2 week rotation, enough?

[bla_3x]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Would a 2 week elective be of any benifit in helping one's application to radiology?

 

[hans19]

Would a 2 week elective be of any benifit in helping one's application to radiology?

If you have no other rads electives, it would certainly be better than having no elective. I don't think it would 'help' in the sense of making you more competitive.

 

[Docmike2006]

Would a 2 week elective be of any benifit in helping one's application to radiology?

Yes if:

1. You manage to impress someone important
2. It is graded and you do well
3. While there, you get in on some kind of project
4. While doing this elective, you avoid doing something else that you are more likely to screw up🙂

 

[Terpskins99]

I have a relatively limited number of elective months and was wondering about the negatives of only being at a hospital for 2 weeks.

Because people desiring to match in Radiology usually apply to so many hospitals to begin with, wouldn't it make sense to try to do a number of 2 week elective rotations to maximize your presence? Or would this backfire by the limited amount of exposure in just two weeks?

Thanks!

 

[novado]

I did a ton of 2 week rotations and one 4 week rotation. I came to really hate the program that I did 4 weeks at. You need to learn to make the best of the 2 week rotations. I found that the 2 program directors were always fighting with one another (leading to unhappy residents), something I never would have found otherwise. Do the programs you are least attracted to first, in order to learn more radiology (to impress people) and get how most residency programs work. Offer to present something (via powerpoint) while you are doing your 2 week rotation. That really impressed a lot of people when they found that I gave a good presentation, and I had a lot less time to do it. Make a point of meeting with the PD or talking with the PC in order to express your interest in the program. Follow proper rads etiquette 1.)Show up early (never late) and stay late 2.) Don't ever try to outshine your fellow resident or attending. If they do not know the answer, pretend like you don't. It only looks poorly on that program if this situation ends up happening a lot. 3.) Don't talk when others are speaking, it is not your time to socialize 4.)Ask only relevant questions, and make sure there is time to cover it (quit asking questions at 4 pm when everyone is trying to go home). 5.) Look up questions you had the prior day, and if you cannot find the answer ask (only if there is time). Show them you put effort into it at least by mentioning quickly what source you used and what you found but are unsure of. 6.)This is not the time to brown nose all day. It only makes everyone else nauseous, and looks bad on you. 7.)Use this time to figure out how much you like this program and will possibly fit in. 8.)Remember that away rotations do not guarantee interview offers. 9.) Re-emphasize how much you like that particular program to others. What residents have to say really matters in the final ranking of candidates, depending on the programs.

I made the best impression at the places I had 2 week rotations. I am so glad that I did them, because I was able to ascertain how happy everyone really was. The residents really open up and tell you the truth when you are on aways. I found so much information about programs and other programs just by becoming friendly with residents. Several residents spoke to me about their experience on away rotations at other hospitals. That information helped me in my interviews at other places, since I knew more info than what the web sites stated. You will find out more info by doing aways than by reading Aunt Minnie all day. I also discovered from these experiences what to really look for in a program. You will find that your final ROL (rank order list) is more difficult to do than you thought.

 

[TX_Longhorn]

I did a ton of 2 week rotations and one 4 week rotation. I came to really hate the program that I did 4 weeks at. You need to learn to make the best of the 2 week rotations. I found that the 2 program directors were always fighting with one another (leading to unhappy residents), something I never would have found otherwise. Do the programs you are least attracted to first, in order to learn more radiology (to impress people) and get how most residency programs work. Offer to present something (via powerpoint) while you are doing your 2 week rotation. That really impressed a lot of people when they found that I gave a good presentation, and I had a lot less time to do it. Make a point of meeting with the PD or talking with the PC in order to express your interest in the program. Follow proper rads etiquette 1.)Show up early (never late) and stay late 2.) Don't ever try to outshine your fellow resident or attending. If they do not know the answer, pretend like you don't. It only looks poorly on that program if this situation ends up happening a lot. 3.) Don't talk when others are speaking, it is not your time to socialize 4.)Ask only relevant questions, and make sure there is time to cover it (quit asking questions at 4 pm when everyone is trying to go home). 5.) Look up questions you had the prior day, and if you cannot find the answer ask (only if there is time). Show them you put effort into it at least by mentioning quickly what source you used and what you found but are unsure of. 6.)This is not the time to brown nose all day. It only makes everyone else nauseous, and looks bad on you. 7.)Use this time to figure out how much you like this program and will possibly fit in. 8.)Remember that away rotations do not guarantee interview offers. 9.) Re-emphasize how much you like that particular program to others. What residents have to say really matters in the final ranking of candidates, depending on the programs.

I made the best impression at the places I had 2 week rotations. I am so glad that I did them, because I was able to ascertain how happy everyone really was. The residents really open up and tell you the truth when you are on aways. I found so much information about programs and other programs just by becoming friendly with residents. Several residents spoke to me about their experience on away rotations at other hospitals. That information helped me in my interviews at other places, since I knew more info than what the web sites stated. You will find out more info by doing aways than by reading Aunt Minnie all day. I also discovered from these experiences what to really look for in a program. You will find that your final ROL (rank order list) is more difficult to do than you thought.

very informative post. thanks 🙂

 

[Terpskins99]

Hey thanks Novado! You answered a ton of questions for me.

But just wondering... was it specifically because of that poor 4 week experience that you decided to go with 2 week electives thereafter? Did you ever adopt the thinking I mentioned before (i.e. maximize your presence for a competitive residency)?

 

[Tekena1]

Can you even get credit for doing two week rotations?

 

[novado]

But just wondering... was it specifically because of that poor 4 week experience that you decided to go with 2 week electives thereafter? Did you ever adopt the thinking I mentioned before (i.e. maximize your presence for a competitive residency)?

It was partly from that experience after the 4 week rotation that I decided on 2 week rotations. I found that I made my best impression after 2 weeks. Furthermore, I was unsure of which match to do allo or osteo, and these rotations quickly answered that question. I wanted to try to see as many programs as possible, and 2 week rotations allowed me to see more programs. I was also unsure of how similar or different community and university programs really were, and I wanted to see for myself if I would be happy in some of these programs. I was able to still make it for interviews in between these rotations and even miss one day per 2 week rotation for an interview. There is such thing as overstaying your welcome. I saw it all the time. If they really did not like you after 2 weeks, they hate you by 4 weeks. If they like you after 2 weeks, that may change after 4. Just be on the safe side. Radiology is a field that you need to be seen as interested (in the program), not heard (talking excessively, drawing attention to yourself). Show you are a team player by helping people out, not by pushing your own personal agenda. Oh, and about the above advice. Make sure you ask someone important (like the PD or chief resident) what topic you should do your presentation on. You are only going to make yourself look stupid if you do it on a overly easy topic, or loose everyone if you do it on some esoteric topic. At least if you have the PD's mouth watering the whole time, the other residents will at least look interested.

Can you even get credit for doing two week rotations?

You are going to have to ask your own school that. I saw many students on my away rotations doing 2 week rotations and many programs offer them. Most schools should accept credit for 2 week rotations, check with your own school.