Elective psychiatry rotations??

[osteodoct]

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Hi,
How many of you guys applying to psych programs are rotating through the programs you are most interested in? I've heard from most residents that I worked w/ in 3rd year that you should do this to put a face w/ a name..but then recently read that maybe this isn't the best idea since may be unnecessarily scrutinized? I've set up most of my electives in psych at programs I'm interested in for 1 month at a time..I'm wondering if this was a smart move or not?

 

[psychattack]

I chose to do one away rotation at my #1 choice school--by me being there everyday I show just how interested I am. And I am always surprised by how many attendings and residents I have met this way, not to mention the program director and chairman.

I felt that I show better clinically than on paper, however if you are the other way around then I would be careful about doing aways as they will judge you by that month more than you may think.

That is just my opinion and others may vary, however it also helped me see the reality of the program from every angle--even the ugly one at 3am! You will gain more perspective on a program by rotating there than one interview day.

Hope this helps.