Away vs. LOR

[jmw38]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I am a fourth year applying to derm this year. I am doing the derm elective at my school this month. I had originally planned to do an away at another institution in my city next month in August-September, because I have very strong reasons (parents ill, only child) for staying in town for residency (although I am definitely open to going wherever takes me). However, despite numerous calls and correspondence with the institution in question they never got back to me so I began to make other plans. I set up another derm elective with a very well-known faculty here at my home institution for August and away rotation out of state for September. I then proceeded to convince myself that this would be better anyway because then I could get a third derm LOR from that faculty member here and do an away rotation as well.

Well, the original, preferred institution JUST got back to me this Friday accepting me for a rotation from the middle of August to the middle of September. Now I am confused. Accepting this rotation would mean not being able to do the August derm rotation and not getting the LOR from the faculty.

I guess I can't decide whether a LOR from a well-known dermatologist (which should be my third derm LOR) would be worth not doing an away rotation at an institution I'd really like to go to? I don't know how much another good LOR would increase my chances of matching in general, vs how much doing an away would increase my chances of matching at that particular institution.

Any feedback or advice would be appreciated. Just for some perspective, mid-tier med school but with a top-notch derm program and many well-known faculty, majority pre-clinical honors, 6/7 clinical honors, Step 1 259, 4 derm pubs (2 book chapters, 2 case reports, none first author), working on more, well-known derm mentor who should write excellent letter, planning on 2nd derm letter from program chair. I've been derm since first year. I'll be applying to all the programs.

 

[werd]

do the away rotation you were initially hoping for. in many cases this will increase your chances of matching at that program. that 3rd letter will probably not make a big difference at the end of the day.

 

[username456789]

do the away rotation you were initially hoping for. in many cases this will increase your chances of matching at that program. that 3rd letter will probably not make a big difference at the end of the day.

I would agree with this. I'm sure you can very kindly explain to the person you set this second home elective up with (while thanking them profusely) your circumstances. Our program director has stressed to us that for our program at least, having rotated through there is a huge advantage, and moreso than in many specialties it becomes a game of "who knows you" and can vouch for you.

The away rotation would probably serve you best. And hey, maybe you can get an LOR from that rotation too.