what to expect on a visit day

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ineffable11

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hey guys.
i just finished my second year and am planning to visit several residency programs.
any ideas what is a day going to be like on a day visit?
am i going to be speding a day with the program director or following a resident?

what is going to be appropriate dress code(for a girl) on the first day? professional suit?school white jacket?? --the programs i contacted have not really gave me definite information about the visit day so i decided to post a thread.

any expericnes and info would be very much appreciated!! thanks!

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I hope someone responds to this thread. I'd be interested to know as well (as far as what to expect on a visit).
 
any ideas what is a day going to be like on a day visit?
It will vary depending on the program, the residents who are on service at the time, and also the day of the week. You might go to a journal club, shadow in clinic, or watch a case in the OR. As a 2nd year, I wouldn't expect to scrub any OR cases if your just visiting for the day. As a 3rd year though, I have scrubbed in cases when I've visited programs for a couple of days. I have also seen my own patients in their clinics. You might not though. You can get the details from the resident about what they expect visitors to do/not do. I have also visited programs who don't allow any visitors in the OR or clinic unless you have already done an externship with them.

am i going to be speding a day with the program director or following a resident?
More then likely as a 2nd year or 3rd year, you will just follow a resident around for the day. You might meet the program director, you might not. If he/she is around I find that most residents try to get an introduction for you. Also try to met the externship director, he/she is very important to meet with as well. At one program I actually got to be with the externship director for a half day of clinic with no residents.

Typically I find that it is the interns job to escort the visiting students around.

what is going to be appropriate dress code(for a girl) on the first day? professional suit?school white jacket?? --the programs i contacted have not really gave me definite information about the visit day so i decided to post a thread.
Contact the resident about this. If you get no reply, It is never wrong to show up in professional attire with a white coat. Bring a pair of scrubs and leave them in your car though. Even if they say to come in scrubs, wear your white coat!

Always remember to send a follow-up thank you email to the resident and anyone else with whom you met with.
 
hey guys.
i just finished my second year and am planning to visit several residency programs.
any ideas what is a day going to be like on a day visit?
am i going to be speding a day with the program director or following a resident?

what is going to be appropriate dress code(for a girl) on the first day? professional suit?school white jacket?? --the programs i contacted have not really gave me definite information about the visit day so i decided to post a thread.

any expericnes and info would be very much appreciated!! thanks!
Every place you visit will probably be different in what you will do, but I can tell you what my experience has been. I would wear professional dress and your white coat. If you are going to observe surgery, there will be scrubs there for you to change into most likely. With just finishing your second year, chances are you will just be observing and they probably won't be "testing" you by having you see patients in clinic or scrubbing in on surgery. You will probably at least get to meet the director, and depending on what their schedule is like that day, possibly stayiing with them all day. Try to get a chance to meet several residents and attendings, just to plant a seed with them. I spent half a day at a program in my second year and when I came back on an externship, a senior resident and an important attending recognized me. Don't try to be too aggressive in asking questions and getting in the way. This is a good chance to make a first impression, and you don't want it to be a bad one.
 
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