away rotations questions

[Czeckers]

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1. Many people say that june july august are prime months for aways. I called a program (prob a mid-teir program, unranked in US News with "modest" reputation) recently to ask about how to apply for a spot and the person on the phone told me that I shouldnt try to do an away during these months because so many of the home students will be trying to rotate in ophtho at that time. It was almost like she was telling me to not bother applying. If that were true and extrapolated, then no one would ever get any aways anywhere.

Has anyone else experienced resistance like this? It just don't seem right. Should I take her word for it, or should I apply anyway?

2. Do you have to be a "Senior" or M4 for all ophtho programs or just certain programs (above program)? Can you do it during M3 at any places? If they say "you have to be done with your M3 coursework", well that doesn't really mean anything to me because my institution does not have set rotation requirements for M3 or M4 year. At my institution, in June, I'll be an M4 no matter what I have or haven't taken. Basically I am asking: if as an M4 I still haven't taken one of the cores (like say OB/GYN or say Psych), will this prevent me from doing aways?

3. Can the regional biases in the match be readily (easily) overcome by other factors such as where your family lives, where you grew up, WHERE YOU DID AWAY ROTATIONS)?

 

[MR1]

1. July and August are very hard to get aways yes. Not impossible though just difficult. You have to ask your self why you are doing an away, if you want to get a letter you have to do it early (I personally would recommend against this though, just get letters from home). If you just want to impress the folks there it doesn't matter if you wait until Sept\Oct to do it. I did mine in Sept.

2. I am pretty sure you have to be a M4 no matter what rotations you have or have not done. Strongly suggest you do your home rotation first though.

3. yes regional biases can be overcome especially if you have local ties somewhere. California may be an exception as I have heard it is hard to break in there (never tried). Just make sure you play those factors well to make sure they know you are interested.

 

[Slide]

1) I received a lot of resistance trying to get an away rotation in August, but my experience is that you should try your hardest to do so, especially if you want a letter of recommendation. You should preferably do this in July but if you don't have an ophtho rotation during your M3 year and you don't feel proficient enough for an away rotation, doing it in August is the next best option. I was able to secure an away rotation at my top choice, but I was waitlisted originally due to demand. I applied to other programs but luckily a spot opened up for me at my original choice for an away rotation. As far as letters are concerned, it depends on your goals, which I will address later.

2) Unless you set up a research month or a special elective like "ophthalmic pathology" you likely will not be able to get one as an M3. Do your home rotation first if possible.

3) This is where my opinion may rile up other applicants/residents' opinions. My experience has shown that how you can overcome regional bias will depend on 1) letter writers and 2) pedigree of medical school and its ophthalmology program. Else, overcoming regional bias is very difficult, if not impossible. You can be an amazing applicant on paper but if the committee is wondering why you're applying to that program, your app will get thrown out before any serious review. On the trail, I've heard of a few programs that screens out apps by region BEFORE they actually read the application. Of course, if you went somewhere like Duke or Harvard, you won't have an issue with regional bias. I come from a school in the southeast that is not very well known, and I only received 2 interviews on the East Coast out of the 15+ that I applied to, while I received interviews from just about every southeastern program I applied to. Doing an away rotation helps definitely, but only if you impress them. Family and growing up in an area may help a bit but it needs to be a reason that is very dear to you (ie spouse moving to another city and you want to follow). Letter writers also play a part because a well-known letter writer will give the reviewers the benefit of the doubt based on your location and your desire of attending that program. Some residents/applicants will say get letters from your home institution ( you will also notice that several of these people offering these opinions come from programs with well-known ophtho programs), but if you come from a medical school that does not have any "big-wigs", I would recommend going for one at an away rotation.

Oh, and as far as California goes, unless you went to med school there, did an away rotation, or lived there your entire life, don't bother. I've talked to many applicants on the trail who grew up in California, but attended medical school in another state. They were quite disappointed with not having any interviews in Cali.

 

[200UL]

Why do you want an away at this program? Is it a place you want to go to? Is your home program weak? Is your application weak. There must always be a good reason to consider an away rotation in my opinion. They can hurt some, they are hard to arrange, and they cost money. Just make sure it is for a good reason...

If you want to match at this particular program and feel you make good impressions - I would do the rotation any time you can get it - early/late does not matter much - just get it before interview season. Be nice and let the program director know you would be very excited to have the opportunity to train with them.

If you are simply looking for a letter, I would look elsewhere. Go to a program with a bigger name. Impress with your skills. Get a letter stating you are better than the prima donnas who actually go to school there. That will carry more weight at all programs.

Finally, be ready to explain at all your interviews your reason for an away at a particular program. It will come up.