Is it acceptable to email a program to let em know you've been accepted elsewhere but prefer them?

[gregoryhouse]

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I have been accepted to one program for an away rotation but there is another program that I would prefer to go to. However, I only have 2 weeks to decide and this program is a great program, one of the top programs. If I don't hear back from the other program I will accept this current program but I was wondering if it is acceptable to email the program and let them know that I have been accepted elsewhere but would prefer to rotate with them and if I could be given early notice if I am accepted into the program or not so that I can decline the other rotation.

On a separate but related issue, how important are aways for getting interviews? Like I said the program I have been accepted to is a great program and I would be excited to go there, but it is not in the region of the country where I want to do residency. Does this matter much or should I just go with the program that already accepted me?

 

[mimelim]

I'm not going to try to answer your first part since I don't think that I can be helpful. Regarding the second part:

Aways virtually always will get you an interview. Unless you are so far below the standards of the program that they would never consider at all, you will get a courtesy interview. People will go back and forth about this, but at least in smaller specialties, aways tend to matter. 50%+ of our residents and fellows did an away with us, did research with us or had some other connection to our program. People tend to like known quantities. We treat them, like many do, as a 4 week interview or an audition of sorts. By the same token, if you **** it up, it can really hurt your chances of ending up at a program. If you are the kind of person that leaves favorable impressions when you work with people, you should do aways at places where you are strongly considering. Will it make or break you? No. But, it will give you an edge.

 

[Taddy Mason]

Aways virtually always will get you an interview.

I realize you're a surgical resident, but in your experience with talking to those in other specialties does this hold for IM? I've been looking into this quite a bit lately and the vibe I'm getting is to not do aways for IM. Sorry for the (hopefully brief) thread hijack @gregoryhouse.

 

[Cinematographer]

I realize you're a surgical resident, but in your experience with talking to those in other specialties does this hold for IM? I've been looking into this quite a bit lately and the vibe I'm getting is to not do aways for IM. Sorry for the (hopefully brief) thread hijack @gregoryhouse.

It's not that you shouldn't do aways; it's more like it really isn't something that will boost your competiveness in IM.

 

[Taddy Mason]

It's not that you shouldn't do aways; it's more like it really isn't something that will boost your competiveness in IM.

But what if there's a particular program (or programs) that you're very interested in?

 

[Cinematographer]

But what if there's a particular program (or programs) that you're very interested in?

If you have the money for travel/accommodations and can fit said elective into your fourth year schedule, then by all means, go check them out. Just be aware of the fact that it won't increase the competitiveness of your application since you are going into/considering IM.

 

[Ismet]

But what if there's a particular program (or programs) that you're very interested in?

For specialties like IM, FM, peds, aways have more of a risk of hurting you than helping you. However, if you're hell bent on a certain program or city or region, then do a couple aways and blow them out of the water. I know people will do aways at programs around where their SO matched the year prior so that they can increase their chances of matching in the same city.

 

[deleted158872]

For specialties like IM, FM, peds, aways have more of a risk of hurting you than helping you.

why is this the case?