4th Year: Practical or Vacation?

[analgold09]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Is anyone else debating between a moderately rigorous fourth year schedule and a series of fluff electives which amount to little more than extended vacation?

My school requires only one Sub-I. I have scheduled two aways for early in the year. Then, of course, there is step 2. But what to do afterwards? Part of me would like to accumulate more experience in the ICU/various IM subspecialties. Perhaps this would make me a more confident and skillful intern (IM).

Then again, I'm tired and cannot imagine doing anything else but indulging in complete, wake up at 10 am laziness. My concern is that while I am reading about "how to be an ethical clinician" and pontificating on the "History of Modern Medicine," all of my medical knowledge will slip away -- and I will start residency completely clueless.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

I've opted to start my internship as a clueless, useless intern and chillin 4th year... given I pass these next couple shelf exams and step 2.

 

[Ashers]

I'm opting for the clueless intern, though it looks like I'll have some ICU experience right before graduation while I'm in London for an away. I'm taking electives that sound interesting to me (going into ortho), so I'm doing a derm in HI, Critical Care in London, and an away in ortho. We've got too many required non-elective classes (2sub-Is, an integrated selective, and ambulatory or inpatient medicine -- whichever we didn't do M3 year).

 

[akpete]

vacation vacation vacation.

I've got all my required stuff before interviews. All I got after november is dermatology and an elective in Belize.

 

[lord_jeebus]

I'm going into a medicine prelim without ever doing a medicine sub-I.

I think it'll be ok in the long run. Take it easy!

 

[Ypo.]

Hey Ashers-
are you going to O'ahu for derm? Did you set up the elective through UH? Just curious. Thanks. 🙂

 

[DOanesthesia]

My 4th year was a complete vacation except for my audition rotation. Even that was pretty chill.

I'm okay being a clueless intern. After a coupla deaths, I should start to get the hang of things. Here's to July!

 

[Ashers]

Hey Ashers-
are you going to O'ahu for derm? Did you set up the elective through UH? Just curious. Thanks. 🙂

No, a friend's office on Maui (private rotation). Had to make it back before my parents move in October.

Since I'm going in July (yeah, my schedule didn't work out how I wanted it) I also get my ERAS/grad photos taken at the place where I had my senior portraits taken in high school. =)

 

[Anka]

I'm graduating in a little less than a month (holy ****... I thought it would never happen). I did a rigorous fourth year, probably only took a month or two of fluff, and am glad I did it that way. Most of my classmates have this 'waiting for something to happen' thing going right now, which doesn't look pleasant, at least from the outside; I've got a bunch of stuff I'm doing. And since everyone knows I'm an already matched fourth year doing a rotation, they want to let you do a lot because you're clearly there out of personal interest. It's actually some of the most pleasant, educational time I've spent in the clinics. Also, since I'm now a little stressed about starting internship, my focus has changed from wanting to learn abstract theoretical DDx type stuff to very practical information.

One concern is burnout. Just modulate your pace as you go. If I was feeling burned out, I would have lightened things up. Since nothing is for grades anymore, really, if I wanted to I could even lighten things up mid rotation. I can't say I have run into the problem, though -- I'm only doing stuff I want to do.

However you construct fourth year, it's a great year. Have fun, whatever your version of that is. Interviewing and matching is stressful, and you're going to spend a lot of time and money doing it, but most of the time is yours -- so don't worry what anyone else thinks and do what you want. It's kind of your last chance to do that.

Anka

 

[Ypo.]

No, a friend's office on Maui (private rotation). Had to make it back before my parents move in October.

Since I'm going in July (yeah, my schedule didn't work out how I wanted it) I also get my ERAS/grad photos taken at the place where I had my senior portraits taken in high school. =)

Nice. 👍

I actually contacted a few random dermatologists to try and set up a rotation, but on a different island. I never heard back from them, unfortunately.

 

[UCLAstudent]

I made a very easy schedule. I want to be a neuroradiologist, so I also tried to pick electives that might be helpful when relatives and friends ask me medical things --- dermatology, allergy/immunology, and EM. I'm doing 6 weeks of research, which counts as 6 weeks of elective time. In terms of my school's sub-i requirement ... well, I chose ones that have no call. Live it up next year, I say. 🙂

 

[Ashers]

Nice. 👍

I actually contacted a few random dermatologists to try and set up a rotation, but on a different island. I never heard back from them, unfortunately.

That's junk for you though.

This guy I'm going to work with makes a sunscreen, and he came to my school in 10th grade and talked to us about skin cancer (that scared the crap out of me). I think it'll be good, but my school was like, "You're allowed to do private rotations, but are you sure he's not connected with UH? And are you sure you won't be at a hospital during it." Blah blah.

 

[roja]

There is something in between as well. Don't gun it through 4th year, unless you are just dying to. You will learn what you need during residency. So, If you are doing a hard core residency (surgery, etc) where you will be workign your tail off, you might want to take a break.

 

[abefromann]

I would say that my fourth year plan has been excellent, and I'm quite relaxed. I wake up at about 9am to a luxurious hour of breakfasting. Then I may go shopping, eat some lunch, and work out. Sometimes I read Step 3 stuff for like 1-2 hours so I don't feel like a complete lard. It's kind of like college, and it's a sincere pleasure that even the ghost of my third-year self is jealous of.

I did most of my 4th year requirements in the front half of the year. Interviews are STRESSFUL, so you'll want to leave January pretty open. Did a sub-I in February which sucked a$$ but was very worthwhile for calming me down about what to expect for intern year. March was Neurology, April a joke class, and May is vacation. 👍

 

[japhy]

this last year has been amazing. had 6 weeks off in june/july - took step II. icu in august, anesthesia in sept, and then step II CS. since then i have been doing... nothing. catching up on old new yorkers, getting in 100 days of skiing (one of the best seasons in years at alta!), taking lots of trips, playing with my puppies...

i don't regret a second of it.

 

[jendc08]

vacation. totally vacation.