Doing 4th year elective as a 3rd year... advice?

[potentialderm]

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So during 3rd year, my school offers a few positions for 3rd year selectives in dermatology. those were all full.

given my good statistics, my advisor was very interested in helping me find a spot in derm.

he managed to squeeze me into a 4th year selective spot as a 3rd year. i will only be there for 3 weeks as opposed to the 4 weeks that a 4th year will be in, but i'm assuming i will be treated as a 4th year medical student and will need to be appropriately impressive.

any advice?

thanks!

 

[asmallchild]

So during 3rd year, my school offers a few positions for 3rd year selectives in dermatology. those were all full.

given my good statistics, my advisor was very interested in helping me find a spot in derm.

he managed to squeeze me into a 4th year selective spot as a 3rd year. i will only be there for 3 weeks as opposed to the 4 weeks that a 4th year will be in, but i'm assuming i will be treated as a 4th year medical student and will need to be appropriately impressive.

any advice?

thanks!

I would actually recommend against doing a 3rd year selective. If you already have good stats, more exposure can only hurt you. I'd recommend just going as a 4th year and making a good impression at that time

If you are set on going as a 3rd year, just realize that most programs won't give you a chance to shine. It's mostly an observational experience so the advice will be pretty standard: show up on time, don't ever ask to leave early, don't slow down the residents, and above all else, appear enthusiastic and interested at all times even though it's the 50th skin check you've had the "pleasure" to watch from the corner of the room

 

[sharklasers]

Hmm good point. I guess I'm not completely set on derm so that's the main reason I would like to do it.

If it was a normal 3rd year selective, I would be in the community where it would only be exposure. Since I squeezed into a 4th year elective spot, it will actually be in the hospital.

As a third year, I think if I really shine that could only help. I figure since it will be a 4th year elective, I would potentially be doing stuff a 4th would do, and if I do that we'll that would look great. I definitely know all of the generic advice, always try to help, be enthusiastic, read up on patients, don't get in the way, etc.

Is there any reading I should do? Any other tips more specific to derm?

Thanks!

 

[MilkIsGood]

I would actually recommend against doing a 3rd year selective. If you already have good stats, more exposure can only hurt you. I'd recommend just going as a 4th year and making a good impression at that time

If you are set on going as a 3rd year, just realize that most programs won't give you a chance to shine. It's mostly an observational experience so the advice will be pretty standard: show up on time, don't ever ask to leave early, don't slow down the residents, and above all else, appear enthusiastic and interested at all times even though it's the 50th skin check you've had the "pleasure" to watch from the corner of the room

So, in my 3rd year, we have the option to pushing back one of your rotations to do an elective, like derm. Would you say it is better to just do the derm elective during 4th year instead of 3rd year?

 

[WaylonS]

So, in my 3rd year, we have the option to pushing back one of your rotations to do an elective, like derm. Would you say it is better to just do the derm elective during 4th year instead of 3rd year?

If you do it during your fourth year, you'll be fresher in your home department's mind. Plus your ability to "derm speak" will be fresher in your mind, so you'll look better on your away rotations.

 

[asmallchild]

So, in my 3rd year, we have the option to pushing back one of your rotations to do an elective, like derm. Would you say it is better to just do the derm elective during 4th year instead of 3rd year?

Absolutely, you'll have more clinical experience at that time and as stated above, you'll be fresher in the department's minds when it comes down to ranking

 

[asmallchild]

Hmm good point. I guess I'm not completely set on derm so that's the main reason I would like to do it.

If it was a normal 3rd year selective, I would be in the community where it would only be exposure. Since I squeezed into a 4th year elective spot, it will actually be in the hospital.

As a third year, I think if I really shine that could only help. I figure since it will be a 4th year elective, I would potentially be doing stuff a 4th would do, and if I do that we'll that would look great. I definitely know all of the generic advice, always try to help, be enthusiastic, read up on patients, don't get in the way, etc.

Is there any reading I should do? Any other tips more specific to derm?

Thanks!

I'm confused, are you posting from 2 accounts?

Anyway, if you are interested in learning about dermatology, it might be helpful to shadow a day or two but to do a whole rotation and then repeat it again as a 4th year is asking for trouble. Even as a 4th year (at least at places I've worked at), you don't get to do much. It is different from being on a medicine or surgery SubI. You should definitely read up (Derm Secrets, Lookingbill are all decent texts, I think a couple of threads have been started on this if you want to search through), you should definitely be ready, but at the end of the day (3rd or 4th year alike), it will likely be mostly watching

 

[sharklasers]

no lol just in a similar position as TC, but thanks!