1 month vs 2 week Away Rotations?

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I have two 1-month radiology away rotations scheduled for this fall at programs I very much want to match in. However, I have recently been told that with rads, many programs often prefer you to do 2-week rotations rather than 1mo. I guess with rads, it is not very clinically centered in the fact that you wouldn't need an entire month to get oriented and comfortable to show your skills. A rads audition rotation is essentially them seeing if they can stand to be in a room with you for multiple hours per day. In that regard, is 2-weeks enough? Having 2-week rotations would also give me the time to visit other programs and even other specialties.

Also, would it look bad if I contacted the programs and switched from 1month to 2-wk rotations?


Thanks in advance for the input.

Originally Posted by cbtk18

I have two 1-month radiology away rotations scheduled for this fall at programs I very much want to match in. However, I have recently been told that with rads, many programs often prefer you to do 2-week rotations rather than 1mo. I guess with rads, it is not very clinically centered in the fact that you wouldn't need an entire month to get oriented and comfortable to show your skills. A rads audition rotation is essentially them seeing if they can stand to be in a room with you for multiple hours per day. In that regard, is 2-weeks enough? Having 2-week rotations would also give me the time to visit other programs and even other specialties.

Also, would it look bad if I contacted the programs and switched from 1month to 2-wk rotations?


Thanks in advance for the input.

1- Showing your skills does not mean anything. First of all you do not have any imaging skills as MS4 to show and 2nd, this is the least thing they care about.

2- Rads rotation is about making connections to people in the program and show your interest in the field and in the program and also show your personality. I would choose one month over 2 weeks anytime. Don't forget that you will spend 8-10 hours a day in the reading room next to faculty members as a resident. They want to make sure at least they can tolerate you.

Anyway, one month looks much better both on paper and in practice. If they look at your application, 2 weeks is a bit on lower side compared to most other applicants and even among all your elective rotations.

Originally Posted by shark2000

1- Showing your skills does not mean anything. First of all you do not have any imaging skills as MS4 to show and 2nd, this is the least thing they care about.

2- Rads rotation is about making connections to people in the program and show your interest in the field and in the program and also show your personality. I would choose one month over 2 weeks anytime. Don't forget that you will spend 8-10 hours a day in the reading room next to faculty members as a resident. They want to make sure at least they can tolerate you.

Anyway, one month looks much better both on paper and in practice. If they look at your application, 2 weeks is a bit on lower side compared to most other applicants and even among all your elective rotations.

Thanks for the info. I am very aware that in rads you aren't expected to know jack-s#!t so that's why I was told that a month wouldn't be necessary. I guess I will just leave the rotations the way they are. Also was worried that switching from 1 mo to 2wks would look bad.

I would stay with a month. I think my aways were very helpful for me, I did 3 of them.