HMS Away Rotation

[medgirl301]

Has anyone had any experience with the Harvard away rotation system?

I applied to do an away rotation at HMS (for one month, in one field - I ranked 5 hospitals). I really want to be in Boston for that month, and I'm wondering if I should apply to both BU and Tufts for the same month to make sure I get to be there that month. It seems like if I applied to 5 programs at HMS, then the odds of me getting accepted to one of them should be high, unless a million people apply to do aways at HMS every month. Thoughts?

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[DermViser]

Has anyone had any experience with the Harvard away rotation system?

I applied to do an away rotation at HMS (for one month, in one field - I ranked 5 hospitals). I really want to be in Boston for that month, and I'm wondering if I should apply to both BU and Tufts for the same month to make sure I get to be there that month. It seems like if I applied to 5 programs at HMS, then the odds of me getting accepted to one of them should be high, unless a million people apply to do aways at HMS every month. Thoughts?

What's your purpose in applying to do an audition elective at Harvard? Do you actually want to match there? Are you trying to get a big name to write you a letter in your specific field? Or is it just to bask in the glory and say you got to rotate at Harvard?

 

[medgirl301]

I would love to match there, but I would also be interested in other Boston schools. The goal isn't to get a rec letter, but if I get one, that would be a bonus. At the end of the day, I want to be in Boston for personal reasons, so why not shoot for the stars and increase my chance of getting an HMS interview? I just don't know how many places to apply to to maximize my chance of being there that month and minimize burning bridges with schools.

 

[DermViser]

I would love to match there, but I would also be interested in other Boston schools. The goal isn't to get a rec letter, but if I get one, that would be a bonus. At the end of the day, I want to be in Boston for personal reasons, so why not shoot for the stars and increase my chance of getting an HMS interview? I just don't know how many places to apply to to maximize my chance of being there that month and minimize burning bridges with schools.

I think in that case you need to have someone in the specialty you're going for evaluate you application as it is now. Harvard has the pick of the litter when it comes to the match bc everyone would love complete residency training at Harvard (for the most part). There are tons of qualified med students who apply there, so Harvard can look beyond the stats and numbers, and try to find other things they want in a resident.

Even a lot of Harvard med students stay within the system and match at BWH, MGH, etc. BU and Tufts can't be as ridiculously choosy as Harvard, although they are in Boston, so it's still competitive from location standpoint, so you might have better luck rotating with them if you still want to stay in Boston. That being said, this is also very specialty dependent as well. You don't want to overshoot too much, but if the goal isn't to get a letter for your ERAS application, then I don't really get why you're audition rotating there.

 

[medgirl301]

I'm really focused on doing the away rotation in Boston for a specific month. Regardless of my motives, I was hoping to get some advice about how many programs to apply to, and specifically if anyone knew if it is hard to secure a spot at HMS or one of the affiliated hospitals (they're all under one application).

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

I think in that case you need to have someone in the specialty you're going for evaluate you application as it is now. Harvard has the pick of the litter when it comes to the match bc everyone would love complete residency training at Harvard (for the most part). There are tons of qualified med students who apply there, so Harvard can look beyond the stats and numbers, and try to find other things they want in a resident.

Even a lot of Harvard med students stay within the system and match at BWH, MGH, etc. BU and Tufts can't be as ridiculously choosy as Harvard, although they are in Boston, so it's still competitive from location standpoint, so you might have better luck rotating with them if you still want to stay in Boston. That being said, this is also very specialty dependent as well. You don't want to overshoot too much, but if the goal isn't to get a letter for your ERAS application, then I don't really get why you're audition rotating there.

He already said he needs to be in Boston that month. If you need to be in Boston, why not audition at Harvard? Maybe you'll get a letter out of it, maybe an interview. But maybe not. Who knows? Why not try it and see. He's going to be doing a rotation SOMEWHERE that month. Why not at Harvard?

 

[Anastomoses]

He already said he needs to be in Boston that month. If you need to be in Boston, why not audition at Harvard? Maybe you'll get a letter out of it, maybe an interview. But maybe not. Who knows? Why not try it and see. He's going to be doing a rotation SOMEWHERE that month. Why not at Harvard?

I'm going out on a limb and guess "medgirl" is a girl. And I don't understand this entire thread. Uhhh, try all the above?

 

[DermViser]

He already said he needs to be in Boston that month. If you need to be in Boston, why not audition at Harvard? Maybe you'll get a letter out of it, maybe an interview. But maybe not. Who knows? Why not try it and see. He's going to be doing a rotation SOMEWHERE that month. Why not at Harvard?

Bc the usual goals of an audition elective are to try to get a match there. Harvard HMS is a reach for nearly all applicants, whether they rotate or not.

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

I'm going out on a limb and guess "medgirl" is a girl. And I don't understand this entire thread. Uhhh, try all the above?

Oops, I didn't catch that.

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

Bc the usual goals of an audition elective are to try to get a match there. Harvard HMS is a reach for nearly all applicants, whether they rotate or not.

But the OP is going there in order to be in Boston for that month. She isn't going there because she wants so desperately to match in Boston. So if she's going to be in the city for the month, why not do your rotation there? Maybe after the audition, it won't be the reach it was.

 

[DermViser]

But the OP is going there in order to be in Boston for that month. She isn't going there because she wants so desperately to match in Boston. So if she's going to be in the city for the month, why not do your rotation there? Maybe after the audition, it won't be the reach it was.

Oops, I didn't catch that part. If it's just to be in Boston for a month then aim for the stars and rotate at HMS.

 

[Wordead]

But the OP is going there in order to be in Boston for that month. She isn't going there because she wants so desperately to match in Boston. So if she's going to be in the city for the month, why not do your rotation there? Maybe after the audition, it won't be the reach it was.

I dont know what specialty OP is applying for, but Harvard is notoriously elitist in some specialties - will not take anyone not from a top 20 school. So no matter how well she performs, her background may be a nonstarter. And the odds of you just outshining everybody is miniscule. So some people may say it's pointless to rotate there when you might actually have a legitimate shot at one of the other boston hospitals.

 

[medgirl301]

I understand that rotating at BU or Tufts may be more beneficial to matching in Boston *at all,* and that an HMS rotation may not help, but what I **REALLY** want to know is how hard it is to get an away rotation at HMS. I already applied and want to know what the liklihood is that I don't get a spot. Should I apply to BU and Tufts to secure a spot in Boston that month *regardless* of my match intentions?

 

[Psai]

You are **very** obnoxious.

 

[JoshSt]

I understand that rotating at BU or Tufts may be more beneficial to matching in Boston *at all,* and that an HMS rotation may not help, but what I **REALLY** want to know is how hard it is to get an away rotation at HMS. I already applied and want to know what the liklihood is that I don't get a spot. Should I apply to BU and Tufts to secure a spot in Boston that month *regardless* of my match intentions?

Unless it's one of the uber competitive fields, nah, it's not too bad if you're a good applicants with good scores.

I would say no for BU and Tufts -- what if you got accepted for an away at all 3 places, rotated at HMS-affiliate, and come to interviewing BU and Tufts are like wtf mate.

If you're going to be in Boston and HAVE to rotate somewhere for academic credit, then, maybe you should entertain multiple applications. If not and you can take a vacation month with no academic penalties or while taking an online class at you home institution -- cross your fingers for HMS-affiliate and if you don't get it, enjoy the heck out of Boston without worrying about a rotation.

 

[DermViser]

Unless it's one of the uber competitive fields, nah, it's not too bad if you're a good applicants with good scores.

I would say no for BU and Tufts -- what if you got accepted for an away at all 3 places, rotated at HMS-affiliate, and come to interviewing BU and Tufts are like wtf mate.

If you're going to be in Boston and HAVE to rotate somewhere for academic credit, then, maybe you should entertain multiple applications. If not and you can take a vacation month with no academic penalties or while taking an online class at you home institution -- cross your fingers for HMS-affiliate and if you don't get it, enjoy the heck out of Boston without worrying about a rotation.

BU and Tufts electives are not handled directly by the dept. It's through the electives office. which is done through VSAS. Just like every other place. No, they are NOT going to say on your interview why did you not do an elective with us. Quit making things up.

 

[JoshSt]

BU and Tufts electives are not handled directly by the dept. It's through the electives office. which is done through VSAS. Just like every other place. No, they are NOT going to say on your interview why did you not do an elective with us. Quit making things up.

Well sorries... 😵

 

[Anastomoses]

Well sorries... 😵

Misinformation stinks. Note that for the future.

 

[JoshSt]

Misinformation stinks. Note that for the future.

Not these institutions, but two of my classmates were actually asked this (so you did an away at close institution X but didn't do an away here) and were put in an awkward situation on their interview at that program. It was a competitive field, likely a malignant program, but a top name. I wasn't making it up but I definitely acknowledge that it is likely far from the norm.

Also, the departments I've seen the PC handles VSAS stuff. I was envisioning a situation where the OP was accepted to all 3 and declined her acceptance to the other 2 programs and was then someone who familiarized themself with PC, had to decline it, and had that hanging on her shoulders come interview season. I do think my advice is reasonable, except that DermViser specifically pointed out the exceptions at those universities where it truly doesn't matter to try, which is not the case everywhere.

I was just trying to give a helping opinion where the posts were getting off-topic and straying from the OP question/concern.

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

You are **very** obnoxious.

I don't think there's anything obnoxious about it. The OP is asking one question and people are answering with another answer. She's just reiterating herself.

BU and Tufts electives are not handled directly by the dept. It's through the electives office. which is done through VSAS. Just like every other place. No, they are NOT going to say on your interview why did you not do an elective with us. Quit making things up.

I don't know about BU or Tufts, but this isn't necessarily true. I won't name the place, but I interviewed somewhere that I declined a rotation at and it DID come up in interview. The associate PD asked point-blank why declined my rotation with them.

 

[Anastomoses]

I don't know about BU or Tufts, but this isn't necessarily true. I won't name the place, but I interviewed somewhere that I declined a rotation at and it DID come up in interview. The associate PD asked point-blank why declined my rotation with them.

Ugh, they keep up with this stuff?

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

Ugh, they keep up with this stuff?

Some do. I doubt the majority do. I was also told by a senior resident at one of my audition rotations that they only accept you for a rotation if they think they'd offer you interview based on numbers (providing you don't blow your rotation, that is). In other words, if you don't meet their personal cut-offs or if you failed boards or something, they won't offer you a rotation because you're not who they're looking for in a resident. I don't know how many places do that, but I appreciate the honesty so that you're not wasting your time/money.

 

[DermViser]

I don't know about BU or Tufts, but this isn't necessarily true. I won't name the place, but I interviewed somewhere that I declined a rotation at and it DID come up in interview. The associate PD asked point-blank why declined my rotation with them.

Was it through VSAS?

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

Was it through VSAS?

Yes. All my away/auditions were through VSAS.

 

[lymphohystiocytosis]

I don't know about BU or Tufts, but this isn't necessarily true. I won't name the place, but I interviewed somewhere that I declined a rotation at and it DID come up in interview. The associate PD asked point-blank why declined my rotation with them.

This is a good point. This is a risk you take when applying for many aways, but keep in mind you can usually foil the question with a comment about how the schedule didn't sync well with your home institution.

Another factor to consider is whether the aways are contrasting with the story you're trying to tell. If you're telling people you're committed to staying on the east coast for family reasons, but your aways are all in Cali, people will notice.