Do electives make a difference?

[ViergeEnnuyeuse]

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My med school offers various electives for MS1s and MS2s such as business in medicine, ethics, violence/abuse, cultural awareness, medical spanish, nutrition, medicine and art, etc. They offer these classes during lunch and you have to attend a certain number of each in order to receive credit for the elective. The elective shows up on our permanent record. The faculty at school claim that these electives can boost your chances for getting your desired residency, but I think they’re just saying that so they’ll have higher attendance for these lectures. So what’s the truth regarding electives?

 

[Gabujabu]

My med school offers various electives for MS1s and MS2s such as business in medicine, ethics, violence/abuse, cultural awareness, medical spanish, nutrition, medicine and art, etc. They offer these classes during lunch and you have to attend a certain number of each in order to receive credit for the elective. The elective shows up on our permanent record. The faculty at school claim that these electives can boost your chances for getting your desired residency, but I think they're just saying that so they'll have higher attendance for these lectures. So what's the truth regarding electives?

I highly doubt these electives make a difference for residency selection. However, learning things like medical spanish/the business of medicine could be very useful down the road, if the class is taught well.

 

[Biscuit799]

I highly doubt these electives make a difference for residency selection. However, learning things like medical spanish/the business of medicine could be very useful down the road, if the class is taught well.

...and that's the point (not to mention a BIG IF). Most of these classes are poorly taught by people who may have a mild intellectual curiousity regarding the subject matter. I think most places will either have someone on staff at the med school who happens to be experienced in that area teach it, or less commonly, they'll bring in a faculty member from a different college (who will most likely treat it as a sub-intro level class).

I took my school's medical spanish course, and it was awful. The entire thing consisted of doing worksheets meant for 5th graders (no, not literally), and going around the room saying "hola, me llamo ____." I dropped it after two weeks.

 

[njbmd]

My med school offers various electives for MS1s and MS2s such as business in medicine, ethics, violence/abuse, cultural awareness, medical spanish, nutrition, medicine and art, etc. They offer these classes during lunch and you have to attend a certain number of each in order to receive credit for the elective. The elective shows up on our permanent record. The faculty at school claim that these electives can boost your chances for getting your desired residency, but I think they’re just saying that so they’ll have higher attendance for these lectures. So what’s the truth regarding electives?

If any of these interest you then go for them but electives don't mean too much except to the partaker. Business in medicine looks like the only thing that might be useful. Medical Spanish takes plenty of regular practice and thus you need someone who is Spanish-speaking to help you keep your skills up until you are fairly proficient.

Bottom line: Do these if they get your "juices" flowing. If not, and there's no penalty, use your lunch to prep for the next class.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

Some sound a little silly, and the important ones (business, abuse, spanish) are far too complicated to be taught in a lunch hour.

 

[Abilene85]

I am in an autopsy elective because I get to learn about body decomposition and see an autopsy (both pretty cool). Another requirement is 2 interviews of standardized family members - I will ask them for permission to do an autopsy, which will hopefully make the situation more comfortable when I encounter it in the future.

I'm not taking it for my resume, because I'm pretty sure residency programs couldn't care less about a couple extra hours during first year.

 

[Green Chimneys]

Autopsies and lunch sound like they mix about as well as toothpaste and orange juice.

 

[ZagDoc]

I do it because MSI/II electives earn towards 4 elective credits 4th year, which you can subsequently take off. A little extra work early on is worth the extra flexibility later on.

But yeah, as far as apps go, they dont do much if anything to up your application, except maybe to provide you better medical insight which would make you a more intriguing interviewee (which is a bit of a stretch I admit)

 

[Biscuit799]

I do it because MSI/II electives earn towards 4 elective credits 4th year, which you can subsequently take off. A little extra work early on is worth the extra flexibility later on.

Granted, once fourth year rolls around, you're probably going to want those electives to do away rotations, sub-I's, etc. If your school has required 4th year rotations, you won't be able to take those off, so all you're going to cut into is the ability to get unique experiences that you won't get otherwise. My school only lets you do x away rotations, and x electives in any given specialty. Thus it's tough to get the schedule set up just the way you like it...

FWIW: If this is what you want, that's fine, and won't hurt. I'm just playing devil's advocate.

 

[vtucci]

I highly doubt these electives make a difference for residency selection. However, learning things like medical spanish/the business of medicine could be very useful down the road, if the class is taught well.

Agree. I have had some rotations where patients at one site were 90% spanish-speaking only. Sucks if there is no translator available. Besides there is something to be said for trying to speak to the patient in their native tongue. It helps build rapport and they are usually most forgiving if our vocab or accent is not up to par.

 

[ZagDoc]

Granted, once fourth year rolls around, you're probably going to want those electives to do away rotations, sub-I's, etc. If your school has required 4th year rotations, you won't be able to take those off, so all you're going to cut into is the ability to get unique experiences that you won't get otherwise. My school only lets you do x away rotations, and x electives in any given specialty. Thus it's tough to get the schedule set up just the way you like it...

FWIW: If this is what you want, that's fine, and won't hurt. I'm just playing devil's advocate.

I'll concede your point. But I guess I approach it the same way I approach the boards - it's good to have choices. Whether I use it or not, having that extra flexibility 4th year can't hurt and is worth the little extra work (and really, who actually works in elective courses?)

 

[Biscuit799]

I'll concede your point. But I guess I approach it the same way I approach the boards - it's good to have choices. Whether I use it or not, having that extra flexibility 4th year can't hurt and is worth the little extra work (and really, who actually works in elective courses?)

I guess it completely depends on how valuable your lunch breaks are to you, and how worthwhile the knowledge is, again, to you. But hey, can't argue your point. Good luck and Godspeed!