Away rotations for all of fourth year

[PercutaneousKnowledge]

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Question about fourth year - is it possible to do all away rotations? Obviously for the July-Oct audition season, I will go to my top programs but for the rest of the year, do programs accept away requests from out of state students (want to stay at my parent's home in my home state I want to eventually match into residency at). My school has no problem with that, just wanted to know if anyone else has heard of that or has done it. Thank you!

 

[Donald Juan]

If your school is okay with it (i.e., you'll graduate without any home rotations), then you should be fine. I don't know anyone who did it, but I don't know anyone who would want to do it. I do know a DO who was going into a surgical subspecialty and did 6 months of aways at 9 or 10 programs, and he was burnt out as hell by the end of the year.

 

[Psai]

Sounds expensive. Also other schools dont necessarily have the same schedule as your school

 

[PercutaneousKnowledge]

Hey Psai,
Why would you say it is expensive? The rotations I am planning to do away that are not true audition rotations are near my parents' home so I do not need to pay rent/food during that time. Are there other fees that are associated with away rotations that I am not aware?

 

[gJWo51]

I did all away rotations on my fourth year, after my audition rotations I found rotations where my friends an family were--which was all over the country. It was one of the best years of my life, I packed up my little SUV with everything I'd need for a 9 month road trip and traveled to OH, SC, TX, CO, OK, NV, IA. I figured I'd try to see everyone that I wouldn't get to see, and travel and see as much as I could, since I'm now chained to residency. In fact, my school had a database of outside rotations that past students had been successful at rotating at, complete with some reviews students could post. It wasn't terribly expensive either, since I wasn't paying for rent (only a storage unit for my furniture and other stuff), it actually ended up saving me money because I stayed with friends. I'd say go for it!

 

[PercutaneousKnowledge]

Thanks for that information! How did you explain to the various programs your reason for being at their institution (other than the reason of wanting to travel/see friends)? Also, was this all scheduled via VSAS your third year or were you able to schedule them as your went along fourth year? Thank you so much!

 

[gJWo51]

I didn't do many rotations at teaching hospitals in fourth year; a couple of them were at the teaching hospital that I spent my 3rd year at. A few were at outpatient clinics. A couple of them were with physicians that I had worked with in my previous career, that was great because it was more relaxed, and I got great evaluations!! The last one was an interesting primary care rotation in a prison, pretty interesting. I never used the VSAS. I did try to get a trauma rotation at a teaching hospital by contacting the visiting student coordinator, but I didn't get it only because I was only applying a couple months prior, and it was already filled. I'm not sure what your school's rules are, but check with your adviser to make sure this is all feasible and kosher. They will likely require some paperwork, an "agreement" of some sort with your medical school.

 

[PercutaneousKnowledge]

Thank you so much!!!

 

[Psai]

Oh it would have been expensive because getting a place for a month, transportation and food add up but if you have that all settled then it's not a bad idea

 

[Cytarabine]

Check with your school. Mine requires some home rotations

 

[alpinism]

Yeah many MD schools require at least 2-3 home rotations during M4.

Usually a medical and surgical SubI +/- a rural or primary care rotation.

 

[Raryn]

My med school required us to do ~8-9 months of rotations during M4 year, and only a maximum of 4 months could be away electives. OTOH, my friends at various DO schools basically only did away electives during their 4th years.