3rd Year Rotation - Vital?

[LaughingMan]

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Hey All,

If this is the wrong place for this I do apologize.

The lottery is going on at my school and the tracks with electives near the end of the third year are hotly contested. My current track, which gives me electives earlier in my third year would bar me (to my knowledge) from certain EM electives. I would then be doing my required EM 4th year + any electives.

Will I be shooting myself in the foot by not having a 3rd year EM rotation? Is there any significant benefit to having it done late 3rd year?

My understanding is that if I do an EM elective 3rd year----that allows me to be more adequately prepared come 4th year thus increasing my chances of a better SLOE during my away rotations. <----Is this the main benefit?

Thanks

 

[TBoneKoko]

I was in the exact same situation. Lost the lottery and couldn't get an EM rotation until August of 4th year, then did another EM away rotation in September.

I got strong SLOE's (allegedly) and plenty of interview offers, so it worked out fine. I'd recommend at least setting up a few "shadow shifts" sometime during your 3rd year, if that's possible. That really helped solidify my decision to do EM, and gave a little preparation for my 4th year rotations.

 

[LaughingMan]

I was in the exact same situation. Lost the lottery and couldn't get an EM rotation until August of 4th year, then did another EM away rotation in September.

I got strong SLOE's (allegedly) and plenty of interview offers, so it worked out fine. I'd recommend at least setting up a few "shadow shifts" sometime during your 3rd year, if that's possible. That really helped solidify my decision to do EM, and gave a little preparation for my 4th year rotations.

Hmm--got it thanks. I think I'll most likely end up doing what you did. Having early 4th year rotations. My only concern is being behind those who already had exposure during 3rd year.

 

[racerwad]

Hey All,

If this is the wrong place for this I do apologize.

The lottery is going on at my school and the tracks with electives near the end of the third year are hotly contested. My current track, which gives me electives earlier in my third year would bar me (to my knowledge) from certain EM electives. I would then be doing my required EM 4th year + any electives.

Will I be shooting myself in the foot by not having a 3rd year EM rotation? Is there any significant benefit to having it done late 3rd year?

My understanding is that if I do an EM elective 3rd year----that allows me to be more adequately prepared come 4th year thus increasing my chances of a better SLOE during my away rotations. <----Is this the main benefit?

Thanks

Go Ducks!

You're on the right track that a 3rd year rotation in EM can get you an early SLOE which may make 4th year scheduling a bit easier. I don't think it's far to say that you're shooting yourself in the foot, but if you absolutely want to make things as "easy" as possible, I would endorse doing things this way. I did it, and having a SLOE at the start of 4th year made life a lot easier (in my head, at least). That said, I hated the place I rotated at - so much so that I thought maybe I chose the wrong specialty.

Obviously, the majority of people match into EM without doing what you suggest. An early elective does make it a little easier to know if EM (or anything else) is really for you.

 

[racerwad]

.

 

[FSUseminoleEM1]

You'll be fine. Most schools don't allow EM rotations until 4th year anyway, lending to a relatively narrow opportunity for SLOE's. It's all totally doable though.

 

[HooliganSnail]

ER is an advanced rotation.

Third year students just don't do as well in the department, and dont get as much out of the rotation.

Remember, you want to do well in the clerkship so that you get a GOOD recommendation, not just any recommendation.

Everything will work out fine.

 

[HumerusBaker]

My school doesn't even allow us to do an EM month until M4. I definitely think having a strong foundation from m3 helped me do better than I would have as an m3. So I had one in June and then aways in August and September and all my letter were in before the MSPE was released. If you're not totally sure what specialty you want to do, find ways to go to the ED for whatever service you're on, Ie go for consults or shadow in the ED.