differently for advanced vs. categorical, but really that should factor very little into your decision. If you really have a burning desire to go to a certain place, it can only help you to rank both of their slots.