How do these rotations sound @ the end of M3?

[kl323]

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Hey all,

I would love some input on my thinking...

I'm currently working out my schedule for M3. I am the type that likes to start off slow. With that in mind, my surg and IM rotation would be in the second half of M3. I have a few combinations in mind... Can you guys offer some suggestion as to which one would work better?

Scenario 1: Medicine and surgery BACK TO BACK. No breaks, no gaps. Followed by early sub-I?

Scenario 2: Start w/ surg --> vacation --> Med --> Another core rotation (end of M3).

Scenario 3: Do surg in 2nd half of M3 --> vacation --> Med (end of M3)

Is there any real advantage w/ doing a Sub-I early?

If I go with scenario 3, I can try and schedule an easy elective after that to start M4. This would allow me to study for Step 2 and get it over with while medicine is still fresh. Downside of this is, I won't start my Sub-I until I take my Step 2.

So the real question is... better to do my SubI (4-wk) while medicine is still fresh or study for Step 2 while medicine is still fresh?

 

[mglavin]

In reality it probably doesn't matter in the least which way you end up going.

However the big question here is what do you think you want to do with your life. Answering that will determine the Sub-I question fairly easily. Any advice I can give would vary wildly depending on if you want to do ENT vs Radiology vs Family Practice.

Internal medicine early was the best thing I felt I did for my 3rd year and made every subsequent rotation easier imo.

I was considering surgery so I did that later in the year but not to late as to shoot myself in the foot in case I decided on a specialty that more or less required away rotations and other craziness to schedule for 4th year.

I decided on radiology and did my medicine sub-I very early in 4th year. I could have done a sub-I in anything at any time in 4th year but I really just wanted to get it over with.

I am the type that likes to start off slow

No matter how you start it is not going to seem slow so you might as well get the really hard stuff over with while you still care the most about impressing people (before the last 1/4 of 3rd year)

better to do my SubI (4-wk) while medicine is still fresh or study for Step 2 while medicine is still fresh?

For step 2 you need to do lots of uworld questions. For shelf exams often the best way to study is with uworld questions (especially med/surg). Doing uworld questions during medicine will also make you smarter on a day to day basis. The point is you should do a bunch of uworld questions for step 2 and it doesn't matter when you had your medicine rotation.

If I could do it again I would do my Sub-I right away and then enjoy the rest of 4th year responsibility free.

Of the scenarios you listed I would do number 1

 

[kl323]

Thanks for the reply.

I really have 2 fields in mind.

EM or IM.

With that in mind, it would be a good idea to do medicine later right?

Although I'll be a newb on the wards, is there an advantage to do it earlier since expectation are "lower" and the curve is much more friendly..?