Away Rotation in California to "Unlock" Region?

[amphatoast21]

I'm an M4 at a Midwest school, but I am interested in doing radiology residency in California (some family there). I heard that doing a radiology away rotation in California can "unlock" interview invites from California schools. Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm a bit worried that it'll weaken my chances for programs in the Midwest though. I've also heard that doing an away rotation at an NYC program can push other NYC programs away from you, but I don't know if this is true.

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[SeisK]

Do the away and secure a letter. I don’t know if anybody would reasonably hold it against you in the midwest to do a california away, and I think the odds of you matching in Cali go up if you do an away there, more than whatever negative effects it might have on those results.

More than likely, people will view it mostly neutrally—don’t expect a plethora of california interviews. Don’t pin the absence of interviews you wanted on doing the away—they were likely going to do this anyway. It’s not hopeless, though. If you want to match Cali, doing an away there, taking up a project while you’re there, and securing a rec letter is the most productive way of improving your odds.

 

[hiimjohn]

Do the away and secure a letter. I don’t know if anybody would reasonably hold it against you in the midwest to do a california away, and I think the odds of you matching in Cali go up if you do an away there, more than whatever negative effects it might have on those results.

More than likely, people will view it mostly neutrally—don’t expect a plethora of california interviews. Don’t pin the absence of interviews you wanted on doing the away—they were likely going to do this anyway. It’s not hopeless, though. If you want to match Cali, doing an away there, taking up a project while you’re there, and securing a rec letter is the most productive way of improving your odds.

Hi there - just piggybacking on this - can you please expand on what you mean by “taking up a project”? Thank you!

 

[SeisK]

Research project. Preferably something small enough it can be finished before leaving.