Addendum: Research or Away Rotations?

[Dr Fleischman]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

During my first two years I was so caught up in doing well in medical school and trying to maintain a semblence of a social life, I never planned ahead much and so I never set up any kind of research experience for myself, regrettably.

Now I'm wondering, with the few months I have after my cores are done, between 3rd year and the application process, would it be wiser to do rotations at locations I'd like to do my residency, or should I try and get a month of research in there?

I have written several papers during my 3rd year, mainly of the meta-analysis type, that I have set up dates to present to faculty heads, so I will have abstracts and presentations under experience. But how big of a deal is that lack of research, and should I fill it for an EM residency? Or, like I asked earlier, would I better off going to desired locations and having a great rotation, getting to know the people and making a name for myself?

Thanks, sorry to inundate the board with two posts, I promise I'm done for today 🙂

 

[qwerty1234]

without question, do the aways

 

[zenoid]

I had ZERO research on my application and nobody ever mentioned it. The aways were awesome and the SLORs I got helped big time.

 

[RxnMan]

In general, the SDN wisdom on this subject is that doing more than 2 aways isn't going to net you much. If you have not done an away, doing one will strengthen your app.

On the flip side, research always helps, but the NRMP data, the EM PD survey paper, the general PD survey, and the SDN EM survey do not support research as significantly affecting your chances. The PD survey in fact listed LOR from away rotation as highly desirable, while research was much lower.

 

[ORL10]

Do the aways. I think research in EM is helpful, but honestly I had research and pubs and the most common thing asked about during interviews was my aways and what my interests in EM were. Also my SLORS were very good form aways as well

I also recommend doing an away in a sub-specilaty of em like toxicology, US, wilderness if such exists, and so on. It will come up on interviews way more often than a poster you presented at "insert relatively unknown meeting here."

plus the electives are more fun

 

[EMMudphud]

I love research and want to have it as a major part of my career. With that said, I'd go for the away rotations. Even with a PhD, I wasn't asked all that much about what I did in lab. However, I was asked about my EM rotations everywhere I went. If you can fit in some research AND away electives, that would be ideal. However, I think you will get more bang for you buck with the away electives and some good letters in regard to getting into a good residency. Good Luck.

 

[PurpleHaze]

Go for the away rotations. They'll not only help you with getting an extra SLOR, but it will help you when you're trying to decide what kind of program you want to go to. I did an away in a communty based program and then another in a larger academic center. It really helped me compare and contrast the two types of programs, which was useful when I was trying to decide what kind of program I would like to be a part of.