How hard is to match into a 'more competitive' IM position as a PGY2?

[softball2344]

I have no idea what triggered it. I am just saying you are brand new to being a doctor and until you complete residency you are not safe. I would be cautious above all else in unknown waters--a lot of the protections afforded to you as a medical student will be gone or only nominally present in residency. You'll see how important politics are in medicine but until you do I would hesitate before doing something that could make multiple people irritated (at best) to outright angry.

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I'm being too naive really thought if I did it the right way I would be fine even if a transfer didn't work out

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[PugsAndHugs]

My program lost 2 people during intern (one went to a different field and the other went to a different state to be closer to their family. Somehow we got 2 new people for PGY-2 year, and they came from lower tier residencies. I don’t know how they did this, but I assume they reached out to desired programs/areas and just simply asked.

I would recommend finding a list of programs you are interested in and ask if their are any vacancies for the next upcoming hear and if there is how you can set up an interview. In my opinion (may be controversial) I would say to your PD (after finding a spot) that you have some sort of need to be in the area where you would like go to (family, fiance, etc) to not burn bridges. If you are really set on this, I say go for it.

 

[chessknt]

My program lost 2 people during intern (one went to a different field and the other went to a different state to be closer to their family. Somehow we got 2 new people for PGY-2 year, and they came from lower tier residencies. I don’t know how they did this, but I assume they reached out to desired programs/areas and just simply asked.

I would recommend finding a list of programs you are interested in and ask if their are any vacancies for the next upcoming hear and if there is how you can set up an interview. In my opinion (may be controversial) I would say to your PD (after finding a spot) that you have some sort of need to be in the area where you would like go to (family, fiance, etc) to not burn bridges. If you are really set on this, I say go for it.

The problem is that would be lying. It sounds like OP matched lower than anticipated or maybe shouldn't have ranked current program where he did. PD will have files with notes that OP had family in the area where the program is unless this somehow wasn't mentioned at interviews. I would advocate for getting to know the program for at least 6 months before deciding it isn't good enough. This will also give time to find/meet third years who are going through the fellowship match--they might be matching fine or have opportunities to facilitate a good match and unless OP is trying to become a top tier subspecialist researcher then all fellowship programs lead to gainful employment in their respective fields which might put him at ease and not result in a transfer. After the catastrophe match this year we also dont know what kind of vacancies are going to even exist as there are more unmatched people out there gunning for spots than ever.

 

[softball2344]

My program lost 2 people during intern (one went to a different field and the other went to a different state to be closer to their family. Somehow we got 2 new people for PGY-2 year, and they came from lower tier residencies. I don’t know how they did this, but I assume they reached out to desired programs/areas and just simply asked.

I would recommend finding a list of programs you are interested in and ask if their are any vacancies for the next upcoming hear and if there is how you can set up an interview. In my opinion (may be controversial) I would say to your PD (after finding a spot) that you have some sort of need to be in the area where you would like go to (family, fiance, etc) to not burn bridges. If you are really set on this, I say go for it.

Thanks! Yea unfortunately I would probably have to be honest about reasons why since my app mentioned my family is in the area and I just wouldn’t feel right making something like that up anyway

 

[softball2344]

The problem is that would be lying. It sounds like OP matched lower than anticipated or maybe shouldn't have ranked current program where he did. PD will have files with notes that OP had family in the area where the program is unless this somehow wasn't mentioned at interviews. I would advocate for getting to know the program for at least 6 months before deciding it isn't good enough. This will also give time to find/meet third years who are going through the fellowship match--they might be matching fine or have opportunities to facilitate a good match and unless OP is trying to become a top tier subspecialist researcher then all fellowship programs lead to gainful employment in their respective fields which might put him at ease and not result in a transfer. After the catastrophe match this year we also dont know what kind of vacancies are going to even exist as there are more unmatched people out there gunning for spots than ever.

I’ll try but I’ve looked at their grads in depth (should have done this before but you are right in assuming I dropped down my list) and it’s not good. If I didn’t do fellowship I would want to work in a large academic or at least hybrid type hospital, and their grads (even the chiefs) seems to have trouble getting those spots too but of course it’s hard to tell since idk what people are generally going for coming from here.

As for this year sucking yea worried about that, also worried a ton of strong applicants will be trying to switch from EM

 

[candbgirl]

I know of someone who did this. They were a rising PGY-2 at a community program in a competitive location (lived in Manhattan). They were in good standing, had Step 1/2 CK >240, they ended up at an low tier academic program, but they ended up having to repeat PGY-1. I think he's doing a hospitalist year now and plans to apply for Cardiology after. I can ask him if you have any questions about the process.

1. You should always start looking first. An away PD will never contact your home PD until you've given permission.
2. There's no specific time to start looking. You will have to wait until residency starts to fulfill your match obligation and afterwards, you need to atleast give it a few months to develop good will.
3. You're going to need a reason to transfer. I would just be straight up that you don't think the program's standard is up to what you feel like you deserve. Anything else (soft family reasons, etc.) will have the PD scratching their head and questioning your motive. It's much better to be direct.
4. Be prepared for your PD to say no.

You’d really say that?

 

[softball2344]

You’d really say that?

OP here not this poster but I would NOT put it like that.

I think this poster meant to just be honest about wanting the type of training and opportunities you get from academic places

 

[Redpancreas]

OP here not this poster but I would NOT put it like that.

I think this poster meant to just be honest about wanting the type of training and opportunities you get from academic places

OP here not this poster but I would NOT put it like that.

I think this poster meant to just be honest about wanting the type of training and opportunities you get from academic places

It has to be candid. You can phrase it however you like though and preferably not like that.

 

[softball2344]

My program lost 2 people during intern (one went to a different field and the other went to a different state to be closer to their family. Somehow we got 2 new people for PGY-2 year, and they came from lower tier residencies. I don’t know how they did this, but I assume they reached out to desired programs/areas and just simply asked.

I would recommend finding a list of programs you are interested in and ask if their are any vacancies for the next upcoming hear and if there is how you can set up an interview. In my opinion (may be controversial) I would say to your PD (after finding a spot) that you have some sort of need to be in the area where you would like go to (family, fiance, etc) to not burn bridges. If you are really set on this, I say go for it.

Can I ask what region you are in?

 

[PugsAndHugs]

Can I ask what region you are in?

NY

 

[softball2344]

NY

Thanks! Are we talking 'academic' like Albany or Buffalo or like Monte, Rochester, etc

 

[gutonc]

Merged with other identical thread.

 

[Redpancreas]

Thanks! Are we talking 'academic' like Albany or Buffalo or like Monte, Rochester, etc

We seriously should just have a resident transfer portal immediately after the match so that all residents who matched lower than they wanted can trade with people who want to leave for family related issues.

OP it really seems like all you're trying to do is make an exception for yourself. You went through the match likes 1000s of IM residents who want competitive fellowships and have ended up at a place. Now put in the work. If you want it badly enough, it will eventually happen. The fact that you're even put off by a repeating a year or that you're wrinking your nose at Buffalo means your situation isn't really dire.

 

[softball2344]

We seriously should just have a resident transfer portal immediately after the match so that all residents who matched lower than they wanted can trade with people who want to leave for family related issues.

OP it really seems like all you're trying to do is make an exception for yourself. You went through the match likes 1000s of IM residents who want competitive fellowships and have ended up at a place. Now put in the work. If you want it badly enough, it will eventually happen. The fact that you're even put off by a repeating a year or that you're wrinking your nose at Buffalo means your situation isn't really dire.

Would not be put off by repeating a year if it was at a program I liked tbh, wouldn't really cost me time since seems unlikely from my current program that I can get a competitive fellowship without a chief year. I get what you mean though, going to go in and put the work in. Hopefully when I get there I'll feel better, I think a ton of my anxiety is coming from the fact that I haven't been to the hospital or spoken to many residents since I didn't even go to the pre-interview social. All my info is from google at this point lol

 

[Gurkhali]

FWIW, I just found out one of the DOs at my program a couple of years ago transferred to an academic program after their intern year. She was pursuing GI. Not sure how to get in touch with the person but it seems possible if you look for PGY-2 positions broadly as programs as large as IM tend to have people drop out after the first year even if its not a common occurrence, it does seem to happen infrequently.