When are applications really due?

[cameraGEEK]

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I am a late-decider on ophtho. My school's 4th year electives start in late July, and we have had almost no guidance regarding the SF match from our school, and we have no options to take an ophtho course during 3rd year. The earliest elective in 4th year I could take is in August, so the earliest LOR from an elective I could get is in early September. I already have all my other non-ophtho recs in. I have seen multiple different deadlines and suggested dates to turn in materials, and I know the earlier the better, but when is the actual due date for these, since I feel I don't have much of a choice:

a. the letters in?
b. the application in?
c. the dean's letter in?

Also, since ophtho is competitive I know many people apply to a back up specialty, often IM. I am wondering how do those people apply to prelim year and a full 3 year IM program at the same time? I assume they would have to pick some institutions to apply to as prelim and some to apply to as categorical, because programs would clearly see they are the backup when you are also applying to them as a prelim and categorical?

Lastly, do some programs have a built in prelim year, or do you have to apply to a separate intern year for all programs?

 

[hurdlepup]

Of note, I would not apply to an IM categorical as a backup unless you would be happy doing IM. And if that is the case then why do Ophtho in the first place? Something to think about. I didn't apply to a backup, other than PGY1 positions and I don't think it was very common for people on the interview trail to apply for a backup categorical position. That would make it hard to reapply if you matched categorical elsewhere.

Haha, I actually had a 'nightmare' last night that I had 'accidentally' matched into radiology, woke up in a cold sweat and realized that I'm all good and matched Ophtho. I can only attribute this to the fact that most of the other people in my TY are radiology and I have been orienting with them. Haha.

 

[shemarty]

I'm also applying this year, so I don't know anything for sure... but I would think that you should turn the application into SF match before the earliest application deadline of the programs you're interested in. The website says it can take up to 3 weeks to process the application during peak times.

Dean's letter gets sent in later, whenever the school has it done. That's outside of your control.