Ideas for scheduling clerkships?

[Feli]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I've began getting LORs and thinking about my clerkship program choices, and it seems that there are varying schools of thought on the issue of clerkship scheduling.

When is the best time to visit the programs you're most interested in, and why? I've heard that June or July is nice because you learn along with the new residents and you will be remembered. My simple logic would think late in the cycle (Nov or Dec) would be smart because the clerk would know more by then and they would be fresh in the director's head when CRIPS rolled around - as opposed to the early externs who may be somewhat forgotten by interview time...

CRIPS are in January this year, so that means December gives everyone another full month to do a clerkship. Any thoughts on scheduling strategies or positives and negatives of doing an externship early/late in the cycle? At Barry, our clerkships are May-December.

 

[dpmgrad]

I've began getting LORs and thinking about my clerkship program choices, and it seems that there are varying schools of thought on the issue of clerkship scheduling.

When is the best time to visit the programs you're most interested in, and why? I've heard that June or July is nice because you learn along with the new residents and you will be remembered. My simple logic would think late in the cycle (Nov or Dec) would be smart because the clerk would know more by then and they would be fresh in the director's head when CRIPS rolled around - as opposed to the early externs who may be somewhat forgotten by interview time...

CRIPS are in January this year, so that means December gives everyone another full month to do a clerkship. Any thoughts on scheduling strategies or positives and negatives of doing an externship early/late in the cycle? At Barry, our clerkships are May-December.

When I was a student at TUSPM, I had talked to many of the residents and senior classmates about this issue. Majority of them recommended that I choose a place where I will learn the most as my first externship. May or June (depending on when your school starts externships) are the best months for this. The senior residents are winding down and are actively studying for the boards. Hence, you will probably get pimped a great deal during that time by the senior residents. I actually got to do a lot of hands on stuff in surgery as well during my June externship because the first year residents have already gotten their hands wet in the OR and the senior residents are just winding down. I would recommend choosing a program that you have some interested in and that you would work hard and learn a lot from. My June externship prepared very well for my subsequent externships. By the way, most residency programs often take into consideration if the externship at their programs is your first externship.

For programs that you really like and potentially want to be a resident at, I have been told to wait until October - December to do. As you said, you will be better prepared and also your knowledge base and skills will hopefully have expanded as well. Hence, allowing you to make a better impression. However, you also have to becareful not to make mistakes that an extern would make early in the externship experiences. If you do make this kind of mistakes, it will reflect badly on you. Of course, if you make this kind of mistakes in one of your earlier externship, the program may be more forgiving.

I have also been told that July and August are usually tough months for student externs. The point is that the student may not get to do a lot in the OR because the new incoming residents may be very eager to do stuff in the OR. I am not sure if this is entirely true or not. I know that it does vary from program to program. I had externed at Kentucky Podiatric Surgical Residency Program in July. It was one of my best externship experiences and I got to do a lot of hands on stuff, even with the new residents starting.

I know that there are many ways to schedule your externships. The above were advices given to me by various residents and senior students. I had followed the above advice and it worked well for me. Good luck with your externships.

 

[jonwill]

Yea, I reccomend using your first externship as a "wild card" month. I went to a program that I wasn't sure if I was going to like or not but I knew that I would get to see/do a lot. That way, I would be more seasoned for my following rotations. I put the programs that I was more interested in later in my year.

 

[krabmas]

Yea, I reccomend using your first externship as a "wild card" month. I went to a program that I wasn't sure if I was going to like or not but I knew that I would get to see/do a lot. That way, I would be more seasoned for my following rotations. I put the programs that I was more interested in later in my year.

That's why you did that one first? Oh!!!!!

I agree to do a learning experience externship first. Something that will kick you into shape for the next externships.

UMDNJ is a good externship with forced learning and constant pimping. It is also a good residency program.

PSL is a great learning experience as well.

 

[jonwill]

That's why you did that one first? Oh!!!!!

I agree to do a learning experience externship first. Something that will kick you into shape for the next externships.

UMDNJ is a good externship with forced learning and constant pimping. It is also a good residency program.

PSL is a great learning experience as well.

Krabmas breaks internet silence. 😀

 

[krabmas]

😕

Krabmas breaks internet silence. 😀

huh? i don't get it😕

 

[jonwill]

😕

huh? i don't get it😕

Well, I thought you hadn't posted for a while. But the more I thought about it, I'm the one who has been off line for a week. Are you in VA yet?

 

[krabmas]

Well, I thought you hadn't posted for a while. But the more I thought about it, I'm the one who has been off line for a week. Are you in VA yet?

too funny.

Yes I am in VA. Right next to the hospital.

Where are you? What is your start date?