Can I match without an away rotation?

[jimbobb23]

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Money, time, and family make it very difficult for me to do an away rotation. Has anyone matched without doing one in the past 3 years?

Thanks.

 

[Bruce Banner]

Money, time, and family make it very difficult for me to do an away rotation. Has anyone matched without doing one in the past 3 years?

Thanks.

My classmate did, but he matched at his home program.

However, I totally don't recommend this tactic. You are seriously losing out on a great opportunity to visit other programs (The only other chance you'd get would be during elective time during residency). You are missing out on opportunities for LOR and a subject to talk about during interviews. You also run the risk of looking lazy to your interviewers.

Even with a newborn son I did 3 externships (3wks each). It was very hard being away, but I don't regret the decision one bit. I ended up matching at one of the programs and had wonderful experiences at the others.

The process of choosing a field and matching in it is arguably the most important thing you'll do during your medical career. Don't short change yourself.

 

[UrbanAmish]

I'm in a similar situation as the op, but this thread has inspired me to get moving. What month of 4th year med school is the latest one should do an away rotation as far as timing with the NRMP, ERAS and submitting timely LORs? Thanks!

 

[stephew]

Money, time, and family make it very difficult for me to do an away rotation. Has anyone matched without doing one in the past 3 years?

Thanks.

of course they have. In making your decision, Id say The family issue obviously is a serious one. The time one Id manage as best i could. The money one would be way low on the list of things that i would let get in the way if i felt that i really needed an away rotation in this competitive atmosphere.

 

[Bruce Banner]

I'm in a similar situation as the op, but this thread has inspired me to get moving. What month of 4th year med school is the latest one should do an away rotation as far as timing with the NRMP, ERAS and submitting timely LORs? Thanks!

I would say July, August, and possibly September if you want a LOR. Try to submit your ERAS applications ASAP, but I don't think it would be a deal breaker (but certainly has risk) to submit your LOR as late as mid-october (eg. end of your September externship plus 2 weeks for them to write the LOR). The majority of interviews will be December and January, so July through November are probably the best months if you're not looking for a LOR.

 

[pastelist]

I matched at my first choice without doing an away rotation but it was risky... was told during the interview trail that my lack of aways weakened my application.

 

[Reaganite]

I matched at my first choice without doing an away rotation but it was risky... was told during the interview trail that my lack of aways weakened my application.

I got the same response on the interview trail. I personally didn't care because I had no interest in matching somewhere other than my home program, but it definitely did come up at every interview.

 

[euphio]

For a variety of reasons, I'm not particularly interested in doing a radonc rotation at my home institution - will it look exceptionally weird if all my rotations are away?

Thanks!

 

[Gfunk6]

If your home institution does not have a residency program, then I don't think it will look very wierd. However, if it does (particularly if it is strong) then be prepared to give a good response to people who ask you why.

 

[euphio]

Thanks - my institution does have a program, but I've heard from some older students that the rotation is very hit or miss. I'm ideally looking to match in a different part of the country (closer to family), so I'm looking to maximize my aways in an effort to combat some of the regional tendencies...

 

[napoleondynamite]

Thanks - my institution does have a program, but I've heard from some older students that the rotation is very hit or miss. I'm ideally looking to match in a different part of the country (closer to family), so I'm looking to maximize my aways in an effort to combat some of the regional tendencies...

Do you have a shortage of elective time at your school? I mean, if you've only got a couple of months to work with, I think your strategy is ok if you are dead set on leaving. However, if you have plenty of elective time, I tend to think it would be very unwise to not rotate..even if it were just for a 2 week rotation. Why close the door that is (potentially) the most wide open to you? While I can sympathize with your desire to move outside your home program (I felt the same way) there are no guarantees in radonc..sometimes even very strong applicants fail to match. I guess I just don't see the rationale in ditching your home school, even as a "plan B" option, which is what you are doing by not rotating there..they'll take it as a snub and it will be hard to get any valuable guidance through the match process, etc. Anyway, you may have thought through all of that already & you probably have a good reason for not rotating..but I'd reconsider even if you can only do a shorter rotation if I were you. There is something to be said for establishing connections in radonc as well..even if you don't think you have a good chance at matching at your home school, it certainly can't hurt to snuggle up with the PD and faculty..you never know what that may yield. Good luck!

 

[blueMD]

i didnt read in depth to the previous posts but first if u have a program at ur institution than i think its kind of acceptable but risky like everyone says. i wouldnt recommend it if u dont have a program at home. family is important, but maybe a month or two outside can make a difference to ur options.

 

[clintpark]

not to rotate at your home institution. In addition to all the guidance, information, LOR issues, I can easily see a scenario where you are interviewing with someone who knows someone at your home institution.

It'll go something like...

"Oh, University of ..., how is Dr. So-and-So doing?"
"Well, I don't know him well because I didn't rotate at my home institution."
"Why not?"
"Well, because... (no matter what you say here, it sounds defensive)"

The last thing you want to do at interviews is to be put in a position you have to defend your questionable (justified or not) decision. You are likely to sound too cavalier or too defensive. Just like napoleon said, at least do a short one (maybe right before the interview season so that you can do more valuable ones earlier?) so that you'll know what your home program is like. I would not rely on other people telling me that it's a "hit-or-miss."

 

[IRISH22]

I see people on here that have done like 3 aways. is this necessary? most other specialties dont do any, so it seems that doing one is a big deal, considering the cost and hassel.

 

[clintpark]

3 aways may be a bit excessive.

I would say, though, most people do at least 1 (in fact, my med school didn't allow me to do more than 1 away rotation in the same field).

 

[blueMD]

i agree, dont kill urself doing so many away rotations. and i also believe most schools have limits to how many away rotations you can do.

 

[Pewl]

3 away rotations isn't THAT much, is it? I know a current rad onc resident who did like 4.

 

[napoleondynamite]

I did 4 and am glad I did. But my situation was unique with my sweeeet step 1 score (212)..I wanted programs to get to know me b/c I thought that would maximize my matching probability. Personally, I would say if you are a less-competetive applicant, do as many aways as possible.

 

[HunterGatherer]

I did 4 and am glad I did. But my situation was unique with my sweeeet step 1 score (212)..I wanted programs to get to know me b/c I thought that would maximize my matching probability. Personally, I would say if you are a less-competetive applicant, do as many aways as possible.

what was the breakdown on the amount of time you spent on each rotation?

How much of your vacation time did you use for rotations?

Are programs reluctant to grant rotations less than 4 weeks?

If I head out of state I probably can't stay too long because of family. I'm in New York so I think I really need to head out of state for audition rotations at places that have taken DOs in the past. Maybe I'm wrong.

Lots of questions, but Thanks.

appreciate answers from anyone.

 

[euphio]

I've seen a couple of references in this thread to away electives running less than 4 weeks - are there specific schools that offer these? Or do you just have to email course directors and ask for a shorter stay? In looking at various schools' schedules, finding electives that mesh well seems tricky, and being able to do a 3 week rotation would help with some overlapping dates...

Thanks!

 

[napoleondynamite]

I did 2 week rotations at UW, Loma Linda and Arizona. I imagine many programs would be amenable to this, you just have to ask.

 

[qwert]

I've seen a couple of references in this thread to away electives running less than 4 weeks - are there specific schools that offer these? Or do you just have to email course directors and ask for a shorter stay? In looking at various schools' schedules, finding electives that mesh well seems tricky, and being able to do a 3 week rotation would help with some overlapping dates...

Thanks!

Allegheny General in Pittsburgh offers 2 weeks rotations.

 

[qwert]

Money, time, and family make it very difficult for me to do an away rotation. Has anyone matched without doing one in the past 3 years?

Thanks.

My school had 2 RadOnc programs. I rotated only there, and matched into one of them.