Getting Worried: Backup Necessary? Not Looking Very Good.

[Iliizarovian]

on a side note.. comparing this with last year.. it seems that a lot less programs this year, offered early interviews... this is given the fact that today is the 27th..

Like last year, Mayo, duke, rochester, unc, iowa, etc. etc had sent out their stuff.. but not this year...What gives?

[Doekie]

OR maybe most people are not posting interviews offered this year? Just thinking out loud.

[thatswhatshesaid]

There must have previously been some kind of advantage to sending invitations early that is no longer there. I am speculating that it is because people are applying to, interviewing at, and ranking more places.

How do they calculate the average number of ranks needed to match? Do they use how far down the rank list people match or the average number of ranked programs?

[capneedle]

If one is concerned about a backup such as a surgical prelim year, when would you begin to apply for that, and would you use your ortho letters and just right a different personal statement, or are people just planning to scramble.

[GettingWorried]

[MisterMo]

although there are indeed plenty of categorical gen surg spots available after the match, that really isn't the best route to take. Besides the obvious fact that any gen surg spots that are open are open for a reason (terrible location, bad reputation, etc), once you accept a gen surg spot that program is depending on you being there for 5 years. They will NOT be happy if you try to dump them after one year. Considering you'll need their permission to interview, letters of recommendation, and time off to interview, you don't want to have your boss pissed at you.

A better idea is to apply to, or scramble into, preliminary surgery spots. Those programs recognize you are just there for 1 year and plan to move on afterward. It's also understood that if you work your butt off and make nice with everyone there in both the surgery and ortho departments that you'll have a nice "in" at the ortho program when you apply. The best prelim spots are usually gobbled up through the match, but there are still fortunately enough leftovers for everyone.

[GettingWorried]

Correct, this was what I meant:

After doing some research, there are plenty of unfilled PRELIM positions in gen surgery each year. I would attempt to scramble into one of these spots. I would then reapply for ortho all while looking for ortho openings. I think a handful of spots open up for ortho each year-some programs are granted approval to have more residents and people sometimes drop out.

[Pompacil]

Exactly. There was no shortage of solid prelim spots when I had to scramble a couple years back.

[GettingWorried]

good luck to everyone

here's to hoping that the mspe opens up doors

beers for the house on me