Canceling an away at spot you eventually want to interview at?

[RafaTech]

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Seeking some advice as far as scheduling aways...

I'm going to apply to two solid programs in the same city for an away rotation in September to increase my odds. I would love to rotate at either but I have a preference for one over the other. Question is if I happen to get accepted to both, will it hurt my chances for an interview at the place that I cancelled at? (granted I give them early notice of my cancellation). Will a PD ever find out that I cancelled a potential away rotation at their site, and if so is it looked down upon?

For those that recently had to schedule away rotations, how many did you have to apply to in order to be safe that you had a rotation at that time period?

Thanks.

 

[JacobMcCandles]

Yes, they'll likely think twice when it comes to interviewing you.

 

[gman33]

No one can really answer that question.
There is a chance they will hold it against you.

I'd just apply super early to one of them and see what happens.

 

[EMmotherhen]

Yes we will know that you cancelled - the clerkship director is part of the team who selects applicants (since s/he knows the students best). Will it keep you from getting an interview - as far as we're concerned no it won't. But be prepared to be asked why you cancelled. We will ask you that and we will be watching how you handle yourself.

 

[Indryd]

I turned down an away rotation offered to me at a place that I really wanted to interview due to conflict in schedule for that period of time.

They were all over my VSAS app, they actually called me multiple times and went the extra mile to contact my registrar and straighten some things out.

Come ERAS season they were my first rejection, before even my first interview rolled in.

This doesn't necessarily mean there was a direct cause:effect relationship, but it certainly made me wonder.

 

[Apollyon]

I turned down an away rotation offered to me at a place that I really wanted to interview due to conflict in schedule for that period of time.

They were all over my VSAS app, they actually called me multiple times and went the extra mile to contact my registrar and straighten some things out.

Come ERAS season they were my first rejection, before even my first interview rolled in.

This doesn't necessarily mean there was a direct cause:effect relationship, but it certainly made me wonder.

"The battles are so bloody because the stakes are so low."

 

[Thoracotomy]

I had a different experience. I applied to 4 programs for away rotations. Got accepted at each, declined 2 of them, but still got interviews at all 4. That being said, one of the places originally didn't have a spot for me and I went ahead and applied else where. They later offered me a rotation spot but I declined as I was already set up to rotate at my next choice. I politely declined and gave them the reasoning. They understood that I had already made commitments and were understanding.

That being said I wouldn't broadly apply with the intention of declining more than 1 or 2 places offers to rotate there.

 

[umz]

I emailed a PC for a program about applying for an away at their institution because I had conflicting dates. They said that yes, we can potentially work something out and to apply on VSAS (they did not say "yes you are accepted"). I did this, but also applied to a few other places.

Weeks go by and I am never accepted to the away, it just sat there in limbo. Eventually one of the other programs accepted me. I decided to accept the offer and withdrew my app from the first program.

Something like 4 weeks later, I get an email from the PC of the 1st program saying he/she noticed that I withdrew and that they assume I don't want the rotation anymore. It was kind of an odd email, because they didn't really ask me anything. It was a program that I was extremely interested in, however, and I applied there for residency. No interview.

Maybe I didn't get an interview because I didn't qualify, or maybe it had something to do with the whole away rotation situation. Looking back, I should have handled it differently. Oh well.

 

[RafaTech]

Thanks for all the opinions and stories. I think I'm just going to schedule one away rotation at my first choice and just cross my fingers. I emailed my home school's PD and he told me not to schedule both knowing that I would potentially cancel one. He said rotation directors don't like cancellations....

 

[gman33]

Just apply early.

You'll have time to find another spot if needed.
Just be prepared to be flexible with your schedule.
None of your other rotations 4th year mean anything compared to the EM stuff.
Just move any of those if they get in the way.