4th year planning

[rickrolled89]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hi guys,

I'm a long time lurker posting because I'm feeling lost about planning for 4th year. I'm hoping for some quick replies because my school will be closing the 4th year selection window in less than a week. Should I do an away rotation before apps are due? I go to a good state school (top 50) on the east coast with its own anesthesia program, should I instead focus my 3 rotations at home and work for good letters?

Plan as of today
May: Step 2
June: SICU rotation
July: Medicine Sub-I
August: OR anesthesia month or Cardiology rotation- if i work in the OR i probably wont have 1:1 contact with an attending, thus less value in terms of a letter vs working in cardiology?
Sept: ???
Oct: ????
Nov: blocked out for interviews
Dec: school required elective

Thanks!

 

[Smegal]

Hi guys,

I'm a long time lurker posting because I'm feeling lost about planning for 4th year. I'm hoping for some quick replies because my school will be closing the 4th year selection window in less than a week. Should I do an away rotation before apps are due? I go to a good state school (top 50) on the east coast with its own anesthesia program, should I instead focus my 3 rotations at home and work for good letters?

Plan as of today
May: Step 2
June: SICU rotation
July: Medicine Sub-I
August: OR anesthesia month or Cardiology rotation- if i work in the OR i probably wont have 1:1 contact with an attending, thus less value in terms of a letter vs working in cardiology?
Sept: ???
Oct: ????
Nov: blocked out for interviews
Dec: school required elective

Thanks!

I also go to a school on the east coast with its own anesthesia program and chose to do an away at a place I was very interested in due to location, however it is totally not required to do aways for anesthesia and is probably more the exception than the norm. If you feel like staying will get you stronger letters that could be the best route to go unless you have a strong interest in a specific program and want to try to make a good impression at that program

 

[mybubbles627]

I have heard that you generally shouldn't do an away in anesthesia UNLESS

1. You are "better in person than on paper". People with lower board scores/grades that are extremely personable can benefit from an away by getting a letter and potentially an interview to a program that otherwise may have screened them
2. A very strong interest in a particular program
3. If you are couples matching looking at a particular area/convincing the programs you are willing to move if you spent your whole life in one place