General surgery away rotation to match into a different region

[AAuaa]

Hello question about doing that 1 away allowed this year. I'll be applying gen surg from a midwest program and need to get to the east coast (SO there). No other ties to the region. Would you recommend trying to get an away at a small (4-5 per class) community program or a larger academic program? Both are located in/near the city I'm aiming for, and I'm interested in matching at either place. Step 1/2 are in the 250s, near avg in other eras parameters I would estimate. Thanks!

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[Redpancreas]

Hello question about doing that 1 away allowed this year. I'll be applying gen surg from a midwest program and need to get to the east coast (SO there). No other ties to the region. Would you recommend trying to get an away at a small (4-5 per class) community program or a larger academic program? Both are located in/near the city I'm aiming for, and I'm interested in matching at either place. Step 1/2 are in the 250s, near avg in other eras parameters I would estimate. Thanks!

Apply to both but select the large academic place if you get an option. The reason is at least the name of that place or someone there can open up doors elsewhere. The counterargument is the community residency may be easier to break into but if you don't match there it probably won't get you much of a bargaining chip elsewhere. This is a better question for: @AnatomyGrey12, @Spectreman @Banco @RamsFan&FutureDO

 

[AAuaa]

Apply to both but select the large academic place if you get an option. The reason is at least the name of that place or someone there can open up doors elsewhere. The counterargument is the community residency may be easier to break into but if you don't match there it probably won't get you much of a bargaining chip elsewhere. This is a better question for: @AnatomyGrey12, @Spectreman @Banco

Thank you for the insight! That makes sense, I was hesitating because both programs seem to have a decent reputation in the area

 

[Banco]

@AAuaa

Both can help if you're truly interested in both programs and want to match there (if you do well on the rotation). But if you have a choice, do it at a large academic center where you can get a letter from someone well known.

You should be able to match onto the east coast with your stats; just apply to a good amount of programs and make a balanced list (academic vs. hybrid vs. community). There are many to choose from.

 

[DOVinciRobot]

@AAuaa

Both can help if you're truly interested in both programs and want to match there (if you do well on the rotation). But if you have a choice, do it at a large academic center where you can get a letter from someone well known.

You should be able to match onto the east coast with your stats; just apply to a good amount of programs and make a balanced list (academic vs. hybrid vs. community). There are many to choose from.

This would be my suggestion as well. Rotating and getting a letter from an academic east coast program will help you match in the region, although I also agree with those stats you likely won’t have too much of an issue doing so even without an away. It would just be some extra help.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

Make sure you include something in your PS stating that you're looking for the east coast because of your SO.