4th year scheduling

[MDSlacker]

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Hi, I am a current 3rd year interested in going into derm and I was wondering what suggestions those of you who matched this year or previously have in scheduling 4th year rotations.

My school has a late start to 4th year rotations and I do not finish my 3rd year rotations until the end of July. My last two rotations are Psychiatry and then Pediatrics. Would you all recommend taking a couple weeks off in August to study for/take step 2 CK and CS? Or should I go straight into my 4th year rotations? I do not have much prior dermatology experience and my school does not have their own program. I have worked with a couple different dermatologists before this but it has been some time since I have rotated in dermatology. I was originally thinking to study for and take Step 2 during the first half of August and then complete a two week rotation with a dermatologist I have worked with previously. Then start my away rotations in September and do an away in September and October and then a home derm rotation in November. And then complete the rest of my 4th year requirements.

How many dermatology away electives and home rotations are generally recommended. Does this sound like a good plan. I'm sorry if you need more information just ask and I can supply any additional information I just didn't want to make the post too long. I know these questions have been asked multiple times but I just wanted to get opinions on my specific situation.

 

[username456789]

Others can certainly weigh in, but it sounds like getting as early a start as possible on your derm rotations is going to be important, especially with minimal prior derm experience. I'm a bit confused when you say your school doesn't have a derm program, but you are doing a derm rotation there. I assume you mean you do not have a dermatology residency, but have a department. Usually it's a good idea to rotate at your home program first before doing away rotations, and rotations in October/November are probably too late to matter much.

Getting those solid derm rotations (home and maybe 2 aways) is going to be more important than setting aside times for Step 2, which you could plan to take in November perhaps.

 

[asmallchild]

Hi, I am a current 3rd year interested in going into derm and I was wondering what suggestions those of you who matched this year or previously have in scheduling 4th year rotations.

My school has a late start to 4th year rotations and I do not finish my 3rd year rotations until the end of July. My last two rotations are Psychiatry and then Pediatrics. Would you all recommend taking a couple weeks off in August to study for/take step 2 CK and CS? Or should I go straight into my 4th year rotations? I do not have much prior dermatology experience and my school does not have their own program. I have worked with a couple different dermatologists before this but it has been some time since I have rotated in dermatology. I was originally thinking to study for and take Step 2 during the first half of August and then complete a two week rotation with a dermatologist I have worked with previously. Then start my away rotations in September and do an away in September and October and then a home derm rotation in November. And then complete the rest of my 4th year requirements.

How many dermatology away electives and home rotations are generally recommended. Does this sound like a good plan. I'm sorry if you need more information just ask and I can supply any additional information I just didn't want to make the post too long. I know these questions have been asked multiple times but I just wanted to get opinions on my specific situation.

Unless you have a terribly low Step 1, I think it would be higher yield to start your derm rotations immediately. Especially without a home derm department, you're going to want as many letters as possible during the 1st 3 months of your 4th year. Without a home program, I'd recommend at least 2 aways and possibly a 3rd if you can summon the enthusiasm for one. You could always do a dermpath or pediatric derm rotation if you don't feel up for another clinical dermatology rotation.

 

[MDSlacker]

Sorry for the confusion. What I meant to say was my school does not have a dermatology residency but we do have affiliated clinical faculty who have private practices which we can do rotations at.

As far as my test scores, I scored in the low-mid 250s on step 1, honored 50% of pre-clinical courses, honored medicine and surgery rotations, and AOA.

As of now I could get a letter from one semi-well known dermatologist (not a program director) but it seems like I should do a couple rotations early on and try and get letters from those. Do you think it is possible to take step 2 immediately after my last rotation and just study during that final rotation or would I be better off taking it in November or some other time?

Also when scheduling away rotations is it a good idea to schedule at programs where I think I might be a competitive candidate or apply to the most prestigious programs? And how does one go about getting a letter while on an away rotation (do you let the program director know on day 1 that you would like a letter, wait until the end, and what if you don't work with the program director or the people you work with is constantly changing)? Thanks for the advice so far.

 

[asmallchild]

Sorry for the confusion. What I meant to say was my school does not have a dermatology residency but we do have affiliated clinical faculty who have private practices which we can do rotations at.

As far as my test scores, I scored in the low-mid 250s on step 1, honored 50% of pre-clinical courses, honored medicine and surgery rotations, and AOA.

As of now I could get a letter from one semi-well known dermatologist (not a program director) but it seems like I should do a couple rotations early on and try and get letters from those. Do you think it is possible to take step 2 immediately after my last rotation and just study during that final rotation or would I be better off taking it in November or some other time?

Also when scheduling away rotations is it a good idea to schedule at programs where I think I might be a competitive candidate or apply to the most prestigious programs? And how does one go about getting a letter while on an away rotation (do you let the program director know on day 1 that you would like a letter, wait until the end, and what if you don't work with the program director or the people you work with is constantly changing)? Thanks for the advice so far.

Your Step 1 score should be enough to pass all filters. Unless your school pressures you into doing so or a specific program you desire requires Step 2 CK, I would not rush it and take it later in the year (say November or December)

As for how to schedule, you'll have to decide that on your own. I opted for a place where I would be a competitive candidate and had a good track history of interviewing if not taking rotators. Others may see more benefit in rotating with more prestigious programs in the hopes of nabbing better letters. I would recommend asking the program director in your last week about getting a letter. Most of the time, they will write you a generic letter and pool input from residents/attendings you did work with if you didn't work with the PD. Obviously, the more personal time you spend with your letter writer (be it from research in prior years), the better.

 

[falmouth]

As for how to schedule, you'll have to decide that on your own. I opted for a place where I would be a competitive candidate and had a good track history of interviewing if not taking rotators.

Any way to safely gauge this if this information is not available online?

 

[asmallchild]

Any way to safely gauge this if this information is not available online?

That's a tough one, word of mouth is going to be your best bet here