Away Electives

[Raydeus]

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I have a question for the 4th year med students. For those of you that did away anesthesia electives, did you find that it made a difference in your competitiveness in getting interviews this past year? The reason I ask is because after asking around it seems that its not really necessary to do a rotation away from your home school unless there is a particular program that you really want to see. There really isn't one particular program that I'm dying to check out over any other. Geography is somewhat of a factor for me in picking a program, but there are plenty to choose from in the area and I didn't think one month someplace would add all that much to my chances of staying here. I actually get a week of anesthesia during my 3rd year and another month early in fourth year. If I add another away, that would be 9 weeks altogether. I actually would rather spend that extra month doing another rotation that I won't have the chance to do again, considering I'll be doing anesthesia for the rest of my working life. Just wondering what your thoughts were now that you've gone through the process.

By the way, good luck to you guys in the upcoming match! Your advice from reading your threads has been very helpful this past year.

 

[fakin' the funk]

1. There are lots of threads on the pros and cons of doing aways.
2. I don't think 9 weeks of anesthesia is too much, but 5 weeks is not too little.
3. Aways are not necessary.
4. To specifically answer your question: I am coming from a mid-range program and did an away at a top 10 program mostly for location/personal/family reasons (which was also a large part of my interest in the program). I do not think any "prestige" was gleaned that helped me at any other programs, in fact, most of my interviewers in that same region and elsewhere were not aware that I had done the away, unless I brought it up. So, it certainly can establish your interest in that location, but you can also do that in your customized PS's or by bringing it up in your interviews themselves.

 

[lfesiam]

I have a question for the 4th year med students. For those of you that did away anesthesia electives, did you find that it made a difference in your competitiveness in getting interviews this past year? The reason I ask is because after asking around it seems that its not really necessary to do a rotation away from your home school unless there is a particular program that you really want to see. There really isn't one particular program that I'm dying to check out over any other. Geography is somewhat of a factor for me in picking a program, but there are plenty to choose from in the area and I didn't think one month someplace would add all that much to my chances of staying here. I actually get a week of anesthesia during my 3rd year and another month early in fourth year. If I add another away, that would be 9 weeks altogether. I actually would rather spend that extra month doing another rotation that I won't have the chance to do again, considering I'll be doing anesthesia for the rest of my working life. Just wondering what your thoughts were now that you've gone through the process.

By the way, good luck to you guys in the upcoming match! Your advice from reading your threads has been very helpful this past year.

Hi OP - I will get back to you after next Thursday (MATCH DAY) if it made a difference or not. I rotated at my NUMBER ONE program - Oregon Health & Science University. No family ties to the area - but it is where I want to spend the rest of my life.

Away rotation got me the interview but I don't know if it will help in the actual matching. Good luck bud!

 

[mstudent12345]

As others have said not necessary. I think they do help at a particular program (assuming you work hard and are a star) or to establish an interest in a region that you don't otherwise have ties too (ie my wife is from the west coast and I wanted to express an interest there)

I have been told by a few programs that they place a strong emphasis on people that did aways there.

 

[bigdan]

Agree w/all the above, but we all seem to be of the same frame of mind anyways.

I'll just expound a bit. I go to school at Stony Brook in Long Island, NY; we have a nice program but not super busy, and our surgical volume is not super high either; I hope I don't step on any toes saying we don't have the country's best SICU either. So I did an away at Cleveland Clinic in order to give me the exact opposite experience - this was done to 1) see CCF, and 2) see how 'the other half lives'. It was awesome, and a great choice for me.

LOTS of folks say not to do aways because you give the program to see you screw up, but the same is true of the program...like Siam found, you may see the program of your dreams. Or you may find the exact type of program that you want to stay away from.

The only caveat I give requires a lot of introspection and honesty: if you *know* that you are the type of person that tends to initially rub folks the wrong way, or if you rarely make a good first impression, then tread very cautiously or don't do the away at your top choice program. I imagine it only takes a couple of residents saying "That guy's a fuc*ing douche" to a PD in order to sink an applicant.


dc

 

[Csv321]

I did an away elective at a west coast program in a very desirable location. I am coming from a middle-tier east coast med school so felt that it could be to my advantage. I was also aware and afraid of the fact that it could hurt me. I tried to work hard, stayed for calls, showed interest, and I think it definitely helped me get an interview.

The last week of my elective, I received an email saying that they wanted to set up interviews for me before I left because they had heard positive things about me from the residents. Interview season hadn't officially started for them yet but they were able to squeeze me in with 3 people over 2 days. One attending just pulled me out of the OR to interview me. It was much more laid back since I already knew them.

In my opinion, I think it can definitely help you if there is a specific program you want to go to. We'll see next week how much of a difference it ultimately made.... 🙂

 

[lord_jeebus]

I did an away elective and got Honors...but one attending wrote a really nasty eval. By far the worst I had ever gotten in med school, and completely out of line compared to all my other evaluations there.

When I applied, I got interviews at all but this program and one other.

However, the away rotation also lowered my interest in their program quite a bit, so perhaps it was for the best.