Changing dates for away electives

[formernewt]

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First post, on and off lurker for most of med school (just finished MS3)

For those of us MS3s who are setting up away electives and sub-Is, what is the etiquette for requesting an institution to change the set dates of an offered period? I have an offer from a hospital I'd like to rotate at but their dates conflict with a scheduled elective I have for the previous month. The first elective I am not requesting date alterations because it perfectly matches my step 2 schedule. So I'd like to get the second rotation to jive with the first. Problem is, from what others have told me, they will not necessarily adjust the dates; they may just allow me to start late. That brings up the follow up question: if I show up a full week late as permitted by this institution (which would be the earliest I could get to the second elective) would that negatively reflect on me at that institution? If they allow me to come late and miss a full week out of the 4, would I still be better off just rotating at a place that has dates that better line up with my schedule?

TL;DR: Etiquette for requesting date adjustments for aways? Will missing a permitted 25% of an away negatively affect their perception of me as a potential residency applicant? Should I just go somewhere that has a schedule that matches mine?

Thanks guys/gals.

 

[psipsina]

None of my aways were ok with changing their dates or with anyone showing up late. I had to use one of my vacation blocks before starting aways and then start off my school's schedule to make it happen. I don't know if it will reflect poorly upon you if they allow you to start late?