Likelihood PGY-1 Surg Prelim can Switch to Ortho

Allopathic Med Grad at top 50 school didn't match in ortho after 13 interviews. I've got a 225/229 on my steps and a healthy amount of research already from medical school. I signed on a prelim surg year, has anyone done this and tx'd to a PGY-2 ortho spot the next year? What do you guys think is the likelihood this can happen?

My best alternative is doing something like anesthesia or rads, which is a nice life but not half as much fun.

In general, chances for getting into ortho at all are low. I don't know a particular number, but if I had to guess, I'd say 1/4 at best, probably lower. Transferring to a PGY-2 spot depends on the number of spots that open up, which is about 0-5 per year. Factor in the number of unmatched applicants in prelim surgery spots and the percentages drop quickly.

Trying to match again (ie, as a PGY-1) may be a better option statistically, but you'll automatically be stigmatized a bit.

Nonetheless, if you really want to do ortho, it's worth a shot.

It's possible if someone in that year quits, is fired, or if the program gets approval for an increase in resident compliment. If you were willing to repeat your intern year, chances are better. We matched one this year that did that. Many general surgery programs don't have an ortho rotation as an intern...check with your program director to see if this is an option.