Elective vs. Vacation

[ANCAdoc]

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OK, a little more than halfway through 3rd year! Finished with my surgery and almost done with my medicine block (only neuro left in Jan). The rest of the year should be low key, nice hours on my family medicine block. I've got a month of vacation time in this block. I can take the vacation or choose an elective, which would count toward the total I need to graduate. If I take an elective now, I will get to move this vacation month to 4th year, giving me 3 vacation months 4th year. I'm not sure what to do. 3 vacation months sounds really nice 4th year but does that look like slacking to residency directors? What would you suggest?

I am initially thinking about doing an IM subspecialty, like gastro, since I may be interested in IM but surgery is an interest as well. Not sure what to do.

Thanks!

 

[SoCuteMD]

I think we get three vacation months in 4th year (none in 3rd year, although there are ways to work them into the schedue). If you feel like you need the break, take a vacation. If you feel rested with an easy family medicine rotation, then go for an elective. You have lots of freedom since you've already completed medicine and surgery.

 

[Ashers]

We get the option of elective/vacation. I chose to take an elective to have the extra vacation month available for taking step 2 or interviewing. I doubt it looks like slacking because you just worked 12 months in 3rd year. Most people in my class take an elective and have 3 months vacation 4th year. 4th year isnt' known for being the most demanding of med school.

 

[Winged Scapula]

If your vacation months are after your enroll in the NRMP, no one is going to know what the rest of your year entails when you apply. Even if they ask, I see no harm in listing a few rotations, some vacation, etc.

 

[UndeadHeart]

Personally, I would use the one month to do an elective, who knows how your schedule will change fourth year, . . . you are assuming in one year that you will use those three months for vacation, but what if you want to do an extra medicine rotation for an "audition elective" or want to do an international rotation in another country and need a block of time? Fourth year is slow, but it might be worth it to take off one month for interviews and/or step 2 CK study time. I would take a "fun" elective, which is probably different for everybody, . . . but perhaps for you could be a GI research elective or maybe radiology, . . . but predicting what time you will need a year from now in fourth year is hard, . . . i.e. you might want to consider taking off November and December next year to interview, OR taking three months after medical school before residency to travel or do something you won't have time for in the 3 or so years of residency . . .

 

[MastahRiz]

Electives > Vacation.

 

[Pianoboe01]

Take an elective! Peds and FM are so light on hours - you will not be exhausted enough to want to take a vacation. Definitely save that extra vacation month for 4th year.

 

[Tired]

Take the vacation time into your fourth year.

No matter what, you never have enough time for interviews, audition rotations, etc. You will value that month much more next year.

 

[Xandie]

I can't believe no one has pointed this out, but anyway...

If you're going to take the three months of vacation anyway, when does it matter when you take them, to residency program directors? That's what vacation is for!

Clearly this isn't a concern for me, because I took two months for interviewing (Nov/Jan) and one in April, for the express purpose of sitting on my behind. Good times!