Any suggestion on my away rotation?

[longblondes]

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Hi guys,
I've been reading posts here and there on SDN for the past couple months and everything has been very helpful so far. I just have a quick question.
We just had our class meeting this past Monday and I am looking into selecting my away rotation sites. So far, neurology is my top choice.

Do you guys recommend doing it at a program that you are competitive in or at a "out-of-reach" program?

To briefly describe myself:
I am a 29yr old MS3 at a top 20 allo program. My board score was mediocre (96) and I've HPed basically all my clerkship including neurology (no Honors for me). I hope I can offset my score and grade with my EC.
I've done quite a few public health and medical education projects for the past 3 years, including a public health project for geriatric patients in our city with the majority of them having dementia, Parkinson, Alzheimer's, stroke, etc. Before med school, I was a clinical technologist developing new technology for cancer research.

I am looking at several NE programs right now and I really like the Yale program. I would like to do an away rotation there but I don't think I am a competitive applicant for that program.
Should I do an away at a less-competitive program instead (as in not wasting the away-rotation doing it at somewhere "out-of-reach"?)

 

[typhoonegator]

First of all, the statistics you've presented sound like they may be competitive enough for a residency at Yale. Not everyone at Columbia/Harvard/UCSF has a 250 board score and 12 publications, so don't sell yourself short.

I never did an away rotation in neuro way back when I was an MS4, which was when the med students had to carry the lamp oil and ink wells during rounds. However, having been a part of the residency interview process and seeing a ton of rotators come through, I would say that your time is best spent rotating at places where you:
1. are very interested but not sure you would be happy in (this goes for the city as well as the program).
2. are very interested in and want to show off your intelligence/vigor/enthusiasm first hand.

Unless you have a ton of time on your hands, it doesn't make a lot of sense to rotate at one of the beacon programs you never would realistically attend (for whatever reason) just to say you did it. I can honestly say that plenty of residency applicants have improved their rank by hitting a home run on their try-out rotation during the MS4 year. The flip side of this, however, is that if you smell funny or have an incredibly annoying personality, there is a non-zero chance that your rank could be lowered by your extern rotation.

So, if you really like a particular program and think that your application won't tell the whole story, do a rotation there and make them see how good you are.

 

[digfast]

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[longblondes]

Then I might do the away later in the year then.

Hmm, so what did guys end up taking during the first several months (July to Oct)?


My school only offers Neuro AI and Neuro ICU AI.
Should I do a Peds or Internal Med AI as well as an EM for the other two?
Or should I take the Step II early?

Thank you all for the advices!

 

[abcabc1]

Hi guys,
I've been reading posts here and there on SDN for the past couple months and everything has been very helpful so far. I just have a quick question.
We just had our class meeting this past Monday and I am looking into selecting my away rotation sites. So far, neurology is my top choice.

Do you guys recommend doing it at a program that you are competitive in or at a "out-of-reach" program?

To briefly describe myself:
I am a 29yr old MS3 at a top 20 allo program. My board score was mediocre (96) and I've HPed basically all my clerkship including neurology (no Honors for me). I hope I can offset my score and grade with my EC.
I've done quite a few public health and medical education projects for the past 3 years, including a public health project for geriatric patients in our city with the majority of them having dementia, Parkinson, Alzheimer's, stroke, etc. Before med school, I was a clinical technologist developing new technology for cancer research.

I am looking at several NE programs right now and I really like the Yale program. I would like to do an away rotation there but I don't think I am a competitive applicant for that program.
Should I do an away at a less-competitive program instead (as in not wasting the away-rotation doing it at somewhere "out-of-reach"?)

A USMLE score of 96 is not a bad score; what is it, 230-238 on the 3 digit scale?? I doubt there are too many Neurology programs (Yale included) that would reject you through a filter based on USMLE scores alone.

IMO, rotating at Yale is worth the risk. I know it's cliche, but sometimes the biggest risk is not taking one. Hopefully, you'll have a good experience and can match there. Maybe you'll be able to get a reference from a Yale Neurologist, which wouldn't hurt.

Programs like Yale are going to want Academically inclined residents. If you're leaning towards community practice (which is fine), be honest and don't pretend to be Academic if your interests lie elsewhere. If you see yourself as an Academic, then make that case and explain why Yale is the right program. You should be able to contact someone in their office, maybe a Neurology program or Education coordinator, to help arrange this. I'd recommend doing this sooner rather than later in your M4 year.

My hunch is that research interests/experience and personality fit, etc will make or break whether they take you as opposed to (perceived) Academic insufficiency. Go for it; GL!

 

[digfast]

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[curlygirlie106]

Then I might do the away later in the year then.

Hmm, so what did guys end up taking during the first several months (July to Oct)?


My school only offers Neuro AI and Neuro ICU AI.
Should I do a Peds or Internal Med AI as well as an EM for the other two?
Or should I take the Step II early?

Thank you all for the advices!

I did a Neurorads rotation (super useful and conducive to studying for Step 2- read... not time intensive), a research month (during which I took the CS and CK), a Neuro AI, and two neuro aways. Following that, I've taken a smattering of things that'll be useful for intern year (and also were interview season-friendly). I've heard from multiple PDs "whoa, that was a lot of neuro!" but during interview season, I was quick to follow with what else I had set up on my schedule (think optho, IM, ED, etc.) and they all seemed to be satisfied with that. I may be wrong, but it seems most PDs are well aware most schools don't have a ton neuro rotations, so don't freak if you've only done one or two.

As far as Step II- get it done early... for multiple reasons. Most everyone does as well as their Step 1 or, in many cases, better. Plus, it's a use it or lose it situation in terms of your third year knowledge base. And as any MSIV will tell you, your agenda will be nutso fourth year. Trying to do exams during interview season (Oct-early Feb) can be disastrous. (P.S. Schedule the CS NOW!! Getting the date you want in the city you want will get super hard as the summer approaches.)

And one final bit of wisdom- as far as the away goes. One of my two aways was at my "dream" program- one that looking at my CV was a definite reach for me. The month could not have been more worth it. Even if I don't match there, the learning experience was phenomenal- and in my mind- I'd rather experience it just for a month than never experience it at all. I also strongly feel (March 17 may prove me wrong) that it gave my application a significant boost. I was able to "show my stuff" and more importantly got to know the people that have the ultimate decision making power. Personality and work ethic just don't come across on paper. Finally, it's given me a sense of peace about the whole thing. I know I just totally went for it- I did everything I could to get a spot at my program of choice, but if the Match goes differently than I hope, I know there won't be any woulda, shoulda, couldas, nagging me.

All the best, and for heaven's sake- enjoy fourth year!

 

[Mattchiavelli]

longblondes- sometimes the best place isn't the big numbers/ranks place. If you really enjoyed your public health projects, maybe you should also look for a place to rotate where you think you could take that to the next level. I would start there and then worry about the "out of reach" thing if you don't get an interview. If you do this, you'll be more motivated than a place where you're anxious thinking about not getting in or a place that was runner up.

To the second point- EM and IM will be useful for step II. You can study for rotations and tests because believe it or not the material overlaps EM, IM, Optho, physiatry/PM&R, psych, and Neurosurg rotations will all teach you stuff you'll need for residency and career.