Better to do 2 or 4 week electives?

[Blitz2006]

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IMG here, to get a good LOR and improve my odds for match, would it be better to do over 2 months (4 weeks, 4 weeks) or (2 weeks x 4)?

In essence, better to expose myself to different hospitals/depts (2 wks at each), or just do 2 big rotations?

Thx,

 

[Winged Scapula]

IMG here, to get a good LOR and improve my odds for match, would it be better to do over 2 months (4 weeks, 4 weeks) or (2 weeks x 4)?

In essence, better to expose myself to different hospitals/depts (2 wks at each), or just do 2 big rotations?

Thx,

In general, 2 weeks is probably not enough time to assess someone for a LOR. I know that I would not find it long enough to feel that I know the student well enough. My vote is for 2 longer rotations over 4 shorter ones. The idea is not to get as many letters as possible, but to get the best letters and the latter generally comes from someone really having time to assess you.

 

[ACSurgeon]

In general, 2 weeks is probably not enough time to assess someone for a LOR. I know that I would not find it long enough to feel that I know the student well enough. My vote is for 2 longer rotations over 4 shorter ones. The idea is not to get as many letters as possible, but to get the best letters and the latter generally comes from someone really having time to assess you.

The only thing I'd add is it depends on how many attendings you would work with during each. I would take a two week rotation where I work with 1-2 attendings over a 4 weeks rotation where I work with 10 attendings. Obviously, it would be best to work 4 weeks with 1-2 attendings if possible.

 

[Blitz2006]

Cool, thx for replies.

Yeh, I'm assuming I'm only working with 2-3 attendings in the 4 weeks...didn't even consider that I could be working with like 10!

So based on that assumption, I guess 4 wks is best eh?

Fair enough.

So is it a fair goal to try to bang out 2 solid LORs in the 4 weeks assuming I work with 2 attendings?