4th year scheduling

[piyomonsta]

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I'm currently an MSIII really interested in going into pathology. Planning 4th year schedules has already started at my school, and I'm really not sure what I should do. Since I did a PSF last year, I've become familiar with what a path residency entails and feel confident that I'll get at least 2-3 great LORs from that year. My grades/scores are competitive. Should I do any away rotations in path? If so, how many, when should I do them, etc? When should I take Step II? Are there electives that 4th years should take to prepare for path residency? Pls help! 😕 Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[b&ierstiefel]

I'm currently an MSIII really interested in going into pathology. Planning 4th year schedules has already started at my school, and I'm really not sure what I should do. Since I did a PSF last year, I've become familiar with what a path residency entails and feel confident that I'll get at least 2-3 great LORs from that year. My grades/scores are competitive. Should I do any away rotations in path? If so, how many, when should I do them, etc? When should I take Step II? Are there electives that 4th years should take to prepare for path residency? Pls help! 😕 Any advice would be much appreciated.

You have a PSF so you probably don't need any more path rotations since the purpose of these rotations is to get exposure to the field and secure letters. But it sounds like you've taken care of that already.

Away rotations - great way to find out about a program and see if you really want to go there. But you are being evaluated and away rotations can be the kiss of death. So it has its pluses and minuses. You certainly don't NEED to do an away rotation in path.

Step II - did you do well in step I (by well, I'm talking 230+)? do you intend to take step II seriously and actually study for it? if the answer to the first question is yes and your answer to the second question is "no, I just wanna pass", then take step II as late as possible. If you take Step II in late January, programs will not see your scores and those scores cannot hurt you. Now, if you did not do spectacular on Step I, I would take it early, study hard for it, ace it (which should be easy because the score distributions on usmle are bell curves, right? and few ppl take this exam seriously). And make sure the residency programs see it early in the application process.

Electives to better help prepare for path residency - No. Just relax this year, sign up for joke rotations with good hours and enjoy your 4th year. There's nothing you really need to do except get your diploma.

 

[Gut Shot]

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Take Step 2 CS as early as possible. It will suck serious nard, but you'll be glad you did.

 

[ermonty]

Take Step 2 CS as early as possible. It will suck serious nard, but you'll be glad you did.

I second this opinion. I've taken all electives, nothing clinical, since the start of fourth year. As such I am in the position of having to take CS now and feeling very unprepared. And because of the delay of score reporting and difficulty of scheduling the thing, I essentialy MUST pass it first shot or I will not graduate on time and not be able to start residency on time.

 

[SLUsagar]

I'm currently an MSIII really interested in going into pathology. Planning 4th year schedules has already started at my school, and I'm really not sure what I should do. Since I did a PSF last year, I've become familiar with what a path residency entails and feel confident that I'll get at least 2-3 great LORs from that year. My grades/scores are competitive. Should I do any away rotations in path? If so, how many, when should I do them, etc? When should I take Step II? Are there electives that 4th years should take to prepare for path residency? Pls help! 😕 Any advice would be much appreciated.

above all else: make sure you take step 3 before you start path residency (this tip also applies for current 4th years). For explaination on details on how to apply, etc, please see the many posts already listed on this interesting topic in another entry.

 

[DarksideAllstar]

As someone who did a PSF, and who is now in 4th year...
Path rotations- I did an away at a program that I was seriously considering, and it was nice seeing how things ran on a day-to-day basis. I wouldn't necessarily do a lot of these cause its a pain in the ass setting them up and finding housing, but if you are seriously thinking about a place then its a good idea to do one (the interview day is a complete waste in trying to get a "feel" for a program).

Non-path rotations- I stuck with hem-onc, rad-onc, radiology, optho, transplant surg, dermatology. I tried to pick a couple of rotations where I could see some patients with interesting neoplasms and learn a few things about management (surgery, chemo, radiation, immuno, etc). Coincidentaly, I have been done with many of my days by 1 or 2 pm, and sometimes only go in 3-4 times per week. Absolutely no call rotations.

Step II CK/CS- My CS isn't until the end of March, so I will be going in ice-cold. Should probably have done at the end of my 3rd year. I echo Andy's comments, if >230 on Step I, wait to do Step II CK until end of January.

4th year has been one of the most fun years I have had. Definitely take advantage. PM me if you have any more specific questions.

 

[mlw03]

Could someone please elaborate a bit more on the pros/cons of waiting until late in the year to take step II ck if you did well on step I. especially if you're gonna be taking a lot of path and fluff electives fourth year, won't that make it hard to do well on the exam? if you took the exam in late Jan or early Feb will programs have access to scores before submitting their rank lists? my thought is that programs may be reluctant to rank a candidate highly because on the off-chance they fail step II the program may have to scramble to fill. is that a legit fear, or is it assumed that if you could hit 233 on step I then passing step II simply won't be a problem?

 

[DarksideAllstar]

Could someone please elaborate a bit more on the pros/cons of waiting until late in the year to take step II ck if you did well on step I. especially if you're gonna be taking a lot of path and fluff electives fourth year, won't that make it hard to do well on the exam? if you took the exam in late Jan or early Feb will programs have access to scores before submitting their rank lists? my thought is that programs may be reluctant to rank a candidate highly because on the off-chance they fail step II the program may have to scramble to fill. is that a legit fear, or is it assumed that if you could hit 233 on step I then passing step II simply won't be a problem?

If you have done that well, then I think the chances of you failing CK are slim. Programs will not automatically get the scores before they rank you (unless you check the box, and the chances that they will be back prior to rank list deadline is mighty slim). I took a year off between 3rd and 4th year, so a lot of what I used to know cold, I will be reviewing extensively as I have forgotten a lot of pharmacotherapy. I have the luxury of having a dedicated study month in January which makes this possible. The pro of taking the exam later for me is that I have "nothing left to prove" re: my board passing ability, as I had "done well" (ie >240) on Step 1. My biggest fear was taking the exam and scoring 40 points lower, which isn't even an issue now b/c programs won't see it until after the rank lists are due.

So...

Pros of waiting: Time off to study, don't have to worry about the score as much, unlikely to fail.

Cons of waiting: Having it hang over your head, maybe some minutia may slip from your brain.

 

[mlw03]

If you have done that well, then I think the chances of you failing CK are slim. Programs will not automatically get the scores before they rank you (unless you check the box, and the chances that they will be back prior to rank list deadline is mighty slim). I took a year off between 3rd and 4th year, so a lot of what I used to know cold, I will be reviewing extensively as I have forgotten a lot of pharmacotherapy. I have the luxury of having a dedicated study month in January which makes this possible. The pro of taking the exam later for me is that I have "nothing left to prove" re: my board passing ability, as I had "done well" (ie >240) on Step 1. My biggest fear was taking the exam and scoring 40 points lower, which isn't even an issue now b/c programs won't see it until after the rank lists are due.

So...

Pros of waiting: Time off to study, don't have to worry about the score as much, unlikely to fail.

Cons of waiting: Having it hang over your head, maybe some minutia may slip from your brain.

well explained. thanks.

 

[sdn4em]

So quick question then:

concerning the input on non-path rotations and path away rotations, I was wondering if it is possible to apply to certain programs (ex. in pathology) without having to do an actual away rotation in pathology but a variety of other fields as mentioned in the post above? ex. surgery, peds, med, etc etc.
Is that looked unfavorably upon by the selections committees? Or is that not a factor in selection for this field?

thanks.

 

[yaah]

Are you asking if it is ok to do pathology if you don't do any away rotations? Of course - away rotations are just a nice thing to do if you can swing it because it gives you exposure to different programs and possibly different parts of the country.

If you are asking whether you can apply to path residency without ever doing any dedicated path rotation, well you can, but be prepared to answer a lot of questions.

 

[sdn4em]

Hello,

thanks for the reply - No, I was referring to whether it would be okay to do just one rotation at my home school program along with rotations in other specialties, seeing as we need minimum 3 reference letters from what I've heard? So, the other two would be from other areas and that would not be looked upon as less 'competitive'? I mean, it'll give me more exposures to areas I'll likely never encounter again, but fewer path letters....

thanks again.