Current opinion on sub-internships?

[FruitLoopsMcGee]

Hello to everyone, thanks in advance for your time.

I am currently an M4 student in the midwest applying for internal medicine. I was thinking of doing a sub-internship, but unsure if it is a wise idea. I have heard that it can hurt or help you, and a lot of it has to do with the place you do it at.

The one I am considering would be nearby where I live and it would take place in August. So chances are, whether I do good or bad, the LOR from that program should show up in time for the initial application send-out.

Just as background, I am a mid-caliber allopathic student. Nothing really special about my stats, which is why I am considering a Sub-I.

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[gutonc]

I think you're confusing 2 different kinds of rotations. You're saying "Sub-I" when I think you mean "Away Rotation".

Everybody agrees you should do a Sub-I at your med school, and that you should get a LOR from it, and that it's the one 4th year rotation that you should put all your energy into.

Many (maybe most, but definitely not all of us) would argue that an away rotation (AI/SubI, ICU or sub-specialty) is either a waste of time or a huge mistake. I fall in the middle there...most of them are a waste of time, some are a massive mistake. Mine was mostly a waste of time, but did convince me that the place was a horror show and shouldn't be very high on my ROL...but the interview day did more to harm the place in my opinion than a month on service did.

 

[tantacles]

Hello to everyone, thanks in advance for your time.

I am currently an M4 student in the midwest applying for internal medicine. I was thinking of doing a sub-internship, but unsure if it is a wise idea. I have heard that it can hurt or help you, and a lot of it has to do with the place you do it at.

The one I am considering would be nearby where I live and it would take place in August. So chances are, whether I do good or bad, the LOR from that program should show up in time for the initial application send-out.

Just as background, I am a mid-caliber allopathic student. Nothing really special about my stats, which is why I am considering a Sub-I.

I did an away rotation (not a sub-I, infectious diseases) at a high tier academic institution, and I felt it helped generally that I, as a student at a Midwest low tier school, was able to get a letter from an attending. Notably, that particular institution did not give me an interview, but I was able to get interviews at multiple other top tier places (in Med-peds).

I would strongly suggest that if you do an away rotation, you do one in a sub specialty, work your butt off, and expect nothing from the program if your stats are sub-par for it. You will, however, gain a new perspective by working at an institution outside of your own.


Large dogs

 

[fasteddie911]

Good advice and perspective from the previous posters, but an away does come at a cost of time, effort and money. I didn't think it was worth it for me, and coming from a low-tier med school I was still able to interview at and secure a spot at a top program. All of my IM classmates who did aways didn't end up going to that program and didn't seem to match better or worse because of it. Being on the other side and seeing students doing aways, it doesn't seem very beneficial and it's a crapshoot as to which attending they work with and how much interaction they have.

 

[blabbyblab]

I did three away rotations in specialities I did not pursue in cities far from home. It was a good chance to learn the inner workings of other hospitals and broaden my horizons a little bit. If you're playing the game hard for some particular goal it might not be the best use of your time, but it's one of your last chances to explore. If you like to travel may as well think about it. For medicine, high grades and good letters from medicine rotations early in fourth year are going to do the most to bolster your app. Nice to have letters that say: Close to functioning at level of intern or at level of interns.

 

[spicysoup55]

When selecting a sub-i, does it matter if it is in general medicine or a medical subspecialty? Would a general medicine rotation be more favorably looked upon since it covers more medical knowledge? I'm trying to use it to make up for a "pass" on my medicine clerkship.

Would September be the latest month for getting a LOR from a sub-i?

 

[gutonc]

When selecting a sub-i, does it matter if it is in general medicine or a medical subspecialty? Would a general medicine rotation be more favorably looked upon since it covers more medical knowledge? I'm trying to use it to make up for a "pass" on my medicine clerkship.

Would September be the latest month for getting a LOR from a sub-i?

Yes, if you're trying to use an away rotation to buff your app, a Sub-I or ICU rotation are better options.

They're also "harder " and more likely to bite you in the butt if you do poorly.

 

[Kobe_24]

Hi! Ive never posted on here before so not sure where i should ask this question so apologies if this isnt the correct forum 🙂 Hopefully someone can direct me. I was accepted to a Sub I VERY late in the season (January to be exact) it's at a program that is the top of my list so i accepted. I know this is at the end of interviews, but has anyone heard of good things coming from late Sub Is? Like maybe last minute interviews?
Thanks!

 

[toastee]

Hi! Ive never posted on here before so not sure where i should ask this question so apologies if this isnt the correct forum 🙂 Hopefully someone can direct me. I was accepted to a Sub I VERY late in the season (January to be exact) it's at a program that is the top of my list so i accepted. I know this is at the end of interviews, but has anyone heard of good things coming from late Sub Is? Like maybe last minute interviews?
Thanks!

The problem you run into is burnout. I know myself, and many other classmates, have already done our sub-i's and have mentally checked out. I couldn't imagine being back on a sub-i in January and prepared to potentially work 72hrs/week to impress them. This is assuming they interview you. You're going to have to literally crush it at your sub-i that late in the game. And then think about them not offering you an interview, how are you going to feel doing a sub-i there knowing that it's pointless?

 

[Kobe_24]

The problem you run into is burnout. I know myself, and many other classmates, have already done our sub-i's and have mentally checked out. I couldn't imagine being back on a sub-i in January and prepared to potentially work 72hrs/week to impress them. This is assuming they interview you. You're going to have to literally crush it at your sub-i that late in the game. And then think about them not offering you an interview, how are you going to feel doing a sub-i there knowing that it's pointless?

Thanks for your response toastee! This sub i is at my number one dream program so i am very prepared to work my booty off! Do you think it would be appropriate for me to reach out to their PD if i haven't received an interview invite to express my desire and let them know that Im scheduled for a sub i in jan and would love the opportunity to interview?

 

[ortnakas]

Do you think it would be appropriate for me to reach out to their PD if i haven't received an interview invite to express my desire and let them know that Im scheduled for a sub i in jan and would love the opportunity to interview?

Probably to the coordinator, but yes, absolutely. A lot of programs offer courtesy interviews to auditioners, anyway, so it can't hurt to let people on the residency side know you'll be there in case people on the med student side neglected to mention it. And the worst they can say is no, in which case, you're no worse off.

 

[1Cor1557]

Its high risk high reward. People can score interviews at places they otherwise would not have and also end up high enough to rank if they strut their stuff with the right folk watching