Away Rotation Availability

[erectorspinae]

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Wondering if anyone knew what time these typically get filled up. It's kind of painful esp for those of us without home institutions (and those home institutions take their sweet time filling out paperwork we need from them...)
Already heard from one place that is filled up, and unfortunately a lot of schools don't like communicating status until after you donate the nonrefundable fee.
Thanks for the help.

 

[Tigerstang]

Wondering if anyone knew what time these typically get filled up. It's kind of painful esp for those of us without home institutions (and those home institutions take their sweet time filling out paperwork we need from them...)
Already heard from one place that is filled up, and unfortunately a lot of schools don't like communicating status until after you donate the nonrefundable fee.
Thanks for the help.

they usually fill by the first day of the deadline for applications, if not before. Sorry, and good luck!

 

[deleted4401]

Um, I think Tiger is joking, but am not sure.
Plenty of places have plenty of openings.
Communicate to the specific department's rotation/residency coordinator. They usually know who is scheduled already for what months and can give you an idea if you will be able to get scheduled. The larger places will have a spot for you, i.e. MDACC has a million openings.
There is usually some paperwork, and some place are ridiculous enough to make you write an essay (Mayo!), but it can work out even on short notice.
You will be fine.
S

 

[Helo]

d

 

[Pewl]

There is no way in hell all the rad onc rotation spots filled on the first day. Definitely be persistent and keep checking. WashU typically takes 4 rotators at once. A lot of the big institutions will have a ton of openings throughout the year.

 

[erectorspinae]

excellent good to hear, damn med school related neuroses. any places you guys recommend/had good experiences with?

 

[LasersPewPew]

Already heard from one place that is filled up, and unfortunately a lot of schools don't like communicating status until after you donate the nonrefundable fee.
Thanks for the help.

im running into the same problem......2 "rejections" so far........

 

[gorgias]

Three things I've seen programs require for a clinical elective:

1. Charge me a big, non-refundable upfront fee.
2. Require multiple letters of recommendation.
3. Ask me to type in my entire transcript into their online application.

I'll bet some of these have openings.

 

[Adawaal]

One point I haven't seen made before.

It helps to have in mind a request for a specific service you would like to rotate with while at the outside institution. The secretaries putting together these rotations are usually the same as those already overburdened with keeping their own residency training program running.

It's a lot to get a request from a faceless med student from Outside U who wants "to do an away rotation" at your institution. Now you have to spend time juggling around to see what staff are without residents on their service during the time the applicant wants to come, which staff are even open to the random med student, etc.

Much easier on her if you say, "I am a med student from Outside U, and I would like to come and spend X weeks on the Y service." Cuts her time dramatically to figure everything out, she'll appreciate it, and you may score points by making the process easier for everyone involved.

 

[erectorspinae]

Excellent advice, appreciate it everyone. Is the standard for people who don't have a home residency program 3 aways? I was thinking rotate at home + two aways since that third might be exhausting. But hell worth it if it makes a difference. Other concern is it might be too late to matter in the month of October.

 

[thesauce]

Excellent advice, appreciate it everyone. Is the standard for people who don't have a home residency program 3 aways? I was thinking rotate at home + two aways since that third might be exhausting. But hell worth it if it makes a difference. Other concern is it might be too late to matter in the month of October.

I think most advocate for 2. 3 is doable, but exhausting (only you know your own limits). I was surprised at the number of people on the trail that didn't do any.

October is not too late, but that's probably the latest month I would do one. I did a rotation in October and when I left, the PD informed me that she still hadn't started looking at applications.

 

[Pewl]

3 rotations is definitely doable as long as you're willing to expend the resources and energy to do so. October is not too late but I agree it should probably be the last month to do aways. People tend to take forever writing letters so the earlier you can get them ready the better.

 

[radioh3ad]

i was super concentrated on a particular location, so i chose all 3 away rotations in that city. like the OP my home institution does not have it's own program (the behemoth has us). it is a bit late in the game right now to do this, but fwiw here's my advice:

1. be polite, patient and gracious
2. call the program coordinator (often PD's executive secretary) directly and (to echo above) tell them exactly who you are intersted in working with and for how long. be flexible.
3. contact the chief resident at those locations (check ARRO... not stalking). great to connect and network anyway.
4. be prepared with all the essential documents early and accurately. send everything promptly and together as early as possible.
5. be polite, gracious and stay in contact (you are not their priority)

this will go a long way towards building connections and helping you when you are eventually in contact with those same people during application season. by doing this, i did not have to go through VSAS. MSKCC, among others, WILL have finished filling most of the best spots by now and they do require an easy onlilne app.

btw Emily Rawn at NYU is freakin awesome.

 

[erectorspinae]

Any good places you guys remember rotating through - in terms of both giving you good exposure to the field and ample time working with attendings. Programs I was thinking about are UCLA, UTSW, Miami, nyu, Michigan, Chicago.

 

[Helo]

d