advice for setting up aways next year?

[PokerDoc]

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I know i got plenty of time as a third year, but I really have zero clue on what to do as far as giving myself the best chance to rotate at away hospitals I am interested in for residency. Is there some kind of guide out there that spells this all out or does anyone have advice on when to start applying and what to do and what not to do?


thanks.

 

[Doctorverardoll]

i know i got plenty of time as a third year, but i really have zero clue on what to do as far as giving myself the best chance to rotate at away hospitals i am interested in for residency. Is there some kind of guide out there that spells this all out or does anyone have advice on when to start applying and what to do and what not to do?


Thanks.

bump

 

[Depakote]

Suggestions:

-Talk to 4th years at your program going into your specialty of interest and see what they did.

-poke around on FRIEDA
https://freida.ama-assn.org/Freida/user/viewProgramSearch.do
Search for programs that offer what you're looking for

-email programs (usually the residency coordinator, they can then hook you up with a resident) you might be interested in applying to (both for aways and residency...). Come up with a list of questions about the residency that would affect your desire to go there. Put a lot of thought into these... don't just go sending out these emails carelessly. If you luck out, you'll get residents who will take a good amount of time to put some care into the answers. This will give you some valuable information when you're applying for aways/residencies.

-Try to come up with a list of places you'd like to go for aways. Also figure out when you'd like to take Step 2 CS and CK (this will help you figure out when your aways will work)

-poke around on VSAS
https://www.aamc.org/students/medstudents/vsas/
(the schedule for next year won't be out until next spring, but you can get a feel for what is offered). Not everyone participates. You'll need to look at individual schools' websites if they're not on VSAS.

Hope that helps.

 

[cpants]

I think you're asking how to arrange aways, not how to choose programs. If that's the case, your best bet is to call the department office of the program you want to rotate at as early as possible. Let them know you want to set up an away, and ask to speak to the person responsible for visiting medical students. They may blow you off, refer you to VSAS or the registrar. However, many programs will reserve a spot for you first come, first serve if you call, or can tell you how many students are enrolled already (ie, how good your chances of getting a spot there are). If they tell you to call the registrar, do that, because they often have similar information. Usually through these sources, you can determine exactly how to apply, what your chances of getting a slot are, and anything else you need to know.

 

[psipsina]

I would start by looking at each school's website and finding the visiting medical student elective program. Figure out if they go through VSAS or if they have an independent application. Figure out what they require you to submit. Figure out the earliest date they will accept your application. And have everything ready to go on that date.

 

[ZagDoc]

Apply early. Realize when you're browsing VSAS that they're a "next page" button in the upper right corner (tiny little blue arrow). I didn't, and missed some program deadlines, and missed the boat on some programs.

 

[PokerDoc]

Thanks guys. I have the month of December off. I plan on contacting a few programs then!