How exactly do student-chosen electives/rotations work?

[le_purrde]

Looks like I'll be attending KCU summer 2018, and one thing I'm not entirely sure I understand are the 3rd/4th year rotations that aren't already assigned by the school for you. So, all of 4th year by the looks of it at KCU.

Say you want to do a rotation in anesthesiology at Mayo Clinic (I'm from Rochester, MN, so that would be pretty cool). Do you apply to Mayo for that rotation? If so, are there limited spots available, and thus a competitive hierarchy for the better institutions? And if that's the case, does that mean a place like Mayo Clinic is effectively closed off to a DO student for a rotation?

Not only that, but is it ever difficult finding places to take you in general? My SO is in NP school and it was a nightmare for her to find places that a) took students and b) had an opening. Does the school typically help, or are you on your own?

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[Blunt Dissection]

Looks like I'll be attending KCU summer 2018, and one thing I'm not entirely sure I understand are the 3rd/4th year rotations that aren't already assigned by the school for you. So, all of 4th year by the looks of it at KCU.

Say you want to do a rotation in anesthesiology at Mayo Clinic (I'm from Rochester, MN, so that would be pretty cool). Do you apply to Mayo for that rotation? If so, are there limited spots available, and thus a competitive hierarchy for the better institutions? And if that's the case, does that mean a place like Mayo Clinic is effectively closed off to a DO student for a rotation?

Not only that, but is it ever difficult finding places to take you in general? My SO is in NP school and it was a nightmare for her to find places that a) took students and b) had an opening. Does the school typically help, or are you on your own?

Typically, you'll apply through VSAS if the school/hospital participates in it. If they don't, they'll likely have their own application process that you can find on the school's visiting student website. Mayo is one of the programs that does not participate in VSAS and has its own application that is highly competitive - if you are chosen for a Mayo clinic audition/rotation, it means they believe you are competitive enough to be a residency applicant there. From talking to a few education coordinators, how many students they take and how competitive it is depends mostly on when you're applying and for what specialty you're looking at joining. Priority is given to students of their own program and then whatever spots are remaining will go to other applicants.

Oh and how much assistance you receive through the process depends on your school. Some of my friends had great clinical coordinators that were able to work with them in quickly finishing any paperwork, but in terms of what program is a good fit for you and such, you'll almost always have to do your own legwork and research it yourself.

 

[DrMcLovin]

Most residencies have information on their webpage about how to apply for a rotation. For many osteopathic programs and some MD programs, you email the medical education coordinator and/or fill out an application on their website. After you get accepted, your school needs to send them required documents (letter of good standing, vaccination records, proof of malpractice insurance etc). Some DO and MD programs participate in VSAS where you and your school upload information prior to applying to programs listed on there.

 

[68PGunner]

Looks like I'll be attending KCU summer 2018, and one thing I'm not entirely sure I understand are the 3rd/4th year rotations that aren't already assigned by the school for you. So, all of 4th year by the looks of it at KCU.

Say you want to do a rotation in anesthesiology at Mayo Clinic (I'm from Rochester, MN, so that would be pretty cool). Do you apply to Mayo for that rotation? If so, are there limited spots available, and thus a competitive hierarchy for the better institutions? And if that's the case, does that mean a place like Mayo Clinic is effectively closed off to a DO student for a rotation?

Not only that, but is it ever difficult finding places to take you in general? My SO is in NP school and it was a nightmare for her to find places that a) took students and b) had an opening. Does the school typically help, or are you on your own?

Some programs will have Step 1 cutoff points. For example, UW Anesthesiology program won’t take a rotated student w/ Step 1 under 240.

Best way to find out the logistics is to directly contact the interested programs. But, first talk to your clinical director to get an idea of the process first so that you don’t act like a fool when you call up the program.