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How to evaluate clinical rotations?
- Thread starter Queen_B
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Yes they are the 3rd and 4th year.
Though I don't profess to know how everything works with rotations, I'd like to give my $.02.
Look at the school's curriculum for rotations to compare length and diversity of rotations offered. My guess is that good rotations would include a range of specialties and locations. Better to ask someone who knows though.
Though I don't profess to know how everything works with rotations, I'd like to give my $.02.
Look at the school's curriculum for rotations to compare length and diversity of rotations offered. My guess is that good rotations would include a range of specialties and locations. Better to ask someone who knows though.
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This is a very good question. A lot of stuff about clinical rotations and "tiers" gets thrown around SDN and I'm pretty sure nobody has an idea of wth this means or what's the importance. Hope somebody with the proper knowledge replies!
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I did some searching and found this on a similar thread from 2010.
"Excellent question. In my narrow opinion,this is the most important aspect when choosing a DO school. Frankly, it's difficult for pre-meds to judge clinical education. We really don't know what to look for yet (ie big names, lots of electives, etc), so it's hard to make rash decisions. Bth7 put up a nice post a while ago, it gets thrown around a lot, regarding some important questions to ask about 3/4 years. If someone finds it, and posts it, check that out. Personally, I'd check out/do the following:
1. How old is the school? This is vague, but usually the older schools have more solid rotations that the newer ones.
2. Are there any big red flags on SDN? IE - people ranting in the pros/cons thread, multiple threads where people say they are up shizzle creek without a paddle, etc (do some SDN searches 'Xcom clincals, rotations' etc).
3. Do you have to travel for rotations? Could be a positive or negative, however the latter seems to be more frequent.
4. Are your core rotations scheduled or do you have to do it? I've heard multiple people complaining about having to schedule their own core.
5. Are they hospital based or preceptor based?
6. Does the school provide a hospital list?
7. HOW MANY spots are there per rotation in that hospital list?
8. Are there any awkward absences in the 3/4 year core? IE - not required to rotate in a certain common field? If so, why?
9. How much are preceptors/hospitals compensated for students?
10. How are rotations assigned? Lottery? Ranking? Is travel involved? Is it a choice, etc??
11. Get in contact with 3/4 years at the school. They can give you great info
12. Get in contact with the dean of clinical education for any further questions.
13. Try not to listen too intently to any one opinion, get a collection, and remember where bias can come from.
14. Limits/rules on elective/audition rotations (I've heard mixed opinions on how important this is)
15. Are there residency programs associated with the rotation sites?
Well, sorry it's so random and scattered, I was just writing stuff I've done/researched as I thought of it. Should give you a good place to start, hopefully others will give advice too."
Hope that helps.
"Excellent question. In my narrow opinion,this is the most important aspect when choosing a DO school. Frankly, it's difficult for pre-meds to judge clinical education. We really don't know what to look for yet (ie big names, lots of electives, etc), so it's hard to make rash decisions. Bth7 put up a nice post a while ago, it gets thrown around a lot, regarding some important questions to ask about 3/4 years. If someone finds it, and posts it, check that out. Personally, I'd check out/do the following:
1. How old is the school? This is vague, but usually the older schools have more solid rotations that the newer ones.
2. Are there any big red flags on SDN? IE - people ranting in the pros/cons thread, multiple threads where people say they are up shizzle creek without a paddle, etc (do some SDN searches 'Xcom clincals, rotations' etc).
3. Do you have to travel for rotations? Could be a positive or negative, however the latter seems to be more frequent.
4. Are your core rotations scheduled or do you have to do it? I've heard multiple people complaining about having to schedule their own core.
5. Are they hospital based or preceptor based?
6. Does the school provide a hospital list?
7. HOW MANY spots are there per rotation in that hospital list?
8. Are there any awkward absences in the 3/4 year core? IE - not required to rotate in a certain common field? If so, why?
9. How much are preceptors/hospitals compensated for students?
10. How are rotations assigned? Lottery? Ranking? Is travel involved? Is it a choice, etc??
11. Get in contact with 3/4 years at the school. They can give you great info
12. Get in contact with the dean of clinical education for any further questions.
13. Try not to listen too intently to any one opinion, get a collection, and remember where bias can come from.
14. Limits/rules on elective/audition rotations (I've heard mixed opinions on how important this is)
15. Are there residency programs associated with the rotation sites?
Well, sorry it's so random and scattered, I was just writing stuff I've done/researched as I thought of it. Should give you a good place to start, hopefully others will give advice too."
Hope that helps.
In my opinion, you should look at the size of the hospitals ( aka number of beds) and number of residencies associated with each hospital. The more beds and the more residencies the better. Additionally, the majority of your rotations should be inpatient (at a hospital) opposed to some doctor 's office. This is just a generalization, though. Medical education is a crap shoot. Your clinical education will largely be determined by the attendings and residents you get paired up with. Some will like to teach and some won't. It's kind of random unfortunately.
