Don't do what I did...

[basil]

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There are a few things I wished I had realized last fall when I first started to get interested in opthalmology. I'm almost a 4th year now, and starting to think about LORs and applications, etc. A few things I wished I had done:

1. If you do general surgery early, don't be shy to ask for or let an attending know that you want a letter even if it's in August or September and applying is a year away. I had a resident tell me to ask for a letter from a particular attending, since he really liked me. I did not think I wanted to do surgery or a surgical field, so I didn't pursue it. Now I regret it.

2. When scheduling your ophtho rotations, longitudinals, research, etc, it's best to do it all with one person if possible. I did a 4-week elective with a retina attending, a longitudinal with a glaucoma/cataract guy, and am doing research with a cornea specialist. Though the variety has been educational, I think I would have been able to get a better LOR if I had done it all with one person. If you do an away elective and get a letter from there, you only need one ophtho letter from your home program. It's better to work really closely with one person than to meet the whole department.

3. Don't do too much ophtho. Do 2 weeks to figure out if you're really interested, and then 4 weeks to really start learning stuff. That, a longitudinal, and an away or 2 is plenty.

Anyway, maybe everyone else already knows all this stuff, but I sure didn't, and now I'm starting to realize that I've made some mistakes (albeit probably minor in the longterm)

-Basil

 

[eyedr]

albeit probably minor in the longterm)

Dont sweat any of that stuff at this point. There is no magic solution to the application process. Just prepare your application, get it in early, early, early (like the first week of August) and try to kick ass on your interviews by being well prepared for questions, humble, and just a good all around person!

eyedr

 

[Buck Strong]

Question...How early is too early? I've got all my letters, and my PS is done, and I'm just kinda holding on to the darn thing. I was going to just mail it in sometime in the next few weeks just to get rid of it, but should I hold on to it until July/August. I guess the only thing I'm waiting for are some 3rd year clerkship grades to come in...but god knows how long that'll take.

Just prepare your application, get it in early, early, early (like the first week of August) and try to kick ass on your interviews by being well prepared for questions, humble, and just a good all around person!

eyedr

 

[eyedr]

Question...How early is too early? I've got all my letters, and my PS is done, and I'm just kinda holding on to the darn thing. I was going to just mail it in sometime in the next few weeks just to get rid of it, but should I hold on to it until July/August. I guess the only thing I'm waiting for are some 3rd year clerkship grades to come in...but god knows how long that'll take.

As long as you meet the "target deadline" set my SF match you will not have a problem optimizing the number of interview offers you get. Whether you send it in now or the first week of August, your application still will not be reviewed until September at the earliest by the programs. May is way tooo early to send in your app....

I would hold on to it for several reasons. First, I would have a few people make corrections for you. Second, if you do research over the summer you may want to include that on your application. Also, if you do an ophtho elective and really click with someone, you may decide to exchange one of the LORs. Once you send it in, you can not make changes. I really dont see any added benefit of sending it in May or June. I would probably wait till July....but ask your friends and others on this forum. Oh yeah, one more thing, many schools do not decide Senior AOA status until the summer time, and so if you are not already Junior AOA and have a shot at Senior, you are probably better off waiting with the anticipation of checking off that box. I would bet that it is a screening criteria. Good luck!

 

[JR]

SFMatch does not start to process applications until mid-August. I was like you and had all my stuff ready by June; my application was in by June 18 and just sat there until mid-August with no processing. Having said that, I'd have my application by late July; they process in batches, batch 1 gets distributed to programs first, etc.

In regards to OP's point #3: I don't think there is such a thing as doing too much ophtho in your 4th year. In my medschool we had to do 18 weeks of electives anyway and I did 12 weeks of ophtho out of that; why not get a head start on things? There are some other helpful rotations though like derm, endocrine, rads, etc.

Good luck!

 

[basil]

4. Don't let 2nd years who are already planning their 4th year away electives get you stressed out about your own process. Ditto on other applicants who get their application done before you even get your stickers in the mail. 🙄

As for amount of ophtho electives...I did 8 weeks of 3rd year ophtho electives, and I'll do a 4 week away. I should have done 6 home + 4 away. I'd have rather done something I'd never see again for 2 weeks, like heme-onc or neurosurgery or child psych, rather than practicing the indirect some more. I'll have plenty of time to learn ophtho, and 2 years from now those 2 weeks won't make me a better resident.

 

[Buck Strong]

Awesome, thanks for the advice. I didn't know that they didn't start processing until august. Also, I agree that there's no such thing as too much ophtho 4th year. I've heard that neuro, plastics, derm, rads are good rotations to do if you are interested in ophtho...any other suggestions for good rotations to do?

SFMatch does not start to process applications until mid-August. I was like you and had all my stuff ready by June; my application was in by June 18 and just sat there until mid-August with no processing. Having said that, I'd have my application by late July; they process in batches, batch 1 gets distributed to programs first, etc.

In regards to OP's point #3: I don't think there is such a thing as doing too much ophtho in your 4th year. In my medschool we had to do 18 weeks of electives anyway and I did 12 weeks of ophtho out of that; why not get a head start on things? There are some other helpful rotations though like derm, endocrine, rads, etc.

Good luck!

 

[rubensan]

SFMatch does not start to process applications until mid-August. I was like you and had all my stuff ready by June; my application was in by June 18 and just sat there until mid-August with no processing. Having said that, I'd have my application by late July; they process in batches, batch 1 gets distributed to programs first, etc.

In regards to OP's point #3: I don't think there is such a thing as doing too much ophtho in your 4th year. In my medschool we had to do 18 weeks of electives anyway and I did 12 weeks of ophtho out of that; why not get a head start on things? There are some other helpful rotations though like derm, endocrine, rads, etc.

Good luck!

I agree, I got mine in early August and was glad I did. The interview invitations came trickling in by September.

I also agree that doing a lot of ophtho rotations won't hurt you. It gives you more exposure to programs and faculty. You never know where you might meet someone that can really help you out during this process.

Lastly, Basil (OP), I don't think you have done anything that will set you back too much.

Ruben

 

[jfanman]

How important is it to get a letter from your home program? I am currently attending a NY medical school but really want to go back home to California to do a residency so I planned on doing 2 away electives in California. Does it look bad to just get letters from attendings at my away electives having not done any elective at my home program?

 

[JR]

In my opinion it's pretty important to have a strong letter of rec from your home program. Theoretically, these ophtho attendings should know you the best. I emphasize STRONG b/c a weak letter from your home program will most likely kill your application.

BTW, I hope you have a srong application; in my experience every single east cost ophtho applicant wants to go back to California .

How important is it to get a letter from your home program? I am currently attending a NY medical school but really want to go back home to California to do a residency so I planned on doing 2 away electives in California. Does it look bad to just get letters from attendings at my away electives having not done any elective at my home program?

 

[jfanman]

Well, the problem is I have not done an ophtho elective at my home program because I really found out late in 3rd year that I might be interested in pursuing a ophthalmology residency. My thinking was that I want to go back to California for residency so I should try to do as many electives there as possible. But is it frowned upon that I didn't do an elective home program?

 

[JR]

There has been a lot of discussion re electives on this forum. Take a look at this thread:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=176512&highlight=elective+ophtho

I think that decision re electives is a difficult one. If you otherwise look good on paper, have shown a substantial interest in the field over the years through research and volunteering and have no interest in a specific program, you may match very well without doing any electives. On the other hand, a good recommendation letter from a specific attending or better yet a phone call will go a long way both at that specific program and possibly elsewhere.

Without any away electives, I'd be nervous applying not having done a home school elective. You may come across as someone who decided to go into the field at the last minute. I don't think this will play out in your favor.

As I said before, CA programs are extremely competitive. If I were in you position, having decided on Ophtho relatively late, I'd do electives at CA programs of interest and make sure to shine! However, you can not have electives at programs of interest as your first Ophtho electives. I'd suggest maybe tagging-along with an eye doc at your school or in the community and learning basic eye exam, etc.

I hope this helps,

Good luck!

 

[rubensan]

Well, the problem is I have not done an ophtho elective at my home program because I really found out late in 3rd year that I might be interested in pursuing a ophthalmology residency. My thinking was that I want to go back to California for residency so I should try to do as many electives there as possible. But is it frowned upon that I didn't do an elective home program?

What CA programs are you interested in? Be advised that some of the UCs are hard to score a Sub-I at if you are not from within the UC system.

 

[jfanman]

I think you misunderstood my question. I am wondering whether I should do an extra away elective over doing an elective at my home program. The reason I did not want to do it at my home program is because I believe the hospital does not have a strong ophtho dept. But I just wanted people's opinions on whether it would be frowned upon that I did not do an elective at my home program but did 2 away electives instead?

As for which CA program I am looking at, I am interested in Loma Linda and I am hoping to be able to make a good impression when I am doing the elective there. Now I have a dilemma on whether to do a USC elective before that or do a home elective at my school instead.

 

[rubensan]

I think you misunderstood my question. I am wondering whether I should do an extra away elective over doing an elective at my home program. The reason I did not want to do it at my home program is because I believe the hospital does not have a strong ophtho dept. But I just wanted people's opinions on whether it would be frowned upon that I did not do an elective at my home program but did 2 away electives instead?

As for which CA program I am looking at, I am interested in Loma Linda and I am hoping to be able to make a good impression when I am doing the elective there. Now I have a dilemma on whether to do a USC elective before that or do a home elective at my school instead.

ok, sorry for the misunderstanding, but I think JR answered your question. Learn some basic ophthalmology (formally or informally) at your home school and then come out to CA for your rotations. I believe that most CA programs understand that you are coming out to do rotation because you really want to be here. You are welcome to PM me for some advice on USC and who to do an elective with.

Good luck!