IM Sub-I and away questions

[dozitgetchahi]

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Ok, so the process of setting up aways this year has been incredibly painful and convoluted for me - but I have some questions about where I stand in that regard for matching academic allo IM programs. Background:

DO student, Step 1 = 237, Step 2 = taken at end of July.

*Important detail: Our school only lets us apply to one away rotation at a time per block. (This is frustrating and has caused a ton of problems.)

Currently, I have the following aways set up:

- First away block: Sub-I, allo community program

- Second away block - denied sub-I at #1 choice allo academic program - have a 'backup' spot at a different allo academic program in GI.

- Third away block - in flux. Denied from initial allo academic program for heme/onc. Currently have an allo community spot in cardiology. Would like to make this another academic allo spot at an allo academic prog whose VSAS deadline is relatively soon.

All the allo academic programs I applied to were realistic for aways - they have a good number of DOs in their programs. My questions are basically these:

1) Am I going to be at a major disadvantage in the match if I don't have a tertiary allo sub-I (with letters) under my belt?

2) Are the exposure/letters I may receive from the allo prog for GI going to be adequate for decent matching? I hear about MDs not even going on aways all the time, but I feel like the game is probably a lot different for us DOs.

Thanks - the advising at our school is really weak and half the time I feel like SDN is my headlamp in the vast cave of match season that I'm just setting foot into.

 

[gutonc]

In your case, 1 away will be really helpful. 2 is pushing it in terms of risk/reward. 3 is just a waste of your time...seriously...do rads or a gas month or something else you can chill during.

This is IM. As a DO, you're not going to Hopkins, UCSF, Duke, etc anyway...facts of life.

You're probably reasonably competitive for 75% of the allopathic academic programs out there. Don't F it up by flailing on an away you didn't want to do anyway.

 

[dozitgetchahi]

Ok good - this is what I'd essentially figured. I knew the upper crust programs were out of reach and more or less wanted to optimize my ability to match at the best places that were likely to take a DO.

Couple more questiona - does it matter much as to where I do that single away? And is there any truth to the idea that if you want to match in particular locales (Cleveland and/or Chicago, in my case) that you need to do at least one rotation in each place?

 

[Instatewaiter]

Ok good - this is what I'd essentially figured. I knew the upper crust programs were out of reach and more or less wanted to optimize my ability to match at the best places that were likely to take a DO.

Couple more questiona - does it matter much as to where I do that single away? And is there any truth to the idea that if you want to match in particular locales (Cleveland and/or Chicago, in my case) that you need to do at least one rotation in each place?

I'd recommend a few more things:

First- do a sub-i at your home program. You will know the computer system and how the hospital works and you will get needed experience. Then do an away.

Do your away at a program you want but not your number one (in case you don't do great)

 

[gutonc]

Ok good - this is what I'd essentially figured. I knew the upper crust programs were out of reach and more or less wanted to optimize my ability to match at the best places that were likely to take a DO.

Couple more questiona - does it matter much as to where I do that single away? And is there any truth to the idea that if you want to match in particular locales (Cleveland and/or Chicago, in my case) that you need to do at least one rotation in each place?

What instate said.

As to the bolded above, that appears to be common for DO programs (why? I have no idea, you'd think they'd want to cast a broad net but often only interview or rank people who rotated there which is remarkably short-sighted IMHO) but is in no way the case for allo programs. Some places will give courtesy interviews to everyone who rotates there, regardless of their competitiveness for the program, while others (looking at you UCSF) are notorious for not interviewing the majority of people who do away rotations there.

Do your away(s) in a place you want to go, and definitely do your home Sub-I first.