MD Away rotation in IM subspeciality

[dancingmate]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Just got accepted to do an away in Cali in an IM subspecialty. From the West coast, but out East for med school. Applied a few months ago for many reasons - 1) check out the program, 2) change of scenery, 3) thinking it would "help" me match back west.

I'm going into IM and I'm conflicted as to whether I should do it or not based on what I've read/heard. Is it going to hurt my chances of getting an interview at that particular school if I decline to do the away there? I part of me wants to go, but I do not want to "hurt my application".

For reference: Step1/2 - 241/264, honors x4, HP x3, multiple publications (1 first author), 1 poster presentation

 

[HatTricks01]

I was in a similar position to you regarding IM away rotations at a west coast school. Our applications are also pretty similar with some variation in step 1 score and research. Main difference is that you are from the west coast whereas I'm not. Judging from the research I did and advice I received, I ended up choosing not to do an away since it would hurt more than help. From what I was told by multiple people, the utility of doing an away would be more so the reasons you outlined in points 1 and 2 and less so in 3.

From the looks of it, I think your application is competitive as it is and it doesn't seem like doing an away would add much to it. Of course, there are some important pieces of info I'm missing such as "rank" of your med school, IM clerkship grade, AOA status, or what specific west coast program you're looking to get an interview at so take what I say with a grain of salt. Again, huge plus is that you're from the west coast so nobody will question your motivation for wanting to train there (which is the only reason I even considered doing an away in the first place as I have no connection to the west). Also, I'm told by countless med students that sending interest emails to programs you're competitive at during interview season really makes a difference in getting interviews.

I don't however have any solid info on whether or not declining an away acceptance will hinder you at all at that particular institution. I can't imagine that it would and I'd be VERY shocked if anyone cared about that at all, especially for IM.