There's tons of stuff I've learned in the last few months that I'd wished I'd known last year. But that's me, learning things the hard way.
Rotations are increasingly important. Choose to rotate at a "reach" place, a "safe" place and then whereever else. Work your ass off. Be every program's dream candidate. It's so overwhelmingly competitive out there, I'm stunned sometimes when i think about it.
I basically rotated three places, but managed to interview at other places as well because of high scores. I wish I'd known better to rotate at more places. You can set up shorter rotations, like two weeks, and get out to more places. The competition just to get rotation spots is tough and getting it all arranged can be hairy.
So you know -- rotating somewhere doesn't guarantee an interview, either. I know of several people who rotated, but didn't get interview invites. Many programs are now keeping the number of interviewed candidates down. Which is good. They interview only, say 15, for two spots, the odds are better than if they throw the door open and invite 50 to interview for 2 spots.
I applied to a ton of places, probably too many, but I don't have a family to drag along. For a lot of married with kids people, the places you apply might be limited. Don't apply to places you'd never really consider living and in the end don't rank programs where you'd hate to be.
I wrestle with the whole situation -- the importance of rotations -- mostly cause there's only so many places you can physically rotate and many places fill their rotation spots with local talent first and so even landing a rotation spot can be hard. The emphasis on rotations has changed the game, now it brings the focus down -- programs get to see you and you get to see the programs and it might make better matches, but it's still physically limiting.
Everybody out there right now is frantic, the pressure is on, it's crazy, but I'm charging ahead.
What advice would I give you?
If you're convinced ortho is for you -- go for it, but get a thick skin -- it's tough. You'll have to go toe-to-toe with some of your smartest peers.
Ortho is overpopulated with applicants, know that.
Have a backup.
