Completely confused about how to schedule fourth year?

[cryhavoc]

I’m sort of lost and overwhelmed and have no clue what I am doing. I get that there is a system you can apply for audition rotations for, VSLO but can you also schedule your regular rotations through this thing? My school has not at all been helpful and I’m super confused. For example, I need family medicine 2 my fourth year, not to audition, just as a requirement. Do I like call random family medicine offices? Do I look for them on VSLO? Some other way?

Any advice or explanation would be helpful.

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[BorntobeDO?]

You only do away rotation (i.e. at residencies you want to match at) through VSAS, everything else is through your school just like third year. I don't know your schools specific setup, so I really can't comment much further than that.

 

[siliso]

Does your school have a course catalog? Do you have an advisor? Start there.

 

[PlasticBag]

I actually set up a couple of regular (non audition) rotations through VSLO in order to meet my school’s 4th year requirements and know other people from my school who did the same. VSLO rotations for post audition season (I’d say January onwards) are not competitive so you should be able to get your picks for the most part. For a couple of other rotations, I used my school’s database of random preceptors who agreed to take our students (if your school doesn’t have such a thing, you can ask around current fourth years where they did their rotations).

 

[Sardonix]

Is it a COCA requirement that every DO school do an absolutely terrible job explaining 4th year? It seems pretty widespread.

 

[QueenJames]

Is it a COCA requirement that every DO school do an absolutely terrible job explaining 4th year? It seems pretty widespread.

Major facts.

All of the advice I've received is from my 4th years. They are golden.

My school's admin SUCK for the majority.

They literally give us the same "Here's FRIEDA" or "Here's the NRMP reports. IF you THINK you have a shot, you should definitely apply for a rotation!"

Well GEE THANKS SHERLOCK! I DIDN'T KNOW THAT! Thanks for wasting my one hour to talk to you about stuff I could find on reddit or SDN!

 

[anon6134]

DO schools are so out of the loop with the process of fourth year and the match it is literally criminal that they charge you tuition for the year. My school has literally done zero for myself or my classmates this last year and they have instead been an actual hinderance in anything related to successfully matching. I highly suggest you start doing your own research on how to spend the year and schedule your aways/auditions according to what advice you receive from successful applicants in your field whether they are from this forum, reddit, or your current fourth years.

You can use VSAS for auditions which is its primary purpose, though you can also get some rotations later in the year as electives to fulfill whatever is mandated by your school. The most important aspect of fourth year is going to be how you spend your time from around June to November as that is away/audition season and will be dependent on what specialty you want to do

 

[AMEHigh]

Is there anyone from your school that recently graduated that you can speak with?

My school made it pretty straight forward as they continued to set up all of our regular/required rotations in 4th year. We just had to go about scheduling our electives. I think we got 2 or 3 electives in 4th year.

But it’s so school dependent so I’d definitely talk with someone that has recently gone through the process.

 

[AlteredScale]

I’m sort of lost and overwhelmed and have no clue what I am doing. I get that there is a system you can apply for audition rotations for, VSLO but can you also schedule your regular rotations through this thing? My school has not at all been helpful and I’m super confused. For example, I need family medicine 2 my fourth year, not to audition, just as a requirement. Do I like call random family medicine offices? Do I look for them on VSLO? Some other way?

Any advice or explanation would be helpful.

Your school should have a list of available preceptors to call. You can also do them through VSLO if you want. It's your choice. Be aware that dates from your school and dates through other institutions through VSLO may be different.