How many audition rotations should I complete?

[Philotic]

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DO student who is very mediocre on paper. The only + is that I have been published >5 times (though not first author). Around a 500-510 range for COMLEX 1 (no Step 1). Passed PE. No Level 2 score yet.

I want to try to stay within 1-2 hours of the Philadelphia area. I've set up 4 away FM rotations (5th one fell through). Is that enough or should I try to set up another 5th one? I should be getting 2 LOR from FM attendings from my core FM rotation I did my 3rd year. Already have an IM and Peds letter (both attendings mentioned that they indicated my interest in FM in my letters).

Any advice is appreciated! Thank you!

 

[wxman]

Those 4 away rotations should be plenty. When you say "should be getting" those LOR's, have you requested them already? Or are you just assuming that those attendings will write you one?

Your COMLEX is fine. If you get a better score on Level 2, that will give you even more support.

 

[Philotic]

Those 4 away rotations should be plenty. When you say "should be getting" those LOR's, have you requested them already? Or are you just assuming that those attendings will write you one?

Your COMLEX is fine. If you get a better score on Level 2, that will give you even more support.

I have 2 that have already been requested and are in the process of being written (per the student coordinator of that program). Both are attendings I worked with in my FM core rotation in 3rd year. One is a D.O and the other is an M.D.

Thank you! Hoping to score at least mid 500s for Comlex level 2, but only have about 3 weeks to prep so hoping I retained some stuff from the monthly COMAT exams we took during 3rd year. 🙂

 

[raptor5]

Don’t sweat it. COMLEX is fine for FM. Do not overestimate how much research will help. It’s not competitive enough. The best thing you can do is sample a number of programs along the competitiveness spectrum I n your application and rankings. If you want a local program, get a local PD letter. I disagree with that many away rotations but hey just my opinion. I would choose a rotation you know very little about.

 

[Sardonix]

To piggy back off of this, is it bad to have ONLY family medicine LORs? As per usual, someone/somewhere in my school rumor mill said PDs will not like seeing only FM doctor letters. I myself have two FM LORs already but never really thought to ask other attendings till now.

 

[Cranjis McBasketball]

I second this. Personally I only did a FM sub-i at my home program, and that was the only FM rotation I did during fourth year. The rest of my time I did electives that were not FM, but would be part of being a FM doctor. Some of them I found extremely valuable and learned some really important skills that will be really helpful in residency and beyond, even though they're not necessarily part of any formal medical school or FM curriculum.

Which electives did you feel helped you the most?