Away Rotation Outside of Peak Months

[beijing67]

Does anyone have any experience applying for and doing an away rotation outside of the peak months (July though Sept) that people usually do them? Planning on applying ophtho, and I'm taking a research gap year mid-fourth year (likely March to March and would be applying during my gap year). Given my schedule, I would like to do an away rotation in the Jan to Mar quarter and was wondering if that's even an option usually. I would assume it depends on the various programs if they accept visiting students and offer the relevant ophtho electives during those windows, but was just wondering if anyone has done this before.

Also, assuming a program does accept students in those months, I'd imagine I should have better chances of getting accepted for an away since significantly less numbers of students would also be applying?

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[calivianya]

You can definitely do aways then. I have aways (not in optho) scheduled in January, February (away but virtual), and April, and there were a ton of options in VSAS during those times.

I would just let them know that you're planning on applying optho and that you're not just visiting for electives. None of those impact my match since I'm a fourth year and I'm not applying in the January specialty, which is the only rotation that could probably affect anything for me. So I'd think by then you'd just have more people like me trying to finish up graduation requirements than people rotating for an audition at those times, so your situation might be somewhat unusual.

 

[beijing67]

Okay, that's great to hear. I was worried there wouldn't be an option at all outside that main window. Thank you so much!

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

away but virtual

Only responding because it’s somewhat OT. But what is a virtual away?

 

[aldol16]

Are you talking about doing the away during your application cycle (as in ERAS already submitted) or prior to your application cycle (prior to ERAS submission)? If the former, then doing the away could help at that specific program if they know that you're coming and therefore interested. They would have already interviewed you by that point and would have already ranked you before you rotate there so they wouldn't be able to use the rotation itself to evaluate you. There are probably less costly and easier ways to demonstrate interest in a program than that, in my opinion. If the latter, then it's too early in away season because there won't be other rotating students and they might not even remember you by the time they're deciding on interviews. Many programs hold meetings after each month during rotation season to rate all the rotators in a given month - I do not think this happens during off seasons.

 

[beijing67]

Are you talking about doing the away during your application cycle (as in ERAS already submitted) or prior to your application cycle (prior to ERAS submission)? If the former, then doing the away could help at that specific program if they know that you're coming and therefore interested. They would have already interviewed you by that point and would have already ranked you before you rotate there so they wouldn't be able to use the rotation itself to evaluate you. There are probably less costly and easier ways to demonstrate interest in a program than that, in my opinion. If the latter, then it's too early in away season because there won't be other rotating students and they might not even remember you by the time they're deciding on interviews. Many programs hold meetings after each month during rotation season to rate all the rotators in a given month - I do not think this happens during off seasons.

It would be the latter. I have to take the gap year during that time for personal reasons unfortunately, so at best I could do an away in February, 7 months before I'd be applying. And since I won't be an active, enrolled student after Feb, I can't do the away closer to the application cycle.

I was thinking to try and still get the most of out of an away was to do one at a program that has more of a setup where the visiting student works mainly with one attending for the whole rotation. Hopefully that way it would give me a chance to build a stronger, more memorable relationship with one attending at the program who would hopefully be willing to vouch for me come application time 7 months later. I do know it's still not the ideal setup though 😕

 

[calivianya]

Only responding because it’s somewhat OT. But what is a virtual away?

Just an online class through a different program. Doubt it actually counts as an away, but I did use VSAS to apply for it and accept it.

Mine is just a self-paced class. But I did notice some virtual electives where they expect you to Zoom in to see patients and Zoom in for rounds.