alejandlu
Forum Senior
Topics: 20
Posts: 63
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This may seem silly, but what would you guys rank higher:
Preliminary year of surgery in Mayo clinic, or a small community categorical program in the Northeast? Can't decide which to rank last and I am not sure how competitive it is to get a prelim spot in Mayo
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| Veer-Zaara
Forum Elite
Topics: 16
Posts: 268
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I would say go for Mayo clinic preliminary.........it will lead you to more better opportunities and excellent training.Nobody can say 'No' to categorical once you've done preliminary from there!(Just my opinion).
If it makes you feel better I know someone who took preliminary at columbia and has now joined the categorical program at same place.
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| alejandlu
Forum Senior
Topics: 20
Posts: 63
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Columbia, NY or Columbia, SC?
I think that's one possibility, but will Mayo be working me like a slave just because I am an IMG and never offer me anything more? I guess I can always use their name in the end to get a better position.
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| Veer-Zaara
Forum Elite
Topics: 16
Posts: 268
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columbia NY.
As far as I know Mayo does care for its residents, and being a top program I would assume they strictly adhere to the ACGME guidelines for number of hours/week for residents.They are a politically correct program(like many other programs) meaning they do not differentiate IMGs from AMGs what matters is merit and your individual work ethics.
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| doc_droc_apurva
Moderator
Topics: 38
Posts: 1,705
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i have a friend who has calls for prelim surg in both mayo, roch and another small but good comm prog in ny. he rankin the ny higher bcoz they have a history of takin in their own grads for categoricals later on. u wud have to be super amazin to have a shot at mayo roch categ. but then the mayo brandvalue might help u. i think u need to talk with other surgery applicants. IM ppl like me have limited insight into the field. do pardon my ignorance
gl
apurva
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| alejandlu
Forum Senior
Topics: 20
Posts: 63
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You are more than pardoned APURVA, but with all do respect, it seems there are very few IMG's going through the match for surgery. It seems all the forums I read are all about IM/Fam/Peds. Do you personally know anyone else going through this years match for surgery? And have they been having to make the same decisions?
Tha Mayo name is nice, but in no way is it my first nor best option. It is, after all, a prelim spot.
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| mmoghbelli
Forum Elite
Topics: 18
Posts: 180
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Prelim is betting your life on something that might be an illusion. Settle for the lesser name, n questions about it. Next year youll have to go throught the match all over again, and then MAYBE youl get a PGY2, and maybe itll be only another 1 year contract. If you like a peaceful life and mind, go for the categorical. Thats what I would do. Like I know the best IM programs in the US wont be ranking me as high as some of the other programs, and therefo4e I am not ranking them as high.
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| doc_droc_apurva
Moderator
Topics: 38
Posts: 1,705
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well the residentcafe moderator sharvil cud help u - he has 8 categorical surgery iviews the last i heard..
give him my regards
apurva
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| DB
Forum Newbie
Topics: 4
Posts: 11
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My take on this (being a fellow applicant for gen surg for this Match)...
go for categorical over a prelim. Plenty of prelims go unfilled every year. Few categorical spots go unfilled. So thats one thing to think about. Ive been to some not-so-strong programs which really seemed to have their S-it together, and i ranked them over some university places, one as high as #2 on my list. The reality is that I would rather go to a community place for categoircal than have to do a prelim. Also, surgery interns are on the floors 90% of the time anyways, so takin a prelim at the Mayo or Mass General or a little community place.....you will mostly be on the floors (perhaps some more experience in the OR with 'minor' cases).
Also, about takin a prelim...programs will not always take yas for the categorical the following yr. I ranked a prelim place at the bottom of my list. When talkin with the program faculty at that place, they say nobody has gone from prelim to categorical for awhile. Not b/c of FMG bias, but b/c for a prelim to say get into the PGY-2 spot, someone has to technically leave the program. Just another way to think about all this. Nothing is guaranteed!
In the end though, YOU have to decide what to do and what you want. Good luck to all......go certify those lists.....only a half hr to go!!!
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| drarod
Forum Newbie
Topics: 2
Posts: 4
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alejandlu
I think Iīm in the same situation, IMG applying to surgery with a couple of prelims interviews in big places, and a couple of categoricals, I personally ranked the categorical higher than the prelims, because you simply donīt know how this programs are ranking you anyways, and because I donīt want to go through the same process next year.
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