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how often did you study during 4th year
how often did you study during 4th year
- Thread starter studentdoct4281
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Some people will tell you to chill during your fourth year, based on advice from mentors I went for some harder months, 2 ICU rotations and a sub specialty I was very weak in ontop of whatever nonsense my school made me do. It made/makes me excel in my first year which was important to me. I still had 1 month of pure vacation and super easy rotations that pretty much were vacation. So, study when you are on hard rotations, chill when your not. One of my co-interns didn't "do anything" 4th year and they struggle a lot.
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Interesting, when did you have the time for a super hard rotation except in the second half of the year? I have my 4th year broken down into 3-4 months of audition/desperately trying to secure letters in specialties my school forbids in 3rd year. 3-4 months of rotations that allow me to take more days off than my school wants me to for interviews, then there's February, which could be a potential hard rotation spot. Then March I need another soft rotation which will let me have more time off than my school wants so I can SOAP (hopefully not, but you never know). Then its April and chill mode. I can see maybe 1 month I could give without screwing something else up or putting myself in a bad spot if things go south.
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I think one was October into November (they were cool regarding interviews), the other was February and April. April is not ideal to do a hard rotation because you are signed off, but I had no choice if I wanted the experience, which was worth it for me. 2 weeks is plenty, if your school will allow. Ha, doubt you will have to soap.
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While I agree, people never plan to do it and I already discussed what my school does for people who have to (surprise: its nothing, they don't even give you the week off). I love how my 'residency coordinator' was like 'oh you can just work it out with your preceptor' if I have to SOAP. Really? they could have at least blocked off the week to let us start making calls. The worst part is, the people who will probably end up SOAPing most likely don't even know my schools policy on it (i.e. the no time off given, no calls made etc).
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On auditions? Regularly.
On electives? When things interested me.
On mandatory rotations? Very rarely.
Don't let your brain go to mush (it's worth taking a few electives where you'll learn something) but don't work too hard, either. Pre-studying for intern year is only slightly more useful than pre-studying for medical school; the information you need is in your head, even if it's buried deeply after Step 2, and the other information you need is specifics you're not going to find pre-studying because you don't know what you're looking for. Enjoy the relaxation while you can.
On electives? When things interested me.
On mandatory rotations? Very rarely.
Don't let your brain go to mush (it's worth taking a few electives where you'll learn something) but don't work too hard, either. Pre-studying for intern year is only slightly more useful than pre-studying for medical school; the information you need is in your head, even if it's buried deeply after Step 2, and the other information you need is specifics you're not going to find pre-studying because you don't know what you're looking for. Enjoy the relaxation while you can.
