Do you recommend doing an away rotation?

[Dawkter]

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Just had a few questions about away rotations from all of the experienced SDN posters who have gone through the process.

1. What type of applicant would most likely benefit from an away rotation?
2. Are there certain programs that only interview people who do an away rotation or guarantee an interview if you do an away?
3. If you have solid board scores and have demonstrated interest in anesthesia early on, does an away rotation really give you any additional advantage?
4. Does it take a lot to impress someone when doing a rotation at a competitive program like UMich, UCLA, OHSU, or UChicago to the point where they are sold on you as an applicant?

Thank you in advance for all the advice. Hope all of you end up at your top programs 😀

 

[AnesthesiaAC]

Just had a few questions about away rotations from all of the experienced SDN posters who have gone through the process.

1. What type of applicant would most likely benefit from an away rotation?
2. Are there certain programs that only interview people who do an away rotation or guarantee an interview if you do an away?
3. If you have solid board scores and have demonstrated interest in anesthesia early on, does an away rotation really give you any additional advantage?
4. Does it take a lot to impress someone when doing a rotation at a competitive program like UMich, UCLA, OHSU, or UChicago to the point where they are sold on you as an applicant?

Thank you in advance for all the advice. Hope all of you end up at your top programs 😀

1. I think any applicant would benefit from an away rotation assuming you do well while you're there. There are some unfortunate people who take themselves out of the running for programs by doing an away rotation because the residents and faculty do not like them when there. But if you really like a program, it would be a good idea to try to do an away there and get a LOR, which can not only help you for that program, but also other programs will like seeing that you are liked and supported by someone that ISN'T from your home institution. I did an away rotation and was told at that program that it greatly helps one's chances of matching, but the degree to which it helps varies from program to program.

2. I do not think there are any programs who only interview people who do away rotations there, but I believe many (but not all) will give you an interview just for rotating.

3. It can definitely help you, but if you do not do one it doesn't hurt you either.

4. I would say you definitely need to do more than just show up to gain their approval. Be yourself, show interest, work hard and do whatever you can to help your resident out. Read about cases beforehand and also do some background reading because you never know when that knowledge will come in handy. Show up on time or 5 minutes early and do not leave too early, even if you are offered to leave. If you do all of this during your away and the residents truly like you as a person as well, you'll have a very good chance of training there.

Hope this helps.

 

[Dawkter]

1. I think any applicant would benefit from an away rotation assuming you do well while you're there. There are some unfortunate people who take themselves out of the running for programs by doing an away rotation because the residents and faculty do not like them when there. But if you really like a program, it would be a good idea to try to do an away there and get a LOR, which can not only help you for that program, but also other programs will like seeing that you are liked and supported by someone that ISN'T from your home institution. I did an away rotation and was told at that program that it greatly helps one's chances of matching, but the degree to which it helps varies from program to program.

2. I do not think there are any programs who only interview people who do away rotations there, but I believe many (but not all) will give you an interview just for rotating.

3. It can definitely help you, but if you do not do one it doesn't hurt you either.

4. I would say you definitely need to do more than just show up to gain their approval. Be yourself, show interest, work hard and do whatever you can to help your resident out. Read about cases beforehand and also do some background reading because you never know when that knowledge will come in handy. Show up on time or 5 minutes early and do not leave too early, even if you are offered to leave. If you do all of this during your away and the residents truly like you as a person as well, you'll have a very good chance of training there.

Hope this helps.

Definitely, thanks a lot! Would love to hear specifically if people feel they can attribute an interview at a certain program to an away rotation?

 

[Dawkter]

In addition, any away rotations that you guys really enjoyed or would recommend to soon to be fourth years?

 

[Dawkter]

Bump!

 

[MilkmanAl]

In addition, any away rotations that you guys really enjoyed or would recommend to soon to be fourth years?

I had an excellent time at Kansas. The faculty and residents are all awesome and will let you do pretty much whatever you want. KC is an underrated town, too. Though it strikes me as a pretty good program, I doubt it's terribly competitive, so you may try for a bigger-name school so you have a higher chance at an interview there.