cancelling an away

[polishedhobo]

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Longtime lurker here,
I'm in a situation where I'm currently signed up to do an away sub-I. It's also my first ED rotation. This is a program I'd probably have a reasonable chance at matching. I think it'd be a great learning opportunity and supposed to be a good environment.

I applied to another program for a rotation further along down the line. They don't have any slots free except the one where I'm already doing this other away. It's a dream program but Top-10 and pretty self-selective. Unlikely I'd match here. Even so, a strong letter here would go a long way. So if I switched I'd be doing my first rotation at a dream like program.

My big concerns are hurting my chances at the other place and setting myself up for disaster doing my first away at place I'd love to go but is a long shot.

Penny for your thoughts?

 

[Iride]

Couple thoughts for you:
1- Its your first rotation, you may not do as good at the "dream" program which may hurt/not help you
2- You could always call the program coordinator at the one your scheduled for and see if you can change to another month.
3- A super solid SLOR from a mid-level program is much better than an average SLOR from a great program.

Not an answer, I know, but things I would consider. Tough situation though. Have you already confirmed your spot at the first location, or are you just accepted? If your just accepted I say no problem canceling, but if your already confirmed/done paperwork to get it set up, I probably wouldn't cancel it, but potentially move it.

 

[DB2013EM]

Couple thoughts for you:
1- Its your first rotation, you may not do as good at the "dream" program which may hurt/not help you
2- You could always call the program coordinator at the one your scheduled for and see if you can change to another month.
3- A super solid SLOR from a mid-level program is much better than an average SLOR from a great program.

Not an answer, I know, but things I would consider. Tough situation though. Have you already confirmed your spot at the first location, or are you just accepted? If your just accepted I say no problem canceling, but if your already confirmed/done paperwork to get it set up, I probably wouldn't cancel it, but potentially move it.

great advice.

couple pearls from me.

1. canceling an away is basically canceling your chances at matching at that program
2. away rotations can trump anything that is bad on your application for that program, so dont focus on selectivity of the program
3. I matched at my first away and had a very strong SLOR from them, even without having a 3rd year EM rotation to prepare me

it's a rough situation, but only you can make the decision. See if u can shift your first one to a later month would be the ideal situation, but if not, pick which one you want more knowing you dead your chances at the one you choose not to rotate at.

 

[SoCuteMD]

great advice.

couple pearls from me.

1. canceling an away is basically canceling your chances at matching at that program
2. away rotations can trump anything that is bad on your application for that program, so dont focus on selectivity of the program
3. I matched at my first away and had a very strong SLOR from them, even without having a 3rd year EM rotation to prepare me

it's a rough situation, but only you can make the decision. See if u can shift your first one to a later month would be the ideal situation, but if not, pick which one you want more knowing you dead your chances at the one you choose not to rotate at.

I disagree with the bolded statement. I think it is possible to cancel an away, especially well in advance, without ruining your chances of matching there. I cancelled my aways with a very generic, but polite, "Circumstances have changed and I will be unable to rotate at __ in July. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to rotate at __. If you wouldn't mind, could you confirm your receipt of this email and my withdrawal from the rotation. Thank you."

 

[fahimaz7]

Better have a good reason for withdrawing from an away rotation 🙂

 

[Dane07MD]

Some people have specific circumstances, but most of the time, canceling an away rotation usually means you are less interested in that program in favor of another (whether you came off another waitlist or got a later acceptance).

People know this. Canceling the already scheduled away isn't a kiss of death, but it's pretty much saying "I've got an offer somewhere else that interests me more for whatever reason".

If you schedule an away and then cancel, chances are that fact will be remembered by that program

 

[polishedhobo]

You've all been really insightful and helpful. Not something i had typically associated with sdn as it always seemed to confuse me more when I was a pre-med.

This is going to be an amazing and crazy year. cheers!

 

[username456789]

Some people have specific circumstances, but most of the time, canceling an away rotation usually means you are less interested in that program in favor of another (whether you came off another waitlist or got a later acceptance).

People know this. Canceling the already scheduled away isn't a kiss of death, but it's pretty much saying "I've got an offer somewhere else that interests me more for whatever reason".

If you schedule an away and then cancel, chances are that fact will be remembered by that program

It really depends on how the away rotations are handled by the program in question. At mine, a general secretary not affiliated with any specific residency program/specialty is the point of contact and she arranges everything (before eventually supplying your name/info to the people who will be supervising you), so in this instance it would be possible to sign up for and subsequently cancel an away rotation without the program/program director/program coordinator having any clue you ever even made an inquiry in the first place.

 

[glorfindel]

You've all been really insightful and helpful. Not something i had typically associated with sdn...

 

[DreamingTheLive]

If its your "Dream" program then I'd have to say you should schedule that one for the away...I'm having trouble reconciling telling you to not chase your dreams. That being said, I agree that for a lot of programs, cancelling an away will definitely hurt your chances for an interview. I cancelled an away, and I thought I was as professional/truthful as humanly possible about the circumstances....denied an interview and told through grapevine that I did not receive an interview precisely because of this. Then again, it's only one fricking program so if you're pretty comfortable with that then no worries eh.

One more thing to consider though, is that your "Dream" programs now may not be your "Dream" programs once you hit the interview trail.

This will probably sink in more after you've been on interview trail, but there is no "Top 10" EM programs, your "top 10" is anothers "cancelled interviews."

 

[DreamingTheLive]

great advice.

couple pearls from me.

1. canceling an away is basically canceling your chances at matching at that program
2. away rotations can trump anything that is bad on your application for that program, so dont focus on selectivity of the program
3. I matched at my first away and had a very strong SLOR from them, even without having a 3rd year EM rotation to prepare me

it's a rough situation, but only you can make the decision. See if u can shift your first one to a later month would be the ideal situation, but if not, pick which one you want more knowing you dead your chances at the one you choose not to rotate at.

Just wanted to second this great advice. Attendings on Away rotations generally aren't looking for a finished product, they're looking for a great attitude, work ethic, sincere interest in Emergency Medicine, clinical/academic potential and whether or not they'd like to work with you for 3-4 years and perhaps even call you "family."

 

[da8s0859q]

I matched EM this year.

Just to throw my two cents in there: I had an away scheduled which I ended up canceling a few weeks out for a few reasons, mostly logistical ones.

I applied to that program later on for residency. Bam, rejected.

N=1, might have gotten rejected anyway. But I couldn't help but notice.

 

[SserPrun95]

You and me both exi.