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Preliminary vs Transitional

9K views 4 replies 4 participants last post by  Sabio 
#1 ·
I'm still confused regarding the difference between the 2
Correct me if I'm wrong?
to apply for Radiology, you must have finished 1 year post GME, which means you can't apply for radiology right away but you must apply for for preliminary IM or transitional this year, then radiology next year, is that correct?

I will apply for IM, and I want radiology as well, but most RAD programs require 1 year GME which means I can't apply for it right now but next year, I have to apply for prelim or transitional year first (btw I haven't seen any prelim radiology)
1) which is the most common for RAD applicants? having 1 year Trans or 1 year Prelim ?
2) can I apply for IM programs that offer both categorical and Prelim? I read that I can and It wont cost more
3) would I have to write a PS for the prelim as well?

Thanks for your help
 
#2 ·
Answers

Yes, correct you enter radiology in PGY2. Your PGY1 can either be prelim medicine or a transitional year.
But you can apply right now for PGY2 (year 2012-2013), what's called an advanced program not categorical, not prelim, not transitional.

Radiology applicants most commonly get into prelim before their radiology year.

A transitional year is meant for people who are not yet decided which branch they want to go yet, therefore, ideally speaking you should not apply for a transitional year if you are decided about radiology.

Yes, you can apply for prelim and categorical IM in the same hospital and it won't cost you more, but the committee will not like it because they'll say you are cheating and you are not having genuine interest in their categorical IM. Therefore, most probably you application will be ignored for both of them.

Yes, you PS should be geared toward radiology (or any other advance branch such as dermatology, neurology, ..etc) when you apply for a prelim.
 
#3 ·
thanks for the answer
It's just not fair, It's not that I'm not serious, It's just matter of chances
are we supposed to apply for just 1 specialty?
what If I wanna be either cardiologist or neurologist, someone has to apply for IM categorical or IM prelim, they made it that way
is that considered as cheating and applying for IM and FP is not!!! just because they're not aware of it!!!
 
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