Away rotations and LOR

[alleyesonme]

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I am a MS3 going into Ophthalmology, and I have a few questions regarding away rotations and LOR that I have not found elsewhere in the forum.

1) What is the recommended mix of evaluators? (I have read on this forum to have 1 ophtho, 1 IM, 1 G-surg; I have also read here to have 2 ophtho and 1 other). I plan to have a letter from a well-known ophtho, an IM, and was wondering if I should work on getting another from an ophtho from an away rotation or will it be too late in the year if I take it late July/early August.

2) I realize that you should do an away rotation at a program of high interest, but I have heard that there are some programs that actually frown on students doing aways at there programs. Any insight? Additionally, does anyone have any thoughts on away rotations that they would recommend or those that they would not recommend (i.e. spent the majority of time with residents rather than attendings).

 

[Mye Eye]

I cannot comment as to whether or not certain places frown on students doing away rotations there, since I didnt encounter any...but 2 ophtho letters is just fine...I did that and i got some interviews I'm VERY happy with...1 ophtho is from my home program and one is from an away rotation....that I did in julyish, so it's not too late

my suggestion for aways - go to a place where you want to work really hard to get a good letter of rec from...doing an away only barely increases your odds of getting an interview (i did get an interview at both places i did aways at, but one was a courtesy interview and 1 was off the waitlist...so draw your own conclusions)

 

[Wolverine98]

Most people go with 2 ophtho, one other (usually IM, sometimes GS) for the letters.

As for the away rotations, it can be completely variable. Some programs will automatically give an interview to anyone who rotates with them. Others won't even take it into consideration. If you do a great job, it can definitely help you; this is especially the case if you have sort of borderline scores and an OK application; you can really bump yourself at that program.

However, it's certainly not the case that doing a rotation is always a benefit. With those programs you mentioned that seem to frown on it, I think that ends up being more that students rotate there and end up not impressing anyone. If you end up really irritating the wrong people, it can definitely hurt you. If you just sort of fade in and no one really remembers that you rotated there, that's bad.

If you think you can sustain your best effort and best behavior for a month, go for it. If you're not sure, then I wouldn't rotate at your top choice. Be realistic with yourself about your motivation level and your abilities when you consider that.

Dave

 

[DOapplicant]

I would recommend doing your away rotation at a program where: a)you'd like to go for your training, b) that might be a bit of a 'reach' program for you, c) has a strong h/o taking students that have rotated there, d) has a h/o taking students from your school.

The more of the above criteria that are met, the greater the return on your investment of time and effort.

Doing an away rotation can only help if your have a likable personality and are hard-working.

 

[ophthoapplicant]

Letters: I only had one ophtho letter, and two other letters (non-surgery). I think the most important aspect is that they not be generic, and that they be STRONG. Two ophtho letters is nice- but make sure that they are both strong. An OK letter can water down a strong one.

Aways: DEFINITELY do an away at your choice program. First of all, it gets you an inside view that you otherwise wouldn't have, so you can see the program for all its pros and its cons (not just the rosy colored view presented on interview day). Maybe you'll rotate there and find you didn't love it all that much after all. But if you do love it, and you do a great job, it will definitely help your app. While meeting a smiling candidate for three 15 minute interviews says something, knowing someone for a month says a lot more. Of course, the good thing is that for many programs you get the courtesy interview, which might get you an interview at a place, as some have said before, that might otherwise be a "reach". And once you get that interview, the ball is in your court.

Although, my one piece of advice with regards to that is to go to a program that fits your personality. Hard to tell beforehand, but talk to your dean, others in ophtho, perhaps friends who are in ophtho, they can point you in the right direction. Even with OK scores and a nothing special application, I believe that given an interview (whether courtesy or one you would have gotten regardless, though really it doesn't matter in the end), if your personality is just like theirs, you have a great chance of getting in.

 

[BTS]

If you do an away rotation somewhere, that basically IS your interview. At most places, the attendings will get the resident's opinion of a rotator. If you do a good job, you will probably be ranked highly. If you do an avarage job, you're not going to be ranked highly . An amazing 10 minute interview will probably not bring you up a rank list if you do an average job during your away rotation - opinions aren't going to be changed in 10 minutes. So I would disagree with the idea of doing a rotation somewhere to get an interview. Definitely do an away rotation if you are interested in finding more about a program that you may want to end up at AND if you're sure that you're going to do a great job.