As a student I rotated at my home institution, UT Southwestern, Bascom Palmer and Wilmer. . . All of them a different experience, all of them fun.
Home institution: just an introduction so you don't look foolish when you go away.
UT Southwestern: busy. When I did my rotation they gave me a room, slit lamp and indirect and said "work up the patient." It was a great learning experience. Clinical and hands on.
Bascom Palmer: they have a great curriculum that really introduces you to ophthalmology. It's in Miami so you get to go to the beach and eat Cuban food. A very regimented program because they have lots of students come through. You will get to meet the people who "wrote the book" and observe their clinics. I was impressed at how many attendings spoke English, French and Spanish.
Wilmer: You can do a month with an attending and have a chance to work on some research project. Take call with the residents and do Saturday am rounds. Clinical and academic.
The truth is, the programs you interview at aren't that concerned with WHERE you rotated. They want to know WHAT YOU LEARNED when you rotated wherever. So no matter where you go, recount some POSITIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCES in you applications and interviews.
Best of luck,
