Externship at dream program

[chigirl]

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With surgery becoming increasingly more competitive to match into categorical spots, is it a good idea to do an away externship at a dream program or is that time better spent at a program that is more realistically attainable?
I have registered to do a month on the chairman's service (which is notoriously grueling and avoided by that school's medical students and dreaded by residents) at my dream program. Is it worth going through a month of this if I am not a candidate for interviewing otherwise? Will a program that is out of my league consider me if I work hard for that month? Is there anything I can do to stand out?
I would appreciate any advice, especially from the moderators.

 

[fourthyear]

Do it, because if you don't you will always wonder if it could have helped you get a spot. Also, you may unfortunately find it's not your dream program after spending some time there, and that can be valuable information for you too.

I don't think you'll match there if it's truly out of your leage b/c there are too many great g.surg applicants out there competing with you now. But, if it's a well known program, getting a letter from that chairman might carry a lot of weight at your other programs too. I say do it. It can't hurt unless you do a bad job, in which case, you already said you didn't think you'd match there without rotating there anyway. If it's grueling, that probably means it's a good learning experience too - if not for educations's sake, for the sake of feeling some of the workload/pace of life you'll have as a surgery resident. It's a no-lose situtation for you to do it.

 

[Blade28]

If it's grueling, that probably means it's a good learning experience too - if not for educations's sake, for the sake of feeling some of the workload/pace of life you'll have as a surgery resident. It's a no-lose situtation for you to do it.

Exactly, that's how I feel! Might as well see what life is like on a busy service.

 

[Paulista]

When I was rotating for core surgery, the general surgery service was really brutal for residents and students alike.

Since the hospital was level I with full back up, The resident on call had to cover all traumas and do all gen surgery consults in the ER.

Every morning around 7 am, there was the inquisition, when either med studs or residents had to present all relevant cases with films to a group of 7 full-time attendings.

The Chief resident was very impressive. He knew about each patient in his service including K+ levels and daily in and out for a census of 80!

I think it is highly recommended to rotate in a very busy service.
It can give you a reality check for real residency.

 

[surg]

I'd go for it. Worst case scenario, you don't get in (which you thought you weren't going to anyway). Best case scenario: you impress them so much you tip the scales in your favor and may get in.

1st: don't underestimate your competitiveness even at the top programs. Few programs are so numbers-oriented that they won't give serious consideration to someone with merely average to above average numbers if the letters are good enough.

2nd: Known good quantities will trump unknown probably good quantities. When they are constructing the middle part of their rank list, knowing that you will do good work is a huge plus since so many of the people run together. I've seen people jump 10-15 places on a rank list merely because someone knows their work ethic or has some added insight about them.