I know some of this has been discussed previously, such as prelim surg year vs. a research year. I'm curious about other options. I know if I don't match that reapplying will likely yield the same result, so i feel like I would consider another field if that situation arises. Problem is, I don't really know what that would be yet, and don't have any letters lined up except from ortho. I definitely wouldn't do gen surg though so i'm hesitant to do a prelim surg year if i wouldn't be trying to reapply ortho.

Any thoughts on doing a transitional year as a back up plan with the intent of figuring out if i'd rather do some other specialty? Is this competitive, and would I need to double-apply or could I scramble into it in the case i didn't match ortho?

any thoughts/advice/experience welcomed.