Away rotations in IM-please advise

[rahsharm]

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I think rarely do IM applicants do away rotations. But for those that have done them, can you give a little direction/advice/comments on your experience. I am trying to do one or two this summer at modestly competitive places to hopefully increase chances of matching there.

1. Where did you do your away?
2. What elective did you choose?
3. Did you end up interviewing/matching there?
4. Retrospectively, are you happy you did it?

Thanks much in advance.

 

[gutonc]

I think rarely do IM applicants do away rotations. But for those that have done them, can you give a little direction/advice/comments on your experience. I am trying to do one or two this summer at modestly competitive places to hopefully increase chances of matching there.

1. Where did you do your away?
2. What elective did you choose?
3. Did you end up interviewing/matching there?
4. Retrospectively, are you happy you did it?

Thanks much in advance.

I did one away rotation. Total waste of time, money and energy. The only upside was that I learned just how far at the bottom of my ROL that program was going to be. I went on the interview anyway because they paid for the 4-star hotel room and I was in-town for another interview.

 

[ImMaster]

I actually did 2 away rotations with one of them ending up as my #1.

It was a good experience b/c had I not done it, then I would not have ranked it as my top choice based on a lackluster interview day. On the flip side, after doing an externship at the second place, I quickly found out how disgruntled/miserable some of the residents were so I was able to scratch that off my list w/o any hesitation.

Good luck.

 

[Pkboi24]

I was hoping to do one in Aug in Columbia since that's my first choice. We'll see if I get it. I hear they're notoriously stingy with interviews so I'm hoping this away rotation will at least get me a courtesy interview.

Why so exclusive Columbia!? Why!?

 

[chitown82]

I was hoping to do one in Aug in Columbia since that's my first choice. We'll see if I get it. I hear they're notoriously stingy with interviews so I'm hoping this away rotation will at least get me a courtesy interview.

Why so exclusive Columbia!? Why!?

Why so obsessed with Columbia!? Why!?

 

[Instatewaiter]

You definitely do not need to do an away to get an interview at the top places. It may help get you an interview but I doubt it will really grease the wheels and get you higher on their ROL than you would have been.

 

[ResidentMD]

You definitely do not need to do an away to get an interview at the top places. It may help get you an interview but I doubt it will really grease the wheels and get you higher on their ROL than you would have been.

I wonder if its the other way round at the top places....it may not necessarily help to get you an interview, but if you do get an interview (and had a stellar away rotation), they may be more comfortable having you at the top of their list.

Yo chitown - how's the good life in the Windy City? 😉

 

[rahsharm]

Thanks to all.

 

[Bike on a Trek]

I think rarely do IM applicants do away rotations. But for those that have done them, can you give a little direction/advice/comments on your experience. I am trying to do one or two this summer at modestly competitive places to hopefully increase chances of matching there.

1. Where did you do your away?
2. What elective did you choose?
3. Did you end up interviewing/matching there?
4. Retrospectively, are you happy you did it?

Thanks much in advance.

If you think you want to go to a "top" (you define) program and there is one you have your heart set on, and you think you come from a program that the "top" program doesn't consider "top" (look to see if anyone from your program has ever matched there), then YES doing a rotation at the "top" program can definitely make the difference. Choose to do a Sub-I or a challenging rotation, and then live/breathe/immerse yourself in the rotation while you are away. At the very least, you'll learn A LOT. At best, you may win yourself a slot with an excellent performance that overcomes the program's biased beliefs about your school.

 

[rahsharm]

If you think you want to go to a "top" (you define) program and there is one you have your heart set on, and you think you come from a program that the "top" program doesn't consider "top" (look to see if anyone from your program has ever matched there), then YES doing a rotation at the "top" program can definitely make the difference. Choose to do a Sub-I or a challenging rotation, and then live/breathe/immerse yourself in the rotation while you are away. At the very least, you'll learn A LOT. At best, you may win yourself a slot with an excellent performance that overcomes the program's biased beliefs about your school.

This, I feel, is excellent advice. I will do this, and I think it is the correct way to feel about competitive away rotations.

 

[Speculatrix]

This, I feel, is excellent advice. I will do this, and I think it is the correct way to feel about competitive away rotations.

Really? I think that advice is only pertinent in some specific situations, and may only sound great because it's what you want to hear. Doing an away rotation in medicine (as opposed to, say, derm) has a good chance of harming rather than hurting, especially at the top 10. If you're a good candidate, you have a lot to lose. You're in a new city, don't know the hospital or computer system, and you can't really "hit the ground running" compared to other students at that school. Plus, there can be tens, if not hundreds, of faculty in that medicine department and a letter from Joe Schmoe MD may not help. Focus on AOA, as this can trump all, even from a small state school. Do an away rotation if your application is weak, if you want to experience some specific part of some renowned program, or if you just want to use that time as a mini vacation to visit friends in your spare time.