2 vs 4 Week Rotations

[IncognitoMD]

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Need some advice as I'm applying for away rotations.

Do you guys recommend 2 or 4 wk rotations or does it really even matter?
Do ppl ask on the interview trail?
Is 2 weeks enough to get a strong LoR?
Is it long enough as an "audition" elective?

Thx!

 

[stephew]

4 weeks is much better. it lets people get to know you. 2 weeks and youre very likely to be forgotten. but 2 is better than nothing.

 

[Pewl]

4 weeks is much better. it lets people get to know you. 2 weeks and youre very likely to be forgotten. but 2 is better than nothing.

If time and scheduling constraints force you to do a 2 week rotation, would it still be possible to get a good letter from the faculty there?

 

[ABCXRT]

If time and scheduling constraints force you to do a 2 week rotation, would it still be possible to get a good letter from the faculty there?

Answer #1
You only have 2 weeks, so it will have to be enough. But it depends on those two weeks, right? If you worked with a different person every day, probably not. If it's the same person for two weeks, maybe. You need to know how the program does it's rotations. Do you focus on one treatment site for two weeks, or are you spread around with different faculty? If you're super charismatic and really click with someone on the rotation either two or four weeks may be enough for you. I personally think it's a gamble.

Answer #2
Can you really get a great letter from just a rotation? I think the best people to ask for letters are people you work with in the clinics AND do a research project with. They know you over a longer period of time and can speak more to you as an individual. It is unlikely you can do a research project on a two week rotation... even hard on a 4 week. Another possibility is to work with a faculty member for your departmental presentation. This may take more then 2 weeks unless you plan ahead carefully. You want to give them SOMETHING to say other than he's a great guy, here's what's on his resume. Then again, coming from the right person that may be enough. Who knows...

I'd try to give a more helpful answer if I could. It's just hard to say what you need to impress a hypothetical person at a hypothetical place and if 2 or 4 weeks are enough to do it. Not to mention if the letter that hypothetical person writes will impress the PD at a place you want to go.

 

[Bruce Banner]

I wanted to maximize the number of possible externships so I did three 3-week rotations and a 3-week research elective (rather than three 4-week rotations). Looking back I think it was a good option, allowing me to see an extra program while still being there long enough to get to know the big wigs at each institution. I matched at one of them.