Is it too late to apply to away rotations right now? Freaking out. No home program.

[highlightstar]

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Title. Freaking out because it's April and I'm worried applying to VSLO will be for nothing and that I'm too late. Can someone please advise, would appreciate it greatly.

 

[medschoolaspirant]

Apply now. Hardly any result may have come out yet. They will start coming this month and then in month of may.

 

[Mettii]

@highlightstar I would love an update from you. I'm in the same boat freaking out that it may be too late to submit VSLO applications for ophtho in April. Did you have any luck last year?

 

[highlightstar]

@Mettii hmm away wise honestly wasn't great. i dont have a home program/new school so being relatively unknown + being late i think compounded things. YMMV! Get your mentors to reach out, that's how i got one of my aways. I got desperate and emailed the PC of as many possible programs asking if they had any avail, many were nice and responded and those that did still have space I sent in my app and tried to personalize it as much as possible (saying why I want to go to their away). It's tedious but it might be worth it. There is availability thru the traditional route of VSLO but honestly towards Oct/Nov/Dec if you're willing to take that risk during interview season, I got some offers from programs then. If you're from the coast those programs are pretty popular and fill up fast so also recommend maybe trying programs in the midwest/south. I ended up matching !! but would not repeat this personal hell again. Wishing u the best of luck

 

[Gonio5]

Title. Freaking out because it's April and I'm worried applying to VSLO will be for nothing and that I'm too late. Can someone please advise, would appreciate it greatly.

My medical school had a home program but they were openly hostile, especially the residency coordinator (just a secretary) but also the program director. I couldn't even get the chair to write a recommendation. Still, I managed to do ophthalmology at a very decent program and a better one than the home program. My class had 7 people going into ophtho with the home program taking 2 classmates. One guy matched into one of the top ophthalmology programs in the country (if not #1 then #3 at the worst) but I got the strongest program among the other 5 classmates.

The conclusion is that no home program or a hostile one can still result in you getting into ophtho.