away rotations, again

[sisyphus22]

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I'm a third-yr trying to set up away rotations in ophtho for the months of June-August, and I'm getting really discouraged. Several of the schools I have contacted have told me that they are already booked through August/Sept, and at least one school where I would really like to do an elective won't even put me on a wait list. I am trying to do away rotations in New York, since ideally I would like to stay here for residency (plus I won't have to worry about housing), so this limits my options a little. Did anyone else run into this problem, and how do you get around it? Should I just apply anyway, in the hopes that they'll consider my application if someone backs out? Or should I contact faculty in the ophtho depts directly and ask if they'll just let me unofficially work with them for a month?

On a side note, should I make one of my electives a research elective? I haven't done any research yet in ophtho. Would it be better to do research at my home institution or should I try for a bigger name? I won't be able to get in much research before the ophtho match, so I don't know if this matters much. But I could conceivably start some research in July or August and continue it into interview season, if it would help my application.

Any advice appreciated.

 

[xaelia]

July/August are going to be very tough months to do away rotations. Most schools have their own cadre of folks who want to go into Ophtho, and they'll book up all available spots at their home institution for those months to get their chairman's letter for their application. Sept./Oct. I think are more traditional months to go do an away month at an institution, so you hopefully would have better luck then; I mailed my application for one yesterday.

 

[sisyphus22]

Well, in that case, will you be sending LORs from away rotations after submitting your ophtho application?

 

[monkey7247]

Well, in that case, will you be sending LORs from away rotations after submitting your ophtho application?

Yes. That's the reason SFMatch allows one to send in a 4th LOR from a late rotation. FWIW, I did my aways in August and September.

 

[sparticus]

If you get accepted to do an away, but your home school does not allow it (because you are doing too many aways in ophthal), does it look bad or affect you chances of landing a residency at that school if you decide not to follow through with the elective? 👍

 

[tufts02]

Have all of you been trying to secure away rotations directly from the school (i.e. contacting someone within the department as opposed to going through the formal application process)

If you do contact someone within the department, how do you decide who to contact? I guess I'm behind now in trying to set up away rotations. How do you guys do this without knowing what your schedule is going to be at your home school?

 

[xaelia]

Have all of you been trying to secure away rotations directly from the school (i.e. contacting someone within the department as opposed to going through the formal application process)

I've just been going through the formal application process.

I suppose that could be naive.

 

[GuP]

i just took step 1 last week...should i begin to schedule aways for optho now then?

 

[DOCTORSAIB]

i just took step 1 last week...should i begin to schedule aways for optho now then?

No, only after you get your score...haha. J/k. Sorry, I'm in a funny mood today.

The info in this thread is very pertinent to me as well. Keep'em coming people.

 

[GuP]

can anyone answer the previous question please?

 

[4424]

can anyone answer the previous question please?

are you an MSII or MSIII? if you are a MSIII then yes, begin schedule away rotations starting now

 

[GuP]

are you an MSII or MSIII? if you are a MSIII then yes, begin schedule away rotations starting now

well just took the step last week, so im guessing once i get the scores i will be MS3...and to schedule aways, do i just e-mail the place and be like hey can i do a clerkship in blah blah here?

 

[4424]

well just took the step last week, so im guessing once i get the scores i will be MS3...and to schedule aways, do i just e-mail the place and be like hey can i do a clerkship in blah blah here?

either email/call the ophtho dept or go through the medical education dept of the school. most schools have applications to submit for the month you are wishing to do the rotation. usually you are doing this towards the end of your MS3 year for an early away rotation for MS4. hope that helps