Apply PM&R without elective?

[flea516]

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I'm interested in applying for PM&R and decided late, but my schedule doesn't allow for any electives before submitting my apps. Most of my exposure came from shadowing PM&R docs on my off days and such.

Would this be a big deal to residencies not having done a formal elective?

 

[DOctorJay]

yes this will limit your application severely. talk to the people in charge at your school and plead your case. you are there to obtain an education that will serve you for the rest of your practicing career. they are there to help you achieve that goal.

 

[sammybear]

I agree with DoctorJay. Most well regarded residency programs require that 1 of your letters of rec are from a physiatrist.

 

[Jumpu]

I'm interested in applying for PM&R and decided late, but my schedule doesn't allow for any electives before submitting my apps. Most of my exposure came from shadowing PM&R docs on my off days and such.

Would this be a big deal to residencies not having done a formal elective?

As a PD, I would wonder what you know or understand about the field. Out of curiosity, how did you decide?

 

[Jitter Bug]

I wouldn't take you very seriously as an applicant, because of your lack of exposure to the field.

Talk to your dean, get a PM&R rotation, get the letter and apply a little later in the cycle.

 

[igcgnerd]

In my case my school has an elective in PM&R however no residency program in that specialty. If I were to obtain a letter of rec on this rotation, would that be sufficient?

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

In my case my school has an elective in PM&R however no residency program in that specialty. If I were to obtain a letter of rec on this rotation, would that be sufficient?

Yes, many programs do not have a PM&R residency. PDs just want to know you have actually done some PM&R and have a letter from a Physiatrist.

 

[DocTalk12]

I'm interested in applying for PM&R and decided late, but my schedule doesn't allow for any electives before submitting my apps. Most of my exposure came from shadowing PM&R docs on my off days and such.

Would this be a big deal to residencies not having done a formal elective?

I did not have a formal PM&R rotation until december last year (during interview season), however, I had worked with a couple physiatrist in the outpatient setting, conducted some relevant research, did observerships (couple of weeks at 2 different programs), had short one - two day visits at a couple other programs. In the end, I had two LoR from physiatrists and was able to speak about my upcoming/recent rotation as well.

In the end I think it is important to justify your interest in the field, demonstrate that you are both serious & sincere, and have thought long and hard about going into PM&R.

 

[NeuroAP86]

Will not having a letter from PM&R doc put me at a disadvantage? My school doesn't allow electives in 3rd year and most of the places I am looking to my electives in PM&R rotate services weekly so limited time with attendings. The bulk of my PM&R exposure and initial interest was during my M1/M2 years I shadowed two different docs almost weekly.

 

[Taus]

I think it can hurt to not have a PM&R letter. Regardless of you switching services after a week- those attendings will be used to students asking for letters

 

[RooAgg14]

.

 

[RooAgg14]

Will not having a letter from PM&R doc put me at a disadvantage? My school doesn't allow electives in 3rd year and most of the places I am looking to my electives in PM&R rotate services weekly so limited time with attendings. The bulk of my PM&R exposure and initial interest was during my M1/M2 years I shadowed two different docs almost weekly.

I was in the same boat as you re: LORs. My school doesn't offer electives during third year either, so this is what I did (I'm applying this cycle) to get my letters:

1.) I did my Sub-I in internal medicine as the first rotation of 4th year. Got a rec
2.) Did back-to-back 4 week PM&R away rotations from the end of July to Mid Sept. Got a rec from each. The first rotation did the weekly thing. I made an appointment with the PD (who I spent a week with) asking if she would write a letter for me by using a compilation of the remarks from the 3 other attendings I worked with. She was happy to do this for me. Just let them know ahead of time that you would like a LOR.

My best advice would be to make sure you do your PM&R rotations early so you can get your letters in on time!

 

[NeuroAP86]

I was in the same boat as you re: LORs. My school doesn't offer electives during third year either, so this is what I did (I'm applying this cycle) to get my letters:

1.) I did my Sub-I in internal medicine as the first rotation of 4th year. Got a rec
2.) Did back-to-back 4 week PM&R away rotations from the end of July to Mid Sept. Got a rec from each. The first rotation did the weekly thing. I made an appointment with the PD (who I spent a week with) asking if she would write a letter for me by using a compilation of the remarks from the 3 other attendings I worked with. She was happy to do this for me. Just let them know ahead of time that you would like a LOR.

My best advice would be to make sure you do your PM&R rotations early so you can get your letters in on time!

Thanks for your advice! I have set up 2 rotations already for August and September so hopefully I can get letters from those rotations.