Away rotations for psych residency?

[xsxoxfx7]

I'm wondering if it makes sense to do away rotations in order to match at a top psychiatry residency (MGH/McLean, Columbia, Yale, BWH, etc).

Medical School: Mid-Tier MD Program (research rank in 40s, primary care much higher)
Step 1: 241
Clinical Rotations: Mostly Honors
Worked as a mental health specialist for 2 years before medical school
President of Psych Interest Group
President of Free-Clinics
A few publications

I tend to do well clinically but know that aways can be a double edged sword. I'm wondering if it makes sense to do aways or spend MS4 year at my home institution.

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[psychattending]

I would only do one if there was a specific program that you just had to get into. Otherwise it is a waste of your and the program's time.

 

[FFH]

Just a current applicant speaking here: FWIW I don’t think you need to—if your sole concern is to increase your chance at matching those places. You shouldn’t have trouble getting IIs at those places listed as long as you don’t have red flags and that your evaluation and letters are good. After that your rank is going to depend on your interview—the survey of PD supported this.

It’s possible that things can be a bit tougher and more unpredictable next year, you’ll still likely get some II from the list if not all of them.

For me when I thought about doing an away it was for getting to know a specific school located in a city of which at the time I had some personal reason to consider. The benefit would have been making sure the program isn’t malignant. I didn’t end up needing to go to that part of the country so I never did one.

Also there are a lot of top psych programs out there. Having the name of an Ivy League undergrad attached to the program by itself isn’t gonna guarante the right kind of culture, training, and support.