Do I HAVE to do an away?

[JBlue]

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Here is my situation. I am at a school that does not have a residency program and have an away scheduled for the end of June. The problem is that I will be 31 weeks pregnant when I start down there. At first I thought I could do it (and I probably still could) but right now I am already feeling gigantic and just not very well. I know that this is a very very important part of my application but the way that I am feeling right now I am not sure how well I will do. I also will be away from my husband and my OB/Gyn from weeks 31-35 so if I go into labor I will be by myself. The rest of my application is very strong (>240 step 1, honors on all rotations, great LORs and SLOR from home EM department, president EMIG) so I am wondering if I could get by with just doing an EM elective at my home school and having one SLOR from a department with no residency. Would this be the kiss of death? If so, I will gladly do the away and just make the best of it. I guess I am just wondering if I could get by without it given the circumstances. Any advice on this?

 

[FoughtFyr]

Here is my situation. I am at a school that does not have a residency program and have an away scheduled for the end of June. The problem is that I will be 31 weeks pregnant when I start down there. At first I thought I could do it (and I probably still could) but right now I am already feeling gigantic and just not very well. I know that this is a very very important part of my application but the way that I am feeling right now I am not sure how well I will do. I also will be away from my husband and my OB/Gyn from weeks 31-35 so if I go into labor I will be by myself. The rest of my application is very strong (>240 step 1, honors on all rotations, great LORs and SLOR from home EM department, president EMIG) so I am wondering if I could get by with just doing an EM elective at my home school and having one SLOR from a department with no residency. Would this be the kiss of death? If so, I will gladly do the away and just make the best of it. I guess I am just wondering if I could get by without it given the circumstances. Any advice on this?

To say that it won't close some doors for you would be false. Not having an SLOR from an active program makes an applicant difficult to fully assess. That said, a bad SLOR WILL close many doors. Now I am a guy, and I have an incredible wife who ran a medical conference while 37 weeks pregnant. I have no idea how in hell she did it and I know I couldn't have - hell, I was pretty much worthless just waiting for her to give birth. I can not envision that you can do your best and really "show your stuff" while 30 some weeks pregnant.

I'd lose the away rotation and see if you could get one of your attendings at the ED at your school to address this issue in their SLOR. I would also see if any of the local ED docs have previously worked at a residency. If so try and get a separate SLOR from them...

- H

 

[Mantis]

I was in a fairly similar situation. I only did a home rotation. I had a 10-month-old that I simply didn't want to be away from for a month. I had 240's board scores, decent clinical rotation grades, etc. I applied to 15 spots, got 15 interviews, and matched at number 1. Every program asked me why I didn't do an away rotation. When I explained myself, nobody seemed to have an issue with it at all. Most of the people I met on my interviews were extremely family friendly and seemed to appreciate that I have interests outside of medicine. I did, however, do a second ER month in the community after my interview trail, and mentioned that I was doing so. This way, I got 2 months but didn't have to be away. Also, my home institution did have an EM program. I'm not sure if that mattered. Good luck!

 

[JBlue]

Thanks for the replys. Mantis, I am worried about the fact that my home program doesn't have a residency program. It seems like to PDs it does matter but hopefully with everything else and good clinical recs I can explain the situation. I may also call my away and see if I could do an abbreviated rotation, like 2 weeks vs. 4. I think the idea of doing an away within the community after having the baby is also a good idea. I agree with you about leaving the baby. I can't leave my 2 month old for 4 weeks and do an away after she is born. I would rather take a year off if it came down to that.
Fought fyr, what do you mean by "explain the situation"? Should the SLOR comment on the fact that I was very pregnant during the rotation or the fact that I was unable to do an away rotation because of the timing of the pregnancy?
Thanks everyone!

 

[FoughtFyr]

Thanks for the replys. Mantis, I am worried about the fact that my home program doesn't have a residency program. It seems like to PDs it does matter but hopefully with everything else and good clinical recs I can explain the situation. I may also call my away and see if I could do an abbreviated rotation, like 2 weeks vs. 4. I think the idea of doing an away within the community after having the baby is also a good idea. I agree with you about leaving the baby. I can't leave my 2 month old for 4 weeks and do an away after she is born. I would rather take a year off if it came down to that.
Fought fyr, what do you mean by "explain the situation"? Should the SLOR comment on the fact that I was very pregnant during the rotation or the fact that I was unable to do an away rotation because of the timing of the pregnancy?
Thanks everyone!

If there is an attending with a "history" in academic EM, ask them to write you a separate letter. See if they would be willing to write in the comments section something along the lines of "S/Dr. JBlue is a strong clinician and will make a fantastic resident. While family comittments prevented her from 'showing her stuff' at a residency affiliated program, I assure you, she has all of the making of a strong resident. I would compare her favorably to the medical students who rotated with me at {insert program name here}."

- H

 

[roja]

Its a tough call. I went to a school with no EM program. I was fortunate that there was a military hospital in the same town that had an active program, so I didn't have to leave town. However, I ended up doing an away rotation in nyc because no one in my home institute new people and I felt it would help. So I had to spend a month away from my kiddo.

I was in my last trimester during my surgery rotation. I found I was tired but that I did fine. If you can do one, I would err on the side of doing one. EM as a MS4 is not as intense as being an intern, etc. and plenty of people have kids during residency (we have had 5 in our program in the last 2 years) and all have worked. If you have a good attitude, want to learn, are friendly, you will do fine. No one expects a med student to 'move meat'. I want a med student who wants to learn, and wants to be in the ED.

Best of luck